4/16 vs Blue Jays

[example1]

Okay folks, I don't start game threads (this might be my 2nd in 6 years), but times are desperate. This is the low-water mark. It is all going to be better from here...

 

Some history mojo from the Optimism Thread:

 

2001 Oakland A's.

Started the season 2-10

Ended the season 102-60 and won the Wildcard*

 

1974 Pittsburgh Pirates

Started the season 2-10

Ended the season 88-74 and won the Division*

 

1951 New York Giants

Started the season 2-10

Ended the season 98-59 and won the NL Pennant*

 

 

2-10 seems to be the threshold. No team that I can find fell to 2-11 and made the playoffs. Let's home 2-10 is some metaphysical suck point that good teams ultimately respond to.

 

I would put pitchers, lineups etc., here but it really doesn't matter. I think Beckett is pitching. It just doesn't matter.

 

The bats need to break out. Beckett needs to carry the team on his well-paid shoulders.

 

Go Sox... we still believe in you.

[Palodios]

The Red Sox are 5 games out on the division. The Yankees are incredibly righthanded, and as we've already seen, very beatable, and their #2 was just sent to AAA. As it stands right now, the Royals and Guardians are going to the playoffs. This slump is not going to last forever.

[La Munson]

PLEASE Tito, let Varitek catch tonight.

[soxfan74]

Interesting Line-uip today. Lowrie leading off playing SS. Of course Terry goes with the right handed line-up with The lefty starting.

[Palodios]

Lowrie leading off? Wow, that is my favorite lineup. The only reason why I never posted it was because I assumed it'd never happen.

[RedSoxFrank]

The Red Sox are 5 games out on the division. The Yankees are incredibly righthanded' date=' and as we've already seen, very beatable, and their #2 was just sent to AAA. As it stands right now, the Royals and Guardians are going to the playoffs. This slump is not going to last forever.[/quote']

worded it perfectly, lets stay positive guys we will get it going

[example1]

Lowrie SS

Pedroia 2B

Gonzalez 1B

Youkilis 3B

Ortiz DH

Cameron RF

Varitek C

McDonald LF

Ellsbury CF

 

 

Crawford will need to be hitting at a regular level before he should be hitting against lefties (or anyone for that matter). It is worth noting, however, that in a short interview/podcast I heard after last night's game, he sounded like a true professional. He didn't sound as down in the dumps as the rest of us because he knows he's an elite athlete and a damn good baseball player. I'm giving the guy some slack because he's goign to be here for awhile and he's got mad skills.

 

Go Sox!

[example1]

The Red Sox are 5 games out on the division. The Yankees are incredibly righthanded' date=' and as we've already seen, very beatable, and their #2 was just sent to AAA. As it stands right now, the Royals and Guardians are going to the playoffs. This slump is not going to last forever.[/quote']

 

This is worded very well.

 

The Sox may be benefitted by the fact that the rest of the division is pretty good this year, so hopefully they will just pound and pound each other.

 

Maybe the division winner will need 92 or 93 wins... that's still do able.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Sig = Changed. Losing streak = Ended. Winning Streak = Started. Lets go Beckett!

[Wasatch]

Let's Go Redsox!

[La Munson]

Sig = Changed. Losing streak = Ended. Winning Streak = Started. Lets go Beckett!

 

Nothing better to end a losing streak then Beckett coming off one of his best starts ever and an always great Varitek.

[boston22407]

GO REDSOX!

[La Munson]

Damn, what a play

[boston22407]

nice play a-gon

[example1]

Does anyone else see a difference here? Beckett's pitches are near the plate. He regularly throws either strikes or things that look like strikes.

 

Both Matsuzaka and Buchholz can take a lesson from that.

 

I think Dice could use that approach to become a decent pitcher and Buchholz could be excellent.

 

Having watched Buchholz for years now, I think there's just too much motion in his motion. It is pretty, but it needs to be simpler--more about just throwing the ball toward the plate.

[RedSoxFrank]

Nice start for Beckett, lets get the bats going.

[boston22407]

1-2-3

[RedSoxFrank]

Safe

[a700hitter]

10 pitch inning for Beckett. Nice

[boston22407]

JED for SS!

[RedSoxFrank]

I don't agree with Pedroia trying to bunt for a base hit there.

[a700hitter]

Lowrie is scalding the ball from the right side. I said in the off season that I believed that Lowrie could hit his way to starting status during the season. It may happen much sooner than I thought it would. Scutaro has gotten some big hits too, so Francona will be reluctant to bench him.

[example1]

How about a lineup moving forward of Lowrie, Pedroia, Gonzalez, Youkilis, Ortiz, Drew, Salty (Tek), Crawford, Ellsbury.

 

I'd move Crawford and Ellsbury to the bottom and just see what they can do.

[a700hitter]

Let's torture this pitcher!!!

[example1]

Lowrie is scalding the ball from the right side. I said in the off season that I believed that Lowrie could hit his way to starting status during the season. It may happen much sooner than I thought it would. Scutaro has gotten some big hits too' date=' so Francona will be reluctant to bench him.[/quote']

 

Lowrie should play and he should play often. He could be their future SS if he produces well enough, or he could be this teams best trading chip if they wanted to get a legitimate catcher at some point.

 

I would consider a package of Ellsbury and Lowrie + for someone good, knowing that Iglesias is as good as he is.

[RedSoxFrank]

f*** just foul!

[Palodios]

Ouch.

[boston22407]

damn

[RedSoxFrank]

Dusty walks, 2 on 0 outs.

[example1]

They need to move that foul line indicator down the RF line.