8/11 Sox @ O's game 2

[OH FOY]

Actually, they want perfection to start with, and then improvement from there.

 

Want perfection and improve? OK that's cool.

[OH FOY]

Listen, what this team has most folks don't see it. They are mentally tough, nothing bothers them. Each aspect of the game they pick each other up. They play as team. It starts above the shoulders.

Very good team. Most people see stats, I see team.

2013 team had it too. Their minds was all about winning.

Edited August 12, 2018 by OH FOY!

[vegasbob]

I've been out of the loop big time this season. Checked the standings today and my eyes damn near popped out of my head.

 

Check your name , Dude. You just had hip surgery and are done for good.

[vegasbob]

It is becoming obvious why Butler is not a major league catcher.

 

I don't think Butler asked or expected to be the backup catcher with 3 in front of him, but because the other idiots hurt themselves , he had to respond with availability. Try palying that position, it isn't so easy.

[oldtimer]

The funny thing is, we're playing pretty close to perfect ball and have Sale, ERod and maybe others (Kinsler, Wright, Vaz & Swihart) coming off the DL soon.

 

Hard to see how we can get any better, but just sayin'...

 

E-Rod is a big pieceeto get back and probably will give us 6 innings a start with minimum runs. He replaces Joohnson in the lineup and Sale is back as our #1. Big help to the pitching staff. Kinsler may make it back against the Phillies. That improves our defense and depth and by the way, the guy can hit. Swihart also will be back very soon and will replace Butler, who after all is just a placeholder. Vaz's return is a ways off as he may not make it back until September. We are strong enough to get by without him for a while. This team is getting stronger from an already good position and barring further injuries should win the American League East.

[S5Dewey]

I don't think Butler asked or expected to be the backup catcher with 3 in front of him, but because the other idiots hurt themselves , he had to respond with availability. Try palying that position, it isn't so easy.

 

Very right. Butler has never been anything more than a AAAA player, one of the players who holds a position in Pawtucket so the Sox can field a farm team there letting guys like Mookie, Devers, etc. mature.

 

He's a career Minor Leaguer for nine years having come up through the Sox organization as far as he's going to go. In fact, the Sox declined offering him any contract last year and when nobody else offered one either he asked the Sox if he could come back - and they gave him a contract. He appears to have no delusions about his future. He seems to be happy just to be playing baseball. The only reason he's playing is because both our #1 and #3 are hurt and #2 played the first game.

 

Sometimes a manager has to go with who's on his roster.

[Kimmi]

Sale aint going 9 tomorrow. You are probably going to need 2-3 guys Sunday. A good manager thinks of that.

 

You don't manage in August the way you manage in late September/October

 

A voice of reason.

 

You don't go all out to win a game in August at the possible expense of Sept./Oct., especially with a 9 game lead in the division.

[Kimmi]

But you see, the SOX already have a good chance of winning this one. Why not win this one and tomorrow will take care of itself.

 

Because overusing or misusing your relievers today might win you today's game, but it might cost you 5 games down the stretch.

 

You have to manage for the marathon.

 

Playoff time or crunch time in September, it's a completely different story.

[cp176]

Listen, what this team has most folks don't see it. They are mentally tough, nothing bothers them. Each aspect of the game they pick each other up. They play as team. It starts above the shoulders.

Very good team. Most people see stats, I see team.

2013 team had it too. Their minds was all about winning.

 

You are so right here. We used to call it - attitude vs aptitude - It is unbelievable how much influence just having the right mindset can affect an athlete's play.

[Kimmi]

Oh yeah, JD Freaking Martinez!

 

Thanks Dave!

[a700hitter]

I don't think Butler asked or expected to be the backup catcher with 3 in front of him, but because the other idiots hurt themselves , he had to respond with availability. Try palying that position, it isn't so easy.

I caught once or twice in practice. It was hot with all that equipment and after the first foul tip hit me, I flinched on almost every swing. That doesn’t change the fact that Butler is not a major league caliber catcher. I had always assumed that his bat held him back, but it looks pretty clear that defensively he is also substandard.

[cp176]

I caught once or twice in practice. It was hot with all that equipment and after the first foul tip hit me, I flinched on almost every swing. That doesn’t change the fact that Butler is not a major league caliber catcher. I had always assumed that his bat held him back, but it looks pretty clear that defensively he is also substandard.

 

You are probably right but I wouldn't want to be the guy who told him that. lol Did you see the size of his forearms? Linebacker.

[Spudboy]

You are probably right but I wouldn't want to be the guy who told him that. lol Did you see the size of his forearms? Linebacker.

 

Catchers have massive fingers and hands, too.

 

Back in the '90s Eric Wedge was a customer of mine. Every time we met we shook hands. His hand would envelope my forearm.

 

I shook hands with Connie Hawkins back in 1972 or 1973. He had huge hands as well. Except his fingers were really long and skinny. Wedge's fingers were like my thighs!

[S5Dewey]

I've only met a few people who made it up the ladder. I've told my Koufax story and the other guy I met was a guy named Larry Gowell. He played AAA ball for a few years and for a short time with the Yankees. He became, as he put it, part of the the Catfish Hunter trade. He was a throw-in who never went anyplace. LOL

 

His biggest distinction is that he's the last pitcher to get a hit in the regular season before the designated hitter rule took effect - and it was the only hit he ever got.

 

Anyway... I digress... the thing he and Koufax had in common is that they both had huge hands. I don't know if that's a characteristic that only pitchers have or if it extends to most MLB players. But that's my experience FWIW.

[moonslav59]

Listen, what this team has most folks don't see it. They are mentally tough, nothing bothers them. Each aspect of the game they pick each other up. They play as team. It starts above the shoulders.

Very good team. Most people see stats, I see team.

2013 team had it too. Their minds was all about winning.

 

Excellent post, and while I do tend to focus on numbers, I also see the mental toughness and a whole lot of fire and desire in this team's heart.