|
Post by Oregon Norm on Mar 21, 2024 19:43:37 GMT -5
He had the presence to understand that, from where he scooped up the groundball, he had a good angle on the throw to Story at second. He may even have planned the short hop pickup to get that angle. His instincts seem to be over the top.
|
|
|
Post by philsbosoxfan on Mar 21, 2024 19:53:48 GMT -5
Takeaways:
Rafaela second base. If the other outfielders have good years, Grissom might return as a platoon second baseman.
O'Neil looks poised to a return to past glory.
Criswell gives them 6 viable HEALTHY starters, all poised for career years.
Story is a force everywhere
Cam Booser looks like a candidate for surprise reliever of the year.
Wong looks like the Wong we had last year before McGuire got hurt and Cora had no viable alternatives to overusing him.
|
|
|
Post by philsbosoxfan on Mar 21, 2024 19:55:36 GMT -5
He had the presence to understand that, from where he scooped up the groundball, he had a good angle on the throw to Story at second. He may even have planned the short hop pickup to get that angle. His instincts seem to be over the top. I always mention transfer time. If you notice, the ball was transferred before the spin. Shades of Dustin.
|
|
|
Post by soxinsf on Mar 21, 2024 19:56:41 GMT -5
Smooth-looking forceout by Rafaela to Story to get the lead runner at second base on a groundball. Rafaela is the best defensive second baseman and best defensive outfielder on this team. Absent Grissom, I like today’s lineup, with O’Neill in LF, to start the season.
|
|
|
Post by incandenza on Mar 21, 2024 21:06:10 GMT -5
He had the presence to understand that, from where he scooped up the groundball, he had a good angle on the throw to Story at second. He may even have planned the short hop pickup to get that angle. His instincts seem to be over the top. That's totally what I thought when I saw that - supernatural instincts. He's played 200 innings at 2B in his career!
|
|
|
Post by ephus on Mar 22, 2024 10:16:51 GMT -5
An infield with Story at short and Rafaela at 2nd would be almost inconceivably superior to what we watched last year. I would not be surprised if it resulted in a greater than -1-run per game improvement, and an increase in starter innings by 1, and I don’t think I’m being hyperbolic.
|
|
ematz1423
Veteran
Posts: 5,372
Member is Online
|
Post by ematz1423 on Mar 22, 2024 10:26:58 GMT -5
An infield with Story at short and Rafaela at 2nd would be almost inconceivably superior to what we watched last year. I would not be surprised if it resulted in a greater than -1-run per game improvement, and an increase in starter innings by 1, and I don’t think I’m being hyperbolic. Story alone enhances the IF defense quite a bit and while yes Rafaela at 2nd even more. However defense in CF is generally more important than defense at 2nd base so I guess my argument is, isn't Rafaela better in CF by a big enough margin over Duran to be more valuable than the upgrade of Rafaela over Valdez/Grissom? I guess that mucks things up though since if Rafaela is taking the bulk of PT in CF where does that leave Duran? Duran shouldn't be in RF with his weak arm but LF seems to be covered by ONeill so I'm not sure what the correct answer is.
|
|
gerry
Veteran
Enter your message here...
Posts: 1,676
|
Post by gerry on Mar 22, 2024 10:35:16 GMT -5
Why is O’Neill, with his GG, speed and big arm no longer considered for RF, with Duran in LF? With Abreu, a good all around fielder, as the LHB backup for both O’Neill and Rafaella. That would be an amazing OF
|
|
jimoh
Veteran
Posts: 3,988
|
Post by jimoh on Mar 22, 2024 10:39:17 GMT -5
Gif of Rafaela's improbable Houdini slide at 2b yesterday:
|
|
ematz1423
Veteran
Posts: 5,372
Member is Online
|
Post by ematz1423 on Mar 22, 2024 10:56:22 GMT -5
Why is O’Neill, with his GG, speed and big arm no longer considered for RF, with Duran in LF? With Abreu, a good all around fielder, as the LHB backup for both O’Neill and Rafaella. That would be an amazing OF I thought O'Neill had been playing some RF in ST? I know he's played at least one game there last week anyway. I agree the team would be better served with him filling in both LF/RF with Duran in LF on days that Rafaela plays CF.
|
|
|
Post by soxinsf on Mar 22, 2024 11:03:32 GMT -5
Why is O’Neill, with his GG, speed and big arm no longer considered for RF, with Duran in LF? With Abreu, a good all around fielder, as the LHB backup for both O’Neill and Rafaella. That would be an amazing OF I thought O'Neill had been playing some RF in ST? I know he's played at least one game there last week anyway. I agree the team would be better served with him filling in both LF/RF with Duran in LF on days that Rafaela plays CF. The missing ingredient in this discussion is Grissom. Absent Grissom, I like Rafaela at 2B. But a healthy Grissom, playing adequate defense and hitting well, moves Rafaela back to CF. And yes, you are spot on as Abreu being the fourth OF.
|
|
|
Post by itinerantherb on Mar 22, 2024 11:07:03 GMT -5
Gif of Rafaela's improbable Houdini slide at 2b yesterday: The body control is just astonishing--to do that windmill slide and end up with his toe in the back of the bag. He does seem to be a Mookie-like physical coordination savant.
|
|
|
Post by fenwaydouble on Mar 22, 2024 11:52:46 GMT -5
An infield with Story at short and Rafaela at 2nd would be almost inconceivably superior to what we watched last year. I would not be surprised if it resulted in a greater than -1-run per game improvement, and an increase in starter innings by 1, and I don’t think I’m being hyperbolic. If the Red Sox had allowed one fewer run per game last year they would have given up the fewest runs in baseball by a substantial margin - 3.79 runs per game compared to the Brewers at 3.99 runs per game. No defender or even two defenders is close to that valuable.
|
|
|
Post by Oregon Norm on Mar 22, 2024 11:57:20 GMT -5
That is very true. My estimate was closer to a half-dozen fewer losses than they experienced. That's more realistic I believe.
|
|
|
Post by strike23 on Mar 22, 2024 13:12:47 GMT -5
Statcast has the gap between the best defensive team (Brewers) and the Red Sox (worst defensive team) at 90 OAA corresponding to a difference in 73 runs prevented. I don't think CR and Story fill that gap on their own but I feel like we have a shot to be above average defensively with Yoshida at DH.
|
|
|
Post by Underwater Johnson on Mar 22, 2024 22:31:39 GMT -5
Just watched the Sox fall to the Jays in a game that somehow didn't get rained out. The only highlight for the Sox was an absolute bomb of a homer over a building behind the RF stands by Enmanuel Valdez. He heel-toed it around the bases and earned every step. He also made a few nice plays at the keystone.
Unfortunately, that was one of only three hits on the game for the Sox, whose only "regulars" to make the trip were Abreu, Reyes, Valdez, and Dalbec. The coaching staff didn't even go -- they sent the AA staff instead (plus Fatse). Mitch White took care of business for the Jays, perhaps earning their 5th starter job.
Jacob Webb fared best of the parade of low minors pitchers that toed the slab for the Sox. Struck out two (including Vladdy in a pretty impressive sequence), walked one and gave up a hit in two scoreless frames. He was one of my picks to click in the year he was drafted; maybe today was a harbinger of a nice turnaround for him.
|
|
|
Post by ancientsoxfogey on Mar 23, 2024 9:35:50 GMT -5
He had the presence to understand that, from where he scooped up the groundball, he had a good angle on the throw to Story at second. He may even have planned the short hop pickup to get that angle. His instincts seem to be over the top. Just give Rafaela a gold glove now. What position? Who cares. Just give him a gold glove. Maybe MLB needs to create a new award - gold glove, utility.
|
|
|
Post by ephus on Mar 23, 2024 10:17:13 GMT -5
An infield with Story at short and Rafaela at 2nd would be almost inconceivably superior to what we watched last year. I would not be surprised if it resulted in a greater than -1-run per game improvement, and an increase in starter innings by 1, and I don’t think I’m being hyperbolic. If the Red Sox had allowed one fewer run per game last year they would have given up the fewest runs in baseball by a substantial margin - 3.79 runs per game compared to the Brewers at 3.99 runs per game. No defender or even two defenders is close to that valuable. Heard. That said, whether Rafaela primarily winds up in center or at 2nd, having those premier spots covered is going to like night and day. Let’s check in June and see how things are going. My guess is we’ll see considerably fewer errors, starters going additional innings, and runs allowed to drop considerably. It’s gonna be downright fun.
|
|
|
Post by 07redsox on Mar 23, 2024 10:34:43 GMT -5
He had the presence to understand that, from where he scooped up the groundball, he had a good angle on the throw to Story at second. He may even have planned the short hop pickup to get that angle. His instincts seem to be over the top. Just give Rafaela a gold glove now. What position? Who cares. Just give him a gold glove. Maybe MLB needs to create a new award - gold glove, utility. There already is a gold glove utility. Dubon won it last year.
|
|
|
Post by rhswanzey on Mar 23, 2024 12:09:04 GMT -5
Bummer that there’s no audio or TV feed for a (split squad) game pitched by Bello, with Anthony and Mayer both in the starting lineup.
|
|
|
Post by Underwater Johnson on Mar 23, 2024 12:16:14 GMT -5
Bummer that there’s no audio or TV feed for a (split squad) game pitched by Bello, with Anthony and Mayer both in the starting lineup. PIT video feed is one of the free games of the day on MLBTV. 6:05 game at Jet Blue is also a free TV game, prolly on NESN.
|
|
|
Post by sublime on Mar 23, 2024 12:17:55 GMT -5
Bummer that there’s no audio or TV feed for a (split squad) game pitched by Bello, with Anthony and Mayer both in the starting lineup. PIT video feed is one of the free games of the day on MLBTV The PIT feed is also on NESN+. I will say the audio mix is bad, stadium mics are jacked up and I can hardly hear the commentators.
|
|
|
Post by kevfc89 on Mar 23, 2024 13:18:26 GMT -5
Bello's throwing some beautiful sliders and changeups today. So excited to watch him this year.
|
|
|
Post by sxfan on Mar 23, 2024 14:05:50 GMT -5
Mayer is smooth.
|
|
|
Post by vokuhila on Mar 23, 2024 14:13:42 GMT -5
|
|