Nick

Per Overthemonster folk About two months ago, the Red Sox fanbase was up in arms after a season-opening series sweep at the hands of the laughing stock of baseball, the Baltimore Orioles. It was then that I put a moratorium on TAKES until Memorial Day, an unofficial checkpoint in the baseball season where we stop shouting “small sample size!” and are forced to take a closer look at the scenarios playing out around the league. Now that Memorial Day has come and gone, it’s due time to unleash some hot takes. The Leadoff Spot Getting mad about lineup construction is a rite of passage for a baseball fan. Even though the emphasis on lineup construction and efficiency has gone the way of the dodo in our broader baseball community due to the realization of how minuscule the advantage of an optimal lineup is compared to what most teams do nowadays, it’s something incredibly easy that can reap benefits for teams like the Sox that are playing on the margins. The average leadoff hitter in baseball this year has a .336 OBP with a 113 wRC+. The Red Sox, who sit sixth in team non-pitcher wRC+ with a 110 mark, are 26th in leadoff OBP and 21st in leadoff wRC+. Enrique Hernández and his .291 OBP are not the solution to that problem. The Sox are a top-heavy offensive team and do a good job of bunching their best hitters together to ensure the best chance of stringing together hits in order to score runs in bunches with Alex Verdugo, Xander Bogaerts, J.D. Martinez, and Rafael Devers in the middle of the lineup. That said, I don’t see how having someone with a sub-.300 OBP in the leadoff spot is helping, and/or how Verdugo wouldn’t be a better fit for the role. My take is that Hernández should be shuffled to the bottom half of the order while everyone else above him is bumped up one spot with Verdugo manning the leadoff spot. Mathematically it's impossible for Kike to get more plate appearances with lineup of Verdugo, JD, Xander, Devers, Renfroe, Kike versus Kike, Verdugo, JD, Xander,Devers and Renfroe. Just first grade math. But if batting order doesn't matter why don't we just put the group 6-9 in batting order?

Devers wasn’t the only member of the Red Sox’ offense who struggled Tuesday night, as the club mustered just one run on five hits in its second consecutive lackluster showing at the plate. Combined, Boston’s top trio of Devers, Xander Bogaerts and J.D. Martinez were 0-for-12 with six strikeouts in the 5-1 loss; so far this series, the group is 0-for-21. “They’re human,” Cora said. “It’s part of it. It’s going to be part of 162 games. That’s why we always talk about that the other guys have to step up. They’re not going to carry the offense for 162 games.” Well that statement by Cora pretty much says it all. Someone should tell him playing bunch of sub .200 hitters won't help the cause. Sorry I have to be an ass. I'm done posting this week. I'm just going to enjoy watching my Sox play.

Absolutely NOT. I've been talking about KIke leading off for over a month. It's also possible there's NO SOLUTION to this with our current roster. But, I also don't want the Sox to think Verdugo, JD, Xander and Devers are enough to carry this team all year. Luckily Renfroe has joined the group. Why not try to extend the lineup? I'm leaning towards Dalbec experiment as full time 1B for next ten years not working out despite my high hopes for the guy. Not this year anyway. I also remember before the Sale trade with White Sox, so many here argued AGAINST bringing up Moncada to the majors. All I heard was HE IS NOT READY. IT WOULD DAMAGE HIM IF HE FAILED. DD was not afraid to bring up kids from AA. That was his thing. They also knew then, there was a kid that could be better 3B than Moncada. Remember that Moncada was blocked at 2B, we had Pedey. Moncada seems to have overcome to whatever damage Sox inflicted on him. His OPS is above .900. My point then and now is why not turn every rock and see if you can find a gem. Duran today is not the same player from 2019. He's bigger and stronger. All you can do is send him back down if he fails. I would bet he'll do better than Marwin, thus moving Kike full time to 2B. Platoon at 1B and our lineup could be solid.

Can our pitching staff look like this before its all over? 1 Sale 2 Richards 3 E Rod 4 Pivetta 5 Perez 6 Eovaldi 7 Barnes 8 Ottavino 9 Darwinzon 10 Sawamura 11 Brasier 12 Workman 13 Taylor 14 Whitlock

Look, I love Cora and Bloom. They are doing great job. I'm just a fan that want the Sox get into the playoffs. It helps me to let some steam out of my keyboards. I like this team, I like Kike and Marwin. Marwin has had some tough outs lately. Cordero was sent down, Dalbec (boy do I want him to win the 1B job) is beginning to sit down little more, deservedly. The team is making adjustments. It's looking as thought Renfroe is a keeper, a 29 year old with some pop, strong throwing arm, 2nd year of 4 year arbitration.

2018 OPS Betts 1.078 JD 1.031 Xander .883 Beni .830 Pearce .901 (50 games, 136 bats) 2021 JD .956 Devers .927 Xander .919 Verdugo .813 We need someone that gets on base from the leadoff spot. Fix it.

I fully agree. It's about making the team better. He's a utility player that's getting full time playing time. Bringing up Duran would solve some of Marwin's playing time. It would force Cora to play Kike at 2B more. I thought Kike was brought in to play 2B. If it doesn't work out with Duran, send him back down. What's the big f***ing deal? He may surprise all of us. Constant crap I heard from majority of this board was "WE LEAD THE LEAGUE IN RUNS SCORED PER GAME". It was obvious not everyone was carrying their weight even when things are going well. When 2-6 with Renfroe in May was carrying the team, it's okay to close your eyes to weak spots? Why not work on stretching out the lineup? We took the first step with sending Cordero to the minors. This is NOT a completed team. I'd think they would look to make improvements, no matter how small. It's possible Duran can give us a shot in the arm not only in CF but perhaps leading off. Kike from lead off spot ranks 10th or 11th in AL in runs scored, OBP, and OPS. It just seems Cora is being stubborn with this because he proclaimed to the world, Kike is my leadoff hitter. He has NEVER been a leadoff hitter. Kike is tied for 5th, as a leadoff hitter, in runs scored for the Sox. Let that sink in. Mookie Bets scored 128 runs to lead the Sox in 2018. Chavis' .751 OPS doesn't seem bad.

Both Brasier and Workman would need a spot on 40 man roster. Assuming Colten Brewer is one spot, who is the other one? Valdez or Andriese?

I'm pretty sure I was one of them.....I have right to change my mind, rather quickly.

Kike with another unclutch at bat.... Moon and I can be friends....we'd drink and talk s*** about the Sox. Every time I bring up something negative about Kike, Moon, correctly, tells me that Kike is doing what's he's always done. Kike was a utility player for the Dodgers. This signing felt like it was pushed by Cora. The two knew each other from Puerto Rico. 2 questions. 1. Given Kike's background, why did the Sox think he was a starter material and capable leading off? 2 His $7M would place him as the 2nd highest paid player for the Rays. Do you honestly think the Rays would have signed him to a 2 year $14M deal?

Renfroe is beginning to assert himself. Remember that while we're trying to win we're also trying to identify the core group for future. He's in his prime, 29 years old, under team control for 2021-2023. He can join Devers, Xander and Verdugo going forward. We still need a CF (Duran), 2B (Downs) and 1B (Casas at some point).....all others are utility players. Cora is beginning to limit Dalbec's at bats.

Workman, who was released by the Cubs after 10 appearances in April, rejoined the Red Sox on May 6 and has been pitching at Triple-A Worcester for the last 3 ½ weeks. In seven appearances for the WooSox, the 32-year-old has pitched well, logging a 1.29 ERA (one earned run in seven innings) while allowing three hits and striking out 10 batters. Balls on our court. I'd say why not? Surely someone on 40 man roster we can let go. The Red Sox would appear to have a spot in the bullpen for Workman if they feel he is an upgrade over Colten Brewer, who allowed four runs in an inning in his season debut with the club Monday afternoon. Seems like a no brainer to me.

Always bring a smile to our faces when the mighty Yankees have some flaws. Not as perfect as some think. They are really struggling with hitting. I thought their lineup would hit 400 homers.

When I say it, I'm labeled as HATER by the moderator....

Surprising, they have scored more runs than the Sox, albeit they've played couple of more games. As I mentioned elsewhere, their OPS is nothing to write home about, much lower than Sox.

I realize Rays have played couple of more games than the Sox, but they've outscored the Sox despite having a pedestrian OPS compared to league leading Sox OPS. Is it possible they manufacture runs better than us? Apparently they are aggressive on base path (according whoever was doing TV vs Yankees). Ray's run differential is +63 compared to +45 for Sox. They're playing well. I still like to see them sweep the Yankeed though. They've dominated Yankees of late.

Looking down from 30,000 ft, its very possible he'll have another MVP type year but I sure don't want to be on the hook for 12 years. Too many things can go wrong.

I agree with you. I just hope the team doesn't use real games to get get him better. If he needs to get work done on sidelines then that's what he has to do.

I would agree with you. If his struggles continue I just hope the team doesn't use real games to get get him better. If he needs to skip a rotation or two to work on his game then that's what he has to do.

I did think E Rod ran into some cheap hits last night at Houston. He's given up two homers the last two games that's traveled 600 feet combined. It's encouraging that his velocity is up on fastballs. He hit 95 pretty consisently. He's having major command issues, going to 3 ball count on several hitters. I sure loved what the Houston pitcher was doing last night. Apparently he leads the league in highest strike zone % at 48% or something.

HOUSTON -- In the coming days, the complete haul of players coming back to the Red Sox in the Andrew Benintendi trade will finally be known. The Sox are due to acquire the remaining three players to be named later (two from the Royals and one from the Mets) in the near future, an industry source confirmed. The player from the Mets -- assumed to be the best player of the three -- is due by Friday, a source said. The exact deadline for the clubs to identify the two Royals players is unknown, but the Kansas City Star’s Lynn Worthy reported earlier Monday that the deal would be completed “as soon as the next week or two.” It is possible that the Red Sox negotiated different deadlines with Kansas City and New York. Check this out Moon, per MassLive. You were right about the names being known soon. Mets 'deal' is up first. I'm guessing a pitcher.

Yep, if you're going to lose, that's how you do it.

Bullpen still geting rest.... Dates pitched M.Barnes...xx xx 29 xx xx 26 xx xx xx 22 xx 20 Ottavino... xx xx 29 28 xx 26 xx xx xx 22 xx xx Josh Taylor xx xx 29 xx xx 26 xx xx xx 22 21 xx Darwinzon. xx xx 29 xx xx xx xx xx xx 22 21 xx Sawmura... xx xx 29 xx xx xx 25 xx 23 xx xx 20 Andriese.... 31 xx xx xx xx 26 xx xx 23 xx xx xx Valdez....... 31 xx xx xx xx xx xx xx 23 22 xx 20 Whitlock.... xx xx xx xx xx xx 25 xx xx xx 21 xx Nice job by Brewer....1 IP 3R 3ER 4H 3BB The score was only 0-4. Not sure why Brewer came in....E Rod says thank you letting two runners score on me.

That's perfect. I can see him saying that.....

He's given up 19 runs in 19 innings in his last 4 outings. Quit bullying me. I'm entitled to my opinion.