Bright spots in an otherwise lost season

SouthernBoSox · Aug 19, 2015

I mean, you've got one hell of an up the middle foundation of 22 year old's in Bogaerts, Betts, and Swihart. I'm not sure any other team in the majors can boast something like that. If Bradley is for real you shift Betts to left field. If done right, this team shouldn't be worrying about 2 OF slots, SS, or Catcher for several years. It honestly shouldn't be that difficult to field a competent team with those things taken care of and taken care of at cheap money.

WenZink · Aug 19, 2015

And what's ironic, is that if Hannigan hadn't gone down in early May, Napoli and Victorino hadn't gone completely off the cliff, and if the Sox rotation hadn't failed so completely, most of these "bright spots" wouldn't have seen the light of day.

It could be worse -- the Sox could be hovering around .500 hoping for a shot at a second wild card spot, and trading JBJ and others to rent a Cueto. Mediocrity often obscures what is good about a team as well as what is bad.. Of the 7 players you listed, I feel very good about all of them, except Shaw. But even Shaw has 40 games left to claim a spot on the 2016 roster -- or to at least add to his trade value before Dombrowski moves him as part of a package for Prince Fielder.

Puffy · Aug 19, 2015

I think one would also have to include the Holt's sophomore year as a bright spot as well:

8. Holt (age 27). .290/.362/.402/.765, 109 ops+, 3.1 bWAR while starting at 7 different positions.

Hank Scorpio · Aug 19, 2015

OPS by month:

Blake Swihart: .524, .690, .719, .749
Xander Bogaerts: .694, .705, .771, .795, .774
Mookie Betts: .658, .718, .942, .693, .771

They're all mostly trending upward, and Swihart has made huge strides this season.

Eduardo Rodriguez: 30 of his 43 runs have come in four starts, which account for 15 of his 86.1 innings.

I realize it's cherry picking, but he seems to be occasionally "off", be it by tipping pitches or otherwise. When he's not having one of his occasional meltdowns, he's been absurdly good, sporting a 1.64 ERA in 11 of his 15 starts. In the other four starts, he's got a grizzly 18.00 ERA. Given that in at least two of his meltdown starts he was obviously tipping pitches, his struggles seem to be very controllable and he looks like a front line starting pitcher.

Monbo Jumbo · Aug 19, 2015

Top 5 Z-Contact%
min 70 IP.

1. Chris Sale 77.1%
2. Clayton Kershaw 77.9%
3. Max Scherzer 78.9%
4. Steven Wright 80.2%
5. Drew Pommeranz - 81.2%

Wright - when he's on, has shown himself better than most expected.

jscola85 · Aug 19, 2015

Given the position he was put in, I am most impressed with Swihart's development. With such a shtshow of a pitching staff coupled with the early emergency call-up, he has adjusted and acquitted himself extremely well. At 23 years old and a .715 OPS after his first month on the gig, he's more than holding his own at this point. A .715 OPS and league-average defense/baserunning would translate to roughly Miguel Montero-type production, which is a heck of a piece to have given the upside Swihart possesses with both the bat and the glove.

TheYaz67 · Aug 19, 2015

While I agree with Ivan's overall assessment of those players and his optimism in them, the major glaring problem is that only one guy on that list is a pitcher....

shaggydog2000 · Aug 19, 2015

TheYaz67 said:
While I agree with Ivan's overall assessment of those players and his optimism in them, the major glaring problem is that only one guy on that list is a pitcher....

Yup, but Owens, Johnson and Wright have all have some promise to them as well, just currently lacking either a big enough sample size or demonstrated upside. It would be nice if one of the relief prospects grab a role for himself. That bullpen desperately needs help.

jscola85 · Aug 19, 2015

Well, part of the bright side of this year is also down on the farm. Kiley McDaniel just posted this, but he has 3 Red Sox in his list of top prospects - Moncada, Margot and Devers:

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-post-trade-deadline-prospect-update/

He also has Espinoza, Guerra and Benintendi as top risers/newcomers, and Swihart, EdRo and Rusney among his top graduates. All those prospects are still below A+ except Margot, but it's becoming more clear the crop of talent the Sox have represent a treasure trove down there.

TheReal15 · Aug 21, 2015

Does anyone else worry that our top three outfielders (not counting Hanley) might have profiles that are a little too similar? Castillo, Betts and JBJ seem like decent hitters and good fielders without a lot of pop or wow factor at the plate. If a team was trying to increase their offensive production... and they had three guys with the arms for RF, bats that profile as potential starters and the range for CF wouldn't they package one of those guys with someone else for a slugging LF? Or for an ace and then find a slugger through other means like FA or an additional trade?

Do Betts, JBJ and Castillo profile as a top flight starting outfield or should the team be looking to add more power?

Right now Ortiz leads the team (among qualifiers) by a large margin in homers, slugging, total bases, and ISO. The offense is chugging because of huge contributions by Shaw and JBJ, but are those likely to continue?

Koufax · Aug 21, 2015

I worry about this and believe that one of JBJ and Mookie Betts will be traded because their profiles are so similar and one or the other will be wasted in LF. They need a slugger in LF. They also need starting pitching. They don't need two center fielders, as good as they both may be.

chrisfont9 · Aug 21, 2015

ivanvamp said:
If the old adage is true - that you need to be strong up the middle - then this team will have it.

C - Swihart/Vazquez
2b - Pedroia
SS - Bogaerts
CF - Betts or Bradley

Defensively it's incredible, especially when Vazquez is catching and Bradley is in CF. That's three players (Vazquez, Pedroia, Bradley) who may be the best defensive players at their positions in the major leagues.

Yeah, I've said a few times and long felt that Vazquez' loss was a bigger deal than we are probably estimating it to be. But since this is a post about bright spots, his return next year should be #9 on your list of positives (presumably he comes all the way back). He was a 1.1 dWAR last year in 55 games, a nice clean 3.0 over 162 (not that he'll play 162, of course, but for context). The hit tool is tbd of course, but it seemed survivable at worst.

shaggydog2000 · Aug 21, 2015

Koufax said:
I worry about this and believe that one of JBJ and Mookie Betts will be traded because their profiles are so similar and one or the other will be wasted in LF. They need a slugger in LF. They also need starting pitching. They don't need two center fielders, as good as they both may be.

Well other than Betts, those guys are pretty far from sure things after a few weeks of production. I think they can keep JBJ and Castillo and see what happens. At best you have one very good 4th outfielder for a year and you can trade him at the deadline or after the season for good value. Or maybe neither work out long term. But I think the most likely situation has only one of the two really working out long term. I'd love it if both did, but kind of unlikely.

ALiveH · Aug 21, 2015

Losing your #1 and #2 catchers, especially when one of them is elite defensively, is probably the worst possible thing that can happen to a team that doesn't show up in any obvious stats or box scores. Arguably the season was lost as soon as that happened. Vasquez's pitch-framing has ripple effects all the way through the pitching staff.

grimshaw · Aug 21, 2015

In ways that a last place team in any sport can be enjoyable, this is probably my favorite last place team ever.

Nearly half the lineup (Betts, Bogaerts, JBJ, and Swihart) hasn't hit their prime yet. Castillo has looked much less busty and clueless in the field - miscounting outs not withstanding. The outfield is a joy to watch and in perma no-triples defense.

Two-fifths of the rotation hasn't hit 23 yet. Buchholz bounced back big time. Miley is earning his contract after a very rough start. Kelly may be salvageable.

Most exciting is that new management has taken over, so it will be fun to see how that shakes out.

CaptainLaddie · Aug 21, 2015

I just don't want to see them trade JBJ, Betts and Bogaerts. Even in this shit sandwich of a season, I check the box score every day to see how they wrapped the night up and I feel like they're all raking. All the damn time. It's just a joy.

The X Man Cometh · Aug 21, 2015

Something else to get excited about besides Castillo looking less busty. wRC+ in age 23 or younger season, 200 PA or more, 2005-2015:
Yasmani Grandal 144
Brian McCann 142
Joe Mauer 141
Buster Posey 134
Salvador Perez 114
Wilson Ramos 111
Wilin Rosario 107
Russell Martin 103
Josh Thole 103
Kurt Suzuki 96
Matt Wieters 95
Jarrod Saltalamacchia 92
Jesus Montero 90
Hector Sanchez 90
Mike Zunino 87
Alex Avila 81
Jesus Florez 80
Dioner Navarro 78
Blake Swihart 75
Derek Norris 73
Yadier Molina 71
Christian Vazquez 70
Miguel Montero 68
Dioner Navarro 66
Jason Castro 56
While Swihart's numbers have not been eye popping, there are 18 catchers who have exceeded Blake's production in the past 10 years. He's already on schedule to at least be an MLB backstop, and if his hot streak since coming off the DL (wRC+ of 103) represents a distinct improvement then we have a very potent catcher tandem on our hands.

Merkle's Boner · Aug 21, 2015

Puffy said:
I think one would also have to include the Holt's sophomore year as a bright spot as well:

8. Holt (age 27). .290/.362/.402/.765, 109 ops+, 3.1 bWAR while starting at 7 different positions.

It's amazing to me how little props Holt gets. I wonder what the thinking is on him for next year. It seems to me he has proven that he deserves to start somewhere, probably at 2B. That is of course highly unlikely to happen here in 2016, and as the roster stands now, he would be a 5th OF at best. Doesn't he have more value for another team in 2016 and shouldn't we take advantage of this possible career year to move him?

Al Zarilla · Aug 21, 2015

Merkle's Boner said:
It's amazing to me how little props Holt gets. I wonder what the thinking is on him for next year. It seems to me he has proven that he deserves to start somewhere, probably at 2B. That is of course highly unlikely to happen here in 2016, and as the roster stands now, he would be a 5th OF at best. Doesn't he have more value for another team in 2016 and shouldn't we take advantage of this possible career year to move him?

Inside the Parker would claw your eyes out and smash your iPhone/laptop. I don't know, he doesn't seem to have enough range at any one position (LF?), doesn't have much power. I see him more continuing in his Zobrist/Holt mode

The Gray Eagle · Aug 21, 2015

grimshaw said:
In ways that a last place team in any sport can be enjoyable, this is probably my favorite last place team ever.

Nearly half the lineup (Betts, Bogaerts, JBJ, and Swihart) hasn't hit their prime yet. Castillo has looked much less busty and clueless in the field - miscounting outs not withstanding. The outfield is a joy to watch and in perma no-triples defense.

Two-fifths of the rotation hasn't hit 23 yet. Buchholz bounced back big time. Miley is earning his contract after a very rough start. Kelly may be salvageable.

Most exciting is that new management has taken over, so it will be fun to see how that shakes out.

I agree with this. The first part of this season, this team was dreadful to watch, just painful and boring and playing lifeless terrible baseball. But they've been a lot of fun since the kids arrived. The past month or so has been fun.

Merkle's Boner said:
It's amazing to me how little props Holt gets. I wonder what the thinking is on him for next year. It seems to me he has proven that he deserves to start somewhere, probably at 2B. That is of course highly unlikely to happen here in 2016, and as the roster stands now, he would be a 5th OF at best. Doesn't he have more value for another team in 2016 and shouldn't we take advantage of this possible career year to move him?

This team needs to plan on having someone other than Pedroia starting 40 or so games at second base next year. Holt is perfect for that job, and is perfect for a part time role here in general. He is very valuable to us, and other teams think he's not that good, so there is no reason to trade him.

Both of the past two seasons, he's come on from the bench and played well and helped us a lot, but then wore down a bit/got injured when playing every day. Other teams know that too. They also know that he doesn't have power, doesn't steal bases, and isn't anything great in the field if he is only going to play one position. He's not the type of player other teams will overpay for. So he should stay here for years.

kieckeredinthehead · Aug 21, 2015

The Gray Eagle said:
This team needs to plan on having someone other than Pedroia starting 40 or so games at second base next year. Holt is perfect for that job, and is perfect for a part time role here in general. He is very valuable to us, and other teams think he's not that good, so there is no reason to trade him.

I wonder if, once he gets comfortable in the outfield, Mookie also becomes an option as a backup 2B. Especially if the outfield is some form of JBJ/Betts/Castillo, finding a replacement for Betts in LF might be easier than finding a replacement for Pedroia at second.

Buzzkill Pauley · Aug 21, 2015

TheReal15 said:
Does anyone else worry that our top three outfielders (not counting Hanley) might have profiles that are a little too similar?

No. All three profile as good outfielders with 10-20 HR power, great defensive range, and plus baserunning. That's like a navy blue blazer: it never goes put of style.

grimshaw · Aug 21, 2015

The Red Sox are:
2-0 vs King Felix, Chris Archer, and Justin Verlander (ace or not)
They are 1-0 vs Hamels, Zimmerman, Strasburg, G Gonzalez, Teheran, Sale, Kluber, Gray, and Cueto (pending the end of the game)
They are 1-1 vs H Santiago and M Tanaka
The only 1's and 2's who have beaten them are Pineda, Shark, and Quintana. Garret Richards is the only one to beat them twice.

There have been 9 quality starts pitched against them from those guys, and they are 4-5 in those starts.
Let's see what happens vs. the Mets.

Mugsy's Jock · Aug 21, 2015

Blake Swihart is hitting .304 with a .747 OPS over his last 30 games. He may not be Johnny Bench, but it's clear to me he's at worst an above-average major league catcher and I wouldn't be shocked if he sniffs an All-Star team someday.

Especially impressive as he really shouldn't have been in the majors until September.

I'm not saying he's untouchable -- if Vazquez can come back strong you certainly could make a case to trade from depth -- but he's really overdelivered any reasonable expectation this year.

BeantownIdaho · Aug 21, 2015

Not insinuating anything....or maybe I am...but this young bunch has quietly made their way to 7.5 games out of the wild card with 40 to play. At least playing decent baseball with young kids to finish the season is fun.

leftfieldlegacy · Aug 21, 2015

BeantownIdaho said:
Not insinuating anything....or maybe I am...but this young bunch has quietly made their way to 7.5 games out of the wild card with 40 to play. At least playing decent baseball with young kids to finish the season is fun.

Not only has it been fun to watch the kids develop but the Red Sox are setting themselves up as a spoiler in the AL East division / WC race.

The Red Sox have 18 games in September against NYY / TOR / BALT. I doubt that any of these teams are quite as confident about checking off wins in these games as they might have been before the trade deadline.

joe dokes · Aug 22, 2015

BeantownIdaho said:
Not insinuating anything....or maybe I am...but this young bunch has quietly made their way to 7.5 games out of the wild card with 40 to play. At least playing decent baseball with young kids to finish the season is fun.

7

Thats close enough for me to consider them "still playing for something" (other than impressing the new guy).

Koufax · Aug 22, 2015

Speaking of bright spots, having two young starting pitchers who seem ready for MLB -- that's a very bright spot.

jacklamabe65 · Aug 22, 2015

Can I add Travis Shaw to this list?

He just might be one of those players who performs better in the big leagues than he does in the minors.

I love everything about him.

Merkle's Boner · Aug 22, 2015

Koufax said:
Speaking of bright spots, having two young starting pitchers who seem ready for MLB -- that's a very bright spot.

Regarding Owens, I wonder if the same issue some are attributing to Shaw's success is also impacting Owens. His BB rate seems to be down significantly from AAA, and could this be due to better umpires in the ML that are calling some of his borderline pitches as strikes? Either way, it's a very promising development.

Al Zarilla · Aug 22, 2015

Merkle's Boner said:
Regarding Owens, I wonder if the same issue some are attributing to Shaw's success is also impacting Owens. His BB rate seems to be down significantly from AAA, and could this be due to better umpires in the ML that are calling some of his borderline pitches as strikes? Either way, it's a very promising development.

Wouldn't better umpires also call some borderline pitches that are on the black or a little better as balls also? We all bitch about calls all the time. Seems like it would all even out, unless minor league umps just in general call a tighter zone, which I doubt. I'm going more with some guys just seize the opportunity in the bigs better than others. This is it, if you fail this time you may not get that many more chances. Some guys get like the woman lifting the car off her baby, others shrug, well, I've got two more kids. Bad analogy, but just waking up.

Hank Scorpio · Aug 22, 2015

jacklamabe65 said:
Can I add Travis Shaw to this list?

He just might be one of those players who performs better in the big leagues than he does in the minors.

I love everything about him.

I'm not sure if Travis Shaw's performance is something encouraging for 2016, or one final "eff you" from 2015. While it's nice to see him hitting at the MLB level, giving him a starting job next season based on a SSS could be disasterous. I Think he could be a valuable part of the 25 man roster next season, but he doesn't have the pedigree or track record that makes me feel comfortable handing him the starting 1B job on a silver platter.

WenZink · Aug 22, 2015

Hank Scorpio said:
I'm not sure if Travis Shaw's performance is something encouraging for 2016, or one final "eff you" from 2015. While it's nice to see him hitting at the MLB level, giving him a starting job next season based on a SSS could be disasterous. I Think he could be a valuable part of the 25 man roster next season, but he doesn't have the pedigree or track record that makes me feel comfortable handing him the starting 1B job on a silver platter.

Shaw's short-sample performance is further limited by the fact that in the 1/3rd of his PAs that have come on the road, he's just 2 for 22. But in Fenway, he's been a monster. Both Remy and Lyons have commented that he has the perfect approach for a LH in Fenway, so that could account for part of his struggles at McCoy vs his performance this month at Fenway.

We still have to see what adjustments pitchers make to him and his adaptability, but with two more years of options left, Shaw is definitely in the mix at 1st, as the Red Sox try to bridge the gap until Devers or the likes arrive in 2-3 years.

geoduck no quahog · Aug 22, 2015

The past month has delivered a starting 10 that could feasibly include 7 untouchables (8 if you include Vazquez):

Swihart
Pedroia
Bogaerts
Betts
Bradley
Castillo
Ortiz

That's a pretty impressive list (one that excludes Ramirez, Sandoval, Holt and Shaw)

It also (unfortunately) includes 4 or 5 players, some of which may be needed to obtain front line pitching. I, for one, want to see those untouchables untouched and hope the team relies on the FA market and minor trades.

It also looks like Rodriguez and Owens may be the real thing - either of which could help bring a more mature ($$) and proven pitcher into the fold.

8 untouchables (including Vazquez) out of which 5 are kids. That alone makes 2015 ok.

allmanbro · Aug 22, 2015

BeantownIdaho said:
Not insinuating anything....or maybe I am...but this young bunch has quietly made their way to 7.5 games out of the wild card with 40 to play. At least playing decent baseball with young kids to finish the season is fun.

They are also at the moment third in all of baseball in runs scored (and rs/g). The top two are the Blue Jays and Yankees, who have had the benefit of facing the Sox pitching staff.

Especially impressive for the young guys, given the lack of contribution from Hanley and Sandoval.

Edit: Not to insinuate that the Sox could have scored more than either team facing the same pitching. The Blue Jays are way ahead in first. The Yankees, well, I'm generally disinclined to give them any real credit, but they are up by 21 runs in 1 fewer games. Seems like the Sox could overcome them if they stay hot.

WenZink · Aug 22, 2015

One thing I enjoy about the past week, is how the young players appear to be auditioning for MR. Dave Dombrowski. I'm sure it's just coincidental, but the NESN capture of DD smiling and shaking his head over a JBJ gem, as well as his comments, must have gotten back to the player. Compared to the wreckage Dombrowski left behind in Detroit, he must be in a state of Nirvana, seeing the display of young talent in his first week on the job.

And on a related note, it's good to see images of Hanley taking OF practice before last night's game. He realizes that he now has to earn a spot on the 2016 roster.

Koufax · Aug 22, 2015

I sure hope that DD appreciates young talent because he has a lot of it and I for one want to see as much of it as possible in Red Sox uniforms for a long time. Let's not have player movement for the sake of movement.

BeantownIdaho · Aug 22, 2015

geoduck no quahog said:
The past month has delivered a starting 10 that could feasibly include 7 untouchables (8 if you include Vazquez):

Swihart
Pedroia
Bogaerts
Betts
Bradley
Castillo
Ortiz

That's a pretty impressive list (one that excludes Ramirez, Sandoval, Holt and Shaw)

It also (unfortunately) includes 4 or 5 players, some of which may be needed to obtain front line pitching. I, for one, want to see those untouchables untouched and hope the team relies on the FA market and minor trades.

It also looks like Rodriguez and Owens may be the real thing - either of which could help bring a more mature ($$) and proven pitcher into the fold.

8 untouchables (including Vazquez) out of which 5 are kids. That alone makes 2015 ok.

Be careful - I mentioned the same youngsters as untouchable and some people didn't like that too much. As of today, they continue to show they are adjusting and becoming reality rather than potential....as for Shaw as well as the others - there are still 40 games left. At the end of this season the sample for these players will be much larger and will give the team more info moving forward. The conundrum is pitching....Kelly, Miley, Owens are starting to pitch much better...so if Dom is correct in saying we need a #1, someone who has pitched well the second half may be on the way out. I would much rather it be Porcello at this point, but things could change.

WenZink · Aug 22, 2015

BeantownIdaho said:
Be careful - I mentioned the same youngsters as untouchable and some people didn't like that too much. As of today, they continue to show they are adjusting and becoming reality rather than potential....as for Shaw as well as the others - there are still 40 games left. At the end of this season the sample for these players will be much larger and will give the team more info moving forward. The conundrum is pitching....Kelly, Miley, Owens are starting to pitch much better...so if Dom is correct in saying we need a #1, someone who has pitched well the second half may be on the way out. I would much rather it be Porcello at this point, but things could change.

I would hate to see the Red Sox "buy-high and sell-low" on any player. Were the Red Sox really that wrong on Porcello? Or was it a case of taking a young pitcher, who was "protected" in a rotation with Sherzer et, al, and then, a year later, given a contract that made him the top-dog on a mediocre (at best) pitching staff and just gagged under the spotlight?

Dombrowski, of course, has substantial knowledge of Porcello before his 2015 implosion, so if Porcello is moved with financial subsidy and for next to nothing, then that will say a lot as to the Sox front office evaluation last winter/spring. But it might just be a case of bringing in a true, veteran #1 and moving Porcello into a slot that suits his comfort level.

chrisfont9 · Aug 22, 2015

Wow, you guys sure are optimists. I don't think they can threaten the WC, not with so many teams in play. They can't all lose enough for the Sox to move up much. But the team can start next year feeling united and good about itself, which would be a healthy change.

AB in DC · Aug 22, 2015

No, they can't get the WC, but I am reminded of the 2011 Nationals, who, after a bunch of crummy years, win eight of their last ten games to finish at 80-81. That team was led by kids like Ryan Zimmerman, Mike Morse, Jordan Zimmermann, Drew Storen, and Wilson Ramos, with some late starts by Stephen Strasburg. They've been contenders ever since.

I could easily see a late run to .500 with this crew, too

WenZink · Aug 22, 2015

chrisfont9 said:
Wow, you guys sure are optimists. I don't think they can threaten the WC, not with so many teams in play. They can't all lose enough for the Sox to move up much. But the team can start next year feeling united and good about itself, which would be a healthy change.

Conceding the division to the Yankees, and the first wild-card to the Jays, there are 8 teams in front of them, including the Angels who currently have the 2nd wild card spot, so it's very unlikely to say the least. BUT, essentially all of those teams have been playing .500 ball for 75% of the season. If they all continue to play .500 ball the rest of the way, the Sox can go 25-15 and catch most of them. Texas, with the acquisition of Hamels, is the one team that has substantially upgraded. The Angels could sink, and Buck could screw it up. Maybe a complete Astros collapse of the kids, brings another team into the mix.

None of this is going to happen, especially the Sox playing .625 ball with no established closer... but as long as there's even a remote possilbility, these games do count in the minds of those players that still gave a damn.

nvalvo · Aug 22, 2015

chrisfont9 said:
Wow, you guys sure are optimists. I don't think they can threaten the WC, not with so many teams in play. They can't all lose enough for the Sox to move up much. But the team can start next year feeling united and good about itself, which would be a healthy change.

See also: the bullpen.

The rotation has been inconsistent, to put it politely, but with Joe Kelly on a streak and Henry, Wade, Steven and Eddy pitching pretty decently, they've been good of late.

The offense has started to play closer to what we expected in the offseason as a number of players have heated up.

(OPS through June, OPS since July 1)

Ortiz: .735, 1.076
Castillo: .544, .925
Swihart: .602, .839
Bradley: .462, 1.067
Bogaerts: .728, .785

Other players have held steady (Betts) or been up and down (Sandoval, Holt). Only Hanley has really declined sharply. Shaw has arrived and performed very well. Even Rutledge has been okay offensively for a bench MI (I have my doubts about the glove).

The Sox as a whole: .715, .779. And in the last 30 days, the Sox offense has a .314/.366/.506 line. That's *excellent.*

But... the bullpen, especially without Uehara. It makes me happier to think of them as our Draft Pick Protectors.

chrisfont9 · Aug 22, 2015

nvalvo said:
But... the bullpen, especially without Uehara. It makes me happier to think of them as our Draft Pick Protectors.

It's kind of perfect. The players know that for 7 innings they were the better team, and yet they still lose because of a couple pitchers who won't be here next year, and the protected pick is safe. Lately though, they've been the better team all nine. Ah well.

Mighty Joe Young · Aug 22, 2015

chrisfont9 said:
It's kind of perfect. The players know that for 7 innings they were the better team, and yet they still lose because of a couple pitchers who won't be here next year, and the protected pick is safe. Lately though, they've been the better team all nine. Ah well.

Are you suggesting Tazawa will be traded this winter? Or just referencing the Breslows of the world.

Savin Hillbilly · Aug 23, 2015

Among the many bright spots I think the biggest has been watching Blake Swihart adjust to major league pitching.

May 2-29 (71 PA): .224/.257/.269
May 31-June 30 (70 PA): .258/.300/.379
July 20-now (77 PA): .333/.377/.444

OK, that last line is riding on an unsustainable BABIP. But he's looking like a guy who could deliver a .275/.325/.400 line in a normal year, with peak years more in the .290/.350/.450 range. And for a catcher who can handle the position (and run the bases as well), that's fabulous.

WenZink · Aug 23, 2015

Savin Hillbilly said:
Among the many bright spots I think the biggest has been watching Blake Swihart adjust to major league pitching.

May 2-29 (71 PA): .224/.257/.269
May 31-June 30 (70 PA): .258/.300/.379
July 20-now (77 PA): .333/.377/.444

OK, that last line is riding on an unsustainable BABIP. But he's looking like a guy who could deliver a .275/.325/.400 line in a normal year, with peak years more in the .290/.350/.450 range. And for a catcher who can handle the position (and run the bases as well), that's fabulous.

I just exclude Swihart's first 12 games in May, when arguably, he was more concerned with learning how to handle the pitchers between innings, rather than his next PA.

Since then, his line in 173 PA is .302/,347/.401. And to those that would note that there's few walks or XBH, I'd point out that his line is eerily similar to that of Bogaerts line of .314/.342/.410 (admittedly done over a much larger sample size of 485 PA). And Swihart is just 6 months older than X and in his first season.

Jerry Remy has noted that he believes Bogaerts will find his power stroke soon as he becomes more opportunistic when he's ahead in the count, and I think the same applies to Swihart.

timlinin8th · Aug 23, 2015

BeantownIdaho said:
Be careful - I mentioned the same youngsters as untouchable and some people didn't like that too much. As of today, they continue to show they are adjusting and becoming reality rather than potential....as for Shaw as well as the others - there are still 40 games left. At the end of this season the sample for these players will be much larger and will give the team more info moving forward. The conundrum is pitching....Kelly, Miley, Owens are starting to pitch much better...so if Dom is correct in saying we need a #1, someone who has pitched well the second half may be on the way out. I would much rather it be Porcello at this point, but things could change.

I keep thinking the odd man out is going to be Buchholz. 8 seasons in and we STILL don't know what Buchholz is going to show up. He has shown that he can be a top-line starter, completely fall apart, oft-injured... I still feel like with Buchholz its hoping for his upside, and if I'm going for upside I'd rather keep the younger inexpensive guys and apply the 13M option to whichever one of the FA starters the front office deems the most reliable to produce going forward.

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