moonslav59

It looked like VTek and ARod both went after each other at the same time. How about the sucker punches and antics the Yanks did to Bill Lee?

I really expected our second half splits to improve over the first half. Not only have we gotten worse, we've been much closer to .700 than .750. 1st half .759 2nd half .715 The players 2nd halves... .905 Nunez (with Sox only) .872 Vaz .871 Devers .814 Beni (Who'd have thunk these would be our top 4?) .789 Pedey .740 Moreland .727 HRam .685 Young .652 Betts .623 JBJ .615 Leon .587 Bogey .496 Davis (21 PAs) .481 Holt .345 Marrero (24) On another note... Our 5 slot is now our worst slot by OPS: .658 5 .659 9 .708 7 .740 4 .759 1 .767 8 .773 6 .797 2 .814 3

So, Bogey and Flores?

Certainly, that is one option, but wouldn't you pay more attention to the area in question to make sure homer bias is not intruding on your opinion? We all know numerical data can be deceiving. I don't think anyone here "blindly" follows metrics or at least one single metric. Some metrics actually involve human observations by trained and supposed unbiased people, so disagreeing with some metrics is actually disagreeing with a whole team of observers not just a number. I have disagreed with some data in the past. Sometimes it has forced me to look more closely and see that my opinion was not correct or totally correct. Fewer times, I've continued to disagree with the "number". By and large, the numbers almost always match up pretty closely to my observations. (Note: I rarely look at a Sox player's number and then form my opinion. I almost always trust my observations and then check to see if the numbers agree or not.)

I've watched every pitch of every game for decades, sometimes 2-3 times. I don't find it time consuming to check my opinions with stats and metrics. I have no issues with those who avoid stats. Both observations and data have limitations.

If the metrics strongly disagree with your perception of your observations, I'd re-evaluate my opinion and watch more closely to see if maybe I'm being biased.

It's hard to miss a stationary, steroid induced, swollen head.

I'd have handed Tek a sword.

The metrics back our observations.

Not a coincidence that the pitching collapsed and pitchers were the ones involved in "Chicken & Beer". We had players undermining management on other player's cell phones. It was out of control, and to me, that was part of the reason there was a collapse. Nobody seemed to care about losing (and winning).Once it started spinning out of control, Tito seemed to just sit passively. I realize that strategy worked in 2004 and 2007, but Tito was unable to adjust to what happened in 2011. He had good reasons to be distracted, but nevertheless, he was distracted and it cost the team dearly. It cost him his job. As mush as I respected Tito, and I really did and still do, bringing him back in 2012 was just not an option. The whole Bobby V thing is a separate issue.

Well said. Good teams can get away with giving extra outs vs bad teams, but teams like the Guardians, Astros and Dodgers are going to pounce when given the chance.

It was a country club; it was the inmates running the asylum...any analogy you choose, Tito had lost control. Tito had some severe personal issues going on. I've never been a Tito hater. He's a very good manager, but sometimes the conditions warrant a change regardless of the fact that Tito was never an imbecile like JF (and Bobby V) has been.

And, some of these advanced defensive metrics have been notoriously hard on LF'ers in Fenway Park.

I've never said Beni is a negative. I've never said he's a poor fielder. I do think he is a poor base runner who makes up for it with his speed to the point where he is not a net negative. That being said, we all know he could be a lot better without making so many mental mistakes. Maybe the "extra" criticism is out of frustration. It's one thing to see HRam strike out with men in scoring position, but it's another to see someone kill a rally with a bonehead mental blunder.

I don't give JF the major share in Beni's blunders and have said a few times that my opinion is based on conjectures. I do not know what JF has tried and not tried to do to lessen the blunders. My opinion is that JF should be given a significant share of the blame for the overall team's lack of fundamentals. My opinion is that he has not done enough to either prepare his team fundamentally for the season or to address the issue substantially enough during the season. I could be wrong. I do not think this board has been overly critical of Beni. This board has always shown they can and do criticize everyone, myself included. I do not feel criticizing a player for one aspect of his game means you want him benched, traded or flogged. I love Beni- warts and all. I'm certain he will improve, but am a bit concerned that some of this stuff is just pure baseball instincts- something that is not easily "learned". He seems like the type of guy that will work hard to become the best he can be. I have no doubt he will continue being a huge asset to this team going forward.

I wish we could have just kept JF as our pitching coach, but the Jays messed that all up.

Teams knew Miami would not hand him away for nothing. That's why some did not claim him. Stanton is NOT a salary dump: he just happens to play on a team that can't afford him. His contract is much higher than his luxury tax number. That is something that appeals to only the teams in danger of paying those taxes going forward- the Sox included. He's owed $295M/10, but the luxury tax number is $25M. As much as I hate large and long contracts like this, especially for a player with an injury history, I'd sign this 28 year old to that contract this winter. It's a close call. The thing that tips the balance to no for me, is the loss of young talent. That's why I mentioned the idea of trading one of the players we are not likely to keep down the road- Betts, JBJ or Bogey. I would not trade Betts or JBJ, so if Miami would listen to an offer centered around Bogey, I might try. The offer I suggested with Bogey is steep. It was an offer I think Miami would insist on, not one I would readily make. Kimmi makes some great points. I'll add that trading for Stanton would certainly affect our ability to keep one or two from this list: Pom, Kimbrel, Sale, Bogey, Betts and JBJ, so not only would we lose top young talent, we'd lose some top vets later on..

Bogey has certainly not been the Bogey of 2015-2016 and early 2017. Injury? Mechanics? Something is wrong. I'm hopeful someone figures it out soon, and we can have the old Bogey come playoff time. I do think a rest can help. Earlier, I suggested a 10 day DL trip, but then Pedey went down. I still think he needs more than 2 days though.

If he keeps pitching like this, he'll start.

He deserved more in light of what others have gotten for doing less.

...Consequently, we don't quite see that Benintendi, while he is unlikely ever to steal 50 bases in a season, is having a better year than Ellsbury in 2008 when he was a year older than Beni is this year.... I see Beni having a very very good year. I'd say slightly better than Ellsbury's 2008 season. I'd value it much more highly without all the mental mistakes. While one could argue taking the wrong route to a fly ball as Ellsbury did early in his career is a mental mistake, I don't see that as being as egregious as throwing to the wrong place, running from 2B to 3B on a ground ball hit in front of you, and several other shockingly dumb plays. I'm not bashing Beni. He's young and inexperienced. I'm certain he will improve (as JE did) in these areas. I'll say it again, although I feel it does not need to be said, Beni has been our best and most consistent everyday player on this team- despite the mistakes.

True, as is HRam and others.

I don't see the Moncada signing as being much different than Dice-K. Yes, the rules have changed, but the Dodgers sure haven't noticed. (I see the Yanks and Sox have been building up the Int'l FA signing pool, and we all know why.)

How about going after Lance Lynn? He turns 31 next May, has never had an ERA above 4.00 and may not cost as much as other more flashy named pitchers. If spending large on Lynn means we can't afford a big bat, then I'm not for the idea.

The luxury tax hit is "only" $25M a year. That's doable. What would hurt is the combination of budget space used up going forward PLUS the loss of fine young talent. I agree that we "don't match up" but not because of the "numbers". It's because Miami will want our long term prospects not the players that we can't all re-sign anyways. If they would take Bogey instead of Beni, we could probably keep Betts and Sale. I doubt this is enough: Bogey ERod Groome Chavis Travis or Lakins (probably Beeks or better)