Looks like Hanley is starting to heat up which should be a huge lift for the Sox offense. Lin continues to look competent as well.
The 2017 Lineup
- Thread starter TonyPenaNeverJuiced
- Start date
Run scoring breakdown
26 games where the sox scored 2 or fewer runs.....
https://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/inning_summary.cgi?request=1&year=2017&team_id=BOS
26 games where the sox scored 2 or fewer runs.....
https://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/inning_summary.cgi?request=1&year=2017&team_id=BOS
Bring on Devers! And get Moreland some rest so his foot can heal... Isn't Bogaerts banged up a bit as well?
That jump from .250 to .615 is insane. Boston has the lowest winning percentage behind 3 runs of any of the presumptive playoff/WC contenders, and the Yanks, Cleveland, Astros, Nats, Cubs & Rockies are all above .400 there.Run scoring breakdown
26 games where the sox scored 2 or fewer runs.....
https://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/inning_summary.cgi?request=1&year=2017&team_id=BOS
What's frustrating to me is the at-bats they put up, because that's something relatively in their control as hitters.
Today, for example, in 33 plate appearances they faced 106 pitches - 3.2 per PA. The opposite of the "grind it out" approach that they use when they're going well. Just to document...
1st inning: Betts: pop foul to first on 0-1; Benintendi: strikes out swinging on 1-2 (4th); Bradley: grounds out on 0-0. 2 at-bats of <= 3 pitches
2nd inning: HRam: lines out on 1-1; Moreland flies out on 0-1; Bogaerts grounds out on 1-2 (5th). 2 at-bats of <= 3 pitches
3rd inning: Leon: pops out on 1-2; Holt pops out on 1-1; Marrero grounds out on 1-2. 1 at-bat of <= 3 pitches
4th inning: Betts: grounds out on 0-0; Benintendi: walks on 3-0; Bradley: strikes out swinging on 2-2 (7th); HRam: pops out on 0-0. 2 at-bats of <= 3 pitches
5th inning: Moreland: grounds out on 0-0; Bogaerts: grounds out on 2-2 (6th); Leon: singles on 2-1; Holt: infield single on 0-0; Marrero: rbi single on 2-1; Betts: grounds out on 0-1. 3 at-bats of <= 3 pitches
6th inning: Benintendi: grounds out on 0-0; Bradley: flies out on 2-1; HRam: homers on 0-0; Moreland: grounds out on 0-1. 3 at-bats of <= 3 pitches
7th inning: Bogaerts: grounds out on 0-0; Leon: flies out on 0-1; Holt: singles on 1-1; Marrero: strikes out swinging on 2-2. 3 at-bats of <= 3 pitches
8th inning (Blake Parker in): Betts: grounds out on 3-2 (7th); Benintendi: pops out on 2-2 (7th); Bradley: flies out on 0-0. 1 at-bat of <= 3 pitches
9th inning (Bud Norris in): HRam: singles on 3-1; Moreland: strikes out swinging on 1-2 (5th); Bogaerts: grounds into double play on 1-1. 1 at-bat of <= 3 pitches
They set the tone in the first inning, going down on 7 pitches. They put the first pitch in play 9 times, going 2-9 with a homer and infield single. They had 18 at-bats of <= 3 pitches, going 3-18. (Granted, they weren't much better when seeing more pitches, going 3-14 with a walk in 15 at-bats seeing 4 or more pitches.) Just a lackluster offensive effort, for the second game in a row.
Today, for example, in 33 plate appearances they faced 106 pitches - 3.2 per PA. The opposite of the "grind it out" approach that they use when they're going well. Just to document...
1st inning: Betts: pop foul to first on 0-1; Benintendi: strikes out swinging on 1-2 (4th); Bradley: grounds out on 0-0. 2 at-bats of <= 3 pitches
2nd inning: HRam: lines out on 1-1; Moreland flies out on 0-1; Bogaerts grounds out on 1-2 (5th). 2 at-bats of <= 3 pitches
3rd inning: Leon: pops out on 1-2; Holt pops out on 1-1; Marrero grounds out on 1-2. 1 at-bat of <= 3 pitches
4th inning: Betts: grounds out on 0-0; Benintendi: walks on 3-0; Bradley: strikes out swinging on 2-2 (7th); HRam: pops out on 0-0. 2 at-bats of <= 3 pitches
5th inning: Moreland: grounds out on 0-0; Bogaerts: grounds out on 2-2 (6th); Leon: singles on 2-1; Holt: infield single on 0-0; Marrero: rbi single on 2-1; Betts: grounds out on 0-1. 3 at-bats of <= 3 pitches
6th inning: Benintendi: grounds out on 0-0; Bradley: flies out on 2-1; HRam: homers on 0-0; Moreland: grounds out on 0-1. 3 at-bats of <= 3 pitches
7th inning: Bogaerts: grounds out on 0-0; Leon: flies out on 0-1; Holt: singles on 1-1; Marrero: strikes out swinging on 2-2. 3 at-bats of <= 3 pitches
8th inning (Blake Parker in): Betts: grounds out on 3-2 (7th); Benintendi: pops out on 2-2 (7th); Bradley: flies out on 0-0. 1 at-bat of <= 3 pitches
9th inning (Bud Norris in): HRam: singles on 3-1; Moreland: strikes out swinging on 1-2 (5th); Bogaerts: grounds into double play on 1-1. 1 at-bat of <= 3 pitches
They set the tone in the first inning, going down on 7 pitches. They put the first pitch in play 9 times, going 2-9 with a homer and infield single. They had 18 at-bats of <= 3 pitches, going 3-18. (Granted, they weren't much better when seeing more pitches, going 3-14 with a walk in 15 at-bats seeing 4 or more pitches.) Just a lackluster offensive effort, for the second game in a row.
I noticed the same thing last night but had an opposite conclusion. To me their lack of patience at the plate was noticeable in how rare it seems to be for them. Far from it being an indication of why the offence has been so poor lately, I think it was a different approach meant to either try to shake things up or to attack a vulnerability they saw in the pitcher.
The Red Sox have seen the fifth most pitches per plate appearance in the Major Leagues. They're behind the Yankess by .03 pitches per PA. I don't think that is their major problem on offense.
5-33 when they score 3 runs or fewer. That's .132 for those not wanting to pull out a calculator. And that's roughly 40% of their games.Run scoring breakdown
26 games where the sox scored 2 or fewer runs.....
https://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/inning_summary.cgi?request=1&year=2017&team_id=BOS
I wonder how this compares to league average. Or playoff-team average.
My gut tells me that this is a poor harbinger for the playoffs where runs scored become harder to come by.
OTOH, looking at that chart would make me think that this team has pitching woes, not hitting woes.
Also, 47 of 100 games they have scored in 1 or 2 innings.Run scoring breakdown
26 games where the sox scored 2 or fewer runs.....
https://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/inning_summary.cgi?request=1&year=2017&team_id=BOS
Why? They are 50-11 when they score 4 or more runs - the pitching ain't the problem. Scoring <4 over 40% of the time is the problem.
I don't access the NE papers - so I'm wondering if any of them (or anyone here) has a good explanation for what's happened to Bogaerts. If I didn't know better, I'd think he's having intense personal issues that are fucking up his concentration at the plate and in the field. NB: I'm NOT saying that's the case.
- Has pressure to hit with power fucked up his swing? Is he trying too hard?
- Has he been instructed to lay off every low/outside pitch - whether or not it's a strike...because so many pitchers are exploiting that hole? (If that even makes sense)
- He seems to be too often behind in the count. I don't know how to verify that.
- He's in love with the Jeter throw. Is that impacting his fielding on normal balls?
Enough baseless speculation on my part. For all I know, this is just a blip in a .300-hitter's career. For all I know he's got an undisclosed injury that pain management isn't helping. What I DO believe is that the Bogaerts we're seeing this month isn't the real Bogaerts, and that the real Bogaerts is struggling to come back.
Anyway - has anyone addressed this issue and its possible causes (other than "slump")?
- Has pressure to hit with power fucked up his swing? Is he trying too hard?
- Has he been instructed to lay off every low/outside pitch - whether or not it's a strike...because so many pitchers are exploiting that hole? (If that even makes sense)
- He seems to be too often behind in the count. I don't know how to verify that.
- He's in love with the Jeter throw. Is that impacting his fielding on normal balls?
Enough baseless speculation on my part. For all I know, this is just a blip in a .300-hitter's career. For all I know he's got an undisclosed injury that pain management isn't helping. What I DO believe is that the Bogaerts we're seeing this month isn't the real Bogaerts, and that the real Bogaerts is struggling to come back.
Anyway - has anyone addressed this issue and its possible causes (other than "slump")?
Bogaerts was HBP on his right hand....hasn't swung the bat well since then. Tests were negative and it was ruled a contusion
http://www.providencejournal.com/sports/20170718/xander-bogaerts-scratched-with-hand-injury
http://www.providencejournal.com/sports/20170718/xander-bogaerts-scratched-with-hand-injury
I could see something like this down the stretch if they figure out something to do with Moreland and want to limit the pressure on Devers in the field. Though he'll probably hit lower in the order for a while, so hit him 8th or 9th instead.
Mookie - RF
Benintendi - LF
Pedey - 2b
JBJ - CF
Hanley - 1b/DH
Devers (DH) acquisition (1b)
X - SS
Catcher
Nunez - 3b
That's some speed from 9,1,2.
Or if Devers is at 3b and Moreland DH'ing.
Mookie
Beni
Pedey
JBJ
Hanley
Moreland
X
Devers
Catcher
Flip Devers and Moreland if he starts to look good.
Mookie - RF
Benintendi - LF
Pedey - 2b
JBJ - CF
Hanley - 1b/DH
Devers (DH) acquisition (1b)
X - SS
Catcher
Nunez - 3b
That's some speed from 9,1,2.
Or if Devers is at 3b and Moreland DH'ing.
Mookie
Beni
Pedey
JBJ
Hanley
Moreland
X
Devers
Catcher
Flip Devers and Moreland if he starts to look good.
Moreland and X continue to look hobbled and/or just lost today.
Maybe acquire Duda for about as much as you got Nunez for. DL Moreland & X, go with a Nunez/Devers 3B, Marrero/Holt/Nunez (gulp at that last one) SS, Pedey 2B, Duda/Hanley infield. Hanley/Devers DH. we get 4 days off in a row (as in, two Mondays & Thursdays in a row) after this homestand. so there is some time to evaluate and mix & match without actually playing quite as many games as usual in three weeks.
if X is really OK and he's just in a terrible slump, then fine. but Moreland needs to go on the DL, if only to ensure Devers stays in the MLs as a DH option. It's only two games but Devers looked very good and could have been a triple shy of the cycle today as he smoked a curve to the warning track in his 2nd AB. I think he's only swung & missed at one pitch so far.
Maybe acquire Duda for about as much as you got Nunez for. DL Moreland & X, go with a Nunez/Devers 3B, Marrero/Holt/Nunez (gulp at that last one) SS, Pedey 2B, Duda/Hanley infield. Hanley/Devers DH. we get 4 days off in a row (as in, two Mondays & Thursdays in a row) after this homestand. so there is some time to evaluate and mix & match without actually playing quite as many games as usual in three weeks.
if X is really OK and he's just in a terrible slump, then fine. but Moreland needs to go on the DL, if only to ensure Devers stays in the MLs as a DH option. It's only two games but Devers looked very good and could have been a triple shy of the cycle today as he smoked a curve to the warning track in his 2nd AB. I think he's only swung & missed at one pitch so far.
Old friend Rusney Castillo has come back from his short stint on the DL and continued to hit in a decidedly useful manner (5 for 12 with a HR and 2BB). His season in Pawtucket has been consistent (305/343/481/824 in 303 PAs) and trending upwards (355/390/516/906 in last 100 PAs) after tearing it up (albeit without power)this Winter in the PR League (392/431/451/882 in 58 PAs).
So my question is this: He's been given no chance to make the club because the Sox desperately want to stay under the salary cap, but if he were to be called up, he would only contribute a pro-rated portion of his $10.3m AAV, correct? For a month and a half he would add ~$2.6m - anyone have the figures on how much space is left under the $195 after the Nunez acquisition?
It seems that he could be quite useful to the club as a platoon partner to Benintendi at the very least. Chris Young is simply not getting it done in that capacity (219/324/297/621) which is indistinguishable from Benny's performance against lefties (232/306/268/574). Rusney has hit lefties at 377/407/610/1018 in AAA this year and even in last year's suckfest he posted 301/321/431/752 against southpaws.
Farrell needs to do something to spark the offense and giving him platoon and pinch hitting options as well as useful speed on the bases and decent defense seems like a pretty decent package.
So my question is this: He's been given no chance to make the club because the Sox desperately want to stay under the salary cap, but if he were to be called up, he would only contribute a pro-rated portion of his $10.3m AAV, correct? For a month and a half he would add ~$2.6m - anyone have the figures on how much space is left under the $195 after the Nunez acquisition?
It seems that he could be quite useful to the club as a platoon partner to Benintendi at the very least. Chris Young is simply not getting it done in that capacity (219/324/297/621) which is indistinguishable from Benny's performance against lefties (232/306/268/574). Rusney has hit lefties at 377/407/610/1018 in AAA this year and even in last year's suckfest he posted 301/321/431/752 against southpaws.
Farrell needs to do something to spark the offense and giving him platoon and pinch hitting options as well as useful speed on the bases and decent defense seems like a pretty decent package.
Why wouldn't they just call up Bryce Brentz who actually has power and a good walk rate, with no crappy contract to deal with if they wanted to call up an infielder to play LF?
It depends on what they add salary wise at the deadline. It is a shame that he will likely never see the mlb roster again since he deserves another shot. My guess is he stays down and Brentz gets some at bats in September even though Castillo potentially brings more to the table.
But my point/question stands on the pro-rated nature of the salary, right? If they bring him up only the portion remaining for the year hits the tax books not the full $10.3m? And what's the deal with Panda's salary? He's off the 40-man so does his salary stop counting towards the tax now like Rusney's did?
I'm curious on this as well, but would be guessing it as incorrect since pro-rated in this case didn't involve somebody else paying X amount of his salary.
Yes, Castillo's salary this year would be pro-rated, but it would also put it on the books for next year as well unless they want to DFA him back to the minors again. That might be the stumbling block for Castillo...next year's salary as opposed to this year's.
Sandoval's salary remains on the books and counts against the tax until his contract expires (after 2019). His is an entirely different case compared to Castillo or Craig.
So why not DFA him after the season? If someone picks him up and pays his salary, great! If not, same situation.
Sorry for being thick but why is it a different case? All 3 are off the 40-man. What condition does Craig and Castillo meet that Panda doesn't?
Sandoval had the service time to refuse a minor league assignment. Craig and Castillo did not.
I have seen several references in the Red Sox blogosphere that the team will no longer be able to exclude Castiilo's AAV salary from luxury tax computations beginning in 2018 per new CBA but I cannot find a copy of the new CBA online yet to corroborate.
For the immediate need I would lean Brentz and his refound power, but if the team can squeeze him in, Castillo could be called up instead since can provide defense across the entire OF if the regulars need more time off in the last third of the year.
Craig and Castillo didn't have the service time to refuse outright assignment to the minors, so their contracts effectively became minor league deals (expensive ones, but minor league ones) when they were outrighted off the 40-man. Minor league deals don't count against the luxury tax.
Sandoval had enough service time to refuse any attempts to outright him to the minors. Their options with him after DFA were trade or release him. Releasing him leaves them responsible for the entirety of his remaining salary and any implications it would have on their luxury tax numbers for the original duration of the contract.
They snuck through a loophole with Craig and Castillo. As others have noted, that loophole is apparently closed with the new CBA so there may be no way out of the Castillo deal if they bring him back up.
On the one hand, he would cost 4.5 million more than Young would have next year (he makes 6.5 and will be a FA).
On the other hand, he could be better than Young was over his two years if these are real improvements. Not the best way to spend 11 mill, but he may earn that.
On the other hand, he could be better than Young was over his two years if these are real improvements. Not the best way to spend 11 mill, but he may earn that.
So basically Castillo may be the Kei Igawa of the Red Sox, earning his full pay while playing in the minors.
Question: If Sandoval had accepted to stay in AAA would his salary still count against the cap (my guess is yes under the new CBA but I am not sure).
Question: If Sandoval had accepted to stay in AAA would his salary still count against the cap (my guess is yes under the new CBA but I am not sure).
Under the old CBA, I don't think Sandoval would have been any different than Craig or Castillo had he elected to accept an outright assignment. His remaining salary would no longer count against the team for luxury tax purposes (they'd still be on the hook for the pro-rated portion of his salary earned while on the 40-man).
Under the new CBA, it's probably the same as Castillo again if procedures have changed...all the salary would count against the tax threshold no matter where Sandoval ended up. That said, reports were that they talked outright assignment with Sandoval before they designated him. Whether they asked because they were looking for a way out of the tax hit (via the Castillo/Craig loophole) or because they were hoping to keep him and perhaps realize some kind of value from the contract after more rehab work, I don't know.
Duda off the board... to the Rays.
looking less likely we'll get power help from the outside this deadline, but Dave can always surprise...
looking less likely we'll get power help from the outside this deadline, but Dave can always surprise...
The next time Rusney Castillo is called up puts his contract on the books until it expires. It would close the loophole.
edit: Really beaten to it.
edit: Really beaten to it.
2010-2016 Home and Visitor Winning Percentages When Scoring n Number Of Runs Per Game (couldn't figure out how to post table)
Hwin% Vwin% Score
0.000 0.000 0
0.129 0.069 1
0.293 0.213 2
0.449 0.346 3
0.601 0.497 4
0.686 0.631 5
0.766 0.735 6
0.836 0.817 7
0.860 0.891 8
0.905 0.904 9
0.936 0.945 10
0.967 0.974 11
0.989 0.980 12
0.978 0.991 13
1.000 1.000 14
1.000 1.000 15
1.000 1.000 16
1.000 1.000 17
1.000 1.000 18
1.000 1.000 19
1.000 1.000 20
----- 1.000 21
1.000 ----- 22
Hwin% Vwin% Score
0.000 0.000 0
0.129 0.069 1
0.293 0.213 2
0.449 0.346 3
0.601 0.497 4
0.686 0.631 5
0.766 0.735 6
0.836 0.817 7
0.860 0.891 8
0.905 0.904 9
0.936 0.945 10
0.967 0.974 11
0.989 0.980 12
0.978 0.991 13
1.000 1.000 14
1.000 1.000 15
1.000 1.000 16
1.000 1.000 17
1.000 1.000 18
1.000 1.000 19
1.000 1.000 20
----- 1.000 21
1.000 ----- 22
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109 qualified players have an OPS over .756. Five of them are Red Sox.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2017-advanced-batting.shtml
https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2017-advanced-batting.shtml
You're both aware that MLB has expanded to 30 teams, right?
To expand on this cherry pick, it's actually 6 over on FG. Although not including Pedroia's even .800 above was a cheapy too.
Pedey is at .792 now.
In any case - this could be one of the most offensively challenged Red Sox teams to make the playoffs.
Here is each post season qualifying teams' OPS+ (position players only) since 1975 and AL runs scored per game rank in parentheses. The 1999 team seems like the weakest overall, and it still put up a league average OPS+.
14 of the other 15 were top 3 in runs scored.
2017 - 93 (7th)
2016 -113 (1st)
2013 - 117 (1st)
2009 -106 (3rd)
2008 - 108 (2nd)
2007 - 107 (3rd)
2005 - 112 (1st)
2004 - 110 (1st)
2003 - 118 (1st)
1999 - 100 (9th)
1998 - 107 (3rd)
1995 - 108 (3rd)
1990 -104 (7th)
1988 - 114 (1st)
1986 - 107 (3rd)
1978 - 109 (1st)
1975 - 107 (1st)
If they do make the playoffs, I'm guessing it will be because they creep up closer to league average, because asking for more run prevention seems like a tall task.
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My not so obvious point above is that by using FG, which allowed me to cherry pick even further by not even including tonight's game, I could increase that # even more. Although in all fairness on your end Bradley is at .790 too, and Hanley is right behind him at .783. A big day from the offense tomorrow could see 4 guys instead of one at .800 or more.
No argument from me though that this lineup is definitely flawed. Not to mention seems to support the notion that one absolutely amazing hitter in the middle of your lineup can indeed make a fairly huge season impact on everybody around him.
No argument from me though that this lineup is definitely flawed. Not to mention seems to support the notion that one absolutely amazing hitter in the middle of your lineup can indeed make a fairly huge season impact on everybody around him.
Ya, and I'm not even saying they can't win without being in the top 3rd in MLB or anything. It's just jarring compared to how we've normally seen these teams with 90+ win potential.
Sale could Bumgarner us all the way to a title for all we know.
Sale could Bumgarner us all the way to a title for all we know.
It seems like SOSH is losing its collective mind with the teams recent struggles at the plate. It happens and is frustrating to be sure. Better to be cold now, etc
The arbritary cutoff of an 800 OPS was fairly disingenous given that 4 other Sox players are within a two game surge of being in the top 76 of baseball.
Sure, except both MFY and Rays have 4 players significantly above .800 OPS, so not really disingenuous at all.
MFY: Judge 1.074, Gregorius .844, Gardner .830, Sanchez .822
Rays: Morrison .895, Souza and Dickerson both .873, and brand new toy Duda .888
The two Royals who torched Porcello yesterday both are above .800 too.
Sure would be nice to have a power hitter right about now.
MFY: Judge 1.074, Gregorius .844, Gardner .830, Sanchez .822
Rays: Morrison .895, Souza and Dickerson both .873, and brand new toy Duda .888
The two Royals who torched Porcello yesterday both are above .800 too.
Sure would be nice to have a power hitter right about now.
An .800 OPS wasn't exactly the best indicator which is why I did the follow up post since it is so bizarre that I wanted to put a historical context to it.
They had 7 guys clear that last year (5 qualified plus Chris Young and Leon), and 6 of those guys are still on the team.
More to the point, and in better context, with 111+ games of data and 6200 PA,there really is no guarantee they are going to collectively hit out of their minds all of a sudden and get close to past playoff teams. Particularly when 31 of their 51 remaining games are against legit good teams (Yanks, Rays, Indians, Royals, and Astros).
They had 7 guys clear that last year (5 qualified plus Chris Young and Leon), and 6 of those guys are still on the team.
More to the point, and in better context, with 111+ games of data and 6200 PA,there really is no guarantee they are going to collectively hit out of their minds all of a sudden and get close to past playoff teams. Particularly when 31 of their 51 remaining games are against legit good teams (Yanks, Rays, Indians, Royals, and Astros).
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Re-posting from the JF thread
Our offense has had an historically bad July
ere is our Offensive stats by month
Joe Sheehan @joe_sheehan 2h2 hours ago
The #RedSox are slugging .350 in July. They haven't slugged under .350 in July since 1925 (.344).
We are batting .240 and slugging .350 in July. we have just an average offensive month in July we are still in first
But that July stat doesn't tell the full story
our July offensive output is actually much worse if you discount the first 4 games in July (TOR/TOR and TEX) (where we scored 7/15/6/11 runs) (in these 4 games alone we scored 39 runs)
with those 4 games eliminated this is our July Offensive stats
Yes.. You read that right. Eliminate those first 4 July games and we are batting .208 and Slugging .306
And yes, we have only driven in 61 RBI from July 5th onward
Our offense has had an historically bad July
ere is our Offensive stats by month
Joe Sheehan @joe_sheehan 2h2 hours ago
The #RedSox are slugging .350 in July. They haven't slugged under .350 in July since 1925 (.344).
We are batting .240 and slugging .350 in July. we have just an average offensive month in July we are still in first
But that July stat doesn't tell the full story
our July offensive output is actually much worse if you discount the first 4 games in July (TOR/TOR and TEX) (where we scored 7/15/6/11 runs) (in these 4 games alone we scored 39 runs)
with those 4 games eliminated this is our July Offensive stats
Yes.. You read that right. Eliminate those first 4 July games and we are batting .208 and Slugging .306
And yes, we have only driven in 61 RBI from July 5th onward
A year in which everyone is hitting home runs. The Red Sox can't hit any.
52 players on pace to hit 30 bombs. Zero Red Sox.
This is the part that is the most amazing about this season. When HRs are way up, this team cannot hit them despite having a lineup of guys who have a history of hitting for at least some power.
Yeah, the fact that it's team-wide really makes me wonder if there's something wrong with their hitting program as a whole. It seems crazy that they'd all just randomly underperform individually at the same time.
Collective Slumps (is not-hitting contagious?)
Betts: hitting .305 on May 13 / .252 since
Benintendi: .328 on May 10 / .231 since
Bogaerts: .339 on May 30 / .229 since
Moreland: .277 on May 10 / .213 since
That's 4 of the starting 9 in slumps that are so long (2+ months) that you have to wonder if the league has figured them out and they can't adjust.
Combine that with 3B, and it's obvious why the red Sox aren't running away with the division.
If those 4 guys can figure it out and hit what's expected of them for the next 2 months - then the Red Sox win. If not - no trade will help.
Betts: hitting .305 on May 13 / .252 since
Benintendi: .328 on May 10 / .231 since
Bogaerts: .339 on May 30 / .229 since
Moreland: .277 on May 10 / .213 since
That's 4 of the starting 9 in slumps that are so long (2+ months) that you have to wonder if the league has figured them out and they can't adjust.
Combine that with 3B, and it's obvious why the red Sox aren't running away with the division.
If those 4 guys can figure it out and hit what's expected of them for the next 2 months - then the Red Sox win. If not - no trade will help.
One thing that went well last year was how well players did in high leverage situations. It's not happening as much this year. . obviously.
Overall as a team, they had a 112 OPS+ in clutch situations. This year it is 88 OPS+ That's not even all that terrible given that team ops goes down after the 6th as you face the back end of bullpens, but it does help explain how some of these close games are being lost.
Best to worst in wRC+ in high leverage situations by player.
Pedey - 145
Sandy -105
X - 104
Betts - 74
JBJ - 69
Moreland - 67
Beni - 64
Vaz - 43
Young - 16
Hanley - 12
Hanley has hurt them the most (109 last year). By a ton. Pedey was even better last year if you can believe it (175).
Overall as a team, they had a 112 OPS+ in clutch situations. This year it is 88 OPS+ That's not even all that terrible given that team ops goes down after the 6th as you face the back end of bullpens, but it does help explain how some of these close games are being lost.
Best to worst in wRC+ in high leverage situations by player.
Pedey - 145
Sandy -105
X - 104
Betts - 74
JBJ - 69
Moreland - 67
Beni - 64
Vaz - 43
Young - 16
Hanley - 12
Hanley has hurt them the most (109 last year). By a ton. Pedey was even better last year if you can believe it (175).
Pete AbrahamVerified account @PeteAbe 55m55 minutes ago
Brock Holt starts in LF. Gets on base three times, throws a runner out. Good wake-up call that nobody can take their spot for granted.
Brock Holt starts in LF. Gets on base three times, throws a runner out. Good wake-up call that nobody can take their spot for granted.
Is the implication here that Benintendi (or Young) were taking their spot for granted? Was anyone promised anything other than a platoon from the get-go?