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8/4-8/6 Red Sox @ Yankees Series Thread
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Post by amfox1 on Aug 5, 2015 22:35:14 GMT -5
Unpopular opinion: I've been pretty disappointed by Swihart this year, both offensively and defensively. His plate discipline/plate recognition has looked pretty terrible, he hasn't really shown much game power, and he's not really shown above-average defensive skills (though the tools/athleticism are certainly there). Offensively, he looks like a guy who was rushed to the majors and is swimming in deep water. I'd expect he will consolidate these gains next year, either in Boston or Pawtucket. Defensively, he hasn't looked that great and I have not noticed any improvements. Hopefully that will come with time. Realistically, he should have been in AAA all year.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Aug 5, 2015 22:53:55 GMT -5
Unpopular opinion: I've been pretty disappointed by Swihart this year, both offensively and defensively. His plate discipline/plate recognition has looked pretty terrible, he hasn't really shown much game power, and he's not really shown above-average defensive skills (though the tools/athleticism are certainly there). Cut Swihart some slack. He should be tearing up AAA now, not struggling in the majors. He should also be sharpening his defensive skills in Pawtucket as well. He was called up too soon. The player you see now should be a different player by 2017 or 2018. I think he just needs time and experience to mature. I still think he's the Sox catcher of the future, but I think it would be beneficial to him if he starts next year in AAA with Vazquez starting behind the plate and Hanigan backing him up.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Aug 5, 2015 22:57:00 GMT -5
I wish Farrell would stick with Castillo and give him a full chance. Nothing against DeAza, but he's not the future.
I wouldn't mind having him on next year's team as a backup. He's a good option to take over LF late in games to relieve the Sox of Hanley's defense, plus as a defensive replacement if his turn does come up in the order, he's not an automatic out. He's a useful player, but we already know what he is.
The Sox need to find out if Castillo is a younger Victorino clone, and they're not going to find that out platooning him against lefties.
I haven't complained much about Farrell, but I'm not happy that's he's not doing what's best for the long-term for the Sox.
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Post by m1keyboots on Aug 5, 2015 22:58:55 GMT -5
Unpopular opinion: I've been pretty disappointed by Swihart this year, both offensively and defensively. His plate discipline/plate recognition has looked pretty terrible, he hasn't really shown much game power, and he's not really shown above-average defensive skills (though the tools/athleticism are certainly there). Cut Swihart some slack. He should be tearing up AAA now, not struggling in the majors. He should also be sharpening his defensive skills in Pawtucket as well. He was called up too soon. The player you see now should be a different player by 2017 or 2018. I think he just needs time and experience to mature. I still think he's the Sox catcher of the future, but I think it would be beneficial to him if he starts next year in AAA with Vazquez starting behind the plate and Hanigan backing him up. Imo opinion Vasquez came up and did a lot more much sooner than swihart. He laid down bunts. Moved runners, framed pitches and shut down the running game. Losing Vasquez (I wrote a about it before) took away our shot at the playoffs)
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Post by bookiemetts on Aug 5, 2015 23:54:09 GMT -5
Already 2 incredibly terrible calls by the ump today. Also known as a great day for MLB umpires. Haha besides this one, not bad:
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ericmvan
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Supposed to be working on something more important
Posts: 8,941
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Post by ericmvan on Aug 6, 2015 0:50:20 GMT -5
Wright's worst start of the season by far was the one he made on 7 days rest, after the ASB, when he looked like he had no feel for the pitch at all. I've noticed in his ml career that he often pitched poorly when not on regular rest, and of course it makes sense that the knuckleball would benefit from being thrown within the framework of a regular routine.
Here's what he's done in his other 7 starts, all with regular rest (4 or 5 days):
42.1 IP, 35 H, 9 BB (0 HB), 33 SO, 3.19 ERA, .217 / .259 / .385 allowed.
Except for the 7 HR allowed, he's been kind of tremendous. Because of the HRs, his FIP is 4.43, but he's had a .231 BABIP that's been largely skill rather than luck.
We'll see if he keeps this up for the rest of the year. If he does, that puts an extra twist on the decision to sign Masterson as a 5th starter, no?
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Post by mgoetze on Aug 6, 2015 4:33:21 GMT -5
Here's what he's done in his other 7 starts, all with regular rest (4 or 5 days): 42.1 IP, 35 H, 9 BB (0 HB), 33 SO, 3.19 ERA, .217 / .259 / .385 allowed. Meanwhile, in relief: 20.1 IP, 21 H, 10 BB, 12 SO, 4.43 ERA. "Let's put Wright in the pen" has never sounded dumber. Of course, I always took that to be just another way of saying "I hate knuckleballers". But between this and your earlier analysis of how Wright did on pitches 1-15 and pitches 16+, it seems very clear where Wright is more valuable.
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Post by mgoetze on Aug 6, 2015 5:18:45 GMT -5
Offensively, he looks like a guy who was rushed to the majors and is swimming in deep water. I'd expect he will consolidate these gains next year, either in Boston or Pawtucket. Defensively, he hasn't looked that great and I have not noticed any improvements. I have - he has gotten noticeably better at catching knuckleballs. Otherwise, Swihart has done nothing to change the opinion I held a year ago: the Sox' catcher of the future is Christian Vazquez.
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Post by sarasoxer on Aug 6, 2015 6:37:55 GMT -5
Unpopular opinion: I've been pretty disappointed by Swihart this year, both offensively and defensively. His plate discipline/plate recognition has looked pretty terrible, he hasn't really shown much game power, and he's not really shown above-average defensive skills (though the tools/athleticism are certainly there). I want to cut him some slack but your thoughts had been creeping into my head as well. For a player so hyped....Right now he looks to be perhaps a .260 bat without much power. His major asset on display so far has been his uncommon....for a catcher....speed. JBJ just can't clear out to handle inside corner or almost middle in FBs. What a contrast in the way Papi did with his HR and what Shaw has displayed. They both can get their hips and upper body out of the way for bat delivery. JBJ is not able to IMO.
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Post by gregblossersbelly on Aug 6, 2015 7:09:28 GMT -5
Wright's worst start of the season by far was the one he made on 7 days rest, after the ASB, when he looked like he had no feel for the pitch at all. I've noticed in his ml career that he often pitched poorly when not on regular rest, and of course it makes sense that the knuckleball would benefit from being thrown within the framework of a regular routine. Here's what he's done in his other 7 starts, all with regular rest (4 or 5 days): 42.1 IP, 35 H, 9 BB (0 HB), 33 SO, 3.19 ERA, .217 / .259 / .385 allowed. Except for the 7 HR allowed, he's been kind of tremendous. Because of the HRs, his FIP is 4.43, but he's had a .231 BABIP that's been largely skill rather than luck. We'll see if he keeps this up for the rest of the year. If he does, that puts an extra twist on the decision to sign Masterson as a 5th starter, no? We can't bring Masterson back whether you think Wright is the 5th starter or not. Justin isn't a MLB starting pitcher any longer. If he signs for 2-3m as a long reliever, I'd bring him back. Not as a starter. I'd rather give Wright a crack at the 5th starter with Owens looming in AAA working on his fastball command.
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wcp3
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Post by wcp3 on Aug 6, 2015 7:17:10 GMT -5
Here's what he's done in his other 7 starts, all with regular rest (4 or 5 days): 42.1 IP, 35 H, 9 BB (0 HB), 33 SO, 3.19 ERA, .217 / .259 / .385 allowed. Meanwhile, in relief: 20.1 IP, 21 H, 10 BB, 12 SO, 4.43 ERA. "Let's put Wright in the pen" has never sounded dumber. Of course, I always took that to be just another way of saying "I hate knuckleballers". But between this and your earlier analysis of how Wright did on pitches 1-15 and pitches 16+, it seems very clear where Wright is more valuable. Trust me: it's not. True knuckleball haters don't want him on the roster to begin with? Does anyone have a reasonable explanation for why Rusney isn't getting regular ABs? Or is it just Farrell's incompetence?
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Post by iakovos11 on Aug 6, 2015 7:28:39 GMT -5
Maybe there's interest in DeAza for waiver deadline trade and the other team(s) want to see him play a bit more? That's all I got.
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Post by okin15 on Aug 6, 2015 7:50:03 GMT -5
I just learned that Alex Speier's twitter avatar is actually him. Dude has TREMENDOUS mutton chops. So much respec'!
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Post by soxcentral on Aug 6, 2015 7:51:20 GMT -5
Re: Wright - I am a fan AND want to see him in the pen because of my unfounded belief that putting a knuckleballer in before your hard throwing relievers amplifies their success. Pretty much like Eric says when discussing Wright starting a series, except this is on a micro level.
Re: Castillo - Any decision to not play him every day after all the time off the last two years is incompetence, nothing else. If he wasn't going to play every day here, he should be in AAA. I was a big believer in BC all the way up to the last few weeks, but it gets harder to defend his approach more and more.
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Post by GyIantosca on Aug 6, 2015 7:52:55 GMT -5
I think it's a waste of time to keep trotting out these six or seven players who are not gonna be here next year. Farrell is killing this team with his loyalty to the veterans. He just rather sink with these guys.
My opinion on Swihart is he is only what 22? Should be in AAA and got thrown to the wolves. I keep thinking Xander where he was last year and this year and I apply it to Swihart. That's also why I am pumped about Betts next year. As for Vasquez he has like four years on Swihart .
Jackie scares me I hope he can get his. Offense to click soon, I mean very soon. He is too good defensively.
My other beef is with starting pitchers and bullpen. What if E-Rod, Owens ,Johnson can pan out on some level? What if Wright has figured out some stuff here. I rather see these guys than what I saw this year from that other group. I don't even want to start with the bullpen. I hope that learned a lesson on that stupid idea they had.
I feel with the last two drafts they are accumulating arms that are not good enough for a starting rotation but can be very dangerous for a bullpen. Finally!
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Post by mgoetze on Aug 6, 2015 8:27:54 GMT -5
Re: Wright - I am a fan AND want to see him in the pen because of my unfounded belief that putting a knuckleballer in before your hard throwing relievers amplifies their success. Pretty much like Eric says when discussing Wright starting a series, except this is on a micro level. Eh.... batting orders are 9 men long. The only make to make sure all the batters Wright faces will be up again later is to use him in the 6th inning at the latest. And Koji isn't the one who needs help.
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Post by ctfisher on Aug 6, 2015 8:50:16 GMT -5
I think jumping to conclusions on Swihart's bat isn't wise at this stage, given his age and track record. I also do really like his swing from both sides of the plate, and I've felt his at bats have been looking better recently as well. That being said, I think we should try to use him as the key piece in a deal for a top of the rotation starter, because he's extremely valuable still, and he's at least somewhat superfluous given that we have Vazquez, and he has a lower floor because his defense hasn't come as advertised.
On a separate note, I wouldn't be against giving Napoli another shot at a low base salary with a bunch of incentives and platooning him and Shaw at 1B next year. Between the two of them, I think you get some solid production, plus Shaw can function as your back-up 3B, and it saves money over pursuing a pricey free agent. Maybe we'd need to see a little more out of Shaw, but I can't imagine bringing Nap back would cost us more than $5m guaranteed, and I think we should be devoting as much of our payroll as possible to improving the pitching staff for next year. This does assume that Hanley stays in LF next year though, which I don't like, because it also basically relegates both Bradley and Castillo to platoon roles themselves
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Post by thegoo13 on Aug 6, 2015 9:18:07 GMT -5
I think jumping to conclusions on Swihart's bat isn't wise at this stage, given his age and track record. I also do really like his swing from both sides of the plate, and I've felt his at bats have been looking better recently as well. That being said, I think we should try to use him as the key piece in a deal for a top of the rotation starter, because he's extremely valuable still, and he's at least somewhat superfluous given that we have Vazquez, and he has a lower floor because his defense hasn't come as advertised. On a separate note, I wouldn't be against giving Napoli another shot at a low base salary with a bunch of incentives and platooning him and Shaw at 1B next year. Between the two of them, I think you get some solid production, plus Shaw can function as your back-up 3B, and it saves money over pursuing a pricey free agent. Maybe we'd need to see a little more out of Shaw, but I can't imagine bringing Nap back would cost us more than $5m guaranteed, and I think we should be devoting as much of our payroll as possible to improving the pitching staff for next year. This does assume that Hanley stays in LF next year though, which I don't like, because it also basically relegates both Bradley and Castillo to platoon roles themselves Agree on Swihart. For me he gets a free pass this year. If he doesn't improve in the next couple years well then it would be time to re-evaluate but based on this year alone it would be silly to think any less of him. It reminds me of the boards last year about how Xander was a fraud and bla bla bla. It takes time. I still think he is going to be an all-star catcher. In regard to a Napoli/Shaw platoon. My issue with that is: one of the major problems with this team is Hanley in LF. It's not fair to the pitching staff or rest of the team to just accept playing outs into hits in LF every week of the season. Hanley has to be moved to 3B or 1B until he can be moved to DH. Also I think our OF options of Castillo, Betts and either JBJ or ADA are better options offensively than Nap/Shaw.
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nomar
Veteran
Posts: 10,907
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Post by nomar on Aug 6, 2015 9:35:47 GMT -5
I've been on board with Trading Swihart for a young pitcher for a while now.
It wouldn't be a bad idea to explore a trade for Carrasco + Carlos Santana for Swihart+
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Post by ctfisher on Aug 6, 2015 9:51:43 GMT -5
I've been on board with Trading Swihart for a young pitcher for a while now. It wouldn't be a bad idea to explore a trade for Carrasco + Carlos Santana for Swihart+ I love that trade, although I feel like the + would have to be pretty significant. That also still leaves us with the Hanley/JBJ/Castillo issue, unless Bradley is part of the package going to the Indians
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nomar
Veteran
Posts: 10,907
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Post by nomar on Aug 6, 2015 10:29:50 GMT -5
I've been on board with Trading Swihart for a young pitcher for a while now. It wouldn't be a bad idea to explore a trade for Carrasco + Carlos Santana for Swihart+ I love that trade, although I feel like the + would have to be pretty significant. That also still leaves us with the Hanley/JBJ/Castillo issue, unless Bradley is part of the package going to the Indians Swihart + Castillo/JBJ + Ball maybe
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Post by jrffam05 on Aug 6, 2015 11:39:26 GMT -5
Why not just solve the value difference between Swihart and Carrasco and fix 1B elsewhere?
Perez has been solid for them and is young and cheap too.
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Post by gregblossersbelly on Aug 6, 2015 11:49:03 GMT -5
Why not just solve the value difference between Swihart and Carrasco and fix 1B elsewhere? Perez has been solid for them and is young and cheap too. Our 1b might hit 8th next year. I'm about as worried about that position as I am the sun rising in the east tomorrow. Assuming we can't dump Hanley and/or Panda on anyone. Looks like Mookie - CF Bogaerts- SS Pedey - 2B Ortiz - DH Hanley - LF Sandoval - 3B Castillo - RF 1B - Shaw or scrapheap guy C Hanigan/Swihart or Vazquez Bench Holt Back-up C 4th OF - Da'za or JBJ(I think another team will value JBJ's D and we deal him) ?? Need to spend all our money on starting pitching and bullpen help before addressing 1b IMO.
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Post by James Dunne on Aug 6, 2015 12:07:34 GMT -5
I'm 100% on board with a Travis Shaw/Matt Hague platoon at first base next year, with Shaw also getting reps at third and Hague occasionally spelling Ortiz as a right-handed DH.
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Post by jimed14 on Aug 6, 2015 12:26:10 GMT -5
Just pointing out that in the minors, Shaw had pretty minor splits. .267/.370/.455 vs. RHP .251/.343/.441 vs. LHP
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