8/21 @ Astros

[vegasbob]

Outscored 9-1 after Duvall's shot, offering no resistance since then on offense, defense or the mound.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Perhaps the SOX can carry the momentum of Story actually hitting the ball over to tomorrow's game.

[harmony]

Paxton did not pitch well, but no pitcher can do very well, when they need to get 4-6 outs per inning, because his defense sucks.

 

On the defense, I thought it was going to get better with the return of Story, Reyes and Urais doing fine at 2B and Duvall in CF over Duran, but somehow, we still suck so badly, it's beyond words other than SUCK!

 

No timely hits since the first inning. Maybe Turner gets a chance in the 9th, but this familiar pattern is getting tiresome.

The Seattle Mariners would have passed the Houston Astros in the standings if the Red Sox had won on Monday.

 

Go get 'em on Tuesday.

[moonslav59]

Cora has talked about bad defense pretty much all year, and doesn’t like it, so to him I’m pretty sure it’s not overrated.

 

All the errors and the metrics show our defense is purid. Many of the stats and even metrics don't capture all the plays and nonplays that were not called errors. I'm not being hyperbolic when I say there have been dozens and dozens.

 

It hurts like hell, because as much as I love the game of baseball, the only thing I was good at was D and baserunning. Softball- I could hit like hell, but baseball? I sucked.

 

Some things I just don't get. Our 1B defense has been some sort of weird hallucination or something, because these guys come up from the farm and look 10 times worse than they did in AAA. Devers keeps teasing us with signs of improvement, only to go into long funks that seem to bite us in the ass at just the wrong moments. Our SS D, over the first 2 months was atrocious and at a position of such importance, it's mind-boggling how it went on for so long.

 

2B has been okay, and looks better, now. Story at SS is fine. Our OF D did better than I expected, but still has some major issues. Catcher looks more than fine, but the totality of sucktitude in overwhelming.

 

Please don't go and get the next JBJ. Just add some all around players who know the game like even some Little Leaguers know better than our mish-mash.

 

We need to move Devers to 1B and trade Yoshida or Casas. I can't see a DH/1B/LF rotation working. They all bat lefty, and none should be platooned, anyway. Duran in LF is serviceable, so maybe Yoshida can be dealt. Although Casas could headline a trade for a top pitcher, his upside at the plate is too high to pull that trigger... (maybe?) Dugo is okay in RF, but he's trouble, so I'm not sure what to do there.

 

Keep Story, Urias and Reyes; Wong and McGuire and look for ways to fix this s***!

 

[Oscars]

I'm not sure I see the value of having Story DH and Turner sit.

 

Like MOON posted earlier; how's Story going to find his groove if he doesn't play? Note to Story: Wherever you're looking, you're very cold.

 

All the errors and the metrics show our defense is purid. Many of the stats and even metrics don't capture all the plays and nonplays that were not called errors. I'm not being hyperbolic when I say there have been dozens and dozens.

 

It hurts like hell, because as much as I love the game of baseball, the only thing I was good at was D and baserunning. Softball- I could hit like hell, but baseball? I sucked.

 

Some things I just don't get. Our 1B defense has been some sort of weird hallucination or something, because these guys come up from the farm and look 10 times worse than they did in AAA. Devers keeps teasing us with signs of improvement, only to go into long funks that seem to bite us in the ass at just the wrong moments. Our SS D, over the first 2 months was atrocious and at a position of such importance, it's mind-boggling how it went on for so long.

 

2B has been okay, and looks better, now. Story at SS is fine. Our OF D did better than I expected, but still has some major issues. Catcher looks more than fine, but the totality of sucktitude in overwhelming.

 

Please don't go and get the next JBJ. Just add some all around players who know the game like even some Little Leaguers know better than our mish-mash.

 

We need to move Devers to 1B and trade Yoshida or Casas. I can't see a DH/1B/LF rotation working. They all bat lefty, and none should be platooned, anyway. Duran in LF is serviceable, so maybe Yoshida can be dealt. Although Casas could headline a trade for a top pitcher, his upside at the plate is too high to pull that trigger... (maybe?) Dugo is okay in RF, but he's trouble, so I'm not sure what to do there.

 

Keep Story, Urias and Reyes; Wong and McGuire and look for ways to fix this s***!

 

 

Yes moon, the brains trust need to make some hard calls in the off season in regard to the abysmal defence of this team.

I’ve seen enough of Devers to know he can’t stay at 3rd base over the long term ( even right now he stinks) so moving Devers has to happen sooner rather than later, and build the team around him at 1st base.

[redsoxrules]

I'd trade Yoshisa if we were to trade someone.

 

His barrel rate is well below league avg at 5% and hard hit contact. Like I said the other day most of his hits are dinky hits that won't work forever.

 

I would sell high on him.

[Bellhorn04]

I'd trade Yoshisa if we were to trade someone.

 

His barrel rate is well below league avg at 5% and hard hit contact. Like I said the other day most of his hits are dinky hits that won't work forever.

 

I would sell high on him.

 

His fWAR is down to 1.0.

[notin]

I'd trade Yoshisa if we were to trade someone.

 

His barrel rate is well below league avg at 5% and hard hit contact. Like I said the other day most of his hits are dinky hits that won't work forever.

 

I would sell high on him.

 

The logic of “this player isn’t very good; the Sox should trade him” is supposed to bring back what exactly?

[Bellhorn04]

The logic of “this player isn’t very good; the Sox should trade him” is supposed to bring back what exactly?

 

Yeah, we'd have to eat money in the deal.

[moonslav59]

The logic of “this player isn’t very good; the Sox should trade him” is supposed to bring back what exactly?

 

I'm not expecting much, unless we pay a chunk of his deal, but I do think other GMs would offer something we need.

 

His LF D is not what is killing us, but I don't want Duran in CF or RF, so maybe we trade Duran, instead? He does have more trade value.

 

Yoshida in LF v RHP/Ref v L

Yoshida at DH v some L

 

Casas at 1B v some L

Casas at DH v R

(Send Casas to 1B D school over the winter.)

 

Devers at 1B v R and some L

Devers at DH v some L

 

Get a 3Bman that can play D.

 

Roll the dice at SS/2B with Story, Urias and Reyes

 

I guess keep Dugo in RF and go with Rafaela in CF with an additional OF'er added that can play plus CF.

[mvp 78]

All this crap about defense ignores the fact that Paxton stunk tonight. And, except for that astounding 3 run dinger by Duvall, the Sox lineup also stinks tonight. They are 3 for 17 with RISP.

 

For Paxton defenders, please note that Murray has given up 0 runs in 3 innings despite an error and that Paxton gave up 4 runs (3 earned) in the first 2 innings and 7 overall (6 earned) in 4 innings.

 

I also think the Houston pitchers have done a good job of hitting corners on their pitches.

 

The could have ______ Paxton at the ______.

[Old Red]

The could have ______ Paxton at the ______.

 

Is this like a blank check that Bloom never cashed?

[mvp 78]

I'd trade Yoshisa if we were to trade someone.

 

His barrel rate is well below league avg at 5% and hard hit contact. Like I said the other day most of his hits are dinky hits that won't work forever.

 

I would sell high on him.

 

His xBA is 81st percentile. His K% is 95th percentile. His Wiff% is 87%.

 

Barrel rate isn't the end all be all. Could he be better? Of course.

[mvp 78]

Is this like a blank check that Bloom never cashed?

 

Some fans feel like they have to go for it every year so you can't _____ players at the ______.

[Bellhorn04]

Some fans feel like they have to go for it every year so you can't _____ players at the ______.

 

What I say is, if you're gonna put together half-ass "competitive teams" and toss in the towel at the deadline when you're 2 or 3 games out, you might as well just tank entire seasons.

[moonslav59]

Some fans feel like they have to go for it every year so you can't _____ players at the ______.

 

...and then not _____ players at the _____ puts the team in the same boat, the following year(s.)

 

Sox brass should have just called it a rebuild and done that for 2-3 years, instead of prolonging the agony for 5 years or more.

[moonslav59]

What I say is, if you're gonna put together half-ass "competitive teams" and toss in the towel at the deadline when you're 2 or 3 games out, you might as well just tank entire seasons.

 

Not fully. It's a good idea to sign some decent FAs to one year deals, in hopes you can add top prospects at the deadline by trading them.

 

We did half that plan, at times, so your half-ass comment was spot on..

[Old Red]

What I say is, if you're gonna put together half-ass "competitive teams" and toss in the towel at the deadline when you're 2 or 3 games out, you might as well just tank entire seasons.

 

Agree, and like I’ve said the last two years if you are not in it to win it then why play at all. If you are not willing to roll the dice then take your money, and go home. Are the fans paying top dollar for nothing?

[mvp 78]

What I say is, if you're gonna put together half-ass "competitive teams" and toss in the towel at the deadline when you're 2 or 3 games out, you might as well just tank entire seasons.

 

They are already saying things like "building for the future" and that they don't want to do anything that compromises that vision. Clearly, that's their focus. The "competitiveness" is just window dressing to sell tickets and keep people watching for as long as possible during yet another BRIDGE YEAR.

 

After all, it is a business and they still need the $$$.

[moonslav59]

They are already saying things like "building for the future" and that they don't want to do anything that compromises that vision. Clearly, that's their focus. The "competitiveness" is just window dressing to sell tickets and keep people watching for as long as possible during yet another BRIDGE YEAR.

 

After all, it is a business and they still need the $$$.

 

BINGO!

 

I do think _____ players at the _____ could still work, as fans already bought the NESN subscriptions and season tickets.

 

Do the crybaby fans really hold that much power over JH & Co?

[mvp 78]

Agree, and like I’ve said the last two years if you are not in it to win it then why play at all. If you are not willing to roll the dice then take your money, and go home. Are the fans paying top dollar for nothing?

 

To me, not making any real moves at the deadline was the worst option of 3 options for fans.

 

1. Trade for some players to make moves and the fans get some excitement in the current year.

2. Trade current players so that fans can get a better team in future years.

3. Do nothing and settle for medicority and just keep fans frustrated.

[Old Red]

To me, not making any real moves at the deadline was the worst option of 3 options for fans.

 

1. Trade for some players to make moves and the fans get some excitement in the current year.

2. Trade current players so that fans can get a better team in future years.

3. Do nothing and settle for medicority and just keep fans frustrated.

4. Look for 3rd option in the fork in the road. Two years now, and still hasn’t found it. I do agree though that doing nothing is the worst option, and like I keep saying too you shouldn’t have to pay Top dollar to watch any kind of rebuild. I believe a good front office should be able to somewhat go for it, and build too, but Bloom can’t seem to do that.

[moonslav59]

In 2022, we added our back-up catcher in McGuire.

 

In 2023, we added our c0-2Bman of the next 2 years in Urias.

 

Whoop-dee-freakin-doo!

[Old Red]

BINGO!

 

I do think _____ players at the _____ could still work, as fans already bought the NESN subscriptions and season tickets.

 

Do the crybaby fans really hold that much power over JH & Co?

You’ve got two sides of the coin with crybabies on both sides, but it seems that none of the crybabies are happy, so Bloom has accomplished that feat.

[moonslav59]

You’ve got two sides of the coin with crybabies on both sides, but it seems that none of the crybabies are happy, so Bloom has accomplished that feat.

 

That has been my contuing point. Nobody ends up happy, so why not just do what is best for the long term success of the team?

 

That does seem to be the number one priority- not the here and now.

 

Just stick to it, and we get there faster.

[Old Red]

That has been my contuing point. Nobody ends up happy, so why not just do what is best for the long term success of the team?

 

That does seem to be the number one priority- not the here and now.

 

Just stick to it, and we get there faster.

This is where we disagree. I would say the players, the coaches, and most of the paying customers who pay top dollar want to win now, where you seem to think it can’t be done without sacrifice to the future, which may never turn out that good anyway. I keep saying a good front office to me should be able to win enough to get into the postseason season now, and also build up the farm. To me the Big League club comes first, and to you the farm comes first. To me it should be both at the same time. You’ve bought into the Bloom awesome thing, and it may get there at some point, but then again it may not. It is nowhere near a certainty.

[Bellhorn04]

That has been my contuing point. Nobody ends up happy, so why not just do what is best for the long term success of the team?

 

That does seem to be the number one priority- not the here and now.

 

Just stick to it, and we get there faster.

 

The very best thing for long term success would have been to tank like the Cubs and Astros did. Would have you have approved of that?

[Old Red]

The very best thing for long term success would have been to tank like the Cubs and Astros did. Would have you have approved of that?

If you have to get down to that level then I would say the front office, or offices haven’t done their jobs.

[mvp 78]

This is where we disagree. I would say the players, the coaches, and most of the paying customers who pay top dollar want to win now, where you seem to think it can’t be done without sacrifice to the future, which may never turn out that good anyway. I keep saying a good front office to me should be able to win enough to get into the postseason season now, and also build up the farm. To me the Big League club comes first, and to you the farm comes first. To me it should be both at the same time. You’ve bought into the Bloom awesome thing, and it may get there at some point, but then again it may not. It is nowhere near a certainty.

 

2023 Padres

2023 Mets

[mvp 78]

The very best thing for long term success would have been to tank like the Cubs and Astros did. Would have you have approved of that?

 

Cubs tanked and then couldn't keep it going.

 

Astros tanked and then turned into a monster.

 

Dodgers never tanked but figured out how to become a monster.

 

Rays did rays things and nobody can figure out how to replicate it.