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4/20-4/22 Red Sox @ Athletics Series Thread
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Post by Oregon Norm on Apr 21, 2018 11:51:11 GMT -5
I don't think we want to put it all on his back. The team is still very young, Devers didn't come in until near the end of the year, Bogaerts was hurt, Pedroia also... It's also useful to have a middle of the order bat like Martinez. All that said, it's obvious that Cora has a plan and he and his coaches are executing it.
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ericmvan
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Post by ericmvan on Apr 21, 2018 13:15:58 GMT -5
Eric, I figured you would already have some stats on all the grand slams the Sox have hit so far. 5 in 19 games must be some sort of record, no? The Play Index makes it easy to find the number of slams they've hit in each month of each year, going back to 1925 (and of course they were extremely rare before 1920). It's a little time-consuming, but I couldn't resist. Here's the history of their records for most slams in a season and a month. Season first because the monthly records have largely happened in years where they tied or set the season record. Slams in a season
They hit 3 GS in the decade from 1925 to 1934, then 1 each year for the next 3. So it must have been just as insane as now when they hit 5 in 1938. Jimmie Foxx in May against the MFY's, Bobby Doerr in July, rookie Jim Tabor with his first MLB HR in August, Foxx again two weeks later, with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th down 12-10, and Foxx again against the Yankees in October. Three years later (the year Williams hit .406 and lost the MVP) they had 9, 5 by future HOFers (Cronin 2, Doerr, Foxx, Teddy Ballgame). Tabor had 3 and Dom DiMaggio 2. That was the team record for a long while, but they matched it three times. The first time was 1950, a year their offense was ridiculous: Walt Dropo 3, Vern Stephens 2, Billy Goodman, Clyde Vollmer, Ted again, Ellis Kinder ... and Doerr once more. They just missed in '52, when they had 8. They had 9 again in 1987: Ellis Burks with 2, Marty Barrert, Don Baylor, Sam Horn, Wade Boggs, Jim Rice, Todd Bemzinger, Dwight Evans. That's 3 by HOFers, if there's any justice in the future. 9 again in 2001: 2 each by Trot Nixon and Carl Everett, Scott Hatteberg, Dante Bichette, Doug Mirabelli, Manny Ramirez, Brian Daubach. They finally smashed it in 2005, with 11. Manny had 3, Papi 2, Edgar Renteria, Jay Payton, Mirabelli (against Mike Maroth in Detroit, as DH with Papi on the bench, the difference in a 5-2 victory -- that lineup move per my recommendation and passed on to Tito by Jed Hoyer), John Olerud, Jason Varitek. That's still the record. Slams per Month
They first hit 3 in '41, and they did it in both July (Doerr, Williams, Tabor) and September (DiMaggio twice, Foxx). They hit 4 in August '50 (Doerr, Kinder, Stephens, Vollmer.) They matched that in June '87 (Barrett, Boggs, Burks, Rice). And again in May 1999, when they only had 7 total: 2 by Nomar, 1 by John Valentin, and 1 by ... Creighton Gubanich! The backup catcher had 1 HR in 52 career PA, and it came in the first inning of his second big league start, May 3 in Oakland. Sox blew a 7-0 lead in that game when the A's scored 5 in the 8th, Matt Stairs tied it 11-11 in the 9th off of Kip Gross, and lost it in the 10th when Tim Harikkala walked in the winning run. One of those games you completely forget (heck, I'd forgotten Gubanich) until you read the game log. And again in August 2001, (Hatteberg, Nixon, Mirabelli, Ramirez). They finally broke it in September 2013. 9/4 Will Middlebrooks off of the Tigers' Al Alburquerque, up 6-4 in the bottom of the 6th. They won that game 20-4. 9/6 Mike Napoli off the Yankees' Boone Logan, tying the game 8-8 in the top of the 7th 9/11 Mike Carp off the Rays Roberto Hernandez, breaking a 3-3 tie in the top of the 10th. His last career HR. 9/13 Jarrod Saltalamacchia off the Yankees' Preston Claiborne, breaking a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the 7th 9/25 Middlebrooks again, off of the Rockies' Roy Oswalt, up 11-4 in the top of the 8th. Ironic that three were intensely dramatic and the two by WMB were meaningless. (Trivia question: name the only pitcher whose only two career grand slams were given up to the same team, one in the regular season and one in the post-season, under two different names.) That's 5 slams in 19 games. This year they've hit 5 slams in a 12 game span, including 3 in a 4 game span. I have no idea what the MLB record is. And here's slams per year, and slams in best month, going backwards to 2003. 2016: 6, 2 2015: 2, 1 2014: 5, 2 2013: 9, 5 2012, 3, 1 2011: 3, 2 2010: 7, 2 2009: 3, 2 2008: 6, 2 2007: 5, 2 2006, 4, 1 2005, 11, 3 2004, 6, 2 2003, 5, 1 Edit: When Xander hit his slam, the Sox had gone 199 consecutive regular-season games without hitting one. They now have 5 in 12.
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Post by incandenza on Apr 21, 2018 13:34:17 GMT -5
And here's slams per year, and slams in best month, going backwards to 2003. 2016: 6, 2 2015: 2, 1 2014: 5, 2 2013: 9, 5 2012, 3, 1 2011: 3, 2 2010: 7, 2 2009: 3, 2 2008: 6, 2 2007: 5, 2 2006, 4, 1 2005, 11, 3 2004, 6, 2 2003, 5, 1 An average of 5 per season since 2003. Well they matched that in a hurry.
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Post by sarasoxer on Apr 21, 2018 14:00:27 GMT -5
Appear to me as emerging trends besides even more prominent use of shifts and emphasis on launch angle: * Giving regulars more rest- using entire roster if only for that purpose * Removing starters even earlier continuing the trend * Corollary- having good relief pitchers able to go 2-3 innings and not the guys to mop up when your starter leaves in the 3rd behind 8 runs Agreed on the starters coming out. Every starter has been pulled before 100 pitches thrown besides Eduardo Rodriguez (he has gone over twice) and one or two other starts. Having mostly big leads has helped contribute to this however. It also helps to have Johnson, Velazquez, and Walden type of relievers are on your roster for the reliever part instead of Boyer, Abad, and Workman types on the roster so far. Not being afraid of going to a guy like Kelly on back to back nights helps too. I really don't know why Farrell ever felt like doing the things that were important to him was actually related to winning. I mean really, Sale has pitched really well with Vazquez catching him (Ohh no, what is Sale going to do without his personal catcher in Leon?). Joe Kelly couldn't pitch back to back days for some reason under Farrell. Players had to play through injuries instead of being at 100 percent like Xander last year. They had to work the pitch counts under Farrell. Everything *had* to be left and right lineup mixed up with Farrell. Ohh and the running and fielding mistakes were at a all time high last year too. Everything was half backwards with Farrell and made no sense whatsoever. Cora is awesome and all, but really anyone with common sense would have been a better place to start over Farrell really. I was one of the first for hoping for a complete changing of the coaching staff last year, and thankfully it came true. Sorry for all the Farrell venting, but it was so abundantly clear that he's the reason why this team hasn't reached it's full potential in a lot of ways. The approach, the strategy, the game planning. It was like having a drunk man planning your ride home. To be more clear than I was, my comments, excepting Devers, were meant as baseball-wide trends. And sure starters are building up still but I think the days of 7, 8, 9 innings from starters are extant. If so, there is a greater need across the league for relief guys like Johnson and Velasquez...not to fully stock the pen on grunting one and done flamethrowers.
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ericmvan
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Post by ericmvan on Apr 21, 2018 15:07:23 GMT -5
And here's slams per year, and slams in best month, going backwards to 2003. 2016: 6, 2 2015: 2, 1 2014: 5, 2 2013: 9, 5 2012, 3, 1 2011: 3, 2 2010: 7, 2 2009: 3, 2 2008: 6, 2 2007: 5, 2 2006, 4, 1 2005, 11, 3 2004, 6, 2 2003, 5, 1 An average of 5 per season since 2003. Well they matched that in a hurry. If you go back to 1995, it's 5.4, so they need to hit one more. The cool thing to watch: can they hit another in the 9 remaining games in April? That 5.4 per season is precisely 1 per 30 games.
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Post by rjp313jr on Apr 21, 2018 17:33:27 GMT -5
Agreed on the starters coming out. Every starter has been pulled before 100 pitches thrown besides Eduardo Rodriguez (he has gone over twice) and one or two other starts. Having mostly big leads has helped contribute to this however. It also helps to have Johnson, Velazquez, and Walden type of relievers are on your roster for the reliever part instead of Boyer, Abad, and Workman types on the roster so far. Not being afraid of going to a guy like Kelly on back to back nights helps too. I really don't know why Farrell ever felt like doing the things that were important to him was actually related to winning. I mean really, Sale has pitched really well with Vazquez catching him (Ohh no, what is Sale going to do without his personal catcher in Leon?). Joe Kelly couldn't pitch back to back days for some reason under Farrell. Players had to play through injuries instead of being at 100 percent like Xander last year. They had to work the pitch counts under Farrell. Everything *had* to be left and right lineup mixed up with Farrell. Ohh and the running and fielding mistakes were at a all time high last year too. Everything was half backwards with Farrell and made no sense whatsoever. Cora is awesome and all, but really anyone with common sense would have been a better place to start over Farrell really. I was one of the first for hoping for a complete changing of the coaching staff last year, and thankfully it came true. Sorry for all the Farrell venting, but it was so abundantly clear that he's the reason why this team hasn't reached it's full potential in a lot of ways. The approach, the strategy, the game planning. It was like having a drunk man planning your ride home. To be more clear than I was, my comments, excepting Devers, were meant as baseball-wide trends. And sure starters are building up still but I think the days of 7, 8, 9 innings from starters are extant. If so, there is a greater need across the league for relief guys like Johnson and Velasquez...not to fully stock the pen on grunting one and done flamethrowers. Great pitchers are still going to pitch 7 or more innings most games.
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Post by h11233 on Apr 21, 2018 18:11:56 GMT -5
Not sure about the 1 month record, but most team grand slams in a season is shared by Cleveland in '06 and Oakland in '00 at 14.
These players have all hit 3 grand slams in one month:
Carlos Beltran July 2006
Devon White May 2001
Shane Spencer September 1998
Mike Piazza April 1998
Mike Blowers August 1995
Eric Davis May 1987
Larry Parrish July 1982
Jim Northrup June 1968
Rudy York May 1938
If I had to guess, I'd say the team monthly record either comes from '06 CLE/'00 OAK or from one of the teams the individual record holders played on. Alas, my google-fu is not strong enough.
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radiohix
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Post by radiohix on Apr 21, 2018 19:18:51 GMT -5
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Post by widewordofsport on Apr 21, 2018 19:40:56 GMT -5
As someone who has had an irrational hatred of Farrell even going back to the World Series (that they won, mind you)... I love everything Cora is doing. The ProJo column about the change in approach was great. There has been a reluctance from some of the site editors here to go after Farrell, but everything he did always made no sense to me.
Also helps that the construction of this team is really good. Gettings guys like Moreland/Nunez and Lin being serviceable gives them a ton of flexibility they havent had before. Those are the guys who are overmatched a little as starters for them, then go on to do awesome on a great contract later for someone else, and they have both as platoon/bench guys. For a team to be missing its middle infield and not miss a beat is impressive.
Mostly interested to see how the rotation shakes out. But again, their 6/7 guys whoever they end up being, are legit starters for other teams. Last year was pretty much everyone having as bad a year as possible... this year I'm more excited about.
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Post by soxfansince67 on Apr 21, 2018 20:26:13 GMT -5
Sale not at all sharp yet...and when will Lowrie come down to earth?
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Post by pedrofanforever45 on Apr 21, 2018 20:38:16 GMT -5
Manaea looks electric so far.
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Post by Guidas on Apr 21, 2018 20:38:42 GMT -5
Sale not at all sharp yet...and when will Lowrie come down to earth? Lowrie trade always haunts the Sox.
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Post by Guidas on Apr 21, 2018 20:44:10 GMT -5
Geez, Manea is nasty.
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Post by kingofthetrill on Apr 21, 2018 20:46:06 GMT -5
The bright side of all of these 5-6 pitch strikeouts is that it will make it difficult for him to last the complete game to no hit us.
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Post by soxfansince67 on Apr 21, 2018 20:58:27 GMT -5
The Gomes phrase of the night so far is "wash out slider". we need to play johnny gomes buzz term bingo some night!
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Post by jimed14 on Apr 21, 2018 21:00:19 GMT -5
The Gomes phrase of the night so far is "wash out slider". we need to play johnny gomes buzz term bingo some night! Take a drink every time he says something dumb. (we'd all pass out before the 1st inning was over)
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Post by pedrofanforever45 on Apr 21, 2018 21:04:26 GMT -5
Do the Sox have a hit yet?
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Post by soxfansince67 on Apr 21, 2018 21:05:53 GMT -5
Do the Sox have a hit yet? Nope
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ericmvan
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Post by ericmvan on Apr 21, 2018 21:06:49 GMT -5
Manaea career 2nd time vs. 3rd time around the lineup, 665 vs. 810 OPS. Patience (we hope).
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ericmvan
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Post by ericmvan on Apr 21, 2018 21:08:52 GMT -5
Not sure about the 1 month record, but most team grand slams in a season is shared by Cleveland in '06 and Oakland in '00 at 14. These players have all hit 3 grand slams in one month: Carlos Beltran July 2006 Devon White May 2001 Shane Spencer September 1998 Mike Piazza April 1998 Mike Blowers August 1995 Eric Davis May 1987 Larry Parrish July 1982 Jim Northrup June 1968 Rudy York May 1938 If I had to guess, I'd say the team monthly record either comes from '06 CLE/'00 OAK or from one of the teams the individual record holders played on. Alas, my google-fu is not strong enough. So no one has ever hit 4 GS in a month, but someone has hit two in an inning. Gotta love the game of baseball.
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Post by jimed14 on Apr 21, 2018 21:10:33 GMT -5
wait, who has a plus average pitch? LMFAO Gomes
Yup, I'm going to the Oakland broadcast. Actually, WEEI. That feature actually works well now on mlb.tv.
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Post by pedrofanforever45 on Apr 21, 2018 21:13:53 GMT -5
Sale is lucky that wasn't gone...
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Post by pedrofanforever45 on Apr 21, 2018 21:18:44 GMT -5
The third time through the lineup can't come soon enough.
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Post by jimed14 on Apr 21, 2018 21:20:35 GMT -5
The third time through the lineup can't come soon enough. Leon started the rally. edit - oh well, I tried.
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Post by pedrofanforever45 on Apr 21, 2018 21:22:47 GMT -5
The third time through the lineup can't come soon enough. Leon started the rally. Scorekeeper said Simein.
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