Comments on: Looking ahead, looking behind: the outfield’s noodle bats and the gold-dust sprinkled Sox http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/05/18/atlnyy/ Media, Baseball, Boston, the Red Sox, Music, Literature, and Mnookins Sun, 07 Sep 2008 07:44:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: rln2433 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/05/18/atlnyy/#comment-43352 rln2433 Mon, 21 May 2007 22:28:31 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/05/18/atlnyy/#comment-43352 The Sox have a great record, in part, due to the fact that the AL (l)East sucks right now. That's not to say that they haven't pitched well (although the pen looks a bit weak outside of Oki/Pap) or made some plays but too many holes for them to win the WS. Trot was done but my point was that they felt the need to get rid of him for a guy they needed to pay $14 million for that has not been very impressive. I want Lowell in the 5 hole and Crisp banished to 7/8. Mikey is getting the job done with extra base hits and Youk can produce in the #2 hole now that Pedroia is starting to become a .375 OBP guy. Maybe we could drop Youk to #5 and have Drew bat 2nd? He does walk a lot and he can run. The Sox have a great record, in part, due to the fact that the AL (l)East sucks right now. That’s not to say that they haven’t pitched well (although the pen looks a bit weak outside of Oki/Pap) or made some plays but too many holes for them to win the WS.

Trot was done but my point was that they felt the need to get rid of him for a guy they needed to pay $14 million for that has not been very impressive.

I want Lowell in the 5 hole and Crisp banished to 7/8. Mikey is getting the job done with extra base hits and Youk can produce in the #2 hole now that Pedroia is starting to become a .375 OBP guy. Maybe we could drop Youk to #5 and have Drew bat 2nd? He does walk a lot and he can run.

]]> By: HFXBOB http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/05/18/atlnyy/#comment-42795 HFXBOB Sat, 19 May 2007 16:07:44 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/05/18/atlnyy/#comment-42795 rln: C'mon, man, you are freaking out on us. Can't win in the AL with so many people not producing? How you explaining the .700 record and 10 game lead again? I think the fact is as Sox fans we're not used to getting this kind of pitching and winning games without scoring 8 runs. The real question is not whether these hitters come around but whether the pitching can continue to be this good. This offence is a little weird for a Sox team but they somehow cross the plate enough to win games. I've been concerned about Manny too, but even though he seems to be struggling and he did have a terrible April, in May he's hitting .317 with 12 RBI in 15 games-bang on his career averages. And please, you can say what you want about Drew, but forget the 'shoulda kept Nixon' stuff. As far as power, Trot definitely is done. He hit a total of 27 long balls in his last 3 years with the Sox and this year he's got 2 in 32 games. His average has been dipping lately too. I think the one change we may see is Youkilis in the 5 slot. He looks pretty good there. rln:

C’mon, man, you are freaking out on us. Can’t win in the AL with so many people not producing? How you explaining the .700 record and 10 game lead again?

I think the fact is as Sox fans we’re not used to getting this kind of pitching and winning games without scoring 8 runs. The real question is not whether these hitters come around but whether the pitching can continue to be this good.

This offence is a little weird for a Sox team but they somehow cross the plate enough to win games. I’ve been concerned about Manny too, but even though he seems to be struggling and he did have a terrible April, in May he’s hitting .317 with 12 RBI in 15 games-bang on his career averages.

And please, you can say what you want about Drew, but forget the ’shoulda kept Nixon’ stuff. As far as power, Trot definitely is done. He hit a total of 27 long balls in his last 3 years with the Sox and this year he’s got 2 in 32 games. His average has been dipping lately too.

I think the one change we may see is Youkilis in the 5 slot. He looks pretty good there.

]]> By: rln2433 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/05/18/atlnyy/#comment-42704 rln2433 Sat, 19 May 2007 03:20:31 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/05/18/atlnyy/#comment-42704 Tater: If the trend continues then this team falls back to earth in the next 45 days. You cannot win in the AL with so many people not producing. They decided that Nixon was done and get us a guy for $14 million who swings at stuff out of the zone while taking pitches middle in. They shell out $8 million a year for a guy who is one of the least productive defensive players and he sucks at lead off. Their center fielder hits fly (pop ups) balls when he has no HR power. Manny is 25% into the season and looking like he's on the decline. Do not think for one moment that the Yankees are not capable of ripping off a 10 game win streak and cutting that 10 game lead in half. We have all seen it happen. If the Sox are going to make the playoffs then Theo is going to have to make some adjustments. Tater:

If the trend continues then this team falls back to earth in the next 45 days. You cannot win in the AL with so many people not producing. They decided that Nixon was done and get us a guy for $14 million who swings at stuff out of the zone while taking pitches middle in. They shell out $8 million a year for a guy who is one of the least productive defensive players and he sucks at lead off. Their center fielder hits fly (pop ups) balls when he has no HR power. Manny is 25% into the season and looking like he’s on the decline. Do not think for one moment that the Yankees are not capable of ripping off a 10 game win streak and cutting that 10 game lead in half. We have all seen it happen.

If the Sox are going to make the playoffs then Theo is going to have to make some adjustments.

]]> By: tater http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/05/18/atlnyy/#comment-42635 tater Fri, 18 May 2007 21:57:34 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/05/18/atlnyy/#comment-42635 LOL. People bitching about the hitting of the Red Sox make me laugh. The Red Sox have scored the most runs in MLB and are second in batting average. rln, you are sounding like Dan Shaughnessy. LOL. People bitching about the hitting of the Red Sox make me laugh. The Red Sox have scored the most runs in MLB and are second in batting average. rln, you are sounding like Dan Shaughnessy.

]]> By: HFXBOB http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/05/18/atlnyy/#comment-42603 HFXBOB Fri, 18 May 2007 18:28:57 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/05/18/atlnyy/#comment-42603 One think that strikes me about the Sox current run is that they are 'winning ugly' in a lot of games. You look at the box score and see a bunch of guys with oh-fers, nobody did anything special but we still won. This is a good thing. Games are being won with superb pitching and runs being produced in many ways-including gifts from the other team. In yesterday's sweep of the Tigers, the first crazy thing is that the heroes were named Tavares and Hinske. The second is...how many times in history has a team swept a doubleheader at Fenway scoring 6 runs total? You have to like the makeup of this team and the way they play nine full innings. One think that strikes me about the Sox current run is that they are ‘winning ugly’ in a lot of games. You look at the box score and see a bunch of guys with oh-fers, nobody did anything special but we still won. This is a good thing. Games are being won with superb pitching and runs being produced in many ways-including gifts from the other team. In yesterday’s sweep of the Tigers, the first crazy thing is that the heroes were named Tavares and Hinske. The second is…how many times in history has a team swept a doubleheader at Fenway scoring 6 runs total? You have to like the makeup of this team and the way they play nine full innings.

]]> By: djarm18 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/05/18/atlnyy/#comment-42600 djarm18 Fri, 18 May 2007 18:02:22 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/05/18/atlnyy/#comment-42600 Seth is onto something, I would think. It seems inevitable to me that right as we are ready to watch the Yanks fall flat on their face, lady luck pays them a visit. Even the Pirates win a few games. It's not inconceivable for the Yanks to rip off a few good series and the Sawx sputter and land some players on the DL. And that will interesting moment for this team. It sounds cliche, but the '07 Sox seem to have "character" in a way I don't think the '05 or '06 group had (easy for me to say). Manny seems to be in a fog. But that can't last forever can it. Can it? > Don't the Sox lead the AL in walks? Or close to the top? With Coco and Lugo's speed, Youk working counts and the (sometimes) big bats, I think this is a pretty dynamic offense. And about interleague play: What's with the Sox playing the NL west but no games against the LA Dodgers? Will Nomar ever play in Fenway again? Or did he in '05? Wasn't he hurt? Enough procrastinating @ work! Enjoy the weekend... Seth is onto something, I would think. It seems inevitable to me that right as we are ready to watch the Yanks fall flat on their face, lady luck pays them a visit. Even the Pirates win a few games. It’s not inconceivable for the Yanks to rip off a few good series and the Sawx sputter and land some players on the DL.

And that will interesting moment for this team. It sounds cliche, but the ‘07 Sox seem to have “character” in a way I don’t think the ‘05 or ‘06 group had (easy for me to say).

Manny seems to be in a fog. But that can’t last forever can it. Can it?

>

Don’t the Sox lead the AL in walks? Or close to the top? With Coco and Lugo’s speed, Youk working counts and the (sometimes) big bats, I think this is a pretty dynamic offense.

And about interleague play: What’s with the Sox playing the NL west but no games against the LA Dodgers? Will Nomar ever play in Fenway again? Or did he in ‘05? Wasn’t he hurt?

Enough procrastinating @ work! Enjoy the weekend…

]]> By: Jenny http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/05/18/atlnyy/#comment-42594 Jenny Fri, 18 May 2007 16:54:06 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/05/18/atlnyy/#comment-42594 Wow. I guess it's true that Sox fans are never happy unless they're miserable. I'm frankly not sure what there is to be miserable about with this team, aside from Beckett's DL stint. We're 28-12, have a 9.5 game lead on the Yankees, and that's with all the players you named underperforming. Despite that, we've scored only 6 less runs than the "vaunted Yankee lineup." That's a knock on the Yankees, not on us. Maybe the pitching will come back to earth somewhat, but the hitting should actually get better, because despite your misery, 6 weeks do not a season make and Manny and Drew are both very good hitters. They will come around. And after season upon season of demanding to be traded and driving the front office nuts, what in the world makes you think Manny wants an extension? Wow. I guess it’s true that Sox fans are never happy unless they’re miserable. I’m frankly not sure what there is to be miserable about with this team, aside from Beckett’s DL stint. We’re 28-12, have a 9.5 game lead on the Yankees, and that’s with all the players you named underperforming. Despite that, we’ve scored only 6 less runs than the “vaunted Yankee lineup.” That’s a knock on the Yankees, not on us. Maybe the pitching will come back to earth somewhat, but the hitting should actually get better, because despite your misery, 6 weeks do not a season make and Manny and Drew are both very good hitters. They will come around.

And after season upon season of demanding to be traded and driving the front office nuts, what in the world makes you think Manny wants an extension?

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