Maybe the Red Sox are good?
- Thread starter PrometheusWakefield
- Start date
Baseball is 90% pitching and the other half mental. You be you, Martin... just throw strikes.
Best record in baseball again. It would be nice if the Yankees would lose a few, but otherwise, you can't ask for much more.
After Dalbec and Cordero had nice games last night and Renfroe’s been on fire in May, it’s worth checking in on the adjustments these guys have made early on.
Renfroe:
57 PA: spring training
68 PA: .167/.235/.250, 8.8 BB%, 26.5 K%, 88.3 EV
56 PA: .304/.304/.571, 0 BB%, 19.6 K%, 93.2 EV
Dalbec:
53 PA: spring training
92 PA: .174/.228/.279, 5.4 BB%, 35.9 K%, 88.5 EV
27 PA: .360/.407/.840, 7.4 BB%, 18.5 K%, 94.8 EV
Cordero:
17 PA: spring training
64 PA: .153/.206/.186, 6.3 BB%, 40.6 K%, 87.6 EV
27 PA: .200/.259/.320, 7.4 BB%, 29.6 K%, 95.3 EV
As both have looked to have busted out of their early season slumps, it’s worth remembering that Renfroe and Dalbec had a few weeks’ worth of PAs head start over Cordero, who didn’t really have a spring training.
It took Renfroe 125 PAs until his latest streak beginning May 1. It took Dalbec 145 PAs to click on May 7. Cordero had only 81 PAs before his big game on May 6, and while he hasn’t been on fire since, there’s evidence that he’s making adjustments at the same pace as the other two. The fact that all three have considerably improved their exit velocities seems significant.
Renfroe:
57 PA: spring training
68 PA: .167/.235/.250, 8.8 BB%, 26.5 K%, 88.3 EV
56 PA: .304/.304/.571, 0 BB%, 19.6 K%, 93.2 EV
Dalbec:
53 PA: spring training
92 PA: .174/.228/.279, 5.4 BB%, 35.9 K%, 88.5 EV
27 PA: .360/.407/.840, 7.4 BB%, 18.5 K%, 94.8 EV
Cordero:
17 PA: spring training
64 PA: .153/.206/.186, 6.3 BB%, 40.6 K%, 87.6 EV
27 PA: .200/.259/.320, 7.4 BB%, 29.6 K%, 95.3 EV
As both have looked to have busted out of their early season slumps, it’s worth remembering that Renfroe and Dalbec had a few weeks’ worth of PAs head start over Cordero, who didn’t really have a spring training.
It took Renfroe 125 PAs until his latest streak beginning May 1. It took Dalbec 145 PAs to click on May 7. Cordero had only 81 PAs before his big game on May 6, and while he hasn’t been on fire since, there’s evidence that he’s making adjustments at the same pace as the other two. The fact that all three have considerably improved their exit velocities seems significant.
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I guess it's a sign of just how terrible Cordero has been that a .200/.259/.320 line is supposed to encouraging.
Regarding Cordero, his improved k rate, bb rate and most importantly exit velocity are all encouraging improvements. He will get elite results of he continues to put ball in play 63% of the time at an average of 95mph. 92 average EV would put him top 15 in the league. 95 is elite (even accounting for a very small sample size). You can see why people are excited about his potential if he can put it together.
https://www.insiderbaseball.com/blog/2020/03/barrels_exit_velocity.html
https://www.insiderbaseball.com/blog/2020/03/barrels_exit_velocity.html
Maybe, but I think folks are getting carried away with the predictive value of these Statcast results. For example, here are two of Franchy's hardest hit balls that turned into outs from the quoted timeframe:
101.4 mph EV: https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/sporty-videos?playId=4644dd6f-17cd-4b31-a666-4a10a42f5ac6
108.6 mph EV: https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/sporty-videos?playId=8983b36b-5e62-4af7-a53c-efb41ec40c1e
Neither of those were even remotely close to hits. I don't even know much I trust the EV reading of either of those. Is the idea that... well, Franchy just needs to get his launch angle under control? I doubt it's that simple.
Well, a groundball hit at 101 between short and third is probably a single, while one at 87 is probably an out. A flyball is a homerun vs. a can of corn. The speed at which the ball comes off the bat should be predictive.
Not for every ball, obviously, if you hit it right at a fielder, he still will probably get you out.
Not for every ball, obviously, if you hit it right at a fielder, he still will probably get you out.
Looks like Kike Hernandez will be back tomorrow.
View: https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/1394328640964472833
View: https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/1394328640964472833
Everybody (Including me) Is eager to banish Chavis to AAA. However it's not like Cordero is much different. He's shown flashes, but I need to see more than just a handful of predictive stats to convince me the guy should be on an MLB roster.
At minimum he’s LH and balances out Renfroe a bit. He gets a touch more rope until Santana is ready.
What is the latest on Santana? The last I heard he was almost ready to catch the bus, but I have also heard he needs more time.
Seems like not much longer.
The weird thing about Santana is that he was great as a rookie in 2014 and has been really awful since, aside from 2019 when he was useful. Then he turned back into a pumpkin. I'm not sure what they are expecting from him that isn't already covered between Kike, Gonzalez and Renfroe aside from an extra base stealing threat. There's no favorable platoon split from either side of the plate as a switch hitter. No stand out defensive position. No on base skills. No obvious player to pinch hit for. I'm rooting for Chaim to have found some way to fix him, but the roster fit is hard to see.
View: https://twitter.com/alexspeier/status/1394429452466151424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Eembeddedtimeline%7Ctwterm%5Elist%3AMikeAndrewsSP%3Asoxprospects_staff%7Ctwgr%5EeyJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2hvcml6b25fdHdlZXRfZW1iZWRfOTU1NSI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJodGUiLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3R3ZWV0X2VtYmVkX2NsaWNrYWJpbGl0eV8xMjEwMiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJjb250cm9sIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH19&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum.soxprospects.com%2Fthread%2F5751%2Fgameday-thread-takes-comes-groome
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I hope that he is brought up in place of a pitcher because it would be nice if they were able to carry four position players on the bench, even if that means some redundancies. I fear that they'll bring him up and send down Cordero in hopes of Franchy getting himself right with regular playing time in Worcester, and continue to leave the bench short. I think Cordero could use some time away, but I think avoiding more situations where they're forced to use Vazquez at second or first late in a game is more important.
Middle ground is to plan to give Cordero just a couple of weeks of F/T play in Worcester, to get more and more consistent work on timing and pitch recognition. Then bring him back up for a pitcher.
I agree that Santana offers more flex as well as LH hitting off the bench and to help spell Dalbec and Renfroe.
There was a bit of discussion on this earlier, but Santana had a swing change overhaul in 2019, and reportedly did some treatment for anxiety stuff. For whatever reason it’s seemed to transform him from a slap-hitting infielder into a masher, but hasn’t solved the injury bug.
Adding him bumps someone from the 40, so it wouldn’t neatly supplant Cordero in left. Brice is who I’d bet, unless it’s time to ship Chavis west.
I'd argue he was really good in 2019: .283 AVG, .324 OBP, .534 SLG, with 81 Runs, 28 homers, 81 RBIs, and 21 steals. He played every position except pitcher and catcher that year. I'm not sure where he fits best, but I'd love to see him in the OF with Hernandez back at 2B.
View: https://twitter.com/alexspeier/status/1395214280824344577
whatever gets you motivated is good for me
Santana will be up tomorrow. I'm thinking since they'll be in Philly for 3, Franchy may have a few more days up to have the extra pinch hitter. Plus they have two off days coming up so really don't need the extra arm.
View: https://twitter.com/Enrique_Rojas1/status/1395458016967802891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1395458016967802891%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum.soxprospects.com%2Fthread%2F5761%2Fgameday-thread-kutter-comeback-continues
View: https://twitter.com/Enrique_Rojas1/status/1395458016967802891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1395458016967802891%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum.soxprospects.com%2Fthread%2F5761%2Fgameday-thread-kutter-comeback-continues
Doug Kern who worked for the ESPN stats department from 06- ‘17 has some interesting stats from today’s game
View: https://twitter.com/dakern74/status/1395579742120644610
Cc @Brand Name
And here is that video
View: https://youtu.be/1j6g_O4VKUk
View: https://twitter.com/dakern74/status/1395579742120644610
View: https://twitter.com/dakern74/status/1395579792007712771
View: https://twitter.com/dakern74/status/1395579824719097863
Cc @Brand Name
And here is that video
View: https://youtu.be/1j6g_O4VKUk
View: https://twitter.com/nuggetpalooza/status/1395573572249296901
And here is that same stat for the entire history of the Red Sox
And here is the Pedroia one
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfWc5UZZxlo
It took some digging, but here was Beltre's home run of KERRY WOOD! back in 2010
View: https://youtu.be/YwMy0Nksj8Y?t=187
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Yep. I remember exactly where I was (driving on the highway, I know the exits I was passing as i listened to the radio call).
Shea with the big stick seems like yesterdayView: https://twitter.com/nuggetpalooza/status/1395573572249296901
And here is that same stat for the entire history of the Red Sox
I remember that vividly. Hillenbrand pinch hit for Tony Clark against a RH pitcher and delivered a go-ahead grand slam. That's how bad Tony Clark was.
I can remember my feelings during the Youkilis bomb off Todd Jones (fucking asshole). It was a really shit, frustrating day of baseball... until 2 out top 9... and my then-girlfriend, now-wife was not super impressed with my maturity level. I remember feeling annoyed that the game had sucked so bad almost the whole time such that the happiness of the win barely outweighed the frustration.
It could be narrowed further by handedness. And further by height.
Or expanded by including home games. Or all HRs that put the team ahead in the 9th regardless of the number of outs. Or all 2 out hits that put the team ahead while on the road, or at home, or both. . . .etc. etc.
I can't say I remembered George Thomas' homer in 1967 but I did remember listening to the radio during a lot of those West Coast games and the Sox losing most of them (the Angels weren't a bad team, finished fifth, and were in decent proximity of the other 4 until mid-August)
Sure enough, I looked up that game just now and after he put them ahead, the Sox blew it, losing 4-3. The original Big A was a pitchers' paradise and the Sox had a lot of trouble scoring runs there. They went 2-7 in the 9 games there that year.
Sure enough, I looked up that game just now and after he put them ahead, the Sox blew it, losing 4-3. The original Big A was a pitchers' paradise and the Sox had a lot of trouble scoring runs there. They went 2-7 in the 9 games there that year.
Wow, great list. I was lucky to be at 2 of those games, 20 years and about 2700 miles apart. Dustin and Mo.
Was right behind the Sox dugout and I was yelling so loud for Dustin’s in Anaheim I was spitting on people in front of me. Felt bad about that.
Mo’s in Baltimore in ‘96 was a massive blast to center off Myers at Fenway south. We felt it coming. What a boss he was then. Fun memories.
Was right behind the Sox dugout and I was yelling so loud for Dustin’s in Anaheim I was spitting on people in front of me. Felt bad about that.
Mo’s in Baltimore in ‘96 was a massive blast to center off Myers at Fenway south. We felt it coming. What a boss he was then. Fun memories.
The Red Sox go back to 1901. No such homers before 1937? Or no ability to mine that particular statistic?
I have nothing to add so I'm just going to say Jesus Fucking Christ, Shea Goddamn Hillenbrand.
But this team is good. It may not be win-the-world-series good, but it's definitely play-important-games-in-september good and I don't think we can really expect anything more than that.
But this team is good. It may not be win-the-world-series good, but it's definitely play-important-games-in-september good and I don't think we can really expect anything more than that.
Wasn’t a wall scraper or “does that have enough?” either. You knew it was a pure, unadulterated nuke as soon as he made contact.
Will it be “Win the WS good” when our September rotation is led by a skinny left hander from Florida and some dude with different colored eyes? /s
The one he hit off then named Fausto Carmona was a walkoff, maybe not two outs? RedAverages still owes us for that one.
Big Papi has had plenty, just not precisely two outs lead flipping.
Still remember that inning pretty vividly. I think Cora led off with an opposite field hit, Youk walked on a pitch that almost took his head off, Loretta popped to short, and then Papi hit a 2-0 pitch over the wall in center. Wells started that game and got bombed before Kyle Snyder threw like 4-5 innings in relief.
Yes, it was like Manny’s walkoff against KRod - the ball was obliterated on contact and you knew from the batter’s body language before the camera swung to track the ball.
15 times in 84 years. The Sox have hit for the cycle 20(I think) times in that period. So hitting for the cycle happens 33% more often. It just doesn't happen very often. One reason is teams probably pitch those guys carefully. This is a case where the 1 thing you cannot let happen happens, like fouling 3pt shooter up 4, etc. That Ted's were both Grand slams makes me willing to bet there are 50 times in his career he walked with chance to hit that type of homer. *TGHTEL only did it when they had to pitch him.
*also BPTAY
Sure, also lots of variables go into this including on deck hitters, possible pinch hitter's who might follow, how many runners on base, what bases they occupy, open base etc....
Right, when you see Papi or Yaz you're probably thinking, I'd rather walk him than risk anything middle middle. With Brandon Phillips, the ATL pitcher was like "imma just groove a fastball and see what happens." Your point about the grand slams fits: the one time you can't just accept possibly walking Teddy.
Red Sox
@RedSox
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The #RedSox today selected INF/OF Danny Santana to the active major league roster from Triple-A Worcester. To make room for Santana on the 40-man roster, the Red Sox designated RHP Austin Brice for assignment.
@RedSox
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3m
The #RedSox today selected INF/OF Danny Santana to the active major league roster from Triple-A Worcester. To make room for Santana on the 40-man roster, the Red Sox designated RHP Austin Brice for assignment.
On the evening of June 15, 1967, nearly 17,000 fans turned out at Fenway to see them battle the first-place White Sox. At the time, Boston was in third place, five games behind Chicago. Earlier that day, I had graduated from sixth grade and was now officially on vacation. my father wanted to “break out the summer” by having the two of us take in some baseball at Fenway.
When we sat in our assigned seats in Section 27, we noticed that the crowd was more boisterous than previous games that we had been present at in the past. In centerfield, a homemade sign had been draped on the back wall with a large picture of the team's insignia with the accompanying words – “The Little Engine That Could!”
For nine innings, we watched from our seats along the third-base line as two improbable hurlers, Red Sox rookie pitcher Gary Waslewski and veteran journeyman Bruce Howard battled each other to a scoreless duel. Hard-throwing reliever Johnny Wyatt came out of the Boston bullpen in the tenth and shut the Chisox down. Hoyt Wilhelm and John Buzhardt did the same for Chicago. As the two squads walked off the field to conclude the tenth frame, Dad turned to me and beamed, “Now this is a National League kind of game!”
In the top of the eleventh inning, Walt “No Neck” Williams led off the inning with a scorching double into the leftfield corner. After monitoring the flight of the ball, my father quickly surmised, “The White Sox's manager, Eddie Stanky, will have Don Buford bunt. Remember, Eddie once played for the Braves!”
As George Scott and Joe Foy crept in to cover the anticipated bunt, the Chicago batter suddenly left his squared-off position in the batter's box and lashed at a John Wyatt fastball toward right field. First baseman Scott desperately lunged for the ball, caught it on a wicked hop, and beat a stunned Williams to the bag. My father fiercely applauded as he shouted through the din, “Gil Hodges himself could not have gotten to that ball!”
After the second out, however, light-hitting Ken Berry dribbled a single to right with Williams hustling in from third. I slumped into my seat as Tony C. lobbed the ball back to Mike Andrews at second. Dad tapped me on the shoulder and said, “Don't worry, son - the big boys are coming up for us.”
However, when Yaz popped to first baseman Tommy McCraw and George Scott broke his bat on a soft liner to third baseman Dick Kenworthy, all hope seemed lost. “We're staying for the final out,” Dad said emphatically as I remained seated, watching Joe Foy tiptoe towards home plate. The Red Sox third baseman took a deep breath, fingered his bat, and promptly grounded a single between short and third.
As fan-favorite Tony Conigliaro slowly walked up to the plate, everyone at the Fens began to stand. Having led the American League in home runs two seasons before, Tony C. was now mired in a prolonged slump. A recent two-week stint at Camp Drum as a member of the Massachusetts National Guard had left him in a hitting stupor. Aware of Conig's hitting funk, pitcher John Buzhardt promptly threw a pair of unforgiving curves; the kid from East Boston grunted each time as he missed by a foot. Like an airless shroud, an eerie stillness settled over Fenway.
With the count 0-2, Conigliaro settled into his familiar stance, his bat cocked, his coffee eyes staring out assertively at the White Sox hurler. Another curveball was tossed by Buzhardt, but the sphere seemed to deflate by the time it approached home plate. In less than a second, the streaking ball disappeared into the left field net above the scoreboard as the Red Sox team swirled around Tony C. as he gleefully approached home.
“Never, ever count this team out!” Dad shouted as we joined in the hosannas that swelled around us. Minutes later, we headed home on Route 9, drained and elated; as we listened on WHDH, Red Sox announcer Ned Martin concluded the post-game show be exclaiming, “The Cardiac Kids have come through once again!"
“This is the most fun I've had in baseball since the '48 Braves!” Dad cried out as we entered our darkened driveway in Wellesley.
When we sat in our assigned seats in Section 27, we noticed that the crowd was more boisterous than previous games that we had been present at in the past. In centerfield, a homemade sign had been draped on the back wall with a large picture of the team's insignia with the accompanying words – “The Little Engine That Could!”
For nine innings, we watched from our seats along the third-base line as two improbable hurlers, Red Sox rookie pitcher Gary Waslewski and veteran journeyman Bruce Howard battled each other to a scoreless duel. Hard-throwing reliever Johnny Wyatt came out of the Boston bullpen in the tenth and shut the Chisox down. Hoyt Wilhelm and John Buzhardt did the same for Chicago. As the two squads walked off the field to conclude the tenth frame, Dad turned to me and beamed, “Now this is a National League kind of game!”
In the top of the eleventh inning, Walt “No Neck” Williams led off the inning with a scorching double into the leftfield corner. After monitoring the flight of the ball, my father quickly surmised, “The White Sox's manager, Eddie Stanky, will have Don Buford bunt. Remember, Eddie once played for the Braves!”
As George Scott and Joe Foy crept in to cover the anticipated bunt, the Chicago batter suddenly left his squared-off position in the batter's box and lashed at a John Wyatt fastball toward right field. First baseman Scott desperately lunged for the ball, caught it on a wicked hop, and beat a stunned Williams to the bag. My father fiercely applauded as he shouted through the din, “Gil Hodges himself could not have gotten to that ball!”
After the second out, however, light-hitting Ken Berry dribbled a single to right with Williams hustling in from third. I slumped into my seat as Tony C. lobbed the ball back to Mike Andrews at second. Dad tapped me on the shoulder and said, “Don't worry, son - the big boys are coming up for us.”
However, when Yaz popped to first baseman Tommy McCraw and George Scott broke his bat on a soft liner to third baseman Dick Kenworthy, all hope seemed lost. “We're staying for the final out,” Dad said emphatically as I remained seated, watching Joe Foy tiptoe towards home plate. The Red Sox third baseman took a deep breath, fingered his bat, and promptly grounded a single between short and third.
As fan-favorite Tony Conigliaro slowly walked up to the plate, everyone at the Fens began to stand. Having led the American League in home runs two seasons before, Tony C. was now mired in a prolonged slump. A recent two-week stint at Camp Drum as a member of the Massachusetts National Guard had left him in a hitting stupor. Aware of Conig's hitting funk, pitcher John Buzhardt promptly threw a pair of unforgiving curves; the kid from East Boston grunted each time as he missed by a foot. Like an airless shroud, an eerie stillness settled over Fenway.
With the count 0-2, Conigliaro settled into his familiar stance, his bat cocked, his coffee eyes staring out assertively at the White Sox hurler. Another curveball was tossed by Buzhardt, but the sphere seemed to deflate by the time it approached home plate. In less than a second, the streaking ball disappeared into the left field net above the scoreboard as the Red Sox team swirled around Tony C. as he gleefully approached home.
“Never, ever count this team out!” Dad shouted as we joined in the hosannas that swelled around us. Minutes later, we headed home on Route 9, drained and elated; as we listened on WHDH, Red Sox announcer Ned Martin concluded the post-game show be exclaiming, “The Cardiac Kids have come through once again!"
“This is the most fun I've had in baseball since the '48 Braves!” Dad cried out as we entered our darkened driveway in Wellesley.
Now THIS is a story! Thank you so much, @jacklamabe65. I read this twice and had goosebumps both times.
Thanks so much! My Dad was a Braves' season-ticket holder who didn't start rooting for the Sox until '67.
I was in the stands in SunTrust Park that day, and that was an awesome moment, in an awesome game.