Who is to blame for the slow start?

[sk7326]

Time to cryogenically unfreeze Jim Leyland I guess

[Spudboy]

Time to cryogenically unfreeze Jim Leyland I guess

 

He's not dead, is he?

 

I thought that he was just very old.

[cp176]

No he is not dead. He is not young and pretty sure that he would't want the job but it would be good to have a person who just makes sound baseball decisions leading the way. I have tried not to be overly critical of farrell but he just has done too many things that seem to cause him to make lengthy explanations for why he feels that some seemingly unsound decisions are sound.

[cp176]

That Kelly didn't think it was important to inform his manager that he may be injured. Perhaps Farrell is trying to get his team to toughen up...I don't know. I do know that Kelly should have felt compelled to tell his manager if he didn't feel right.

 

have to think that it is possible that kelly knows that Dombrowski has limited patience when it comes to his "potential"

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

Wow is the talk that Ferrell is that close to being canned surfacing this early? I can't see the games so don't have first hand knowledge. I did see him order an intentional walk with a man on third and 2 outs late in the game. Guy promptly stole second and was immediately in scoring position. We got out of the inning but that was a head scratcher.

[cp176]

Wow is the talk that Ferrell is that close to being canned surfacing this early? I can't see the games so don't have first hand knowledge. I did see him order an intentional walk with a man on third and 2 outs late in the game. Guy promptly stole second and was immediately in scoring position. We got out of the inning but that was a head scratcher.

 

I don't think that it is just yet. Fan chatter pretty much i think. if the talent is there, they probably will win whether he is running the show or not. Maybe the overall talent will ultimately lay over the field. If all things among teams are equal, I don't like our chance much. that is when a manager can actually make a difference.

[sk7326]

No he is not dead. He is not young and pretty sure that he would't want the job but it would be good to have a person who just makes sound baseball decisions leading the way. I have tried not to be overly critical of farrell but he just has done too many things that seem to cause him to make lengthy explanations for why he feels that some seemingly unsound decisions are sound.

 

I remember the 2013 ALCS - Farrell outmanaged Leyland fwiw ... One would hope for something more contemporary.

[cp176]

I would hope for someone better. Based upon what I see daily, contemporary would not be a prerequisite. Let me get this straight though, are you suggesting that head to head day in day out, you think Farrell is a better baseball manager than Leyland?

[FredLynn]

I remember the 2013 ALCS - Farrell outmanaged Leyland fwiw ... One would hope for something more contemporary.

 

I agree. What's Zimmer doing ?

[User Name]

Zimmder's dead. That's dark.

[mvp 78]

Have Ted Williams' frozen head manage the team ala Futurama.

[cp176]

Have Ted Williams' frozen head manage the team ala Futurama.

 

How about just a poster of Captain Hook himself in the dugout? Softer thought.

[Northern Star]

have to think that it is possible that kelly knows that Dombrowski has limited patience when it comes to his "potential"

 

from what we've seen, Kelly's potential isn't at starter, and he's already 27. Either we roll with one of the Pawtucket kids or make a f***ing trade.

[Northern Star]

Have Ted Williams' frozen head manage the team ala Futurama.

 

Every reference to the fate of Ted Williams' corpse enrages me.

[Northern Star]

I'm probably the only guy who voted for rotation, front office AND it's too early.

[sk7326]

Zimmder's dead. That's dark.

 

Dead men can't make weird pinch hitting decisions

[User Name]

Dead men can't make weird pinch hitting decisions

 

Y'all with that macabre sense of humor.

[Slasher9]

It's been what, 15 years? Since a Sox manager was fired mid-season? Williams, I think. There was no one after that, right? Little, Francona, Valentine, and Farrell are the only guys who came afterwards?

 

I really don't think the Sox would fire a manager mid-season. If they didn't fire him in 2014 or 2015, they won't do it now, they'll wait until the end of this season.

Hey YotN. i think the difference with 2016 season is that there are already empty seats at Fenway. Ownership will pull the trigger mid season if that keeps up.

[Kingface]

Rotation.....Rotation.....Rotation. The Sox have given up the second most runs in the AL!!!! It's not rocket science! They did not do enough to address the starting rotation. We traded our #1 innings eater this offseason who also had a pretty solid year in Miley......and we had zero #1 pitcher. We got the TOR starter......but we did ZERO to replace Miley. To rely on Buch as a #2 pitcher is simply stupid. Kelly had a good run but it was in garbage time last year and we never re-signed Hill who was at one point the best pitcher in MLB for a stretch! It was a disaster of an offseason in terms of addressing the rotation!!! I think Erod could eventually get there.....but that's a lot to ask of a second year pitcher. So after Price (who will be fine)....what do we have??? Porcello needs to step up and Buck needs to get do something......

 

I know we all love to blame Farrell.....but he didn't give up a grand slam, he didn't blow 3 saves etc.......

[mvp 78]

Signing Rich hill as a SP wouldn't have been a good idea. He's injury prone and hasn't been a fulltime SP in almost a decade.

 

I think they believed that ERod would make a big jump this year. Once he was hurt, they should have jumped on getting anyone else in here.

 

Porcello has stepped up so far. Hard to complain about what he has done in 2016.

 

If it wasn't for Steven Wright, Farrell would be out of a job already.

[sk7326]

The plusses have been:

 

The hitting has largely been there

The defense has largely been there - replacing LF/3B with basic competence perks up a lot

The bullpen has largely been there - assuming you expect Kimbrel to sort himself out and the starters do not overwork them

 

Starters have been poor. The games that leave me talking to myself are not the blown saves - nobody is perfect - it's an ace not holding a big lead.

[Kingface]

Signing Rich hill as a SP wouldn't have been a good idea. He's injury prone and hasn't been a fulltime SP in almost a decade.

 

I think they believed that ERod would make a big jump this year. Once he was hurt, they should have jumped on getting anyone else in here.

 

Porcello has stepped up so far. Hard to complain about what he has done in 2016.

 

If it wasn't for Steven Wright, Farrell would be out of a job already.

 

Ehhhhhhh.......I hear where you're coming from but they were 'expecting' way too much to begin with. To expect a 2nd year player to make a jump to a #2 pitcher may be a bit much to ask. To think Buch will suddenly stay healthy and be consistent is WAY too much to ask. We gave up Miley.....and replaced him with......nobody. Miley was an innings eater that was consistent. Not great by any stretch but he was a guy who took the the ball every 5 days and you knew what you would get. So far......we have not gotten that from anybody other than Porcello and Wright....(not sure how much longer we can hold our breath on either of them) Hill, while yes...he has not started a bunch, his arm also has not been worked as much as his age could indicate. He pitched EXCELLENT last year....and has so far pitched excellent this year. I trust him WAY more than I would trust Buch.....and he would have signed for a fraction of what most #3/#2 starters are getting.

[mvp 78]

Rich Hill is averaging less than 5 innings per start and has a WHIP above 1.5. He has not been "excellent."

 

I'm of the opinion that the Sox rotation should be Price/#2/Porcello/ERod/Wright. Buchholz is trash and Kelly should be in the pen.

[Kingface]

Rich Hill is averaging less than 5 innings per start and has a WHIP above 1.5. He has not been "excellent."

 

I'm of the opinion that the Sox rotation should be Price/#2/Porcello/ERod/Wright. Buchholz is trash and Kelly should be in the pen.

 

True.....but he has more K's and fewer walks then any starter on the A's, the 2nd best ERA and has not given up more than 3 runs in any start. The IP stat is a bit askew because he only went 2.2 innings in his first start which didn't help the #'s.

 

Listen....I'm not saying with Rich Hill all of our problems would have been solved.....but I am saying we would be a better team. The fact that they didn't sign him as our #4/5 and stick Kelly in the BP.....where his arm and stuff could have been electric.....is absolutely beyond me.

[mvp 78]

Idk, I'd trust Hill as much as I currently trust Buchholz...

[Kingface]

Idk, I'd trust Hill as much as I currently trust Buchholz...

 

You could be right........I could be right. Time will tell. Personally I hope you are right.

[Hugh2]

Between MLB and Milb Hill has averaged 55 1/3 innings over the last 6 years with the highest pitched being 103 and that was 6 years ago.

 

I don't care how good or healthy he is, at 36 he's not going to hold up in a MLB rotation. I'll eat crow if I'm wrong but odds are against Hill and no one can deny that.

[Slasher9]

a couple three more BS (or runs given up in a tie game) and we may have to add "closer" to the poll.......

[Kimmi]

a couple three more BS (or runs given up in a tie game) and we may have to add "closer" to the poll.......

 

Which is odd because "closer" was supposed to be more or less a sure thing.

 

It's ironic that both Kimbrel and Price, our "sure bets", have been anything but so far.

[FredLynn]

Which is odd because "closer" was supposed to be more or less a sure thing.

 

It's ironic that both Kimbrel and Price, our "sure bets", have been anything but so far.

 

1. The season is three weeks old, give or take

2. In point of fact, Kimbrel was 5 for 5 in his previous save opportunities

3. Its highly likely that both of these guys are going to perform well over the season as a whole

 

I know you are not in panic mode. While its certainly not the start any of us had hoped for, its a lot better than some of the lean year starts. On paper this team has the personnel to play baseball in October. Now all they need to do is keep relatively healthy and perform up to their capablities.