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I saw this elsewhere, but Grandal is 0-3 in last four starts with 13 BBs. That equates to a slash line of .000/.765/.000/.765 and a wRC+ of 250. In the three at-bats he didn’t walk, he has struck out once and flied out twice. The fly-out last night was a barrel with a .630 xBA that ended in a fly-out. Incredibly sample size, but it’s very good to see him lifting the ball more as the grounders (+12% vs. career rate) have been his primary problem this year. Also, I know Yas is ripped here constantly because of his ridiculously low batting average and the fact that several vocal gamethread posters despise him, but here is how Statcast ranks him this year: BB rate = 100th percentile K rate = 71st percentile Whiff % = 63rd percentile Chase rate = 98th percentile Hard Hit rate = 85th percentile Avg Exit Velocity = 93rd percentile Barrel % = 70th percentile xISO = 70th percentile xwOBA = 93rd percentile The only metric that sucks right now is his xBA of .210, which is driven by his unusually high ground-ball rate. Even there he’s likely had some bad batted ball luck. Other than that, he’s been well above average to elite in both plate discipline and hard contact. With some minor adjustments the dude will likely pop and improve on his current 109 wRC+. I truly believe these narratives of slowing bat speed or general declining offensive performance are ridiculously premature and are likely the function of an inherent bias this board has against Grandal. Just like with Nicky, I fully expect Yas to shut the haters up in the coming months, at least when it comes to the bat. The defense admittedly needs to get better, but that’s a completely different matter.

We have been doing winners threads since at least 05

It's hard to take people seriously when they call grandal avg or below avg last year when he was arguably the best catcher in baseball. The knee is clearly effecting him this year. He had to change how he sits behind home plate for goodness sakes. This is why players shouldn't play hurt. Fans rip them for not playing hurt then rip them for not being great when they play hurt.

Hey man, if you can’t see that the line between grown adults opining about baseball and little children whining, screaming, and worst of all, blaming, is beyond being crossed on here then I don’t know what to tell you. We have the most talent in the league. What the fuck else do you whiners want from a front office? They finally did it. They made us the best and for a long time. Let’s fucking celebrate! Or at least be cool when something goes wrong.

I gotta ask, why do you post here on a baseball fan forum? All you do is cite, via your thoughts and opinions, a deferrel to what you deem to be professional authority. Everyone who's opinion disagrees with a coach or manager, you tell them how they're not employed in either profession so their opinion is meaningless. So again, why are you here if everything is meaningless and trumped by the decision making of these people you deem unflappable geniuses.

He’s already on that big IL in the sky. RIP.

Eloy would have been out a couple of weeks after that one.

When he was struggling recently Giolito was still getting strikeouts and swinging strikes but he’s not missing any bats right now.

I always like the expression “If you hate something too much you become it” It’s like he hates people who “whine and complain” so much that’s all he does now.

Mendick is a heck of a utility player. I hope we see him in the OF more often. No more Hamilton, please.

Wonder if they do explore a Grandal for McCann flip...the Mets have the money to absorb that deal, if they wanted to. Maybe Yasmani is just more comfortable in the NL, and vice versa with McCann. It’s not about value of two players, it’s all about financial flexibility for Sox.

This is ridiculous. Giolito's is one bad start. That was on Grandal? And Rodons ERA is below 1.00 with Grandal and he is more comfortable with someone else? The Grandal is so bad train is off the rails.

There are a lot of hitters who never adjust against the shift and none of them run .121 BABIPs, it's pretty silly to say he's not been unlucky.

what you described isn't specific to the Sox though, every team does this

Yep run differential does mean good things. The rest of the noise about variances in scores is just baseball.

I literally said I was referring to last year and that he deserves criticism for this year. Tho that .390 OBP at this point is pretty nice. Yes, people who constantly bad mouthed Grandal last year are clueless bafoons. He was hands down one of the best 2-3 catchers in the game.

Good job ! Kind of sad the winners thread is ignored . Mendick with a 2 run HR was unexpected but sweet in his 1st start in RF. Nice to see a HR from an OFer for a change. Pitching from Lynn fantastic . Bullpen was solid . Hung a snowman in the 1st and cruised to an easy win. Sweep it up it tomorrow SSHM.

THIS. 100% THIS. I don't think 90% of this board realizes how few good all-around catchers there are. It amazes me every single day. Lost in their own world, I guess. Yasmani is a frustrating player to watch, but he's an elite overall catcher. There are few guys who are good defensive catchers and above average offensive producers in the entire history of the game. if you don't like Grandal's game, there isn't a catcher on the planet outside of maybe Realmuto you're going to be impressed with. And Realmuto and Grandal literally produced shockingly similar numbers in 2020.

Well, Grandal is barely hitting over .100, and Giolito doesn't look like the 2020 Giolito. But, yes, it's hard not to feel good when you outscore your opponent 21-4 in a three-game series. Yet, this last game was weird. Very weird.

A good win that had a little something for everyone. People can be excited about outscoring the Royals by like 15 runs or b**** about Grandal or freak out abot the league having figured out Giolito.

A pitching change in the 9th with 2 outs and down 6? Why bother?

Maybe there is hope. He took giolito out, and pulled the plug on Marshall quick. Here's to hoping. Nasty pitch by bummer!

Nice job, cleaning up Evan's poop, Codi.

He’s a professional athlete.

I'd rather hear DJ on this broadcast by himself than Len+Jason

Would love for Tony to be watching the game and say 5 innings, 1 run is good to call it a day.

Between this clown Giolito throwing 92-93, and the joke catching him, it is amazing the Sox aren't down at least 5.

Woulda been nice to have Kopech today.

Living up to your username I see

Really? Do you have any legitimate insights?

Damn Jose and his bloated contract out there losing games for us at 1B. Can’t wait for a new owner.

Regardless, despite REALLY not liking the Grandal deal and him on the roster, given the money, he is finding a tangible way to help the team offensively, while not hitting at all. That is a pretty unique situation.

Yeah, makes sense, given Grandal's plus speed, right? Just because it worked out, doesn't mean it is the right way.

Hudler is the worst. I don't need play by play of his idiocy. Thanks.

Grandal is a mess at the plate. Nothing to do with bad luck, just bad swings

Lol cmon man, you are overly positive to a point where you ignore reality often time. It's ridiculous seeing you mock people who are on the other side of the aisle (pessimists).

Using catcher ERA when 1 bad start makes all the difference is ridiculous. Are you saying Gio would have not had a bad start if Collins caught him vs Boston? And I personally feel a CERA of 0.90 is pretty good. It would indicate to me the pitcher is pretty comfortable with the catcher. Since Grandal has been on base 13 times his last 4 games the haters have to find something I guess, no matter how ridiculous it is.

McCann was never anybody's savior. This is all the Grandal lovers refusing to believe that Yas is overall a shit defensive bat-first C. This has been an issue for Yas for like, ever. McCann **was** at one point on a sweetheart deal. Now he's paid more money, but still probably worth his deal. At worst he'll be a $2-4M overpayment per year, but he's younger, and also at worst he's a half-time C more than a pure backup C. Yas OTOH is older, much more of an overpayment, and probably just a DH pretty soon. All of these things many other Sox fans could see. Except Hahn, the guy who for example gave all that money to Melky Cabrera and Drake's dad.

Sox’ Pythagorean record is 21-10 vs. their actual record of 18-13. Still early, but hoping Tony improves so that he doesn’t become a hinderance to the team’s performance.

You know this to be fact, or just what you believe?

This is just cherry picking. You can do this with pretty much any team and find similar results.

Most teams struggle to score against TOR arms. All you can really do in baseball is crush mediocre pitching and play ace pitchers close and win it when they leave.

Run differential isn't just about offense. If you have great pitching you will have a high run differential as well. We have great SP right now so we can still be at the top of run differential without a consistent offense.

Fire.

24 straight scoreless innings for the starters

Unpoop.

I'm posting just to keep the winners thread relevant. We have to not take wins for granted. I listened to first inning on radio and watched innings 5-9 on TV. Great win. The Royals announcers were impressed with Sox ability to hit with two strikes and to not rely on home runs. I think a lot of people are noticing the HR or K mentality in baseball today and like to point it out when guys are stroking the ball oppo field for singles once in a while. I was hoping Jose A would homer in the first in his second at bat to make it an 11-run inning. Nice win Sox.

His power will not be affected by the injury. It's his left pec which isn't the power for the for a right handed swing.

There is a chance. Hed probably get a QO and accept it. The Sox may offer him and Lynn 2 years and 25-30 million. Lynn has age and Rodon has injury history.

Why is there all this rationalizing and defending for Grandal? Going into doubleheader today: BA - .122, OBP - .283, SLG - .286, OPS - .569 . There is nothing to justify on Grandal. Almost every starting catcher in baseball is batting better. His stats are the worst on the Sox for the starters. At the time it seemed like a good free agent signing, but today it's horrible signing. The Sox need to move on and trade him regardless of how little they get for him. We can live with Zach Collins. Collins is not a whole lot better...but definitely better and definitely a better fielding catcher. It's sad Yermin Mercedes isn't a more capable catcher.