moonslav59

Our catcher hitting is so pathetic, I think the idea of PH'ing for them once or twice a game has more value than we might imagine. We aren't going to PH or make a defensive late inning replacement at almost every position, except C, 2B and 3B (1B platoon). How many in game moves do we need to make at 2B/3B? One, maybe?

I did expect a little better offense from Devers, but it did not surprise me he had more struggles than good times. He's still over .700, which at his age is not all that bad, especially with the decent HR/AB numbers. I'm not worried about him adjusting on offense, and I have seen some defensive growth, so he's pretty far down on my disappointment list.

Or Joni Mitchell The Guess Who

We could be 135-15 and some would still bitch.

Could it be that no matter who he chooses, they will fail? I thought he did a great job last night.

He is a God send.

Easy to say, "Change things." There aren't many options, except to try demoted starters in key middle relief roles.

Nope. Never 4. We did go 6 out of 7 from 2003-2009. Those two times (3 - 1 out- 3) were our only two 3 games streaks evah! Until now.

I think she meant from way back at that other site. The game threads there were just as bad.

All is fine with Sale. that's what really counts, since it was OVaaaaH since 8/5.

Worse, he sucks as an analyst. He adds zero.

I usually avoid the game thread for just this reason. I get the momentary frustration effect, but it goes over the top way too often for my liking. To each his own, I guess.

Bogey also had to contend with playing out of position after just 10 games at 3B in the minors. The second Stephen Drew signing was weird. To me, Devers is ahead of schedule. His defense has improved this year, except for his arm accuracy, which has been a killer. BTW, he's +0.7 with fWAR after a +0.8 last year. His UZR/150 has greatly improved (warning- small sample sizes) -11.5 in 2017 -4.5 in 2018 His range has improved from +1.4 to +2.9. Inside Edge has him making just 92% of routine plays over his career. This should be correctable. You can't "learn" range, but you can improve your footwork and decision making- in theory. ]-

I've never liked Betts first, but there are enough advantages to make it a minor issue, to me. I used to think putting your best overall hitter 3rd was best. I was "converted" on that one. I like JD 4th more than any other likes. I'd like to see Bogey second, but studies show the best should hit 2nd and 4th, so maybe Betts up 2nd is best. 1. 2. Betts 3. 4. JD 5. 5 is supposed to be more important than 3rd, so maybe Moreland-Peacre 3rd. 1. 2. Betts 3. Moreland/Pearce 4. JD 5. That leaves Beni and Bogey for the 1 and 5 slots. Beni has a .395 OBP vs LHPs and Bogey is .353. Bogey is .397 vs LHPs and Beni is .301. I'd flip the two depending on thye SP'er. vs RHP: 1. Beni 2. Betts 3. Moreland 4. JD 5. Bogey vs LHPs: 1. Bogey 2. Betts 3. Pearce 4. JD 5. Beni Looks best to me.

Bah, humbug!

Fair enough, and I haven't counted Poyner out. I wish his sample size was bigger than 13 games, and I can't help but wonder why that is, if he is indeed as good as his numbers show he is. It's not like we had all 7 pen guys firing on all cylanders all season long. He does have a 1.3 WHIP in AAA this year over 43 innings. Maybe that has something to do with it. I'm hopeful he can continue doing well, but I have to think maybe we have just happened to see his only good stretches of the season by chance.

Climb aboard the Leon Express!

Good points. I do like Poyner, but his sample size is puny. If he can pitch well for the next 3 weeks, I'm fine with him squeezing in, but I'm still hopeful that Thornburg will straighten out. He's great vs LHBs- normally. I'm still not counting Barnes, Hembree and even Kelly out just yet, but they are bubble pitchers now due to performance or injury issues.

Good one! I've said all along, I'd like Bogey 2nd... maybe something like Beni-Bogey-Betts-JD, but the numbers show the 3rd slot is not the place for your best hitter (or second best).

Where did I ever say I based this on 4 IP. You know me better than that. I've always been a big Wright fan (as a pitcher not a family man). He has proven he is a very good pitcher time and time again. Yes, his recent 4 IP sample size has helped me determine he is healthy, and that's all I really need to know. Even if he lets up 3 ER next time, I'm still thinking he's our best middle/long man (or at least second to Eovaldi, who needs to prove himself more than Wright, IMO).

I've been suggesting a move might be best for Devers, eventually, but even I think he deserves at least another year to show improvement at 3B. I'm only looking at 2020 as a possibility.

I'll bet Cora has it boiled down to 4 starters and 8 or 9 relievers and his effort now is to decide on which of the remaining 1 or 2 to drop. If Barnes can make a quick recovery he is in. If we take 7 relievers, I see Kimbrel, Barnes Brasier as sure things and also Wright and Eovaldi as long relievers. - Oldtimer I totally agree, but things might shift a little over the next 3 weeks. That leaves either 2 or three spots depending on how many we take. (I am assuming E-Rod may wind up in long relief, at least in the first series.) Poyner looks to be going the best for left handed relief as Johnson and Pom look weak. Henbree, Kelly, Thornburg and Workman all stand a chance. I think it will be Kelly and/or Thornburg. You can make a case for or against any of the 4 righties. Cora can take his time in reaching a decision. I see ERod as a lock for the playoff rotation, and he may even steal the 3 slot from Porcello. I'm hopeful that Thornburg will step up. He kills lefties more than we can ever hope Poyner, Pom or Johnson can do. Thornburg's career splits: .556 vs LHBs .744 vs RHPs While Poyner has looked very good vs LHBs this year (.454) the sample size is just 17 PAs. Pom is .614 vs LHBs career and .683 this year. Johnson is .624 vs LHPs career and .681 this year.

There was also some shoddy D that played into some of the runs scored against us. We almost handed them the Altuve run, errr, I mean out at home, too.

Yes, Moreland was signed as insurance or to platoon with HRam. We picked up Pearce to take HRam's placevs LHPs. If Devers hit LHPs well, he might be at 1B already, at least part-time. Moreland's deal runs out after next year- Pearce's this winter. I seriously doubt we move Devers to 1B next year, but if he doesn't improve his defense at 3B, we may do so by 2020. Pedey's return and how well Nunez is doing might play into the decision. If JD bolts on his opt out, we might end up moving Devers to DH/1B, if things stall at 3B/

Maybe, if Betts didn't belt 30 HRs, Beni would have 100 RBIs. It's all on Mookie- so damn selfish!