4/9 @ Kansas City

[Dipre]

Can't wait to face Greinke tomorrow!

 

Pretty sure they can't wait to face Beckett either.

[a700hitter]

This is absolutely one of those games that teams just lose. They will win games like this.

 

That said, the list of players I am missing already in 2010 includes Billy Wagner. They could absolutely use a 97mph lefty in the pen. Sadly, if something happens to Bard they are screwed.

They had an off season strategy of building around pitching and defense. Someone needs to remind them that pitching includes the bullpen and defense includes the catcher position.

[riverside sluggers]

Don & Jerry were talking about tomorrow's game probably having bench players get their 1st start of the season

[a700hitter]

Don & Jerry were talking about tomorrow's game probably having bench players get their 1st start of the season

terry will probably play Varitek tomorrow against a dominant righty giving us an automatic out in the lineup. Varitek should play solely against lefties. Terry should play to his strength not his weakness.

[Jasonbay44]

So were going to face Greinke and get to have the bench players in the lineup? Awesome!

[boomer]

So were going to face Greinke and get to have the bench players in the lineup? Awesome!

I second that

[example1]

They had an off season strategy of building around pitching and defense. Someone needs to remind them that pitching includes the bullpen and defense includes the catcher position.

 

I think it is important to point out that the whole "pitching and defense" thing was overblown. The strategy doesn't represent some new direction in baseball philosophy--as all the baseball pundits want to point out--not directed at you, a700, but baseball tonight, etc--but rather a reasonable approach given the market last offseason.

 

Beltre and Cameron were second-tier players at their positions who at least offered a defensive upgrade for the team overall and thus mitigated some of their offensive fall-off. Nobody was saying they would be better options than ARod or Grady Sizemore or Adrian Gonzalez. Even though the ESPN and MLB guys love to talk about a "new philosophy" Theo called it a "bridge" for a reason, and their contracts reflect the temporary nature of their involvement.

 

Now, to your point, the only way the above "bridge" would work is if the 2009 team didn't implode in areas that we all thouht were strong. I agree about the bullpen. I think it is a real concern. I like Bard's stuff, but it's his second full season and they are relying on him to play a huge part. Oki has been holding on with guile the past few years, and other than that I think there are lots of questionmarks.

 

Bullpens can be improved more easily than starting pitching, but they really need to be able to win as many low-scoring, close games as they possibly can. I'm still very confident about this team being playoff caliber, but there are concerns.

[ORS]

Last year I was at a game against Tampa where Paps walked the lead off hitter and gave up a soft line drive hit to Bartlett to start the inning and with the tying run on base he struck out Pena' date=' Upton and Crawford on 3 swinging k's without a single called strike and only one foul ball-- 9 swinging strikes. That was dominant. He's still the man. Bard is a nice arm, but ...[/quote']

I once saw Mike Remlinger get someone out. Top that.

 

Seriously, I use this hyperbole for a reason. This doesn't change the fact that Papelbon is trending in an ugly direction. Does that mean I think he's cooked? No, but it means you need to open your mind to the possibility that he won't be closing games in Boston. But you don't do that. No you profess your undying love for any once productive player (keyword there, once), and make ridiculously s***** comments about any alternatives. It gets old. Furthermore, while Bard is the goat tonight, he didn't completely s*** all over himself like Papelbon did two nights ago. No long ball. Less walks. And there's a realistic possibility that he isn't the goat if the manager wakes from his nap, has him walk their hottest hitter, and pitch to the washed up Guillen who is also a platoon matchup. There's no such defense for Papelbon in the early part of this season.

[a700hitter]

I think it is important to point out that the whole "pitching and defense" thing was overblown. The strategy doesn't represent some new direction in baseball philosophy--as all the baseball pundits want to point out--not directed at you, a700, but baseball tonight, etc--but rather a reasonable approach given the market last offseason.

 

Beltre and Cameron were second-tier players at their positions who at least offered a defensive upgrade for the team overall and thus mitigated some of their offensive fall-off. Nobody was saying they would be better options than ARod or Grady Sizemore or Adrian Gonzalez. Even though the ESPN and MLB guys love to talk about a "new philosophy" Theo called it a "bridge" for a reason, and their contracts reflect the temporary nature of their involvement.

 

Now, to your point, the only way the above "bridge" would work is if the 2009 team didn't implode in areas that we all thouht were strong. I agree about the bullpen. I think it is a real concern. I like Bard's stuff, but it's his second full season and they are relying on him to play a huge part. Oki has been holding on with guile the past few years, and other than that I think there are lots of questionmarks.

 

Bullpens can be improved more easily than starting pitching, but they really need to be able to win as many low-scoring, close games as they possibly can. I'm still very confident about this team being playoff caliber, but there are concerns.

A problem with the "Bridge" strategy is that they were hoping that temporary fill-ins like Cameron and Beltre would bridge the team to some of the younger future stars like Westmoreland. Obviously, that strategy needs to readjusted.

[Gom]

Ah' date=' i remember the Yankee's April last year fondly. Their fans' knee jerk reactions were eerily similar to some of our fan's.[/quote']

 

Except your fan's reaction is not knee-jerk. You guys can't hit for s*** away from Fenway. Enjoy your third place season.

[Lester82]

Except your fan's reaction is not knee-jerk. You guys can't hit for s*** away from Fenway. Enjoy your third place season.

 

My god you suck at objectivity. At a lot of things.

[Dipre]

Except your fan's reaction is not knee-jerk. You guys can't hit for s*** away from Fenway. Enjoy your third place season.

 

Based on a one game sample size?

 

You're taking idiocy to a whole new level Gom.

[Lester82]

By the way, let's get all knee-jerky about Javy Vazquez and his return to AL lineups!

 

Like McDonalds says, I'M LOVIN' IT.

[Gom]

Based on a one game sample size?

 

You're taking idiocy to a whole new level Gom.

 

:thumbsup:

[Dipre]

I'd be more inclined to create a well thought-out post to explain the reasons why you're wrong and blablablabla but given the completely insincere and trollish nature of your statements, i'd be better off just reminding you to enjoy Javier Vasquez. He got shelled today, so obviously he can't get anyone out. Ever.

[Gom]

I'd be more inclined to create a well thought-out post to explain the reasons why you're wrong and blablablabla but given the completely insincere and trollish nature of your statements' date=' i'd be better off just reminding you to enjoy Javier Vasquez. He got shelled today, so obviously he can't get anyone out. Ever.[/quote']

 

I'd be a lot more worried about your bullpen than I would be about Javier Vazquez. Last I looked, Tampa was a good team.

[TheMino007]

We all thought the offense would be this teams major flow, well it still could suck but the major issue is the pen. I guess Theo forgot that the bullpen is part of the pitching staff. Okijima has been figured out, Delcarmen sucks, Rameriz is nothing like he was in the first half of last year, Bard is still a young pitcher but still, c'mon its the f***ing Royals. Papelbon is a shell of him former self, and then you got scrubs like Schowenweis and Atchins who have arleady make multiple appearances.

[a700hitter]

I once saw Mike Remlinger get someone out. Top that.

 

Seriously, I use this hyperbole for a reason. This doesn't change the fact that Papelbon is trending in an ugly direction. Does that mean I think he's cooked? No, but it means you need to open your mind to the possibility that he won't be closing games in Boston. But you don't do that. No you profess your undying love for any once productive player (keyword there, once), and make ridiculously s***** comments about any alternatives. It gets old. Furthermore, while Bard is the goat tonight, he didn't completely s*** all over himself like Papelbon did two nights ago. No long ball. Less walks. And there's a realistic possibility that he isn't the goat if the manager wakes from his nap, has him walk their hottest hitter, and pitch to the washed up Guillen who is also a platoon matchup. There's no such defense for Papelbon in the early part of this season.

I wouldn't call it hyperbole. I would call it being a wise ass, so knock it off and take out your frustrations by doing one of your home projects. Let me get this straight, you are accusing me of having "undying love" for a player? I am usually accused of hating players. Please try to be consistent with the other ridiculous criticisms of me. You are being ridiculous for being so concerned about Papelbon after 1 bad game. He also has one save. This hardly constitutes an early season trend that needs to be defended. I think you are over-reacting just a bit. If Papelbon does trend downward this season, the 2010 Sox will be screwed in a major way, because Bard is not the consistently dominant kind of pitcher that we have become used to in Papelbon. I like Bard a lot. He is one of three arms in pen that I trust, but i don't see him as a replacement for Papelbon. There may not be a choice if Papelbon is washed up in a couple of years. That would not be a good thing for the Sox.

[Dipre]

I'd be a lot more worried about your bullpen than I would be about Javier Vazquez. Last I looked' date=' Tampa was a good team.[/quote']

 

So every time Vasquez faces a good team he'll give up 7 ER or more? I'd be worried if i were you.

 

And now you went from the offense to the bullpen? Ok there sir.

 

 

What next, the functionality of the Gatorade dispensers?

[Dipre]

Epic knee-jerking. I'll just hit the sack and enjoy tomorrow's pitching matchup.

[a700hitter]

Epic knee-jerking. I'll just hit the sack and enjoy tomorrow's pitching matchup.

One bad game and Papelbon is being written off as a "shell of himself." Epic knee-jerking.

[Keeper]

The Sox are going to miss Saito. Bard needs to get his s*** together.