Tag Archives: Boston Red Sox

McHale’s Musings Vol. 2

Leave a reply

Hello again, everyone! Welcome to another edition of “McHale’s Musings.”

There’s been a lot happening in the world of Boston sports, so let’s get right to it!

Patriots

Embed from Getty Images

  • Big-time win over the Falcons last weekend at Gillette. The effort from Matt Patricia’s defense was a stellar reminder of this group’s talent. If they can string together a few solid games, their confidence will grow.
  • Tom Brady is 40. 40!
  • Josh McDaniels needs to continue letting Dion Lewis be more of a factor on offense. He’s a dynamic running back who can stretch out a defense. He’s the ultimate weapon for Brady and Co. if used consistently. #fantasyfootballpickup
  • It sounded like Gillette was rocking on Sunday night. It’s about time! For myriad of reasons, Gillette Stadium is no longer a place opponents fear to visit. However, fans can help make a change. This team needs support from the 65,878 members of Patriots Nation in attendance each and every home game. Perhaps those early losses at the start of the season were a wake up call to fans. Things aren’t going to come easy on this “Blitz for Six.” Fans, you’ll have to do your part to make it happen. Get lubed up!

Celtics

Embed from Getty Images

  • Hello, Kyrie. I’ll like to see your, “Suck my d**k,” and raise you a “Shut up and play.” You are a 25 year old professional athlete. You will be taunted by opposing teams’ fans. You’re the one with all the leverage here. By walking away, you’re making sure you don’t make headline news for all the wrong reasons. Sure, that Philly bro may hop on Instagram Live to boast, “Damn, you won’t believe what I said to Kyrie. He just took it like a chump.” However, I don’t think his 27 followers are going to band together and ruin your reputation. It’s like the world of teaching. Sure, I could rattle off some solid insults mixed with biting sarcasm at the student who refused to work, but what good would that do? At the end of the day, we can only control our own reaction.  Kyrie, I urge you to ignore the taunts and move on with your day.
  • I see you, Jaylen Brown.
  • It’s too early to say that the Celtics made the better move in drafting Tatum over Fultz. With it becoming increasingly clear that Fultz has been hurt to start the season. Let’s give it some time before we declare that Danny Ainge bamboozled the 76ers.
  • Through four games, the C’s are 9th in the league with an average of 46.3 rebounds per game. I’m hopeful that this team will be able to rebound with more efficiency than last year’s squad that finished 27th in the NBA.

Bruins

  • Last weekend’s loss to Buffalo was a colossal failure. Thus far in his tenure as head coach, it appears as though Bruce Cassidy has been unable to strengthen the mental toughness of this hockey club. The 3rd period and subsequent overtime was simply a train wreck. It will be inexcusable defeats such as Saturday’s debacle that prevents this team from making a deep postseason run.
  • What is up with the NHL schedule to start the season? I’m not liking this staggering of games, and I’m willing to bet the players aren’t fans of it either.
  • How good was it to see Bergeron back on the ice? The guy is a warrior through and through. He is Bruins hockey personified. With that said, he’s getting older and deserves to be surrounded by talent that has the potential of winning another Cup. Is he surrounded by that kind of talent now? Time will tell. One thing’s for sure…that kind of crippling loss to Buffalo can’t happen again.

Red Sox

Embed from Getty Images

  • Dustin Pedroia is out seven months after undergoing knee surgery. I get the sneaking suspicion that we’ll soon be reading headlines along the lines of, “Pedroia Hopeful of Returning after All-Star Break.”
  • I love the Alex Cora hiring.
  • While I agree that we shouldn’t give up the farm for Giancarlo Stanton, it would be foolish not to put together a reasonable package for the All-Star slugger. This Red Sox lineup needs power in the worst way. He also has a personality that is sorely missing from the clubhouse after David Ortiz’s retirement. Go for it, Sox!

Revolution

Embed from Getty Images

  • The Revs won a road game! I repeat…The New England Revolution won a road game!
  • In a match that proved to be well worth the watch, the Revolution closed out their disappointing season by finally winning a road match. The win over Montreal helps the team avoid going winless away from Gillette for the first time in franchise history.
  • I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again…Diego Fagundez deserves to be the face of the Revolution. This young man is going to be a difference maker for the Revs for years to come.

That’s it for me! Until next time…

Ryan

Stanton

The Red Sox Should Not Trade for Stanton

Leave a reply

The Boston Red Sox should not trade for Giancarlo Stanton. Don’t get me wrong, I love the guy. Stanton is a pleasure to watch.  He hits the ball harder than anyone I have seen. I’ve sent many videos of his home runs to my brothers over the years. With all the following aspects considered however, the Red Sox have better options available to them.

The Money

The Sox would owe Stanton fat stacks.  Yes, Stanton is an all-world talent and worth a lot of money. Yes, he is still only 27 years old. But other options  can be had much cheaper that aren’t much worse at the plate. Giancarlo Stanton will get $285M over the next 10 seasons. He then has a team option in 2028 for $25M. If one assumed that wouldn’t be picked up, the team would still owe him $10M  as a buyout of his contract. Bare minimum.   For the $295M owed to Stanton, JD Martinez could be had for half of that, maybe even less than half. Is Stanton really worth that much more than Martinez? That answer is no.

The Cost of Trade

If you do believe Stanton is worth all that much money, how about the trade aspect? JD Martinez is a free agent. No players would have to be given up to acquire him. Stanton would cost players, and good ones at that, in addition to the near $300M. How could someone justify spending $150-$175M  more and good players on top of it for Stanton as opposed to Martinez? Who would it take to acquire Stanton? A centerpiece of Jackie Bradley Jr. or Xander Bogaerts along with a couple prospects? Or maybe all of them. In theory Stanton would be worth such a package, but considering all angles that’s not the case.

The Statistics

Stanton Catch

Giancarlo Stanton catches the third out in the second inning during game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on May 25, 2015 (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Stanton is actually a better defender than Martinez. He is surprisingly solid for someone his size, but unless we move Bradley neither of these guys would be acquired to play the field. If they are designated hitters, defense is a moot point. So let’s just focus on the offense.

JD Martinez had his breakout four seasons ago. Over that four-year span, how much better has Stanton been than Martinez? In the last four years Giancarlo Stanton has batted .271 with a .939 OPS. JD Martinez in those same four years has hit for a .300 average with a .936 OPS. Martinez hits for a much higher average, but Stanton walks a lot more so their on base percentages are very similar — .366 for Stanton to .362 for Martinez. That actually leaves Martinez with the very slight edge in slugging, .574 to .573. Surprise!

When it comes to home runs, Giancarlo Stanton has averaged 38 home runs over those four seasons. That number jumps to 49 per 162 games due to injuries. Martinez lags behind, but not so far behind that Stanton becomes worth that much more than him. Martinez has averaged 32 home runs per year, or 40 home runs per 162 games played. The reason his slugging is higher is he gets more hits and a lot more doubles. Their triple slash lines are nearly identical.

Giancarlo Stanton vs JD Martinez

Blast

Stanton takes aim at the ugly sculpture in center field.

Year Tm Lg G PA AB 2B 3B HR RBI BA OBP SLG OPS
2014 MIA NL 145 638 539 31 1 37 105 .288 .395 .555 .950
2015 MIA NL 74 318 279 12 1 27 67 .265 .346 .606 .952
2016 MIA NL 119 470 413 20 1 27 74 .240 .326 .489 .815
2017 MIA NL 159 692 597 32 0 59 132 .281 .376 .631 1.007

 

Year Tm Lg G PA AB 2B 3B HR RBI BA OBP SLG OPS
2014 DET AL 123 480 441 30 3 23 76 .315 .358 .553 .912
2015 DET AL 158 657 596 33 2 38 102 .282 .344 .535 .879
2016 DET AL 120 517 460 35 2 22 68 .307 .373 .535 .908
2017 TOT MLB 119 489 432 26 3 45 104 .303 .376 .690 1.066
2017 DET AL 57 232 200 13 2 16 39 .305 .388 .630 1.018
2017 ARI NL 62 257 232 13 1 29 65 .302 .366 .741 1.107

I’m not saying Martinez is better than Stanton, though the numbers show the difference might not be so large. All I’m saying is, there isn’t even close to a $150M gap between them, let alone some good players on top of it.

JD Martinez hits a 3-run home run off of Matt Wisler (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

Why not add them both?

Hey, I’d be all for adding them both. If the Sox were to sign JD Martinez and then trade, say, Jackie Bradley Jr. and a prospect or two for Stanton they could slide Betts to center, put Stanton in right and DH Martinez. That is one heck of a lineup. How do you pay both of them though? The Red Sox would soar well past the luxury tax and be stuck above it for years to come. With Chris Sale, Mookie Betts and others needing to be paid in a couple years the payroll is going to rise, not decrease.

And if we miss on JD Martinez?

If we were to whiff on JD Martinez, then I would more seriously explore trading for Stanton. There is no other bat available that can compare. Eric Hosmer is available and has a solid bat, but he is no true power threat like the Red Sox need. They need a thumper, someone opposing pitchers should fear. Hosmer is an up and down offensive player with 20-25 home run power. There are also rumors he is looking for 200 million dollars which borderlines on the absurd.

I would definitely pay Stanton his contract and give up something to get him before entertaining that. Just no trading Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi or Rafael Devers. If we were to acquire him without giving up any of them would I be upset? Probably not. Like I said, I love Stanton, he is one of my favorite players. The Red Sox just better let us in to watch our home team take batting practice.

WDR

Does Giancarlo Stanton already “Win-Dance-Repeat”?

Bullpen Needs Additions In 2018 Season

Leave a reply

Bullpen Needs New Starting Pitchers

The Red Sox were rebuilding their bullpen during the 2017 season, but with a new coaching staff for 2018, another update may be needed.

E-Rod Now in Recovery

Eduardo Rodriguez recently had surgery, and is now in the recovery process. He will not be able to start until May or June, at the earliest. Even then, he may only be pitching out of the bullpen. Rodriguez struggled with his knee throughout the season, and was eventually placed on the 10-day DL. After his return, it was obvious Rodriguez was going to need to look at surgical options during the offseason. With Rodriguez out for spring training, the Red Sox will need to look into another starting pitcher for the 2018 season.

Is Price The New Secret Weapon?

After David Price returned from the DL, it took time to work him back into the pitching rotation. The coaching staff decided he wouldn’t start, but rather would play when necessary. Price was quick to show his injury not only made him stronger, but he was also back to earn his spot in the rotation. He proved his value in late middle relief. He thrives off run support, and a strong offense behind him. With Price pitching as middle relief, things are looking up for the bullpen.

Porcello Not As Strong As 2016

It was clear to Red Sox Nation that something about Rick Porcello was different this season. He didn’t play like the Cy Young winner he was for the 2016 season. After watching Porcello play, he didn’t seem injured. It appeared as though he was not practicing, or looking for any way to improve. Porcello needs to work on his pitching throughout the offseason if he wants to stay in the starting rotation for 2018.

Doug Fister- A Giant Question Mark

Doug Fister was a question mark all season. No one knew if he would have a great game, or a terrible one. With Alex Cora coming in, he will want the starting rotation to be reliable. Fister showed progress throughout the 2017 season. He carried an ERA of 4.88 for 2017, which was the highest ERA of his career. This could be a red flag to the new pitching staff when deciding if they will re-sign him for 2018.

[contact-form][contact-field label=”Name” type=”name” required=”true” /][contact-field label=”Email” type=”email” required=”true” /][contact-field label=”Website” type=”url” /][contact-field label=”Message” type=”textarea” /][/contact-form]

Alex Cora Named Next Red Sox Manager

Leave a reply

After the season ends for the Houston Astros, the Boston Red Sox will get their new manager in Alex Cora.  Cora was the front runner all along for Dave Dombrowski and the Red Sox. Ken Rosenthal for Fox Sports reported the three-year deal that Cora will accept once the Astros are done. This is a great move for the Red Sox.  Dave Dombrowski can get his guy who he thinks is right for the job.  Cora also brings that young vibe to the clubhouse which will help this young team.

Cora played infield positions for the Red Sox  for four seasons, starting in 2005.   In the 2005 ALDS, which Boston lost to the Chicago White Sox in a three-game sweep, Cora played in one game as a defensive replacement, without a plate appearance.

In Game Strategy Not Important As A Manager?

According to Dombrowski, “I do not feel that in-game strategy is the biggest thing as a manager, I think it’s important. But there’s other things that are probably more important. As I’ve often told managers, to me the most important thing for a manager is that their club plays up to their capabilities day in and day out, which means that they’re communicating with their players and they’re getting everything that they can and that means their club’s playing hard.”

Dave Dombrowski Wanted a Change From John Farrell

Clearly,  he had a change of heart after back-to back first place finishes only to get knocked out of the first round again. In-game strategy ranks as important for a manager, one reason of many Dombrowski fired Farrell.  Dombrowski’s press conference following the firing of Farrell was a complete bore fest.  He wouldn’t comment on anything related to why they fired him. Cora looks like a good fit and knows the game well.  Rumors circulated that the Washington Nationals were going to interview him but Rosenthal shut that down.   The Red Sox  alone had an offer to Cora.  We will see what happens in the coming weeks during the busy Red Sox off season.

The Red Sox Need A Big Bat

Leave a reply

The Red Sox are coming off another good season, but one that ultimately fell short. There are many factors that play into why, but the lineup is a big one. The Red Sox lost legend David Ortiz, and didn’t replace his bat. As a result, the lineup faltered. This offseason they need to rectify the situation.

Red Sox Lineup

Without the presence of David Ortiz in the lineup this season, many players regressed. They may have been pressing more to try and fill the void. In past seasons, pitchers didn’t want to face Big Papi, which gave the other batters better pitches to hit. This cannot be understated. Mookie Betts dropped off considerably, most notably his batting average. Xander Bogaerts went from a near .300 average with 21 home runs, to .273 with 10 homers. After hitting 30 home runs in 2016, Hanley Ramirez may have been the one most expected to fill the void left by Ortiz. He disappointed, and only batted .242. The Red Sox need a legitimate power hitter, a threat to go yard every time.

As a team, the Red Sox finished 27th in the league in home runs. Fenway Park is a hitters park, and while the Red Sox have often taken advantage, they failed to this season.

The Red Sox finished 22nd in the majors in the all-important OPS category. OPS is a combination of on base percentage and slugging percentage, it combines two very important skills. The Red Sox need to bring these offensive numbers back up. They aren’t a 2nd division team.

 

How to improve the lineup

J.D. Martinez of the Arizona Diamondback celebrates after hitting a grand slam against the St. Louis Cardinals (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

Last season, the Red Sox could have signed Edwin Encarnacion to replace Big Papi. It seemed like the perfect fit, but the Red Sox passed. Passing on Encarnacion cost them this year as he hit 38 home runs, a number that would have probably increased playing at Fenway. They cannot make the same mistake in 2018.

A fix this year could come in the form of JD Martinez. He may not provide the same presence as Big Papi, but honestly, who could? Martinez’s power production would be with the best of them though. Adding him to the fold gives the Sox the home run threat, run producer in the middle of the lineup and makes things easier on the rest of the lineup. Xander Bogaerts, Mookie Betts and company will see better pitches to hit if Martinez is looming on deck and producing. The addition would also alleviate some pressure on them. Two years ago, the Red Sox were 9th in the Major Leagues in home runs and first in OPS. Yes, they dropped from 1st in OPS to 22nd. Add that big bat, and they should be back in the top ten.

Who is JD Martinez?

J.D. Martinez of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates in the locker room after defeating the Colorado Rockies 11-8 in the National League Wild Card game (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

JD Martinez began his career as a 4th outfielder for the Houston Astros. He was average for his three seasons in Houston before being cut prior to the 2014 season. He worked hard to revamp his swing, and it showed in his results. After he was scooped up by the Tigers (by none other than Dave Dombrowski), Martinez has been one of the better hitters in the league. He stays under the radar, but Martinez can rake. He has batted .300, with 128 home runs and a .936 OPS. Even with missed time, that’s an average of 40 home runs per season. He is 10th in the Majors in home runs and 6th in OPS during that 4 year span.

This season, Martinez had a career year at the age of 30, hitting 45 home runs despite missing roughly the first month and a half of the season. After being traded to Arizona, Martinez hit 29 home runs in 62 games. While he may not get recognition nationwide, JD Martinez is a top power hitter.

 

Year Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BA OBP SLG OPS
2011 23 HOU NL 53 226 208 29 57 13 0 6 35 .274 .319 .423 .742
2012 24 HOU NL 113 439 395 34 95 14 3 11 55 .241 .311 .375 .685
2013 25 HOU AL 86 310 296 24 74 17 0 7 36 .250 .272 .378 .650
2014 26 DET AL 123 480 441 57 139 30 3 23 76 .315 .358 .553 .912
2015 27 DET AL 158 657 596 93 168 33 2 38 102 .282 .344 .535 .879
2016 28 DET AL 120 517 460 69 141 35 2 22 68 .307 .373 .535 .908
2017 29 TOT MLB 119 489 432 85 131 26 3 45 104 .303 .376 .690 1.066
2017 29 DET AL 57 232 200 38 61 13 2 16 39 .305 .388 .630 1.018
2017 29 ARI NL 62 257 232 47 70 13 1 29 65 .302 .366 .741 1.107
7 Yr 7 Yr 7 Yr 7 Yr 772 3118 2828 391 805 168 13 152 476 .285 .342 .514 .857
162 162 162 162 162 654 593 82 169 35 3 32 100 .285 .342 .514 .857

What will it take?

Yoenis Cespedes and Justin Upton are comparable players who signed free agent deals in the past few years. Both players easily surpass 20 million per season. I’d take Martinez over either of them personally,  with 25 million dollars per year being a reasonable expectation to shell out for his services.

The question becomes how many years to give him. Ideally a 4 year deal around 100 million, but it will likely take a 5th year to get it done. If the Red Sox can get him for 5 years at that rate, a 5th year shouldn’t stand in the way. He’d be 35 at the end of his contract, but wouldn’t be like another Albert Pujols situation in Anaheim. For the production he has been putting up over the last 4 seasons, 5/125 is worth it. Will the market command even more, push him to 150 million? There have been reports that the up and down Eric Hosmer is looking for an obscene 200 million dollar deal. No thank you.

Where does he play?

Lou Gorman once famously passed up trading for batting title champion Willie McGee in the heat of a pennant race because he asked the question: where would he play? Gorman has been second guessed ever since.

Barring a trade, Martinez would play designated hitter. Hanley has one season left on his contract, he isn’t here for the long run, and he hasn’t been that good. Martinez could be the primary DH, while Hanley splits time at first base with Mitch Moreland (back for another season?) or Sam Travis. Hanley primarily played first base in his only good season in Boston to date. Martinez could occasionally play in the outfield to keep him up to speed, and give others a rest day. On those days, Hanley could slide to DH to get out of the field, and rest his aching shoulder from those strenuous throws he’d be making at first base.

The Red Sox might have an inside track on acquiring Martinez that some other teams do not. Dave Dombrowski is the one that gave JD Martinez another chance in Detroit following his release from the Astros. It would make sense for JD Martinez to be interested in playing for Dombrowski again.

The Red Sox have an opening for him, they have the need, all that is left to do is sign him.

Alex Cora is the Right Man for the Job in Boston

Leave a reply

The Red Sox are in the market for a new manager for the first time in five years after John Farrell was fired after another disappointing postseason appearance.

The team knocked it out of the park when they hired Farrell prior to the 2013 season, following up a tumultuous 2012 season with a World Series title in Farrell’s first season. The team followed that up with back-to-back last place finishes, as well as back-to-back AL East titles, something the organization had never achieved before.

Still, it was not enough, as division titles don’t buy you job security in Boston. Now, it’s back to square one, and the Red Sox seem to have their sights set on a new man to lead the ball club. A certain somebody who has experience playing in Beantown.

Take a minute and think back to the Red Sox teams of last decade, say from 2004-2010. Think of how much fun those teams were to watch; no drama, no media tirades, none of that. Just quality, winning baseball that resulted in two championships.

Cora played with the Red Sox right in the middle of that era. He was on the 2007 World Series winning team. He was on the 2008 team that was one win shy of back-to-back appearances in the Fall Classic.  Not to mention, Cora was teammates with Dustin Pedroia during the majority of his tenure in Boston.

Embed from Getty Images

What this team needs is somebody who can communicate effectively in the clubhouse. The players need a manager that can be authoritative, but also friendly with the guys. Terry Francona found that happy medium, and it’s why he is one of the best managers, if not the best manager in Red Sox history.

Now, I’m not about to put Alex Cora in that category; the guy has only been a coach for one season.

Embed from Getty Images

However, what I will say is that this team will have a different dynamic next season. The locker room will be better, players will be happier, and that will result in a much better on-field product.

Also, Red Sox fans everywhere will be spared from watching John Farrell make his fair share of questionable in-game decisions.  You can’t knock Farrell, however. I’m not here to crush the guy. He did bring a title to Boston in very unexpected fashion.  When it came right down to it, Farrell didn’t do enough after 2013 to maintain job security.

Should the Red Sox bring in Cora, which right now seems likely, the 2018 season looks much brighter than it did before.

 

Who Will Be The Next Red Sox Manager?

Leave a reply

 

 

Embed from Getty Images

John Farrell has been fired after his five year stint with the Boston Red Sox. Farrell’s tenure certainly had some enjoyable moments, highlighted by his 2013 World Series victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Farrell was among one of the most decorated managers in Red Sox history: ranking sixth in total wins (432), second in playoff appearances (3), and first in division titles (3). Why did Farrell lose his job? The answer is lack of communication with players, as well as his tendency to talk too much, while often contradicting himself. The decision to move on from Farrell begs an answer to the question: WHO will be managing this team next season?

In a press conference yesterday, Dave Dombrowski stated he wishes to hire a new manager as soon as possible. He stated the next manager will most likely not be an in house hire. We can scratch Jason Varitek off the list already. Many names are being thrown around, but few qualify as both realistic and sensical. Some say Joe Girardi, but the Yankees are playing in the ALCS. They’re not getting rid of Girardi. The possible options to keep an eye on: Alex Cora, Butch Hobson, Ron Gardenhire, Dave Martinez, Brad Ausmus and, this last one is a bit far fetched, Jim Leyland.

Embed from Getty Images

Alex Cora

Cora is the bench coach for the Houston Astros. He is viewed by many as one of the top choices to become a manager of a team. He is expected to be offered an opportunity as early as next season. Why not give him one in Boston? Cora would be a great fit for the Red Sox. He played with Boston from 2005-2008, and is familiar with the city and its expectations. Former teammates say he is the most intelligent player they have ever played alongside. Per Buster Olney, the Red Sox are going to go through the normal interview process, but it is likely that Cora will be heavily considered as the successor to John Farrell.

 

Embed from Getty Images

Butch Hobson

Currently managing a Class A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Hobson managed the Red Sox from 1992-1994 with a 207-232 record. Hobson is a tough, gritty coach, who some believe can thrive in an environment like Boston. He is another candidate who has a history with the Red Sox, he also played for them from 1975-1980. Potentially brought in to tame the attitude and egos of players like David Price and Hanley Ramirez, Hobson is certainly a strong candidate. He may not be exactly what this team needs at the current moment.

Embed from Getty Images

Ron Gardenhire

Now retired, the legendary Twins manager went 1068-1039 in his 13 years with the Twins. Gardenhire ranked in the top five for coach of the year voting six times, and won the award in 2010. Dombrowski has always admired Gardenhire, dating back to his days as the general manager of the Detroit Tigers. The hiring of him wouldn’t be a shock, but Dombrwski will have to convince him to come out of retirement to manage the team. This would be a tough task.

 

Embed from Getty Images

Dave Martinez

Martinez is a former MLB player, Rays bench coach from 2007-2014, and Cubs bench coach since 2014. Martinez is a candidate that is viewed as a top option for ball clubs. He is considered to be a disciple of Joe Madden, who is one of the smartest and most successful coaches in the league. Madden has called Martinez his right hand man. Someone who has studied the game alongside Madden, would appear a viable candidate to manage any team.

 

Embed from Getty Images

Brad Ausmus

Recently let go by the Tigers, Ausmus went 64-98 this season as the Tigers manager, overall record 314-332 in his four years as the Tigers manager. Ausmus is another case of familiarity within the ball club. Dombrowski hired him during his tenure as the general manager of the Detroit Tigers. Ausmus is one of the less favorable candidates for the job; much like John Farrell, Brad Ausmus has had similar criticisms regarding in game decisions.

 

Embed from Getty Images

Jim Leyland

Now retired, Leyland went 700-597 as the Tigers manager during his eight year stint. He led the Marlins to a World Series in 1997. Leyland, my favorite candidate for the job, has seemingly closed any door leading to coaching again. This is only a possibility because Dombrowski had success with Leyland in both Detroit and Florida– winning a world series, and two pennants together. Leyland would be the guy to get, but it seems unlikely.

 

Whomever gets the job has their work cut out for them. There is inconsistency in the rotation, uncertainty in the bullpen and underperformance from the players. Expectations are extremely high in Boston. With a young core of talented players, and a rotation boasting multiple Cy Young candidates, the bar is set high. There is always room for improvement–power bats are the main issue. Dave Dombrowski certainly has a long road ahead of him this offseason. If there is one thing history tells us though, Dombrowski always gets the guy he wants.

 

 

 

 

2017 Red Sox Report Card

Leave a reply

We shouldn’t be upset that the 2017 Red Sox season is over. Certainly it would have been nice to get past Houston and into the ALCS. We might even hope to hit a little lightning in a bottle, beat the Tribe and make it to the World Series.

As any smart baseball observer knew long ago, this wasn’t a great Boston team (see here).   It was constructed poorly, managed poorly, and it performed poorly against baseballs best teams. Frankly, if you look at it through the commonly accepted five-tools of baseball, the 2017 Sox actually over achieved.

Tool 1: Hitting For Average (C)

After posting a league-leading team batting average of .282 last year, the Sox dropped to the middle of the pack this year at .258. Losing Ortiz (.315 in 2016) hurt. What hurt more was the precipitous drop from Betts, Bogaerts and Bradley, and Ramirez – each batted at least 21 points below their 2016 average. Most troubling, as something we pointed out here, was Mookie’s fall from .318 last season to .264 this year.

Tool 2: Hitting For Power (F)

Embed from Getty Images

This year’s squad had all the pop of a softball team after finishing off the keg. In 2016 the Sox lead all 30 MLB teams in Slugging Percentage at .461. This year they finished 26th with a team slugging percentage of .407. For perspective, the Phillies slugged .409. They won 66 games.

The Sox hit only 168 home runs, good for 27th in the league. Papi’s absence again loomed large – 38 HRs and 127 RBIs in 2016. Again, more important was the decline in everyone else’s performance. Hanley hit seven fewer bombs and 49 fewer RBIs. Forty-nine.

Tool 3: Base Running (D)

Do we really even need to discuss this? The Sox were horrible on the base paths this year. Every night there was a new train wreck at home plate as the slowest players on the team were gunned down by five steps. Or, someone made a mistake and was doubled-up on what should have only been a routine fielder’s choice.

The only reason Base Running isn’t an “F” for the year is that with their team speed, the Sox managed 106 stolen bases (6th in MLB) and were caught only 31 times (13th). That’s what is so frustrating about this squad. With their speed, they should have been great running the bases.

Embed from Getty Images

Skipper John Farrell dismissed the Sox ineptitude on the bases, insisting the obscene number of outs was the result of an aggressive philosophy. That might be partly true, but the decision to send someone like Sandy Leon or Mitch Moreland home on a shallow fly isn’t being “aggressive” it’s being stupid. They were stupid a lot this year.

Tool 4: Throwing/Pitching (B+)

For all the Pedro-like excitement for Chris Sale’s starts this season, he really was pretty awful when we needed him most. As discussed previously (here), in the second half of the year he dominated the worst teams and was dominated by the best. He finished with career highs in both innings (214.1) and K’s (308) – and that might have been part of the problem. He looked tired down the stretch and gave up a ton of home runs.

As good as Sale was at times, Porcello was equally bad. Leading the league in losses (17), runs (125), and home runs allowed (38), Pretty Ricky was ugly in 2017. But, besides Sale and Porcello, team pitching was essentially the same this year as last year. This year’s staff managed a nearly identical WHIP and BAA (Batting Average Against) as last year in 43 more innings pitched. Given how poorly the team hit this year, the pitching deserves the bulk of the credit for winning the division.

Tool 5: Fielding (D)

Can we get a list of volunteers to hit grounders to the infield this off season? After committing only 75 errors in 2016 (3rd best in baseball), this year’s squad committed 107 (7th worst).

Devers adjustment at third base was certainly a factor. He committed 14 errors in 58 games. He’s young, he’ll improve. Bogaerts led the team with 17 errors in 2017, five more than in 2016 (in 10 fewer chances). Just like at the plate, he’s regressing in the field.

Final Grade (C)

My kids like to tell me that a “C” on their report card is “average”… as if that’s acceptable. It is not. Certainly not for a team with a $200M payroll. It is revealing that a team as demonstrably average as the 2017 Red Sox can, not only make the playoffs, but win the division. It should make everyone understand how important pitching is to success.

Where to Go From Here

We’ve said for months that the 2017 Red Sox were a deeply flawed team. They have talent, but not enough. They lack power and they commit too many unforced errors in the field and on the bases. That’s a coaching issue.

Embed from Getty Images

Chili Davis is simply not getting it done as a hitting coach. It’s easy to look good with David Ortiz compensating for team power numbers, but the regression of the core members of this franchise’s future can’t continue.

Base coaches Butterfield (3B) and Amaro (1B) need to be held responsible for the ridiculous performance on the base paths. No team with as much speed and experience as the Sox should look so clueless every night.

It is hard to justify firing a manager who just won consecutive division titles and won a World Series only four years ago, but changes must be made in the coaching staff.

 

Boston Red Sox Season in Review

Leave a reply

Boston Red Sox Season In Review

The 2017 Boston Red Sox season had a lot of ups and downs. A 93-69 season. The Red Sox acquired Chris Sale, the pitcher they needed at the top of their rotation. Lingering questions burned about David Price, and his spat with Dennis Eckersley and the media only added more fuel throughout the season. The ‘little leader’ Dustin Pedroia, batted just .204 in his last 26 postseason games. The Red Sox starting pitching in four ALDS games pitched 11.1 innings, gave up 23 hits, 16 ER, 6 HR. ERA: 12.70.

Lots Of Young Talent But No Power Hitter

The young talent on the team was great in the regular season, but they are still missing a power hitter. With the Yankees creeping on the AL East, right behind the Red Sox, they need a big bat. Otherwise the AL East title next season will undoubtedly go to the Yankees. But which player do you give up for a power hitter? The last two postseasons Bogaerts batted .138; Betts batted .269; Pedroia batted .143; and Bradley Jr .160. All combined for 33 strikeouts and 19 hits. I have to say a shake up in the clubhouse is needed to breathe some life into the playoffs. If that means trading Bradley Jr., then they should do it.

What Does Dave Dombrowski Do About The Manager And The Team?

Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell speaks during a news conference, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, before his team’s workout as they prepare for Sunday’s Game 3 of baseball’s American League Division Series against the Houston Astros in Boston. (AP Photo/Bill Sikes)

The Red Sox have announced this morning that John Farrell will not be the manager in 2018. Farrell, who won back-to-back division titles, and lost back-to-back ALDS titles, was fired this morning. The Red Sox needed a big shakeup. Dave Dombrowski didn’t think that keeping Farrell was in the best interest of the team. You can check off one of the items Dave Dombrowski needed to do this offseason. They wasted no time firing the manager.

The next few weeks could shake up the team even more. The Red Sox have a lot of work to do.

 

Bullish on the ‘pen

Leave a reply

Grudging Respect to the Skipper

Let’s be clear. Despite this, I do not think much of John Farrell as a manager. That said, however, he was a great pitching coach during Terry Francona’s tenure as skipper. It is not a coincidence that the Red Sox have one of the best rotations and have the best bullpen in baseball. Tough to argue with a 15-3 record in extra-inning games or find fault in the skipper who got them there.

Loaded for October

As great as we may feel about sweeping unlikeable Baltimore and clinching a playoff berth, the road ahead is going to be difficult. October baseball is different. There are no more Toronto’s, Oakland’s or Cincinnati’s. Everyone can play. Every line up is deep. Every rotation is tough. But, not every bullpen is great. Ours is, as Scott Frizzell expertly laid out yesterday (here).

Embed from Getty Images

Sure, every one of the locked or likely AL playoff teams has a lights-out closer.  Giles (HOU), Kintzler (MIN), Allen (CLE), and, despite his struggles against Boston, Chapman (NYY) are all excellent. And they all have a decent set-up guys. But, in October starting pitchers face the deepest line-ups in the league and tend to have high pitch counts earlier. It’s not enough to have an eighth inning guy to bridge to your closer. You need a seventh inning stud. And often more.

With apologies to Velazquez, Maddox, Smith, and Elias who have all contributed but just barely, the nine core members of the Sox bullpen are the best in the AL. Kimbrel leads all AL playoff closers with 33 saves, with Houston’s Giles right behind him at 32.

Getting the ball to our ginger Travelocity gnome is a squad who’ve pitched over 350 innings, surrendered only 132 earned runs, struck out 345, and have a WHIP of 1.18. For perspective, Drew Pomeranz, 16-5 on the season, has a WHIP of 1.34. So, basically Boston’s bullpen is better than their number two starter. Not. Too. Shabby.

The Best We’ve Had

Boston’s current bullpen is the best we’ve had in decades. With the possible exception of ’07 Papelbon, nobody in their right mind would trade Kimbrell for any closer in recent Red Sox history. And, as much as the Timlin-Embree combination provided the ’04 world champions, the sheer depth of this year’s squad is unmatched.

None of this is to say that their success will continue in the post season. October baseball is different. Guys who were lights out in the regular season often fade as the innings pile up and as the teams get tougher. Hideki Okajima springs to mind.

In 2007, Oki had thrown 69 regular season innings – more than any of our current relievers – and registered a 2.22 ERA and 0.971 WHIP. He was the definition of shut-down. Yet, he threw 11 post-season innings, including 3.2 in the World Series, where his numbers skyrocketed (7.36 ERA).

As this season winds down, it is critical that Farrell manage innings for each of his arms. He should consider throwing Price as often as medically possible – to both get him in shape for important innings in October, and to protect the guys who are tired.