Bigger problems than stolen bases

Giving up a stolen base can sure seem like a big deal and when you give up nine of them you would think that is a huge number. It isn't something you want to give up every night, but it's not as big of a problem as our pitching staff's inability to not give up the free pass. A stolen base has an average value of about 0.18 runs. That means every time a runner takes a base he increases his teams chances to score by that amount. That isn't much and when you take into account the potential to lose 0.43 value if you are caught it's a pretty dangerous wager. In the case of the Rangers off of Tim Wakefield though on Tuesday night there wasn't much danger of being caught and only value to gain. It was an easy choice for them and gave them approximately 1.62 runs in value. That is no amount to ignore and is worth slightly more than the average home run, which is worth about 1.4.

4/21 Online Seats Game Thread: Sox Try to Turn Two Against Texas

The Boston Red Sox were able to regain some footing last night after trumping Texas, but will the Rangers rebound to take the second game of the series at Fenway?

Money in the margins

What is the first thing a server asks you when sit down at a table? “What can I get you to drink?” Why is the desert menu usually separate from the rest of the menu? Because flour, sugar, syrup and water are cheap and not labor intensive. The profit on that steak may be 40 to 50 percent after labor is included in its preparation but the soda you have been chugging down in the mean time nets a 98 percent gain.

Where Theo Epstein truly makes his money is with the players on the margins, the soda and German chocolate cakes players who propel an 81 win team to a 96 win team.

4/16 Online Seats Game Thread: Running to Home

The Boston Red Sox will return home to face Tampa Bay, and Josh Beckett tries to set the pace against the red hot Rays.

Lester’s control issues continue

So far this young season Jon Lester has walked six batters in only 10 IP. While an extremely small sample it's a bit concerning. So far his fastball has been poor according to Fangraphs pitch values with a -2.19 runs per 100 pitches. One change I see right now is a sinker being classified by Pitch F/x, but that could easily be a slight change from his two-seam fastball. The one pitch I do see missing is his slider, which was up to 10 percent of his pitches last year. This year though he has yet to throw one according to Pitch F/x.

4/9 Online Seats Game Thread: Boston Bets on Beckett

After a lackluster opening night performance, Josh Beckett looks to make it right by leading the Boston Red Sox against the Kansas City Royals, after dropping the first game of the series last night.

David Ortiz: To Pinch Hit or Not To Pinch Hit?

After Sunday's win - on a day after a thrilling come from behind opening night, a day on which Josh Beckett signed a contract which gives the Red Sox baseball's best rotation through 2014, and a day during which we were all recovering from Neil Diamond jumping the shark - all anyone on WEEI could talk about was David Ortiz. As I sit down to write this column, Ortiz has just popped out to center with Kevin Youkilis on second base, in the eighth inning of a 5-4, Yankee-led ballgame. It's the second game of the season, and the second time Ortiz has come up against a lefty in a key situation. With Mike Lowell on the bench, it's worth exploring the question of whether to pinch hit for Ortiz or to let him settle in and see what happens.

Beckett’s opening day and new contract

I'm never one to jump on single game data, but I'm also never one to pass up a chance to play with Pitch F/x and also test the announcers claims. Sunday and Monday have been full of chatter on Beckett and that it was only one game, but also that his stuff was not under control. Then add in a contract extension the next day and you have the perfect chance for me to pull out my November contract extension commentary. I'll save that for the end though and lets jump right into the data. Here is his pitch chart from last night thanks to BrooksBaseball

Herb Brooks and Neil Diamond Stop By, Sox Take Season Opener

On a night when the Boston marketing department pulled out all the stops, the players on the field managed to match them every step of the way. There was no shortage of excitement in this one. From Neil Diamond's 8th inning appearance to Pedroia's two-run bomb, this game had everything and more. Even Herb Brooks and Pedro showed up which, early on, seemed to be the only exciting parts of the game. I, myself, was forced down the street to Buffalo Wild Wings before the game due to a blackout on MLBTV - missing the NESN broadcast - and jotting down game notes on a napkin. Though I try to avoid chain restaurants when watching the Red Sox, it was nice to see the Red Sox Faithful well-represented in Colorado - and just as intolerant as in New England of the crap Yankee fans will try to pull. Nonetheless, it was a classic, back-and-forth matchup that had plenty of surprises, late heroics, and everything you could want in an Opening Day salvo. Though cruising through the bottom half of the first inning, Beckett got roughed up early. Noticeably absent was his usual dominating stuff - which should have been an easy holdover from his strong spring. Having difficulty finding the plate and falling behind in the count often, he found himself "Yanked" after just 4.1 IP, walking three while striking out only one. Yielding five earned over his inefficient 94 pitches, the silver lining is that he wasn't hit as hard as the overall line suggests. Other than two second inning home runs, many of the Yankees' hits found holes or were just out of the reach of defenders - especially up the middle in the fourth...

4/4 Online Seats Game Thread: Red Sox Ready For Yanks

The Yankees have had their moment in the sun. Now, Josh Beckett and the revamped Red Sox look to cut off the Yankees at the knees on opening night.