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9/11-9/14 Red Sox @ Royals Series Thread
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Post by larrycook on Sept 14, 2014 13:57:31 GMT -5
Bogey with a big three run tater.
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Post by charliezink16 on Sept 14, 2014 14:21:21 GMT -5
Since 8/31, and including today, Xander has slashed .375/.388/.641/1.029 with 2BB/10K and 4 HR's through 63 AB's. Walks aren't quite there yet, but he's showing improvements across the board which is relieving to see.
EDIT: Through today
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ianrs
Veteran
Posts: 2,418
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Post by ianrs on Sept 14, 2014 14:32:19 GMT -5
Since 8/31, and including his first 2 AB's today, Xander has slashed .355/.375/.629/1.004 with 2BB/10K and 4 HR's. Walks aren't quite there yet, but he's showing improvements across the board which is relieving to see. I could care less if Xander is walking if he's up there smashing mistake pitches and pitches he can handle. I think part of his issue in his slump (don't get me wrong, I'm no pro scout) was that he went up there looking for walks, so would take pipeline fastballs, getting himself into a hole only to flail at an impossible to handle pitch like a slider away.
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Post by charliezink16 on Sept 14, 2014 14:40:46 GMT -5
Since 8/31, and including his first 2 AB's today, Xander has slashed .355/.375/.629/1.004 with 2BB/10K and 4 HR's. Walks aren't quite there yet, but he's showing improvements across the board which is relieving to see. I could care less if Xander is walking if he's up there smashing mistake pitches and pitches he can handle. I think part of his issue in his slump (don't get me wrong, I'm no pro scout) was that he went up there looking for walks, so would take pipeline fastballs, getting himself into a hole only to flail at an impossible to handle pitch like a slider away. Couldn't agree more. .209/.251/.307 slash line this season after a 1st pitch strike, which was just about every single at-bat for him. Bogey has been too passive at the plate this season, never attacking the first pitch and falling behind 0-1 on just about every at-bat after a fastball right down the middle.
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Post by johnsilver52 on Sept 14, 2014 15:31:47 GMT -5
KC has a pretty respectable pen. Boston has done no favors to detroit with the lineup they have been running out there for detroit this entire series vs KC, yet the have done a respectable job vs most of the guys in the Royals pen in all 4 games.
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Post by Guidas on Sept 14, 2014 15:39:23 GMT -5
Nava again showing - this is a playoff team. If only they had another 20 or so wins and Lester and Lackey back and… oh, never mind.
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Post by aussiesox on Sept 14, 2014 15:42:05 GMT -5
If we were to just ignore that couple of games in the middle of the season where Xander struggled, he's actually hitting .311/.384/.493 this season...
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Post by johnsilver52 on Sept 14, 2014 16:02:05 GMT -5
Is it to early in a lost season for Hembree and Britton to get time in as another LH guy towards 2015 and for Breslow's roster spot to be done away with? Nobody on planet earth expects his club option to be picked up anyway. Those other 2 need a chance in somewhat meaningful games to get experience and one hasn't even been recalled yet.
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Post by thelavarnwayguy on Sept 14, 2014 16:16:08 GMT -5
Mookie starts off that AB 0-2 and works it into an 11 pitch walk. That's just another of the many things which set this guy apart. If they don't put him in the lineup full time next year I'm gonna be a Padres fan.
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Post by thelavarnwayguy on Sept 14, 2014 16:18:50 GMT -5
Wow, Xander still has an OPS of .674. In my wildest dreams I never would have projected that for him after his strong start this summer.
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Post by johnsilver52 on Sept 14, 2014 16:24:15 GMT -5
Mookie starts off that AB 0-2 and works it into an 11 pitch walk. That's just another of the many things which set this guy apart. If they don't put him in the lineup full time next year I'm gonna be a Padres fan. Know you're saying that as a joke. Realize SD has Tiny Man Alexi Amarista who is a darling of the fandom also. The tiny train that said..Yes I can.
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Post by johnsilver52 on Sept 14, 2014 16:48:38 GMT -5
I swear Mujica is the Doug Jones of closers.. Only Jones could manage to leave the bases loaded every game and manage to lock down a save, something Mujica is to *7%() enough to manage.
Anyone else think another reliever needs a turn at closing?
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danr
Veteran
Posts: 1,871
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Post by danr on Sept 14, 2014 17:13:02 GMT -5
I think they should try Barnes.
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Post by johnsilver52 on Sept 14, 2014 17:20:06 GMT -5
I think they should try Barnes. Actually makes some sense. He hasn't pitched enough at the MLB level and only has 2 games as a reliever at all, but the thoughts of him as a closer..The rest of the season is better than running Mujica, Breslow out there from the 7th inning on like we have been seeing. Nice one Dan.
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Post by godot on Sept 14, 2014 18:51:04 GMT -5
I think they should try Barnes. Actually makes some sense. He hasn't pitched enough at the MLB level and only has 2 games as a reliever at all, but the thoughts of him as a closer..The rest of the season is better than running Mujica, Breslow out there from the 7th inning on like we have been seeing. Nice one Dan. Bradley Jr. could be a good candidate. Hey, he has a great arm and hits like a pitcher. BTW, Lester pitches another gem, but he only ks 7 ( in 6 innings) instead of 9, all washed up. Jmie is always right . Yeah, we do not need a front line pitcher.
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Post by jimed14 on Sept 14, 2014 19:55:36 GMT -5
Actually makes some sense. He hasn't pitched enough at the MLB level and only has 2 games as a reliever at all, but the thoughts of him as a closer..The rest of the season is better than running Mujica, Breslow out there from the 7th inning on like we have been seeing. Nice one Dan. Bradley Jr. could be a good candidate. Hey, he has a great arm and hits like a pitcher. BTW, Lester pitches another gem, but he only ks 7 ( in 6 innings) instead of 9, all washed up. Jmie is always right . Yeah, we do not need a front line pitcher. You're always right. We should have kept Sizemore and Doubront.
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Post by johnsilver52 on Sept 14, 2014 20:07:39 GMT -5
HAHA. Don't tag me there on either Jimed. You will not see a single post calling on myself to keep them around. Doober going as far back as 2013. He was a prime target to get moved when he refused to get into shape spring 2013, then lost 2-3mph from his heater.
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Post by DesignatedForAssignment on Sept 14, 2014 20:21:19 GMT -5
Is it to early in a lost season for Hembree and Britton to get time in as another LH guy towards 2015 and for Breslow's roster spot to be done away with? Nobody on planet earth expects his club option to be picked up anyway. Those other 2 need a chance in somewhat meaningful games to get experience and one hasn't even been recalled yet. Lefty Britton has pitched in 3 games this month. Needs to pitch more. Hembree has pitched as a RHP in each appearance thus far. Pitching regularly for Pawsox ... see him after TUES.
Britton had a year that even he could not explain.
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Post by johnsilver52 on Sept 14, 2014 20:35:32 GMT -5
Think am posting too much on too many issues DFA, tho am going to answer until the mods say have posted enough ok?
Agree on Britton. What's up there? Same when he finally got his promotion to AA.. He didn't deserve it either, tho he produced when he did. Point (sorta) was that Britton is out of options after this season, Breslow? There is -0- chance that option gets picked up. Hembree, Britton. One, or both of those guys (I am thinking at least) need to be getting in the bulk of innings as the lefty who has any chance of getting RH hitters out. I have come around on Layne.. He's got a chance to stay around part of next season, but only vs LH hitters, he ain't gonna' cut it vs RH hitters at all and the team has nobody else they can stick in there for that case where they bring in a lefty.. The opposing manager PH with a LH batter.. Right now? There is no lefty who has a chance, or legit stuff enough whom they have "faith" in vs RH hitters.
We'd like to see Hembree of course at the MLB level bs RH hitters. Sure he had some troubles there, but getting him BACK to the MLB level and facing both LH and RH hitters is probably the only legit guy on the 40 man, unless they can get Britton more games, with his last option used this season.
Britton has turned it all around before. He's one not to be shoved aside, but this winter could be it come draft time.
Last option could be they figure NONE of them are worthy and they go the FA route. Even approach the D-Backs for another reclamation project that worked in ollie perez (a good contract also).
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Post by larrycook on Sept 14, 2014 21:05:35 GMT -5
Sox finish today 2 for 9 with RISP. All in all except for yesterday, they actually managed to get some hits with RISP this series. Maybe things are looking up.
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Post by fenwaythehardway on Sept 14, 2014 21:35:04 GMT -5
Since 8/31, and including his first 2 AB's today, Xander has slashed .355/.375/.629/1.004 with 2BB/10K and 4 HR's. Walks aren't quite there yet, but he's showing improvements across the board which is relieving to see. I could care less if Xander is walking if he's up there smashing mistake pitches and pitches he can handle. I think part of his issue in his slump (don't get me wrong, I'm no pro scout) was that he went up there looking for walks, so would take pipeline fastballs, getting himself into a hole only to flail at an impossible to handle pitch like a slider away. I don't think it's that he was "looking for walks" exactly, but yes, he's been more aggressive at the plate since coming off the DL. Looking at the plate discipline number at fangraphs (not updated to today's game) before and after his DL stint, he's been swinging more and making more frequent contact on pitches both and and out of the zone since he came back. When he was struggling, it wasn't just a matter of being passive, it was also that he wasn't making contact at the pitches he did swing at. At least for now, it seems he's addressed issues with both his approach and his actual swing mechanics. As far as the walks go, if he can keep crushing the ball, they'll come. Major league pitchers aren't going to just miss the strike zone, you've got to chase them out of there.
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Post by thelavarnwayguy on Sept 14, 2014 22:26:31 GMT -5
We start seeing a different level of pitching quality at this time of the year also. Guys are tiring some and we are seeing some September call ups. I'm seeing some pitches grooved for Bogaerts that he just wasn't getting to even swing at earlier. We should chalk most of this up to development time for him and he isn't out of the woods yet as far as I can tell. It's like Middlebrooks when he first came up. When he got pitches to hit he was converting them early on. It's tough to maintain that unless they develop the ability to hit tough pitches at a higher rate long term.
Mookie seems to be able to hit that low outside pitch with at least some frequency and his bat speed enables him to wait longer on it to make sure it's still a strike.
I wonder if Middlebrooks and Bogaerts have considered going with a lighter bat and just try to wait longer and take the ball more up the middle and to right center as Beltre has done so well over the years. They both have enough power to still do lots of damage.
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Post by godot on Sept 15, 2014 4:14:22 GMT -5
I don't think it's that he was "looking for walks" exactly, but yes, he's been more aggressive at the plate since coming off the DL. Looking at the plate discipline number at fangraphs (not updated to today's game) before and after his DL stint, he's been swinging more and making more frequent contact on pitches both and and out of the zone since he came back. When he was struggling, it wasn't just a matter of being passive, it was also that he wasn't making contact at the pitches he did swing at. At least for now, it seems he's addressed issues with both his approach and his actual swing mechanics. As far as the walks go, if he can keep crushing the ball, they'll come. Major league pitchers aren't going to just miss the strike zone, you've got to chase them out of there. Don't think he was looking for walks either, but maybe he was trying to work the count and be "selectively aggressive", whatever that really means. In his case he often got into a two strike situation ,became too hesitant or was thinking too much. Now by being aggressive his body takes over and he has better balance and coordination, thus making better contact. Of course, this is just (hack) guessing on my part dictated by the feeling that the Sox sometimes overload their hitters and they end up "thinking" too much. Some guys can work the count, and some are better off by being aggressive and "letting it rip". I wonder if Middlebrook problems in part are due to taking the Sox seriously on their hitting philosophy. I am sure if pressed they will admit one size does not fit all, but when it comes to actual instruction, you can give mixed messages. As one good race horse trainer said, " I don't give my jockey many instructions for it usually screws him up and his natural talents do not get into gear".
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Post by fenwaythehardway on Sept 15, 2014 7:44:00 GMT -5
We start seeing a different level of pitching quality at this time of the year also. Guys are tiring some and we are seeing some September call ups. I'm seeing some pitches grooved for Bogaerts that he just wasn't getting to even swing at earlier. We should chalk most of this up to development time for him and he isn't out of the woods yet as far as I can tell. It's like Middlebrooks when he first came up. When he got pitches to hit he was converting them early on. It's tough to maintain that unless they develop the ability to hit tough pitches at a higher rate long term. That's a factor, but it certainly isn't enough to explain the turnaround entirely. You bring up Middlebrooks, and he's hitting .150/.209/.175 in September against these tired pitchers and call-ups. Ortiz isn't going 4-4 with two home runs every night. The pitching isn't quite as good right now, but it's THAT much of a drop-off.
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Post by brianthetaoist on Sept 15, 2014 10:08:09 GMT -5
I don't think it's that he was "looking for walks" exactly, but yes, he's been more aggressive at the plate since coming off the DL. Looking at the plate discipline number at fangraphs (not updated to today's game) before and after his DL stint, he's been swinging more and making more frequent contact on pitches both and and out of the zone since he came back. When he was struggling, it wasn't just a matter of being passive, it was also that he wasn't making contact at the pitches he did swing at. At least for now, it seems he's addressed issues with both his approach and his actual swing mechanics. As far as the walks go, if he can keep crushing the ball, they'll come. Major league pitchers aren't going to just miss the strike zone, you've got to chase them out of there. Don't think he was looking for walks either, but maybe he was trying to work the count and be "selectively aggressive", whatever that really means. In his case he often got into a two strike situation ,became too hesitant or was thinking too much. Now by being aggressive his body takes over and he has better balance and coordination, thus making better contact. Of course, this is just (hack) guessing on my part dictated by the feeling that the Sox sometimes overload their hitters and they end up "thinking" too much. Some guys can work the count, and some are better off by being aggressive and "letting it rip". I wonder if Middlebrook problems in part are due to taking the Sox seriously on their hitting philosophy. I am sure if pressed they will admit one size does not fit all, but when it comes to actual instruction, you can give mixed messages. As one good race horse trainer said, " I don't give my jockey many instructions for it usually screws him up and his natural talents do not get into gear". I think the term you're looking for is "confirmation bias."
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