|
Closer
Aug 26, 2021 10:55:46 GMT -5
Post by patford on Aug 26, 2021 10:55:46 GMT -5
The Red Sox should be focused on next year. For that reason the closer role isn't important at this point. I'd just as soon see some minor league arms given an opportunity to see if their game plays at the MLB level. Maybe Crawford? He's 25 years old. Time to see what he is. Your commitment to this idea that they should tank the season while literally being in playoff position is the most stubbornly bonkers thing on this site since dmaineah's JBJ loathing. I think I've been committed to the idea for about a month. During that time I've only seen more evidence that the team has completely collapsed. It's a team which looks totally mentally and physically exhausted and the problems are snowballing with no sign of things improving.
|
|
|
Closer
Aug 26, 2021 10:12:09 GMT -5
Post by patford on Aug 26, 2021 10:12:09 GMT -5
The Red Sox should be focused on next year. For that reason the closer role isn't important at this point. I'd just as soon see some minor league arms given an opportunity to see if their game plays at the MLB level. Maybe Crawford? He's 25 years old. Time to see what he is.
|
|
|
Post by patford on Aug 25, 2021 10:18:20 GMT -5
I am not trying to express a negative opinion, but rather read between the lines of what has transpired. The fact that he hasn't been put there is telling us something. Simple question, If Schwarber is healthy enough to play the OF and 1B is easy to learn, then why hasn't Schwarber played 1B to optimize the lineup? PS: I am not anti-Schwarber. Looks like he has a good approach at the plate and his bat is a welcome addition. My only guess is that with 1st base comes other responsibilities - cut offs, pick offs (from pitcher and catcher), bunt plays, 3-6-3 double plays, flips to pitchers covering, positioning for taking throws (esp. from C), foul pops near dugout and short RF, footwork around the bag, not to mention the dark arts of the hidden ball tricks (fake return throws, etc.), and most important - chatting up/distracting opponents that have reached first. I'm not thinking this moment but after getting his feet wet. In any case I think having Herandez in CF outweighs every other possibility. Also based on just a few games (look at the run down DP the other day) Schwarber seems to have a high baseball IQ. Keep in mind he was a catcher.
|
|
|
Post by patford on Aug 25, 2021 8:02:41 GMT -5
Cora mentioned earlier that Schwarber might get a start at 1B in this series. If he does, a lineup of something like the below would be pretty great. Hernandez CF Schwarber 1B Bogaerts SS Devers 3B Martinez DH Renfroe RF Verdugo LF Arroyo 2B Vasquez C That is the best lineup they can put out right now. I remain hopeful but skeptical that Schwarber will play first. If he is healthy enough to play LF then you would think he could play first so the issue has to be competence rather than health. Even still the lineup above is better defensively at every position except possibly first which would seem to be a net positive even if Schwarber is marginal. Why do people think Schwarber can't play 1B? It seems like his ideal position. Isn't 1B the easiest position to play on the diamond? I mean when it became obvious Hanley couldn't play LF they moved him to 1B. Hanley was brutal in LF in 2015. In 2016 he played 133 games at 1B and had a .996 fielding percentage.
|
|
|
Post by patford on Aug 25, 2021 7:04:37 GMT -5
Some thoughts on the Sox OF play from last night. On the triple in the first inning that caromed off the wall in center and bounced towards RF, if Hunter was hustling over that way he probably would have kept that to a double. I hope someone pointed that out to him or he realized it on his own as Fenway creates those funny bounces. I think Verdugo makes that catch in center at the wall if he had played more center all season, he got turned around and didn't go to the direct spot. This is how a team gets penalized for not having a consistent OF lineup as Duggy hasn't really played a lot of center this season. Both plays cost runs and are the types of plays that need to be made in the playoffs or you don't win. Kiké almost certainly makes that catch. If management has any notion the team is still in the hunt Kiké needs to be in CF every day. CF and SS are the two most important defensive positions on the field and in Fenway I think it's easily CF. Verdugo has been outstanding in LF but he's just okay in CF.
|
|
|
Post by patford on Aug 24, 2021 22:22:25 GMT -5
Koji would have finished this an hour ago and we're all be in bed resting. Sweet dreams. God I miss Koji Koji is the only Sox reliever I have ever liked. Watching him pitch was like watching Larry Bird shoot free throws. I always felt completely relaxed. Every damn pitch was a strike. Compare to Kimbrel who was torture to watch even when he was good.
|
|
|
Post by patford on Aug 24, 2021 22:15:24 GMT -5
Robles sitting at 98. Unfortunately it seems only 1 in 10 of his pitches are in the strike zone. 7/10 for strikes They have swung at a lot of pitches out of the strike zone.
|
|
|
Post by patford on Aug 24, 2021 22:14:43 GMT -5
He’s got to go back to using that stuff and if he gets caught then so be it I am actually surprised this attitude isn’t more widespread. That may be the problem but the track record is Barnes always fades and he's been tremendously overused this year. Like many (most) relief pitchers he's rarely good back to back. Taylor, Barnes, Ottavino, Sawamura have all been pretty strong when well rested. They may be all totally worn down by now. Sure looks it.
|
|
|
Post by patford on Aug 24, 2021 22:10:35 GMT -5
Robles sitting at 98. Unfortunately it seems only 1 in 10 of his pitches are in the strike zone.
|
|
|
Post by patford on Aug 24, 2021 22:03:43 GMT -5
I have not criticized Cora all year but sending out Barnes was a very bad idea. Not only because it was entirely predictable that he would be horrendous but because of the humiliation it subjects Barnes to.
|
|
|
Post by patford on Aug 24, 2021 21:57:12 GMT -5
There is zero chance Barnes doesn't blow this. It's almost cruel to send him out there at this point.
|
|
|
Post by patford on Aug 24, 2021 21:45:18 GMT -5
If the Red Sox can put up 16 runs here I'll be comfortable.
|
|
|
Post by patford on Aug 24, 2021 21:35:49 GMT -5
I am glad to have been wrong. Your reverse jinx is strong.
|
|
|
Post by patford on Aug 24, 2021 14:52:19 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by patford on Aug 24, 2021 7:09:52 GMT -5
Can we all agree to make the Monday Gameday threads as bonkers as possible going forward? Should we bring knives?
|
|
|
Post by patford on Aug 23, 2021 20:13:02 GMT -5
How I envision vermontsox1 at all times How he sees himself:
|
|
|
Post by patford on Aug 23, 2021 18:55:59 GMT -5
Read the whole thread or article on the Tyler Skaggs stuff. It is insane! "In one such exchange, Kay allegedly offers to leave tickets to an Angels game for a dealer if he will bring drugs to the Stadium, saying “I just can’t leave work tonight. "Speaking with another alleged dealer, Kay says “U have a son? Could hook him with a signed Trout ball for a trade if U want?” The alleged dealer replies, “We dodger fans my boi lol.”" ... "Kay reportedly told the Drug Enforcement Agency that “at least two executives” in the Angels organization knew he was dealing illicit drugs to Angels players. "Attorney Rusty Hardin, who also represents Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson in a separate string of civil lawsuits, is representing the Skaggs family in a wrongful death suit against the Angels." "Kay’s own family members reportedly informed Kay’s boss, Tim Mead that Kay was providing drugs to players within the organization and begged him to intervene but Mead failed to take action." Jesus. And people think the Sox have problems. Why would Trout or Ohtani want to be tainted by the association. This has got to run deeper than a couple of people.
|
|
|
Post by patford on Aug 23, 2021 18:20:49 GMT -5
If management has given up; Duran should play everyday. They need to see if he can make adjustments and begin hitting. I'd play him at 2B and LF. If they think they have a chance they should send him down and have him work exclusively at 2B. He is not and never will be a quality CF. He's had around three years. The primary issue he has is one that is more intuitive than learned. The whole idea of speed making up for a bad jump is analytically wrong. There are stats on it. Well you've certainly managed to package it in a lot of nonsense, but there is an interesting question here I think: my understanding is that they moved him to CF because they felt his speed was wasted at 2B, but what if his speed is wasted in CF because he never masters reads-'n-routes? Patford's certainty is unjustified, I think, but it is a little discouraging that his outfield defense is still so weak after this much time. Was he a good second baseman? Could he pick it up again, or a Kiké/Marwin type role?
All I know is he's 169th out of 194 MLB outfielders and he's had three years to figure things out. I also know that people like Chris and Ian who have seen him in person are now saying they think he can become "adequate."
|
|
|
Post by patford on Aug 23, 2021 17:44:33 GMT -5
Message to Sox management. Either bail on the season and start looking at next year or play the OF that got the team where it was in the 1st half. You can't take the statistically best CF in MLB and replace him with the statistically worst CF in MLB and not expect a problem. I am sure once they hear your other idea to tank the rest of the season, they will be open to whatever other nuggets of wisdom you bring forth. I still think they should tank the season but I'm 100% confident Sox management knows better than I do. They have the experience, the knowledge, the departments of analytics and scouts. I'd love to be wrong. I don't understand the Giants either. To me the Sox can be summed up as: Starters still usually not going six innings and the bullpen exhausted and disintegrating. A lineup which might come alive but is currently dead in the water.
|
|
|
Post by patford on Aug 23, 2021 17:39:05 GMT -5
Message to Sox management. Either bail on the season and start looking at next year or play the OF that got the team where it was in the 1st half. You can't take the statistically best CF in MLB and replace him with the statistically worst CF in MLB and not expect a problem. Well they just got Arroyo back today, and right away but Kiké back in CF.
It'll be interesting to see how often Duran makes it into the lineup now. With Schwarber and Arroyo the field is getting a little crowded...
If management has given up; Duran should play everyday. They need to see if he can make adjustments and begin hitting. I'd play him at 2B and LF. If they think they have a chance they should send him down and have him work exclusively at 2B. He is not and never will be a quality CF. He's had around three years. The primary issue he has is one that is more intuitive than learned. The whole idea of speed making up for a bad jump is analytically wrong. There are stats on it.
|
|
|
Post by patford on Aug 23, 2021 17:17:37 GMT -5
Message to Sox management. Either bail on the season and start looking at next year or play the OF that got the team where it was in the 1st half. You can't take the statistically best CF in MLB and replace him with the statistically worst CF in MLB and not expect a problem.
|
|
|
Post by patford on Aug 23, 2021 15:03:24 GMT -5
It would be interesting to see where the Sox rank in infield singles allowed. I'd bet they are #1 by a substantial margin.
|
|
|
Post by patford on Aug 23, 2021 15:00:47 GMT -5
If Bloom and management think the Red Sox have a chance this year starting tomorrow the lineup needs to be:
Hernandez CF Arroyo 2B Bogaerts SS Devers 3B Schwarber 1B Verdugo LF Martinez DH Renfroe RF Plawecki C
Give that a week.
|
|
|
Post by patford on Aug 23, 2021 14:36:46 GMT -5
Everyone always talking about how Verdugo is really struggling and you go and look and his BA is better than Devers'. This is a whole team collapse. It's ridiculous to blame a guy like Dalbec or Cordero or Santana.
|
|
|
Post by patford on Aug 23, 2021 14:28:03 GMT -5
I'd like to see Martinez get hot...so that he would opt out.
|
|