FoxForce2

Lynn's season is a case for the de-emphasis of wins as a gauge of SP's performances. I don't have the stats in front of me but the pen has let Lance down more than a few times this year.

Or that we'd hit so many doubles.

The Philadelphia Hernandez would be a big plus. Just looking at his career numbers, it looks like he has hit an age 30 wall. In his case the 60's trope 'don't trust anyone over 30' looks like a prophecy. He's still handling the field though.

Well yeah, and this is why I'm concentrating on second half numbers. Slotting in Robert, Jimenez and even a somewhat modified Grandal (he's not walking as much as he did first half), changes the equation significantly. One thing I just ran across is that we're fourth in the league in singles and near the bottom in doubles and triples. Considering the XBH power we have in the lineup, I find these numbers unusual. Yes the high rate of GBs account for a lot of this - but why so many GB in the first place?

New guy here and a little shy about starting a new thread - but here goes. Scanning through the MLB site post AS break team stats reveals a few negatives: While we're 5th in league OPS, we're not hitting many doubles or triples (86 2b/12th in league) (4 3b/14th in league), i.e the only reason we're in the top 3rd of the AL in OPS is due to the increase in HR hit in the last half of the season. Feast or famine re: XBH. Two points that have jumped out at just about everyone: (1) We have a grand total of 8 Sac Flys (tied for league worst.) This stat alone indicates that we're getting the runners on but are not getting runners in at anything like a reasonable rate. (2) A league worst 55 GIDP. The Sox are top 5-6 (American League), in just about all other areas. Not exactly meh but not sterling either. I don't know that we're shooting ourselves in the foot so much as tripping over our own feet. At least some of this has to do with TLR's style as well as late summer fatigue and the over-time abilities of players. Looking at individuals - I can understand Vaughn's rookie challenges, but what's up with Eloy? At this point, even considering the value of resting players, I'm not overly optimistic about the playoff chances against Houston. Thoughts?

There is nothing wrong with station-to-station ball if you knock in the moved runners; which is what we haven't been doing.

If...

Probably, but what will his role be? Opener? Reliever of an opener. DK at least has a knack for getting out of jams (depending on pitch count.) But will that work in the case of pitching out of other pitcher's jams? i.e. Is DK a 'fireman'?

According to some here, pitch count is irrelevant. I disagree, but some here think that way.

How so?

No way I'd go Lynn at Houston in the first cycle. Gio and Rodan (sic) away - Lynn and Cease at home. Pitch as pitch can after that.

Sheeesh! So Robert misplayed a ball. Maybe some of the old(er) timers here can recall better, but as I remember, even Willie - By Gawd - Mays misplayed a few. Gasp!

Player development. Constant improvement. Cleveland identifies pitching talent and develops them. Not that the Cubs have been doing much development of pitching, but Heuer remarked on the training gear that the Cubes have available for the pitchers - something that the Sox, for the most part, lack. On the farm maybe it's different, but at the top - not so much.

I don't know about 'ultimate' - but pretty damn good. He's been one of my fave Sox for several years.

Among Utes - he's not quite a Zobrist at the plate, but his versatility in the field is nearly unmatched.

Hard to argue with the Division lead and the overall record. The sub .500 record in one-run games and on the road not so great though. Good to get two one-run wins this series. TLR = mixed bag with an awful lot of head scratching decisions through the season.

Wouldn't Marte cost a 3-4 year contract? Cespedes hasn't been dominating at AA, but this is his first year as a pro and the Sox have a substantial spot invested in him. I'm still thinking he'll be getting innings in RF after the AS break next year.

Have heard/read that Madrigal didn't fit in especially well in the clubhouse or dugout. shrug

Hahn's 'predecessor' was renowned for meatball trades and pickups. It's only anecdotal, but an Oakland A's insider said that they loved dealing with Williams in that the A's always got the better end of the deal. <----- Not much of a Williams fan, at least as a GM.

So when are TA's marita..... errr legs going to get better? This is a long layoff.

Not going into the Lindsay Buckingham binge (an interesting enough player), but a binge of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers - Clapton, Peter Greene and Mick Taylor would be be worthwhile.

What does Wilbur Wood have to do with the Sox hitting? Sure, Tanner made a big improvement with posting a 79-83 season. Kudos to Chuck! I could bring up Appling's contributions as a coach on that team - but that's probably better left as a topic for the Hot Stove league.

Yeah those 1971 Sox were real terrors at the plate. Their OPS+ wasn't all that bad but overall - pretty meh. Luke Appling: https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/applilu01.shtml

Sheeesh, Appling, in real time and at his age could probably outhit anyone pictured.