oldtimer

Since this string is about hitting, I will talk about how we have hitters getting into protracted slumps after hitting well for a while. It happens to most players on most teams. Maybe because I watch this team so closely, I think it happens more often with our guys. Today, Moreland finally hit a ball for a HR and it gave us the breathing room to feel comfortable. That was his first hit in 19 AB's. He had been swinging at many balls thrown at or above his letters. The opposing pitchers had his number and he wasn't finding his way out. when he did make contact, he was hitting mostly to left or popping up. I think Beni recently went through an 0 for 19 as well. Perhaps the point here is that the players are not getting the help they need from the hitting coach. When there are glaring issues, one would think the hitting coaches would be aggressively trying to communicate those. We have had JBJ, Betts, Bogaerts, Hanley all go into these protracted slumps and have difficulty getting out. I read this as time for a new hitting coach.

Look, if by wrapped up you mean the pennant, I don't think it is a sure thing. One more game against the Reds. If we win that and set the magic number to 4, we will have 7 tough games to go, all at home. The Jays aren't that bad and Houston is very good. Winning 4 of those seven will be a tough chore. We have to hope the Yankees don't sweep their remaining games. I am all for playing all out every game until we close them out. Today we survived because of excellent pitching. JF had Young and Holt in the game and we were lucky to get the runs we did.

I would put Devers in that class and equal to or better to Hanley.

Ohtani is thought of as a superstar in Japan. I would love to get him. He wants to pitch and also play in the field and get real PAs. My guess is that he would help the club. Cobb is a really good pitcher and would also help the club. We still need a power hitting 1st baseman in lieu of Moreland. Getting Nunez back is a priority. Our utility players can come from several that are there now as we cut ties with Young and Davis and possibly Holt. We have a very nice pitching staff. Porcello had an off year but still can eat innings and shouldn't be dismissed so easily. Right now he is probably worn down. Fister showed promise but might not be in the plans going forward. Wright is still out there as well. With Sale, Pomeranz, E-Rod and Price we are the envy of the league. Also very solid in the BP.

So when will Nunez be back? We could use him tomorrow as we need to keep winning.

The lack of home run power is definitely a big part of our lack of run production. I agree with Moon though when he points out how many of our regulars have had worse to much worse batting numbers when compared to last year. If you discount Beni and Devers as rookies, and applaud Vaz for a much better season than expected, the remainder of our hitters haven't been as good as a year ago. Nunez came into the team late and he has really bolstered the team before getting injured, but he wasn't on last years team. There has been talk about how this happened. The loss of power in part stems from the loss of Papi and a lack of funds to get a power hitter from the FA market. The lack of hitting has been attributed to poor coaching and/or our guys just had a great yeaar last year and that was an outlier. Our hitters talents are really reflected by this years performance. Whatever the reason for our reduced power and hitting this year, we are what we are going into the playoffs and will get some help when Nunez returns. Next year, DD and the coaches and managers need to have a heart to heart and decide what to do to improve things, assuming there will be some additional money available. Trades, acquisitions and minor league possibilities all need to be looked at and it might be necessary to make some unpalatable moves to get better overall.

Really only Vaz and Devers are much threat with Bogey and Beni at least making contact. Moreland, Holt, Young and JBJ are all looking bad. JF isn't giving us much chance to score runs. I will imagine that Hanley will pinch hit when we change pitchers. Also we are sitting on Travis who is a better hitter then who we have on the field. We need a win here. If Betts is hurt and needs a rest, fine. What is Nunez status?

Notice how Moreland is swinging at balls letter height or higher. He has been doing that a lot and of course that is what the pitchers give him. Anyone know why Betts isn't in the lineup?

And why is Young in the game? He has been in a terrible slump. We want to win this game. Just wasted a double by Devers.

My Christmas wish llist to Santa includes 3 things: 1. A copy of a contract signed by Nunez and the Sox for 2018 through 2020. 2. A copy of Chili Davis's walking papers 3. A contract with one power hitting 1st baseman. Note that other peoples wish list will probably include others but these are my top three.

I guess its making the best of a bad acquisition.

Last night players not named Price and Devers went 3 for 23 against average pitching. That would be a .130 average. Many of the PAs were weak. Guys, what the heck are you doing? The Reds outhit us but our BP saved the day again.

What do we do if anything about Hanley? The oft injured, generally only DH that pulls down $22.7 milllion to produce a line in 126 games played to date of .241 avg, .748 OPS with 58 RBI. He is unlikely to wind up with more than 500 AB.s this regular season. He is not pulling his weight and barely hitting it. Do we try to unload him and pay half his salary? Unlikely that anyone would take that deal as pretty good power hitters will be available for similar money. Do we play him next year, expecting his contract for 2018 won't vest? Probably what will happen. So we will be weighed down for year. We can only hope he will come alive in the last 7 games and help us win a couple to capture the pennant and then contribute to the post season.

We got some help from Toronto tonight. The magic number for the pennant is now 6. We have got to get some hitting up and down the lineup or our departure will be sudden.

I lost my feed after Devers struck out.

Reed did his job now we need an insurance run. The Yankees lost.

Our middle of the order is not getting anything done. We had a runner on and didn't try the steal. Okay, but we also didn't hit.

Sometimes its better to put a guy on than to let him beat you. Lets see if he can handle gennett.

And so he did. Our offense is among the missing. Discouraging not to see more from our lineup. JBJ, Pedroia and others just don't pose much of a threat. Devers has been the main punch tonight.Can't live against this team with a one run lead in a band box of a park.

So far, Devers is most of the offense. Others have to chip in.

Single, double, walk, homerun to start the game. Maybe Porcello needs to be out before it is totally out of reach.

Bases loaded and no outs. We needed runs in that situation. Mookie took a strike and looked bac swinging at the slider. That left Moreland to at least hit the ball to the outfiield for a run and Vaz to miss on a ball down the middle. This Reds club is a power hitting group against Porcello who sometimes gives up the dingers. We need to get more from opportunities like we just had.

Looking at utility players in the outfield going forward, I would certainly move away from expensive older pros who haven't got the job done this year. We have a prospect in Cole Brannen who is a great young athlete, with speed , a good arm and is defensively rated highly. Another center fielder type. His hitting is okay at this point but he lacks power. Maybe some powe will come as he matures further. He is only 19 years old and it wouldn't be smart to bring him up soon in a utility role, since his PT on the main team would be limited. I would definitely not trade him away as he has years of control and could become one of our better players in the future. Maybe he could be in on the Sept 2018 callup if things continue to go well for him. Meanwhile, I would pick up an older defensive player on a one year basis. We don't need a $6 million dollar man for that.

Just one reason. Get to 300 strike outs.

One thing to note is that Devers home runs came front loaded in his first 20 or so games and no HR since. Don't know what that is, but cleaarly something has changed in the way he is seeing the pitch. He still is hitting, but not with the power.