8/24 @ Tropical Tampa Bay

[oldtimer]

It’s the only positive we have tonight lol.

 

We came off a tough Cleveland series, hopped on a plane and were playing ball tonight. We had 13 hits and 3 walks but only managed to push 3 runs across. Betts and Beni at the top of the order didn't deliver much and down at the bottom Bradley wasn't hitting. The Rays pitching seems to confound the Sox at times and Betts is in a little slump.

 

Our starting pitching wasn't up to it tonight at all and Cora stayed with it to take us totally out of this one. Our record is so good I will refrain from criticizing him but do confess to not understanding his approach. Lets hope we do better tomorrow with Porcello.

 

It looks like the Yankees will gain a game on us tonight.

[Station 13]

Mookie should try hitting pitches that are not fastball for a change.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

We came off a tough Cleveland series, hopped on a plane and were playing ball tonight. We had 13 hits and 3 walks but only managed to push 3 runs across. Betts and Beni at the top of the order didn't deliver much and down at the bottom Bradley wasn't hitting. The Rays pitching seems to confound the Sox at times and Betts is in a little slump.

 

Our starting pitching wasn't up to it tonight at all and Cora stayed with it to take us totally out of this one. Our record is so good I will refrain from criticizing him but do confess to not understanding his approach. Lets hope we do better tomorrow with Porcello.

 

It looks like the Yankees will gain a game on us tonight.

 

With POR pitching tomorrow, it's a shame the DH rule only allows the DH to bat for the pitcher.

[d-money]

Cora gave away a game in the standings tonight. Gotta win tomorrow.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Was at the game. Pearce and Kinsler looked like they had cement in their shoes.

[jung]

I'm not seeing a tired bat, not one bit. I'm seeing Mookie swinging for the fences on almost every swing. He's definitely swinging hard and he is no longer trying to go to the opposite field. That last at bat is a perfect example. The pitch was on the outside corner and Mookie hit it down the 3b line.

 

He has not been going oppo all season. JBJ is going oppo. Going oppo has more to do with how you swing, not where the ball ends up going.

 

Mookie is not getting the barrel of the bat to inner half pitches and when he can't do that that, his entire profile as a hitter changes. Not more complicated than that. Mookie just hits the ball where it is pitched making no real effort to pull or go oppo. But when he can't get the barrel of the bat to pitches on the inner half, his bat has slowed. We all know what he usually does with pitches on the inner half.

Edited August 25, 2018 by jung

[Bellhorn04]

Cora gave away a game in the standings tonight. Gotta win tomorrow.

 

We scored 3 runs and our starter was terrible. Even if Cora had been Captain Hook with Velazquez I don't see how we win this game. Nope, can't see a shred of logic in your statement.

[Maxbialystock]

Cora gave away a game in the standings tonight. Gotta win tomorrow.

 

Could not agree more. He is really clueless when his starter runs into trouble. It would have been so simple to just run the bullpen out there in the 2d inning. I think Farrell is available, but probably not Bobby Valentine.

 

The great thing about talksox is the astuteness of guys like you. I live for these game threads.

[OH FOY]

Asked last night anything positive from last night's game. Cora answered.

"The Bullpen is rested for tomorrow". I like Mr. Cora.

[Slasher9]

Could not agree more. He is really clueless when his starter runs into trouble. It would have been so simple to just run the bullpen out there in the 2d inning. I think Farrell is available, but probably not Bobby Valentine.

 

The great thing about talksox is the astuteness of guys like you. I live for these game threads.

 

What inning did Rays starter get yanked?

[Slasher9]

Asked last night anything positive from last night's game. Cora answered.

"The Bullpen is rested for tomorrow". I like Mr. Cora.

 

That’s a good answer

[Station 13]

Valesquez really has been smoke and mirrors. He's going to get spank when a team is seeing him more and more. No swing and miss stuff.

 

More concerning now is the offense has sucked since Betts went into a slump 10 days ago.

Edited August 25, 2018 by Station 13

[d-money]

Asked last night anything positive from last night's game. Cora answered.

"The Bullpen is rested for tomorrow". I like Mr. Cora.

 

The bullpen could have been rested either way with porcello going today. Cora has been great but these are the moments where he will be judged.

[Bellhorn04]

What inning did Rays starter get yanked?

 

The Rays starter wasn't a starter.

[Bellhorn04]

More concerning now is the offense has sucked since Betts went into a slump 10 days ago.

 

The offense scored 24 runs in 4 games against the Wahoos - 17 in the last 2 games.

 

And last night they had 13 hits and 3 walks, just didn't cash in enough.

 

The offense is still in good shape.

 

And you know Mookie is going to bust out again and somebody gotta pay.

[vegasbob]

The Rays starter wasn't a starter.

 

In a bullpen game, the Rays call him the Opener. Meanwhile Beeks picks up 2 W's in 6 days against the team for which he could not be developed for as a pitcher. meanwhile EO needs to figure himself out and become effective again.