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4/22-4/25 Red Sox vs. Mariners Series Thread
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Post by julyanmorley on Apr 22, 2021 21:58:48 GMT -5
Frustrating game. I wasn't impressed with Pivetta tonight despite the no hit innings.
Hernandez hasn't put up results at any point in his career and is off to an awful start. I'm not sure he lasts the season on the big league roster.
I feel totally fine about Ottavino.
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TearsIn04
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Post by TearsIn04 on Apr 22, 2021 22:04:01 GMT -5
Curious who you wanted to see in the 8th? If not Ottavino, maybe another inning for Andriese idk. Whitlock. Not a bad thought. That would have been Ok, too. This game adds ammo for those who think a team's best RP should be used as a relief ace and come in when the game is on the line, not as a closer. Cora used Barnes that way in 2019, if I recall, pitching him disproportionately against the opposition's top hitters. It seemed to work until Barnes got overworked. Getting him warmed up quickly after the first AO walk in the seventh and then bringing him in after the second walk may have saved the game.
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cdj
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Post by cdj on Apr 22, 2021 22:18:57 GMT -5
Frustrating game. I wasn't impressed with Pivetta tonight despite the no hit innings. Hernandez hasn't put up results at any point in his career and is off to an awful start. I'm not sure he lasts the season on the big league roster. I feel totally fine about Ottavino. Wild to me you feel fine about Ottavino and not fine about Hernandez “He’s NEVER had success” like he’s been in the league for years lol. He had an ok partial season where he almost got 18 k/9 and then pitched well last year post Covid Entering tonight his career ERA+ was 134. The hyperbole after a bad performance by any player in a 162 game season gets to be a little ridiculous on here I mean he had allowed 1 run entering tonight ffs. “Awful” start
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cdj
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Post by cdj on Apr 22, 2021 22:22:03 GMT -5
Some really bad baseball played today. Oh well, back at it tomorrow.
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manfred
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Post by manfred on Apr 22, 2021 22:26:45 GMT -5
The pen had a bad night. Fine. Ottavino is starting to be a concern, but Cora used him the way he was brought in to he used. Can’t second guess. It might be fair NOW to say O is out of the circle of trust until he gets it together.
But the pen is still not the problem.
This team is top heavy. The bottom half of the lineup is full of easy outs — hopeful Dalbec excepted going forward. But you string Marwin, Renfroe, and Franchy together, and you are looking at a punt every few innings.
As long as Arroyo hits, he needs to play. Then, I’d spread the pain a little. I’d even consider putting Dalbec 5th between X and Devers, Arroyo 9th. That means you have CVaz 7, hapless LF 8th, Arroyo 9th. At least there aren’t consecutive brutal ABs.
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Post by incandenza on Apr 22, 2021 22:38:39 GMT -5
All I'm saying is, if Verdugo had hit his triple to lead off the first inning, without having spotted the opposition an out from a .284 OBP guy, maybe the game never would've gone extra innings.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Apr 22, 2021 22:43:59 GMT -5
Bad baseball the past couple of nights. Don't know what it is but Fenway hasn't been that friendly the past few years and still isn't.
Tonight's game kind of put on display the things I think that will happen often enough that it's likely to force the Sox toward .500 rather than serious contention for the division.
The biggest discrepancy for me is that the Sox pitching staff issues too many walks, and the pen has guys in key spots that give it out like candy.
There's no way Ottavino should be walking the first two batters of an inning while trying to protect a 3-2 lead. A high leverage reliever simply can't be doing that. For the past few years Ottavino is walking that fine line where there's no margin for error for balls put into play because he lets too many guys get the free pass.
And I don't see it getting any better for Darwinzon Hernandez. Great stuff but zero control. He couldn't keep from walking a ton of guys in the minors and it's no better in the majors. I really don't want to see him in high leverage situations, but I think today they didn't have much choice if Whitlock wasn't available - and from Merloni is saying, that would make sense. They probably have a small window of days they feel they can pitch him and tonight wasn't it.
Barnes was excellent again and Andriese is entering my circle of trust which is something I never would have thought to say about him before, but so far he has been really good and most strikingly, he pounds the strike zone, which is something that really sticks out for the good. But at some point, they're going to need another high leverage reliever who can throw strikes more consistently.
Of course Pivetta had a great game going until he seemingly hit the wall with two outs in the 6th. Before the walks, he looked like he was low enough in his pitch count that a no-hitter might even be possible, but once the walks happened, an issue he has....then that liner that Franchy Cordero was in too shallow, for whatever reason, to handle.
And Franchy Cordero is one of the poster children for what bugs me about the Sox offense, which has been good compared to the other lame offenses that either walk, strike out, or wait for the HR. I get that the Sox try to be more aggressive and get base hits - that's good, but the aggressiveness at time is just plain terrible judgment at the plate.
Cordero swings at lousy pitches. Marwin Gonzalez struck out on a pitch that actually hit him. Kiké Hernandez seems to be swinging for the moon in a lot of his ABs. Renfroe, although he did get a solid RBI single, is pretty hopeless at the plate.
There are a lot of low OBP type hitters in the lineup and I think if you compare the free baserunners the pitching staff allows to the relatively few walks the Red Sox offense draws, that's a big baserunner advantage for the other team, so then you're hoping that the BABIP stays high so they can string enough hits together - and that usually comes from the Verdugo/JDM/X/Devers/Vazquez part of the order. The rest of the lineup is hard to watch, although I think Dalbec provides hope and I've been impressed with Christian Arroyo's approach at the plate. I'd like to see more of them, but of course tonight they didn't start. I think as the season moves along Cora needs to lessen the "everybody takes turns playing" approach and start using the "He's actually producing" approach a bit more.
They have to start getting more patient in their plate approach. The lack of discipline among the hitters not in the 2 - 6 spots is alarming, particularly when Dalbec and Arroyo aren't playing.
I hate to say it, but I'm getting more turned off the more I see Franchy hit. I see a great athlete, a kid who is smart and willing to learn, but I see him hacking away and missing so darn much. I can see why they think there's more there, but he's been as bad if not worse than Benintendi, who looks hopelessly lost. That trade looks like it'll come down to Winckowski and the 3 PTBNL.
The Red Sox took a winnable game tonight and flushed it unfortunately. They couldn't get the key hit last night either when they needed it.
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ericmvan
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Post by ericmvan on Apr 22, 2021 22:54:14 GMT -5
Just back home* and no time to read the thread**, but if Nick Pivetta walks the #9 hitter and is now about to face the lineup for the third time in a 2-run game, you take him out. Period. And this criticism of Cora is of course coming from someone who thinks he's the best Red Sox manager he's ever seen.
Meanwhile, just looking at the play-by-play, one can hope that in the long run Pivetta's performance will be more meaningful than the L.
* From seeing two terrific films at AMC Boston Common, Judas and the Black Messiah and Minari.
** Because I now have to watch the Indie Spirit Awards and do a lot of household stuff.
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TearsIn04
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Post by TearsIn04 on Apr 22, 2021 22:57:59 GMT -5
Frustrating game. I wasn't impressed with Pivetta tonight despite the no hit innings. Hernandez hasn't put up results at any point in his career and is off to an awful start. I'm not sure he lasts the season on the big league roster. I feel totally fine about Ottavino. Wild to me you feel fine about Ottavino and not fine about Hernandez “He’s NEVER had success” like he’s been in the league for years lol. He had an ok partial season where he almost got 18 k/9 and then pitched well last year post Covid Entering tonight his career ERA+ was 134. The hyperbole after a bad performance by any player in a 162 game season gets to be a little ridiculous on here I mean he had allowed 1 run entering tonight ffs. “Awful” start ERA is a pretty volatile stat, though, particularly for a guy with as few IP as Darwinzon (44 for his career). His careeer xFIP is materially higher (though not terrible) at 4. I think Julyanmorley was trying to say that he's never emerged as a guy you truly want to see in the game in a big spot and hasn't pitched up to his stuff. He just has too much traffic due to his walks, which are an astronomical 8 per nine innings. He gets away with it to an extent because of his astounding 15.3 K's/9. But it's hard to see a guy with that walk rate and a WHIP of 1.72 as a top late-inning option.
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cdj
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Post by cdj on Apr 22, 2021 23:02:42 GMT -5
Wild to me you feel fine about Ottavino and not fine about Hernandez “He’s NEVER had success” like he’s been in the league for years lol. He had an ok partial season where he almost got 18 k/9 and then pitched well last year post Covid Entering tonight his career ERA+ was 134. The hyperbole after a bad performance by any player in a 162 game season gets to be a little ridiculous on here I mean he had allowed 1 run entering tonight ffs. “Awful” start ERA is a pretty volatile stat, though, particularly for a guy with as few IP as Darwinzon (44 for his career). His careeer xFIP is materially higher (though not terrible) at 4. I think Julyanmorley was trying to say that he's never emerged as a guy you truly want to see in the game in a big spot and hasn't pitched up to his stuff. He just has too much traffic due to his walks, which are an astronomical 8 per nine innings. He gets away with it to an extent because of his astounding 15.3 K's/9. But it's hard to see a guy with that walk rate and a WHIP of 1.72 as a top late-inning option. And that’s all fair, he’s far from perfect and I understand people being hesitant to use him in big spots. But I just think it’s nonsense that he’s had no results and has been awful to this point in his big league career
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Post by DesignatedForAssignment on Apr 22, 2021 23:05:54 GMT -5
Under the new perversion rules, a guy can pitch a 10-inning perfect game and lose 1-0
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danr
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Post by danr on Apr 23, 2021 1:55:37 GMT -5
I had this strong feeling the Sox were going to lose this game when they kept blowing opportunities. This is a better team than many expected and I think we are going to have an entertaining season.
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Post by DesignatedForAssignment on Apr 23, 2021 2:17:57 GMT -5
Wow, Dan on the bandwagon!
Good to see you chime in.
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Post by worldbfree on Apr 23, 2021 3:40:46 GMT -5
Maybe the Yanks knew what they were doing in getting rid of Ottavino’s 8 million dollar salary.
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Post by James Dunne on Apr 23, 2021 8:15:24 GMT -5
I guess the thing with Darwinzon is that he now has 45 2/3 MLB innings and has walked 42 batters in that time. 45 innings isn't enough for ERA or FIP or any run prevention stats to be indicative, but when you reach that point and your walks/9 is still sitting up in the 8+ range? Yeah, that's a legitimate concern.
The stuff is incredible but the record of success isn't there. Part of it is the fact that he basically only spent a couple weeks in the minors as a reliever after getting converted from the rotation, but he was very mediocre with atrocious walk numbers in 2019 in the minors overall. COVID is part of it, but he just feels like a guy whose development was skipped because the raw stuff is so good, and that's not usually a winning formula.
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Post by brendan98 on Apr 23, 2021 9:47:45 GMT -5
There are some weak spots on this roster, and it will be interesting to see how long Bloom/Cora ride with the 26 that are currently on the roster.
I'm hopeful a healthy Brasier will boost the bullpen. You can't tell me Houck can't be better in some role than some of the guys that are here now. It sure feels like Duran could provide a boost. I'd like to see more of Bazardo to see if he can help. Seabold seems like he is right there too.
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manfred
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Post by manfred on Apr 23, 2021 10:08:06 GMT -5
There are some weak spots on this roster, and it will be interesting to see how long Bloom/Cora ride with the 26 that are currently on the roster. I'm hopeful a healthy Brasier will boost the bullpen. You can't tell me Houck can't be better in some role than some of the guys that are here now. It sure feels like Duran could provide a boost. I'd like to see more of Bazardo to see if he can help. Seabold seems like he is right there too. There are weak spots, yes. Mostly those are self-inflicted wounds... LF, short bench, overall free swinging/low OBP. Richards. It seems like the *concept* of the off season is off to a rough start. The flex guys are, er, not flexing at the plate. If not for massive starts to the season by JDM, CVaz (who is cooling fast), X, and Raffy, their record could be a lot different. And if those guys cool faster than the rest get it together, things are going to get really bumpy. I like Cora, and all signs suggest he gets extra out of his players. I am not convinced he is a great in-game manager, however (this is *not* a gripe about Ottavino yesterday!). I think he might be able to minimize the weaknesses by using players differently... never play Renfroe and Franchy together again, change the batting order so you don’t cluster the highest K guys in a row, etc. The 2018 core may be enough to win the East no matter what weaknesses the team has. JDM, X, and Devers is as good a heart of a lineup as there is in baseball. Eovaldi and ERod at 1-2 compete with any 1-2 in the division. Barnes looks like a lockdown closer. It would help to get more help, though.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Apr 23, 2021 10:38:42 GMT -5
There are some weak spots on this roster, and it will be interesting to see how long Bloom/Cora ride with the 26 that are currently on the roster. I'm hopeful a healthy Brasier will boost the bullpen. You can't tell me Houck can't be better in some role than some of the guys that are here now. It sure feels like Duran could provide a boost. I'd like to see more of Bazardo to see if he can help. Seabold seems like he is right there too. There are weak spots, yes. Mostly those are self-inflicted wounds... LF, short bench, overall free swinging/low OBP. Richards. It seems like the *concept* of the off season is off to a rough start. The flex guys are, er, not flexing at the plate. If not for massive starts to the season by JDM, CVaz (who is cooling fast), X, and Raffy, their record could be a lot different. And if those guys cool faster than the rest get it together, things are going to get really bumpy. I like Cora, and all signs suggest he gets extra out of his players. I am not convinced he is a great in-game manager, however (this is *not* a gripe about Ottavino yesterday!). I think he might be able to minimize the weaknesses by using players differently... never play Renfroe and Franchy together again, change the batting order so you donât cluster the highest K guys in a row, etc. The 2018 core may be enough to win the East no matter what weaknesses the team has. JDM, X, and Devers is as good a heart of a lineup as there is in baseball. Eovaldi and ERod at 1-2 compete with any 1-2 in the division. Barnes looks like a lockdown closer. It would help to get more help, though. I pretty much agree with everything you say here, although I would point out that LF would be a weak spot even if they never dealt Benintendi, who is as big a mess as Cordero is. Cordero and Renfroe shouldn't be in the lineup at the same time. I agree with that, that they should be a platoon. I wish Cora would get Kiké Hernandez and his sub .300 OBP out of the leadoff spot, and I think that there are too many spots filled with guys who strike out a ton and don't walk at all and carry low OBPs. I think Arroyo needs to play just about every day and same with Dalbec who will whiff but will also take some walks and needs the steady playing time to keep his rhythm. I think we're getting too many ABs from Hernandez, Gonzalez, Renfroe, and Cordero. You mentioned the Sox succeeding with the best part of their 2018 core and I agree with that but don't think that's enough to make it through this season. The Sox are going to need whatever is close of their 2023 core to step in and contribute. No, it can't be counted on, but it needs to occur at some point this season. You can't make trades that mess up the future. Maybe Bloom can make a sneaky type move to get a bullpen arm or a LF, but ultimately the Sox are going to have to get positive contributions out of guys like Duran and Seabold. I hope they can build up Whitlock to be in the rotation by season's end, but that's something that can't be counted on either. I just have trouble believing that the 2021 game plan with Whitlock is to pitch him 2 or 3 innings every 4th or 5th day, but maybe that's all that happens with him this year? For what I can see, this team needs improvement from 1 or 2 spots in the rotation, which can be filled internally down the road. I think they need a reliable lefty reliever. What is Tony Watson up to these days, anyways? They need a reliable set up man (watching Ottavino or Hernandez walk too many guys in the 8th inning is tough to stomach). Perhaps Brasier comes back and is that guy? If not they might need to find a guy outside the organization. They probably need a LF, but at this point it makes sense to platoon Cordero/Renfroe and hope that something breaks through with Cordero. If not, they might need to look outside the organization. Corner OFs are the toughest commodities to get in a deal. There's also Duran, if he's not needed for CF. They might need a CF. They could platoon Duran and Hernandez or perhaps Duran winds up in LF in a platoon there, although I think the Sox are going to give Franchy a full shot - and they should stick with him for awhile. Either way, whether Kiké plays every day or not, he should be toward the bottom of the order. Christian Arroyo isn't an OBP machine, but he's hitting well and if they won't put Verdugo lead off, then Arroyo should get some consideration.
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manfred
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Post by manfred on Apr 23, 2021 10:50:38 GMT -5
There are weak spots, yes. Mostly those are self-inflicted wounds... LF, short bench, overall free swinging/low OBP. Richards. It seems like the *concept* of the off season is off to a rough start. The flex guys are, er, not flexing at the plate. If not for massive starts to the season by JDM, CVaz (who is cooling fast), X, and Raffy, their record could be a lot different. And if those guys cool faster than the rest get it together, things are going to get really bumpy. I like Cora, and all signs suggest he gets extra out of his players. I am not convinced he is a great in-game manager, however (this is *not* a gripe about Ottavino yesterday!). I think he might be able to minimize the weaknesses by using players differently... never play Renfroe and Franchy together again, change the batting order so you donât cluster the highest K guys in a row, etc. The 2018 core may be enough to win the East no matter what weaknesses the team has. JDM, X, and Devers is as good a heart of a lineup as there is in baseball. Eovaldi and ERod at 1-2 compete with any 1-2 in the division. Barnes looks like a lockdown closer. It would help to get more help, though. I pretty much agree with everything you say here, although I would point out that LF would be a weak spot even if they never dealt Benintendi, who is as big a mess as Cordero is. Cordero and Renfroe shouldn't be in the lineup at the same time. I agree with that, that they should be a platoon. I wish Cora would get Kiké Hernandez and his sub .300 OBP out of the leadoff spot, and I think that there are too many spots filled with guys who strike out a ton and don't walk at all and carry low OBPs. I think Arroyo needs to play just about every day and same with Dalbec who will whiff but will also take some walks and needs the steady playing time to keep his rhythm. I think we're getting too many ABs from Hernandez, Gonzalez, Renfroe, and Cordero. You mentioned the Sox succeeding with the best part of their 2018 core and I agree with that but don't think that's enough to make it through this season. The Sox are going to need whatever is close of their 2023 core to step in and contribute. No, it can't be counted on, but it needs to occur at some point this season. You can't make trades that mess up the future. Maybe Bloom can make a sneaky type move to get a bullpen arm or a LF, but ultimately the Sox are going to have to get positive contributions out of guys like Duran and Seabold. I hope they can build up Whitlock to be in the rotation by season's end, but that's something that can't be counted on either. I just have trouble believing that the 2021 game plan with Whitlock is to pitch him 2 or 3 innings every 4th or 5th day, but maybe that's all that happens with him this year? For what I can see, this team needs improvement from 1 or 2 spots in the rotation, which can be filled internally down the road. I think they need a reliable lefty reliever. What is Tony Watson up to these days, anyways? They need a reliable set up man (watching Ottavino or Hernandez walk too many guys in the 8th inning is tough to stomach). Perhaps Brasier comes back and is that guy? If not they might need to find a guy outside the organization. They probably need a LF, but at this point it makes sense to platoon Cordero/Renfroe and hope that something breaks through with Cordero. If not, they might need to look outside the organization. Corner OFs are the toughest commodities to get in a deal. There's also Duran, if he's not needed for CF. They might need a CF. They could platoon Duran and Hernandez or perhaps Duran winds up in LF in a platoon there, although I think the Sox are going to give Franchy a full shot - and they should stick with him for awhile. Either way, whether Kiké plays every day or not, he should be toward the bottom of the order. Christian Arroyo isn't an OBP machine, but he's hitting well and if they won't put Verdugo lead off, then Arroyo should get some consideration. I should be clear, too, that that post was looking at a dichotomy that ignores a third group, which is essential to this year’s success going forward... last year’s class. Verdugo, Pivetta, Perez, and Seabold (Houck’s surprise development, too... maybe even Dalbec, if we consider the steps he took). Obviously, they are in the plus category. I left them out because I was focused primarily on the lack of help thus far from this off season. Yeah, Beni is toast. And Bloom gets credit for bailing at the right time. But half credit. The PTBNL will make that trade... but he certainly could have done a better job building even a bridge OF. (This is not second-guessing... I have always hated this construction). But with $14 million in Renfroe, Richards, and Marwin, they have -.4 fWAR. That could have been a good LFer who fit the lineup better. Again... not a second guess. Seemed clear. Whitlock is great, masterstroke. But people have to stop pressing to increase his use. He is a long-term investment. I would be very happy if pitched about 3 times every two weeks for a total of 6 innings. It might not help now, but I would rather take the risk of using lesser pitchers than the risk of hurting him.
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Post by kevfc89 on Apr 23, 2021 11:06:18 GMT -5
Ump was pretty bad last night
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Post by incandenza on Apr 23, 2021 11:09:52 GMT -5
I should be clear, too, that that post was looking at a dichotomy that ignores a third group, which is essential to this yearâs success going forward... last yearâs class. Verdugo, Pivetta, Perez, and Seabold (Houckâs surprise development, too... maybe even Dalbec, if we consider the steps he took). Obviously, they are in the plus category. I left them out because I was focused primarily on the lack of help thus far from this off season. Yeah, Beni is toast. And Bloom gets credit for bailing at the right time. But half credit. The PTBNL will make that trade... but he certainly could have done a better job building even a bridge OF. (This is not second-guessing... I have always hated this construction). But with $14 million in Renfroe, Richards, and Marwin, they have -.4 fWAR. That could have been a good LFer who fit the lineup better. Again... not a second guess. Seemed clear. Whitlock is great, masterstroke. But people have to stop pressing to increase his use. He is a long-term investment. I would be very happy if pitched about 3 times every two weeks for a total of 6 innings. It might not help now, but I would rather take the risk of using lesser pitchers than the risk of hurting him. I share the criticisms about the outfield roster construction (though I also think the whole scheme will pretty much be redeemed if Duran comes up in June and kills it). But a serious question: what should Bloom have done instead? Not signed Richards... okay. But I think there would have been pitchforks and torches here if he hadn't signed any starting pitcher; the alternative to Richards, I have to think, would have been Happ or Odorizzi or something.
Not signed Renfroe and Marwin? Okay, that buys you $6 million to play with, but losing Marwin makes your versatility a lot worse on the infield. Is there another free agent outfielder other than Renfroe you'd have taken for $3 million? Leury Garcia? Michael Taylor?
I haven't been a fan of the let-Renfroe-hit-against-righties plan from the beginning, so I'm really not saying Bloom couldn't have done better. I'm just wondering what you think he should have done.
ADD: Speaking of outfielder use, in his career Kiké has faced righties 57% of the time; this season it's 67%. That's not ideal. (Though I hadn't noticed that he's got a crazy reverse split this season so far: 47 wRC+ vs. lefties, 120 vs. righties. Doubt that'll last.)
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Post by soxstan96 on Apr 23, 2021 12:09:07 GMT -5
I'm ultimately more worried about the bullpen than the offense. We've seen how good the O can regularly be and there's no reason to suspect its poor performance over the last two games will sustain. That being said, don't give me Franchy and Renfroe in the same game, that's just brutal. Call up Duran ASAP and have those two platoon in left. And K. Hernandez isn't a leadoff hitter, Cora's gotta accept that at some point, right?
As far as the bullpen goes, the cracks are beginning to show. Ottavino has been wildly inconsistent and makes for a piss-poor setup man, Darwinzon has no control, and Brice and Taylor are simply not major league-caliber arms. We've got a wealth of guys at the alt site that could potentially replace at least the latter two- McCarthy, Rondon, Walden, Bazardo, hell I'd even substitute Bobby Poyner in for Taylor. Moreover, if he's not being utilized as a consistent piece in the rotation, why can't we use Houck as a bullpen arm this season? I think he'd be fantastic as the setup man. Obviously this isn't the role we'd want for him long-term, but as long as he's not getting time as a starter I don't see why we couldn't try this out.
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Post by Oregon Norm on Apr 23, 2021 12:12:36 GMT -5
My take: Richards issue is how his command comes and goes. Given what he's trying to do - lure players into swinging at stuff out of the zone - that's not good. They can and have waited him out till he either walks them or they get a fat pitch they can hit. He thinks he can fix that, but it's going to have to happen quickly.
Yesterday's game had the Sox reverting to a more normal BABIP, while the Mariners continue they're lucky streak. That should even out at some point, hopefully over the next three days.
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Post by Soxfansince1971 on Apr 23, 2021 12:19:12 GMT -5
Hard to believe Pivetta had a no hitter in the sixth and this game got royally screwed up by Cora. Despite the record, I haven't been a fan of Cora's in-game decisions so far this season. Bottom of the 8th in a tie ballgame with the bottom of the order coming up and he can't get Arroyo or Dalbec an AB? It's the middle of April, nobody needs a day off at the expense of a win. Cora is great with the players!!!!! He is not a good in game manager!!!! That is why I hoped the Red Sox would get someone else. From Kiki leading off to his bullpen choices on a given night, I do not think he is a good manager. That said, the players love him and maybe they do play better under him than under someone (like Ron Roenicki) else.
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manfred
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Post by manfred on Apr 23, 2021 12:39:46 GMT -5
I should be clear, too, that that post was looking at a dichotomy that ignores a third group, which is essential to this yearâs success going forward... last yearâs class. Verdugo, Pivetta, Perez, and Seabold (Houckâs surprise development, too... maybe even Dalbec, if we consider the steps he took). Obviously, they are in the plus category. I left them out because I was focused primarily on the lack of help thus far from this off season. Yeah, Beni is toast. And Bloom gets credit for bailing at the right time. But half credit. The PTBNL will make that trade... but he certainly could have done a better job building even a bridge OF. (This is not second-guessing... I have always hated this construction). But with $14 million in Renfroe, Richards, and Marwin, they have -.4 fWAR. That could have been a good LFer who fit the lineup better. Again... not a second guess. Seemed clear. Whitlock is great, masterstroke. But people have to stop pressing to increase his use. He is a long-term investment. I would be very happy if pitched about 3 times every two weeks for a total of 6 innings. It might not help now, but I would rather take the risk of using lesser pitchers than the risk of hurting him. I share the criticisms about the outfield roster construction (though I also think the whole scheme will pretty much be redeemed if Duran comes up in June and kills it). But a serious question: what should Bloom have done instead? Not signed Richards... okay. But I think there would have been pitchforks and torches here if he hadn't signed any starting pitcher; the alternative to Richards, I have to think, would have been Happ or Odorizzi or something.
Not signed Renfroe and Marwin? Okay, that buys you $6 million to play with, but losing Marwin makes your versatility a lot worse on the infield. Is there another free agent outfielder other than Renfroe you'd have taken for $3 million? Leury Garcia? Michael Taylor?
I haven't been a fan of the let-Renfroe-hit-against-righties plan from the beginning, so I'm really not saying Bloom couldn't have done better. I'm just wondering what you think he should have done.
ADD: Speaking of outfielder use, in his career Kiké has faced righties 57% of the time; this season it's 67%. That's not ideal. (Though I hadn't noticed that he's got a crazy reverse split this season so far: 47 wRC+ vs. lefties, 120 vs. righties. Doubt that'll last.)
Re: Richards. Well, first I wouldn’t have signed him. Said it at the time. I might not have signed any starter, complaints or no. I found spending $8 million in a high risk guy in what was a “bridge” year strange. If you are just adding depth, it could be cheaper. Indeed, I wonder who they were bidding *against* — the Mets gave Tajuan Walker about the same total money for 3 years that the Sox could give Richards for 2. Richards was a very fast signing... we used to talk about DD’s fixed ideas... is this a Bloom one? Anyway, you’d have Eovaldi, ERod, Perez, Pivetta, Houck, with Seabold in AAA and Sale on deck. Not great, not especially deep... but not significantly different (and $8 mill to play with). What I would really prefer is sitting on the money, then looking to a second Ottavino-style trade. If the Giants fell out, could you get Cueto for half a year? By that time, of course, you’d be well into the season and know if it is worth bothering, even. As for how I’d direct the Marwin/Renfroe money... I’m not totally against the Marwin signing. He’s been better than I expected. It’s the context. I would prefer they had one guy to play left who had more evenly matched splits. Who? Dunno. But if you didn’t sign Renfroe and Richards, you’d have most of Michael Brantley paid off. There is your everyday left fielder. No need to worry about pinch hitting in the fifth inning, no questions of him being helpless against lefties. On Kiké... he is not an ideal leadoff guy... but who is? I am not one calling to move him because the only possible alternative is Verdugo, and I like him where he is. So I can’t blame Cora... he is working with a bad hand in that regard. Anyway, I’m developing a soft spot for Kiké. Add: to be clear, I was wrong overall in my assessment of the team. They are better than I ever expected to this point. So I don’t mean to imply I was some Nostradamus. But I think I was right that the “plan” was flawed. I’d say that for all the talk of flexibility and depth, I view those as *weaknesses*. Kiké can play all over... but because the LF platoon really shouldn’t play together, he pretty much has to be the CF. Marwin can play all over, but in many of those positions he’s below average offensively. And Renfroe/Franchy are strict platoon guys (or should be). So the team has a short bench with most of yhe role players only effective in very specific contexts.
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