8/28 Rays @ SOX 1:35PM ET

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Well Wacha at least has been a decent SP overall. Not great but he kept the team from going deeper over the edge. He surprised me. Pivetta is just a #4-5 SP. The rest of the SPs aren’t even ML quality.

IMO we won’t be competitive for around 3 years minimum-and only if we dump Bloom and Cora. Henry selling the team would be a good idea too. He isn’t willing to spend what it takes to win a ring any more.

 

One consistent starter and 3 reliable relievers ain't gonna cut it.

[jad]

Devers 0 for 5 and left 6 on base.

If he carrying an injury he should go on the IL, he is not helping the team.

 

Something is clearly wrong. I agree. Go to the IL.

[moonslav59]

Something is clearly wrong. I agree. Go to the IL.

 

He did have an .833 OPS in his previous 4 games, so...

[a700hitter]

Something is clearly wrong. I agree. Go to the IL.

I'd rather run Devers out there injured than put a healthy Dalbec in his spot. That wouldn't help the team.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

As bad as Pivetta was today he was still Cora's best option considering who was available in the pen. If Nick hadn't already thrown 100 pitches after 5, he would have started the 6th.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

I'd rather run Devers out there injured than put a healthy Dalbec in his spot. That wouldn't help the team.

 

After today's pathetic loss I doubt it matters anymore.

[a700hitter]

As bad as Pivetta was today he was still Cora's best option considering who was available in the pen. If Nick hadn't already thrown 100 pitches after 5, he would have started the 6th.

Pivetta is a career 5 ERA pitcher. Basically, he stinks.

[Oscars]

He did have an .833 OPS in his previous 4 games, so...

 

He has .203 in his last 30 games, he doesn’t look 100% right physically

[moonslav59]

He has .203 in his last 30 games, he doesn’t look 100% right physically

 

Agreed, but I'm not sure if it could just be a slump.

 

I'd normally say trust the docs, but I don't.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Pivetta is a career 5 ERA pitcher. Basically, he stinks.

 

I agree. A career ERA of 5=stinks.

And if we agree that 'sucks' is worse than 'stinks,' then the majority of the SOX BP sucks.

Edited August 29, 2022 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[Bellhorn04]

I agree. A career ERA of 5=stinks.

And if we agree that 'sucks' is worse than 'stinks,' then the majority of the SOX BP sucks.

 

Don't tell 700hitter I said this, but Pivetta's ERA with the Red Sox is about 4.35 after today. Before today he had an ERA+ of 103 with the Sox, a little better than average when adjusted for the ballpark. He's mediocre. He has a bunch of good games, and a bunch of games like today.

 

To me he's kind of like Wakefield was in his latter years with the Sox. Wakefield ate innings, at a reasonable price.

[dgalehouse]

Devers always seemed like a happy kid. Lately he looks troubled. Maybe he has pain from the injury. Maybe he is unhappy with how things are going. I don't know.

[moonslav59]

Don't tell 700hitter I said this, but Pivetta's ERA with the Red Sox is about 4.35 after today. Before today he had an ERA+ of 103 with the Sox, a little better than average when adjusted for the ballpark. He's mediocre. He has a bunch of good games, and a bunch of games like today.

 

To me he's kind of like Wakefield was in his latter years with the Sox. Wakefield ate innings, at a reasonable price.

 

He should be our #4 not our #2.

 

And, yes the numbers matter. It means we either have 1 or 3 starters who are better. That matters.

[vegasbob]

Sawamura DFA'ed after the game. The interpreter had to deliver the message. Red Sox FO and Cora getting tough on these guys. Actually preparing for call ups to 28 players next week.

 

And Austin Davis apparently right out the same door by noontide Monday

Edited August 29, 2022 by vegasbob

[Maxbialystock]

Don't forget the Sox are paying Price, Sale, and Eovaldi $63M this year. None are on the active roster. When he was on it, Eovaldi contributed a WAR of +0.9. Sale pitched in 2 games after the rib injury cost 3 months on the IL, then went right back on after the broken pinky from a line drive and then breaking his right wrist on/off his bike to ensure he wouldn't return this year. The Dodgers own Price and are paying him I think $14M for his .6 WAR. All three--Price, Sale, and Eovaldi--were aggressively hired by DD and contributed significantly to the 2018 WS season (probably the best Sox season ever).

 

To date Wacha has the highest WAR on the pitching staff, 3.3, and is getting $7M. Next highest is Pivetta, WAR 2.4, being paid $2.65M. Whitlock, 2.2 WAR, paid $720K. Houck, WAR 1.6, $716K. Eovaldi WAR .9, salary $22M, Hill WAR .7, salary $5M.

 

Also interesting are these salaries for former Sox players: JBJ $17M; Price $16M; Vazquez $4.5M; Diekman $2.3M, Robles $1.1M--plus 6 other guys for a combined $700K.

 

And this. Attendance is going down. In 2013-2019 it was about 36K/game almost every year, with 2013 being the lowest at 35K. Then the pandemic. But this year it was back up to 35K-36K per game, a strong recovery helped by last year's excellent season. In the past week it's been around 30-31K/game.

[cukes]

one consistent starter and 3 reliable relievers ain't gonna cut it.

 

cora and bloom are not a recipe for success, period, enough conjecture

[Old Red]

cora and bloom are not a recipe for success, period, enough conjecture

 

I think a complete house cleaning is in order.

[moonslav59]

cora and bloom are not a recipe for success, period, enough conjecture

 

Pure conjecture, here.

[moonslav59]

Don't forget the Sox are paying Price, Sale, and Eovaldi $63M this year. None are on the active roster. When he was on it, Eovaldi contributed a WAR of +0.9. Sale pitched in 2 games after the rib injury cost 3 months on the IL, then went right back on after the broken pinky from a line drive and then breaking his right wrist on/off his bike to ensure he wouldn't return this year. The Dodgers own Price and are paying him I think $14M for his .6 WAR. All three--Price, Sale, and Eovaldi--were aggressively hired by DD and contributed significantly to the 2018 WS season (probably the best Sox season ever).

 

To date Wacha has the highest WAR on the pitching staff, 3.3, and is getting $7M. Next highest is Pivetta, WAR 2.4, being paid $2.65M. Whitlock, 2.2 WAR, paid $720K. Houck, WAR 1.6, $716K. Eovaldi WAR .9, salary $22M, Hill WAR .7, salary $5M.

.

 

Max, it seems most don't want to here this, or just chalk it up as excuse-making.

 

It is a fact that most of our past GMs inherited dead money, too, but not to this extent, and not with so little influx from their inherited farm, at the same time. Then, add to these two aspects the fact that the budget was slashed massively, year one, and extremely tight year two, and somehow a GM was supposed to succeed more than 50-50 (2021 good year: 2022 bad year)?

 

Recognizing the context is not ignoring reality and also not making excuses.

[Bellhorn04]

cora and bloom are not a recipe for success, period, enough conjecture

 

Cora is fine. He was successful in 2018 and 2021.

[iortiz]

Cora is fine. He was successful in 2018 and 2021.

 

I used to like Cora but not anymore. He has to go.

[Old Red]

I used to like Cora but not anymore. He has to go.

 

For a good part of the year when they show Cora in the dugout he just had that deer in the headlights look. Then again maybe he just pissed at Bloom for giving him this group to manage.

[Bellhorn04]

I used to like Cora but not anymore. He has to go.

 

Why? Everyone seems to agree Bloom is responsible for the 2022 mess.

[Bellhorn04]

For a good part of the year when they show Cora in the dugout he just had that deer in the headlights look. Then again maybe he just pissed at Bloom for giving him this group to manage.

 

It's hard to look good in the dugout when your team is sucking.

[Old Red]

It's hard to look good in the dugout when your team is sucking.

 

And Cora has said 100 times we have to play better.

[moonslav59]

Why? Everyone seems to agree Bloom is responsible for the 2022 mess.

 

They blame Bloom for Henry cutting and limiting spending.

 

They blame Cora for not working magic with what Bloom is forced to give him for players.

 

They also quickly forget the magic of 2021 from Bloom & Cora and 2018 from Cora.

 

[Bellhorn04]

They blame Bloom for Henry cutting and limiting spending.

 

They blame Cora for not working magic with what Bloom is forced to give him for players.

 

They also quickly forget the magic of 2021 from Bloom & Cora and 2018 from Cora.

 

 

Short little memories for sure.

[Old Red]

Short little memories for sure.

 

That’s the way it works. The one who wears the Hoodie with the Pats has won more than anyone, and he’s getting all kinds of blame now.

[Old Red]

They blame Bloom for Henry cutting and limiting spending.

 

They blame Cora for not working magic with what Bloom is forced to give him for players.

 

They also quickly forget the magic of 2021 from Bloom & Cora and 2018 from Cora.

 

 

No one is forgetting 2021, but this is 2022, and even if they had won it all last year it would not justify the mess of this year, nor should it. Come on man!

[Bellhorn04]

That’s the way it works. The one who wears the Hoodie with the Pats has won more than anyone, and he’s getting all kinds of blame now.

 

Yes, the Pats are a good example of how hard it is to keep fans happy.