8/23 vs Rangers

[mvp 78]

Shaw walk off.

 

You can all suck my f***ing lizard.

[Oscars]

Outstanding game by Whitlock, without him we were toast

[Maxbialystock]

Thanks to mvp 78 for starting this thread and to moonslav for keeping the faith no matter what.

 

I'm good and mad at Barnes, but definitely appreciate how and why moonslav defends him.

 

While the grand slam was completely unexpected, I did think the Sox had the upper hand after that excellent bunt by Vazquez and the bad throw by the pitcher.

[TylerD]

You can all suck my f***ing lizard.

 

No thanks, but damn that grand slam was beautiful

[TylerD]

Thanks to mvp 78 are starting this thread and to moonslav for keeping the faith no matter what.

 

I'm good and mad at Barnes, but definitely appreciate how and why moonslav defends him.

 

While the grand slam was completely unexpected, I did think the Sox had the upper hand after that excellent bunt by Vazquez and the bad throw by the pitcher.

 

Agreed. I’m feeding off Moons optimism lately. I want that wild card and I want to smoke those Yankee foolz!!!!!! We are officially back in a playoff spot.

[Maxbialystock]

Huge win. Is big mo back with the Sox? Ask the bullpen.

 

Tomorrow it's Houck vs. the Twins at Fenway.

[moonslav59]

Thanks to mvp 78 for starting this thread and to moonslav for keeping the faith no matter what.

 

I'm good and mad at Barnes, but definitely appreciate how and why moonslav defends him.

 

While the grand slam was completely unexpected, I did think the Sox had the upper hand after that excellent bunt by Vazquez and the bad throw by the pitcher.

 

Honestly, I didn't mean to defend Barnes. He does not deserve it.

 

However, needing to get 5-6 outs in an inning is a tall order for any pitcher, let alone a struggling one in need of some team support.

[moonslav59]

Huge win. Is big mo back with the Sox? Ask the bullpen.

 

Tomorrow it's Houck vs. the Twins at Fenway.

 

It would have been nice to have Whitlock to piggyback off Houck, but one day at a time!

[jad]

I'm trying to imagine the response had Devers' double been caught. That would have been two 420-foot game-losing outs in a row for him!

 

And before we annoint T.S. as a first baseman, let's review film of that dropped foul ball.

Edited August 23, 2021 by jad

[Bellhorn04]

I'm trying to imagine the response had Devers' double been caught. That would have been two 420-foot game-losing outs in a row for him!

 

And before we annoint T.S. as a first baseman, let's review film of that dropped foul ball.

 

Shaw has been a plus fielder at first base. Probably just a bad day (redeemed).

[Bellhorn04]

You can all suck my f***ing lizard.

 

It really is too bad we don't have any female posters on game threads.

[moonslav59]

The worst part about today is that we now might keep Shaw on the roster.

 

The best part about today was that Shaw was on the roster.

[Bellhorn04]

The worst part about today is that we now might keep Shaw on the roster.

 

The best part about today was that Shaw was on the roster.

 

He might get on a little hot streak too, you never know in this game.

[moonslav59]

He might get on a little hot streak too, you never know in this game.

 

What? And, bench the hard-hitting Bobby Dee?

 

[mvp 78]

It really is too bad we don't have any female posters on game threads.

 

VA hasn’t posted in years. Kimmi refuses to come on the gamethreads. This is my safespace.

[mvp 78]

The worst part about today is that we now might keep Shaw on the roster.

 

The best part about today was that Shaw was on the roster.

 

Mr Positivity

[mvp 78]

What did he do----quit baseball??

 

Suck it

[mvp 78]

We wish.

 

Suck it

[moonslav59]

Mr Positivity

 

It was also good seeing Eovaldi pitch well enough for 2 wins, although he got none.

 

Kike got 3 BBs, nuff said about his OBP being too low for lead-off.

 

Devers and Renfore with key hits.

 

Verdugo coming to life. (There was a time he was being mentioned with our big 3 hitters.)

 

Arroyo back in the fold.

 

Whitlock being Whitlock, again.

 

Now, we need some help from the Braves and the M's.

[Larry Cook]

Good news today: Shaw rescues the Sox!

 

Bad news today: Barnes is a train wreck!

[Maxbialystock]

It was also good seeing Eovaldi pitch well enough for 2 wins, although he got none.

 

Kike got 3 BBs, nuff said about his OBP being too low for lead-off.

 

Devers and Renfore with key hits.

 

Verdugo coming to life. (There was a time he was being mentioned with our big 3 hitters.)

 

Arroyo back in the fold.

 

Whitlock being Whitlock, again.

 

Now, we need some help from the Braves and the M's.

 

Broadly stated, the hitting just might be coming back and the rotation looks pretty good; but the fielding and bullpen are suspect.

 

It boggles the mind that Eovaldi goes 7, gives up no ER's, and the Sox get tied 3-3 in the 9th, which could have been even worse--the Rangers could easily have gone ahead--if Whitlock hadn't come in to clean up Barnes's mess.

[Maxbialystock]

It would have been nice to have Whitlock to piggyback off Houck, but one day at a time!

 

Indeed. Our intrepid manager went all in to win yesterday's game when he committed his best reliever to bail out his closer, who had just wrecked a brilliant start by our putative ace Eovaldi.

 

Barnes is getting a tad expensive, and I'm not talking about his salary.

 

I am the opposite of a Richards fan, but he currently has a +.6 WAR, is rested, and against the Yankees went 4 scoreless innings in relief. Before that he did 3 scoreless against the hapless Orioles. He could see action tonight.

Edited August 24, 2021 by Maxbialystock

[mvp 78]

Indeed. Barnes is getting a tad expensive, and I'm not talking about his salary.

 

I am the opposite of a Richards fan, but he currently has a +.6 WAR, is rested, and against the Yankees went 4 scoreless innings in relief. Before that he did 3 scoreless against the hapless Orioles.

 

If Cora put Richards in that situation and he blew it, Richards would never be able to pitch at Fenway again. I think Sox have learned to live with the Barnes roller coaster. However, I think they are OUT on Richards. I don't think he needs to get any high leverage spots right now.

[moonslav59]

Broadly stated, the hitting just might be coming back and the rotation looks pretty good; but the fielding and bullpen are suspect.

 

It boggles the mind that Eovaldi goes 7, gives up no ER's, and the Sox get tied 3-3 in the 9th, which could have been even worse--the Rangers could easily have gone ahead--if Whitlock hadn't come in to clean up Barnes's mess.

 

The pen has been our rock, until the last few weeks.

 

I don't see why they can't come back around, too.

 

Fingers crossed!

[moonslav59]

This is not hindsight, and I'm not saying I know more than Cora, but I wanted to see Eovaldi come out for the 8th.

 

I also am not writing off Richards as a valuable pen piece, but I'd avoid high leverage situations for a while, if possible.

[Maxbialystock]

This is not hindsight, and I'm not saying I know more than Cora, but I wanted to see Eovaldi come out for the 8th.

 

I also am not writing off Richards as a valuable pen piece, but I'd avoid high leverage situations for a while, if possible.

 

Richards has done better in the bullpen than as a starter and is a good option for long relief. He's given up 1 run in 8 innings in relief.

 

Even if Eovaldi pitches the 8th, Barnes gets to close with his so-so knuckle curve and so-so fastball.

[moonslav59]

Richards has done better in the bullpen than as a starter and is a good option for long relief. He's given up 1 run in 8 innings in relief.

 

Even if Eovaldi pitches the 8th, Barnes gets to close with his so-so knuckle curve and so-so fastball.

 

I get that, but we might have brought in Ottavino after Barnes started to implode, and we'd still have Whitlock for today.

 

(Maybe Ottavino loses the game.)

[Bellhorn04]

I get that, but we might have brought in Ottavino after Barnes started to implode, and we'd still have Whitlock for today.

 

(Maybe Ottavino loses the game.)

 

You are Mr. Re-do LOL

[mvp 78]

You are Mr. Re-do LOL

 

I would have just simply started Shaw. He would have hit his grand slam earlier in the game and we could have run the Robles squad out there.

[Maxbialystock]

If Cora put Richards in that situation and he blew it, Richards would never be able to pitch at Fenway again. I think Sox have learned to live with the Barnes roller coaster. However, I think they are OUT on Richards. I don't think he needs to get any high leverage spots right now.

 

Watch the games and remember. Richards has been good in relief precisely because they use him in long relief. He's gone 8 innings giving up 1 run out of the bullpen. For now, anyway, no way do they send him into a situation like the one Whitlock faced in the 9th last night.

 

Season to date, the Sox starters have averaged about 4 innings per start, so a guy like Richards could be useful if he can keep getting guys out.

 

Lately, Barnes looks awful, Ottavino only a tad better, Taylor the same, and lefty Hernandez is still on the IL. Sawamura has been steady, and Whitlock has been brilliant, last night being a great example. Two reliables aren't enough, so those other guys, even Perez and certainly Richards, are going to get opportunities.