Red Sox All-Stars: Bogaerts, JBJ, Betts, Ortiz, Wright, Kimbrel

Smiling Joe Hesketh

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Full team thread in the MLB forum, but I wanted to have discussion of the Sox All-Stars here.

Bogaerts, JBJ, Betts and Ortiz are listed as starters.

Wright making the team is a really cool story. I doubt he'll start the game, but congrats to him for making it.
 

Snodgrass'Muff

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Every single one of those guys deserves to be there. That list really strikes home how well this season has gone, despite the rough run in June. If you had told me, at the end of March, that the Red Sox would have 6 all stars and would be 45-37 approaching the break, I'd have done back flips to celebrate.
 

E5 Yaz

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No, jokes on me, I didn't read the whole thread title and didn't realize Kimbrel got named as he wasn't listed in the OP. Carry on, I'm a dunce.
Huh. I read it as a joke. Once again, laughing at punch lines that were never there
 

Plympton91

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I'm a little surprised Kimbrel made it. I think there's a bit of a reputation effect there.

So glad we packed the starting lineup with 4 players who absolutely deserve the honor. Great job RSN.
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

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I'm a little surprised Kimbrel made it. I think there's a bit of a reputation effect there.

So glad we packed the starting lineup with 4 players who absolutely deserve the honor. Great job RSN.
Eh, Kimbrel's ERA+ is 179 which is better than guys like KRod. He's also only blown 1 save IIRC which may be a factor here.

Agreed on the position players.
 
Dec 21, 2015
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Holy crap, FOUR position player starters from the same team? And not a bunch of undeserving Yankees getting an international boost like Matsui in 2003. When's the last time that happened? We really are very fortunate to have the beginning of a great window of contention like this.

And Pedroia is on the Final Five vote. Here's his competition:

Ian Kinsler, 2B DET - 125 OPS+, 3.0 WAR
Evan Longoria, 3B TB - 128 OPS+, 2.3 WAR
Dustin Pedroia, 2B BOS - 113 OPS+, 2.9 WAR
Michael Saunders, LF TOR - 140 OPS+, 1.9 WAR (tough positional adjustment, not that voters care)
George Springer, RF HOU - 125 OPS+, 3.5 WAR

No big-market teams on that list, so I imagine the voters may well carry him through, too.
 

E5 Yaz

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Holy crap, FOUR position player starters from the same team? And not a bunch of undeserving Yankees getting an international boost like Matsui in 2003. When's the last time that happened?
The Cubs have five this year

The Royals had four voted starters last year
 

Byrdbrain

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I don't think Wright will get in unless something odd happens, partly because of his lack of much of a career resume but partly due to not wanting to make a catcher look bad.
 

joe dokes

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I don't think Wright will get in unless something odd happens, partly because of his lack of much of a career resume but partly due to not wanting to make a catcher look bad.
OTOH-- Some catcher could show some courage/class/balls/all-star-i-tude/grit/ and step and say, "I'm a fucking all-star. I'll catch this guy who may never get this chance again. C'mon, lets get 'em."
 

Savin Hillbilly

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The wrong side of the bridge....
A pretty good sign of the Golden Age we are in for over the next 5-10 years: of the 16 starting position players, only 4 are over 26 (all of them in the NL).

OTOH-- Some catcher could show some courage/class/balls/all-star-i-tude/grit/ and step and say, "I'm a fucking all-star. I'll catch this guy who may never get this chance again. C'mon, lets get 'em."
Here's a wild guess: Wright only gets in the game if it goes into extra innings. If that happens, the guy who catches him is Vogt, who's only on the roster because somebody from Oakland had to be.
 

joe dokes

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A pretty good sign of the Golden Age we are in for over the next 5-10 years: of the 16 starting position players, only 4 are over 26 (all of them in the NL).



Here's a wild guess: Wright only gets in the game if it goes into extra innings. If that happens, the guy who catches him is Vogt, who's only on the roster because somebody from Oakland had to be.
As much as I'd like to see him get a shot, that's fine with me. Wright will be well-rested, and if he doesn't pitch in the ASB, the Sox best starter will be really well-rested and ready to go right out of the chute next week in NY. With so few not-shitty starters, and with Wright going high (for him) on IP, the more rest the better.
 

Buzzkill Pauley

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OTOH-- Some catcher could show some courage/class/balls/all-star-i-tude/grit/ and step and say, "I'm a fucking all-star. I'll catch this guy who may never get this chance again. C'mon, lets get 'em."
It didn't happen in 2009 with Wakefield. Unless the game goes well into extras, I don't expect it to happen this year.

A pretty good sign of the Golden Age we are in for over the next 5-10 years: of the 16 starting position players, only 4 are over 26 (all of them in the NL).
Here's another perhaps interesting note...to look backward on, as well as look forward to.
  • The Red Sox are sending 4 pre-arb players to the All-Star Game (Boegarts, Bradley, Betts, Wright).
  • The Cubs and Indians each have 2 (Bryant and Russell, Lindor and Salazar).
  • Ten other teams have 1 pre-arb All-Star, but six of these are relief pitchers or token selections (or both).
There's a lot of young talent just now breaking into the league, and most of the best are playing for the Red Sox, for Theo, or for Tito.
 

Saints Rest

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A pretty good sign of the Golden Age we are in for over the next 5-10 years: of the 16 starting position players, only 4 are over 26 (all of them in the NL).



Here's a wild guess: Wright only gets in the game if it goes into extra innings. If that happens, the guy who catches him is Vogt, who's only on the roster because somebody from Oakland had to be.
I was going to offer that Wright will be the last pitcher, held back to avoid another Bud Selig tie.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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I don't think there's any reason to think Wright won't get in the game. Basing it on Wakefield's one trip seems a bit of a stretch. In Wake's case, he was a 42 year old who probably appreciated just being named to the team and was perfectly happy not stressing his arm and body in an exhibition game. Wright is 31 and having one of the best seasons to date in the league. He should be treated no differently than if his name was David Price.
 

soxhop411

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“@JMastrodonato: Steven Wright: ”Maybe next year.“”

“@JMastrodonato: Wright: ”If you’re worried about that, you’re worried about the wrong things … Your ultimate goal is to make a WS, not make an AS team.“”

“@PeteAbe: Spoke to Steven Wright. Disappointed he didn’t pitch but understood. Handled it like a pro.”

“@JMastrodonato: More Yost on leaving Wright in the pen in case of emergency: ”Sometimes you have to do what you have to do to win the ballgame.“”
 

Bergs

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I'm completely onboard with Yost's decision. Win the game. He knows how much it matters pretty damned well.