The Alex Cora Managerial Decision Thread

[a700hitter]

JDM has been pretty unlucky so far with some hard hit balls. He's going to mash this summer.

As the weather warms up, I expect that JD will regress to 35+ Home Runs.

[StephenCurry30]

The Red Sox have 6 starters on the roster, with two coming back soon. Velazquez and Johnson have been pitching out of the pen lately. why in a game where david price pitches one damn inning would one of them not be used. instead cora pitches every pitcher on the roster and kills the pen

 

also sox just had three off days in past week, why does beni need an off day?

[Natick to NC]

Velasquez and Benny should have pitched and hit after we cut the game yo 2 ...terrible decision with Gas can Barnes .

[Maxbialystock]

The Red Sox have 6 starters on the roster, with two coming back soon. Velazquez and Johnson have been pitching out of the pen lately. why in a game where david price pitches one damn inning would one of them not be used. instead cora pitches every pitcher on the roster and kills the pen

 

also sox just had three off days in past week, why does beni need an off day?

 

I said the same thing in the game thread. Because it happened spur of the moment, I can using a short reliever for the 2d, but Johnson or Velazquez should have gone 4 or 5 innings.

 

This is the 2d game of 13 games without a day off for bullpen recovery. On top of that, Cora has a pitching coach who should also be focused on both the rest of the game (8 more innings after Price left) and on the 11 games to follow before a break.

 

I suppose the good news is that a new manager should be allowed to make early mistakes. Let's hope he is learning. I worry a little because he might still be focused on the two bench-clearing episodes and what might be ahead as a result.

[Maxbialystock]

IMO, the aggressive approach is making the biggest impact with our hitters so far, not letting those middle-middle pitches go by and getting into a pitcher's count. Being healthy has played a big part too. Plus good old plain regression.

 

All three good points. Cora gets credit for the first and probably DD for the second and third and the addition of JDM.

[Bellhorn04]

The Red Sox have 6 starters on the roster, with two coming back soon. Velazquez and Johnson have been pitching out of the pen lately. why in a game where david price pitches one damn inning would one of them not be used. instead cora pitches every pitcher on the roster and kills the pen

 

Huh? Johnson pitched 1.2 last night and 2 the night before.

 

They're probably holding Velazquez back in case they need him to start a game.

[Bellhorn04]

I said the same thing in the game thread. Because it happened spur of the moment, I can using a short reliever for the 2d, but Johnson or Velazquez should have gone 4 or 5 innings.

 

Johnson pitched 2 innings the first game. Kind of rules him out for pitching 4 or 5 the next night unless you're trying to end his season.

[cp176]

Johnson pitched 2 innings the first game. Kind of rules him out for pitching 4 or 5 the next night unless you're trying to end his season.

 

Oh man - I am old - fell asleep again last night but hard to imagine that anyone would think that Johnson was going to resurface again tonight. After Price went down, it might even be possible that Cora realized that he has to use him as a starter for a while. lol

People just find new ways to continually bitch and moan about anything. My only gripe about last night was Vazquez. I watched the replay many times and I guess each time I expected him to make a more aggressive move to keep Austin form getting to kelly. Although maybe he had a hunch what might happen to Austin when he got there. lol again

[moonslav59]

Huh? Johnson pitched 1.2 last night and 2 the night before.

 

They're probably holding Velazquez back in case they need him to start a game.

 

If they need Velazquez to start a game, it will be 5 days from now, when Price misses his next start.

[S5Dewey]

I'm a Vazquez fan and always have been so I may not be as objective as you are. It looked to me like Vaz started walking behind Austin until Austin started to run, and then Vaz wasn't fast enough to catch him. I recognize the fact that Vaz runs like a catcher. LOL

 

IMO Kelly plunked him on purpose and I like it. After what happened between Machado and Pedey it's important that other teams don't think it's open season on our infielders.

[SoxnCycles]

IMO, the aggressive approach is making the biggest impact with our hitters so far, not letting those middle-middle pitches go by and getting into a pitcher's count. Being healthy has played a big part too. Plus good old plain regression.

 

^ This.

[mvp 78]

I'm a Vazquez fan and always have been so I may not be as objective as you are. It looked to me like Vaz started walking behind Austin until Austin started to run, and then Vaz wasn't fast enough to catch him. I recognize the fact that Vaz runs like a catcher. LOL

 

IMO Kelly plunked him on purpose and I like it. After what happened between Machado and Pedey it's important that other teams don't think it's open season on our infielders.

 

Vaz needs a quicker intervention strategy.

[S5Dewey]

Vaz needs a quicker intervention strategy.

 

Suggestions?

[mvp 78]

Suggestions?

 

He should have gotten between Austin and Kelly right after Austin was plunked.

[S5Dewey]

He should have gotten between Austin and Kelly right after Austin was plunked.

 

He could have, but it would have been unusual for a catcher to do that. Ordinarily the hitter goes to 1B and the game goes on. I don't fault Vaz for what happened. Vaz tried to tackle him from behind but missed.

[illinoisredsox]

He could have, but it would have been unusual for a catcher to do that. Ordinarily the hitter goes to 1B and the game goes on. I don't fault Vaz for what happened. Vaz tried to tackle him from behind but missed.

 

Difference in background. Vazquez went after him like a soccer player (which I'm sure he played growing up)

 

Moreland came racing in and tried to crossbody block Austin. Didn't quite get there in time, but tried to play it like a football player (which I'm sure he played growing up).

[illinoisredsox]

He should have gotten between Austin and Kelly right after Austin was plunked.

 

Tells me Vazquez had no idea Kelly was going to plunk the punk. Varitek anticipated those situations and was ready for them. He probably ordered them when needed.

[S5Dewey]

Difference in background. Vazquez went after him like a soccer player (which I'm sure he played growing up)

 

Moreland came racing in and tried to crossbody block Austin. Didn't quite get there in time, but tried to play it like a football player (which I'm sure he played growing up).

 

Excellent point. I hadn't thought of it that way. It's all about the culture and what they've learned.

[mvp 78]

Vaz had more than enough time. Once Austin walked forward and slammed the bat, he should have at least gotten between the batter and the pitcher. In a perfect world, he would have tackled him.

[mvp 78]

Tells me Vazquez had no idea Kelly was going to plunk the punk. Varitek anticipated those situations and was ready for them. He probably ordered them when needed.

 

I didn't see Vaz attempt a slide tackle?

[Maxbialystock]

Huh? Johnson pitched 1.2 last night and 2 the night before.

 

They're probably holding Velazquez back in case they need him to start a game.

 

Thanks, Bellhorn. How soon I forget.

[S5Dewey]

OK. So from now on every time a hitter gets HBP the catcher has to run out and stand between the hitter and the pitcher. Let's keep track and see how often that actually happens.

[oldtimer]

All three good points. Cora gets credit for the first and probably DD for the second and third and the addition of JDM.

 

Interesting article about the Red Sox newly found aggressiveness.

https://bosoxinjection.com/2018/04/11/red-sox-hitters-thriving-aggressive-approach-plate/

[sk7326]

Interesting article about the Red Sox newly found aggressiveness.

https://bosoxinjection.com/2018/04/11/red-sox-hitters-thriving-aggressive-approach-plate/

 

It has been good. Smoltz noted on the national telecast that given the shorter hooks pitchers are getting generally, the marginal utility of waiting out starters might not be as high. Moreover - the key is that patience is important, but you still have to recognize when your pitch comes.

 

Approach is one of the sloppier technical terms that gets thrown out - because it is more than simply "patience".

[jad]

Cora needs to go. He loses the opener, and now his team is starting a losing streak with no end in sight. And letting Aaron Freaking Boone beat you? I mean who does that!!!

[SoxnCycles]

Cora needs to go. He loses the opener, and now his team is starting a losing streak with no end in sight. And letting Aaron Freaking Boone beat you? I mean who does that!!!

 

LOL

Nice!

[mvp 78]

OK. So from now on every time a hitter gets HBP the catcher has to run out and stand between the hitter and the pitcher. Let's keep track and see how often that actually happens.

 

https://twitter.com/MLB/status/984256977277665280

 

Watch the video again. Instead of messing around with his mask, Vaz needs to step between the batter and the pitcher. He has enough time. The batter starts walking towards Kelly and Vaz just slowly wanders behind. Not good enough.

[illinoisredsox]

https://twitter.com/MLB/status/984256977277665280

 

Watch the video again. Instead of messing around with his mask, Vaz needs to step between the batter and the pitcher. He has enough time. The batter starts walking towards Kelly and Vaz just slowly wanders behind. Not good enough.

 

Exactly, he had plenty of time to get there. Should have been up and moving as soon as the bat slammed.

 

Also, a catcher should never take his mask off in those situations; if the other guy is dumb enough to punch a mask and/or helmet, let him. If you watch the Varitek -ARod incident, Varitek walks down the line between ARod and Arroyo and never takes his mask off; it gets knocked off once the benches clear.

Edited April 12, 2018 by illinoisredsox

[illinoisredsox]

Still sticking with my prediction of Torre justice, Kelly 5 games, Austin 2.

[mvp 78]

Exactly, he had plenty of time to get there. Should have been up and moving as soon as the bat slammed.

 

Also, a catcher should never take his mask off in those situations; if the other guy is dumb enough to punch a mask and/or helmet, let him. If you watch the Varitek -ARod incident, Varitek walks down the line between ARod and Arroyo and never takes his mask off; it gets knocked off once the benches clear.

 

Yup, Vaz needs a sit down with Tek. You need to protect your pitchers.