6/19 Marlins @ Red Sox

[jung]

Like I said during the game, so far V seems to zig when you would expect a zag. While it makes more sense that V sent Ross the bunt sign and Pedey might have bunted on his own (especially with that thumb), I thought it more likely the other way round at the time and still do.

 

Ross has not hit RH pitchers at all well. Of the two bunts that one looked more like a move a manager would make from the bench since the Sox already had a lead by then. But I can at least see Ross trying to bunt for a hit on his own especially in his first game back from injury and hitting against a RH pitcher. Ross is very often an out against a RH pitcher when he has been playing regularly, never mind just off the DL. He might have even thought it a good idea to show his manager that he can get down the line with that foot.

 

As for Pedey's bunt, I just cannot bring myself to conclude that Pedey on his own would try to bunt for a hit or sac with a guy standing in scoring position with him at the plate. I just can't see it. I just cannot bring myself to think Pedey would believe that the best way for him to help the team.

 

V has come out and stated that he does not like the sac bunt ever. So neither might have been signs from the bench. That is actually the funny thing about what kudos the Sox get for their sac bunt prowess. V has been pretty unequivocal about what he thinks of the sac bunt. So sac bunt with no outs and a man already in scoring position is tough to see coming from him.

 

Wish to God somebody asked V about those bunts in the post game presser as the answer there would have been so much more interesting to know than "what did you think of Buch tonight?"

[SoxFanForsyth]

Like I said during the game, so far V seems to zig when you would expect a zag. While it makes more sense that V sent Ross the bunt sign and Pedey might have bunted on his own (especially with that thumb), I thought it more likely the other way round at the time and still do.

 

Ross has not hit RH pitchers at all well. Of the two bunts that one looked more like a move a manager would make from the bench since the Sox already had a lead by then. But I can at least see Ross trying to bunt for a hit on his own especially in his first game back from injury and hitting against a RH pitcher. Ross is very often an out against a RH pitcher when he has been playing regularly, never mind just off the DL. He might have even thought it a good idea to show his manager that he can get down the line with that foot.

 

As for Pedey's bunt, I just cannot bring myself to conclude that Pedey on his own would try to bunt for a hit or sac with a guy standing in scoring position with him at the plate. I just can't see it. I just cannot bring myself to think Pedey would believe that the best way for him to help the team.

 

V has come out and stated that he does not like the sac bunt ever. So neither might have been signs from the bench. That is actually the funny thing about what kudos the Sox get for their sac bunt prowess. V has been pretty unequivocal about what he thinks of the sac bunt. So sac bunt with no outs and a man already in scoring position is tough to see coming from him.

 

Wish to God somebody asked V about those bunts in the post game presser as the answer there would have been so much more interesting to know than "what did you think of Buch tonight?"

 

V said in his post game presser that Pedroia bunted on his own. I would assume his thumb was probably barking a little bit.

[NC Sox Fan]

Hello all, new to the forum.

 

Can anyone explain what the advantage was to pulling WMB last night? I didn't understand. Thanks.

[a700hitter]

Hello all, new to the forum.

 

Can anyone explain what the advantage was to pulling WMB last night? I didn't understand. Thanks.

The move was also confusing to me. WMB has had some hamstring issues. Maybe he wanted to save his legs.

[Bellhorn04]

Hello all, new to the forum.

 

Can anyone explain what the advantage was to pulling WMB last night? I didn't understand. Thanks.

 

It was a defensive shuffle. BV moved Gonzalez from RF back to 1B and Youk from 1B to 3B. It indicates that BV feels more comfortable right now with Youk than WMB at 3B in the late innings with a narrow lead.

[NC Sox Fan]

The move was also confusing to me. WMB has had some hamstring issues. Maybe he wanted to save his legs.

 

Hamstring was my first thought also, but I didn't notice any "gimping" by WMB.

 

It was a defensive shuffle. BV moved Gonzalez from RF back to 1B and Youk from 1B to 3B. It indicates that BV feels more comfortable right now with Youk than WMB at 3B in the late innings with a narrow lead.

 

That's interesting. I don't think I would have pulled him and his hot bat out of the game. He seems pretty solid on defense.

 

Then again we won. Thanks for the answers.

[a700hitter]

It was a defensive shuffle. BV moved Gonzalez from RF back to 1B and Youk from 1B to 3B. It indicates that BV feels more comfortable right now with Youk than WMB at 3B in the late innings with a narrow lead.

Neither has looked that good in the field recently. If it was purely a defensive move, I think he would have made it after the Sox had finished their half inning. Nava is not as fast as WMB, so the pinch running move didn't make sense unless he was protection WMB's legs.

[jung]

Boy that thumb must really be hurting Pedey. I wonder if he will play or sit tonight. Based on what we saw last night it looks like it is not getting even a lick better playing with it like this. How does he get through the remainder of the season dealing with that much pain and playing effectively? Sounds like he is going to have to hit the DL at some point. That was really my biggest fear relating to that decision to bunt last night.

[Bellhorn04]

Neither has looked that good in the field recently. If it was purely a defensive move' date=' I think he would have made it after the Sox had finished their half inning. Nava is not as fast as WMB, so the pinch running move didn't make sense unless he was protection WMB's legs.[/quote']

 

You're probably right then, I forgot about the pinch running.

[FredLynn]

Hamstring was my first thought also, but I didn't notice any "gimping" by WMB.

 

 

 

That's interesting. I don't think I would have pulled him and his hot bat out of the game. He seems pretty solid on defense.

 

Then again we won. Thanks for the answers.

 

Valentine didn't want to pull Youkilis because he is under direct orders from the FO to continue "showcasing" him...

[a700hitter]

Valentine didn't want to pull Youkilis because he is under direct orders from the FO to continue "showcasing" him...

That is a possibility

[NC Sox Fan]

Valentine didn't want to pull Youkilis because he is under direct orders from the FO to continue "showcasing" him...

 

I get that the Sox want Youk to shine in order to get the best possible deal in a trade. I just didn't understand pulling WMB after he hits an RBI double. :dunno:

[SoxFanForsyth]

Neither has looked that good in the field recently. If it was purely a defensive move' date=' I think he would have made it after the Sox had finished their half inning. Nava is not as fast as WMB, so the pinch running move didn't make sense unless he was protection WMB's legs.[/quote']

 

I think it was purely for defensive purposes. Middlebrooks is actually not very fast at all. I think Nava may have a bit of speed on him, although it's not much.

 

It was probably more of a "Nava is going to the outfield, lets get his legs warmed up a little bit on the basepaths so he doesn't go out there cold".

 

Just about everytime one of the guys who is coming out (Youk, WMB, Gonzo) for defensive purposes gets a knock in their last AB, they get PR for.

[SoxFanForsyth]

That is a possibility

 

Oh I think it's a probability, potentially a certainty. Although WMB has botched a few plays, he's certainly shown significantly more range than Youk at 3B. That liner in the 7th or 8th off Padilla that got by Youk would have been an out if WMB was there.

 

Just trying to build his value. It looks bad if he has to come out in the 6th.

[FredLynn]

I get that the Sox want Youk to shine in order to get the best possible deal in a trade. I just didn't understand pulling WMB after he hits an RBI double. :dunno:

 

Its unlikely that both Youkilis and WMB are going to remain in the game. One of them had to come out-or Gonzalez comes out, which isn't going to happen unless we are five runs ahead.

[a700hitter]

I think it was purely for defensive purposes. Middlebrooks is actually not very fast at all. I think Nava may have a bit of speed on him, although it's not much.

 

It was probably more of a "Nava is going to the outfield, lets get his legs warmed up a little bit on the basepaths so he doesn't go out there cold".

 

Just about everytime one of the guys who is coming out (Youk, WMB, Gonzo) for defensive purposes gets a knock in their last AB, they get PR for.

I have to disagree with you on this. For a big guy, WMB runs very well. He impressed me with his speed several times this year, most recently with his hustle double last night. He's not a speed merchant like Ellsbury or Crawford, but I'll bet that he can outrun anyone else on the team except for Kalish. Nava has only average speed. He's not as fast as WMB.

[redsoxfan3]

I have to disagree with you on this. For a big guy' date=' WMB runs very well. He impressed me with his speed several times this year, most recently with his hustle double last night. He's not a speed merchant like Ellsbury or Crawford, but I'll bet that he can outrun anyone else on the team except for Kalish. Nava has only average speed. He's not as fast as WMB.[/quote']

 

I agree. Will Middlebrooks has some good speed for his size. He is tall, but is also very athletic. I think Middlebrooks is faster than Nava.