8/17 SOX @ Nats 4:05PM ET

[moonslav59]

Drop the series in D.C., never dominant in any game, the one win on a fluke WP/PB run. BP explosion in final 2. More sloppy play and baserunning contributed to the 2 losses. Score 50% of the runs in 1 inning out of 27

 

...and another wasted decent start.

[notin]

...and another wasted decent start.

 

By who?

[moonslav59]

By who?

 

Who started, today?

 

With decent defense, Sale likely goes 5 IP with 1 ER.

 

BTW, I didn't say great or even "good" start; I said "decent."

[cukes]

Just trying to back out of what I think was unfair criticism of Sale.

 

But as it turns out, this just might be the signature game of the season because this team stinks in every way imaginable with the errors, the lack of hitting, the rotten bullpen, you name it.

 

It's what I have been saying all along, it's called fundamental baseball we haven't played all year, I don't know what they do or teach in practice sessions, little league teams are better drilled

[vegasbob]

There is a chance some of them are not terribly smart or well educated . Many of the baseball talented Dominicans drop out of school after 6-8 years to enter the baseball academies which are supposed to continue their education in baseball and life. Where do you think the emphasis goes? Rafael Devers has been in the Sox organization for 10 years, since he was 16. I'm sure he understands baseball English but will only speak officially through an interpreter. On the other hand, Ortiz continues his career in broadcasting.

[notin]

Who started, today?

 

With decent defense, Sale likely goes 5 IP with 1 ER.

 

BTW, I didn't say great or even "good" start; I said "decent."

 

… and that is why this team needs Matt Chapman next year…

[moonslav59]

… and that is why this team needs Matt Chapman next year…

 

Maybe one of the 5 SSs we drafted can be moved to 3B.

 

Can Story play 3B?

[Randy Red Sox]

wow you are coming around Moonslav

Maybe one of the 5 SSs we drafted can be moved to 3B.

 

Can Story play 3B?

[redsoxrules]

Sure, let's move someone else to play 3rd base because our 300M man can't field properly.

 

This deal looks great already

[moonslav59]

Sure, let's move someone else to play 3rd base because our 300M man can't field properly.

 

This deal looks great already

 

I'm not sure why the money should prevent a move that helps the team at two positions.

[mvp 78]

Maybe one of the 5 SSs we drafted can be moved to 3B.

Can Story play 3B?

 

Yeah, that's why they drafted a bunch of SS's.

 

Guys most likely to be developed at 3B: Antonio Anderson (big frame) and Cutter Coffey (big arm).

 

Neither of those guys will be ready anytime soon though, so what's the plan in the immediate future? I think they stick with Devers at 3B for the next few years and Casas is the 1B. When Mayer is ready, does it push Story to 2B? IDK.

[redsoxrules]

I'm not sure why the money should prevent a move that helps the team at two positions.

 

Moving Devers at first makes the contract look bad. You've all said it before when I was comparing Devers to Matt Olson that Devers is playing at a more important position hence we can't compare him to Olson.

[moonslav59]

Moving Devers at first makes the contract look bad. You've all said it before when I was comparing Devers to Matt Olson that Devers is playing at a more important position hence we can't compare him to Olson.

 

So, you are saying our strategy should be to make contracts look better than to improve team defense at 2 positions?

 

Besides, the Devers contract does not "look better," if he keeps throwing the ball away at 3B.

[moonslav59]

Yeah, that's why they drafted a bunch of SS's.

 

Guys most likely to be developed at 3B: Antonio Anderson (big frame) and Cutter Coffey (big arm).

 

Neither of those guys will be ready anytime soon though, so what's the plan in the immediate future? I think they stick with Devers at 3B for the next few years and Casas is the 1B. When Mayer is ready, does it push Story to 2B? IDK.

 

Do you think Story could play 3B, or are we just shifting an arm injury risk to another position?

 

Guys like Bonaci, Lugo, Fitzy, DHam and Meidroth are closer to ML ready and maybe could play 3B well enough, but their bats are highly suspect at the ML level.

 

Of this group, maybe Meidroth and Bonaci have the best chance.

 

Id Devers moves to 1B, we'd likely sign a 3Bman. Notin is saying Matt Chapman. IDK.

[redsoxrules]

So, you are saying our strategy should be to make contracts look better than to improve team defense at 2 positions?

 

Besides, the Devers contract does not "look better," if he keeps throwing the ball away at 3B.

 

You think the ownership will allow this to happen? It would just be admiting another failure to them on this move to pay the man.

 

At the end of the day, if you have to move your star player, that you just signed (it would be one thing if this was down the road) for massive money , it wasn't a good move to begin with.

[moonslav59]

You think the ownership will allow this to happen? It would just be admiting another failure to them on this move to pay the man.

 

At the end of the day, if you have to move your star player, that you just signed (it would be one thing if this was down the road) for massive money , it wasn't a good move to begin with.

 

I have made no mention of what I think management will do. It's almost impossible to know or predict what they will do or even consider doing.

 

I think moving Devers to 3B improves the team's D in 2 places. I like the idea. I don't like the idea of trading Casas, but it might bring us a very good pitcher, and the trade off may be a net plus.

 

I do not see the value at 3B vs 1B as being so stark as you seem to think it is. There are some 1Bmen making huge bucks, too.

 

I still don't see how watching Devers make 20 throwing errors each year makes the contract look better than watching him be a plus defensive 1Bman, most likely on day one.

[Dipre]

This game really pissed me off

[moonslav59]

This game really pissed me off

 

I'm not sure a single game hurt more than that one, in 4-5 years.

[Bellhorn04]

I'm not sure a single game hurt more than that one, in 4-5 years.

 

Seriously? The recent 3 game thrashing by the Jays was a tad harmful too.

[mvp 78]

I'm not sure a single game hurt more than that one, in 4-5 years.

 

Now that is some hyperbole.

[dgalehouse]

It seems crazy to say , but the Yankees are easier to beat right now than the Nationals.

[moonslav59]

Seriously? The recent 3 game thrashing by the Jays was a tad harmful too.

 

I did say "I'm not sure," but at this point in the season, we had to win a game like this one, and the way we lost hurt like hell.

 

Of course, "hurt" is a personal thing.

[moonslav59]

It seems crazy to say , but the Yankees are easier to beat right now than the Nationals.

 

Yup.

 

Losing to them, now, will "hurt like hell," too.

[redsoxrules]

I'll they don't take 2 of 3 from the Yankees minimum, stick a fork in them

[moonslav59]

I'll they don't take 2 of 3 from the Yankees minimum, stick a fork in them

 

Well, we know the TOR series will be a sweep by one team, and ask MVP to explain why that would be a 6 game "swing."

 

[vegasbob]

I'll they don't take 2 of 3 from the Yankees minimum, stick a fork in them

 

There are 6 possible outcomes for the Sox-Yankees series. Most likely is 2-1 Sox but Bello must get the one tonight , trusting one or more hitters show up, a rare event in itself . a 2-1 or 3-0 outcome in Yankees favor would not help the cause.

[illinoisredsox]

There are 6 possible outcomes for the Sox-Yankees series. Most likely is 2-1 Sox but Bello must get the one tonight , trusting one or more hitters show up, a rare event in itself . a 2-1 or 3-0 outcome in Yankees favor would not help the cause.

 

I only see 4 possible outcomes (excluding rainouts).