4/16 Angels @ SOX 1:35PM ET

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Great game thread, especially all the comments about how clueless Cora is. It's great to be reading stuff by experts who know way more than any Sox manager ever did.

 

Does that include Bobby Valentine?

[Maxbialystock]

To be honest, I have been as down on this team as anyone. Today the hitting kind of sucked, but Turner had that one great swing with a man on, and that was all the Sox needed. Pitching, especially Whitlock, was excellent, but so was the the defense. I especially liked the grab by Wong and the pickup throw by Ort to 2d base. That's exactly the kind of play I would have sworn this team could never execute in a million years--and they did it at just the right time.

 

This team bears little resemblance to the team who just played four at the Trop, which is not just the worst ballpark in MLB. It's the worst ballpark in MLB history.

[Maxbialystock]

Does that include Bobby Valentine?

 

I wish you had not brought his name up because I do remember defending him.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

To be honest, I have been as down on this team as anyone. Today the hitting kind of sucked, but Turner had that one great swing with a man on, and that was all the Sox needed. Pitching, especially Whitlock, was excellent, but so was the the defense. I especially liked the grab by Wong and the pickup throw by Ort to 2d base. That's exactly the kind of play I would have sworn this team could never execute in a million years--and they did it at just the right time.

 

This team bears little resemblance to the team who just played four at the Trop, which is not just the worst ballpark in MLB. It's the worst ballpark in MLB history.

 

 

 

Don't be too concerned about the Trop Mauseleum; it will be underwater soon enough.

Edited April 16, 2023 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[Thunder]

Ok so we're undefeated on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and winless on Monday-Wednesday.

[Maxbialystock]

Ok so we're undefeated on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and winless on Monday-Wednesday.

 

Baseball. Nothing else like it.

[moonslav59]

Had some things to do, and just finished watching the end.

 

Really nice win and outing by Whitlock. I hope this is the start of a full season of great success for GW. He showed some real nasty stuff, today.

 

Good to see Turner quiet his critics for a few minutes, anyway.

 

Even Brasier is shutting me up.

[Maxbialystock]

Had some things to do, and just finished watching the end.

 

Really nice win and outing by Whitlock. I hope this is the start of a full season of great success for GW. He showed some real nasty stuff, today.

 

Good to see Turner quiet his critics for a few minutes, anyway.

 

Even Brasier is shutting me up.

 

Brasier has other good games this season.

 

As for Whitlock--and this is just an opinion--he excels the fewer fastballs he throws. That slider or curve looks awfully good. Changeup is up in the zone too often. Defense supported him well. Even Ort did, especially that pickup at 2b.

 

Given all the bad stuff we've seen in 16 games, 8-8 is just incredible.

[moonslav59]

Brasier has other good games this season.

 

As for Whitlock--and this is just an opinion--he excels the fewer fastballs he throws. That slider or curve looks awfully good. Changeup is up in the zone too often. Defense supported him well. Even Ort did, especially that pickup at 2b.

 

Given all the bad stuff we've seen in 16 games, 8-8 is just incredible.

 

Agreed, He was not one of our worst 2-3 pitchers, even before today.

 

I hope he keeps it up and proves us all wrong.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Missed the game on the tube (at a tournament all day), but glad that Whitlock broke the five-inning start limit, and that the Sox are back to .500.

 

How's this for optimism? Only one game out of a wild card, and their maybe best pitcher has yet to throw a pitch (we'll be watching tomorrow morning).

 

More perspective: as bad as Boston has looked at times this month, the Red Sox are now as close to the postseason as the mighty Mariners and the LA DODGERS... and ahead of '22 World Series clubs Houston and Philly, not to mention other favorites like San Diego and St. Louis.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

On the more good news front the SOX have reduced their number of games left at the Trop by 4.

[a700hitter]

Thank me for my at the game mojo. It is the only explanation for pulling out a 1-run victory when using Ort in the 8th and Brasier in the 9th. I hope this doesn’t delude Cora and Bloom into thinking Ort is useful.

 

Whitlock looked excellent today.

 

It was great to see the 2013 team back together.

[Maxbialystock]

Thank me for my at the game mojo. It is the only explanation for pulling out a 1-run victory when using Ort in the 8th and Brasier in the 9th. I hope this doesn’t delude Cora and Bloom into thinking Ort is useful.

 

Whitlock looked excellent today.

 

It was great to see the 2013 team back together.

 

Thanks

 

However, in the last three games vs LA Fenway has average 36,000 and they/you are paying a lot.

[Bellhorn04]

Cora has stones, man. He proved it again bringing Whitlock back for the 7th and then closing it out with Ort and Brasier.

[jad]

Cora has stones, man. He proved it again bringing Whitlock back for the 7th and then closing it out with Ort and Brasier.

 

I think the word you want is not 'stones' but 'despair' or maybe 'resignation'.

[moonslav59]

Cora has stones, man. He proved it again bringing Whitlock back for the 7th and then closing it out with Ort and Brasier.

 

I think the stark contrast between the amazing Whitlock and the s***** BraisOrt, threw off the Angels' timing.

[Bellhorn04]

I think the word you want is not 'stones' but 'despair' or maybe 'resignation'.

 

Hey, it worked...

[a700hitter]

Thanks

 

However, in the last three games vs LA Fenway has average 36,000 and they/you are paying a lot.

There are good deals on StubHub.

 

I had never seen Trout play in person. That was our reason for going. Last year, we tried to see him, but he was on the bench. Ohtani pitched that day and destroyed us on the mound and with the bat.

[Maxbialystock]

There are good deals on StubHub.

 

I had never seen Trout play in person. That was our reason for going. Last year, we tried to see him, but he was on the bench. Ohtani pitched that day and destroyed us on the mound and with the bat.

 

I've said this before. I've been a Sox fan since 1949 and have only seen two games at Fenway. Both times I was very disappointed with the sight lines from well back in the RF corner--like looking through the wrong end of the telescope.

 

I've been to games at the Royals ballpark in KC, the old Phillies ballpark, Griffith Stadium in DC, Camden Yards in Baltimore, and the new DC Stadium where the Nationals play, and all were vastly superior to the Fens in terms of sightlines.

 

Fenway Park is very photogenic, but doesn't (in my opinion) deliver for the fans. And the Sox management gets away with it because the park is small and, during the JH era, the Sox have put a good product on the field.

[Maxbialystock]

There are good deals on StubHub.

 

I had never seen Trout play in person. That was our reason for going. Last year, we tried to see him, but he was on the bench. Ohtani pitched that day and destroyed us on the mound and with the bat.

 

So, having seen him in person, what's the verdict on Trout? Statistically, I think he's definitely delivered the goods.

[a700hitter]

So, having seen him in person, what's the verdict on Trout? Statistically, I think he's definitely delivered the goods.

He didn’t have a very good day yesterday, so that was disappointing.

[a700hitter]

I've said this before. I've been a Sox fan since 1949 and have only seen two games at Fenway. Both times I was very disappointed with the sight lines from well back in the RF corner--like looking through the wrong end of the telescope.

 

I've been to games at the Royals ballpark in KC, the old Phillies ballpark, Griffith Stadium in DC, Camden Yards in Baltimore, and the new DC Stadium where the Nationals play, and all were vastly superior to the Fens in terms of sightlines.

 

Fenway Park is very photogenic, but doesn't (in my opinion) deliver for the fans. And the Sox management gets away with it because the park is small and, during the JH era, the Sox have put a good product on the field.

It is a terrible place to watch a game. It should be replaced.

[jad]

It is a terrible place to watch a game. It should be replaced.

 

I don't know. That's what they said in the 70s, and then every new park wanted to model itself after Fenway.

 

To me, it's as much a part of the game as any of the players: when I've been, which isn't often, it's to be be in Fenway. I doubt the RS would be selling out if they had a cookie-cutter stadium (with great sightlines) out in the burbs.

[moonslav59]

I love watching games at Fenway, and the experience is unmatchable.

 

That being said, the seats are uncomfortable, too narrow, and too many down the RF line face CF and not the diamond.

[Bellhorn04]

Why don't they just rip out the seats and put in better ones?

[a700hitter]

I don't know. That's what they said in the 70s, and then every new park wanted to model itself after Fenway.

 

To me, it's as much a part of the game as any of the players: when I've been, which isn't often, it's to be be in Fenway. I doubt the RS would be selling out if they had a cookie-cutter stadium (with great sightlines) out in the burbs.

No one went to tiny uncomfortable seats with sight obstructions for thousands of seats.

[jad]

No one went to tiny uncomfortable seats with sight obstructions for thousands of seats.

 

But when the RS suck, as they do this year, even luxury seats with hooker attendants wouldn't fill the place.