White Sox vs Red Sox

[a700hitter]

Eck summarized the game correctly in the studio by calling the offense pathetic.

[d-money]

I think calling it pathetic is too nice lol.bogaerts and bradley have been really dissapointing.

[d-money]

Another bum pitcher with an e.r.a over 4 looks like an ace

[Palodios]

I am decided on the best course of action --

 

Step 1) Trade Lester + Koji for prospects, use those prospects and some combination of WMB, Doubront, and homegrown prospects for Stanton.

Step 2) Finish the season, pull in a top draft pick. Re-sign Lester, rebuild bullpen.

Step 3) Profit.

[BigPapi]

I know carrol had an era over 5, but he did pitch well today. His sinker was down in the zone all night and he caused a number of our hitters to hit weak ground balls. However, thats not an excuse. People (especially nesn) like to overrate how good our starting pitching has been this year. Its been alright overall at best as it is currently 11th in the al with a combined era of 4.14 (very slightly higher now after clays start tonight). Lackey hasn't been pitching too well his last three starts and during that ten game losing streak we had in may, our starting pitching was horrendous. The staff has been inconsistent this year and is not being criticized enough because of how bad the offense has been. Edited July 8, 2014 by BigPapi

[Station 13]

This team is embarrassing to watch. Fire everyone.

[a700hitter]

This team is embarrassing to watch. Fire everyone.

This cannot be blamed on a rebuilding year or a bridge year. This is essentially the same team as last year with a big payroll. The FO has to take the hit for this horribly constructed team.

[Palodios]

I know carrol had an era over 5, but he did pitch well today. His sinker was down in the zone all night and he caused a number of our hitters to hit weak ground balls. However, thats not an excuse. People (especially nesn) like to overrate how good our starting pitching has been this year. Its been alright overall at best as it is currently 11th in the al with a combined era of 4.14 (very slightly higher now after clays start tonight). Lackey hasn't been pitching too well his last three starts and during that ten game losing streak we had in may, our starting pitching was horrendous. The staff has been inconsistent this year and is not being criticized enough because of how bad the offense has been.

 

Someone pointed out the statistic that the Red Sox are #2 in the AL in quality starts. They have given the team a chance to win -- the offense just hasn't done anything.

[BigPapi]

Someone pointed out the statistic that the Red Sox are #2 in the AL in quality starts. They have given the team a chance to win -- the offense just hasn't done anything.

 

The white sox are third with only two less than us. Quality starts can mean a 4.50 era or 0 era. Theres a big discrepancy. And the white sox are one of the worst staffs in the al with a 4.44 era. Although the starting pitching isn't the big problem, it hasn't been stellar.

[Palodios]

The white sox are third with only two less than us. Quality starts can mean a 4.50 era or 0 era. Theres a big discrepancy. And the white sox are one of the worst staffs in the al with a 4.44 era. Although the starting pitching isn't the big problem, it hasn't been stellar.

 

And they're tied for 5th in the AL at a 3.87 ERA. It is tough to beat the AL West teams in pitching simply because of the difference in park factors. The pitching really isn't the problem.

[BigPapi]

And they're tied for 5th in the AL at a 3.87 ERA. It is tough to beat the AL West teams in pitching simply because of the difference in park factors. The pitching really isn't the problem.

 

Th bullpen has been solid. But the starting pitching hasn't. I'm merely talking about the starting pitching.

[d-money]

I bet the astros are licking their chops when they see this team on the weekend lol.Just embarrasing.

[jacksonianmarch]

The sox aren't that far off from a total rebuild. They're actually in a pretty good position. Your best starter under contract for next yr is being paid the minimum. Peavy comes off the books and Lester likely moves on. Koji will move on too. You've got a minor league system stocked with good prospects playing well at the upper levels. I just don't think the Marlins will deal Stanton at all right now. They're a .500 team missing their ace, while having some money to improve come next yr. I doubt they want to move him without some MLB ready power coming back.

[jacksonianmarch]

You can do a full out rebuild. This entails dealing Pedroia, Napoli, Lester, and Uehara right now and dealing Lackey in the offseason. That leaves the sox with a young lineup pretty much from top to bottom

[Thunder]

I am decided on the best course of action --

 

Step 1) Trade Lester + Koji for prospects, use those prospects and some combination of WMB, Doubront, and homegrown prospects for Stanton.

Step 2) Finish the season, pull in a top draft pick. Re-sign Lester, rebuild bullpen.

Step 3) Profit.

 

Like the sound of that, but Marlins aren't terrible right now, and they might think that they have a chance to contend next year, so may not want to give up Stanton. Also, resigning Lester after a trade is no guarantee. He will likely be pissed at Cherington and not want to come back.

[Bellhorn04]

The sox aren't that far off from a total rebuild. They're actually in a pretty good position. Your best starter under contract for next yr is being paid the minimum. Peavy comes off the books and Lester likely moves on. Koji will move on too. You've got a minor league system stocked with good prospects playing well at the upper levels. I just don't think the Marlins will deal Stanton at all right now. They're a .500 team missing their ace, while having some money to improve come next yr. I doubt they want to move him without some MLB ready power coming back.

 

Fans aren't happy. They'll be even less happy if they don't re-sign Lester and he's in pinstripes the next 5 years.

[a700hitter]

Maybe Bobby V wasn't fully at fault after all. This year's team is worse than the 2012 version.

[Palodios]

Like the sound of that, but Marlins aren't terrible right now, and they might think that they have a chance to contend next year, so may not want to give up Stanton. Also, resigning Lester after a trade is no guarantee. He will likely be pissed at Cherington and not want to come back.

 

The Marlins will end up getting 3 top prospects, a cost controlled lefty starter that they can probably trade next year for something better, and WMB who they supposedly covet for his power. I think that's enough for them.

 

I don't know Lester personally, but if the Red Sox communicate the strategy well enough, he is the real winner in the deal. He gets to go on a vacation and pitch for a contender likely to go to the playoffs. He gets a massive contract from the team he loves, and that team just reloaded with an early draft pick and Giancarlo Stanton. He also no longer has draft pick compensation attached, so he can choose another team if he so wants.

[a700hitter]

And we are left to wildly speculate about transformational moves and acquisitions, because the 2014 team has given us nothing to talk about with regard to the games. Following up a World Championship with a last place team is like following a strike in bowling with 2 gutter balls. You just lost the advantage of getting a strike. After winning a World Championship, your team usually gets a lot of coverage. People usually turn out in larger numbers to see the defending World Champions at home and on the road. Instead of capitalizing on the good will of the World CHampionship, they send out the equivalent of the Houston Astros (less the young power hitters). They squandered their good will in record time. If I were one of the owners, I'd be really upset. Edited July 8, 2014 by a700hitter

[Palodios]

In all fairness, if there ever was a good time to throw out a stinker, it would be the year after a world series. If they hadn't won it all, the fan support would be very different.

[a700hitter]

In all fairness, if there ever was a good time to throw out a stinker, it would be the year after a world series. If they hadn't won it all, the fan support would be very different.

This is a super stinker -- on pace to be the worst Sox team in 50 years. People wouldn't have cared if this was merely a .500 team that played some meaningful games. People had higher expectations than this horror show. After the excitement of last season, this is a tremendous let down. It's always worse to fail after having elevated people's expectations. If this team stays on its current couse, Fenway will be a ghost town by the first week of August. People will not be able to give away their tickets. Edited July 8, 2014 by a700hitter

[Station 13]

I don't know why this team brings up Betts only to sit him. They also converted him to an OF just so he can play in the majors.

[Spudboy]

I don't know why this team brings up Betts only to sit him. They also converted him to an OF just so he can play in the majors.

 

I am thinking the same thing. I see no reason to sit Betts. If for whatever reason there is no way that he can be starting in MLB then send him back down to Pawtucket so he can stay sharp at the plate and continue his development.

 

I don't know what the Sox are waiting for. The longer he sits, the more likely he will not perform well at the plate.

 

 

Fred is pissed because he believes that the Sox have messed with X's head with the move from SS to 3rd. I believe that sitting on the bench is worse by far.

 

The kid needs to play somewhere now.

Edited July 8, 2014 by Spudboy

[a700hitter]

I am thinking the same thing. I see no reason to sit Betts. If for whatever reason there is no way that he can be starting in MLB then send him back down to Pawtucket so he can stay sharp at the plate and continue his development.

 

I don't know what the Sox are waiting for. The longer he sits, the more likely he will not perform well at the plate.

When things are not going well. Farrell like most managers can't figure out how to get out of a paper bag. Playing Betts is a positive for a few reasons. It would help him develop as an Outfielder, and he needs a position. Pedroia has second base locked down for a few seasons. It will help him learn to hit at the major league level. Finally, it will inject some badly needed production into the lineup. There is no downside to playing him. There is a downside to keeping him on the bench. It will impede his development.

[Palodios]

This is a super stinker -- on pace to be the worst Sox team in 50 years. People wouldn't have cared if this was merely a .500 team that played some meaningful games. People had higher expectations than this horror show. After the excitement of last season, this is a tremendous let down. It's always worse to fail after having elevated people's expectations. If this team stays on its current couse, Fenway will be a ghost town by the first week of August. People will not be able to give away their tickets.

 

 

I think we have a lot to look forward to. We'll get to see the future of the Red Sox team. There will be a pile of young players who will finally get an extended look. Xander, Betts, Cecchini, maybe WMB. Rubby, Ranaudo, Workman, Webster -- maybe even Owens.

 

And here is the best part: If these prospects suck, we'll be able to figure it out while they play against major league opponents and replace them at season's end. I think we are guaranteed to see about $200 million worth of spending this offseason, although that may include Lester.

[a700hitter]

I think we have a lot to look forward to. We'll get to see the future of the Red Sox team. There will be a pile of young players who will finally get an extended look. Xander, Betts, Cecchini, maybe WMB. Rubby, Ranaudo, Workman, Webster -- maybe even Owens.

 

And here is the best part: If these prospects suck, we'll be able to figure it out while they play against major league opponents and replace them at season's end. I think we are guaranteed to see about $200 million worth of spending this offseason, although that may include Lester.

Hopefully, they bring these guys up and give them playing time. That will give us a reason to watch the games. If they delude themselves into thinking they are still in the race, we may see the same old duds out there. If that happens, the rest of 2014 will be a snooze- fest.

[BigPapi]

Hopefully, they bring these guys up and give them playing time. That will give us a reason to watch the games. If they delude themselves into thinking they are still in the race, we may see the same old duds out there. If that happens, the rest of 2014 will be a snooze- fest.

 

 

I agree. Even if they played .666 baseball for the rest of the way out, they would still only finish with 87 wins. And .666 baseball for the last 73 games is incredibly unlikely for any team let alone this suck bag one.

Edited July 8, 2014 by BigPapi

[BigPapi]

Hell just to get to 500 they gotta play .575 ball which is unlikely for this team.

[jd98]

Maybe Bobby V wasn't fully at fault after all. This year's team is worse than the 2012 version.

 

I liked Bobby V much better as a game manager. He just sucks dealing with people, and the team didn't respect him and didn't seem to give their best effort.

 

I'm convinced now that last season was a fluky team of destiny type of thing, and Farrell sucks and some or all of the front office sucks too. I haven't liked Farrell since he was the pitching coach when Smoltz was obviously tipping his pitches. I knew it from my couch, the rest of baseball probably knew it, but apparently nobody with Boston knew it. Pitching coach is the first to blame there. Then Farrell wasn't any good with Toronto. But then he takes a last place team and wins a World Series in his first year, so I thought I must be wrong about him. Now I think my original instincts were correct.

 

I don't know why this team brings up Betts only to sit him. They also converted him to an OF just so he can play in the majors.

Farrell being Farrell. I was excited to see Betts play, but they give up on him after 5 games. He's not overmatched at all at the plate, and looks better than half the others in the lineup. His defense is shaky, which is all the more reason to play him every day now so he can learn playing OF.

 

I think we have a lot to look forward to. We'll get to see the future of the Red Sox team. There will be a pile of young players who will finally get an extended look. Xander, Betts, Cecchini, maybe WMB. Rubby, Ranaudo, Workman, Webster -- maybe even Owens.

 

And here is the best part:If these prospects suck, we'll be able to figure it out while they play against major league opponents and replace them at season's end. I think we are guaranteed to see about $200 million worth of spending this offseason, although that may include Lester.

 

I wouldn't give up on a prospect after 2 months in the majors, but agree with the rest of what you said.