7/28 NYY at BOS

[Old Red]

Houck and Crawford hit the wall weeks ago. We needed to manage their IP and or pitch counts, all along. The lack of pitching depth killed us.

 

It might be too late to hope for a return to form from those two pitchers, even if we go to a 6 man rotation and baby them the rest of the way.

 

I can't see Pivetta, Criswell, Paxton and Bello taking up the slack.

 

We would need to trade for an ace and 2-3 solid RP'ers to get our staff back to top tier (10) or maybe 11th to 15th best.

 

I'm not feeling all that optimistic, anymore. I know two games should not flip a switch, but it's been more than the last 2 games. The rotation was showing signs of decline before th AS break, and the whole staff collapsed after the break.

 

I'm not sure adding 4 solid pitchers will be enough.

I agree with most, but adding 4 solid pitches would help, but the big question is how much. I’m thinking though that just adding 1 solid pitcher, and especially more than that would be asking to much.

[Bellhorn04]

I'm not sure adding 4 solid pitchers will be enough.

 

Holy crap LOL

[Maxbialystock]

It's one thing to get beat, it's another thing to get embarrassed by mental and physical errors, along side a disinterested attitude towards the game. A deserved loss that was over after the top half of 1st.

 

Agree the errors were bad--and cost unearned runs--and seemed a throwback to earlier this season when they were a big problem.

 

But I can't agree with the disinterested part. Instead, I see a team that was going great guns before the ASG and since then is 2-7 with the primary problem being pitching. Opposing teams scored 75 runs in those 9 games or 8.3 runs per game. And the biggest problem seems to have been with the bullpen.

 

The lineup, on the other hand, scored 53 runs or 6 runs per game, which is actually pretty good. They also committed errors, but I don't think those had any effect on the three extra inning games, which were all losses and all the result of Sox pitching.

 

No how, no way do I think any Sox pitcher was "disinterested" in any of the 9 games. The very nature of their job makes that unlikely on any team. I think it's possible that one or more lineup players may have been less attentive on one or more defensive plays. On the other hand, we also saw Abreu go into the right field stands, make the catch, and lose the ball because of his crash landing in the seats.

[Maxbialystock]

I agree with most of the negative comments on this thread. Last night was painful. The last 9 games have been painful, especially given how well the Sox were playing from June 12 (when they were 34-34) through July 14 (when they were 53-42).

 

Very obviously, the pitching has collapsed as many--but definitely not me--predicted could happen because Pivetta is the only Sox starter who has started 30 or more games in a season and pitched 155 or more innings in a season. Plus injuries in the bullpen.

 

On the other hand, we saw an excellent team right up to the ASG, and since then the hitting seems to have improved. For over half the season the Sox languished in 12th place in runs scored and are now 8th. Devers and O'Neill have OPS's over .900; Duran, Abreu, Wong, and Ref are over .800; and Hamilton, Gonzalez, and Yoshida are over .700--with Rafaela @ .692. And Casas could return in August it now appears.

 

The big question has to be: is the pitching fixable with deals today or tomorrow? Relatedly, does Breslow have the desire and the JH backing to make deals?

[Bellhorn04]

I think the pitching will bounce back some. There are always going to be rough stretches.

 

Need a couple of adds and Martin and Slaten to return.

[moonslav59]

Holy crap LOL

 

Teams have 8 man pens and we have zero we can count on. The holy crap is that we need more than 4!

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

I agree with most of the negative comments on this thread. Last night was painful. The last 9 games have been painful, especially given how well the Sox were playing from June 12 (when they were 34-34) through July 14 (when they were 53-42).

 

Very obviously, the pitching has collapsed as many--but definitely not me--predicted could happen because Pivetta is the only Sox starter who has started 30 or more games in a season and pitched 155 or more innings in a season. Plus injuries in the bullpen.

 

 

 

On the other hand, we saw an excellent team right up to the ASG, and since then the hitting seems to have improved. For over half the season the Sox languished in 12th place in runs scored and are now 8th. Devers and O'Neill have OPS's over .900; Duran, Abreu, Wong, and Ref are over .800; and Hamilton, Gonzalez, and Yoshida are over .700--with Rafaela @ .692. And Casas could return in August it now appears.

 

The big question has to be: is the pitching fixable with deals today or tomorrow? Relatedly, does Breslow have the desire and the JH backing to make deals?

 

Interesting that the two guys who lead the SOX in OPS also own the 2 lowest BA's with RISP.

[moonslav59]

Interesting that the two guys who lead the SOX in OPS also own the 2 lowest BA's with RISP.

 

They are 5th and 7th in OBP w RISP.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

They are 5th and 7th in OBP w RISP.

 

That's wonderful, MOON, but what does that have to do with my post? Both Devers' and O'Neill's BA's with RISP are embarrassing.

[moonslav59]

That's wonderful, MOON, but what does that have to do with my post? Both Devers' and O'Neill's BA's with RISP are embarrassing.

 

It shows they must be walked more than the others.

 

It is a somewhat related topic.

[moonslav59]

We need a game thread started.

 

I’m like 2-10 on the year, so not me.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

If no one starts a GT, I'm going to trade O'Neill and Kenley, which is actually the best move this current team could make.

And if one wants to call the SOX FO buyers with what they've picked up so far, then let us please be sellers.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

We need a game thread started.

 

I’m like 2-10 on the year, so not me.

 

You legally couldn't start one anyway, according to GT law.

[moonslav59]

If no one starts a GT, I'm going to trade O'Neill and Kenley, which is actually the best move this current team could make.

And if one wants to call the SOX FO buyers with what they've picked up so far, then let us please be sellers.

 

This has not been buying.

 

Tailllon or Flaherty, yes.

 

Fairbanks or the like, yes.