July 3rd @ Oakland

[jung]

Actually I still believe that the Sox diverted Bard from the closers path they had them on because they knew he could not close. It will have to be Bailey as soon as he is ready.

[Station 13]

Bard excels as a setup man, never should of been taken out of that spot to begin with

 

And yes, I've been saying that all year

 

Bard DESERVES a chance to close you know. He did the heavy lifting for 3 year.

 

Too bad they totally screwed it up.

[FredLynn]

Bard DESERVES a chance to close you know. He did the heavy lifting for 3 year.

 

Too bad they totally screwed it up.

 

Deserved, not deserves.

Moving on, I think its possible that trading Bard could be in our best interests. There are probably some GMs out there who would give us some decent prospects for him. If we keep him we take the chance that he will never regain his form and get no return for him at all.

[jung]

Heavy lifting or no we have to come to terms with the fact that the Sox DID divert Bard from the closers path and DID go out and pay to bring in a closer instead of elevating him to that role when Paps was gone. i just don't think you can ignore that particularly in light of the way Bard losses focus in high intensity situations.

 

His problems as a starter are one thing. But you could see him frazzle at the edges when things get tight and that has nothing to do with being a starter or not.

 

I think the Sox made him a starter because the reward if it worked was great and they no longer had enough confidence in him to believe that they were risking much if it failed. The risk/reward is what created Bard as a starter, combined with the ability for BC to go to his bosses and say..."see boss, I gottcha' covered. I know you don't want to spend any more money this year what with the money we are already committed to. So here it is, all tied up with a pretty Red bow....we move Bard to the 5th starter...if it works we have a starter on the cheap....if it doesn't we aren't risking much. We use him there until dice is ready and then move him back to the pen for the remainder of this year"

 

We can argue about whether the Sox were wrong in their appraisal of Bard as a pitcher that they should be careful with and cherish so to speak but I do not think we can argue that they do not think he is a pitcher of that calibre. In my view they did very little to help him as he began to struggle with the starters role. I simply do not believe they think they have much in Bard. I think they will try to bring him back into some sort of middle relief or set up role. But to be honest the whole notion of an elite set up man is ******** to begin with and I do not think you will ever see Bard close for the Red Sox. I am not arguing whether that is right or wrong I am just saying I don't think the Sox will move in that direction.

 

As I have said before, with all due respect to grocery baggers everywhere, there are tons of guys out there that "could" throw the ball 96 mph for some period of their lives that at the end of the day had no idea where the ball was going that are currently bagging groceries. It happens.

 

I hope they can get him back on track to perform middle relief duties as you can never have enough pitchers even if they end up being somebody to trade.

[db41]

Deja vu all over again. Bobby V was supposed to be the unconventional guy with the imagination. To me, this is Tito all over again: no movement on the bases, the hit and run has yet to be invented, and men on 1st and 2nd with no outs in a one run game is a perfect time time to sit on your ass and do nothing while your "rbi" guy strikes out. Our offense is predictable, and in this league it mean your offense sucks ass. The unwillingness of our guys to lay a bunt down combined with the lack of situational hitting is absolutely killing this team.

 

Don't put this loss on Aceves, our offense had many chances to push across a run or two but instead chose to play for the big inning and got squat. Bobby says he doesn't like losing but he manages like he's afraid to win. This team has no depth and little heart.

[Bellhorn04]

Deja vu all over again. Bobby V was supposed to be the unconventional guy with the imagination. To me, this is Tito all over again: no movement on the bases, the hit and run has yet to be invented, and men on 1st and 2nd with no outs in a one run game is a perfect time time to sit on your ass and do nothing while your "rbi" guy strikes out. Our offense is predictable, and in this league it mean your offense sucks ass. The unwillingness of our guys to lay a bunt down combined with the lack of situational hitting is absolutely killing this team.

 

Don't put this loss on Aceves, our offense had many chances to push across a run or two but instead chose to play for the big inning and got squat. Bobby says he doesn't like losing but he manages like he's afraid to win. This team has no depth and little heart.

 

The clutch hitting was terrible, but Valentine did call for the bunt in the 9th, and Punto botched it.

[jung]

I think it is Cook going today if I am not mistaken. Should be interesting to see how he does although this is yet another team that is not very scary offensively.

 

He does a very professional job on the mound though and that alone makes him interesting to watch.

[Bellhorn04]

I think it is Cook going today if I am not mistaken. Should be interesting to see how he does although this is yet another team that is not very scary offensively.

 

He does a very professional job on the mound though and that alone makes him interesting to watch.

 

Looks like we're going against a kid named Griffin. He threw 6 shutout innings in Texas his last start.

[SoxSport]

They can't score runs against bad teams like Seattle and Oakland. They are just a mediocre team at this point.

 

It's time to break them up and start over. Get those kids up from Pawtucket. And stop kidding yourself that Aviles is a starting SS and Aceves is a closer.

[SemperFi Sox]

I went to bed during the 7th, I gave this team too much credit to think the'd hold on.

[jung]

Along with all the other absurd blunders that the Sox once again made in a close, low scoring game that needed to be tightly played (something the Sox have not done for two seasons now) apparently, Kalish went on his own making that failed attempt to steal third with two outs in the ninth...for what? He was already in scoring position.

 

V commented that he was not looking for Kalish to steal there and said in the future he will have to hold Kalish if he does not want him to go. Obviously V was completely surprised by the move and with good reason..there was no rational for attempting a steal there...just none.

 

While Kalish looked safe without the benefit of replay apparently the A's 3rd baseman blocked the plate allowing him to get the tag down before Kalish could reach it. Lady luck usually frowns on the stupid and trying to steal there was stupid.

 

Team simply does not have the starting pitching, timely hitting or the defense to win close, low scoring ball games which is why they are now 4-32 in games where they score fewer than 4 runs.

 

How can you win in the post season even if you get there if you can't win close, low scoring ball games? Ells and CC will likely help some but this team is so bad in so many facets of the game when it comes to close low scoring contests it is hard to see how their efforts whenever they get back and whatever they do won't be overwhelmed.

[Bellhorn04]

That 9th inning for the Sox was a real horrorshow.

 

First and second, no outs, Punto up to bunt...Nava should be coming to the plate with one out and runners at second and third, Pedroia behind him. Ooops...oh well, at least Nava is coming up with a runner at second. Ooops...Nava is walking back to the dugout without even having that chance.

[lesterkett]

Please release punto and Bring Jose iglesias

[db41]

That 9th inning for the Sox was a real horrorshow.

 

First and second, no outs, Punto up to bunt...Nava should be coming to the plate with one out and runners at second and third, Pedroia behind him. Ooops...oh well, at least Nava is coming up with a runner at second. Ooops...Nava is walking back to the dugout without even having that chance.

 

The 8th inning was no party either-- 1st and 2nd, no outs, no imagination, no ball sack, no heart.

[redsoxbeatz]

Please release punto and Bring Jose iglesias

 

keep dreaming bro

 

7/3 results

Jose Iglesias: 0-4, 2 K

[SoxFanForsyth]

Oye.

 

Pumpsie again with his "This team is done now"

 

Even though we haven't lost a single game in the East and we are 1.5 back in the WC.

 

Gotta win every game or we're done.

[kapsis21]

funny the guy who beat us in yesterday and todays game. Brandon Moss comes up from our farm system..

[redsoxfan3]

funny the guy who beat us in yesterday and todays game. Brandon Moss comes up from our farm system..

 

I find it even funnier that Crisp, Moss, and Reddick have all homered so far in this series. All former Sox players.

[kapsis21]

I find it even funnier that Crisp' date=' Moss, and Reddick have all homered so far in this series. All former Sox players.[/quote']

Yep its sad isnit...

And now dmac goes to the yankees..

[a700hitter]

I sure hope this means we won't see any more of DiceK Matsusaka. If I never see him pitch again for the Sox it will be too soon.

We have been so desperate for starting help that many of us were looking to him as a reinforcement. That really shows the lousy state of our rotation. Dice K has done nothing for this team since 2008.

[BornToRun]

Yep its sad isnit...

And now dmac goes to the yankees..

 

Wait, really?

[Bellhorn04]

I find it even funnier that Crisp' date=' Moss, and Reddick have all homered so far in this series. All former Sox players.[/quote']

 

And the two guys we got from Oakland can't play against them.

 

Ironic s*** like this always seems to happen to the Sox.

[Reck]

Wrong thread, please delete.

[kapsis21]

Wait' date=' really?[/quote']

 

yeppers... and i bet they will play him against Lester. yankees have always tried to pull this against us.. have one of our own go there, try to steal f***ing signs... bastards