A Realistic View of 2023: Part II

[moonslav59]

ending a string of 13 straight posts between 2 combatants

So, why stir it back up to the top?

[Bellhorn04]

So, why stir it back up to the top?

Can't blame Randy for having his fill of the Rock Em Sock Em Robots.

[mvp 78]

Can't blame Randy for having his fill of the Rock Em Sock Em Robots.

Especially when both heads on the robots were knocked off long ago, but the robots keep swinging...

[moonslav59]

Can't blame Randy for having his fill of the Rock Em Sock Em Robots.

Not blaming Randy for anything, but I haven't said anything insulting in a while.

[moonslav59]

Sox OPS have been tumbling:

.941 Abreu (just 73 PAs)
.857 Devers
.856 Casas
.844 Duvall (342 PAs)
.828 Duran (362)
.799 Turner
.781 Yoshida
.775 EValdez (140)
.756 Rafaela (77)
.755 Dugo
.710 Reyes (177)
.710 Dalbec (43)
.698 Urias (109)
.686 Wong (393)
.679 McGuire (200_
.678 Refsnyder (238)
.544 Story (152)
.438 DHam (39)

Team OPS by Position:
2023 Position (2022/2021)
.852 1B (.683/.761)
.838 CF (.671/.678)
.822 3B (.856/.909)
.804 LF (.694/.695)
.757 DH (.763/.906)
.737 RF (.661/.803)
.683 C (.694/.686)
.665 2B (.724/.777)
.632 SS (.815/.822)

[notin]

Especially when both heads on the robots were knocked off long ago, but the robots keep swinging...

Any truth to the rumors about Rock Em Sock Em Robots being added to the next summer Olympics?

[mvp 78]

Any truth to the rumors about Rock Em Sock Em Robots being added to the next summer Olympics?

I believe it was originally included in the All-Round in 1904, but was deemed to much of a risk to spectators. Most likely it'll return at the '28 Olympics in LA where it'll be featured on the Santa Monica boardwalk. If the robot combatants get out of control, the psychic cat on 3rd street should be able to quelle the violence.

[moonslav59]

The starting Pitching has been widely agreed upon as our major weakness, this year and going into next year. Only having one pitcher with over 102 IP as a SP'er is alarming, and Crawford ended up second in GS and IP as a SP.

Sale and Paxton both started 19 games, which might be more than many expected. (I did not expect 38 GS and 194 IP from the two, combined.)
IP/ERA as SP'er only

157/4.24 Bello (28 GS)
102/4.78 Crawford (22)
100/5.31 Houck (20)
98/4.42 Sale (19)
96/4.50 Paxton (19)
80/5.06 Pivetta (15)
52/5.23 Whitlock (10)
42/9 Kluber (9GS)
We had 16 starts by "openers" or spot starts. (25 IP/ 5.47 ERA)

Total:
750 IP (4.75 IP/GS)
4.82 ERA
1.315 WHIP

Best OPS Against by SP:
.713 Sale
.732 Crawford

.765 Paxton
.767 Houck
.777 Bello
.789 Pivetta

.841 Whitlock
.881 Kluber

We need at least 3 SP'er for 2024, but I know two is probably wishful thinking.

[moonslav59]

Conversely, our pen took great strides, this year.

IP/ERA as RP, only:

81/2.90 Winckowski
56/3.07 Pivetta
51/1.05 Martin

48/4.91 Murphy
45/3.63 Jansen
44/3.92 Schreiber
40/3.57 Bernardino

31/5.28 Bleier
29/4.71 Llovera
25/4.26 Jacques
23/6.26 Walter
22/1.66 Crawford
21/7.29 Brasier
19/6.27 Ort
18/5.50 Whitlock

OPS Against
.471 Crawford
.566 Martin
.569 Weiss (33 PAs Against)
.571 Pivetta

.693 Jansen
.699 Llovera
.734 Winckowski
.740 Murphy
.741 Schreiber
.746 Kelly (37)

.749 Jacques
.750 Sheriff
.751 Bernardino
.783 Garza
.785 Brasier

Others:
.831 Whitlock
.867 Walter
.887 Ort
.912 Robertson

[moonslav59]

Total PAs Against and OPS
.566 Martin (199)
.569 Weiss (33)

.689 Crawford (508-3rd)
.693 Jansen (188)
.699 Llovera (132)
.703 Pivetta (506 -2nd)
.713 Sale (408-6th)
.723 Bernardino (212)
.730 Winckowski (355- 7th)

.740 Murphy (212)
.744 Schreiber (199)
.765 Paxton (411-5th)
.767 Houck (441-4th)
.777 Bello (668-1st)

.839 Whitlock (297-8th)

[moonslav59]

Here is an interesting comp:

Remember when there was a lot of talk about having a "blackhole" or two in the line-up was a killer. Have a gander at this...

2018
.684 6 slot
.667 7 slot
.607 8 slot
.704 9 slot

2023
Only one slot below .711...
.712 6 slot
.711 7 slot
.718 8 slot
.675 9 slot
Not great numbers but better than 2018.

Those first 5 slots sure made a big difference, along with better pitching and defense.

[notin]

I believe it was originally included in the All-Round in 1904, but was deemed to much of a risk to spectators. Most likely it'll return at the '28 Olympics in LA where it'll be featured on the Santa Monica boardwalk. If the robot combatants get out of control, the psychic cat on 3rd street should be able to quelle the violence.

I think you rely far too much on that psychic cat…

[5GoldGloves:OF,75]

Here is an interesting comp:

Remember when there was a lot of talk about having a "blackhole" or two in the line-up was a killer. Have a gander at this...

2018
.684 6 slot
.667 7 slot
.607 8 slot
.704 9 slot

2023
Only one slot below .711...
.712 6 slot
.711 7 slot
.718 8 slot
.675 9 slot
Not great numbers but better than 2018.

Those first 5 slots sure made a big difference, along with better pitching and defense.

The first 5 slots in any batting order are usually reserved for teams' best hitters. On winning teams, those guys are often star players.

The 2018 champs were loaded with star players. Their first five batters in the final game when they won their rings featured four players with a minimum of 4.8 WAR -- Betts, JD, Bogey, Beni -- plus World Series MVP Steve Pearce.

The 2023 chumps have zero players with 4 WAR. Devers is the closest at 3.5 WAR, and no other position players even have a 3 WAR.

Baseball Reference considers 5+ WAR as "All-Star Quality."

The last-place Red Sox have no stars and no quality.

[moonslav59]

The first 5 slots in any batting order are usually reserved for teams' best hitters. On winning teams, those guys are often star players.

The 2018 champs were loaded with star players. Their first five batters in the final game when they won their rings featured four players with a minimum of 4.8 WAR -- Betts, JD, Bogey, Beni -- plus World Series MVP Steve Pearce.

The 2023 chumps have zero players with 4 WAR. Devers is the closest at 3.5 WAR, and no other position players even have a 3 WAR.

Baseball Reference considers 5+ WAR as "All-Star Quality."

The last-place Red Sox have no stars and no quality.

Indeed. I was just pointing out how back then, many ranted about having so many "blackholes." Last year, it was the pen.

It usually takes more than fixing the worst area of your team to win it all, and teams with a major weakness can still win it all.

[Old Red]

The first 5 slots in any batting order are usually reserved for teams' best hitters. On winning teams, those guys are often star players.

The 2018 champs were loaded with star players. Their first five batters in the final game when they won their rings featured four players with a minimum of 4.8 WAR -- Betts, JD, Bogey, Beni -- plus World Series MVP Steve Pearce.

The 2023 chumps have zero players with 4 WAR. Devers is the closest at 3.5 WAR, and no other position players even have a 3 WAR.

Baseball Reference considers 5+ WAR as "All-Star Quality."

The last-place Red Sox have no stars and no quality.

Speaking of JD he hit his 32 HR last night, and drove in his 100 RBI. Forget about him outhitting JT his 901 OPS has outhit Raffy, and in 150 less AB. No I don’t think the Red Sox should have resigned him, and JT has worked out well, but good to see JD has bounced back this year. Just saying.