6/9 Nationals vs Red Sox

[VA Sox Fan]

What the f*** is wrong with these fans down the right field line...is it dumb as s*** fan day! Throw that ******* out too' date=' regardless of how late it is.[/quote']

 

Seriously! Morons.

 

That game sucked. Left too many men stranded. CRAP!!!!

[FredLynn]

Another loss...yawwwwwwwwwwwn

Back below .500 where this team belongs. They absolutely define mediocrity. Good game thread today folks (for most of us anyway), though the result sucked. We are on a real roll now, aren't we.

[VA Sox Fan]

Another loss...yawwwwwwwwwwwn

Back below .500 where this team belongs. They absolutely define mediocrity. Good game thread today folks (for most of us anyway), though the result sucked. We are on a real roll now, aren't we.

 

Not really, since you are in the minority out here. But knock yourself out in thinking so big guy.

[redsoxbeatz]

Rolling down hill into the trash pit.

[jung]

Boy this was a tough game to watch. All the Sox weaknesses on display today:

- mediocre pitching (although what more to expect from dice today)

- Aviles range going right (can't move more than 6 inches that way)

- lack of timely, situational hitting

- not enough quality plate appearances in general against good pitching

 

Gio is having a great year but he did give up some opportunities that the Sox did nothing with. Can't rely on pitchers to just make mistakes all day long. Gotta' take what you can get sometimes but won't do that if you are to greedy at the plate.

[Cocos Disciples]

Bummer. Took a while to get to/over .500.

[VA Sox Fan]

I am mojo-less, sorry guys and gals. <_>

[redsoxbeatz]

Gonzalez 0-4 right when we thought he'd found his stroke. Turns out last night was just a fluke. Maybe his career in SD was a fluke too.

[Elktonnick]

Seriously, I put smilies at the end of my post on why Pedroia is not on the DL but in fact that is probably exactly why. He is Pedey and he wanted the shot and how is V going to argue with him after V got put in his place.

 

Unfortunately now Pedey is showing every possible issue you would have not wanted to see in what may in fact be his current condition. He is alternately pressing (which I did not think I saw much of till today), seemingly having issues of timing, and maybe even showing signs of a physical issue that at the end of the day looks like a timing issue.

 

His defense is great but if he wants to play every day they may have to drop him in the order.

 

Actually Merloni described it this way: the pain or discomfort in his hand will cause him to bale early on pitches shifting his left hip prematurely affecting his timing thus hitting weak grounders. That is exactly the way Merloni described it.

[FredLynn]

Boy this was a tough game to watch. All the Sox weaknesses on display today:

- mediocre pitching (although what more to expect from dice today)

- Aviles range going right (can't move more than 6 inches that way)

- lack of timely, situational hitting

- not enough quality plate appearances in general against good pitching

 

Gio is having a great year but he did give up some opportunities that the Sox did nothing with. Can't rely on pitchers to just make mistakes all day long. Gotta' take what you can get sometimes but won't do that if you are to greedy at the plate.

 

I saw Henry and Werner in the stands today. I hope they were paying attention to the Nats and the way they have achieved a winning franchise through recognizing, obtaining, and retaining excellent pitching. If they cannot learn from this kind of game then we aren't going anywhere for years and years. Worse yet, the Sox sellout streak might be in jeopardy.

[VA Sox Fan]

Tomorrow is another day. No sweep dammit!!!!

[FredLynn]

Actually Merloni described it this way: the pain or discomfort in his hand will cause him to bale early on pitches shifting his left hip prematurely affecting his timing thus hitting weak grounders. That is exactly the way Merloni described it.

 

Truth be told Nick, I am not sure it really matters if Pedrioa plays or doesn't play. This team is doomed to mediocrity either way this year. Not good, thats for sure, but not really bad either. Sort of in limbo. I am not sure, short of major major midseason changes, that anything can be done to stem the tide. Getting close to the ASB now, and still in last place, where we belong.

[Elktonnick]

The red sox had ample opportunity to win this game. The hitters weren't smart today. It is inexcusable to have that many runners on third with less than two outs over the past two games and not bring them in.

[VA Sox Fan]

boston22407....calling you and your mojo!!!!!

[mvp 78]

boston22407....calling you and your mojo!!!!!

 

Doesn't matter, we're doomed and I don't have dogs apparently.

[evilhand]

Truth be told Nick' date=' I am not sure it really matters if Pedrioa plays or doesn't play. This team is doomed to mediocrity either way this year. Not good, thats for sure, but not really bad either. Sort of in limbo. I am not sure, short of major major midseason changes, that anything can be done to stem the tide. Getting close to the ASB now, and still in last place, where we belong.[/quote']

 

You seem pretty confident that this team is mediocre. If mediocre is meant literally, you mean they're about an 81-81 team. So, adjusting for some variation, would you be willing to make a fun bet about them finishing above 85 wins this year? Maybe something like a sig bet. Loser uses a sig of the winner's choice for a full season?

 

For example, if you lose, I'd have you use a sig that say "I'm outdated." If you win, you can pick mine.

 

We can set the over under at 85.5 meaning 85 or less wins and you win. 86 or more and I win. What do you say?

[Elktonnick]

Truth be told Nick' date=' I am not sure it really matters if Pedrioa plays or doesn't play. This team is doomed to mediocrity either way this year. Not good, thats for sure, but not really bad either. Sort of in limbo. I am not sure, short of major major midseason changes, that anything can be done to stem the tide. Getting close to the ASB now, and still in last place, where we belong.[/quote']

 

Not when you have Punto as his replacement! Bring up Ciriaco if you have to. The ALE is very competetive. Lot of baseball still to play.

[Bellhorn04]

I saw Henry and Werner in the stands today. I hope they were paying attention to the Nats and the way they have achieved a winning franchise through recognizing' date=' obtaining, and retaining excellent pitching.[/b'] If they cannot learn from this kind of game then we aren't going anywhere for years and years.

 

Yeah, the first step to that for the Nats was finishing last a bunch of times and getting those top draft picks.

[VA Sox Fan]

Doesn't matter' date=' we're doomed and I don't have dogs apparently.[/quote']

 

Yeah. Obviously, I'm not thinking clearly.

[VA Sox Fan]

Yeah' date=' the first step to that for the Nats was finishing last a bunch of times and getting those top draft picks.[/quote']

 

Great point!

[jacksonianmarch]

The sox are in trouble. Big, big trouble. The offense is good, although not to the level they need to bludgeon teams into submission. AdGon is a singles hitter, Youkilis cannot hit and Pedroia can barely swing the bat. You have Ells and Crawford out for probably another month as well. And the last shoe to drop is the replacement level guys finally playing like replacement level guys. Nava has caught fire again, but Sweeney is dead weight right now and you finally cut bait on Marlon Byrd, who was dreadful. Throw in the fact that your aces havent been aces and you have a recipe for a humongous disaster. You have the Yankees playing well, the Rays staying good and the AL Central and West all of a sudden developing 2 teams capable of winning their division and the wild card. They have to hold out until their big guys come back, but you effectively then need to assume they'd come back and play like a house afire when they do. Not sure that happens.

[example1]

Truth be told Nick' date=' I am not sure it really matters if Pedrioa plays or doesn't play. This team is doomed to mediocrity either way this year. Not good, thats for sure, but not really bad either. Sort of in limbo. I am not sure, short of major major midseason changes, that anything can be done to stem the tide. Getting close to the ASB now, and still in last place, where we belong.[/quote']

 

This team should throw all of their best trade chips for a speedy CF who can leadoff with some pop, a RH OF who can platoon Sweeney and they should try to find a LF who is looking to bounce back from a bad season to his form as one of the better all-around players in the game. Oh yeah, an established (though injury prone) closer too. That would make them, like, a different team.

 

They probably lack the pieces though.

[VA Sox Fan]

The sox are in trouble. Big' date=' big trouble. The offense is good, although not to the level they need to bludgeon teams into submission. AdGon is a singles hitter, Youkilis cannot hit and Pedroia can barely swing the bat. You have Ells and Crawford out for probably another month as well. And the last shoe to drop is the replacement level guys finally playing like replacement level guys. Nava has caught fire again, but Sweeney is dead weight right now and you finally cut bait on Marlon Byrd, who was dreadful. Throw in the fact that your aces havent been aces and you have a recipe for a humongous disaster. You have the Yankees playing well, the Rays staying good and the AL Central and West all of a sudden developing 2 teams capable of winning their division and the wild card. They have to hold out until their big guys come back, but you effectively then need to assume they'd come back and play like a house afire when they do. Not sure that happens.[/quote']

 

Not sure either. Just hope the NYY lose as many games as possible.

[evilhand]

This team should throw all of their best trade chips for a speedy CF who can leadoff with some pop, a RH OF who can platoon Sweeney and they should try to find a LF who is looking to bounce back from a bad season to his form as one of the better all-around players in the game. Oh yeah, an established (though injury prone) closer too. That would make them, like, a different team.

 

They probably lack the pieces though.

 

But they have Ellsbury, Ross and Craw... oh, wait, I see what you did there!

[example1]

The sox are in trouble. Big' date=' big trouble. The offense is good, although not to the level they need to bludgeon teams into submission. AdGon is a singles hitter, Youkilis cannot hit and Pedroia can barely swing the bat. You have Ells and Crawford out for probably another month as well. And the last shoe to drop is the replacement level guys finally playing like replacement level guys. Nava has caught fire again, but Sweeney is dead weight right now and you finally cut bait on Marlon Byrd, who was dreadful. Throw in the fact that your aces havent been aces and you have a recipe for a humongous disaster. You have the Yankees playing well, the Rays staying good and the AL Central and West all of a sudden developing 2 teams capable of winning their division and the wild card. They have to hold out until their big guys come back, but you effectively then need to assume they'd come back and play like a house afire when they do. Not sure that happens.[/quote']

 

Dude, your pendulum swings more than a grandfather clock. Yes, they look mediocre. They are missing a good chunk of their team. There are 3.5 months left and they are still close enough to be a viable threat. Your doom-and-gloom means nothing.

[SoxFanForsyth]

The sox are in trouble. Big' date=' big trouble. The offense is good, although not to the level they need to bludgeon teams into submission. AdGon is a singles hitter, Youkilis cannot hit and Pedroia can barely swing the bat. You have Ells and Crawford out for probably another month as well. And the last shoe to drop is the replacement level guys finally playing like replacement level guys. Nava has caught fire again, but Sweeney is dead weight right now and you finally cut bait on Marlon Byrd, who was dreadful. Throw in the fact that your aces havent been aces and you have a recipe for a humongous disaster. You have the Yankees playing well, the Rays staying good and the AL Central and West all of a sudden developing 2 teams capable of winning their division and the wild card. They have to hold out until their big guys come back, but you effectively then need to assume they'd come back and play like a house afire when they do. Not sure that happens.[/quote']

 

Hm. Ok. Season over I guess.

 

Sox go through a bit of a lump, and all of a sudden the season is over. But last week when the Yankees were 2-7 over a 9 game span, everything was fine.

 

Seriously. Try to keep the overreactions down. The season is far from over.

 

If you honest to God think that a 4 or 5 game deficit is too much to overcome when a huge amount of talent is on the cusp of returning (Crawford, Ellsbury, Ross), then you're clearly delusional and actually probably scared and upset that the Yankees didn't bury the Sox when they had the chance.

 

Gonzo is a singles hitter? This coming after a game when he got robbed of a HR, and still had a wall ball double and a bomb. If you truly think he isn't going to turn it around, again, delusional.

 

Ridiculous man. The Sox could go on a year at any minute.

[VA Sox Fan]

Dude' date=' your pendulum swings more than a grandfather clock. Yes, they look mediocre. They are missing a good chunk of their team. There are 3.5 months left and they are still close enough to be a viable threat. Your doom-and-gloom means nothing.[/quote']

 

Hm. Ok. Season over I guess.

 

Sox go through a bit of a lump, and all of a sudden the season is over. But last week when the Yankees were 2-7 over a 9 game span, everything was fine.

 

Seriously. Try to keep the overreactions down. The season is far from over.

 

If you honest to God think that a 4 or 5 game deficit is too much to overcome when a huge amount of talent is on the cusp of returning (Crawford, Ellsbury, Ross), then you're clearly delusional and actually probably scared and upset that the Yankees didn't bury the Sox when they had the chance.

 

Gonzo is a singles hitter? This coming after a game when he got robbed of a HR, and still had a wall ball double and a bomb. If you truly think he isn't going to turn it around, again, delusional.

 

Ridiculous man. The Sox could go on a year at any minute.

 

 

Typical jacko. I've been posting with him since 2004. Some things never change!

[SoxFanForsyth]

My dear God.

 

If the biggest thing the Sox need to worry about is Pedroia and Gonzalez, they're going to win a ton of games. Gardner just hit a big setback, but it's all good in New York.

 

The hypocrisy in your post is nauseating.

 

The Nats are a pretty damn good team, and we went 4-5-1 against 1-2-3 in rotations. It's a bit of a mismatch. I do like Lester tomorrow.

 

I guess the Sox could have come back from a 3 game deficit a couple days ago, but 4 back in the WC is just too much to handle. Laughable really.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Typical jacko. I've been posting with him since 2004. Some things never change!

 

Yeah. Just trying to get under our skin. No surprise.

 

In the good news front - Crawford is spraying line drives everywhere according to Pete Abe. Says he's closed his stance and has a real easy swing. Olney said he expects Crawford back before the end of the month. Also, Ellsbury has hit off a tee for 5 straight days and is coming along well. Kalish is 3-3 again today with ANOTHER homerun, and looks like the year off has only made him better.

 

Anyone who is pessimistic about this season just isn't paying attention.

[jung]

Elk, far to often the Sox hitters show about as much in quality plate appearances as they did today.

 

The "inmates run the asylum" in more ways than one down at Fenway and I just really don't know what to think anymore. But we have said it for a long time now and I think it will be an issue even when Ells and CC and the others return....this is a poorly constructed team as far as its ability to gel as a real team. Yet it is actually run by the players. So you have basically 25 player/coaches that don't seem to give a rats ass about each other as a team and other than the younger guys, they do as they please, play when and as they please, make the plate appearances they want to make and pitch the way they want to pitch whether the approach is optimal to an opportunity to win or not.

 

When you have that much baggage underlying everything you are doing I am not sure a guy's OPS makes much of a difference.

 

Maybe they will go somewhere this year....maybe not but I don't see much "want to" in this team.

 

Sure the Nats are a team constructed from the bottom up but if you are going to get as unbalanced as the Sox are and as top heavy in big contracts as the Sox are, you better make damn sure you have a mix of guys that have a bunch of "want to". I just don't see it and have not for a long time now.

 

Unfortunately, as I said the other day, they are stuck with many of these big contracts cause nobody is going to want to pick them up at their full weight of salary and the Sox don't want to pick up the remains. However, while not wanting to pick up salary, management won't give a manager even an outside shot at grabbing those asylum keys back from the inmates.

 

As for building from the bottom up, I am not sure that anybody has such a crystal ball that even with draft picks outside the top guys, you could build more of a team by developing players to their full potential instead of trading them for the next Agons or whatever. That may especially be true of pitching. I just don't know why this team never seems to get the message about pitching. However I have been watching it for many years now and really can't find many times in its history when it even tried fully developing pitching talent.

 

It is always easier to put fannies in seats signing the next slugger and hoping nobody figures out that you don't have enough pitching to really win and I suspect this team reflects that mentality.