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5GoldGlovesOF,75

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Everything posted by 5GoldGlovesOF,75

  1. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    see Post 9845
  2. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    To be like the '21 Braves, all Bloom needs to do now is make in-season trades for a guy who will hit a pinch-hit HR to win the playoffs (Pederson), another who'll be the LCS MVP (Rosario) and finally, the World Series MVP (Soler). I'd also say: And acquire the league RBI champ... except he already has Duvall! We're one-fourth of the way to glory!!!
  3. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Of course, the same can be said for just about any pro pitching prospect... except maybe a few specialized college closers (cough, Feltman). And it always made sense for clubs to want to use their most talented -- and yes, best-paid -- arms to pitch the most innings and face and hopefully retire the most batters. But modern pitching usage has shown repeatedly that certain guys are more effective coming out of the bullpen and throwing as hard as they can for shorter periods -- look at perfect Pivetta yesterday. We know using a healthy Chris Sale as a starter is practical, in a sense... but what if the Sox instead had spread a recent Sale 100-pitch start over say, three relief stints in a week and a half? Could Sale have positively impacted three games instead of just one... and prevented braking his shoulder while throwing a pitch? With him, probably not -- but there may be others whose arms could be better optimized, at least for a team's won-loss record.
  4. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    In Spring Training, Chris Murphy looked like a guy who'd be able to help the bullpen this season. But you know the intel in the front office -- they were obligated to "stretch him out" (try him as a starter) in Triple A Woo, where he looked not so good. Glad he's back relieving, and maybe the Sox can get contributions in similar roles from Brandon Walter, and even Bryan Mata, eventually. The big problem, as usual in the Bloom Era, is the utter lack of adequate starting pitching depth when guys like Sale and now, Houck, go on the IL. They can't just promote Drohan when he's not ready yet or on the 40...
  5. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    The absence of Aaron Judge was no excuse for how poorly the Yankees played this weekend, especially on defense. They were only charged with three errors, but it sure looked like thrice as many, with lackadaisical play paling in contrast to the Red Sox' well-oiled juggernaut. The mediocre Sox are now just two behind in the loss column to the Yanks, who exactly a year ago were the greatest team in the history of 2022. For those fans who posted last winter that this season would make or break Bloom, depending on whether Boston makes the playoffs: might as well wish and hope and pray the Sox get a wild card, just for entertainment purposes... because either way, Chaim Bloom is going nowhere soon. As Bello, Whitlock, Houck, Duran and Casas continue to progress, the '24 club is bound to improve over '23's .500ish assemblage... "-- and you know what's coming!"
  6. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    The need is more for good depth -- so they don't have to sign and then cut questionable characters in the same week (like the past week) when inevitable injuries overlap with cramped schedules. I also said "sign or trade for two good veteran pitchers to front the rotation." The more the merrier. As for Atlanta's starters, Strider may not be an "ace" yet, but he's exactly the type of pitcher to boost a poor defensive team, since he leads the majors in strikeouts and K/9 IP... infielders can't make as many throwing errors when they don't touch the ball (except maybe on around-the-horn, after punch-outs).
  7. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Improved success can be measured in many ways. Obviously, a pitcher doesn't have to win 20 games anymore to be considered an ace. A team doesn't even need to win 20 of a starter's starts for the guy to help stabilize a staff and positively impact a club. Innings pitched (especially per start) and swing-and-miss stuff can both rest and take the pressure off bullpens, defenses and offenses. The stopper gives teammates confidence not to overextend their roles, and instead just do their jobs... and they'll always be in the game, with a good chance to win. It's reassuring, every five days, for six months.
  8. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    They don't have to spend a lot next winter, but need to sign or trade for two good veteran pitchers to front the rotation. The arms don't have to be expensive, but should be paid reasonable market rates -- like, for instance, what Eovaldi and Wacha signed for this winter. And I don't care if the Sox get hot and win 90 or gag and lose 90, they need to add top of the rotation starting pitching. It all starts there -- even in a rebuild.
  9. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    I found some quotes. He said Paxton and Duvall, but not Kike, could bring a "decent" return at the deadline. I'd think Duvall has to show his wrist is fully healed with some consistent power before then. Rosenthal said fans would be ok with dealing Jansen (I'm one, if he's the biggest chip this summer). He doesn't think Verdugo will be moved -- if Bloom plans on contending in '24...
  10. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    What would qualify as a huge change during this season? If they fire Cora, the roster will still be the roster. If they have a fire sale, what trade bait can possibly return an actual prospect or young talent who can be part of a core going forward? Jansen? Verdugo? Devers???? (would it make any sense to deal Bello-Whitlock-Houck or Mayer-Rafaela-Drohan-Hickey-Anthony?)
  11. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Ok, so does that mean -- as of today -- the Sox are underperforming where Pythag says they should be? Baseball-ref still gives Boston 0.1% odds to win the World Series. There's still a chance... but what would have to happen? Answer: all the other 29 clubs get infected with a new jardemic... let's call it Pickleball.
  12. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Clarify the Pythag: do those numbers mean that Bloom's Red Sox should be losers in 75% of his years in charge (so far)?
  13. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Even when he had more protection in the line-up, I always wondered why anyone would ever throw him a fastball for a strike. My best guess: egos -- all big leaguers were the best at one level or another in their journey to the top, and they still have the confidence to challenge their peers.
  14. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    I view below .500 as a losing percentage
  15. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Wacha has really sucked at sucking the past two years.
  16. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    OPS is just another metric to measure value... but hardly the end-all be-all. Right? Devers the $300 Million Dollar Man is currently 8th among MLB regular third basemen in OPS at .811. Is JD Davis, the 3B OPS leader at .845, a better "hitter" than Raffy? Davis: 9 HR, 35 RBI; Devers: 17 HR, 56 RBI (leads the majors). For hot cornermen, Raffy is 14th in On Base % with a .301; only Jean Segura is worse (60-game min. at 3B). But Devers leads all third basemen in Slugging at .510. Does anyone think it would be better if Carita has more selective at bats, and maybe draw more walks -- thus raising his OPS -- so guys like Kike, Casas, Arroyo, Wong and Reyes can try to drive him in? Will that really benefit the club? We may not know if Duvall's wrist is fully healed until the weather heats up... so far in his return, he's 2-for-18, with 8 Ks...
  17. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Any discussion of ex-Red Sox players let go and new guys acquired for the big league roster the past four years is really all about the imbalanced Bloom Era. Optimists admitted everything had to go right this season, but so far Bloom hasn't discovered the fountain of youth, and his mad scientist department hasn't invented Herman Munsters out of bionic body parts. In the end, it's all reflected by the won-loss record and the standings. But games above .500 doesn't matter in the cellar, if the four clubs ahead all make the playoffs. Last place can't in the AL East.
  18. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    In an interview a few weeks ago, Cora hinted -- but wouldn't admit -- that Devers may have a nagging injury slowing him down to explain why he doesn't bust it down the line on groundballs. This could also explain why a guy like Verdugo gets "benched" for not hustling, while Raffy gets "rested" once a week. Any double standards for professionals would otherwise destroy team morale.
  19. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Nothing, except people keep bringing him up, and posting why he isn't that good and why no big league clubs think so, either. It's all subjective, even if posters dig up stats that say Wacha sucks and the Red Sox don't. Personally, I could care less when he actually breaks down and eventually lands on the IL -- like every other MLB pitcher does and will. All we know right now about this year, today, is what Wacha has accomplished, and where the Sox sit.
  20. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    It's quite amazing how lucky Wacha is. His sub-3.00 ERA this season is only because he plays on a team with 17 shortstops... And winning 11 of 13 decisions for the last-place Red Sox last year? His team-best WHIP for starters was obviously the product of constant atom balls drilled directly into the gloves of immobile fielders, along with the good fortune of having generous umps with extra-wide strike zones... for an entire season.
  21. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    My gut instincts tell me you may be right. But they wind up wounded, not even dead.
  22. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    He also knows if Devers has another hammy or leg ish that needs rest (or has maybe affected him all season)... which could excuse him for jogging on groundballs -- a cause for public benching for more healthy teammates.
  23. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    If only Paxton stays healthy for the next month and goes 5-0... then we might be able to get a decent prospect. Otherwise, who else will return any value beyond more David Hamiltons (a guy playing the position in Triple A that's the biggest need for his last place parent club... and they won't even give him a call)?
  24. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Obviously the offense has to rebound if the Red Sox are to make any kind of wild card run. Verdugo, Yoshida and Turner will continue to contribute. Two keys: if Duvall regains strength and stability in his injured appendage to swing a hot bat again, it provides line-up protection for Devers, and allows Raffy to heat up with the weather; another source, like Duran or Casas, will also have to break out. Not impossible, and we'll know in the next month if Boston will be buyers or sellers. For the latter to make any difference in the rebuild, Bloom has to be prepared to trade his major assets. The Sox aren't going to land any future rotation or line-up mainstays for Rob Refsnyder. Fans should expect to say goodbye to guys like Jansen and Verdugo; it may hurt for a second, but then it'll be over...
  25. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    The most important thing is to rest Devers now that he's heating up, so he can get cold again.
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