July 4, 2023 TX Rangers @ Red Sox 1:35 EDT

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

I mean he's pretty good, don't sell him short.

 

There's a few better, like Bochy, and a few worse, like Boone.

[vegasbob]

Garza about to get taught a lesson regarding strike throwing

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Murphy did fine today. 1 run in 3 2/3 is more than acceptable. A bit shaky at times, but he kept the Sox in the game.

 

Yup, he did a fine job.

[vegasbob]

relievers truly are a crapshoot. Bernardino was very good, Ort wasn't, Murphy pretty good, Garza sucks.

[Duran Is The Man]

i'd DFA this clown right now if i could.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

relievers truly are a crapshoot. Bernardino was very good, Ort wasn't, Murphy pretty good, Garza sucks.

 

Murphy and Bernardino have both been pleasant surprises, so far. Ort and Garza define the word CRAPshoot.

Edited July 4, 2023 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[Maxbialystock]

No one here complained about Bernardino, except for Cora removing him so early. There's no reasonable excuse for bringing in Ort based on his history with the SOX. I do understand that this injury prone team hasn't made Cora's job easier, but there's certain moves he makes that are definitely worth discussing.

 

 

It's a bullpen game, which means several arms will be used. Pivetta can't be used today, ditto Jansen, Bello, Crawford, Paxton, and probably Winck. Plus we have now seen Bernardino, Ort, Murphy and Garza--all four of whom have given up runs.

 

Also, the score is an unsurprising 6-1 because the Rangers lead MLB in runs scored.

 

My guess, only that, is that going into this game Cora was reluctant to use his best bullpen arms unless/until he could see some scoring from the lineup.

[vegasbob]

Not sure if 2024 will open with our Yoshida, Duran, Verdugo OF but right now their OPS are .852, .855, and .820 respectively. Add in Devers' .829 and Turner's .809 . It tells you that pitching is the need at the deadline and this coming winter.

[illinoisredsox]

There's a few better, like Bochy, and a few worse, like Boone.

 

Bochy’s career mark is right at .500 (.499 to be exact).

 

Managers don’t make much of a difference. They can set a short term tone but that’s about it. They win shone thry have talent, they lose when they don’t.

 

A bad manager hurts a team far more than a good one will help one.

[Maxbialystock]

He should at least be playing against some lefties. Maybe you sit him against an all-star type lefty, at least for now, but play him against less talented southpaws to see what he can do.

 

Exactly how many "all-star type" lefties do you think there are? Or put it this way. Why is Refsnyder on the team--to watch Duran improve against lefty starters?

[vegasbob]

This game was lost the moment Ort faced his second batter.

 

But more importantly, did Mrs. Paxton pop out the baby yet ?? How much time does an MLB player get off to attend the baby momma ?

[Maxbialystock]

Bochy’s career mark is right at .500 (.499 to be exact).

 

Managers don’t make much of a difference. They can set a short term tone but that’s about it. They win shone thry have talent, they lose when they don’t.

 

A bad manager hurts a team far more than a good one will help one.

 

I'm certainly no expert, but that makes sense to me, especially the last sentence. I do think Cora is a good manager, but recognize that a manager can only do so much. You gotta have the players/talent.

[vegasbob]

Bochy’s career mark is right at .500 (.499 to be exact).

 

Managers don’t make much of a difference. They can set a short term tone but that’s about it. They win shone thry have talent, they lose when they don’t.

 

A bad manager hurts a team far more than a good one will help one.

 

If you take the entire history of MLB baseball, all teams, all games the combined record is .500 with allowance for a few incomplete game ties not played out. So baseball is the definition of average

[vegasbob]

Ironic that the call-up Walter is the only reliever not to give up a run today, so far. Bernardino's run was the victim of the oft mentioned ORT

[Dipre]

I'm certainly no expert, but that makes sense to me, especially the last sentence. I do think Cora is a good manager, but recognize that a manager can only do so much. You gotta have the players/talent.

 

What's sad to me is he gets lambasted because Bloom built a flawed roster, but he can't go out and tell the fans that Kike at SS can f*** right off. He has to hold the company line. He should be criticized for his own faults, not deficiencies in the roster.

[illinoisredsox]

I'm certainly no expert, but that makes sense to me, especially the last sentence. I do think Cora is a good manager, but recognize that a manager can only do so much. You gotta have the players/talent.

 

I remember reading a story about Earl Weaver when he first took over the Orioles. He had Brooks Robinson and Mark Belanger on the left side of the infield . At first, he had the O”s ground crew keep the grass high, thinking that would help his gold glovers make more plays. What he found was they were making a lot of routine plays while the other teams less talented infielders were making great plays and taking hits away from Baltimore hitters. So he told the ground crew to shave the infield to a nub. After that , his guys were now making the great plays and O’s hitters were getting a lot more hits.

 

That’s a good manager who put his talent in position to win.

Edited July 4, 2023 by illinoisredsox

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

I remember reading a story about Earl Weaver when he first took over the Orioles. He had Brooks Robinson and Mark Belanger on the left side of the infield . At first, he had the O”s ground crew keep the grass high, thinking that would help his gold glovers make more plays. What he found was they were making a lot of routine plays while the other teams less talented infielders were making great plays and taking hits away from Baltimore hitters. So he told the ground crew to shave the infield to a nub. After that , his guys were now making the great plays and O’s hitters were getting a lot more hits.

 

That’s a good manager who put his talent in position to win.

 

If I had to pick who I thought was the greatest manager during my lifetime, I would easily choose Weaver. He knew the rulebook better than most chUMPS and he never missed anything happening on the field. I believe Earl initiated more protest games than anyone. He didn't give a crap if his players liked him or not, and many didn't, especially super arrogant Jim Palmer. During some games Weaver alone was worth the price of admission. During arguments with a chUMP he would peck the chUMPS nose with the bill of his cap. After getting fined for that habit, Earl would turn his cap around before going 10 with the chUMPS.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Looks like the Orioles' wings are starting to tire.

[illinoisredsox]

If I had to pick who I thought was the greatest manager during my lifetime, I would easily choose Weaver. He knew the rulebook better than most chUMPS and he never missed anything happening on the field. I believe Earl initiated more protest games than anyone. He didn't give a crap if his players liked him or not, and many didn't, especially super arrogant Jim Palmer. During some games Weaver alone was worth the price of admission. During arguments with a chUMP he would peck the chUMPS nose with the bill of his cap. After getting fined for that habit, Earl would turn his cap around before going 10 with the chUMPS.

 

Palmer didn’t like him, but Weaver knew exactly what buttons to push to get him to perform, to the tune of 8 20 win seasons in an era when wins for a starting pitcher actually meant something.

[vegasbob]

This six game homestand will end up 3-3 . Texas will take 2 and Oakland 1 . The win 1, lose 2, win 2, lose 1 .500 season will roll right into the A-S break and back out with no clear direction.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Palmer didn’t like him, but Weaver knew exactly what buttons to push to get him to perform, to the tune of 8 20 win seasons in an era when wins for a starting pitcher actually meant something.

 

"What buttons to push." I like that. Weaver was a great button pusher.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

This six game homestand will end up 3-3 . Texas will take 2 and Oakland 1 . The win 1, lose 2, win 2, lose 1 .500 season will roll right into the A-S break and back out with no clear direction.

 

 

Another good reason to allow Duran to play everyday.

[Maxbialystock]

If I had to pick who I thought was the greatest manager during my lifetime, I would easily choose Weaver. He knew the rulebook better than most chUMPS and he never missed anything happening on the field. I believe Earl initiated more protest games than anyone. He didn't give a crap if his players liked him or not, and many didn't, especially super arrogant Jim Palmer. During some games Weaver alone was worth the price of admission. During arguments with a chUMP he would peck the chUMPS nose with the bill of his cap. After getting fined for that habit, Earl would turn his cap around before going 10 with the chUMPS.

 

Pretty good choice. I remember him well.

[Maxbialystock]

I remember reading a story about Earl Weaver when he first took over the Orioles. He had Brooks Robinson and Mark Belanger on the left side of the infield . At first, he had the O”s ground crew keep the grass high, thinking that would help his gold glovers make more plays. What he found was they were making a lot of routine plays while the other teams less talented infielders were making great plays and taking hits away from Baltimore hitters. So he told the ground crew to shave the infield to a nub. After that , his guys were now making the great plays and O’s hitters were getting a lot more hits.

 

That’s a good manager who put his talent in position to win.

 

So Cora needs to let the Fenway infield grass grow and grow and grow. Good fix--except by now MLB probably has umpires checking it.

[Maxbialystock]

This six game homestand will end up 3-3 . Texas will take 2 and Oakland 1 . The win 1, lose 2, win 2, lose 1 .500 season will roll right into the A-S break and back out with no clear direction.

 

 

I won't contest those numbers, but would say that .500 ball right now ain't too shabby given the ups and downs of the lineup and especially of the pitching.

 

As I've argued ad nauseum, the Sox rotation has been decimated. Of the 5 original starters--Sale, Houck, Pivetta, Crawford, and Kluber--only Crawford is in the rotation, and he has just 8 starts. Sale, Houck, and Whitlock are all on the IL. Kluber is on the IL without a diagnosis or expected return date. Pivetta is in the bullpen.

 

Fortunately, Paxton and Bello have come through: between them 22 starts and 12 quality starts. Crawford is the 3d starter, but with 8 starts and no quality starts. After those 3, no one, for now. Thus was today yet another bullpen start/game.

 

Neither Paxton nor Bello started the season on the active roster, but are now the heart of the rotation. Between them 22 starts, 12 quality starts. Bello ERA 3.08, Paxton 2.70. Crawford is the 3d starter, with just 8 starts and 0 quality starts.

 

Sale, Houck, and Whitlock are all on the IL and all were starters from the get go. Pivetta is consigned to the bullpen. Kluber isn't even that--he's on the IL with no actual diagnosis or date of return--and he too started the season in the rotation.

 

Nevertheless, the Sox at .500 are just 5 games out of a wild card slot. Of course, overtaking the Astros, Yankees, Jays, and/or Angels will be daunting with a rotation in shreds and a very unproductive bottom third of the batting order.

[Tedballgame]

Glad I missed the game today. The pitchers the Sox ran out there today are a joke. None of them should be in the majors. That is an indictman of Chaim Bloom and the team he has put together. They have no depth at all and have to rely on garbage to try to win games. Ort?? You have to be kidding me! He SUCKS so bad.

[Maxbialystock]

Another good reason to allow Duran to play everyday.

 

This ain't Worcester. Getting a wild card berth is still important to John Henry (I think), and it's doable. So I'm fine with Cora having the leeway to sub for Duran when he thinks it will give the Sox a better chance of winning.

 

And, oh, by the way, since when is it bad for a player to get 4 freaking doubles in a game because his manager has him hitting against righties? Right now Duran's overall OPS is a robust .856 in part because he has 181 at bats vs. righties and just 32 against lefties.

 

I have no doubt that, if Duran's success, now just 65 games old, continues, he will get more opportunities to hit against lefties.

[Maxbialystock]

Glad I missed the game today. The pitchers the Sox ran out there today are a joke. None of them should be in the majors. That is an indictman of Chaim Bloom and the team he has put together. They have no depth at all and have to rely on garbage to try to win games. Ort?? You have to be kidding me! He SUCKS so bad.

 

Starters Sale, Houck, Whitlock, and Kluber are all on the IL.

[Tedballgame]

Starters Sale, Houck, Whitlock, and Kluber are all on the IL.

 

Are you saying Kluber (7.04 E.R.A.) is a major league pitcher? Houck and Whitlock should be in the bullpen. Sale should be a closer. They have two starters, Bello and Paxton.

[notin]

This ain't Worcester. Getting a wild card berth is still important to John Henry (I think), and it's doable. So I'm fine with Cora having the leeway to sub for Duran when he thinks it will give the Sox a better chance of winning.

 

And, oh, by the way, since when is it bad for a player to get 4 freaking doubles in a game because his manager has him hitting against righties? Right now Duran's overall OPS is a robust .856 in part because he has 181 at bats vs. righties and just 32 against lefties.

 

I have no doubt that, if Duran's success, now just 65 games old, continues, he will get more opportunities to hit against lefties.

 

But he also pinch hit for a player who was 7 for his last 7 with 14 total bases. At what point does that matter?

 

I know Cora operates with more information than I do, but he does get absolutely perplexing sometimes, and it also looks like far too often he makes moves for the sake of making moves.

 

And his “management by bullpen role” philosophy last year was totally maddening. I mean, Houck’s job was to pitch after Rich Hill, who would be removed at the first hint of throwing ball three. For some reason, the struggling Barnes was the dedicated extra inning arm, despite that he couldn’t find the strike zone without a Sherpa to guide him there.

 

I do think Cora is very questionable. Not chasing my mind.

 

(I did disagree about pitching to a Vlad the other night, but stuff like that doesn’t register compared to my other frustrations.)