Hire Cora and agive him a raise

[Swiharts Ghost]

Immediately

[Jack Flap]

Sounds good, Mario.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Joe Kelly explains why he's still mad at the Astros -- and it has nothing to do with video or trash cans:

 

https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/red-sox/joe-kelly-still-has-major-bone-pick-sign-stealing-astros-players

 

Some choice quotes: "The people who took the fall for what happened is nonsense," Kelly told Stripling. "Yes, everyone is involved. But the way that [sign-stealing system] was run over there was not from coaching staff. ... They're not the head boss in charge of that thing. It's the players. ... When you taint someone's name to save your own name, this is one of the worst things that you could probably do. ... That really friggin' bugs me. I think I'll be irritated forever."

 

"Maybe they have called [Cora] and said, 'Hey, I'm sorry,' " Kelly said. "... If they had said, 'Hey, I'm super-scared, I didn't know what to do, I didn't want to lose money, I had to rat.' ... Grow a pair of balls and say that."

 

As a pitcher, especially of a team that lost in the postseason to the infamous '17 champs, you'd think Kelly would be more bitter about Houston's dastardly machinations. That he's not is perhaps a concession to pervading baseball culture.

 

Despite what it says in Manfred's official report, it's becoming more apparent that the true "mastermind" in this whole "scandal" was Manfred, himself.

Edited August 14, 2020 by 5GoldGloves:OF,75

[Thunder]

Hiring Cora back would make me seriously reconsider being a Red Sox fan

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Hiring Cora back would make me seriously reconsider being a Red Sox fan

 

Even if current and ex-players continue to forgive him for being a scapegoat?

[jad]

I'm with Joe Kelly on this one. The players ratted out the coaches. And Cora just graciously took the fall. He's smart, articulate, always willing to talk about baseball history including his own, treats everyone with respect--always fun to listen to even for those daily pre-game interviews. Can't wait to have him back. As for the Astros' players--if someone offered me immunity to rat out my boss or my associates, I really can't see what's so difficult about saying "I don't know nothing about none of that!"

[Thunder]

Even if current and ex-players continue to forgive him for being a scapegoat?

 

Varying levels of guilt is still guilt. He did something wrong, and I wouldn't want him associated with my team going forward. Same goes for Altuve, Bregman, Correa, and Springer

[jad]

Varying levels of guilt is still guilt. He did something wrong, and I wouldn't want him associated with my team going forward. Same goes for Altuve, Bregman, Correa, and Springer

 

And sin is sin, so we should all just rot in hell. (Good thing wife-beating and cheating on taxes and speeding and taking pictures of your friends boinking a drunk stranger and looking at pornography and cheating on your wife and lying to your family and having "impure thoughts" are things that MLB players and fans never are guilty of.)

[notin]

And sin is sin, so we should all just rot in hell. (Good thing wife-beating and cheating on taxes and speeding and taking pictures of your friends boinking a drunk stranger and looking at pornography and cheating on your wife and lying to your family and having "impure thoughts" are things that MLB players and fans never are guilty of.)

 

 

Stop with the “cast the first stone argument.” Is it too much to expect professional athletes and coaches to not cheat?

[Bellhorn04]

Stop with the “cast the first stone argument.” Is it too much to expect professional athletes and coaches to not cheat?

 

It's not that simple. Cheating of various sorts has been part of baseball forever.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

I just have one question. How is this crap team RR's fault? Edited August 14, 2020 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[Bellhorn04]

I just have one question. How is this crap team RR's fault.

 

It isn't.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

It's not that simple. Cheating of various sorts has been part of baseball forever.

 

They don't even use the c-word, since "stealing" has always been an actual legal term and concept in the sport. Pitchers and catchers and defenders have secret signs to deceive batters and baserunners... who have secret signs of their own... as coaches and managers on both sides spend bad portions of every game sending signs while trying to intercept opposition signs (and they all know the absurdity of sudden MLB decrees that they're only allowed to "steal" in certain ways).

 

Nobody is really sorry for doing what they've always done as ballplayers since at least high school -- except PR departments that suddenly have to answer to mass media that never played the sport at an advanced level that panders to "shocked" portions of fandom that never played the game at advanced levels.

[Thunder]

Anything that is done with an intent to break or manipulate the rules is something that I personally cannot look past. That's just me.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Anything that is done with an intent to break or manipulate the rules is something that I personally cannot look past. That's just me.

 

I totally respect your stance. But it has to be hard being a fan of a sport where base stealers try to get a better chance of stealing a base by stealing the signs of pitchers and catchers, who try to steal the signs of coaches to base stealers, to get a better chance of stealing an out.

[Thunder]

I totally respect your stance. But it has to be hard being a fan of a sport where base stealers try to get a better chance of stealing a base by stealing the signs of pitchers and catchers, who try to steal the signs of coaches to base stealers, to get a better chance of stealing an out.

 

Is there a specific rule against stealing signs from 2nd base, or even at all without the use of technology? Like if you look at the catcher I'm sure you can pick something up

[Larry Cook]

Roenicke could make a fire hydrant look like a good manager.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Roenicke could make a fire hydrant look like a good manager.

 

Only if the fire hydrant had a better pitching staff.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Is there a specific rule against stealing signs from 2nd base, or even at all without the use of technology? Like if you look at the catcher I'm sure you can pick something up

 

Manfred recently said it's ok, but though it's begrudgingly accepted, it's really not ok in the "unwritten" book -- if a pitcher or catcher notices a baserunner peeking and sending signs to batters, they often answer by drilling either the batter or the runner in his next at bat. If the perp plays infield, he may get spiked, or kneed or elbowed in a takeout slide later on. No one forgets.

[Thunder]

Manfred recently said it's ok, but though it's begrudgingly accepted, it's really not ok in the "unwritten" book -- if a pitcher or catcher notices a baserunner peeking and sending signs to batters, they often answer by drilling either the batter or the runner in his next at bat. If the perp plays infield, he may get spiked, or kneed or elbowed in a takeout slide later on. No one forgets.

 

Interesting

[Swiharts Ghost]

Interesting

 

Not to be melodramatic,I feel like the team lost its soul .The departure of Alex and David and Mookie is just a bridge to damn far .I stand by bringing back Alex as soon as possible .Im sure RR is a swell guy just seems like a huge disconnect with these players ....don’t give me Covid excuse everyone is playing under this umbrella.Free Alex Cora NOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[notin]

Roenicke could make a fire hydrant look like a good manager.

 

How is any of this Roenicke’s fault?

 

You did see the Sox pitching staff, right?

[Larry Cook]

How is any of this Roenicke’s fault?

 

You did see the Sox pitching staff, right?

 

Yes, hang’em Chaim has zero talent when it comes to scouting pitchers.

 

But Roenicke has made zero right calls this year. Inspires no one.

 

And is about as strategic as roadkill!

[notin]

Yes, hang’em Chaim has zero talent when it comes to scouting pitchers.

 

But Roenicke has made zero right calls this year. Inspires no one.

 

And is about as strategic as roadkill!

 

It’s hard to inspire this Long Island Ducks staff to handle MLB pitchers.

 

I’ll also hold my evaluation of Bloom until he has actual resources at his disposal. Who was Bloom’s most expensive addition last off-season?

[Larry Cook]

It’s hard to inspire this Long Island Ducks staff to handle MLB pitchers.

 

I’ll also hold my evaluation of Bloom until he has actual resources at his disposal. Who was Bloom’s most expensive addition last off-season?

 

Just go through the list of pitchers he signed this offseason. Outside of Perez and maybe Valdez, have any of them contributed anything?

[notin]

Just go through the list of pitchers he signed this offseason. Outside of Perez and maybe Valdez, have any of them contributed anything?

 

And outside of Perez, he didn’t sign anyone to anything more than a minor league contract...

[Bellhorn04]

How is any of this Roenicke’s fault?

 

You did see the Sox pitching staff, right?

 

In a situation like this, it's virtually impossible to tell if Roenicke is good, bad or indifferent.

[jad]

In a situation like this, it's virtually impossible to tell if Roenicke is good, bad or indifferent.

 

I tend to agree with that, but then, it seems fair to ask questions like the following: (1) is he developing new players? (2) are his role players, particularly ones like Benentendi, Devers, Vasquez, continuing to show improvement? (3) are players (like Barnes, say, or Brasier) living up to their potential? (4) is this an exciting team to watch? (4) are they showing a commitment to fundamentals?

 

I'd say the answer to each and every one of these questions, and most others one could formulate, is "no."

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

In a situation like this, it's virtually impossible to tell if Roenicke is good, bad or indifferent.

 

Especially, from behind a mask. When he's gone in a month or so, the lasting memory of RR will literally be ephemeral, almost wraithlike. Cue the Dead Sox metaphors -- but don't call them the Walking Dead, since foes have done more damage swinging at our pitching staff; it's definitely more a combo of historically bad WHIP... the Whipping Dead? The Whipping Boys.