08/01 Sox vs. Tampa The Carnage Continues

[Kimmi]

The real question is, is there a manager out there more incompetent then John Farrel? He keeps putting him out there expecting a different results than the other starts he's made.

 

I'm not sure that Farrell has a choice here. This decision is likely coming down from Ben. Either way, I think you have to see if he can be salvaged as a starter. It's not looking good, but you have to give him every chance.

[Kimmi]

i didn't know panda could pitch too.

 

lol

[Kimmi]

Nice day for Castillo and Bogaerts.

Great day for Travis "Shore".

 

Very nice day for all three.

 

I liked the interview with the guy who caught Shaw's first HR ball.

[mvp 78]

"That was a heckuva reach around right there!" Jerry Remy

[BigPapi]

I'm not sure that Farrell has a choice here. This decision is likely coming down from Ben. Either way, I think you have to see if he can be salvaged as a starter. It's not looking good, but you have to give him every chance.

 

I personally think they have given him more than enough chances. Although his velocity is undeniable, he was never really regarded as a top 100 prospect from what I have heard and read( although I could be wrong with this). In addition, at least three of the five rotation spots next year are already filled up. Buchholz, Rodriquez, and Porcello will all most likely be in the rotation to start next year. That would leave the final two spots to any combination of a free agent, Wade Miley, Henry Owens, Brian Johnson, or Joe Kelly. Depending on what Johnson or Ownes do, Joe Kelly could end up being buried next year if he is not moved to the pen.

[Spudboy]

"That was a heckuva reach around right there!" Jerry Remy

 

I thought that I imagined that he said that.

 

Glad to know I haven't lost my mind.

[a700hitter]

Big day for Shaw. He has big power. I hope he gets more playing time. Napoli just doesnt deserve to start any more. The pitching still stinks. Kelly is a bust.

[Spudboy]

Kelly did suck again today.

 

Funny how Shaw has produced so quickly after being not much more than an afterthought in the system.

 

It would go a long way if he could be a real player anytime soon. Maybe he is already.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Some of you seem really excited about Shaw. He's had 20 at-bats, and one really good day. Are you high on him because he's a really good player and much better than Napoli or Sandoval over 20ABs, or are you high on him because he's a player that Ben Cherington didn't choose as a starter and this is just a good opportunity to point at and say that management/ownership/leadership suck? What happens if the Sox give him the rest of the playing time over the course of the season and he doesn't hit two home runs every game and instead plays like a triple-A player? He's starting off the same way as Daniel Nava did, and we all know how much everyone here loves Daniel Nava.

[Thunder]

Come on, Youk, I like Nava. I have a ball signed by him and Tito a few weeks after the grand slam in his MLB debut. Surprisingly, I thought his signature was more valuable at the time.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Come on, Youk, I like Nava. I have a ball signed by him and Tito a few weeks after the grand slam in his MLB debut. Surprisingly, I thought his signature was more valuable at the time.

 

I still remember exactly where I was when I heard that on the radio. I was delivering pizza (I even remember the street and the house) and I was just about to pull into their driveway. Dave O'Brien was in the middle of explaining how Joe had told Nava to swing at the first pitch because "you'll never get another first pitch" and had to interrupt his story when Nava actually swung at the first pitch! I remember screaming "f*** yeah!" and almost swerving into the telephone pole next to the driveway when I pounded the steering wheel in triumph.

[Thunder]

I still remember exactly where I was when I heard that on the radio. I was delivering pizza (I even remember the street and the house) and I was just about to pull into their driveway. Dave O'Brien was in the middle of explaining how Joe had told Nava to swing at the first pitch because "you'll never get another first pitch" and had to interrupt his story when Nava actually swung at the first pitch! I remember screaming "f*** yeah!" and almost swerving into the telephone pole next to the driveway when I pounded the steering wheel in triumph.

 

Meanwhile, I was stuck with Joe Buck and TimMcCarver salivating over the Phillies on the FOX broadcast. Who was pitching? Something makes me wanna say Hamels.

[a700hitter]

Some of you seem really excited about Shaw. He's had 20 at-bats, and one really good day. Are you high on him because he's a really good player and much better than Napoli or Sandoval over 20ABs, or are you high on him because he's a player that Ben Cherington didn't choose as a starter and this is just a good opportunity to point at and say that management/ownership/leadership suck? What happens if the Sox give him the rest of the playing time over the course of the season and he doesn't hit two home runs every game and instead plays like a triple-A player? He's starting off the same way as Daniel Nava did, and we all know how much everyone here loves Daniel Nava.

 

The season is a loss. The FO has thrown in the towel. Napoli is gone at the end of the season and Fatboy needs a day off here and there to prevent dehydration so I wouldn't mind seeing Shaw get some regular playing time. I have seen Shaw in Spring Training the last couple of years and thought he had a live bat. That's what I am basing my opinion on. I have no knowledge what Ben thinks about him.

[a700hitter]

Come on, Youk, I like Nava. I have a ball signed by him and Tito a few weeks after the grand slam in his MLB debut. Surprisingly, I thought his signature was more valuable at the time.

 

I was at that game. We were behind to the Phillies on a drizzly day and we were facing Fat Joe Blanton. When he hit the Grand Slam into the bullpen, I looked at my son and said " I think that was his first major league at bat". I thought, wow! That kid must feel great.

[SoxHop]

Some of you seem really excited about Shaw.

 

At this point I'd hold a mega block party if we make it to 500. ball.

 

I went to see a Round Rock Express game. They are the AAA for the Rangers..........

 

They played the AAA of the Cardinals...... I think they said those two are fighting for 1st place in their division.

 

It was pretty fun ball......... Chi Chi Rodriguez started for the Rangers......

 

Sat with some guys that go to every home game.......... they follow the AAA team every year............

 

They hated to lose the two AAA pitchers they gave up for Hamels............ but in general kind of liked the Hamels deal. Especially interested in seeing how the next three years go......

Edited August 2, 2015 by SoxHop

[Youk Of The Nation]

Meanwhile, I was stuck with Joe Buck and TimMcCarver salivating over the Phillies on the FOX broadcast. Who was pitching? Something makes me wanna say Hamels.

 

Joe Blanton. He hit a home run of his own in the World Series, which I also found hilarious.

[Northern Star]

Speaking of Joe Blanton, who is the fattest pitcher who ever pitched? Dennys Reyes?

[Youk Of The Nation]

Speaking of Joe Blanton, who is the fattest pitcher who ever pitched? Dennys Reyes?

 

Sabathia has to be up there, maybe David Wells too?

[SoxHop]

So before the AAA game, they had a AAA Hall of Fame ceremony. ? ? ? ? Seriously.......... sort of.......

 

Some guys got up and spoke a bit about semi-sort of great times that happened in AAA...... and some of them had some pretty cool stories...

 

Then the guy that was being inducted into the AAA HOF...... got up and made a speech.......... I think this guy at best only played a handful of games in the MLB......

 

This guy was funny as hell......... mid way through the speech he started going on about how hot his wife was........... and she is a tall blond bomb shell.............

 

You can't miss her because he's gesturing to her sitting in the HOF family area.......... she's Dallas Cheer leader type.......

 

And he goes on about how it's true that when you get into MLB you get a smoking hot wife.......... and how he's so thankful she worked and they met at the Round Rock stadium.......... . . . . .

 

Best acceptance speech I've ever heard.....

Edited August 2, 2015 by SoxHop

[cp176]

Speaking of Joe Blanton, who is the fattest pitcher who ever pitched? Dennys Reyes?

 

Let's hear it for Mickey Lolitch

[Thunder]

Speaking of Joe Blanton, who is the fattest pitcher who ever pitched? Dennys Reyes?

 

There's a reliever on the Reds right now named Jumbo Diaz.

[Bellhorn04]

Speaking of Joe Blanton, who is the fattest pitcher who ever pitched? Dennys Reyes?

 

I have often thought we need a thread devoted to the biggest, fattest pitchers in baseball history. I was just about thinking about this huge guy who pitched for the Cardinals a few years ago. I think his name was Ray King. Guy was a monster.

 

As was Bobby Jenks.

[cp176]

William Howard Taft

[Youk Of The Nation]

William Howard Taft

 

While the story of him getting stuck in a bathtub is probably apocryphal, he was a huge man. I think he was 5'11" and 320-350 pounds or so. He lost a lot of weight after he left office though. He even went on hiking tours of Alaska, if you can believe that.

[NativeBostonian]

This is what happens when no one starts a new game thread; Miley gives up home runs.

[Youk Of The Nation]

NB, Spudboy was the gamethread starter but he is in the hospital.