July 31, Sox @ the Rays

[d-money]

The marlins are a f***ing joke.

[Maxbialystock]

That makes zero sense in that VAZ has caught most of EO's games. So when EO has a good game, EO gets all the credit, but when EO stinks up the place, it's VAZ's fault. Yup, that make sense.

 

He was joking. No way is Cora going to pull Vazquez in the middle of a game.

 

In the past, despite my animus toward Vazquez, I have in fact given him credit when the pitcher does well because I do honestly believe the catcher is part of a pitcher's success.

 

Tonight, however, I think the two big hits in the 1st inning and the dinger in the 4th were the direct result of Vazquez calling for too many fastballs. Eovaldi is at his best when he is mixing his pitches, throwing fewer fastballs, and using that very good splitter he has.

 

I also don't mind you disagreeing because I think Cora agrees with you: everything Vazquez does is just hunky-dory, which is why he catches 4 out of 5 games (or whatever).

[vegasbob]

Here is Vazquez's chance for total redemption and get his number up on the RF stands

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Every time I drive up to Vegas, i pass ZZyZx Road and think of Cora's favorites, VaZqueZ, ArauZ, ,MartineZ, RodrigueZ, GonZaleZ, etc.

 

 

I believe Cora also likes ZZ TOP.

[vegasbob]

Damnable Vazquez, total loser

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

bobby dee

[d-money]

Have to execute better. Smh

[Maxbialystock]

Vazquez K's after a 3-0 count, not because he swung at bad pitches, but because, well, he can't actually hit a fastball or even two straight fastballs in the middle of the zone.

 

Neither can Dalbec, for that matter.

 

So maybe Kitteredge really deserves that ERA of 1.40.

[oldtimer]

Vasquez had to know fastballs were coming at 0 and 3 and needed to get the ball to the outfield. Big lost opportunity. Dalbec is just strikeout prone.

[jung]

Geez we got nuthin' outta' that! Holy crap.

[d-money]

Throw strikes! Those damn walks.

[vegasbob]

Geez we got nuthin' outta' that! Holy crap.

 

Put that on Martinez and Vazquez. Despite his tying HR, Dalbec just isn't ready yet and may never be like his buddy Chavis

 

I do think Bogey wanted to go home when he saw the throw headed to second. Got to take shots when you see them

[d-money]

The f***ing bottom of this lineup . Unreal.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Better late than never, except for baseball.

[jung]

These Rays just don't go away. We have more games with them coming up. Either we will break them or they will break us.

[d-money]

This team is doing nothing right. Thank goodness the football season is around the corner.

[Maxbialystock]

That could well have been a mistake by Cora. I thought Eovaldi had a good mix of pitches, but Franco, batting lefty, had no problem fouling off a bunch of them until he got that splitter up in the zone and nailed it for a triple, scoring the Rays 6th run.

 

Now in comes lefty Taylor, who should have been the one pitching to Franco.

[d-money]

Not a good performance by Eovaldi to say the least.

[jung]

That could well have been a mistake by Cora. I thought Eovaldi had a good mix of pitches, but Franco, batting lefty, had no problem fouling off a bunch of them until he got that splitter up in the zone and nailed it for a triple, scoring the Rays 6th run.

 

Now in comes lefty Taylor, who should have been the one pitching to Franco.

 

As I remember it we want Franco batting from the left side. Didn't work out this time.

[d-money]

Can’t allow this run to score.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

The vast majority of the time this season when I say 'nice job' by a SOX pitcher, it's usually in regards to a reliever.

Nice job, Taylor.

[Maxbialystock]

Not a good performance by Eovaldi to say the least.

 

On top of which, Cora waited too long before bringing in Taylor.

 

And let's not forget that Arauz did his level best to make Eovaldi's job a lot harder. And Vazquez's pitch-calling wasn't very smart either.

[d-money]

9 outs left for this team.

[Maxbialystock]

The vast majority of the time this season when I say 'nice job' by a SOX pitcher, it's usually in regards to a reliever.

Nice job, Taylor.

 

Who, however, should have been brought in one batter sooner. Cora wasn't thinking very straight.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

If Bloom looks for another catcher, the job description should also include "can you polish s***?"

[Maxbialystock]

Well, at least the Sox got Shwarber and his .910 OPS. Too bad he's on the IL and can't play 1b.

[Maxbialystock]

If Bloom looks for another catcher, the job description should also include "can you polish s***?"

 

Actually, I'd settle for a catcher who can, well, catch the dadgum ball, who doesn't run into outs on the base paths, and who can throw out base stealers. He doesn't have to be a great hitter or a genius at working with pitchers to make them as effective as possible.

[jung]

Got too much weight outside of his knee. I have done that myself. Feels like your knee exploded for a few minutes and then real sore for days after.

[a700hitter]

Arauz is a clown. He is going to cost the Sox this game.

He has a good bat.

[illinoisredsox]

On top of which, Cora waited too long before bringing in Taylor.

 

And let's not forget that Arauz did his level best to make Eovaldi's job a lot harder. And Vazquez's pitch-calling wasn't very smart either.

 

Re. the pitch calling, I didn’t notice, but was Eovaldi shaking Vaz off at all or was EO pulling a Ssle and just saying yes to whatever Vaz put down?

 

Just asking, but like many, I’ve never been impressed with Vazquez’s game management.