@TrollBagQs Is it too late to trade for Michael Young now?
— OverTheMonster (@OverTheMonster) September 1, 2013
Aaaand we’re back! For those of you who were comatose last week, you can read Part 1 of this month’s TrollBag here.
Also, for those of you who might be so inclined, the TrollBag now has its own Twitter page right here (twitter.com/TrollBagQs). Give it a follow!
Anyways, let’s get to it.
@PoarchDaniel If Scott Williamson could be a shut down closer in the playoffs, this bullpen should be fine, right?
— Timothy Brooks (@pastortimbrooks) August 27, 2013
@TrollBagQs Do you think Sox 'pen has enough to take them deep into the postseason?
— KWAPT (@KWAPT) August 28, 2013
I believe so. There are some questions regarding mid-relief – notably the conundrum that is Matt Thornton – but the Tazawa-Breslow-Uehara trio is solid and remember, a starter – most likely Doubront or Dempster – will be likely coming out of the ‘pen come playoff time as well.
@PoarchDaniel @TrollBagQs Replace the Backstreet Boys with members of the Red Sox.
— Matt Collins (@MattRyCollins) August 28, 2013
…no.
(Napoli as a Backstreet Boy is a hilarious mental image though.)
https://twitter.com/homecourtbias/status/372839314876403713
I hear they’re Jonny Gomes’ guilty pleasure.
@TrollBagQs Is this the best season of Shane Victorino's career?
— Jar-Jar’s the key to all this (@FartslamDan) August 28, 2013
Wow, what an excellent question! It’s like you read my mind!
In terms of WAR, it already is. Victorino has accounted for 5.7 WAR in only 109 games, surpassing his career-high of 5.6 in 132 in 2011.
On a deeper level, Victorino’s 2013 measures up to his career numbers in a number of interesting ways. He’s striking out more and walking less, but his wOBA is at the second-highest mark of his career, surpassed only by the aforementioned 2011 season. Offensively, he’s hitting for slightly more power than usual, but with a bit worse of a plate approach.
The most dramatic difference in Victorino’s stats, though, comes from his contributions in the field. Victorino has always been known as an elite defender, but his current 27.2 UZR is a dramatic jump from his previous career-high of 12.8 in 2006.
Victorino has been red-hot in September, and with 18 games remaining, could end up sizably surpassing his career-high in WAR. The Red Sox were panned by some for signing Victorino to a 3-year, $39 million this past offseason, but it’s safe to say he’s now exceeded even the most optimistic of projections at this point. With 18 games remaining, it’ll be interesting to see just how much Victorino can raise that WAR mark above his 2011 level.
@TrollBagQs How bad are the Astros?
— John Shearer (@Skull360) August 28, 2013
Those of you who follow me on Twitter (@PoarchDaniel) may have seen my Brent Lillibridge Facts from a few weeks ago. Well, how about something similar with the Houston Astros?
Houston Astros Facts:
1. The Astros as a team have 3.1 offensive WAR. If they were a player, that mark
would tie them with Coco Crisp, Austin Jackson, Brandon Belt, Todd Frazier, Jed Lowrie,
Nolan Arenado, Gerardo Parra, and Everth Cabrera.
2. Those players rank 44th through 51st in the league for WAR.
3. The Red Sox lead the league with 30.1 WAR. That’s ten times the Astros’ mark.
4. The Astros rank second-to-last in team UZR with a mark of -50.8, behind only the
Mariners, owners of a staggering -76.6.
5. Only the Marlins (.293) have a worse team OBP than the Astros. The Marlins.
6. Astros pitchers have accounted for 0.3 WAR on the season. The Padres are the
next-to-worse, with 2.6 WAR.
7. Joe Saunders, one of the worst regular starters in baseball this season, has been
worth 0.3 WAR. Joe Saunders has a higher ERA (4.95) than K/9 (4.85).
8. The Astros’ team ERA (4.87) is more than 50 points higher than the next-worst
team (the Blue Jays, at 4.34).
9. The Astros rank worst in the league in K/9, BB/9, and HR/9.
10. Jason Castro leads the Astros with 4.0 WAR. No other Astro has more than 0.9.
I could keep going, but you get the picture. The Astros are bad.
https://twitter.com/homecourtbias/status/372791536775213056
Maybe he’s just not that into you, man. You gotta move on.
@TrollBagQs where are my car keys?
— Patrick Fenelon ? (@Patrick_Fenelon) August 27, 2013
Never did hear back from you on this one. Did you find them?
Could they be locked in your car?
@PoarchDaniel Why haven't the Red Sox signed Bogaerts to a long-term extension yet?
— Scott Candage (@ScottCandage) August 27, 2013
Insider scoop: the Red Sox are about to sign Bogaerts to a 30-year contract for infinity dollars.
@PoarchDaniel Who is the Miley Cyrus of the 2013 Red Sox?
— Timothy Brooks (@pastortimbrooks) August 27, 2013
Well, Jonny Gomes’s defensive technique is about as close to twerking as you can get on a baseball field, isn’t it?
@PoarchDaniel Switch hitting is overrated, amirite???
— Timothy Brooks (@pastortimbrooks) August 27, 2013
@TrollBagQs Would you consider Shane Victorino's success from the right side a result of ritually sacrificing his left-handed hitting ways?
— Brett Cowett (@BACowett) September 7, 2013
Shane does what Shane wants! Just let Shane be great!
https://twitter.com/AdamKoscielak/status/372790650204606464
No clue what that question is.
@PoarchDaniel Xander recently impregnated me with his eyes. What should I name the child?
— The Official Xander Bogaerts Victory Lap Account (@BenCarsley) August 26, 2013
If it’s a boy, you should name him Jose Iglesias, because comedic irony is the best.
@PoarchDaniel Jake Peavy just threw a CG but if Iggy was at SS wouldn't the Dodgers not have scored at all? #Cafardo
— The Official Xander Bogaerts Victory Lap Account (@BenCarsley) August 26, 2013
https://twitter.com/Chip_Buck/status/371736906016358400
I’m really growing to love how Nick Cafardo and Jose Iglesias are permanently tied to each other. What’s really surprised me is that Cafardo is still a Sox writer – you would have thought he’d have switched to the Tigers’ beat by now.
https://twitter.com/Chip_Buck/status/371708783514624000
You may want to see a doctor. Gomes’s Disorder is a serious issue, second only to Drew Syndrome in terms of Infectious Red Sox Diseases.
Who or what is "baseball?"
-Brian Jones
— TrollBag Questions (@TrollBagQs) August 27, 2013
@PoarchDaniel What is baseball?
— AN (@fastbreconomics) August 26, 2013
Hey, look at you guys, making the same jokes and stuff.
This is awkward…
@PoarchDaniel Could I steal 2nd base off of Lackey/Salty?
— Timothy Brooks (@pastortimbrooks) August 27, 2013
If you put this into a Magic 8 Ball, I bet it would come up “Without a doubt” every time.
@PoarchDaniel Mookie Betts lit up the low minors this year, and Keith Law says he is a legit prospect. Should we trade Pedey now or later?
— Timothy Brooks (@pastortimbrooks) August 27, 2013
Why wait? Betts is ready for the MLB, right?
…right?
@PoarchDaniel all those trollbag questions but didn't address the link between Miley Cyrus' desecration and A-Rod HR the same night. Rookie.
— Brandon Stewart (@Brandon5tewart) August 27, 2013
Hey man. Don’t tell me how to TrollBag. I run the TrollBag. It’s mine. My own. My precious…
https://twitter.com/homecourtbias/status/375365448830701569
Well, assuming he starts every game, it should take him a little over three years. Seems attainable.
@PoarchDaniel @TrollBagQs Matt Thornton and Dempster suck, could the Sox trade them for Glen Perkins and Joe Mauer?
— Tyler (@BayareaSoxfan) September 7, 2013
It’s possible. Why shoot so low, though? The Giants have been pretty bad this year, maybe they would part with Buster Posey and Sergio Romo.
@PoarchDaniel @TrollBagQs why did Ben DFA Bard? He was the centerpiece to land Stanton this offseason. He should be fired right? #
— Tyler (@BayareaSoxfan) September 4, 2013
Building off this, is everybody properly prepared for the Daniel Bard Comeback Tour next year with the Cubs? We all know it’s coming; I just don’t know if my heart can handle it.
@PoarchDaniel Who are the Red Sox going to beat in the World Series?
— Timothy Brooks (@pastortimbrooks) August 27, 2013
Aaaand on that note, it’s time to stop. See you guys next time.