7/28 Red Sox @ Anaheim

[SinceYaz]

I think my blood pressure is back to normal now, though the tension remains in my neck and shoulders.

 

Why do I put myself through this? I really need a new hobby.

 

Kimmi,

 

I was sorta thinking the same thing. This has been a tough couple weeks, after it looked like we had turned the corner. OMG, so close ...yet.

 

Is it cuz I'm getting so old that this is so wearing? Or have I come to expect too much?

 

I will have to get out my old fishing tackle. But even that is "catch and release" ... sheeees

 

 

Now I know why "The Most Interesting Man in the World" took a one way trip to Mars.

[SinceYaz]

In fairness to Ziegler, he was let down by his defense. Trout should have never reached base to start off the inning. That changes the entire complexion of the inning. He did give up two solid hits to load the bases, but he probably would have gotten out of the bases loaded jam if Hanley makes a good throw home.

 

And what happened with ANYBODY trying to cover home? They just let the 2nd run traipse across ... what in the heck was that?

[jad]

In fairness to Ziegler, he was let down by his defense. Trout should have never reached base to start off the inning. That changes the entire complexion of the inning. He did give up two solid hits to load the bases, but he probably would have gotten out of the bases loaded jam if Hanley makes a good throw home.

 

Didn't see it, but it must have been awful to inspire a string of subjunctives and conditionals like that! (If we had some ham [hitting], we could have some ham and eggs [wins], if we had some eggs [pitching]) Glad you survived it.

[SoxnCycles]

Glad I missed that one.

I could watch the "Sox in 2" version later, but it sounds like it'll just annoy me.

 

At least it sounds like Price pitched well.

Too bad the offense couldn't help him out.

Amazing stats about run support from Illinoisredsox.

[Spudboy]

And what happened with ANYBODY trying to cover home? They just let the 2nd run traipse across ... what in the heck was that?

 

The ball was fielded by Hanley and thrown immediately to home ( sort of! ).

 

It was bang - bang. No time for the pitcher to get in position behind the plate.

[Slasher9]

This has all the earmarks of the 2-1 game Price lost at San Francisco.

 

IL the prophet.

[Slasher9]

Price pitched an excellent game. He did the job of an ace, and it will be up to the pen to hold this slim 1-0 lead. I guess the Price-Slasher went to bed early and didn't see it.

i just finished watching the game. i dvr the entire season. Price looked like an Ace. a tough luck L for him. but then again, i dont judge a SP on W-L record....

[Slasher9]

I think my blood pressure is back to normal now, though the tension remains in my neck and shoulders.

 

Why do I put myself through this? I really need a new hobby.

 

lol. i love you kimmi.

[Bellhorn04]

Didn't see it, but it must have been awful to inspire a string of subjunctives and conditionals like that! (If we had some ham [hitting], we could have some ham and eggs [wins], if we had some eggs [pitching]) Glad you survived it.

 

Funny

[Bellhorn04]

i just finished watching the game. i dvr the entire season. Price looked like an Ace. a tough luck L for him. but then again, i dont judge a SP on W-L record....

 

No L for Price. Ziegler gets the dreaded BL - the combo pack of blown save and loss.

[Bellhorn04]

This really has been an extraordinarily vicious sequence of losses.

[Kimmi]

Kimmi,

 

I was sorta thinking the same thing. This has been a tough couple weeks, after it looked like we had turned the corner. OMG, so close ...yet.

 

Is it cuz I'm getting so old that this is so wearing? Or have I come to expect too much?

 

I will have to get out my old fishing tackle. But even that is "catch and release" ... sheeees

 

 

Now I know why "The Most Interesting Man in the World" took a one way trip to Mars.

 

Well after a restless couple of hours of sleep, I am feeling a little better. The close losses, especially the ones that occur late, are the hardest to take.

 

There are some positives to take away in the midst of all this frustration.

 

1. The recent starts from Pomeranz, Rodriguez, and Price are encouraging.

 

2. Though we've lost 6 out of 7, we are only 2.5 games back. I realize that just 8 days ago, we were 1/2 up, but that's the ebb and flow of any season. Think of it this way. On June 29th, we were 5.5 games back. We had a net gain of 3 games in one month. Let's do that again over the next two months and we are good to go.

[Kimmi]

Glad I missed that one.

I could watch the "Sox in 2" version later, but it sounds like it'll just annoy me.

 

At least it sounds like Price pitched well.

Too bad the offense couldn't help him out.

Amazing stats about run support from Illinoisredsox.

 

Trust me when I say that you are lucky to have missed it. I had been handling the recent losses pretty well, but last night's loss did me in.

[Kimmi]

This really has been an extraordinarily vicious sequence of losses.

 

That's a good way to put it.

[Maxbialystock]

I'm maddest at HanRam, I guess, but also at Ziegler for loading up the bases. Indeed, the only out Ziegler got in the 9th was Perez failing to bunt and striking out on a very low pitch (thereby avoiding a GIDP). But let's not forget the lineup which scored a grand total of 1 run--a sac fly by Betts to score Leon from 3d--against Weaver, whose fastball tops out at 84 mph and whose ERA this year is 5.14, including last night's 5.2 innings and 1 earned run. I'm also mad that I couldn't get to sleep and watched the game to the bitter end.

 

Kimmi's right that the rotation could be coming around even though none of the three lefties has a reliable changeup (I mean game in and game out).

 

But what keeps sticking in my craw is that the hitting can disappear so quickly and not just against aces, but against anyone with a good mix of pitches and decent control. Let's not forget that the Angels bullpen went 3.1 innings and gave up 0 runs. Against their closer Bedrosian in the 9th (we were up 1-0), Ortiz popped to 3b and HanRam and JBJ both struck out swinging--our 4, 5, and 6 hitters.

 

Right now this team is doing a good job of finding ways to lose, especially close games, which Kimmi has mentioned regularly. However, Kimmi says that's actually the best way to lose because it means your close and not getting blown away.

 

I started the Referendum on Farrell and have mostly defended him on specific decisions, but I always consider managers to be accountable for overall wins and losses. And right now, as was true a year ago, it's hard to keep faith with this manager. This team seems to be playing below its potential.

[Slasher9]

No L for Price. Ziegler gets the dreaded BL - the combo pack of blown save and loss.

 

my bad. of course. tough luck no W for price. he deserved a much better fate in that regard last night. hopefully the momentum keeps building for him....

[a700hitter]

In fairness to Ziegler, he was let down by his defense. Trout should have never reached base to start off the inning. That changes the entire complexion of the inning. He did give up two solid hits to load the bases, but he probably would have gotten out of the bases loaded jam if Hanley makes a good throw home.

Trout probably beats that throw anyway. It was scored a hit. Edited July 29, 2016 by a700hitter

[Spudboy]

Trout probably beats that throw anyway. It was scored a hit.

 

It was pretty close.

 

That's baseball.

 

If the Sox had provided more run support I doubt we would be talking about it now.

 

Weaver used to be pretty good. Last night he was better than his stats would have predicted.

Edited July 29, 2016 by Spudboy

[Station 13]

This team is reaching the "indifferent" point if they don't turn it around.

[dustcover]

deja vu all over again. In the sixth game of the 1986 World Series, McNamara failed to substitute his best defensive infield, namely Stapleton for Buckner at 1B, when the game was on the line.

 

So why on earth, with a 1-0 lead and a ground-ball reliever brought in to close out the ninth, did Farrell not put Hill (career fielding % .985) in at 3B and move Shaw over to 1B?

 

The whole idea of building a bench with depth, applies to defense as well as offense. Hill is a better defensive third baseman than Shaw, and Shaw is a better defensive first baseman than Hanley.

 

Would the game outcome have turned out differently? We'll never know! But what I do know is that Farrell did not put his players in the best position to win.

[a700hitter]

deja vu all over again. In the sixth game of the 1986 World Series, McNamara failed to substitute his best defensive infield, namely Stapleton for Buckner at 1B, when the game was on the line.

 

So why on earth, with a 1-0 lead and a ground-ball reliever brought in to close out the ninth, did Farrell not put Hill (career fielding % .985) in at 3B and move Shaw over to 1B?

 

The whole idea of building a bench with depth, applies to defense as well as offense. Hill is a better defensive third baseman than Shaw, and Shaw is a better defensive first baseman than Hanley.

 

Would the game outcome have turned out differently? We'll never know! But what I do know is that Farrell did not put his players in the best position to win.

I was wondering the same thing.

[a700hitter]

Hanley cannot make plays requiring that he throw the ball. He is just awful at that aspect.

[BOSOX11]

This reminds me of a game I saw in Anaheim on May 3, 1967. One of Lonborg's toughest losses of the season.

[mvp 78]

Hanley cannot make plays requiring that he throw the ball. He is just awful at that aspect.

 

He must have been a treat at SS then...

[a700hitter]

He must have been a treat at SS then...

The footwork is much different at First Base. He can't make effective throws to second base at all. He lobs his throws. Last night, when he actually tried to put a little steam on his throw, he airmailed it. I have no confidence in him on throwing plays.

[bowman]

Agree. Pretty obvious on numerous occasions and it finally bit us big time..

[Maxbialystock]

deja vu all over again. In the sixth game of the 1986 World Series, McNamara failed to substitute his best defensive infield, namely Stapleton for Buckner at 1B, when the game was on the line.

 

So why on earth, with a 1-0 lead and a ground-ball reliever brought in to close out the ninth, did Farrell not put Hill (career fielding % .985) in at 3B and move Shaw over to 1B?

 

The whole idea of building a bench with depth, applies to defense as well as offense. Hill is a better defensive third baseman than Shaw, and Shaw is a better defensive first baseman than Hanley.

 

Would the game outcome have turned out differently? We'll never know! But what I do know is that Farrell did not put his players in the best position to win.

 

Build a bench with depth is such a joke. You sound like a football coach. The simple fact is that most MLB teams have 4 on the bench to back up the 9 regulars in the lineup and one of them is the spare catcher. Indeed all 4 of them are like spares for just in case. Sometimes, as the Sox did earlier in LF, they will platoon, but by and large they are spares, not carefully chosen guys to add, in your words, defensive depth. Indeed, it is rare when the Sox recruit or trade for any position player primarily because of their defensive ability. Bradley, a very good defensive CF and better defensively the day he got here than Ellsbury, was up and down between Pawtucket and Boston like a yo-yo because he couldn't hit. Most would agree Iglesias is a better defensive SS than Bogaerts, but there was no hesitation in trading him to get Peavy in 2013. The list of similar decisions is endless.

 

HanRam and Shaw play everyday because they can hit, and right now HanRam's July OPS is .989 vs. Hill's .432. Plus HanRam's only committed 4 errors all season and he started out as a SS, which demands a good arm. And that BS about the footwork is different doesn't apply to throwing home--it's exactly the same footwork at SS as it is at 1B. He just rushed it, he says, because he wanted the GIDP, but also because Trout is fast and was going home with the crack of the bat. I also don't buy the notion that Hill is worlds better at 3B than Shaw, not when Shaw's DWAR is 4th best among AL thirdbasemen.