4/4 @ Twins

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

I assume you’re talking about JD. When would you have used him?

 

 

Shirley you jest and I won't call you Shirley anymore.

[Maxbialystock]

A manager's main job is to give his team the best chance to win. Not employing the team's best hitter in a close game does not support this.

 

Cora didn't know it would be this close, and JDM was 0 for 9 in the first three Twins games. Cora rests players throughout the season, and it sure seemed to work in 2018 when these players played these number of games in the regular season--

 

JD Martinez 150

Benintendi 148

JBJ 144

Betts 136

Bogaerts 136

Nunez 127

Moreland 124

Devers 121

Holt 109

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

I'm not complaining or saying Cora shoulda-coulda, but in the 8th, after Renfore walked, he could have PH JD for Franchy or Dalbec.

 

I realize that Cora is considered god-like to many SOX fans.

[illinoisredsox]

Shirley you jest and I won't call you Shirley anymore.

 

So you won’t say when you would have used him?

[Maxbialystock]

Well tough loss. We battled folks. No shame in that at all. They were bound to get one. We are still leading the division and it took them the full game to secure a win

 

Hold our heads high!!!! This has been fun.

 

Exactly right. Our guys played their buns off today just as much as in the previous 9.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Cora didn't know it would be this close, and JDM was 0 for 9 in the first three Twins games. Cora rests players throughout the season, and it sure seemed to work in 2018 when these players played these number of games in the regular season--

 

JD Martinez 150

Benintendi 148

JBJ 144

Betts 136

Bogaerts 136

Nunez 127

Moreland 124

Devers 121

Holt 109

 

I'm sure that had JD pinched-hit he would have been too tired to play tomorrow.

Edited April 15, 2021 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

So you won’t say when you would have used him?

 

I thought your question was rhetorical. Ok, how about for Dalbec. I know he's 0-9, but to have the team's best hitter not even sniff a time at bat in this kind of game was inexcusable. Cora didn't give his team the best chance to win, IMHO.

[TylerD]

Hats off to Max for turning around the season.

 

Tough loss.

Yes!!! He gets a break now

[illinoisredsox]

I thought your question was rhetorical. Ok, how about for Dalbec. I know he's 0-9, but to have the team's best hitter not even sniff a time at bat in this kind of game was inexcusable. Cora didn't give his team the best chance to win, IMHO.

 

That would have really been the only time, and it really didn’t end up hurting them thanks to Verdugo.

 

If he used him in the ninth for Renfroe or Cordero, all the Twins would have done is held up 4 fingers, so that that would have been wasted.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

That would have really been the only time, and it really didn’t end up hurting them thanks to Verdugo.

 

If he used him in the ninth for Renfroe or Cordero, all the Twins would have done is held up 4 fingers, so that that would have been wasted.

 

Whatever. This is what Cora does, but I'll never like it.

[moonslav59]

Yes!!! He gets a break now

 

How much pressure is now on the next guy?

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Great run, MAX. That's gonna be a tough act to follow.

[moonslav59]

That would have really been the only time, and it really didn’t end up hurting them thanks to Verdugo.

 

If he used him in the ninth for Renfroe or Cordero, all the Twins would have done is held up 4 fingers, so that that would have been wasted.

 

Maybe it didn't "hurt," but getting one more man on base, assuming everything else followed the same, we might have been one up not tied.

 

(Or, he hits into a DP, and Verdugo never ties it. Or, they pitch Verdugo differently, Or, ....)

[Thunder]

I am giving us a 0% chance of playing tomorrow. 1-3 inches of snow tomorrow morning here in CT and then rain in the afternoon. Should be pretty similar timing in Boston, but all rain.

[moonslav59]

Richards looked very scary out of the gate, but he ended up with no ERs.

 

Let's hope this is a sign of good things to come.

[Maxbialystock]

I'm sure that had JD pinched-hit he would have been too tired to play tomorrow.

 

No. First and foremost, the Twins had his number in this series. Second, in 2018 when he gave guys off a day, it meant no pinch-hitting. You and I would not have hesitated to use JDM, but I refuse to second guess Cora.

[TylerD]

I am giving us a 0% chance of playing tomorrow. 1-3 inches of snow tomorrow morning here in CT and then rain in the afternoon. Should be pretty similar timing in Boston, but all rain.

So tired of snow

 

We got a ton more today where I live. This winter is never ending lol

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

I am giving us a 0% chance of playing tomorrow. 1-3 inches of snow tomorrow morning here in CT and then rain in the afternoon. Should be pretty similar timing in Boston, but all rain.

 

If that's the case, I'll be watching the BRUINS tomorrow night in the 2nd game of a back-to-back against the Isles.

[Thunder]

So tired of snow

 

We got a ton more today where I live. This winter is never ending lol

 

We haven't gotten any since early March and it's been a decently warm and dry spring since then

[Larry Cook]

Good news today: I owe Garrett an apology. He threw some really nice balls today. He keeps it up and we will have a decent starter on our team.

 

Bad news today: defense (or lack there of) ends the winning streak!

[Thunder]

Good news today: I owe Garrett an apology. He threw some really nice balls today. He keeps it up and we will have a decent starter on our team.

 

Bad news today: defense (or lack there of) ends the winning streak!

 

Actually no. Ottavino ended the winning streak.

[moonslav59]

Ottavino, the defense and the offense all let us down a bit, today, but they fought back to tie it, late, so I don't think this loss will bring the team down in any meaningful way.

[notin]

Ottavino, the defense and the offense all let us down a bit, today, but they fought back to tie it, late, so I don't think this loss will bring the team down in any meaningful way.

 

Hey, 6-1 road trip.

 

Not bad for a team that, 10 days ago, no one thought could hit, pitch or field at the Major League level. Doesn't it make you want to re-read that Tomase article from the day after the Orioles' sweep at Fenway?

[notin]

I thought your question was rhetorical. Ok, how about for Dalbec. I know he's 0-9, but to have the team's best hitter not even sniff a time at bat in this kind of game was inexcusable. Cora didn't give his team the best chance to win, IMHO.

 

Maybe not the today's sprint, but what about the season long marathon?

[TylerD]

We haven't gotten any since early March and it's been a decently warm and dry spring since then

 

That’s awesome! I’m hoping this melts fast. I knew spring started too early. We had super hot days last month. I knew we would pay.

[Maxbialystock]

Ottavino, the defense and the offense all let us down a bit, today, but they fought back to tie it, late, so I don't think this loss will bring the team down in any meaningful way.

 

Good summation of the loss that ended the streak. As you say, the Sox didn't play their best, but they still made it a whale of a game and can expect to keep winning.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Maybe not the today's sprint, but what about the season long marathon?

 

I think the marathon is what Cora (and any good manager) keeps in mind. We don't know if there was a reason besides rest that led to JD's day off, but we do know he was sitting in the cold all day and was Oh-fer in three games in Minnesota... Meanwhile, each of the big swingers at the bottom of the order were at least moving on and off the field all day -- plus, Cora may have wanted to show he had confidence in them, as each had had big hits in the streak.

[moonslav59]

I think the marathon is what Cora (and any good manager) keeps in mind. We don't know if there was a reason besides rest that led to JD's day off, but we do know he was sitting in the cold all day and was Oh-fer in three games in Minnesota... Meanwhile, each of the big swingers at the bottom of the order were at least moving on and off the field all day -- plus, Cora may have wanted to show he had confidence in them, as each had had big hits in the streak.

 

I try not to get all wrapped up in a single manager decision or even a few clumps of questionable choices.

 

I'm a huge Cora fan, as most people know. While I do scratch my head a few times, I know he's the right guy for this team, and he knows what he is doing.

 

I will add one thing. My guess is, that if you asked JD if he wished he'd gotten a chance to PH in yesterday's game, we all know what he would have replied.

[Maxbialystock]

splendidsplinter says what JDM and the overwhelming majority of talksoxers think: let him pinch hit. But I still back Cora.

 

I hope splendidsplinter knows that in his hey day Williams was redubbed by the Boston press. After an unfortunate episode, they called him the "splendid spitter." A lot of skinny guys and gals in the 1930's when Williams came up to the Bigs. It was the depression. And MLB was in fact our national pastime.

[notin]

I think the marathon is what Cora (and any good manager) keeps in mind. We don't know if there was a reason besides rest that led to JD's day off, but we do know he was sitting in the cold all day and was Oh-fer in three games in Minnesota... Meanwhile, each of the big swingers at the bottom of the order were at least moving on and off the field all day -- plus, Cora may have wanted to show he had confidence in them, as each had had big hits in the streak.

 

Confidence or not, a good manager cannot let his bench players simply rot on the pine until someone gets hurt. They need occasional action...