06/11 Red Hot Rangers @ The Boston Chokers

[moonslav59]

. You are certainly JBJ's top hype man . Boras should give you a cut of his commission.

 

I'd be fine trading him this winter.

 

His defense appears to be slipping a little, and the cold streaks are too often and too long.

[Maxbialystock]

I mentioned this earlier.

 

When you have 3-4 key guys out (JD, Moreland/Pearce & Eovaldi, you don't sit players for resting. You ask others to pick up the slack in hopes you can get them rest when players are healthy. We've been resting our hottest hitters almost every game, and sometimes two at a time.

 

It's not just the loss of JBJ and Betts' defense that contributed to this loss, it was resting our hottest hitter since May 20th in JBJ.

 

 

 

 

I disagree, especially about last night when the Sox lost 9-5 without JBJ. The problem was the pitching far more than the hitting or defense.

 

The night before the Sox lost with Beni, Brad, and Betts all in their appointed places. And, sure enough, in the very first inning Mookie got on and Beni homered to give the Sox a 2-0 lead with Sale at his best going 7 innings and giving up 1 unearned run, the result of our great defensive catcher getting a passed ball and a throwing error. But after that dinger in the 1st, the lineup scored just 1 run in 10 innings, and the bullpen gave up 3 runs to blow the game up.

 

Last night we lost because our pitching stunk. Working backward from this current series, we lost 3 of 4 to the Rays because they have better pitching, period, not because JBJ may or may not have started. We took 3 of 3 from KC because they stink. We lost 2 of 3 to the Yankees because they pitched better and have better hitting despite tons of good hitters on their IL. We lost 2 of 3 to Cleveland because our pitching stunk to high heaven. Then there's the Astros series, May 24-26, in Houston, when the Sox lost 2 of 3 but overall played well.

 

More on JBJ. Since his reputed turnaround starting May 27, he has missed exactly one game. But--and you will love this--he did not play in four of the games from May 3 thru May 26. Those were because he wasn't hitting. And the Sox won 3 of 4 of those games.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Moon, you just may have hit on a major revelation. When JBJr is your "hottest" hitter since May 20 , you have discovered the key to why your 119 win team of 8 months ago is at .500 and sinking.

 

I'm submitting this post for the Pulitzer.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Maybe Cora needs a couple of 'rest' days. Edited June 12, 2019 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[vegasbob]

Maybe Cora needs a couple of 'rest' days.

 

I can rest easy with that thought, in the sense, there may be a little too much managing going on (or not enough). Not enough in the reluctance to recognize a pitcher who is "on" that night (Poyner after 1 inning ). The former point in constantly shuffling the lineup after waiting a long time to realize Beni wasn't the prime leadoff candidate. Injuries may be to blame more than Cora, but then there is that "rest" thing amongst guys still in their twenties. Get some Neugenics from the Big Hurt, if you need it Alex.

[moonslav59]

I disagree, especially about last night when the Sox lost 9-5 without JBJ. The problem was the pitching far more than the hitting or defense.

 

The night before the Sox lost with Beni, Brad, and Betts all in their appointed places. And, sure enough, in the very first inning Mookie got on and Beni homered to give the Sox a 2-0 lead with Sale at his best going 7 innings and giving up 1 unearned run, the result of our great defensive catcher getting a passed ball and a throwing error. But after that dinger in the 1st, the lineup scored just 1 run in 10 innings, and the bullpen gave up 3 runs to blow the game up.

 

Last night we lost because our pitching stunk. Working backward from this current series, we lost 3 of 4 to the Rays because they have better pitching, period, not because JBJ may or may not have started. We took 3 of 3 from KC because they stink. We lost 2 of 3 to the Yankees because they pitched better and have better hitting despite tons of good hitters on their IL. We lost 2 of 3 to Cleveland because our pitching stunk to high heaven. Then there's the Astros series, May 24-26, in Houston, when the Sox lost 2 of 3 but overall played well.

 

More on JBJ. Since his reputed turnaround starting May 27, he has missed exactly one game. But--and you will love this--he did not play in four of the games from May 3 thru May 26. Those were because he wasn't hitting. And the Sox won 3 of 4 of those games.

 

I'm not saying we win last night with JBJ. Last night was not the major example of my argument. It was the Rays game, where we sat Bogey, Beni & Devers, but you never know in a game like last night. The improved defense alone might have made kit very close.

 

Remember, every time a play is not made by the defense, another batter (plus) gets another PA. Also, once we got down big, we changed our pitching choices and did not PH anyone. It's not about one game. It's about the philosophy that when the chips are down and we need everyone to pick up the slack, our manager is choosing to give our hottest players days off. It's the wrong signal to send. Whether it meant a loss turned into a win or not is just part of the issue.

[a700hitter]

I disagree, especially about last night when the Sox lost 9-5 without JBJ. The problem was the pitching far more than the hitting or defense.

 

The night before the Sox lost with Beni, Brad, and Betts all in their appointed places. And, sure enough, in the very first inning Mookie got on and Beni homered to give the Sox a 2-0 lead with Sale at his best going 7 innings and giving up 1 unearned run, the result of our great defensive catcher getting a passed ball and a throwing error. But after that dinger in the 1st, the lineup scored just 1 run in 10 innings, and the bullpen gave up 3 runs to blow the game up.

 

Last night we lost because our pitching stunk. Working backward from this current series, we lost 3 of 4 to the Rays because they have better pitching, period, not because JBJ may or may not have started. We took 3 of 3 from KC because they stink. We lost 2 of 3 to the Yankees because they pitched better and have better hitting despite tons of good hitters on their IL. We lost 2 of 3 to Cleveland because our pitching stunk to high heaven. Then there's the Astros series, May 24-26, in Houston, when the Sox lost 2 of 3 but overall played well.

 

More on JBJ. Since his reputed turnaround starting May 27, he has missed exactly one game. But--and you will love this--he did not play in four of the games from May 3 thru May 26. Those were because he wasn't hitting. And the Sox won 3 of 4 of those games.

Max, last night was a team effort including the manager. The umps also got into the act of stinking. It was awful all the way around.

[a700hitter]

Maybe Cora needs a couple of 'rest' days.

+1!

[moonslav59]

Max, last night was a team effort including the manager. The umps also got into the act of stinking. It was awful all the way around.

 

Just a couple plays made (calls called, hits hit) and it's a whole new ballgame.

[a700hitter]

Just a couple plays made (calls called, hits hit) and it's a whole new ballgame.

True. Last year’s team would have won that game with the same personnel. On this year’s team no one stepped up when needed. They were lackluster to the last man.

[moonslav59]

True. Last year’s team would have won that game with the same personnel. On this year’s team no one stepped up when needed. They were lackluster to the last man.

 

I see the same thing you do.

 

It's like 2017, when I called it "lack of fire and desire."