7/03 SOX @ Marlins 6:40PM ET

[FredLynn]

No, buster. You've been this way. I certainly have not. I watched almost every game in 2018, the best season the Sox have ever had. And I did the same in 2021 when the Sox made it to the postseason, beat Cole and the Yankees in the wild card, beat the 100 win Rays in the ALDS, and finally lost, 4 games to 2, to the Astros in the ALCS. People have forgotten that in his first two seasons as CBO, Dombrowski's teams won the AL East in 2016 and 2017 but were trounced, 3 games to none, both years in the ALDS. To me those were worse seasons than 2021. Such is Cora's genius that the Sox made it to the postseason and the ALCS in 2021 without a freaking closer.

 

The last two seasons were not good, but they were still watchable. And, to a knowledgeable Sox fan since 1949, the 2024 Sox have been astounding precisely because of all the no-names, including the entire Sox rotation, who are making a difference.

 

Ok. You got me by a decade-buster. And for as long as I can remember you’ve been a bonnethead, reluctant to say anything negative about the team. You don’t like my “venom”. I don’t care for unrealistically and uniformly blind comments that deny reality.

As for tonight Bello, as I wrote, came around after a poor start against inferior competition. As I wrote he is a promising prospect-one who should be sent down if he can’t get it together consistently soon.

We are playing for next year or the year after. That’s the reality.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

That's how you do it. Rafaela wanting to keep his RBI lead on the SOX.

[vegasbob]

Really need to see what we could get for Rafaela at the deadline. Maybe a backup 1Bman or a Lh reliever with forearm tightness. Nice to get a game buster there, Cedanne

[Old Red]

That's how you do it. Rafaela wanting to keep his RBI lead on the SOX.

If RAF Man keeps it up he may hit 100 RBI from the 9th spot.

[FredLynn]

Really need to see what we could get for Rafaela at the deadline. Maybe a backup 1Bman or a Lh reliever with forearm tightness. Nice to get a game buster there, Cedanne

 

Wonder what we can get for Don Smith or Dalbec?

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

If RAF Man keeps it up he may hit 100 RBI from the 9th spot.

 

 

In 1977 Hobson drove in 112 runs batting mainly 9th.

[vegasbob]

Splendid wins the series, despite what Denny G says, and now for the sweep tomorrow early.

 

Bello does get the win, and the Sox bats come alive late as they usually do.

[Maxbialystock]

I’m here aren’t I? I’ve been here for years even though this team has sucked recently. I’ve likely been a Sox fan long before you started following them.

Yes, Bello got it together against a terrible offense-second worse in the game. Let’s see how he does against some real competition.

And no, I don’t like this year’s team. Or last year’s. Or the year before that. Last place two years running and chasing a third.

I’m not a bonnethead here. If you don’t like that reality don’t read my posts here.

 

I was overseas, but religiously checked the Sox box scores in 1949 and after, so that's 75 years of fandom even though I couldn't get Sox games on radio or TV for about 50 of those years. DirectTV changed that in 2002, so I've been a real fanatic since then. Lucky timing because JH bought the Sox and brought in a pretty good brain trust to finally end the 86 year drought. His first big move was to fire that idiot manager and bring in Francona.

 

I've been a Sox fan because I was born outside Boston and both my parents grew up in Massachusetts. Plus Ted Williams, of course.

 

I had an Uncle Ned who was a real Sox fan, living right there in Boston the whole time, for the entire 86 year drought, but I don't think he made it to October 2004. I remember watching him watch every single Sox game on TV. including some of the bad years. I thought he was nuts, so I must be one too.

 

Having said that, one fellow nut to another, you are certainly entitled to your point of view. Real fans thrive on disagreeing.

Edited July 4, 2024 by Maxbialystock

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Very good pitching and very good defense and a very good win.

[vegasbob]

Wonder what we can get for Don Smith or Dalbec?

 

Don't think you could get anything in the way of a player/pitcher. If the Sox could have moved Dalbec over the past couple years, even in a multi-player, I think they would have. Smith would have to wake up to get traded.

[vegasbob]

O'Neill remains a statistical anomaly. Hitting .885 OPS with 16 HR's , but still only 28 rbi's, meaning other than himself, he has only contributed 12 other runs with Duran in front of him most of the season and Devers now regularly behind him.

 

Not saying he hasn't been helpful, but something doesn't click in terms of causing runs to score.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

O'Neill remains a statistical anomaly. Hitting .885 OPS with 16 HR's , but still only 28 rbi's, meaning other than himself, he has only contributed 12 other runs with Duran in front of him most of the season and Devers now regularly behind him.

 

Not saying he hasn't been helpful, but something doesn't click in terms of causing runs to score.

 

16 HR's and 28 RBI are very strange stats. I'm guessing about 11 of those homers were solo shots.

[FredLynn]

I was overseas, but religiously checking the Sox box scores in 1949, so that's 75 years of fandom even though I couldn't get Sox games on radio or TV for about 50 of those years. DirectTV changed that in 2002, so I've been a real fanatic since then. Lucky timing because JH bought the Sox and brought in a pretty good brain trust to finally end the 86 year drought. His first big move was to fire that idiot manager and bring in Francona.

 

Been religiously following this team since I was 8 in 1959. I remember listening to games on my transistor radio after my parents put me to bed. I think Curt Gowdy was doing the games back then. So saying I’m not a fan is inaccurate. I just prefer to point out both the good and the bad on the team. It’s a balanced approach not appreciated by people who can’t seem to assess teams objectively.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Don't look now, but the SOX are only 5 games behind the Yankems in the loss column.

[Maxbialystock]

Ok. You got me by a decade-buster. And for as long as I can remember you’ve been a bonnethead, reluctant to say anything negative about the team. You don’t like my “venom”. I don’t care for unrealistically and uniformly blind comments that deny reality.

As for tonight Bello, as I wrote, came around after a poor start against inferior competition. As I wrote he is a promising prospect-one who should be sent down if he can’t get it together consistently soon.

We are playing for next year or the year after. That’s the reality.

 

We disagree, but that's OK--which I apologize for forgetting. I like these 2024 Sox a lot because, with Giolito, Story, Whitlock, Casas, Sale, et al on the IL (or pitching for the Braves while paid by the Sox), they should be floundering at the bottom of the AL, not just the AL East. Instead, the suckers are winning ball games they didn't win last year. The rotation is insanely good for a bunch of no-names. I mean, as recently as last season we were all arguing about whether Houck could face a lineup 3 times.

 

As for Bello, I'm fine with whatever Cora and Breslow agree on. But to me it makes sense to leave him with the best manager in MLB and possibly the best pitching coach.

[Maxbialystock]

Don't look now, but the SOX are only 5 games behind the Yankems in the loss column.

 

No s***!!!!?????

 

You do come up with some gems. Nice win too.

 

I didn't realize it before tonight, but I've learned that the Marlins should have simply forfeited tonight's game because they are so awful. They can't hit--nosiree, not at all.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

No s***!!!!?????

 

You do come up with some gems. Nice win too.

 

I didn't realize it before tonight, but I've learned that the Marlins should have simply forfeited tonight's game because they are so awful. They can't hit--nosiree, not at all.

 

It appears the Yankems are struggling lately with their two man offense.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Btw, Rafaela's base clearing hit allowed an extra day's rest for Kenley. Little things like that sometimes get overlooked.

[FredLynn]

We disagree, but that's OK--which I apologize for forgetting. I like these 2024 Sox a lot because, with Giolito, Story, Whitlock, Casas, Sale, et al on the IL (or pitching for the Braves while paid by the Sox), they should be floundering at the bottom of the AL, not just the AL East. Instead, the suckers are winning ball games they didn't win last year. The rotation is insanely good for a bunch of no-names. I mean, as recently as last season we were all arguing about whether Houck could face a lineup 3 times.

 

As for Bello, I'm fine with whatever Cora and Breslow agree on. But to me it makes sense to leave him with the best manager in MLB and possibly the best pitching coach.

 

They have performed better than I expected so far. But I just don’t see the talent on this team to finish ahead of anyone but maybe the Jays. And it’s getting old-especially with the dumb “full throttle” comment before the season started. Then we march out Smith and sometimes even Dalbec out there.

I don’t expect legitimate World Series contenders every year but this is a big market team that should compete for a playoff spot every year. And while they are competing for a playoff spot so far by October 1 they’ll be packing their bags to go home.

Again

[Maxbialystock]

They have performed better than I expected so far. But I just don’t see the talent on this team to finish ahead of anyone but maybe the Jays. And it’s getting old-especially with the dumb “full throttle” comment before the season started. Then we march out Smith and sometimes even Dalbec out there.

I don’t expect legitimate World Series contenders every year but this is a big market team that should compete for a playoff spot every year. And while they are competing for a playoff spot so far by October 1 they’ll be packing their bags to go home.

Again

 

Agree on most and certainly understand what I call the "big market big payroll" syndrome/expectation. As I've said too many times, it's enough for me at almost 84 to have seen four freaking WS wins. Thus in my view John Henry owes me absolutely nothing.

 

Plus I think he should be pissed that time and again--recently, say, 2019 to the present-- his FO smart guys signed big arms to big contracts and then watched them collapse while still getting huge salaries for what seems like decades.

 

I must have missed the "full throttle comment," which absolutely does not jibe with what Chaim Bloom was clearly directed to do since 2019: "do not spend long and big on arms."

 

Absolutely agree Dalbec and Smith are duds. But I can remember Sox teams whose 7th, 8th, and 9th batters thought "batter" had something to with making cakes. Hit a round ball with a round bat squarely? No way. Anyway, Dalbec is gone, maybe for good. As for Smith, I guess he gets the nod over Gonzalez (who has played 1B) because he's a lefty bat in a righty starter universe.

Edited July 4, 2024 by Maxbialystock

[Maxbialystock]

It appears the Yankems are struggling lately with their two man offense.

 

And guess which Sox horrible, terrible, awful, no good, rotten Sox hitter is 13 for 25 in his last 7 games? The guy who speaks almost no English and even less Spanish.

[Jasonbay44]

Big start By Bello tonight. Hopefully this builds him some confidence going forward.

 

Connor Wong extends his hit streak to a league leading 18 games.

 

Rafael Devers has a career high 4 triples with almost half a season to go.

 

Yoshida has caught fire and it’s made a huge difference having him back in the lineup over guys like Garrett Cooper and Bobby Dalbec.

 

Only real negative from today’s game? Dominic Smith really sucks. Hopefully Casas is close

[Maxbialystock]

Devers now at 49 rbi's. And Rafaela, the punk kid who always gets sand kicked at him at the beach, is just 2 behind him at 47.

[FredLynn]

Agree on most and certainly understand what I call the "big market big payroll" syndrome/expectation. As I've said too many times, it's enough for me at almost 84 to have seen four freaking WS wins. Thus in my view John Henry owes me absolutely nothing.

 

Plus I think he should be pissed that time and again--recently, say, 2019 to the present-- his FO smart guys signed big arms to big contracts and then watched them collapse while still getting huge salaries for what seems like decades.

 

I must have missed the "full throttle comment," which absolutely does not jibe with what Chaim Bloom was clearly directed to do since 2019: "do not spend long and big on arms."

 

Absolutely agree Dalbec and Smith are duds. But I can remember Sox teams whose 7th, 8th, and 9th batters thought "batter" had something to with making cakes. Hit a round ball with a round bat squarely? No way. Anyway, Dalbec is gone, maybe for good. As for Smith, I guess he gets the nod over Gonzalez (who has played 1B) because he's a lefty bat in a righty starter universe.

 

Dalbec isn’t gone enough. I think he’s at AAA in Worcester. He should have been released a long time ago.

It was Werner who said it (see below) during the offseason. They need to be much more careful how they spend money. They’re only middle third in payroll but more importantly they have to use better judgement on who they pay for and for how long.

I guess I like winning better than losing even if it means sacrificing a season so we can compete for several years. That’s why I wrote that if Bello continues to struggle he should be sent down to regain confidence.

Right now we haven’t been competing for a playoff spot, realistically, for three years. This team won’t make the postseason. It’s going to be another long summer once they reach their real potential.

 

“ BOSTON — Red Sox chairman Tom Werner committed to building a competitive team for the 2024 campaign, expressing how the organization understands it will have to be “full throttle” this offseason in order to do so.”

 

https://nesn.com/2023/11/red-sox-committed-to-building-competitive-roster-tom-werner-says/amp/

[Maxbialystock]

Big start By Bello tonight. Hopefully this builds him some confidence going forward.

 

Connor Wong extends his hit streak to a league leading 18 games.

 

Rafael Devers has a career high 4 triples with almost half a season to go.

 

Yoshida has caught fire and it’s made a huge difference having him back in the lineup over guys like Garrett Cooper and Bobby Dalbec.

 

Only real negative from today’s game? Dominic Smith really sucks. Hopefully Casas is close

 

Agree Smith sucks, which is all the more reason to play him. On Talksox, especially on game threads, it is essential we have someone to gripe about. Tonight a bunch of guys expected to dump on Bello, who graciously gave up 3 singles and a run in the first inning. So the bunch ran with it the whole game, adamantly refusing to say he had done anything remotely acceptable. First time I can remember 6.2 innings, 1 run, 7 K's, 7 singles, and 1 run was blind stupid luck.

 

What they actually said is that the Marlins can't hit. Nosiree, not a lick. I looked that up and it turns out "not a lick" is 296 runs in 85 games, which 3.5 runs per game. The best offense in MLB is the Orioles: 440 runs in 85 games or 5.2 runs per game.

 

Just last week/weekend the terrible hitting Marlins played 4 against the best pitching staff (ERA 3.09) in MLB--the Phillies. They split 4 games, winning 7-4 and 3-2 and losing 0-2 and 6-7. Simple math tells us the no good, worthless Marlins averaged 4 runs per game against the best pitching staff in MLB. So far they've averaged 2.5 runs per game against the rotten, stinking, worthless Sox staff.

Edited July 4, 2024 by Maxbialystock

[Jasonbay44]

Agree Smith sucks, which is all the more reason to play him. On Talksox, especially on game threads, it is essential we have someone to gripe about. Tonight a bunch of guys expected to dump on Bello, who graciously gave up 3 singles and a run in the first inning. So the bunch ran with it the whole game, adamantly refusing to say he had done anything remotely acceptable. First time I can remember 6.2 innings, 1 run, 7 K's, 7 singles, and 1 run was blind stupid luck.

 

What they actually said is that the Marlins can't hit. Nosiree, not a lick. I looked that up and it turns out "not a lick" is 296 runs in 85 games, which 3.5 runs per game. The best offense in MLB is the Orioles: 440 runs in 85 games or 5.2 runs per game.

 

Just last week/weekend the terrible hitting Marlins played 4 against the best pitching staff (ERA 3.09) in MLB--the Phillies. They split 4 games, winning 7-4 and 3-2 and losing 0-2 and 6-7. Simple math tells us the no good, worthless Marlins averaged 4 runs per game against the best pitching staff in MLB. So far they've averaged 2.5 runs per game against the rotten, stinking, worthless Sox staff.

 

Regardless of how good or bad the Marlins are, you will take a pitcher going 6.2 innings and allowing only 1 run, every single start. The Marlins are an MLB team and even the worst hitters in the MLB are still some of the best in the world. Bello needed a good start and this at the very least should help his confidence if nothing else.

 

I’m still very high on Bello, and hopefully this gets him going, the Sox NEED him to pitch better than what he’s been doing.

[FredLynn]

Big start By Bello tonight. Hopefully this builds him some confidence going forward.

 

Connor Wong extends his hit streak to a league leading 18 games.

 

Rafael Devers has a career high 4 triples with almost half a season to go.

 

Yoshida has caught fire and it’s made a huge difference having him back in the lineup over guys like Garrett Cooper and Bobby Dalbec.

 

Only real negative from today’s game? Dominic Smith really sucks. Hopefully Casas is close

 

Casas tore the cartilage in his ribcage. Since cartilage has very little if any blood supply those injuries take forever to heal-if they ever do.

[Maxbialystock]

Dalbec isn’t gone enough. I think he’s at AAA in Worcester. He should have been released a long time ago.

It was Werner who said it (see below) during the offseason. They need to be much more careful how they spend money. They’re only middle third in payroll but more importantly they have to use better judgement on who they pay for and for how long.

I guess I like winning better than losing even if it means sacrificing a season so we can compete for several years. That’s why I wrote that if Bello continues to struggle he should be sent down to regain confidence.

Right now we haven’t been competing for a playoff spot, realistically, for three years. This team won’t make the postseason. It’s going to be another long summer once they reach their real potential.

 

“ BOSTON — Red Sox chairman Tom Werner committed to building a competitive team for the 2024 campaign, expressing how the organization understands it will have to be “full throttle” this offseason in order to do so.”

 

https://nesn.com/2023/11/red-sox-committed-to-building-competitive-roster-tom-werner-says/amp/

 

"Middle third" is misleading. The Sox payroll is 11th, which is one slot from top third. That said, I agree it's unarguable the Sox have made a bunch of bad trades/acquisitions recently.

 

That said, however, the entire Red Sox rotation this season is paid less than the closer Jansen, who gets $16M. The two best starters, Houck and Crawford, each get $750K or so. And the highest WAR, 4.7, on the team is Duran, who is also paid $750K.

 

And you are dead wrong about not competing. The Sox winning percentage is .541, which translates to 88 wins, which should compete. In addition, the Sox are 1/2 game out of the 3d wild card slot and 1.5 games out of the 2d wild card slot.

[moonslav59]

Maybe Bello can springboard off this game.

[moonslav59]

They have performed better than I expected so far. But I just don’t see the talent on this team to finish ahead of anyone but maybe the Jays. And it’s getting old-especially with the dumb “full throttle” comment before the season started. Then we march out Smith and sometimes even Dalbec out there.

I don’t expect legitimate World Series contenders every year but this is a big market team that should compete for a playoff spot every year. And while they are competing for a playoff spot so far by October 1 they’ll be packing their bags to go home.

Again

 

What do you see in the Rays that convinces you they have more talent?