8/16 vs NYY

[SoxSport]

The Yankees are smart. They got two RHd power hitters that were available before coming into Fenway. Soriano is doing what the other castoffs have done for them this year--gotten hot initially. Reynolds hits the Red Sox. In the meantime, the Red Sox FO has done nothing to improve their RHd hitting against LHP. Middlebrooks is hitting like Iggy power-wise.

[a700hitter]

The Red Sox need to stop the bleeding and go on a run. If they continue in their current malaise, the Rays will pass us like we are standing still. Making the wild card game can be a one and out proposition. That would be a huge disappointment.

[BigPapi]

The Yankees are smart. They got two RHd power hitters that were available before coming into Fenway. Soriano is doing what the other castoffs have done for them this year--gotten hot initially. Reynolds hits the Red Sox. In the meantime, the Red Sox FO has done nothing to improve their RHd hitting against LHP. Middlebrooks is hitting like Iggy power-wise.

 

Dude, give will a chance. He is more powerful than iggy, give him a bigger sample size.

[jung]

Somehow they have got to get Naps on track cause teams are just going to start to take Ortiz out of the game. What people do not seem to understand is that while a lost game in April is just as important as a lost game in August, teams do not play the same way throughout the year. Once you get here, teams know what your weaknesses are and focus on them intently. They make you pay for them more now....whereas earlier in the year, teams are trying to find out what your weaknesses are and trying to find their own identities as well.

 

In our case, teams that can run, run wild on us cause our pitchers do not hold anybody on. Opposing hitters are generally able to be very aggressive at the plate cause we fall into these lapses where we do not pitch inside effectively as a staff. Our RH lineup is not as strong as our LH lineup and you can control this offense by controlling Ortiz. Frankly, with Vic nursing some dings and with players missing that were here, we have lost some of our offensive identity IMO. Finally, as others have pointed out, always playing with somebody out of position or weak as a fielder catches up to you eventually. We have done a little too much of that as well.

 

But...on the bright side...they have things that they can do....I really do think they are going to have to do them though cause I just don't think they have the horses to just keep on keepin' on. The one place where there are no answers other than hoping Buch comes back strong is the pitching. Really looks shaky to me right at a time when other team staffs are stepping forward.

 

I know they want to keep Workman for long relief. However I would be tempted to replace Demps in the rotation with Workman cause we are getting down to individual starts and individual games really counting for something.

[BigPapi]

Somehow they have got to get Naps on track cause teams are just going to start to take Ortiz out of the game. What people do not seem to understand is that while a lost game in April is just as important as a lost game in August, teams do not play the same way throughout the year. Once you get here, teams know what your weaknesses are and focus on them intently. They make you pay for them more now....whereas earlier in the year, teams are trying to find out what your weaknesses are and trying to find their own identities as well.

 

In our case, teams that can run, run wild on us cause our pitchers do not hold anybody on. Opposing hitters are generally able to be very aggressive at the plate cause we fall into these lapses where we do not pitch inside effectively as a staff. Our RH lineup is not as strong as our LH lineup and you can control this offense by controlling Ortiz. Frankly, with Vic nursing some dings and with players missing that were here, we have lost some of our offensive identity IMO. Finally, as others have pointed out, always playing with somebody out of position or weak as a fielder catches up to you eventually. We have done a little too much of that as well.

 

But...on the bright side...they have things that they can do....I really do think they are going to have to do them though cause I just don't think they have the horses to just keep on keepin' on. The one place where there are no answers other than hoping Buch comes back strong is the pitching. Really looks shaky to me right at a time when other team staffs are stepping forward.

 

I know they want to keep Workman for long relief. However I would be tempted to replace Demps in the rotation with Workman cause we are getting down to individual starts and individual games really counting for something.

 

 

Well, our pitching wasnt suppose to be anything special this year. That is, our starting pitching.

[rjortiz]

The Yankees are smart. They got two RHd power hitters that were available before coming into Fenway. Soriano is doing what the other castoffs have done for them this year--gotten hot initially. Reynolds hits the Red Sox. In the meantime, the Red Sox FO has done nothing to improve their RHd hitting against LHP. Middlebrooks is hitting like Iggy power-wise.

 

Reynolds was below replacement level this year, and cannot play the field. Soriano is a role player at this point in his career. The Yankees made a modest upgrade to a team that won't make the playoffs. They're going to be paying Wells and Soriano $10 million next year to be a below average LF duo.

[SoxSport]

next 2 games, Kuroda vs Lackey, Sabathia vs Dempster. Yankee sweep very possible.

[Station 13]

next 2 games, Kuroda vs Lackey, Sabathia vs Dempster. Yankee sweep very possible.

 

Could you please stop posting s*** like the above?

[jung]

Well we were saying it pretty early...the pitching and the fate of the team really rested on Lester and Buch performing to the best of their potential and making every start. Lester has made every start but has not pitched at his peak and Buch has pitched at his peak but has not made every start....not by a long shot. Even with that, some of us thought they were one arm short in the rotation and with demps sort of folding like a cheap suit down the stretch, that appears to be the case.

 

Workman now seems like the wild card to me. He HAS stepped forward in my opinion and while it is a little scary hanging expectations on a rook....he is the one guy I think they can look at and say...hey....he might be that arm we were going to be short on this year. I would risk that before continuing to toss demps out there every 5 days. That is looking more and more like a train wreck with teams taking advantage of demps early while our offense does very little early.

 

Without pitching, you are just kidding yourself. To their credit, they have done remarkably well so far even with Lester and Buch as they are. But that is the beauty of the 162. Gotta play them all and then see where you are.

[rjortiz]

next 2 games, Kuroda vs Lackey, Sabathia vs Dempster. Yankee sweep very possible.

 

I think that it js more unlikely than likely. The Yankees are a worse team, on the road, and at best they mighf be slight favorites to win. They'll most likely be underdogs tomorrow.

[BigPapi]

Could you please stop posting s*** like the above?

 

I second that

[rjortiz]

Well we were saying it pretty early...the pitching and the fate of the team really rested on Lester and Buch performing to the best of their potential and making every start. Lester has made every start but has not pitched at his peak and Buch has pitched at his peak but has not made every start....not by a long shot. Even with that, some of us thought they were one arm short in the rotation and with demps sort of folding like a cheap suit down the stretch, that appears to be the case.

 

Workman now seems like the wild card to me. He HAS stepped forward in my opinion and while it is a little scary hanging expectations on a rook....he is the one guy I think they can look at and say...hey....he might be that arm we were going to be short on this year. I would risk that before continuing to toss demps out there every 5 days. That is looking more and more like a train wreck with teams taking advantage of demps early while our offense does very little early.

 

Without pitching, you are just kidding yourself. To their credit, they have done remarkably well so far even with Lester and Buch as they are. But that is the beauty of the 162. Gotta play them all and then see where you are.

 

Workman has pitched pretty well so far, but I doubt he's an upgrade over Dempster. At best, he's a marginal one.

Edited August 17, 2013 by rjortiz

[SoxFanForsyth]

The Red Sox need to stop the bleeding and go on a run. If they continue in their current malaise, the Rays will pass us like we are standing still. Making the wild card game can be a one and out proposition. That would be a huge disappointment.

 

Wild card?? Right now, this team is getting nice and set up to miss the post season entirely, and probably by more than a couple games.

 

Whatever. Screw this team. Not worth watching at this point. Wake me up when they start playing like a team.

 

I've seen this movie before and it sucked. Not going to be surprised by the ending again.

[SoxFanForsyth]

And yes, I've removed my sig.

[BigPapi]

I can see why people are starting to predict a painful demise for the sox, but really it is too early. THEY HAVE ONLY LOST TWO SERIES IN A ROW!! If they drop the next two, then I believe there should be some reason for concern. Lets just see how they do against kuroda.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I can see why people are starting to predict a painful demise for the sox, but really it is too early. THEY HAVE ONLY LOST TWO SERIES IN A ROW!! If they drop the next two, then I believe there should be some reason for concern. Lets just see how they do against kuroda.

 

They've lost 3 straight and 6 of 8, and they've blown a 4 game lead to the Rays while playing the likes of the Astros, Royals, Blue Jays, and Yankees.

 

Yeah, I'd say there's more than a little cause for concern.

[a700hitter]

They've lost 3 straight and 6 of 8, and they've blown a 4 game lead to the Rays while playing the likes of the Astros, Royals, Blue Jays, and Yankees.

 

Yeah, I'd say there's more than a little cause for concern.

They are certainly starting a downward spiral. They need to pull themselves out of it before it becomes a death spiral.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Wild card?? Right now, this team is getting nice and set up to miss the post season entirely, and probably by more than a couple games.

 

Whatever. Screw this team. Not worth watching at this point. Wake me up when they start playing like a team.

 

I've seen this movie before and it sucked. Not going to be surprised by the ending again.

 

You have got to let 2011 go. This is a new team and they're definitely showing more fight than 2011. I can't believe you're giving up on the team. Not going to say you're not a real fan because of it, but it shows you're not sticking with the team through thick and thin. Don't take my post as an insult. I know you're mad and don't mean half the things you say. I'm just telling it like it is my friend.

[jung]

Workman has pitched pretty well so far, but I doubt he's an upgrade over Dempster. At best, he's a marginal one.

 

The problem with Demps at this point is that a "good" game from him tracks to the number of bombs he gives up. That is not much of an expectation. Workman, when he pitches well seems to give us better than that which is why I would toss Workman out there every five days before I would continue to toss Demps out there every five days. It has gotten to the point where throwing Demps out there is an automatic defeat. Besides, at this point (hopefully) it is a matter of one or the other going every five days until Buch gets back. Once Buch is truly back then the rotation is Peavy, Buck, Lackey, Lester and Felix. Neither Workman nor Dempster are starting at that point. However assuming two more starts for either one, I would definitely prefer Workman to Dempster, again if only because Dempster has turned into an automatic defeat.

[rjortiz]

The problem with Demps at this point is that a "good" game from him tracks to the number of bombs he gives up. That is not much of an expectation. Workman, when he pitches well seems to give us better than that which is why I would toss Workman out there every five days before I would continue to toss Demps out there every five days. It has gotten to the point where throwing Demps out there is an automatic defeat. Besides, at this point (hopefully) it is a matter of one or the other going every five days until Buch gets back. Once Buch is truly back then the rotation is Peavy, Buck, Lackey, Lester and Felix. Neither Workman nor Dempster are starting at that point. However assuming two more starts for either one, I would definitely prefer Workman to Dempster, again if only because Dempster has turned into an automatic defeat.

 

The Red Sox are 8-2 in Dempster's last 10 starts, and he just pitched 7 good innings against the Blue Jays. I think calling him an "automatic defeat" is a stretch. He definitely is below average though.

[Northern Star]

Just got a look at the pitch Carp was rung up on in the seventh. Wow. Not even close to being a strike.

[Thunder]

Just got a look at the pitch Carp was rung up on in the seventh. Wow. Not even close to being a strike.

 

I just saw it too and it looked borderline to me.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Borderline my ass, what game were you watching?

[Thunder]

Borderline my ass, what game were you watching?

 

I was listening to it live, just saw the MLB.com highlight. That pitch is called a strike more often than people realize. A guy like Pedey would probably foul off that pitch.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Because it's called a strike sometimes, it makes it a strike? What kind of logic is that? It was a ball and it wasn't close.