7/14 Dodgers in Beantown

[Bellhorn04]

FWIW here's a decent piece from Peter Abraham about moves/mistakes in the game.

 

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2019/07/14/onball/MzLoOoYM1vNAQ4fFv8vA5M/story.html?p1=Article_Feed_ContentQuery

[Bellhorn04]

Me too. But only because I’m hoping the Sox can flip him for other minor leaguers...

 

That's the spirit!

[notin]

If we sell, these are the keepers:

 

Devers

Bogey

ERod

Vaz

Price

 

Betts, if he extends

 

Sale is untradeable.

 

Everyone else is traded, if the return is better.

 

All free agents to be should be traded for the best we can get.

 

Free agents after 2020 should be heavily shopped (JBJ).

 

Sell Beni, yesterday.

 

Line up some trade partners, see what we can get for Porcello, Holt, Moreland and Holt. Reset the tax in 2020 and shoot for a 2021 contender with or without Betts (or JD).

 

 

 

There’s little point in selling if you don’t move Betts and/or Bradley.

 

The thought of moving Benintendi in a down year is appealing, but his cheaper contract and outfield versatility might come in handy.

 

Sell on Betts, Bradley, Porcello, and Cashner. If someone calls about Holt, Nunez, Pearce or Moreland, listen. But only if they talk fast. No point in actively trying to move these players. The return is likely negligible...

[Bellhorn04]

I think if the Sox had won this game there would be much less talk about packing in the season and selling off.

[jung]

If I had my choice, I would not have taken a starter from another AL team in hopes that he helps my rotation. With very few exceptions the starters in this league are throwing sludge over here now. There are more likely candidates to help in the NL. That said, I never thought we had a realistic shot at Wheeler without making decisions we appear unwilling or unable to make.

[OH FOY]

2 in the loss column for last Wildcard lets sell. Come on. Not 5 games left.

[jacksonianmarch]

Me too. But only because I’m hoping the Sox can flip him for other minor leaguers...

 

Cashner is what he is. A good velo contact pitcher who has been really lucky this year per his FIP. He’s gonna give you innings which is why you got him. Your offense should support him.

[iortiz]

Cora lost this one. Hernandez should have bunt and Betts or Devers would have made contact to bring the run.

 

Instead Cora of course wanted to win with a walkoff, whata clown.

 

Said that, DFA Velazquez he’s done and btw JD hasn’t been a clutch hitter this year.

[TylerD]

Cora lost this one. Hernandez should have bunt and Betts or Devers would have made contact to bring the run.

 

Instead Cora of course wanted to win with a walkoff, whata clown.

 

Said that, DFA Velazquez he’s done and btw JD hasn’t been a clutch hitter this year.

Well said.

 

Also. (And this isn’t to say we would have won anyway) but can our starters please last longer than 5 friggin innings???? Man it’s frustrating. Price didn’t blow the game far from it. But 111 pitches at the end of 5 is and given up 4 runs is just not good enough from this rotation. E Rod has been our only solid starter lately.

[iortiz]

Well said.

 

Also. (And this isn’t to say we would have won anyway) but can our starters please last longer than 5 friggin innings???? Man it’s frustrating. Price didn’t blow the game far from it. But 111 pitches at the end of 5 is and given up 4 runs is just not good enough from this rotation. E Rod has been our only solid starter lately.

 

Yeah, the front of the squad has been performing awful. We need Price and Sale to turn around in the second half.

 

Good thing we are still in the mix at least for a WC spot.

[TylerD]

Yeah, the front of the squad has been performing awful. We need Price and Sale to turn around in the second half.

 

Good thing we are still in the mix at least for a WC spot.

 

Yup 2.5 games out. Need a sweep over the brutal Jays

 

I said earlier if we don’t get in and Oakland does. I hope Oakland goes all the way. Great under dog story.

[vegasbob]

I think if the Sox had won this game there would be much less talk about packing in the season and selling off.

 

Mostly because last night seemed to be a confirmation of season long tendencies: losing record at Fenway, losing record vs teams above .500, bad baseball luck (3 run HR by the pole), fielding issues, lack of timely hitting (RISP), short run by the starting pitching followed by a good run through the bullpen only to finally succumb to the weakest link in the bullpen, essentially lose to a bases loaded walk , solo HR's not 3 run jacks, etc. This game had it all and displayed to all observers what has happened all year.

 

In reality with 69 games to go, the Sox need a 40-29 record to hit 90 wins, 18 below last year's record. I don't think the evidence is there to support 90 wins.

[Bellhorn04]

Cora lost this one. Hernandez should have bunt and Betts or Devers would have made contact to bring the run.

 

Instead Cora of course wanted to win with a walkoff, whata clown.

 

From the piece by Peter Abraham:

 

Question 1: Why didn’t Hernandez bunt? He had bunted Bradley from first to second in the ninth inning.

 

Alex Cora: “[With a runner] at second, I like taking three shots. At the end it was a 3-1 count. He put a good at-bat. We like taking three shots there.”

 

Analysis: I’m anti-bunt almost always because an out is worth more than advancing 90 feet. Bradley is a good base runner who would have scored from second on a single. With first base open, the Dodgers would have walked Mookie Betts with Bradley at third. Hernandez has hit well this season, too. Swing the bat.

 

Question 2: What was Bradley thinking?

 

Bradley: “With Marco, they were going to be shifted more up the middle. As the pitch is being delivered, I saw [seager] shuffling towards the hole. Off the bat I didn’t necessarily think it was hit hard enough. I had to slow down in order for it to go by or it would have hit me. It was a tough play for me to read. Initially I thought it was the right read.”

 

Cora: “That ball was right in front of him. He knows you stay at second and we have Mookie and Raffy [Devers] lined up. It’s a mistake. He knows it.”

 

Analysis: Bradley screwed up. Not much more you can say. He’s one of their smartest base runners and wasn’t that time.

[OH FOY]

Swing the bat, no problem, but your trying to pull it at a minimum. Situational hitting at that point. Should be looking for pitches inside, trying to get runner to 3rd. Productive outs.

[Kimmi]

From the piece by Peter Abraham:

 

Question 1: Why didn’t Hernandez bunt? He had bunted Bradley from first to second in the ninth inning.

 

Alex Cora: “[With a runner] at second, I like taking three shots. At the end it was a 3-1 count. He put a good at-bat. We like taking three shots there.”

 

Analysis: I’m anti-bunt almost always because an out is worth more than advancing 90 feet. Bradley is a good base runner who would have scored from second on a single. With first base open, the Dodgers would have walked Mookie Betts with Bradley at third. Hernandez has hit well this season, too. Swing the bat.

 

Question 2: What was Bradley thinking?

 

Bradley: “With Marco, they were going to be shifted more up the middle. As the pitch is being delivered, I saw [seager] shuffling towards the hole. Off the bat I didn’t necessarily think it was hit hard enough. I had to slow down in order for it to go by or it would have hit me. It was a tough play for me to read. Initially I thought it was the right read.”

 

Cora: “That ball was right in front of him. He knows you stay at second and we have Mookie and Raffy [Devers] lined up. It’s a mistake. He knows it.”

 

Analysis: Bradley screwed up. Not much more you can say. He’s one of their smartest base runners and wasn’t that time.

 

I am anti bunt almost always, but in that situation, I would not have been against it. If you're going to employ a sac bunt, this would have been the time to do it.

 

1. Extra innings, playing for one run as the home team.

2. Runner on 2B, NOT 1B.

3. Marco at bat, top of the order coming up.

 

All that said, I'm not against Cora's decision to allow Marco to swing away. The problem was not Marco swinging. The problem was Jackie trying to make something happen by trying to advance to 3B on a ball that he had no business trying to advance on.

 

Bradley screwed up. OTOH, if he had somehow made it to 3B, everyone would be calling it smart or heads up base running.

[a700hitter]

 

Bradley screwed up. OTOH, if he had somehow made it to 3B, everyone would be calling it smart or heads up base running.

But he didn't make and it was obvious that he had no chance of making it. The third baseman was waiting for him with the ball. It was dumb.

[Kimmi]

But he didn't make and it was obvious that he had no chance of making it. The third baseman was waiting for him with the ball. It was dumb.

 

I agree, it was a bad base running play.

[moonslav59]

There’s little point in selling if you don’t move Betts and/or Bradley.

.

 

I had JBJ listed as a trade and Betts, if we can't extend him.

[vegasbob]

Swing the bat, no problem, but your trying to pull it at a minimum. Situational hitting at that point. Should be looking for pitches inside, trying to get runner to 3rd. Productive outs.

 

Hernandez could not get around quick enough to pull the ball , as shown on a couple foul balls. These are AAAA'ers competing at the highest level. WTF did you expect ? Basic skill sets ?

[moonslav59]

Hernandez could not get around quick enough to pull the ball , as shown on a couple foul balls. These are AAAA'ers competing at the highest level. WTF did you expect ? Basic skill sets ?

 

Did you see the line shot he pulled foul? Of course, he could "get around."

[Slasher9]

But he didn't make and it was obvious that he had no chance of making it. The third baseman was waiting for him with the ball. It was dumb.

 

Was a terrible base running play. Once he had to slow to wait for the ball he needed to turn and book back to 2nd.

[S5Dewey]

I agree, it was a bad base running play.

 

Bad? I think the word you're looking for is Dreadful. And please don't leave out Stupid.

 

Sometimes I wonder about these guys. They've been playing baseball all their lives and then do something just unbelievably stupid. My guess is that if someone on Slash's 16U team did that he and Slash would have a short discussion about it and Slash would do most of the talking.

[illinoisredsox]

Was a terrible base running play. Once he had to slow to wait for the ball he needed to turn and book back to 2nd.

 

At the very least stay in a rundown long enough for Hernandez to get to second and replace him.

[dgalehouse]

Robot pinch runners .

[a700hitter]

The HBP of Chris Taylor late in Sunday's game broke his arm.

 

[h=2]Chris Taylor Diagnosed With Fractured Forearm[/h]

[TylerD]

Dammit Rick.

[iortiz]

From the piece by Peter Abraham:

 

Question 1: Why didn’t Hernandez bunt? He had bunted Bradley from first to second in the ninth inning.

 

Alex Cora: “[With a runner] at second, I like taking three shots. At the end it was a 3-1 count. He put a good at-bat. We like taking three shots there.”

 

Analysis: I’m anti-bunt almost always because an out is worth more than advancing 90 feet. Bradley is a good base runner who would have scored from second on a single. With first base open, the Dodgers would have walked Mookie Betts with Bradley at third. Hernandez has hit well this season, too. Swing the bat.

 

Question 2: What was Bradley thinking?

 

Bradley: “With Marco, they were going to be shifted more up the middle. As the pitch is being delivered, I saw [seager] shuffling towards the hole. Off the bat I didn’t necessarily think it was hit hard enough. I had to slow down in order for it to go by or it would have hit me. It was a tough play for me to read. Initially I thought it was the right read.”

 

Cora: “That ball was right in front of him. He knows you stay at second and we have Mookie and Raffy [Devers] lined up. It’s a mistake. He knows it.”

 

Analysis: Bradley screwed up. Not much more you can say. He’s one of their smartest base runners and wasn’t that time.

 

The thing here Bell, is that you just needed a run to win the game.

 

Odds say, they walk Betts with Raffie and JD coming and Hernandez at 3rd with one out.

 

I’d rather this situation any day of the week than winning by a walk off. Also, Floro was done... so putting the ball in play with Devers at plate was very very affordable IMO.

[moonslav59]

Assuming the bunt works.

[S5Dewey]

Bottom line on the bunt: Cora screwed the pooch on it. He could have had JBJ @ 3B with one out and Betts coming up when a long fly ball wins it. I'd give up the out in a heartbeat to put Mookie up needing a fly ball to win it. If they walk Mookie they face Devers. If they walk Devers they look at JDM. It would become a case of "choose your poison". Edited July 16, 2019 by S5Dewey

[S5Dewey]

Assuming the bunt works.

 

You can't assume anything, but his last attempt at a bunt was a near-perfect one.