Hopes and aspirations about the Sox in 2018.
Jan 17, 2018 6:38:12 GMT -5
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voiceofreason likes this
Post by pedrofanforever45 on Jan 17, 2018 6:38:12 GMT -5
Wanted to make a new thread to see what everyone hopes to see different with the new approach (coaching staff) and hopefully the improvements in 2018.
1) I'm really interested in seeing how Cora handles Craig Kimbrel. Kimbrel is chasing saves records, which I could careless about (and the Sox shouldn't either) and Kimbrel might care a lot about. If the Sox used Kimbrel correctly late in games, he should be used in the 7th or 8th innings with the heart of the order up (if need be). Farrell didn't want to do this unless Kimbrel was being counted on to finish the game (saves).
If Cora handles this the same way as Farrell did in 2018, then I have no interest in Kimbrel past 2018. I would let Kimbrel walk if the saves become a stink if Cora doesn't let Kimbrel finish games and uses Kimbrel properly when needed. Let Kimbrel have meaningless easy saves somewhere else. I want a elite reliever that doesn't care when he pitches in the game. I want that elite pitcher being used in the most important part of games.
2) I want to see how Cora fills out a lineup card. I want to see if he is just as obsessed with the LHB and RHB balance as Farrell was. At times it's good to switch it up (especially if you got two LHB who can't hit LHP back to back in a lineup), but it isn't big deal if this is the case. This is something Farrell really couldn't understand at all in his time in Boston. We know Cora will bat Betts and Benintendi 1 and 2 for now. Hopefully J.D. Martinez follows them and hopefully Cora realizes that Devers is the best option at the cleanup spot that the Sox might have, even though he is only 21.
3) I want to see if Cora will move around the outfielders. Betts in CF when JBJ sits (he is the second best defender in the outfield and needs to be here when JBJ isn't playing), Benintendi playing all spots (not in CF over Mookie unless you're at Fenway). JBJ should always be in CF, but even he should see some time in RF in Fenway when Mookie needs a rest too.
4) I want to see Xander stop pretending he is Derek Jeter and drive the ball, instead of trying to slap the ball to all fields. Close your stance and attack pitches in the strikezone, this way you don't chase bad pitches out of the zone constantly when you strangely look at pitches down the middle early in counts. This can also go for JBJ too at times.
Forget the patient approach. Bullpens are being brought in earlier and earlier in games and are throwing heat. It doesn't get any easier getting the starter out of games now a days.
5) I look for Mookie to have his best year as a Sox player. Hitting over .310 and hitting over 35 homeruns. Big bounce back year hopefully coming for the Mookie monster.
6) I look for Austin Maddox to be in the bullpen full-time by June and take over one of Workman, Kelly, Barnes, or Hembree in the bullpen. My guess is that Workman is the first to go out of this group.
7) I hope the Sox find room for Johnson as a lefty in the bullpen and fill the Abad role, at least to start the year. He actually might start the year in the rotation briefly with a Wright suspension coming and Eduardo's rehab, but I hope they find a way to keep Johnson somehow all year. He would be good depth to have. I trust both of these pitchers over the group of Workman and Hembree for example. I hope Wright and Johnson get roster spots over Workman and Hembree.
8) I really want to know what this team is going to honestly do with Swihart by end of spring training. It's either him or Holt that is probably leaving, outside of injuries of course.
9) I hope the Sox can work Wright in at times as the sixth starter in the middle of the year and give everyone in the rotation a extra day or skip a start even. If you keep him and Johnson in the bullpen, you could chew innings out of the bullpen and you could have spot starters whenever you needed it. This way you hopefully fix the problem of Sale wearing down at the end of the season.
9) I want to see what Thornburg is. He should be a elite reliever, but who knows now after his recent surgery that some pitchers have a hard time bouncing back from.
10) I want to see if Carson Smith has any extra velocity added almost 2 years removed from Tommy John surgery by early next season.
11) I want to see Vazquez improve defensively as a catcher. He is comparable to Jose Iglesias imo. Really flashy at times, but can muff up the easy routine plays and lose concentration or something.
12) I want Eduardo Rodriguez to step up and pitch 160-170 innings for the first time ever. It's a big year for Eduardo Rodriguez. He needs to prove some sort of consistency. Hopefully his knee problems are completely gone now.
13) I hope Benintendi just keeps doing what he is doing and stays consistent. Any kind of a sophomore slump could hurt this team in terms of production.
14) I might be in the minority but I want to see Marco Hernandez play at second base to start the year. I think he's a toolsy player. Got a little bit of a hit tool, a little bit of speed, good arm, could be a good defender at second base. Him and Marrero could form a decent platoon at second until Pedrioa is back.
I think that's all I got for now.
1) I'm really interested in seeing how Cora handles Craig Kimbrel. Kimbrel is chasing saves records, which I could careless about (and the Sox shouldn't either) and Kimbrel might care a lot about. If the Sox used Kimbrel correctly late in games, he should be used in the 7th or 8th innings with the heart of the order up (if need be). Farrell didn't want to do this unless Kimbrel was being counted on to finish the game (saves).
If Cora handles this the same way as Farrell did in 2018, then I have no interest in Kimbrel past 2018. I would let Kimbrel walk if the saves become a stink if Cora doesn't let Kimbrel finish games and uses Kimbrel properly when needed. Let Kimbrel have meaningless easy saves somewhere else. I want a elite reliever that doesn't care when he pitches in the game. I want that elite pitcher being used in the most important part of games.
2) I want to see how Cora fills out a lineup card. I want to see if he is just as obsessed with the LHB and RHB balance as Farrell was. At times it's good to switch it up (especially if you got two LHB who can't hit LHP back to back in a lineup), but it isn't big deal if this is the case. This is something Farrell really couldn't understand at all in his time in Boston. We know Cora will bat Betts and Benintendi 1 and 2 for now. Hopefully J.D. Martinez follows them and hopefully Cora realizes that Devers is the best option at the cleanup spot that the Sox might have, even though he is only 21.
3) I want to see if Cora will move around the outfielders. Betts in CF when JBJ sits (he is the second best defender in the outfield and needs to be here when JBJ isn't playing), Benintendi playing all spots (not in CF over Mookie unless you're at Fenway). JBJ should always be in CF, but even he should see some time in RF in Fenway when Mookie needs a rest too.
4) I want to see Xander stop pretending he is Derek Jeter and drive the ball, instead of trying to slap the ball to all fields. Close your stance and attack pitches in the strikezone, this way you don't chase bad pitches out of the zone constantly when you strangely look at pitches down the middle early in counts. This can also go for JBJ too at times.
Forget the patient approach. Bullpens are being brought in earlier and earlier in games and are throwing heat. It doesn't get any easier getting the starter out of games now a days.
5) I look for Mookie to have his best year as a Sox player. Hitting over .310 and hitting over 35 homeruns. Big bounce back year hopefully coming for the Mookie monster.
6) I look for Austin Maddox to be in the bullpen full-time by June and take over one of Workman, Kelly, Barnes, or Hembree in the bullpen. My guess is that Workman is the first to go out of this group.
7) I hope the Sox find room for Johnson as a lefty in the bullpen and fill the Abad role, at least to start the year. He actually might start the year in the rotation briefly with a Wright suspension coming and Eduardo's rehab, but I hope they find a way to keep Johnson somehow all year. He would be good depth to have. I trust both of these pitchers over the group of Workman and Hembree for example. I hope Wright and Johnson get roster spots over Workman and Hembree.
8) I really want to know what this team is going to honestly do with Swihart by end of spring training. It's either him or Holt that is probably leaving, outside of injuries of course.
9) I hope the Sox can work Wright in at times as the sixth starter in the middle of the year and give everyone in the rotation a extra day or skip a start even. If you keep him and Johnson in the bullpen, you could chew innings out of the bullpen and you could have spot starters whenever you needed it. This way you hopefully fix the problem of Sale wearing down at the end of the season.
9) I want to see what Thornburg is. He should be a elite reliever, but who knows now after his recent surgery that some pitchers have a hard time bouncing back from.
10) I want to see if Carson Smith has any extra velocity added almost 2 years removed from Tommy John surgery by early next season.
11) I want to see Vazquez improve defensively as a catcher. He is comparable to Jose Iglesias imo. Really flashy at times, but can muff up the easy routine plays and lose concentration or something.
12) I want Eduardo Rodriguez to step up and pitch 160-170 innings for the first time ever. It's a big year for Eduardo Rodriguez. He needs to prove some sort of consistency. Hopefully his knee problems are completely gone now.
13) I hope Benintendi just keeps doing what he is doing and stays consistent. Any kind of a sophomore slump could hurt this team in terms of production.
14) I might be in the minority but I want to see Marco Hernandez play at second base to start the year. I think he's a toolsy player. Got a little bit of a hit tool, a little bit of speed, good arm, could be a good defender at second base. Him and Marrero could form a decent platoon at second until Pedrioa is back.
I think that's all I got for now.
