8/4 at the Trop

[Dipre]

Have you seen the season he's having?

 

So he's a better hitter than Longoria because of the flukey season he's having?

[Dojji]

Zobrist vs RHP this season: 0.273, .394, .527, .921

Longoria vs RPH this season: .281, .367, .536, .903

 

Don't see that much of a difference. Again, I'd take my chances with Zobrist.

 

I don't think there's that much to choose between the two. In all likelihood pitching to Zobrist just would have made the game 5-2, or 3-2 when Zobrist singles and the runner scores from second.

 

Probably should have walked him anyway though. Saito is getting MURDERED by RHH this year.

[VA Sox Fan]

Francona has got to be f***ing kidding. You rather face Longoria than walk him and face Zobrist' date=' or load the bases for Dillon? Does he have a f***ing brain in his head?[/quote']

 

 

You sound like this guy (well...not 100%)

 

From the Globe:

 

Fan Takes Late Night Loss in Stride: "Francona ought to be concerned about his job after tonight. It's easy to manage a rich and very talented team to two World Series. But, he can't manage to beat a team whose payroll is roughly $85 million less than his own EVER? Guys, this is about RESOURCES!!! I can't believe a team like the Sox would lose so frequently to a team with far less financial resources EVER! Frankly, John Henry needs to quit pouring so much time and money into his extracurriculars and focus on the business on WINNING BASEBALL GAMES, EVERY SINGLE GAME OF EVERY SINGLE YEAR! Nothing should stop him, or the Sox, in their pursuit of perfection every single season. Tonight was a disgrace." -- 8.5.09, Sox diehard 'J. Kerr'

[TheKilo]

Have you seen the season he's having?

 

I ask you the same question.

 

You can pitch to Longoria and let him try to beat you, or you could pitch around him and let Zobrist try to beat you.

 

You'd honestly rather give Longoria that shot?

[TheKilo]

I don't think there's that much to choose between the two. In all likelihood pitching to Zobrist just would have made the game 5-2, or 3-2 when Zobrist singles and the runner scores from second.

 

Probably should have walked him anyway though. Saito is getting MURDERED by RHH this year.

 

Career vs. RHP

 

Zobrist: .238/.324/.435/.759

Longoria: .281/.356/.527/.883

[BoSox21]

I ask you the same question.

 

You can pitch to Longoria and let him try to beat you, or you could pitch around him and let Zobrist try to beat you.

 

You'd honestly rather give Longoria that shot?

 

I'd honestly walk the bases loaded and pitch to the shmuck they had batting 5th and have a force at any base

[rhet]

Francona: Walking Longoria not preferred option

 

Posted by Tony Massarotti, Globe Staff August 5, 2009 12:45 AM

 

If you're wondering why the Red Sox didn't walk Evan Longoria in the 13th inning of an eventual 4-2 loss tonight, manager Terry Francona indicated that he felt the club also would have had to walk Ben Zobrist to make the decision worthwhile.

 

Speaking after Longoria hit a two-run homer off Takashi Saito to give the Rays a much-needed win, Francona said that walking Longoria and Zobrist would have left Saito facing Joe Dillon with the bases loaded. That scenario introduced the possibility of a game-ending walk, something the Red Sox did not want to risk given some of Saito's issues this season.

 

Though the Sox did walk Longoria in the ninth, that was a slightly different situation. The Rays had a man at second with one (not two), and the walk opened up the possibility of a double play. Zobrist subsequently obliged with a bouncer up the middle that Nick Green fielded while touching second base with his right foot before throwing to first.

 

"If you're going to go all the way to the bases loaded, you're looking at a guy with 40 pitches,'' Francona said of Saito. "I wish the ball wouldn't have gone out, but I don't think [walking Longoria] was the right thing to do."

 

Though Clay Buchholz was warming as the emergency reliever, Francona said the Sox had not planned to bring Buchholz into the game until the start of the 14th inning so that the pitcher, who is scheduled to start on Saturday, had sufficient time to get ready

 

This is scary.

[Dipre]

I'd honestly walk the bases loaded and pitch to the shmuck they had batting 5th and have a force at any base

 

So we come full circle.

 

Why in f***'s sake did he pitch to Longoria?

[rhet]

Longoria

vs. Red Sox: 17/46 .370 7HR 24RBI

vs. everyone else: 87/333 .261 16HR 57RBI

 

30% of his HRs and RBIs have come against the Red Sox in only 12% of his at-bats.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Should've had more outfield depth...

[a700hitter]

Should've had more outfield depth...

I demand names!

[BoSox21]

So he's a better hitter than Longoria because of the flukey season he's having?

 

why does it have to be a discussion about who is the better hitter? its about who is most likely to get a hit on August 4th in the bottom of the 13th inning with two-outs.

 

whether Zobrist's season is flukey or not, the bottom line is that he's one of the most dangerous threats offensively right now, maybe moreso than Longoria who's been in a slump, at least before last night

[SoxSport]

You guys criticizing Francona for his game managing have to realize that's not his strong suit. A good part of managing is getting along with people--the players, the front office and the media--and Tito does that very well. He is a very good manager for a very good team.

 

He is not good in close games. What's their 1-run game record this year? He does not play small ball for 1-run in extra inning games. And he doesn't seem concerned that other teams are stealing Varitek blind this year.Worst in the majors. His reaction to the media last night on this was a bunch of doubletalk.

[Dipre]

You guys criticizing Francona for his game managing have to realize that's not his strong suit. A good part of managing is getting along with people--the players, the front office and the media--and Tito does that very well. He is a very good manager for a very good team.

 

He is not good in close games. What's their 1-run game record this year? He does not play small ball for 1-run in extra inning games. And he doesn't seem concerned that other teams are stealing Varitek blind this year.Worst in the majors. His reaction to the media last night on this was a bunch of doubletalk.

 

Again, would you have pitched to Longoria?

 

And of course it has to be about who's the better hitter, Longoria's the best hitter on that team, and you CAN'T LET HIM BEAT YOU.

 

It's like pitching to Pujols with Ludwick on deck in 2008.

[rhet]

why does it have to be a discussion about who is the better hitter? its about who is most likely to get a hit on August 4th in the bottom of the 13th inning with two-outs.

 

whether Zobrist's season is flukey or not, the bottom line is that he's one of the most dangerous threats offensively right now, maybe moreso than Longoria who's been in a slump, at least before last night

 

Zobrist has come back to earth since the all star break, with only 4 RBIs.

He's hitting .077 in August.

There's a reason he's only been a part time utlity player his whole career.

 

Nobody in their right mind would want to face Longoria instead of Zobrist.

[Dipre]

Zobrist has come back to earth since the all star break, with only 4 RBIs.

He's hitting .077 in August.

There's a reason he's only been a part time utlity player his whole career.

 

Nobody in their right mind would want to face Longoria instead of Zobrist.

 

This.

[msubulldogs21]

I hated seeing how things unfolded in the 13th, but where the game truly was lost was when of all people, Pedroia hits into an inning ending DP. I think it was the 11th inning. When I saw that, I just knew it was another one of those games in Tampa Bay.

[Dojji]

Again, would you have pitched to Longoria?

 

And of course it has to be about who's the better hitter, Longoria's the best hitter on that team, and you CAN'T LET HIM BEAT YOU.

 

It's like pitching to Pujols with Ludwick on deck in 2008.

 

Tito did have a point about Saito's pitch count. Add in the 8 intentional balls and Saito's over 30 pitches. A guy with a bum elbow. And the alternative is a guy who isn't used to warming up for the pen. Really, at that point, no option was really a good one. It was just a question of how terrible.

 

The whole Longoria thing was just WHEN we lost, it was not HOW we lost. The game ended when Pedroia grounded into a bases loaded, 1 out double play to kill our best late scoring threat. Everything else was just aftermath, home field advantage and a desperate hope that somehow we could still steal one.

[TedWilliams101]

Tito did have a point about Saito's pitch count. Add in the 8 intentional balls and Saito's over 30 pitches. A guy with a bum elbow. And the alternative is a guy who isn't used to warming up for the pen. Really, at that point, no option was really a good one. It was just a question of how terrible.

 

The whole Longoria thing was just WHEN we lost, it was not HOW we lost. The game ended when Pedroia grounded into a bases loaded, 1 out double play to kill our best late scoring threat. Everything else was just aftermath, home field advantage and a desperate hope that somehow we could still steal one.

 

Since when are intentional balls equal to the strain of a 90mph fastball?

[Dipre]

Since when are intentional balls equal to the strain of a 90mph fastball?

 

They are in Doiji land, apparently.

 

That has be groundbreaking levels of stupid.

[Dipre]

^ Went too far, i apologize to Doiji.

[Looch Ness Monster]

I didn't buy the excuse about facing Zobrist. Zobrist is not equal to Longoria. There's a reason Mike Schmidt against the Red Sox..I mean Evan Longoria bats 3rd. That's where your best hitter is.

[CrespoBlows]

Dojji crashes and burns again:

 

He equals failure

Everything he posts is wrong

Please go get a job

 

 

YA WAITING ON THE WORLD TO CHANGE! *JUMPS UP AND CLICKS HEELS*

[jacksonianmarch]

Longoria always kills the sox. On a night when he strikes out 4 times, he still hits the game tying and game winning homers. You do not pitch to him. Zobrist has been a great story, but he is no Evan Longoria. Pitching to him with 2 outs and a base open was beyond stupid.

[BoSox21]

like I said, I wouldn't even have pitched to Zobrist. Torre intentionally walked Pujols and Holliday back to back the other day and Francona should've done the same

[Rdsxmbnt]

I'd rather face Longoria than Zobrist

[Cocos Disciples]

I would have been in favor of walking Longoria and Zobrist to face Dillon. The winning run was already at 3rd so loading the bases wouldn't have been a horrible thing.

 

Tito's in game struggles continue.

[BoSox21]

I would have been in favor of walking Longoria and Zobrist to face Dillon. The winning run was already at 3rd so loading the bases wouldn't have been a horrible thing.

 

and you get a force out at any base, its a managerial no-brainer to me

[rhet]

I'd rather face Longoria than Zobrist

 

Right.

 

Zobrist is 2 for 23 against the Red Sox with 0 HR and just 2 RBI.

Longoria is 17 for 46 against the Red Sox with 7 HR and 24 RBI.

[Rdsxmbnt]

Right.

 

Zobrist is 2 for 23 against the Red Sox with 0 HR and just 2 RBI.

Longoria is 17 for 46 against the Red Sox with 7 HR and 24 RBI.

 

None of that s*** really matters because because Zobrist is not 2 for 23 vs. SAITO, he's 2 for 23 against the rest of the Red Sox pitching.

 

And there is a reason he WAS a utility guy, because he wasn't very good, but he's a tremendous success story due to the work of a coach who completely changed his batting mechanics and transformed him into the hitter he is today.

 

You have to pick your poison but I'd prefer facing the guy with the ~.890 OPS who strikes out a lot compared to the .970 OPS guy who doesn't strike out as much.