It showed last night and has to be deflating to the Indians. They had most of their first string on the field and we had mostly backup players on and yet we still beat them. I didn't expect what happened, but there it is.Originally Posted by moonslav59
It also shows just how how great our bench has been, pretty much all year.
Except for Beeks, our 6-9 SP'er have been extremely successful, in terms of pitching well enough for our team to win.
Holt & Nunez have done well replacing Pedey (and Devers). When Betts and others went on the DL, we barely missed a beat.
Moreland started the season on the bench. Pearce and Kinsler were both great pick-ups, despite what Buttrey is doing. Even Phillips won a game for us.
Now, Lin & Travis are showing life.
This team is tight... top to bottom.
Teenie tiny sample size, but here are the Sox OPS over the last week:
10+ PAs, unless noted.
1.600 Travis (5 PA)
1.429 Lin (7)
1.313 Holt
1.203 Betts
1.083 JD Martinez
1.000 Devers
.929 Swihart (8)
.875 Nunez (8)
.857 JBJ
.750 Pearce
.522 Phillips
.522 Vazquez
.503 Beni
.265 Bogey
.222 Leon (9)
.182 Kinsler
.000 Moreland (8)
It looks like Moreland and Bogey can use a rest. Our catching situation is what it is. Rest may help, but I am skeptical.
Gil Hodges once said I don't care if Jerry Grote hits .100, the way he handles our Pitching staff, and plays Defense, makes him a .300 hitter.
Tom Seaver said the best Catcher he's ever had.
You hear this so often from the great pitchers. I know it's just anecdotal evidence, but when you hear it over and over again, I believe it is true.
Sandy hitting .180 is 80 points higher than we need!
Our biggest need areas for 2019/2020 and our current players/prospects that can play those positions:
2B: Pedey, Nunez (2019 only), Holt, Hernandez
Lin, Quiroz, Netzer, Lozada (Chavis?)
1B: Moreland (2019 only), Swihart, Holt
Ockimey, Chavis, Travis, Dalbec, Casas
3B: Devers, Nunez, Holt, Hernandez
Chavis, Dalbec, Northcut, D Diaz, Castellanos, Granberg
SS: Bogey (2019 only), Hernandez (Holt)
Lin, Chatham, A Flores
RP: Brasier, Barnes, Workman, Hembree, Thornburg, Smith, Poyner, Scott
(SP>RP?: Wright, Johnson, Velazquez)
Cuevas, Feltman, Lakins, Walden, Gorst, Haley, Shawaryn, Shepherd
I would add catcher to that list.
I am still trying to figure out how this Red Sox team has won 105 games. I'm not even convinced it's the best Sox team in my life time yet here they are ready to set the all time win total record. It's just been a magical year and a whole lot of fun to watch.
It's stupid I know but we just score more runs than opposing team night after night. When pitching sucks, we outfit the other team. When we don't hit, we pitch even better.
Here's how the AL playoff teams rank by Pythagorean W-L, and how many games they have over or underplayed that mark.
Astros 104-50 -7
Red Sox 99-56 +6
Yankees 93-61 +2
Indians 93-61 -7
As 91-64 +3
Not that it means much at this point, but the Red Sox have been a bit lucky, while the Astros and the Indians a bit unlucky.
What would you say was the best Sox team?
If not this one, I go with the 1978 team that had four Hall of Famers (Yaz, Rice, Fisk, Eckersley) and a couple other Hall-worthy players (Tiant, Evans)...
And another, Lynn, who was MVP in 1975 and 4th in MVP voting in 1979.
Star-wise, there's no topping that team.
Not to mention a four-time All Star Gold Glove (in 1979) shortstop in Rick Burleson who might be one of the most under appreciated Sox players in the past half century...
If the idiots didn't trade him that might not be the case.
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