moonslav59

Couldn't someone argue that Betts and others getting on base so much are helping JD, too?

I'm fine with Betts one and JD 4, but when JD is 3, It goes against the numbers. In theory, Betts or JD should bat second, but since beni is having a very good year, I'm not sure it matters much.

This is where data and stats do not do justice to determining a catcher's value. Of course, players rarely criticize teammates, but it is the lack of praise you hear when Swihart catches someone that speaks volumes about Leon & to some extent, Vaz. Then, we constantly hear pitchers heap praise on Leon and sometimes, Vaz. It's no coincidence that our pen, which did not look all that good on paper to start the year, is a top 5 to 8 pen for 2 years in a row by almost any reasonable measure. There's a reason our rotation that appeared to lack depth has done great with our 6-10th starters- not to mention our 1-5 starters, except Pom (injury?). Team record in starts by... 16-3 ERod 17-6 Price 17-8 Porcello 15-8 Sale 5-6 Pom (22-10 last year) 4-0 Velazquez 3-0 Eovaldi 6-2 Johnson 3-1 Wright 0-1 Beeks We are an amazing 16-4 with our #6-10 starters! That's a better winning percentage than any of our starting 5, except ERod. To me, Leon & Vaz have a lot to do with the success of our staff. I could care less about their offense. Even if our offense was weak, I would not think twice about Leon's OPS/

Yes, Houck with no walks in 7 IP (only 4 hits) or ERs. Shawaryn did even better: 1 BB, 2 H and 0 ERs in 7 IP.

Leon & Holt. Finding ways to win. All 25 are on board. Porcello restoring the faith.

Nice to see Holt come through. Wow, a DBL and an HR from the 9 slot tonight.

It tells me that over the full season, despite recent struggles, Barnes and Kelly are alright, Workman and Brasier should get more looks, and Johnson should not go more than 5 IP.

Makes sense. Maybe Chavis & Dalbec can fight it out over 1B in 2020. Hopefull by then, Devers will be adequate or plus at 3B on defense.

Team OPS Against in certain situations: .618 High leverage .708 Med leverage .678 Low leverage High Leverage .205 Workman (Just 15 PAs0 .311 Brasier (just 10 PAs) .418 Sale .514 Velazquez .540 Barnes .546 Kimbrel .546 Kelly .583 Eovaldi (12 PAs) .588 ERod .629 Hembree .667 Scott .676 Price .701 Wright .714 Pom .860 Smith (19) .909 Poyner (12) 1.083 Johnson 1.250 Beeks Team: .663 Late & Close .200 Thornburg (10 PAs) .400 ERod & Cuevas (5 PAs each) .528 Brasier (18) .545 Sale .585 Kimbrel .619 Workman .625 Kelly .655 Barnes .667 Scott .675 Wright .690 Hembree .711 Price .714 Porcello .800 Poyner (16) .822 Velazquez (16) 1.178 Johnson (18) 1.263 Smith

The CF'ers (and RF'ers) in Fenway are more important than most in most other parks. Yes, they aren't involved in as many plays as the catcher and other positions, but a great defensive CF'er can take away a lot of hits and runs- probably enough to make up for not-so-great offense.

Kimmi knows more about this than I, but to simplify, the best hitter should bat 2nd, 4th and 5th. Here's one write up... https://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2009/3/17/795946/optimizing-your-lineup-by

I've always liked the best overall hitter up 3rd, but studies show that is not best, so I have changed my philosophy. I like Pearce up 3rd vs LHP, but I'd put Bogey up 3rd vs RHPs with Moreland 5th.

That big HR by Boone made Cashman think he had grit or whatever useful intangible he calls it. Maybe that HR has come back to help us.

It shouldn't matter. Catcher OPS is about #6 on the top 10 areas of catcher importance.

That may just be because Ben's held more value than his at the times of most trades. With Devers maybe becoming a 1Bman and Moreland's contract up after next season, we may hold onto Dalbec. Plus, Travis disappeared this year.

Damn!

Sox OPS over the last 28 days: 1.214JD 1.003 Pearce .997 Betts .955 Kinsler (11 PAs) .906 Swihart (26 PAs) .897 JBJ .857 Beni .807 Devers .771 Nunez .722 Bogey .567 Moreland .534 Holt .393 Leon JBJ, Betts, Pearce & JD are all over .971 the last 14 days. Funny how our catcher offense seemed to be a big issue weeks and months ago, but with Leon at .393 the last 4 weeks, not a peep. Maybe, poster are seeing the value of a catcher cannot be captured in offensive stats.

I like Workman better and think he'd be here, if not for the option imbalance. I'd even prefer Pom, but he's a FA after this year, so keeping Hembree over him makes some sense. Based on skill level alone, as of right now, I might rank our pen as such: 1. Kimbrel 2. Barnes 3. Kelly 4. Brasier 5. Thornburg 6. Velazquez 7. Pomeranz 8. Johnson (when ERod returns) 9. Hembree 9A. Scott 9B. Poyner 9C. Walden 9D. Cuevas 9E. Haley 15. Shepherd Assuming our starting 5 is Sale, Price, Porcello, ERod and Eovaldi. Hembree is nice to have around, but he is expendable. I would not just give him away. I'd try to bolster our farm a bit with the trade. Lord knows it needs it. (I'd put Wright above Hembree when healthy.)

Fatigue will haunt your team. Even Spetember call-ups won't help much as you'l need to play your best players to try an win every game you can. The A's are for real. The M's look like they might be turning it around after looking terrible for a while.

I've had high hopes for Hembree, but the guy just cannot be consistent enough to strain to keep him on the 25 man roster. He's out of options, and we have several players who are or could be as good as him.

Jackie also has 10 HBPs this year. The next two guys have 6 (Betts & Bogey). Nunez has almost as many BBs (13).

We could also trade Hembree and try to build up our farm a bit. Hembree is out of options and we can easily replace him, in kind, from within the system.

Would these teams claim Jamie Shields with that contract?

Best winning % in MLB history.... .763 Cubs 1906 .741 Pirates 1902 .726 White Stockings 1886 .724 Pirates 1909 .721 Guardians 1954 (111-43) 154 game schedule .716 Mariners 2001 (116-46) 162 game schedule .714 Yankess 1927 (110-44) .708 Red Sox 2018 (Currently 85-35: on pace for 115 wins)

Yes, we have the best winning percentage in MLB history, so it's hard to say anything is "killing us."