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danr
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Post by danr on May 4, 2015 10:01:25 GMT -5
The Sox have been playing essentially with three black holes in the lineup: RF, 1B and catcher. Catcher was expected and can be managed, but RF and 1B are positions that have to generate offense, which they haven't been doing.
I think Napoli will come around. The only solution I see to the RF problem is bringing up either Castillo or Bradley. Victorino and Craig are about the same hitter, and not good enough to be regulars now. Nava doesn't hit with enough power. Right now he isn't hitting enough, period.
The Sox probably are gun shy with Bradley and Castillo apparently isn't ready. I used that word because he hasn't played much at Pawtucket. I think it is worth the risk of giving Bradley another shot. And I think the Sox should cut ties with Victorino and Craig.
Sox management made almost the same kind of gamble with pitching in the off season that they did with the outfield the year before. They gambled that they could get away without signing or trading for an ace or two. That gamble isn't working so far. However, unlike last year, there are backups. They may not be aces, but there is at least one pitcher at Pawtucket, Rodriguez, who probably could pitch better for the Sox now than several of the existing starters. Unless something physical caused Johnson's problem yesterday, I think he also might be an improvement.
Sox management also gambled that putting together a cheap collection of castoff and secondary RPS would make for a good bullpen. That isn't working, either. The solution may be to replace one or two of those RPs with one or two of the current starters.
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danr
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Posts: 1,871
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Post by danr on May 3, 2015 17:16:20 GMT -5
According to Baseball Prospectus, Jimenez so far hasn't been able to hit major league breaking balls on the outside of the plate - and apparently every pitcher must know this.
This move probably shows that Cecchini's stock with the Sox has dropped along with his batting average.
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danr
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Posts: 1,871
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Post by danr on May 3, 2015 16:37:46 GMT -5
Jimenez raked, with power, in the minors at all levels but has not been able to hit in the majors. A Brewer fan site said he basically failed to impress anyone in spring training, or in the season so far. Someone with the Sox must think that he might hit. He can play 1B as well as 3B.
He is supposed to be added to the major league roster tomorrow.
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danr
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Posts: 1,871
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Post by danr on May 3, 2015 16:18:39 GMT -5
I know Witte is old for his league but maybe we truly is just a late bloomer? I was looking at his stats and he just seems to be getting better and better... it isn't like guys havent just "got it" at 25 before right? He raked last year at Greenville and Salem, and this is only his third year in the system. He was older than average when he was drafted and signed. He had quite a day today going 4 for 5 with two doubles and a homer, and his BA is up to .354. I don't know what his defense is like, but if it is decent then he ought to get a shot at Pawtucket at some point.
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danr
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Posts: 1,871
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Post by danr on May 3, 2015 9:36:06 GMT -5
If Hanigan is going to be out at least until after the All Star game, why didn't they put him on the 60-day list, thus freeing a spot on the roster?
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danr
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Posts: 1,871
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Post by danr on May 1, 2015 15:21:06 GMT -5
Homer Bailey to have TJ surgery.
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danr
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Posts: 1,871
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Post by danr on Apr 29, 2015 14:23:06 GMT -5
Mujica has to be the next cut. I had a feeling they were going to cut somebody soon and I thought it would be him. Varvaro was second in my mind. A few more games like the recent ones and the list of potential cuts, or demotions, will grow considerably.
I think they are trying to make Craig worth something to somebody, but it isn't working.
I think there is something physically wrong with Buchholz and I have thought so for a couple of years. His FB velocity has been better this year than it was last year, but it still is not where it was. There isn't enough speed difference among his pitches.
Kelly has a bit of this problem as well, which he more or less admitted the other day when he said he was more successful with his slower stuff. He was throwing too many fastballs and it doesn't matter that they were 99 MPH. Any major league hitter can hit the fastball at any speed if they are pretty certain it is coming and if it is nicely placed over the plate. He was too predictable and he lost some command when he tried to blow them away.
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danr
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Posts: 1,871
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Post by danr on Apr 29, 2015 11:47:33 GMT -5
If one were to look at the SP problem the Sox have in the same way one would with a team of under-performing employees, what would be the most effective move?
If you believe in intangibles, and assuming that the entire team can't be jettisoned and they aren't really incompetent, then the most effective move is to get rid of the person on that team who has the most influence on the others, their effective leader, or the one with the most seniority. The second most effective move is to get rid of the worst performer, if that person is different from the first one cut. Generally those still on the team will perform better, sometimes significantly better.
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danr
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Posts: 1,871
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Post by danr on Apr 29, 2015 10:07:02 GMT -5
I'm beginning to think that if you switch the AAA rotation (Owens, Rodriguez, Johnson, Barnes, and Wright) with the major league rotation (Buchholz, Porcello, Masterson, Miley, Kelly) it would be an improvement. I'm not a big fan of Wright and I don't think Owens is ready yet, but your point is valid. They probably would not be worse.
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danr
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Posts: 1,871
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Post by danr on Apr 29, 2015 9:31:50 GMT -5
Something has to be done about the starting rotation. I think the next starter who doesn't go at least five innings should be put in the bullpen, replacing one of the RPs who either is DFA'd or sent to Pawtucket. Then one of either Johnson or Rodriguez should be brought up to take that starter's place. And then the other one should be brought up to replace the next starter who blows up.
It's not bad luck that is causing these problems. It's bad pitching. It should not be allowed to continue much longer
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danr
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Posts: 1,871
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Post by danr on Apr 27, 2015 16:19:15 GMT -5
If Napoli doesnt come back next year maybe Hanley should move to 1B.
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danr
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Posts: 1,871
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Post by danr on Apr 27, 2015 12:47:45 GMT -5
Miley isn't pitching like Miley. His results probably would be better if he were, and I'm not ready to say that he won't.
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danr
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Posts: 1,871
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Post by danr on Apr 27, 2015 12:44:53 GMT -5
I have to admit I never understood Webster.
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danr
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Posts: 1,871
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Post by danr on Apr 27, 2015 11:19:02 GMT -5
You have to figure that given the size and strength of these high school kids many can hit 96 or even higher. What counts is whether their FB sits at 96, or higher. Then there is something to get excited about.
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danr
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Posts: 1,871
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Post by danr on Apr 26, 2015 16:30:23 GMT -5
If it weren't for all the unearned runs the Sox have scored, their record might be quite a bit worse. Thus the 10-9 record is a bit deceptive. So far this is not that good a team. However, it should be. How the team does in this long homestand may be a better barometer.
If things don't improve the team has quite a few options. I don't think there's going to be a lot of management patience with this kind of performance.
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danr
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Post by danr on Apr 26, 2015 15:29:45 GMT -5
Every season there is at least one game like this.
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danr
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Posts: 1,871
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Post by danr on Apr 26, 2015 12:46:47 GMT -5
I haven't read any explanation, but without that, this lineup doesn't make any sense.
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danr
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Posts: 1,871
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Post by danr on Apr 26, 2015 8:47:42 GMT -5
He was 23 when he was drafted so it is not as if the guy has been hanging around the low minors. Daniel Nava should be evidence that age is only a factor. I don't know whether he is a flash in the pan, or the real deal. It's a little early, but if he keeps this up he will become interesting.
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danr
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Posts: 1,871
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Post by danr on Apr 24, 2015 15:55:04 GMT -5
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danr
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Post by danr on Apr 24, 2015 15:47:57 GMT -5
Baseball is a lot more popular in Mexico than it is in Canada. I think I would rather see a team in Mexico City than in Montreal. I think it probably would be very profitable, particularly in they built a large stadium. Attendance there might be a larger portion of revenues.
The population of metro Mexico City is 21 million - larger than the population in the New York metro area. That's five times larger than the metro area of Montreal.
I've never been to Mexico City but I know people who have, and, if you have money, as major league ballplayers do, there are good places to live and it can be an enjoyable city. It does have an air pollution problem.
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danr
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Posts: 1,871
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Post by danr on Apr 24, 2015 10:44:53 GMT -5
I don't think the Sox need to trade for an ace. They have the additional starters they may need at Pawtucket. They do need to get stronger in the bullpen and I think trades will be necessary to do that.
There doesn't seem to be any charge in the bats of Craig and Victorino. This can't go on much longer.
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danr
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Posts: 1,871
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Post by danr on Apr 23, 2015 17:35:28 GMT -5
Pitchers seem to be coming back from TJ surgery pretty well these days. In fact, I can't think of one recently who wasn't able to come back. However, not all of them are as good as they were before the surgery. Also, some take much longer than others to recover. Dylan Bundy of the Orioles is one who has been slow to recover, but apparently is getting there.
Assuming there isn't something else in his medical record, Aiken probably would be the best player the Sox could get. But it could be 2017 before he pitches like he once did. The Sox can afford to wait for him.
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danr
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Posts: 1,871
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Post by danr on Apr 23, 2015 17:12:20 GMT -5
I believe that all major league teams now are making money regardless of their attendance. In fact, MLB is awash in money. MLB could easily expand by several teams without a problem.
The Nationals don't seem to be having trouble with attendance. They drew 2.6 million last year, an average of 32,000 per game. And 40 miles up 95 in Baltimore the Orioles drew 2.5 million, an average of 30,000 per game. The Red Sox drew 2.9 million, an average of 36,000 per game.
There are only six teams drawing less than 2 million, and with the exception of KC, which drew just a bit less than 2 million, the other five, Tampa, Cleveland, Miami, Houston and the Chicago White Sox did not offer their fans much to cheer about last year.
I think that weather affects the attendance of some teams, particularly those that are in very hot places without A/C, or in ones where it is cold and damp this time of year and sometimes in the fall as well. But then there are cities like Boston, St. Louis and Milwaukee where the fans will fill the place almost all the time.
The fact is that more and more revenue is coming from television and probably MLB would make even more money if there were more teams. Put major league teams in cities like Portland, San Antonio, Las Vegas, Charlotte, Buffalo and maybe Montreal again, and, I believe, interest in MLB would increase.
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danr
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Posts: 1,871
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Post by danr on Apr 23, 2015 13:08:04 GMT -5
It's way too early to make any significant changes, but I wonder what Kelly would be like as a closer? Could he be a true lights-out closer?
I like him a lot and I still think he has a chance to be the ace of the staff, but he can't have too many more meltdowns. However, it is useful to remember that Lester had some similar problems not all that long ago. They can be overcome.
This bullpen is rather mediocre and I think some improvement is going to be needed.
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danr
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Posts: 1,871
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Post by danr on Apr 23, 2015 12:59:25 GMT -5
Wouldn't it be a blast to be doing the picks in an expansion draft? Klostrophobic's list of protected Sox players is pretty good. If you are a GM looking at the players available, and there are some really good ones, who do you pick? JBJ, Devers, Chavis, Kopech, Marrero, Sandoval, Holt, etc?
That decision, of course, would be based on what players and what types of players were available from other teams. Even so, I think it would be really hard to choose among those Sox players.
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