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Post by jbuttah on Jun 23, 2024 9:24:09 GMT -5
Clearly, the Sox aren't as talented as some other teams, but I think what they've been able to do the first half of the season is build depth. Along with some talent that could be ready to provide a spark towards the end of the season, I think the Sox have to considered a dark horse WS candidate.
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Post by costpet on Jun 23, 2024 9:54:50 GMT -5
If you think you need pitching, players on the farm could bring some decent arms. That's what the farm is for. Have too many good players at one position? Use them to trade for what you need. I'm thinking Sikes, Lugo. There are others.
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Post by threeifbaerga on Jun 23, 2024 10:26:43 GMT -5
Idk what a 25 year old with a .732 ops at AA is going to bring back but I don't disagree with your point. I'd rather they work on the margins to augment this team and make the splashier moves once they're a little closer to WS contention.
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ericmvan
Veteran
Supposed to be working on something more important
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Post by ericmvan on Jun 23, 2024 10:32:31 GMT -5
Sox record coming back from a 25% or less chance of winning, or blowing 75% or better:
First 48 games: 1-4
Next 17: 2-1.
Last 12: 4-0.
That's right, more full comebacks in the last 12 games than in the preceding 65.
They were 32-33 when the current 9-3 streak started. Without the comebacks, it's 5-7.
If there turns out to be a turning point in this season, it has to be on June 9th, when the Sox in the bottom of the 8th had a 90.2% probability of losing a four-game series to what is at present the worst team in baseball by both W/L and schedule-adjusted run differential ("SRS"). That win was not only the start of this run, but the toughest comeback they've yet managed.
Top 13 teams in SRS (ties going to the team with more games played)
1.6 Bal 1.4 NYY 1.2 LAD 1.2 Phi 1.1 Cle
0.7 Mil 0.6 KC 0.6 Bos 0.6 Atl
0.3 SD 0.3 Sea 0.3 Min 0.3 Cin
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Post by Foulke_In_Athol on Jun 23, 2024 10:57:13 GMT -5
After Duran made that catch he looked like a little kid (in the best way) big smile on his face "look the balls in the glove" then he skipped toward the infield, unable to keep the excitement bottled up.
Seeing him play with such joy and youthful wreckless abandon is really incredible and its contagious. You have a kid who was destined to be a AAAA player full of depression and anxiety after his first run of time in the majors. He could have gone home to Cali in a really dark place and sulked, blaming the media or the coaches or whatever, but instead he looked inward and worked. He revamped the swing, worked on maximizing his speed as a weapon, but most of all he worked on his defense. He shagged thousands of fly balls, worked on his routes.
Now he's one of the top players in all of baseball, and the scary thing is.... He seems determined to improve even more.
I for one, will not bet against Duran again.
That catch and that game seemed like the moment that showed what Duran has become, what he can become in the future and hows hes left behind but not forgotten a tough beginning and he shows it with a smile. The whole duration of his career has shown how to do it right. Hes learned and grown in the best ways.
There is no better leader for this team and for the Boston Red Sox going forward than Jarren Duran. Especially with the young guns coming up looking for a role model.
/photo/1?
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TearsIn04
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Everybody knows Nelson de la Rosa, but who is Karim Garcia?
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Post by TearsIn04 on Jun 23, 2024 10:57:58 GMT -5
Duran has developed into an almost ideal leadoff hitter/ offensive weapon. I doubt that many here WANT to trade him. However if it drastically improved the team, you have to listen. What could you possibly get in return that would drastically improve the team??? The OF becomes very crowded eventually with Duran, Abreu (OBP!), Little Raffy and Anthony. At least one will have to go. If they're looking to get more lineup balance, it'll probably be Abreu or Anthony. Anthony could be a big piece in a trade for a SP or impact RH bat. If that RH bat is an OF, that leaves Little Raffy in a super utility role. I can't see them trading Duran unless some team loses it mind and offers the moon.
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Post by cmax on Jun 23, 2024 11:08:06 GMT -5
If there turns out to be a turning point in this season, it has to be on June 9th, when the Sox in the bottom of the 8th had a 90.2% probability of losing a four-game series to what is at present the worst team in baseball by both W/L and schedule-adjusted run differential ("SRS"). That win was not only the start of this run, but the toughest comeback they've yet managed. Hamilton's emergence has really been a key sparkplug for this team during this revival. In that June 9th game against the White Sox, Hamilton, having already hit a solo homer earlier, doubled to lead off the top of the 9th and then stole third with one out and scored the tying run on a shallow fly to left by Reese McGuire. That was an enormous win. The 2nd game in the Phillies series was another key comeback. Down 4-1 in the 5th, again Hamilton led off with a hit and the speed of Hamilton, Rafaela and Duran put pressure on the Phillies to spark a 5 run outburst and take the lead. Then Hamilton hit a two run homer in the 6th to extend the lead to 8-4 and the team found its groove. I like the move to switch Hamilton in the order with Rafaela and drop him to ninth today against a lefty, as it doesn't seem sensible to have him bat between their slowest runner (Smith) and freest swinger (Rafaela), but keeps the dynamic Rafaela, Hamilton, Duran connection in the lineup. It will be interesting if Hamilton can keep up his performance to see if he gets a shot at leadoff, as he seems to lead big innings whenever he gets up to lead off an inning, so why not make that happen at the beginning of every game. Obviously, Duran is great and Cora seems committed to him there but will be interesting to see if the Sox try that out at some point. Would be great to get another big series win today after dropping the first game in Cincinnati and needing to come back last night.
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Post by jerrygarciaparra on Jun 23, 2024 11:58:08 GMT -5
I take full credit, as the comeback started when I tuned in. Ref just didn't waste any time. Thanks for leading us to victory Jerry. completely my honor, my brother !!
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Post by jerrygarciaparra on Jun 23, 2024 12:00:00 GMT -5
as great as Duran's catch was, I am reminded of the best HR rob that I can remember.
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Post by jerrygarciaparra on Jun 23, 2024 12:10:20 GMT -5
I don't know that stipulating whether the teams is WS contender or not is all that necessary at this time. What I like about this squad, is there is room for interpretation for what their ceiling may be. The other top squads, we kind of know at this point what they are.
I started out the season with low to no expectations. What I have seen is a team that is growing and getting better. Are they the favorites ? of course not. But if they keep progressing, they can definitely do damage to top squads, and maybe even win some playoff series.
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Post by dirtywaterinla on Jun 23, 2024 12:12:20 GMT -5
If you think you need pitching, players on the farm could bring some decent arms. That's what the farm is for. Have too many good players at one position? Use them to trade for what you need. I'm thinking Sikes, Lugo. There are others. Unfortunately Sikes or Lugo is not going to bring you back anything, even if it just minors depth.
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asm18
Veteran
Posts: 2,543
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Post by asm18 on Jun 23, 2024 12:42:19 GMT -5
The grounds crew is struggling a bit here in Cincinnati- they spilled ALL of the water from the home plate tarp onto the batters box so they have to completely redo. Someone needs to FaceTime Dave Mellor
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shagworthy
Veteran
My neckbeard game is on point.
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Post by shagworthy on Jun 23, 2024 12:47:00 GMT -5
as great as Duran's catch was, I am reminded of the best HR rob that I can remember. I dunno, I think the Gary Matthews Jr one is the best I ever saw.
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Post by jerrygarciaparra on Jun 23, 2024 12:51:20 GMT -5
out. but still fun to see the defense tremble.
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Post by cba82 on Jun 23, 2024 12:51:53 GMT -5
Game starts 10 minutes late because of a grounds crew mishap, and then a multi-minute video review after the second pitch of the game. Nice.
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cdj
Veteran
Posts: 15,659
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Post by cdj on Jun 23, 2024 12:53:31 GMT -5
Bad frame job by Stephenson there
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Post by station13 on Jun 23, 2024 13:15:10 GMT -5
I wonder where has the offense been in this series.
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Post by jerrygarciaparra on Jun 23, 2024 13:16:18 GMT -5
is Zach Kelly an All-Star ?
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Post by entrylevelhitman on Jun 23, 2024 13:25:04 GMT -5
is Zach Kelly an All-Star ? He's the owner of one of my favorite post-game comments so far. Jahmai the other day asked him after the game something like "what's been your mindset since you were recalled from Worcester?" And Kelly immediately said "I don't want to go back."
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cdj
Veteran
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Post by cdj on Jun 23, 2024 13:35:31 GMT -5
BING BONG WONG DONG
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shagworthy
Veteran
My neckbeard game is on point.
Posts: 1,845
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Post by shagworthy on Jun 23, 2024 13:35:40 GMT -5
Wong Dong Fuey!
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Post by soxfaninnj on Jun 23, 2024 13:36:13 GMT -5
Wong dong!
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cdj
Veteran
Posts: 15,659
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Post by cdj on Jun 23, 2024 13:36:33 GMT -5
Damn Romy smoked that one oppo, I like him
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Post by oldfaithful2019 on Jun 23, 2024 13:38:16 GMT -5
It has been so much fun voting 5 times a day for Conner to be AS catcher !!
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Post by scottysmalls on Jun 23, 2024 13:40:20 GMT -5
The complete list of righties with 200 PAs and a higher wRC+ than Connor Wong:
Aaron Judge, Marcel Ozuna, Mookie Betts, JD Martinez
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