moonslav59

You know how when your gas tank is empty, you still have like 20-30 miles to drive without running out of gas, but you can't see into the tank to know exactly how much is left? Well, that was Cora, yesterday. It's not like Smith has been lights out this year, even with a full tank.

I wonder who replaces Elias on the 40 man roster.

I didn't have anybody specific in mind, but it seems like some just like to be critical about any move that "does not work".

I'm going to get caught up with "The Walking Dead."

What are we to do with no game tonight?

Had Smith come in and let up an HR, we'd have seen an equal amount of posters wondering why he took Price out, or why he didn't bring in Kimbrel. (Maybe even some of the same people...

My family used to put up our Chrsitmas tree on the 24th of December, but it stayed up until late January, when all the needles were falling off. (We also put real candles on the tree- a German tradition.)

I have no issues with people questioning a managers in game moves. I often have differing opinions during a game, but I usually don't voice them, because, personally, I think there is just too much we don't know day-to-day. I like talking general strategy and philosophy more as well as transactions and roster construction, but that's just me.

So, with 5 or 6 "extra" days off, it seems a manager might look at just keeping rest days off at the normal rate and you'd be gaining 5-6 rest days. That seems like enough, to me, but maybe Cora's major driving force is to use his bench and keep his bench ready and feeling like they are an important part of the team. I hope he is not making a mistake based on the wild success of the Astros bench last year. The Astros had Marwin Gonzalez give them 551 PAs off the bench with a .907 OPS, 2 catchers over a .760 OPS and a few other nice subs. Again, I'm not complaining. I hope his plan pays off when we need it most. Last year, I suggested we try and rest sale more, so he won't have his usual late season decline, and maybe everyone can benefit from more time off.

I read somewhere that this year's MLB schedule has more days off than before. I've never felt like young and healthy players need any more than 4-5 extra days off during a season. If a players is struggling or banged uo, then sure, give him more rest. Having a strong bench like the Astros had last year makes a difference as well, and with Nunez tied up at 2B until Pedey comes back, our bench is not really good enough to play so often, in my opinion. Moreland has looked great, so I have no beef with playing him for a while, and that forced HRam to DH or the bench, so I can see why our OF'ers have been given rest, so JD and HRam can stay in the line-up, but I guess is I wanted to give my infielders a rest, I'd try to wait until Pedey comes back, and Nunez is squeezed for playing time. I'm kind of surprised they have not played Swihart behind the plate or PH for our catchers very often, because we have a 3rd catcher on the roster, but again, I don't want to sound like I know more than Cora. I like this team's direction, focus, change in hitting approach and much more. I'm much more hopeful that this is the year than I was in March. It's not just about our record either. It goes way beyond that. I know we will hit some rough patches, and some here will bail (for a while), but I'm psyched about our chances.

I felt the same way, but I try to avoid criticizing managers over pen moves. There's just so much going on and so many factors to consider, including the fact that K Davis was just 2 for 8 career against Price before that HR. What do I know? I still have no issue with Grady Little keeping Pedro in that game.

Sox OPS+ Leaders 217 Betts 194 Bogey 171 Moreland 137 JMart 134 HRam 118 Devers 108 Beni 106 Nunez 106 Lin 94 Holt 86 JBJ 44 Vaz 25 Swihart We've played about an 1/8th of a season. Here's our projected HR RBI totals: 24 136 Devers 32 120 JMart 24 120 HRam 48 112 Betts 8 104 Beni 16 88 Moreland 16 HRs for Bogey, Nunez & JBJ.

We've agreed a couple of times before, so yes, I do believe you. I'm okay with JMart in the OF, when it significantly improves the defense and accomplishes other goals, like keeping JMart happy, getting other players into the game (Moreland/Swihart). I think the situation changes when Pedey returns and is able to play near FT. Nunez, IMO, is a better hitter than Moreland and Swihart and should play 3 out of 4 or 5 out of 6 games. The only way that can happen, barring injuries, is for Nunez to play more OF than JMart. I'm curious how Cora will handle the situation. Swihart would be squeezed to just about zero chances to see action and might be traded to make room for Pedey rather than sending Lin or Holt to AAA.

He's played 68 innings in the OF and made 15 plays. Yes, I think the eye test over rides any stat or metric with such a tiny sample size, assuming you've seen all 15 plays he's made and maybe a few you think he could have gotten to. Besides, the eye test is fine for people watching a player every play of every game, but not when you then try to compare that player to others you've only seen 3 times a year, if ever.

Yes, that's the other part of the equation. If we ever need to go to the benchfor a long term use, we'll have players that we have a better sense about what they can do, and they should be more ready to step right in without missing a beat. It's not my choice of how to rest players, but I know Cora knows more than I do.

My head was already spinning before i read this. Now, I'm going to bed.

All these days off should pay dividends later in the year and into the playoffs. I've scrathed my head a few times, but I'm loving Cora, so far.

I expected it, too. JMart is just added butter. A case of buttah!

I'd never use a tiny sample size like JD's 2018 defensive innings played to make any managerial decision. JMart has never been a plus defenseder, and going errorless this season should not make anyone think things have changed. UZR150 is supposed to be used in 2-3 year sample sizes not 4-6 games or whatever he's played thus far. I don't think I'm alone in thinking he not a plus on defense. If Cora thinks the offensive gain outweighs the loss on defnese here and there, I'm not going to claim I know better, but I will give my opinion here and there.

+10

I know some people are highly volatile, but I never expectd a 4-2 road trip would cause such an uproar. It's 2 freakin' Games! Price does not "suck". He pitched a very good game today.

I've not seen Nunez play OF enough to know if he's better than JMart defensively, so maybe my sentiment is misplaced, but his numbers in the OF look much better than his IF Nunez. His OF numbers look better than JMart's. I've based my opinion on this. I reaalize I may be wrong and accept others may see things differently, including Cora.

Him and many other black players in thet time and earlier (see Tommy Harper).

To me, you know a flub is going to happen. I know there is more to the equation than just avoiding a JMart defensive flub, but when Pedey gets back, and Nunez is looking for ways to get PAs, I'm not sure if the equation indicates as much OF time for JMart. Now, if Moreland & HRam keep smacking the ball around like they are now, then playing JMart in the OF here and there might still make some sense. The only way Moreland & HRam can play at the same time is for JMart to play OF or rest on the bench.

We'll see what kind of grit this team has tomorrow.