Referendum on John Farrell

[Maxbialystock]

It seams the Sox are having a lot of WTF moments that Farrell has his hands on. If the Sox miss out on the playoffs it could cost him his job. He is not DD's guy so it wouldn't take much. I mean using your best SP as a pitch runner and having get hurt is at the top of the list, but there are other WTF moments that make you shake your head.

 

Agree he is out if the Sox don't make the playoffs, but notin and Whitey Herzog have a point.

 

As for sending Wright out there to pinch run, I have to chuckle at all those offended by Farrell's temerity and their apparent support for Wright's lame post-game excuse that he was pretty sure he could never score from 2B on a single. This past week on consecutive nights Ortiz, who is 40 and carrying about 30 extra pounds, was taken out of one game because he fouled a pitch off his foot/ankle--he needed help to get off the field and down the dugout steps-- and came back the very next night and, voila, scored from 2B on a single. Wright is sure he could never do that?

 

In the event, Wright apparently injured himself by taking a biggish lead (for him) off 2B and then desperately throwing himself on the ground to get back. Has anyone ever seen Ortiz throw himself on the ground to get back to any base? Of course they haven't.

 

I wonder what would happen in a NL park when Wright might have to bat and maybe end up on 1B. Goodness, me, what shall I do? I'm an AL knuckleballer and the MLBPA assures me I should never be placed in this situation. I'm too precious.

 

I'm hard on Wright but have to be honest and say the DH seems to have transformed most AL pitchers into such narrow specialists it's hard to recognize them as living, breathing ballplayers. Buchholz once was the fastest guy on the team and on those very few occasions when he was sent in as a pinchrunner was just terrible.

 

Or think about this. Every AL team has 25 players and normally 12 of them are pitchers, but AL managers are supposed to believe that none of those 12 can ever be asked to do anything other than pitch. The other 13 players do all the fielding, hitting, running, throwing, and standing around waiting for the pitchers to make up his mind to pitch and perhaps even throw something hittable. And most of them play not only every day but every inning. Starting pitchers pitch every fifth day, and relievers at most play every other day and normally, usually just one inning.

Edited August 15, 2016 by Maxbialystock

[User Name]

Notin is funny. I like him.

[a700hitter]

Agree he is out if the Sox don't make the playoffs, but notin and Whitey Herzog have a point.

 

As for sending Wright out there to pinch run, I have to chuckle at all those offended by Farrell's temerity and their apparent support for Wright's lame post-game excuse that he was pretty sure he could never score from 2B on a single. This past week on consecutive nights Ortiz, who is 40 and carrying about 30 extra pounds, was taken out of one game because he fouled a pitch off his foot/ankle--he needed help to get off the field and down the dugout steps-- and came back the very next night and, voila, scored from 2B on a single. Wright is sure he could never do that?

 

In the event, Wright apparently injured himself by taking a biggish lead (for him) off 2B and then desperately throwing himself on the ground to get back. Has anyone ever seen Ortiz throw himself on the ground to get back to any base? Of course they haven't.

 

I wonder what would happen in a NL park when Wright might have to bat and maybe end up on 1B. Goodness, me, what shall I do? I'm an AL knuckleballer and the MLBPA assures me I should never be placed in this situation. I'm too precious.

 

I'm hard on Wright but have to be honest and say the DH seems to have transformed most AL pitchers into such narrow specialists it's hard to recognize them as living, breathing ballplayers. Buchholz once was the fastest guy on the team and on those very few occasions when he was sent in as a pinchrunner was just terrible.

 

Or think about this. Every AL team has 25 players and normally 12 of them are pitchers, but AL managers are supposed to believe that none of those 12 can ever be asked to do anything other than pitch. The other 13 players do all the fielding, hitting, running, throwing, and standing around waiting for the pitchers to make up his mind to pitch and perhaps even throw something hittable. And most of them play not only every day but every inning. Starting pitchers pitch every fifth day, and relievers at most play every other day and normally, usually just one inning.

And if he gets in a blowout game, maybe he should pitch Betts for an inning to save the bullpen. I am sure that betts probably pitched in High School, which is the last time that Wright scored a run -- and that is a fact.

[Nick]

I asked it before but why not go with your best athlete? To me that was E Rod. S Wright I would have never considered. Bullpen was needed. All we had left were starting pitchers.

 

This is just an unforgivable sin from my perspective. You tell your million dollar baby we're playing station to station baseball. Don't take a big lead. Don't get doubled up (make sure the ball is on the ground), only then you proceed to third base.

 

It's elementary.

[mvp 78]

@LouMerloni If your Red Sox story doesn't start with "What was John Farrell thinking" I have no interest reading it. Stop trying to justify it. Horrible

[NativeBostonian]

I asked it before but why not go with your best athlete? To me that was E Rod. S Wright I would have never considered. Bullpen was needed. All we had left were starting pitchers.

 

This is just an unforgivable sin from my perspective. You tell your million dollar baby we're playing station to station baseball. Don't take a big lead. Don't get doubled up (make sure the ball is on the ground), only then you proceed to third base.

 

It's elementary.

 

Or you can send a pitcher who you just got from a National League team. Someone with expereince running on the base pads. You know, someone like Drew Pomeranz.

[Dojji]

Pomeranz has spent the overwhelming majoority of his career in the American League. His half season in SD was his first, last and only NL experience.

 

But with that said, why not use the expendable guy who actually happens to be reasonably fast? Buchholz was on the roster at the time I do believe.

[mvp 78]

Pomeranz has spent the overwhelming majoority of his career in the American League. His half season in SD was his first, last and only NL experience.

 

But with that said, why not use the expendable guy who actually happens to be reasonably fast? Buchholz was on the roster at the time I do believe.

 

Buchholz was in the pen and I believe Farrell was hoping to be able to use him to pitch that day, which he did.

[illinoisredsox]

Pomeranz has spent the overwhelming majoority of his career in the American League. His half season in SD was his first, last and only NL experience.

 

But with that said, why not use the expendable guy who actually happens to be reasonably fast? Buchholz was on the roster at the time I do believe.

 

Actually, Pomeranz spent 3 years with the Rockies before going to Oakland for 2 years; he's got a decent hitting record for a pitcher, so he's got experience ion the bases (he's even pr a few times).

 

You aren't going to use a reliever (which is what Buchholz was at that time) to pr; they might be needed later (FWIW, Buchholz did pitch the 8th inning of that game). Barnes would have been the only one to even consider since had thrown around 30 pitches the day before and was probably the least likely to be used.

 

Pomeranz should have been the choice.

[southpaw777]

Using Taz in that situation after how awful he has been is just unforgivable...THEN you put in a pitch-to-contact guy with bases full of runners? Seriously, it doesnt take much to know that either Zig starts the inning or maybe Barnes..or maybe Hambree who just came up and throws 98 too....

I swear I have no friggin idea what this ass clown is thinking when he makes the boatload of head-scratching moves hes made the last few years....

[Slasher9]

Buchholz was in the pen and I believe Farrell was hoping to be able to use him to pitch that day, which he did.

i dont think the choice would have been to pinch run with a reliever as we needed the arms. that left the only options of SP or simply leave papi in. based on what happened the manager made the incorrect decision. or maybe, had he left papi in (which is what i would have done in that situation) papi would have broken his leg on the play never to play professional baseball again. we will never know unless we figure out how to bend time......

one thing we do know for certain now - wright is not an athlete.....

[Slasher9]

Using Taz in that situation after how awful he has been is just unforgivable...THEN you put in a pitch-to-contact guy with bases full of runners? Seriously, it doesnt take much to know that either Zig starts the inning or maybe Barnes..or maybe Hambree who just came up and throws 98 too....

I swear I have no friggin idea what this ass clown is thinking when he makes the boatload of head-scratching moves hes made the last few years....

hey lefty. i have tried to defend some of JF's moves but yesterday using Taz was IMO a terrible baseball decision. again IMO there is no defense for it. does anyone in the boston area know if the media questioned JF on that decision and what his response was?

[Bellhorn04]

Right now our bullpen is like playing Russian roulette with 4 bullets in the chambers. Usually it ain't gonna work out too good.

[southpaw777]

hey lefty. i have tried to defend some of JF's moves but yesterday using Taz was IMO a terrible baseball decision. again IMO there is no defense for it. does anyone in the boston area know if the media questioned JF on that decision and what his response was?

 

Hey Slash!

I didnt hear anything about it...he would have just gave some FO double talk like he does.

No excuse when you had at least three other arms and even let Ross start the 8th, but no way on Gods green earth do you hand the ball to Taz in that situation...

[Bellhorn04]

I don't think we have a single reliever who hasn't had a disaster within the last week or two.

[illinoisredsox]

I don't think we have a single reliever who hasn't had a disaster within the last week or two.

 

And most have had multiple disasters.

[S5Dewey]

hey lefty. i have tried to defend some of JF's moves but yesterday using Taz was IMO a terrible baseball decision. again IMO there is no defense for it. does anyone in the boston area know if the media questioned JF on that decision and what his response was?

 

I'm with you on this, Slash. I'm usually firmly in Kimmie's court, that the manager knows his players better than the fans know them. I didn't think Taz was a good idea when he came in but I was hoping for the best. After he gave up the first hit I said, "Go get him, John. Don't let this game get away". After the second hit I was saying "FOR GOD'S SAKE, GO GET HIM!"...and we all know what happened after that.

 

I have no problem with seeing what Taz has left in the tank, but putting him into a 'save situation' game was crazy enough, but leaving him there as long as he did was bizarre. If you're going to find out what he's got left it's done in a blowout game.

 

And don't get me wrong, I like Taz (as much as any fan 'likes' a ML player he's never met). He was a huge part of 2013 and I'll always be grateful for it. He just shouldn't have been put out there in that situatino and then left out there to embarrass himself

[sk7326]

I am not sure what the answer was. Barnes has pitched more - but you do want to balance things. Ziegler starting the 8th also would have been okay - although he has had his issues also. Ultimately the dude has to perform.

 

Funny thing is, in that game, the biggest tactical howler I saw was Ausmus actually pitching to Betts in one of the rare situations where the intentional walk made sense - and somehow survived it.

[Wade Boggs]

I am not sure what the answer was. Barnes has pitched more - but you do want to balance things. Ziegler starting the 8th also would have been okay - although he has had his issues also. Ultimately the dude has to perform.

 

Funny thing is, in that game, the biggest tactical howler I saw was Ausmus actually pitching to Betts in one of the rare situations where the intentional walk made sense - and somehow survived it.

 

 

 

Ziegler should have started the 8th no doubt. To go with Taz at that point in time was a big error. The reason being was, Ziegler came in with runners on and nobody out. So he was brought in anyway, pretty much to get out of the mess that was created. Farrell had a chance to bring him in, with nobody on. He didn't , knowing he did not pitch the night before. With all righties coming up. The stats are about the same on both Taz/ Ziegler against those hitters, so you go with the better pitcher in that spot.. So now you lost the game which you might have won, also if Farrell was uptight about the numbers, he could have hoped Ziegler could have got maybe 2 outs , and went to Kimbrel for the 4 out save as the last stab. He didn't use all of his bullets in his gun.

[Bellhorn04]

Farrell went to Tazawa because he was much better rested. Ziegler has been busier than a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest.

[sk7326]

Ziegler should have started the 8th no doubt. To go with Taz at that point in time was a big error. The reason being was, Ziegler came in with runners on and nobody out. So he was brought in anyway, pretty much to get out of the mess that was created. Farrell had a chance to bring him in, with nobody on. He didn't , knowing he did not pitch the night before. With all righties coming up. The stats are about the same on both Taz/ Ziegler against those hitters, so you go with the better pitcher in that spot.. So now you lost the game which you might have won, also if Farrell was uptight about the numbers, he could have hoped Ziegler could have got maybe 2 outs , and went to Kimbrel for the 4 out save as the last stab. He didn't use all of his bullets in his gun.

 

I share your annoyance - we almost stole a game where we rested Pedroia, Papi and somehow had two catchers in the lineup at the same time. That would have been really good to get.

 

Basically if they can get the split here, they've done their job. It's the next 16 games which will be particularly important in determining their fate.

[Spudboy]

I'm with you on this, Slash. I'm usually firmly in Kimmie's court, that the manager knows his players better than the fans know them. I didn't think Taz was a good idea when he came in but I was hoping for the best. After he gave up the first hit I said, "Go get him, John. Don't let this game get away". After the second hit I was saying "FOR GOD'S SAKE, GO GET HIM!"...and we all know what happened after that.

 

I have no problem with seeing what Taz has left in the tank, but putting him into a 'save situation' game was crazy enough, but leaving him there as long as he did was bizarre. If you're going to find out what he's got left it's done in a blowout game.

 

And don't get me wrong, I like Taz (as much as any fan 'likes' a ML player he's never met). He was a huge part of 2013 and I'll always be grateful for it. He just shouldn't have been put out there in that situatino and then left out there to embarrass himself

 

This is how I feel. Yank him after the first batter reached. I'm not sure Farrell had gotten anyone up at that point, though. Stupid.

[Maxbialystock]

Ziegler should have started the 8th no doubt. To go with Taz at that point in time was a big error. The reason being was, Ziegler came in with runners on and nobody out. So he was brought in anyway, pretty much to get out of the mess that was created. Farrell had a chance to bring him in, with nobody on. He didn't , knowing he did not pitch the night before. With all righties coming up. The stats are about the same on both Taz/ Ziegler against those hitters, so you go with the better pitcher in that spot.. So now you lost the game which you might have won, also if Farrell was uptight about the numbers, he could have hoped Ziegler could have got maybe 2 outs , and went to Kimbrel for the 4 out save as the last stab. He didn't use all of his bullets in his gun.

 

On July 27 Ziegler gave up a game-winning dinger to, guess who, Cabrera. Plus, as we know, he has amazing control issues, by which I mean walking guys after getting an 0-2 count. He might have been better than Tazawa, but it wasn't as clearcut as you seem to think. I personally would not have sent Tazawa out there because of his recent outings, but I think the real issue is the bullpen.

[Maxbialystock]

Back to pinch-running with Wright. I agree he wasn't the best choice for all the reasons other have given.

 

But I am also amazed that any healthy MLB player cannot be asked to run the bases. We also know, for example, that Buchholz is a bad choice because he shows absolutely no sense on the basepaths--or didn't back when he was asked to pinch-run. Thanks to the DH, AL pitchers are becoming hot-house flowers which must be tended carefully. Before you know it, AL relievers will be allowed to ride a cart from the bullpen to the mound because of the risk that the long jog could be injurious.

[Kimmi]

hey lefty. i have tried to defend some of JF's moves but yesterday using Taz was IMO a terrible baseball decision. again IMO there is no defense for it. does anyone in the boston area know if the media questioned JF on that decision and what his response was?

 

Yes, there is defense for it. As I just posted in the game thread, Farrell basically had a choice between Tazawa, Ziegler, and Hembree. Ziegler's numbers against the upcoming batters were not good. I can understand an argument for bringing in either Ziegler or Hembree instead of Taz, but I don't think it was a no brainer.

 

Everyone in the pen has pretty much stunk recently. Farrell's hands have been tied.

[Spudboy]

Back to pinch-running with Wright. I agree he wasn't the best choice for all the reasons other have given.

 

But I am also amazed that any healthy MLB player cannot be asked to run the bases. We also know, for example, that Buchholz is a bad choice because he shows absolutely no sense on the basepaths--or didn't back when he was asked to pinch-run. Thanks to the DH, AL pitchers are becoming hot-house flowers which must be tended carefully. Before you know it, AL relievers will be allowed to ride a cart from the bullpen to the mound because of the risk that the long jog could be injurious.

 

I miss those carts!!!!!!!!!

[Kimmi]

I'm with you on this, Slash. I'm usually firmly in Kimmie's court, that the manager knows his players better than the fans know them. I didn't think Taz was a good idea when he came in but I was hoping for the best. After he gave up the first hit I said, "Go get him, John. Don't let this game get away". After the second hit I was saying "FOR GOD'S SAKE, GO GET HIM!"...and we all know what happened after that.

 

I have no problem with seeing what Taz has left in the tank, but putting him into a 'save situation' game was crazy enough, but leaving him there as long as he did was bizarre. If you're going to find out what he's got left it's done in a blowout game.

 

And don't get me wrong, I like Taz (as much as any fan 'likes' a ML player he's never met). He was a huge part of 2013 and I'll always be grateful for it. He just shouldn't have been put out there in that situatino and then left out there to embarrass himself

 

I don't have a problem with Farrell bringing in Taz, but I do agree with you that he left him in too long. Taz should have had an extremely short leash.

 

However, the bigger problem is not Farrell's decisions, but the fact that the pen is just not executing. There is not much that Farrell can do about that.

[a700hitter]

You can't fault Farrell for going to Taz. He is supposed to be our 7th/8th inning guy. After what he has done recently, he should probably be relegated to lower leverage situations until he gets his act together. Until then we have limited options for high leverage situations. DD may need to pick up somebody. What is Koji's status? Is he definitely out for the season?

[S5Dewey]

 

Funny thing is, in that game, the biggest tactical howler I saw was Ausmus actually pitching to Betts in one of the rare situations where the intentional walk made sense - and somehow survived it.

 

I watched that and wondered the same thing - why pitch to Betts in that situation? Then I realized that Asmus knows how badly our BP sucks and he knew the Tigers weren't done scoring runs. Then after Mookie reached base Asmus made the change rather than risk being two runs down.

[illinoisredsox]

On July 27 Ziegler gave up a game-winning dinger to, guess who, Cabrera. Plus, as we know, he has amazing control issues, by which I mean walking guys after getting an 0-2 count. He might have been better than Tazawa, but it wasn't as clearcut as you seem to think. I personally would not have sent Tazawa out there because of his recent outings, but I think the real issue is the bullpen.

 

Plus, per Pete Abraham of the Globe, the first 4 hitters up for Detroit in the 8th were hitting .429 against Ziegler (against Taz they were "only" .378).

 

I can only assume Barnes was unavailable yesterday for some reason. Hembree pitched his way out of these situations earlier this year so I'm not sure he would have been a good choice. Kimbrel for 2?