8/28 Fallen Angels

[jung]

Buch does not look at all comfortable tonight. Struggling with his arm angle/release point.

[jung]

Kalish bat just looks slow to me. Maybe why he looked so bad on strike 3. Seems to have to start the bat real early which does not give you much time to decide swing or no swing.

[a700hitter]

I thought Kalish suppose to have plate discipline?

Not only can't we hand him a starting OF position next season. He may not be ready to be a 4th OFer.

[jung]

Yea I agree with that 700. I am not sure what the Sox were seeing in Kalish. I have not seen it yet.

 

I guess that last Ciriaco at bat was what people were telling us we would see eventually. Chasing pitches is one thing. Chasing pitching that never even start looking like they had a chance to be a strike is something else again. Strike 3 never once looked like it had a chance to be a strike from the moment it left the hand to the moment Ciriaco's bat went by it by about 6".

[DocHolliday]

Not only can't we hand him a starting OF position next season. He may not be ready to be a 4th OFer.

 

To me he just doesn't look completely healthy and it seems to be affecting his approach. He lacks the confidence he showed at the plate 2 years ago - which seems to be a reflection of his admission to shoulder soreness.

[Station 13]

Did NESN cut back on 3-0 count for anyone?

[wyo-sox]

OK Pedroia, take charge of this game.

[wyo-sox]

Thanks for listening Dustin.

[jung]

Dodger's getting stomped in Colorado again tonight. This might turn out to be one of the funnier stories of the season. Do ex Red Sox travel around with a black cloud when they are in a group. Agons 0-2 and a walk tonight. Punto getting some playing time tonight as well.

[jung]

I don't wonder if Kalish woes are not tied to the shoulder. However the way he has played this year....if that is the case he has likely not done himself any favors.

[NativeBostonian]

There we go Sox!

[jung]

Geez Kalish...looked terrible in that at bat. Chased the first one and grounded into a DP.

[Station 13]

Kalish DOH

[wyo-sox]

Wow this is fun!

[InfernoOrangeSS]

Come on Iggy...hit a HR!

[NativeBostonian]

That's not what we needed to do.

[a700hitter]

Geez Kalish...looked terrible in that at bat. Chased the first one and grounded into a DP.

He looks terrible in every AB. This is a weak-ass lineup putting up 4 runs against Weaver.

[Laser Show]

Good ol' Rally Killer Kalish.

[jung]

That Kalish at bat was an absolute sin. Ya' got weaver on the ropes, no outs bases loaded with a shot at really putting him in a hole and ya' don't even look like a major league hitter. Waved at the first pitch which was never going to be middle middle (only reason to swing at a first pitch) and might have even been ball 1 and promptly ground into a DP. Hell I could have done that.

[Taz]

That was much better... good to put a few runs on the board. See how good that feels, lhads? Just need to do it a bit more often, lol.

[DocHolliday]

Atleast NESN let us watch the 2nd Iglesias AB. If that was any indication, I like the improved approach at the plate. Fouled the hanging slider straight back and didn't chase the off speed pitches in the dirt. From his few AB I've seen in the past, he had a much more aggressive approach. Indications from his recent time in the minors are that he's really improved the approach.

[a700hitter]

Zach Stewart starting for the Red Sox tomorrow against the Angels.

[DocHolliday]

Rays lose 1-0 to Rangers, have lost 4 straight after being red hot. Now 2 games out of the WC in the loss column.

 

Glad to see we're not the only team that struggles against Texas.

[jung]

I think Trout did trap Ciriaco's shot to CF. While I base that on what I could see on replay, have you ever seen an outfielder look more sheepish showing the glove and ball to the ump?

[Station 13]

Kalish is out in front on everything and ANYTHING. He need to zone in one part of the plate, down the middle.

[jung]

I am not even sure this late season stint is the right thing to do with Kalish....I mean whether it is the shoulder or not, he looks God awful.

[a700hitter]

Rays lose 1-0 to Rangers, have lost 4 straight after being red hot. Now 2 games out of the WC in the loss column.

 

Glad to see we're not the only team that struggles against Texas.

We struggle against every team.

[jung]

I may eat my words before this evening is over but even while being kinda' toothless, we at least look like we are in these kinds of games with this kind of a lineup and roster. I don't care how many stars, superstars or supposed to be stars we have had in this lineup, with Aviles, Agons, Crawford, Youk at third in the lineup with Salty behind the plate, we don't even look like we are in these games. Agons is a great defensive 1st baseman....that and a quarter will get you a cup of coffee. There is just not that much advantage to a great defensive 1st baseman. I am not sure Ross can or even should play RF in Fenway either.

 

You don't have to make a lotta' errors in games to look terrible defensively. If you are always stumbling around the baseball, you will likely not get many errors but your defense will still be swiss cheese. This sort of lineup is more patient at the plate, more conscience of situational hitting and more solid defensively, three things we have not been at all this year.

[DocHolliday]

We struggle against every team.

 

I'll go out on a limb and predict a 27-6 finish to the season

 

At the very least, it will be the kids struggling and not the overpaid and underachieving group that we miraculously dealt away to Chavez Ravine.

 

BTW, did anyone listen to Steve Lyons, the Dodgers road broadcaster on Felger and Mazz today? He had a really defensive and naive take on the megadeal and the Boston perspective on it. I know he's a Dodger guy and is going to say it was a good deal for them, etc. But he lost my respect when he said we drove Beckett out of town for the wrong reasons and compared it to Manny's exit in 08.

[jung]

Oh really....How did he like Becketts, 7 hit, 3 walk, 1 HR effort for 5 2/3 innings last night. Those will get old pretty quick I imagine.