Red Sox (Houck) vs Rays (Pepiot): 9/18/24, 6:50pm

[Brock Beauchamp]

So the Sox are under .500. Not that it matters a whole lot but yuck.

[mvp 78]

The march to 78 wins continues!

[vegasbob]

It would be disappointing if Tanner stresses his arm/shoulder any further by  pitching today .  The fight for 3rd place is a war of attrition .   

That is 3rd place ALE. not 3rd Wild Card .  That ship has sailed while we were at the airport.

[mvp 78]

 

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Was hoping Cora would shut the 'injured' Devers down and bring up one of the top prospects. IOW, give me something interesting to watch.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

This is certainly no disrespect for Duran, but it would be interesting to know what his batting average and OBP are in the 1st inning of games.

[FredLynn]

36 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Was hoping Cora would shut the 'injured' Devers down and bring up one of the top prospects. IOW, give me something interesting to watch.

No such luck 

[illinoisredsox]

25 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

This is certainly no disrespect for Duran, but it would be interesting to know what his batting average and OBP are in the 1st inning of games.

Lately, it’s just low overall.  He looks tired. It’s not just the swings and misses; there’s no pop when he hits it.

Many posters have poopooed Cora’s rest strategy since he’s been here, but a game off every couple weeks for virtually all these guys is probably best.  That still puts them in line to play 150 or so games.

I think the every day stuff has caught up with Duran and Rafaela.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

One of the rare times a SOX lead-off double didn't score. For the SOX 'timely-hitting' is a just a rumor.

[FredLynn]

Gotta get rid of that bum. Another JBJ

[vegasbob]

Watching the inept ABs after Casas' double just drives home how unfocused this team became in late August/early September.  Illinois is right in that there is little pop left in the bats.    Duran may have played himself out of a great season by never taking a few games off, including the A-S game festivities.  They all look tired and slow.    

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

8 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

One of the rare times a SOX lead-off double didn't score. For the SOX 'timely-hitting' is a just a rumor.

Btw, much like a pitcher's W/L record, a batter's OPS can be a misleading stat.

[FredLynn]

Houck needs to be clear on what his job is tonight 

[vegasbob]

I'll give Story through next April to prove his real abilities with the bat, but he could be a classic misread of a hitting prowess.   Like Yoshida, the Sox are stuck with the dude for awhile longer .  

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

4 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Btw, much like a pitcher's W/L record, a batter's OPS can be a misleading stat.

Two big examples of both are Houck and Devers.

[FredLynn]

6 minutes ago, vegasbob said:

Watching the inept ABs after Casas' double just drives home how unfocused this team became in late August/early September.  Illinois is right in that there is little pop left in the bats.    Duran may have played himself out of a great season by never taking a few games off, including the A-S game festivities.  They all look tired and slow.    

Well of course!

they have checked out, understandably. Can’t wait for the season to end-like us!

[vegasbob]

Please put Devers out of his misery.  He simply cannot contribute at this point

[illinoisredsox]

1 minute ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Two big examples of both are Houck and Devers.

Crawford as well.  A 4.19 ERA and a 1.101 WHIP should translate to better than a 8-15 record.  (AL averages are 4.05 and 1.254).

[illinoisredsox]

4 minutes ago, vegasbob said:

Please put Devers out of his misery.  He simply cannot contribute at this point

Unfortunately, he can’t face Cole every night.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

6 minutes ago, vegasbob said:

I'll give Story through next April to prove his real abilities with the bat, but he could be a classic misread of a hitting prowess.   Like Yoshida, the Sox are stuck with the dude for awhile longer .  

At least Masa can hit. I still firmly believe the SOX will trade Masa after the season. 

 

1 minute ago, illinoisredsox said:

Crawford as well.  A 4.19 ERA and a 1.101 WHIP should translate to better than a 8-15 record.  (AL averages are 4.05 and 1.254).

Very true.

[FredLynn]

1 minute ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

At least Masa can hit. I still firmly believe the SOX will trade Masa after the season. 

 

Very true.

No one is going to pick up Massa’s  contract. We’re stuck with him too.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

3 minutes ago, illinoisredsox said:

Unfortunately, he can’t face Cole every night.

I will admit that Devers turning Cole into a limp noodle is Devers' most saving grace this season.

[FredLynn]

Glad to see Houck understands what’s best for the team 

[vegasbob]

Casas looks like a hippo in heat at 1B the last 2 games

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

1 minute ago, FredLynn said:

No one is going to pick up Massa’s  contract. We’re stuck with him too.

Obviously, you're not aware of the SOX tradition of eating contracts. I'm also pretty sure that some team in MLB could use a .290 hitter.

[FredLynn]

Lose this game and we are tied for next to last place-just two games to go to catch Toronto for last place!!

it’s gonna happen!

[illinoisredsox]

Houck’s looked pretty good tonight.  Maybe he ought to grab a bat and try hitting.  He couldn’t do much worse than the current lineup.

Edit - except for Lowe, who apparently is to Houck what Devers is to  Cole.

[FredLynn]

1 minute ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Obviously, you're not aware of the SOX tradition of eating contracts. I'm also pretty sure that some team in MLB could use a .290 hitter.

That’s the only way we can get rid of him. No one wants a big contract attached to a bum who can’t field.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Just now, FredLynn said:

That’s the only way we can get rid of him. No one wants a big contract attached to a bum who can’t field.

He's not a bum. Btw, I may have asked you this before, but have you ever played baseball? It doesn't appear so.

[mvp 78]

This team has given up. We may see more immaculate innings before this month is over.