Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II
posted at 4/13/2011 3:34 PM EDT
- harness
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In Response to
Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II:
Another interesting thread. Posters are interesting and polite.
Posted by Natick-Ned
Welcome aboard. You are visiting this forum's
premium thread. It will run all season. No where will you find a more informative, honest thread overall.
Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II
posted at 4/13/2011 3:34 PM EDT
- moonslav59
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I saw some saberguy had the Sox one game up on TB at season's end.
Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II
posted at 4/13/2011 3:34 PM EDT
- moonslav59
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Sorry hrness, I'm glad the Birds won. It puts us a game closer to TB, the more feared opp.
Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II
posted at 4/13/2011 3:34 PM EDT
- BurritoT
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Wakefield is live on the radio - Dennis Miller Show.
Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II
posted at 4/13/2011 3:34 PM EDT
Time for Beckett to start cleaning up this mess! We are due to breakout!
We are going to hit. That alone should bludgeon some teams into submission.
Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II
posted at 4/13/2011 3:34 PM EDT
- harness
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Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II:
I know it's probably too soon to broach this subject but is it possible that a more experienced catcher such as Varitek would have had a more calming influence over the pitching staff over the last 2 games and had some influence on the outcome of either game or did Texas' offense simply pour it on too hot and heavy for any relief? My concern is that Salty's lack of experience may have some bearing on knowing how to read the opposing hitters and knowing what changes to make with regards to pitches to throw under certain conditions.
Posted by playball01
Here's another way of saying it, Warden:
Not including today's game, Salty has started 7 games for the RedSox, dating back to 2010. The RedSox are
0-7 in those 7 games.
EDIT: Make that
0-8.
Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II
posted at 4/13/2011 3:34 PM EDT
It's to early too see any trend but we do know that our pitching staff might not just walk out there and shut down offenses. I'm hopeful for Buchholz to start out hot. If Gonzalez keeps going he is going to be in a strong negotiating position. He has a lot riding on how he does right now.
Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II
posted at 4/13/2011 3:34 PM EDT
- fivekatz
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Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II:
In Response to Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II : I didn't realize teams spend $140M++ for a #7 hitter.
Posted by DasBabe
Well that is part of the quandary with Crawford isn't it? He was signed based on the total package and not simply his batting prowess and is surrounded by a lot of accomplished hitters.
The same snarky comments could be made about #2 hitters or lead-off I suppose but Crawford assets include his speed and defense and gap power.
But at 3-4 you have guys like Youk and A-Gon who will flirt with .400 OBP every year and mid .900 OPS. Then you have Ortiz who is still a top 10 power guy. As long as Ellsbury and Pedroia are the 1-2 guys that puts Crawford at 6 at best, versus a LH pitcher the RS are unlike to sandwich Ortiz and Crawford so in that circumstance (like Sunday's game versus the Rangers) that puts Crawford in 7 hole.
So while you make the point even though I suspect your intention is to taunt. Crawford's salary is creating expectations that are perhaps over riding the realities of where he fits into the line-up on this team. For darn sure he'd never be a 6 or 7 hitter in Tampa or with the Angels by example...
Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II
posted at 4/13/2011 3:34 PM EDT
- Hfxsoxnut
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Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II:
Anybody worried about how anemic the offense has looked against lefty starters so far? I mean, if you take out the two runs they got in the opener because of the bad error in RF, they would have only scored 3 runs in the two games off of lefty starters. Think the Yanks will be trying to add a lefty?
Posted by SmileyBabe
Didn't they already try?
Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II
posted at 4/13/2011 3:34 PM EDT
- moonslav59
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Anybody worried about how anemic the offense has looked against lefty starters so far?
No.
I was worried long before the season began. I was worred lst year when Tito not only kept Papi in the line-up vs most LHPs, but he batted him 5th. I became more worried after the Crawford signing. I knew Tito would keep thepoor hitters vs LHPs up high in the line-up.
I was not surpised by the results, but I am not going to make any judgements based on a 3 game series.
I will repeat my basic position:
We have serious issues vs LHPs and should do everything we can to help put ourselves in a better position to score runs versus them. That includes:
1) Getting Cameron, Lowrie and VTek in as many games as reasonable vs LHPs, especially ones that Papi, Drew, Crawford, Slty and Scutaro struggle against.
2) Adjust the line-up to put the better hitters up earlier.
3) Put your best overall hitters up 3rd and 4th (relying on L/R splits heavily).
4) Break the paradigms, such as the hard-line L-R-L etched in stone philosophy, or at least don't count Ellsbury as a lefty or Pedey as a righty, they both hit the "wrong side" better that or equal to the "right side".
Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II
posted at 4/13/2011 3:34 PM EDT
- harness
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Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II:
The early positives (there aren't many) are that Ortiz clearly is not going to be awful out the gate this year unlike 09 and 10. The core of the bullpen aside from Bard's absolute meltdown in the opener and Papelbon's load em up strike out the side appearance on Sunday looks strong. And it looks like Francona has found a role for Wakefield in between spot starts For first appearances I thought that Buch and Beckett were OK (with run support those guys pitched winnable games), Lester had typical Lester April starts and Lackey.. well he got taken to the woodshed and was beaten like he stole something. Concerns are how much everyone not named Ortiz looks like they are pressing. Salty in particular is carrying a huge load on his back and it has showed at the plate. Crawford is the toy that nobody knows quite what to do with and he looks like a man trying to prove his salary is his value. Problem here is that he doesn't like to lead-off and it is not ideal to force a player into an uncomfortable role. But while his salary screams he is the best hitter on the team, he is not. The 7th spot in the order from Sunday is probably about right. The two spot isn't bad until you consider that because of the two lefties at the top of the order Tito put Pedey in the 3 slot. I find that maddening because at the end of the day no matter what order you put them in the 3-4 hitters are A-Gon and Youk until they produce large sample sets that prove otherwise. We went through a similar stretch last yearto open the season and saw how quickly the RS were able to erase the deficitin May and early June before the injuries multiplied to the point where the RS had a AAA outfield and catching staffing. So we can't get too alarmed by how much a 4 loss streak is magnified when it is the first 4 games of the season. But if a team ever looked like they could use a couple of idiots in the locker room to lighten things up, the RS have looked like that team in the last two games and with the NYY being the home opening series after Cleveland the guys just getting loose can come none too quickly IMO. Just my take
Posted by fivekatz
I like ur analogy to CC as the
new toy.
The team did make up the deficit last year, but it took the easiest part of the schedule (inter-league) to do it. If you look at the 2010 team record beyond that easy stretch, it's rather humbling.
The easy part of the schedule is where the team should
separate themselves from the pack - not play catch-up.
BTW: Salty's issues aren't just
in front of the platr. His handling of the pitching staff is also very much in question. In the 9 games he has started for the RedSox, dating back to last year...the RedSox have lost ALL OF THEM.
Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II
posted at 4/13/2011 3:34 PM EDT
Harness is always right. Heed his exact words, they are gospel.
GO YANKEES.
Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II
posted at 4/13/2011 3:34 PM EDT
- SmileyBabe
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In Response to Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II : Didn't they already try?
Posted by Hfxsoxnut
Yup, but I'm pretty sure that they aren't gonna give up trying to land one because they missed out on lee.
And the way this beantowne lineup looked against lefties this weekend I'm sure they would like to land one or two.
Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II
posted at 4/13/2011 3:34 PM EDT
- M1A2
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Well, now we are seeing the master at work. First inning: 25 pitches, 2 runs, 1 dinger, etc. You'd think Varitek would do better than that.
If one time Harness would say, "you know, I believe in CERA but have to recognize that on some days some pitchers are great no matter who is catching and some pitchers are lousy no matter who is catching," then I would support his thesis more than I do.
Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II
posted at 4/13/2011 3:34 PM EDT
- M1A2
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I just saw Crawford do something I don't think Ellsbury's done--take 3d on a hardhit grounder to 2B, who threw out the runner at first.
Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II
posted at 4/13/2011 3:34 PM EDT
- moonslav59
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The team lost, not just the pitchers. There will be games we lose 1-0 and 2-1. Our staff will be fine. Relax.
Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II
posted at 4/13/2011 3:34 PM EDT
- moonslav59
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It's only 4 games.
I really am not at all concerned.
Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II
posted at 4/13/2011 3:34 PM EDT
I think Natick is pretty much on target. A few pitches in misplaced spots and things can get completely out of control in Texas.
I thought from looking at the game a little that Texas may actually have a huge fan base now but a ton of those people looked and acted like Redsox fans. We are taking over the Universe ( Look out Evil Empire ).
Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II
posted at 4/13/2011 3:34 PM EDT
In Response to
Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II:
In case no one else has noticed, the Rangers have put together one heck of a team also. One heck of a lineup and some solid pitching. They are for real.
Posted by Boomerangsdotcom
I said this in another post and I'll say it again.
The Red Sox lost that series because of pitching and pitching only. They scored enough runs to take 2 out of 3 but didn't because of an awful performance by Lester and a god awful performance by Lackey.
To me, the Rangers have a bunch of guys that do nothing but swing for the fences. That's going to work a lot of times but it will also result in streaky hitting. If you think that the Rangers are going to hit like that all year, you are out of your mind. Besides, I put that more in pitch execution than the Rangers bat.
Also, I'm not all that impressed with the Rangers rotation. I was rather unimpressed last year too, and that was with Lee. I just don't think they have a true ace.
I still think they win the west, but bottom line is the Rangers started off hot and the Red Sox started off cold.
By the way, is anyone on my side in that they believe David Murphy is only in the big leagues because he only does well versus the Red Sox? I can't stand this guy for that reason.
Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II
posted at 4/13/2011 3:34 PM EDT
- antibody
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bump
Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II
posted at 4/13/2011 3:34 PM EDT
- SmileyBabe
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Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II:
No team with an 0-4 start have ever won the world series. I remember a team down 0-3 in a 7 game series... 0-4 in a 162 game season isnot a worrisome record. Of ourse, i'm not happy about it, but our pitchers haven't even mad a complete rotaion yet. I take such stats with a grain of salt but it certainly means that some concern is warranted. Especially with the mediocre performances of Lackey and Beckett (Beckett had trouble cracking 90 miles an hour against a so-so Cleveland team). They've only pitched one game! On the bright side Salty got a hit. This Dice K start is gonna be interesting. The bats will come alive. The pitching should too.
Posted by moonslav59
No team with an 0-4 start have ever won the world series. I remember a team down 0-3 in a 7 game series
Do you expect lightning to strike twice? So because something happened ONCE in over 100 years of baseball we should expect it again?
On the bright side Salty got a hit.
But the way he tries to throw runners out is comical. He really looks like a lousy pick up.
Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II
posted at 4/13/2011 3:34 PM EDT
- harness
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Boom, I never expect the Sox to win. I hope they will win. I do expect 60+ losses each year, and some of them will come at the hands of teams like Cleveland.
I also think Salty is worth a try, but not at the expense of the season. He should have been groomed for at least a year with far less playing time. That way the risk is minimized.
I know the argument is: "How can he develop with less playing time?".
That's why Boston and NY often use other teams of lesser expenditure to serve as their training ground.
Yeah, it's expensive to go the FA route or acquisition via trades, but it can be far more expensive to jeopardize a season by putting a player in a key position when he's simply not ready yet.
Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II
posted at 4/13/2011 3:34 PM EDT
- moonslav59
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It looks like Tito has no clue about the L-R thing at catcher. He missed a chance t hve VTek start vs at least one lefty in Texas, and now he is starting him vs a righty tonight.
VTek has had an .800+ OPS vs LHPs for the last 3 straight years. Salty is under .600 vs LHPs.
Sorry, I just don't get it.
As to the 2 lefties in a row to start the line-up: Ellsbury hits lefties equally or better than righties, so why should it matter at all?
Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II
posted at 4/13/2011 3:34 PM EDT
- moonslav59
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You mean he fit in the studio door?
Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II
posted at 4/13/2011 3:34 PM EDT
In Response to
Re: A Realistic Look at 2011: Part II:
God, FOUR games into the season and people are concerned?? Please!! Let's give it some time. Jid, if you're around and being an ex-catcher, I have a question for you about Salty. Harness, I'd like your assessment also. I noticed that at times, Salty extends his right leg before a pitch(I wish the hell I had that flexibility). It seems that when he does this, it allows him to set a lower target. I would think he would set up this way more often. Any comments?
Posted by ampoule
That's the only way a tall guy like him can get the target that low isn't it. I've seen that with tall catchers before. It must make it harder to get into a good defensive position but the bigger catchers need to do that sometimes.
The overall numbers with Salty just are flat out not good. It's still a small sample size but it may be that the Sox are going to be extremely patient with him for half a season and get nothing. It could go either way and right now we all know which way it looks like ending up.
God I hate being negative but look at his numbers from last fall also. It doesn't look good overall so far. And Texas did let him go for next to nothing.
