8/31 a vs scumbags

[S5Dewey]

Getting Pedey and Bradley back will be a big boost to our chances.

 

One thing that got exposed last night is how much this team needs Pedey's and JBJ's defense.

 

Three plays last night when JBJ may have made a difference;

There was a ball hit to the RCF fence that Beni almost got to . I said at the time on the GT that JBJ would have made that play.

Did anyone else notice that Beni backed off on the ball that got by Mookie to back Mookie up? JBJ would have had a better shot at that ball.

Ball hit to RCF and Beni almost threw out the runner going 1B -> 3B. JBJ's arm is better than Beni's and could have made the throw.

 

If he makes one - or even two - of those plays the game is entirely different. Our OF defense is vital to our winning. We need JBJ back out there, and the sooner the better.

[S5Dewey]

Honestly, I think that "10-15 up with just a few less mental blunders and dumb mistakes" is insupportable. Look at the standings. We're up 4.5 on the Yankees because we are 18 games above .500 and they are 9. For us to increase that lead to 12.5 games--the mean between 10 and 15 games up--we would have to be 34 games above .500, which would give us the best record in the AL and the 2d best record in MLB. All because we are too aggressive on the basepaths or JBJ forgets how many outs or whatever? Give me a break.

 

Besides, I think you are focusing on the wrong fundamentals. By far the two dominant fundamentals in baseball are hitting and pitching. After that, quite a way back in my opinion, comes fielding. Then maybe baserunning. Then maybe playing smart--hitting the cutoff man, covering 1b on grounders to the right, staying focus on the game situation (number of outs, what you should do on a grounder or fly, remembering who to backup if the other team hits a double or something).

 

Last night was a classic example of the fundamentals taking over. In the 2d inning many thought we blew the game when Beni tried for an extra base on a single and was out. This was was supposed to be our big inning, but he ruined it with his recklessness. Really? In the 1st we had the bases full with 1 out and Bogie, Devers, and HanRam quickly succumbed to Sabathia's mastery. Interestingly, if Beni has not run in the 2d, Betts would have come to the plate with men on 1st and 3d and no one out. Guess what? Betts and the next four guys in the lineup last night never got a single hit. In the 9th the Yankess bullpen gave up 3 walks and an HBP which scored 1 run for us, but we never got a hit.

 

We lost last night on the fundamentals, no question, but the fundamentals were hitting and pitching and not whether Beni was too aggressive.

 

We went 16-4 in the first part of August because we had good pitching and good hitting. We are struggling now because the hitting is unquestionably soft. The Nunez/Devers charge to the system has worn off. We took 3 straight from Toronto because they just might have the worst bullpen in the history of baseball (not really), but we got exactly 1 run per game off their three starters. That, sports fans, is ineptitude so great that worrying about aggressiveness on the base paths or not being alert about game situations or being unable to reliably go back on a pop up or whatever other "fundamental flaw" you want to name to me makes no sense. If we can't hit any better, that fundamental flaw will kill us this month--deservedly so.

 

I would like to amend the above by of course agreeing that pitching, the other dominant fundamental, was clearly key last night. Sabathia was way better than ERod even though ERod at least started OK. If Nunez hadn't missed that popup and Betts not allowed him to, ERod would have gone 5 while giving up 1, not bad. Come the 6th, however, the deluge.

 

We certainly will disagree on some of this post. See my post directly above this one.

 

I do agree that pitching is the most important aspect of the game but defense (the ability to prevent runs) is as valuable as hitting (the ability to score runs).

 

I have no problem with aggressive baserunning as long as it's smart baserunning. There is NO EXCUSE for Beni getting thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double early in the game and with nobody out. Even Eck went ballistic over that play. As he said during the review, "Even if he's safe it was a stupid play."

We sometimes forget that the largest factor in getting picked off the bases isn't the fact that the runner isn't there any more. It's that it shortened the inning by 1/3.

 

The SOx got outpitched last night but they also shot themselves in the foot repeatedly with bad baserunning and weak defense.

[Bellhorn04]

I guess we just lost that game every which way. But what stands out to me is that our hitting consisted of 4 singles. It was our popgun Noffense at its ugliest.

[S5Dewey]

 

We went 16-4 in the first part of August because we had good pitching and good hitting. We are struggling now because the hitting is unquestionably soft. The Nunez/Devers charge to the system has worn off. We took 3 straight from Toronto because they just might have the worst bullpen in the history of baseball (not really), but we got exactly 1 run per game off their three starters. That, sports fans, is ineptitude so great that worrying about aggressiveness on the base paths or not being alert about game situations or being unable to reliably go back on a pop up or whatever other "fundamental flaw" you want to name to me makes no sense. If we can't hit any better, that fundamental flaw will kill us this month--deservedly so.

But I completely agree with this part of the post except that I think it will kill us next month, which I think was a typo/brain cramp anyway!

[moonslav59]

Too bad nobody on the Sox learned the fundamentals this spring (or ever)- one being how to bunt.

[S5Dewey]

I agree with you, the Sox should have made him chase bunted baseballs all evening, but that brings me back around to something that I've always wondered about.

 

When Schilling was struggling with the bloody sock/ankle why didn't the Yankees bunt against him and make him leave the mound repeatedly until his ankle couldn't take it any more? I mean, if he'd made one bad turn on that ankle he'd have been done.

The only reason I can think of - and I do hate to admit this - is that Joe Torre didn't want to win "that way".

[moonslav59]

Honestly, I think that "10-15 up with just a few less mental blunders and dumb mistakes" is insupportable. Look at the standings. We're up 4.5 on the Yankees because we are 18 games above .500 and they are 9. For us to increase that lead to 12.5 games--the mean between 10 and 15 games up--we would have to be 34 games above .500, which would give us the best record in the AL and the 2d best record in MLB. All because we are too aggressive on the basepaths or JBJ forgets how many outs or whatever? Give me a break.

 

We've certainly lost 6 or more games due to dumb mistakes. That puts us 10.5 up, and nobody cares about losing last night.

 

Besides, I think you are focusing on the wrong fundamentals. By far the two dominant fundamentals in baseball are hitting and pitching. After that, quite a way back in my opinion, comes fielding. Then maybe baserunning. Then maybe playing smart--hitting the cutoff man, covering 1b on grounders to the right, staying focus on the game situation (number of outs, what you should do on a grounder or fly, remembering who to backup if the other team hits a double or something). ...

 

.

 

Of course the lack of hitting has hurt us, but it's not "lacking fundamentals" like bone head plays are. Have we made mistakes in our hitting approach? Yes, so in that sense, we have made some mental mistakes with our hitting, and maybe more games can be attributed to that than bonehead running and fielding mistakes, but these blunders are killing me.

[OH FOY]

Sabathia 4-0 with a 1.04 ERA against us this season, man glad we don't face this Flame thrower again. If I were the Yanks I would ask if he can go Sunday. Edited September 1, 2017 by OH FOY!

[moonslav59]

Sabathia 4-0 with a 1.04 ERA against us this season, man glad we don't face this Flame thrower again. If I were the Yanks I would ask if he can go Sunday.

 

Maybe out of the pen on his "throwing day".

[Station 13]

Sabathia went off the rails over Nunez bunt. What a fat piece of s***. Get over the entitlement you f***ing fat f***er. Edited September 1, 2017 by Station 13

[illinoisredsox]

Hicks squared both of his first 2 times up last night. Since ERod is also dealing with a knee issue, I assume CC was also upset about that.

[Station 13]

Sorry fatty ass, you can't have it your ways, not even at Burger King. Get bent, CC.

[illinoisredsox]

Too bad nobody on the Sox learned the fundamentals this spring (or ever)- one being how to bunt.

 

Agree, and certain guys should really learn to. The only on purpose bunt hits I remember this year have been Leon and Moreland. Bradley has the speed to get several a year. So do the rest of the B's (Bogaerts, Benintendi and Betts). And once on, all of them are capable of turning that into a double. They don't have to do it that often, just a few times.

[TylerD]

But I completely agree with this part of the post except that I think it will kill us next month, which I think was a typo/brain cramp anyway!

 

Unfortunately I agree as well. I was wondering how long the Nunez/Devers spark would last. I still think with solid pitching like Sale and Porcello gave us we are a dangerous team. We have taken the last two series wins against the Yankees and they do have a very good young team. The offense has gone cold there is no doubt about it but I have said all year as long as this team can give us 5 runs we have a chance at winning almost every single game we play. That is the problem with this team. It seems it's all or nothing. One game we hit 9/10 plus runs and the next game we are pretty much shut out. Super frustrating. Still a little bit of time before the playoffs hit for us to get it together offensively but I definitely thought we would have these kinks out by now.

[OH FOY]

Maybe out of the pen on his "throwing day".

It is a thought, a pretty smart one too.

[Thunder]

Seeing losing football every Saturday would drive me crazy too.

 

I'm just really glad you didn't go to THE Ohio State University. Those fans are the worst.

 

Don't know if you're serious about the Ohio State thing or not, but whatever. I don't care how bad UConn football is or has been, they're my team. Students who can't have a car on campus (me) have to take a bus to the game, since it's like 35-40 minutes away. I got on the bus, went by my house, down roads I've gone on so many times. I fought back tears as we arrived. It was the same stadium I've been to a million times, and the same team on the field. But, there I was, in the student section, in the front row, something I'd wanted to do for a VERY long time. I don't care that I root for absolutely horrible teams, like say UConn and the Jets. Sports to me is about more than winning; it's about the experience and memories.

 

 

And then of course, there were the two drunk girls that were basically feeling me up. It's really a shame the school just got through telling us about a million times that intoxicated consent does not count as consent. There's something about UConn girls.

[moonslav59]

Sabathia went off the rails over Nunez bunt. What a fat piece of s***. Get over the entitlement you f***ing fat f***er.

 

We should have bunted 5 more times in a row, or at least shown bunt.

 

The problem is, we don't know how to bunt.

 

Total lack of fundamentals.

[moonslav59]

I agree with you, the Sox should have made him chase bunted baseballs all evening, but that brings me back around to something that I've always wondered about.

 

When Schilling was struggling with the bloody sock/ankle why didn't the Yankees bunt against him and make him leave the mound repeatedly until his ankle couldn't take it any more? I mean, if he'd made one bad turn on that ankle he'd have been done.

The only reason I can think of - and I do hate to admit this - is that Joe Torre didn't want to win "that way".

 

They bunted against Wake when he was having back issues and flopping all over the place.

[mvp 78]

MLB players are babies.

[moonslav59]

Agree.

 

When you see pitchers throwing at guys for "swinging too hard" something is wrong.

[Spudboy]

Sabathia went off the rails over Nunez bunt. What a fat piece of s***. Get over the entitlement you f***ing fat f***er.

 

Not that I disagree with what you have said.

 

But where is the indignation because of your character assassination?

 

How dare you condemn Fatboy Pablow? But call CC a fat piece of s***?

 

Again, so I am clear, I support your post.

[mvp 78]

Are there ANY unwritten rules that are good for the game?

[mvp 78]

Don't know if you're serious about the Ohio State thing or not, but whatever. I don't care how bad UConn football is or has been, they're my team. Students who can't have a car on campus (me) have to take a bus to the game, since it's like 35-40 minutes away. I got on the bus, went by my house, down roads I've gone on so many times. I fought back tears as we arrived. It was the same stadium I've been to a million times, and the same team on the field. But, there I was, in the student section, in the front row, something I'd wanted to do for a VERY long time. I don't care that I root for absolutely horrible teams, like say UConn and the Jets. Sports to me is about more than winning; it's about the experience and memories.

 

I'm glad they had a nice comeback win for you.

 

Ohio State fans are the worst. It's a verifiable fact.

[Bellhorn04]

Not that I disagree with what you have said.

 

But where is the indignation because of your character assassination?

 

How dare you condemn Fatboy Pablow? But call CC a fat piece of s***?

 

Again, so I am clear, I support your post.

 

You can call a Yankee player anything you want.

[Maxbialystock]

We certainly will disagree on some of this post. See my post directly above this one.

 

I do agree that pitching is the most important aspect of the game but defense (the ability to prevent runs) is as valuable as hitting (the ability to score runs).

 

I have no problem with aggressive baserunning as long as it's smart baserunning. There is NO EXCUSE for Beni getting thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double early in the game and with nobody out. Even Eck went ballistic over that play. As he said during the review, "Even if he's safe it was a stupid play."

We sometimes forget that the largest factor in getting picked off the bases isn't the fact that the runner isn't there any more. It's that it shortened the inning by 1/3.

 

The SOx got outpitched last night but they also shot themselves in the foot repeatedly with bad baserunning and weak defense.

 

Frankly, I am indifferent to Ecks expostulations. He is paid to get excited about specific plays and not to drone on about the 4 singles which weren't confirmed as the total until the game ended. As I have explained already, I also don't care whether Benintendi was right or wrong. The point is, based on how the game played out and based on our sheer ineptitude when the bases were loaded in the 1st and again in the 9th inning, I think Eck and the rest of you are projecting a very unlikely outcome. Beni staying on 1b wasn't going to change the game's dynamic.

 

I too was enraged by Nunez's misplay in the 5th, but by the end of the game considered it inconsequential. The Yankees won because they had better hitting and pitching and nothing else.

Edited September 1, 2017 by Maxbialystock

[Slasher9]

Hicks squared both of his first 2 times up last night. Since ERod is also dealing with a knee issue, I assume CC was also upset about that.

 

excellent point.

[Slasher9]

Are there ANY unwritten rules that are good for the game?

 

yes. you slide cleats up into my all star 2nd baseman taking out his knee i am going to drill you the next time you step in the box.

[Maxbialystock]

I agree, Max.

 

Then you, sir, are in trouble.

 

I need to add that I like and respect everyone who disagrees with me. They all write good stuff. But i still disagree.

[a700hitter]

Frankly, I am indifferent to Ecks expostulations. He is paid to get excited about specific plays and not to drone on about the 4 singles which weren't confirmed as the total until the game ended. As I have explained already, I also don't care whether Benintendi was right or wrong. The point is, based on how the game played out and based on our sheer ineptitude when the bases were loaded in the 1st and again in the 9th inning, I think Eck and the rest of you are projecting a very unlikely outcome. Beni staying on 1b wasn't going to change the game's dynamic.

 

I too was enraged by Nunez's misplay in the 5th, but by the end of the game considered it inconsequential. The Yankees won because they had better hitting and pitching and nothing else.

I don't get enraged over physical errors. They are human and not perfect. I get enraged over errors of stupidity. Benintendi's rock imo cost us at least 1 run, maybe more. I don't cut him any slack for being a dope. I don't blame him for the caught stealing as that looked to be a hit and run and a missed sign.

[FredLynn]

We're still making too many dumb mistakes. I don't see us suddenly becoming good at fundamentals.

 

I'm hoping we don't end up losing a series on a bonehead play, but it wouldn't surprise me.

 

 

Sure, I'd love to have a better offense, but we'd be 10-15 up with just a few less mental blunders and dumb mistakes.

 

I realize every team makes mental mistakes, but we've reached an absurd level.

 

 

I still really like this team's make-up. To be where we are at without Price, half our pen and an off year from our Cy Young winner shows how much this team can and has overcome. Yeah, the Dodgers, Guardians and Astors look tough on paper as well, but I still like our chances as much as anyone else's.

 

 

 

 

The manager is responsible for making sure his players are awake and focused out there. With a better manager half of those mental mistake would not have been committed.