October 05, 2018

Uninspiring Spring Fling at Fenway


Homestand Highlights

Record (3-3)      Season (108-54)  GB 0.0     Series Play (33-12-7)
  • The Red Sox didn't exactly roar back into town in this final homestand of the season. Two wins against the hapless Orioles was expected, at the very least, but the series loss to New York just didn't sit well with yours truly. I was looking for Boston to make a statement as they exited the regular season, but instead, they played it safe doling out a cavalcade of players that we became all too familiar with back in the spring at JetBlue Park. I wanted Boston to find the edge against the Yankees like they did in the season finale. To be quite honest, I probably paid less attention to the games in September than any other month throughout the regular season. Once I saw the starting lineups and the pitcher scheduled, I usually just dropped into the games and didn't really linger very long. I get that the early entry to postseason allowed Boston liberties with the regulars, but I worry about them being in rhythm for the playoffs. We shall see if "Cora and Crew" can flip the switch when the lights shine the brightest tonight.
  • Boston logged their worst monthly winning percentage of the season in September (15-11, .577), which is not surprising given the fact they were playing with house money. lf we peer back a month earlier to August, the win/loss percentage was great (18-9, .677) mainly because Boston pounded out more runs during the dog days of summer than any other month during the regular season (166). The downside is that the starting pitching was abysmal. The ever-polarizing David Price was the glue that held the rotation together in August. In 5 starts, he was 3-0 with a 2.10 ERA. Outside of Chris Sale making a 5 inning curtain call and whiffing 12 in his only outing of that month, there wasn't much to smile about. Brian Johnson was 3-0 but wasn't missing many bats as can be attested by a bloated 5.47 ERA, and he surrendered 7 dingers. Former CY Young winner Rick Porcello checked in with a 2-3 mark (5.11 ERA) and bested Johnson's home run mark by one, and Nathan Eovaldi took a horrific tailspin (1-3, 5.67) as he was smacked around for 41 hits in 27 innings pitched. The numbers for the starters became more progressively meaningless as September move into the later stages and Cora was attempting to keep arms fresh lifting his guys earlier than normal.
  • After all the hoopla at the beginning of the season, it seemed only fitting that the Yankees bounced the surprising Oakland A's in the American League Wildcard game, embarking on a collision course with the Sawx. Boston and New York are facing off in the postseason for the first time since that phenomenal comeback in 2004 and for the first time in the ALDS. Boston is 8-11 in postseason play against New York but edged out the Yankees in the 2018 regular season with a 10-9 mark. Boston opens at Fenway in the ALDS for only the third time in 13 appearances, but home field should pay dividends. The Sawx are 50-35-1 in postseason play at home (44-33-1 at Fenway Park). Since 1999, Boston is 11-5 in  ALDS home contests. In the 2018 regular season, Boston had the best home winning percentage (.704, 57-24).
  • Of course, when we look at postseason success, the conversation begins and ends with Chris Sale. Alex Cora says that Sale is ready to go, and Sale himself fully expects to be the dominant version we've come to appreciate. In 2 starts against New York this season, Sale went 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA (1 ER/13.0 IP), 19 SO, and 1 BB. He owns a 1.61 career ERA (18 ER/100.2 IP) against the Yankees, the lowest mark in the Live Ball Era. In a five-game series, a game one win becomes even more important given the fact that David Price has yet to translate regular season success into October, and Eovaldi's Jekyll and Hyde persona. I'm looking for a healthy Chris Sale to lift this team and raise the bar for those that follow in the rotation.
  • Below are the numbers for the final homestand and some other offensive split stats that may provide some foreshadowing with regards to situational success and shortcomings this playoff season. I really don't know if Boston can return to the Fall Classic as I feel the bullpen could be the biggest stumbling block. The starting rotation landed with a thud in September as well, and we need those guys to go deep with a suspect bullpen corps. If I become a prophet with my initial trepidation concerning this 2018 postseason, I only ask for a series win against those "Damn Yankees" to assuage my painful misgivings. I say Boston in four games. LET'S GO RED SOX!

Homestand by the Numbers
Name G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS BA
OBP SLG OPS
Andrew Benintendi419183920041310.500.526.6111.137
Mookie Betts415126610123320.500.600.8331.433
Xander Bogaerts416144620282200.429.5001.0001.500
J.D. Martinez518165610262500.375.444.8131.257
Mitch Moreland314113420013200.364.500.5451.045
Brock Holt419175620142500.353.421.6471.068
Jackie Bradley Jr.418163520012310.313.389.438.826
Tzu-Wei Lin512104321032200.300.417.7001.117
Sam Travis510102310000300.300.300.400.700
Eduardo Nunez2870200001000.286.375.286.661
Rafael Devers621193520262500.263.333.6841.018
Steve Pearce314122310152200.250.357.583.940
Blake Swihart518173410131910.235.278.471.748
Ian Kinsler418143320024210.214.389.357.746
Sandy Leon2991110000300.111.111.222.333
Christian Vazquez514111100012210.091.286.091.377
Brandon Phillips3871000001300.000.125.000.125
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/2/2018.

Name G GS
W L SV IP H R ER BB SO HR HBP ERA GB/FB BAbip SO9
Nathan Eovaldi2217.0521014001.2977%.38518.0
Brian Johnson1113.032222106.0020%.2226.0
Rick Porcello112.000012000.0075%.0009.0
David Price1115.063336205.4040%.33310.8
Chris Sale114.243318025.7920%.36415.4
Matt Barnes3012.1633130011.5778%.66711.6
Ryan Brasier302.200011000.0033%.0003.4
William Cuevas100.16661010162.0029%.8330.0
Heath Hembree302.200002000.000%.0006.8
Joe Kelly302.021133004.5060%.40013.5
Craig Kimbrel201.1044330127.000%.00020.3
Drew Pomeranz203.122116102.7050%.20016.2
Bobby Poyner203.043304219.0011%.28612.0
Eduardo Rodriguez40116.153329104.2620%.28612.8
Robby Scott201.020002000.000%.66718.0
Hector Velazquez202.120001000.0038%.2503.9
Brandon Workman202.0533020013.5060%.5569.0
Steven Wright203.031104103.0063%.28612.0
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/2/2018.

Second Half Stats and Splits

Player Split G BA PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO OBP SLG
J.D. MartinezRISP115.38620015875616013903441.480.671
Ian KinslerRISP25.361413616133001547.415.444
Xander BogaertsRISP101.342183149535114311902623.432.698
Andrew BenintendiRISP110.33817714281481253672619.423.556
Mookie BettsRISP84.32511377972582648289.496.714
Steve PearceRISP25.293494115121042064.367.610
Brock HoltRISP74.280113933126522371826.389.441
Mitch MorelandRISP86.2731481284735815521529.338.469
Jackie Bradley Jr.RISP97.27214111461311314441633.383.509
Eduardo NunezRISP82.252135123443150334818.296.366
Blake SwihartRISP46.2506256211440015618.323.321
Rafael DeversRISP87.2091351153924603451831.311.339
Sandy LeonRISP52.1977566251320217412.270.318
Christian VazquezRISP55.1767668171230012614.253.221
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 10/2/2018.

Player Split G BA PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO OBP SLG
Mookie Betts2 outs, RISP42.4334330381321423121.605.967
J.D. Martinez2 outs, RISP63.42281643427206381617.543.734
Andrew Benintendi2 outs, RISP58.373685931228202799.456.576
Xander Bogaerts2 outs, RISP65.30983681621235361411.434.647
Sandy Leon2 outs, RISP32.27841369101021226.366.472
Mitch Moreland2 outs, RISP56.2716759221631217814.358.458
Ian Kinsler2 outs, RISP13.250141253000320.357.250
Brock Holt2 outs, RISP44.2205950141110114917.339.300
Jackie Bradley Jr.2 outs, RISP56.2126452241141115816.359.385
Rafael Devers2 outs, RISP52.20864531911302181113.344.377
Eduardo Nunez2 outs, RISP47.193635721112011368.270.281
Christian Vazquez2 outs, RISP41.175444047200846.250.225
Blake Swihart2 outs, RISP21.158231983000345.304.158
Steve Pearce2 outs, RISP16.143242143001730.250.286
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 10/2/2018.

Player Split G BA GS PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO OBP SLG
J.D. Martinez2nd Half58.33558252215397214114503151.417.605
Mookie Betts2nd Half58.3295525921950722229293549.425.571
Xander Bogaerts2nd Half57.2965523220325601917392540.371.502
Eduardo Nunez2nd Half46.28243176170204883420517.301.435
Andrew Benintendi2nd Half57.2795525622935641612302235.343.384
Jackie Bradley Jr.2nd Half58.2695521519336521537271959.340.487
Brock Holt2nd Half49.261361551342135516211737.361.448
Blake Swihart2nd Half38.25023108100182560314831.306.400
Steve Pearce2nd Half40.245291331101427416211924.368.464
Ian Kinsler2nd Half37.242351431321732601161024.294.311
Rafael Devers2nd Half32.236281231101726407181329.317.464
Mitch Moreland2nd Half47.191401731521429804221943.277.322
Christian Vazquez2nd Half20.18212514468100268.294.205
Sandy Leon2nd Half42.0953612811611115013833.167.164
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 10/2/2018.
Results
Player Split G BA PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO OBP SLG OPS
J.D. MartinezLeadoff Inn.94.358132120437111111029.417.7081.125
Xander BogaertsLeadoff Inn.82.32712111036110551020.388.564.952
Mookie BettsLeadoff Inn.132.3182372116717112122238.392.578.971
Ian KinslerLeadoff Inn.24.28632288100045.375.321.696
Steve PearceLeadoff Inn.24.28632288201148.375.464.839
Rafael DeversLeadoff Inn.76.26810297266055528.304.485.788
Jackie Bradley Jr.Leadoff Inn.93.2561351253290221035.311.376.687
Andrew BenintendiLeadoff Inn.79.253106952460441120.330.442.772
Eduardo NunezLeadoff Inn.82.250114112285133213.263.393.656
Blake SwihartLeadoff Inn.39.2504848123011011.250.375.625
Mitch MorelandLeadoff Inn.66.24194832030331122.330.386.715
Brock HoltLeadoff Inn.66.2407975184011317.278.333.612
Sandy LeonLeadoff Inn.46.1906963125000518.261.270.531
Christian VazquezLeadoff Inn.39.16755549101116.182.241.423
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 10/5/2018.
Results
Player Split G BA PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO OBP SLG OPS
Mookie BettsTwo Strikes133.300313277428321413343291.377.545.922
Xander BogaertsTwo Strikes130.244312291257125284916102.288.426.715
Steve PearceTwo Strikes41.243887491820481027.352.432.785
Andrew BenintendiTwo Strikes137.232326293426818363630106.304.375.679
Eduardo NunezTwo Strikes113.218203193204280114969.251.275.526
Rafael DeversTwo Strikes111.1982522372447110113714121.242.384.626
Ian KinslerTwo Strikes35.19465625122001324.231.226.457
J.D. MartinezTwo Strikes145.1933363053959100143827146.259.364.623
Brock HoltTwo Strikes93.1821971811233722201373.244.276.520
Christian VazquezTwo Strikes68.1691321245213004841.220.194.413
Jackie Bradley Jr.Two Strikes125.167286264354412052418137.227.269.496
Mitch MorelandTwo Strikes107.13521919222265211126102.237.198.435
Blake SwihartTwo Strikes62.114115105111230051057.191.143.334
Sandy LeonTwo Strikes78.10716015013162025775.163.160.323
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 10/5/2018.
Results
Player Split G BA GS PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO OBP SLG OPS
Mookie BettsHome64.36462284236718626213414343.461.6571.118
J.D. MartinezHome77.33477331290679721126773573.405.6831.088
Andrew BenintendiHome75.3147434030951972847512538.363.498.861
Xander BogaertsHome67.31466283255378020315632354.375.592.967
Eduardo NunezHome62.2925823622629661126231030.322.438.760
Jackie Bradley Jr.Home71.2776925923143642224322266.351.442.793
Mitch MorelandHome62.2745323420830571746302454.346.481.827
Hanley RamirezHome20.269208778122130215611.333.385.718
Steve PearceHome23.258187562816316161017.387.6291.016
Ian KinslerHome23.256228778112040010815.322.308.630
Brock HoltHome56.2504218416020401013222039.342.381.724
Blake SwihartHome45.24125123116182890111737.285.345.629
Rafael DeversHome57.2315321819929461309251850.294.432.726
Christian VazquezHome38.2233212912112276028620.266.322.588
Sandy LeonHome42.17739136130152390211432.206.292.498
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 10/5/2018.
Results
Player Split G BA GS PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO OBP SLG OPS
Mookie BettsAway72.33169330284589421319393848.418.6271.045
J.D. MartinezAway73.32673318279449116117533473.399.573.973
Brock HoltAway53.304421831612149814241734.383.441.824
Steve PearceAway27.2971890741122501101210.400.405.805
Xander BogaertsAway69.2646829725835682508403248.347.453.800
Andrew BenintendiAway73.2636832127052711329364668.369.426.795
Rafael DeversAway64.24762272251306211012412071.301.434.736
Eduardo NunezAway65.240632662542761121421639.260.343.603
Ian KinslerAway14.222135654612201629.250.315.565
Mitch MorelandAway62.214512251962742609382648.302.383.685
Blake SwihartAway37.21116847610161027820.286.303.588
Jackie Bradley Jr.Away73.1936827624333471129272471.279.366.645
Christian VazquezAway42.1923514013012254018721.250.246.496
Sandy LeonAway47.178391521351524303111143.255.267.522
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 10/5/2018.

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