9/4/23 Red Sox in St. Pete's Tropicana Field to compete with Tampa Bay Rays, 4:10

[vegasbob]

Meanwhile Casas has truly become the big bat in the lineup. Duvall has warmed up too.

 

Uh oh, looks like pitching Jansen in the 9th in KC could bite AC's butt

[illinoisredsox]

Big first half, very little since. I was surprised by Ortiz's comments that only Dalbec talks to him much about hitting. Maybe Rafi needs to also

 

Raffy also needs to be willing to change his approach slightly. Not a lot, but a couple of small tweaks in his approach wouldn’t hurt him

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

If Devers continues to regress in the next few years, the SOX can just trade him to the Dodgers along with another player they don't want.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Big first half, very little since. I was surprised by Ortiz's comments that only Dalbec talks to him much about hitting. Maybe Rafi needs to also

 

Similar to last year.

[vegasbob]

Story is closing in on 100PA's. He is not looking good. How much time does he need to reach a competitive AB ?

[vegasbob]

If Devers continues to regress in the next few years, the SOX can just trade him to the Dodgers along with another player they don't want.

 

I mentioned as few weeks ago that I doubt the contract will become a big issue for the Sox because Devers will find himself traded within 4 years .

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Story is closing in on 100PA's. He is not looking good. How much time does he need to reach a competitive AB ?

 

Preventing runs on defense is equal to driving in runs on offense. Missing spring training was a big factor in Story's lack of offense.

[jung]

Now that is how bad fielding does not show up in the states but had a major impact on an inning. The Abrau fly to CF should have just been caught. Though they don't have Kiermaire out there in CF any longer any competitive ML CF (at least of my generation of CFers) runs to the spot and catches that ball. Instead the Rays CF runs to some spot at least 10-15 feet away from the actual spot and can't make up the lost ground. Result....Ground rule double.

 

Can't play CF that way and call yourself a competent CF. You are a hack playing CF.

[jung]

Bello should be able to get Ramirez.

[Maxbialystock]

Meanwhile Casas has truly become the big bat in the lineup. Duvall has warmed up too.

 

Uh oh, looks like pitching Jansen in the 9th in KC could bite AC's butt

 

I don't see it that way. I'd rather Jansen screw up in a can't miss situation than a close game. Let's see what happens in this game, but my thought is that Martin can get the save if that opportunity presents itself.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Bello showed good maturity on the mound today by not letting the 1st inning affect the next 5. Results being a quality start.

[illinoisredsox]

I don't see it that way. I'd rather Jansen screw up in a can't miss situation than a close game. Let's see what happens in this game, but my thought is that Martin can get the save if that opportunity presents itself.

 

The real question is how to get to Martin and/or Jansen. The 6/7 inning guys haven’t exactly been lights out lately

[Maxbialystock]

Now that is how bad fielding does not show up in the states but had a major impact on an inning. The Abrau fly to CF should have just been caught. Though they don't have Kiermaire out there in CF any longer any competitive ML CF (at least of my generation of CFers) runs to the spot and catches that ball. Instead the Rays CF runs to some spot at least 10-15 feet away from the actual spot and can't make up the lost ground. Result....Ground rule double.

 

Can't play CF that way and call yourself a competent CF. You are a hack playing CF.

 

Meh. If the ball bounces into the stands in freaking centerfield, I'm inclined to give the centerfielder the benefit of the doubt.

[Maxbialystock]

The real question is how to get to Martin and/or Jansen. The 6/7 inning guys haven’t exactly been lights out lately

 

Whitlock goes 2, then Martin for the save.

[vegasbob]

I don't see it that way. I'd rather Jansen screw up in a can't miss situation than a close game. Let's see what happens in this game, but my thought is that Martin can get the save if that opportunity presents itself.

 

Agree on Martin. My point is that pitching Jansen in a meaningless situation, and him using about 24 pitches burned up Jansen in front of a theoritically important game today.

[illinoisredsox]

Whitlock goes 2, then Martin for the save.

 

Ideally, but Whitlock hasn’t exactly been reliable recently.

[Maxbialystock]

Bello showed good maturity on the mound today by not letting the 1st inning affect the next 5. Results being a quality start.

 

All things considered, especially the 3 runs in the 1st--at the freaking Trop--I'd call it a great start.

[Maxbialystock]

Ideally, but Whitlock hasn’t exactly been reliable recently.

 

True. But who the heck has? Jansen just gave up 2 to the lowly Royals.

[Maxbialystock]

Agree on Martin. My point is that pitching Jansen in a meaningless situation, and him using about 24 pitches burned up Jansen in front of a theoritically important game today.

 

Ahem. The Sox won that game, so I find it really, really hard to call it meaningless.

[illinoisredsox]

True. But who the heck has? Jansen just gave up 2 to the lowly Royals.

 

I know, though Jansen had only pitched 1 1/3 innings in almost 2 weeks prior to yesterday. Rust could have been a part, but a lot of closers are not at their best in non-save situations.

[jung]

Meh. If the ball bounces into the stands in freaking centerfield, I'm inclined to give the centerfielder the benefit of the doubt.

 

NOPE....doesn't deserve it. He was nowhere near running to the spot. Not even close. If you can't do that you can't play or should not be playing ML CF.

 

That was simply a long fly ball.

 

Keiemaire would have had to work to make that look exciting...which he has a reputation for doing. JBU just would have glided over the to spot and caught the ball. A competent CF may not have the instincts and first step of JBJ nor the closing ability and glove of Keirmaire but that ball should just have been caught.

 

We have grown so used to crap fielding that we appear not to know what competent fielding looks like.

Edited September 4, 2023 by jung

[vegasbob]

Ahem. The Sox won that game, so I find it really, really hard to call it meaningless.

 

Meaningless situation, up 7-1 in the 9th . Game was already virtually over.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Good ground coverage by short-legged Masa.

[jung]

Now of course somebody will tell me that the play Yoshi just made was fantastic because he didn't fall on his face simply running with a glove on one hand.

 

Yoshi is one of our multitude of DH's

[illinoisredsox]

Now of course somebody will tell me that the play Yoshi just made was fantastic because he didn't fall on his face simply running with a glove on one hand.

 

Yoshi is one of our multitude of DH's

 

It was a nice catch, nothing great. Biggest obstacle could have been the stupid bullpen mounds on the field, but fortunately he was comfortably past them.

 

We get it. Back in the day, no balls ever bounced into the stands. All fly balls are caught with ease and all outfielders were gold glove caliber.

 

Truth is you have no idea where the CF was playing on Abreu’s ball. You have no idea how hard the ball was hit. You could be right, but you could be wrong.

[jung]

Pop gun arm on the Rays CF to go with his other qualities in Center

[Jasonbay44]

Something we don’t see often, Devers using his legs to steal a base and then takes 3rd on a fly balll

[Jasonbay44]

Casas is a stud

[vegasbob]

Casas can

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Casas has been a 2nd half beast.