Braves (Schwellenbach) vs Red Sox (Bello): 5/18/25, 1:35pm

[Maxbialystock]

1 hour ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Cora waiting for Bello to find himself.

Don't blame Cora.  This is on Breslow.  I now understand why he went public about what a bad guy Devers is and then got JH to go to KC to drive that point home publicly.   I think Old Red has labelled him insubordinate.  To remind everyone:  replacing Casas at 1b was and is the easiest thing in the world because he was having a lousy season.  

It's all to distract the fanbase from realizing this team is unlikely to make the playoffs because of the pitching.  Full credit to Breslow for bringing in 2 very good pitchers, but less credit for spending $40M on Giolito and letting Sale go (while paying his salary of course).    

And guess who is getting close to being the best hitter on a team whose only strength is hitting?  The guy Breslow has gone out of his way to paint as an unworthy teammate and player.  Apparently, anyone who becomes a DH is a leper.  

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Roman and Mayer just a gettin' higher in Woo, you know where that's at. And everyone is getting fat except Mama Casas .

[illinoisredsox]

One has to ask, do we want Mayer and Anthony anywhere near the losing mentality of the major league team?

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

2 minutes ago, illinoisredsox said:

One has to ask, do we want Mayer and Anthony anywhere near the losing mentality of the major league team?

Are you suggesting the Sox trade them to a winning franchise?

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

By the time Anthony and Mayer arrive in Boston they may be known as the Gold Rust Twins .

[Maxbialystock]

3 minutes ago, illinoisredsox said:

One has to ask, do we want Mayer and Anthony anywhere near the losing mentality of the major league team?

Got it.  The real issue with this team is psychological.  If they wanted to win, they could. Simplest in the world.  

The central reality of baseball is that pitching and hitting dominate game outcomes and are both very hard to do well.  While I'm sure there is a psychological dimension to pitching and hitting, it affects players as individuals far more than as members of a team.  

Last night Giolito had a bad night, but the Sox still won.  Today Bello had a bad game, and the Sox couldn't cover his 7 runs which, by the way, are the norm for a starter before he is pulled.  Then Newcomb gave up 3 more, but in 4.2 IP, which was actually commendable.  The rest of the bullpen rested.  

Back to your point.  I don't see a "losing mentality" but do see a lousy pitching staff even though every single one of them wants to get hitters out, not give up runs, etc.  

And this.  The one player on this team who should/could have a "losing mentality" is Devers.  I mean, isn't that true of all DH's (and former thirdbasemen) who refuse to play 1b?  But Devers is hitting up a storm.   

[d-money]

Inconsistent junk of a team. Another long year awaits meanwhile the team who lost their best pitcher still on top of the AL. 

[jdc69]

36 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

Got it.  The real issue with this team is psychological.  If they wanted to win, they could. Simplest in the world.  

The central reality of baseball is that pitching and hitting dominate game outcomes and are both very hard to do well.  While I'm sure there is a psychological dimension to pitching and hitting, it affects players as individuals far more than as members of a team.  

Last night Giolito had a bad night, but the Sox still won.  Today Bello had a bad game, and the Sox couldn't cover his 7 runs which, by the way, are the norm for a starter before he is pulled.  Then Newcomb gave up 3 more, but in 4.2 IP, which was actually commendable.  The rest of the bullpen rested.  

Back to your point.  I don't see a "losing mentality" but do see a lousy pitching staff even though every single one of them wants to get hitters out, not give up runs, etc.  

And this.  The one player on this team who should/could have a "losing mentality" is Devers.  I mean, isn't that true of all DH's (and former thirdbasemen) who refuse to play 1b?  But Devers is hitting up a storm.   

I've got to give props to Duran too. Everytime the Sox get a little something going, its usually instigated by Duran but its not being sustained. So far, to me the fulcrum of the season up to this point is still the series against Toronto. Thats when we truly lost games when we didn't have to and it kicked any momentum we had straight in the balls. Excuse my language.

[moonslav59]

4 hours ago, vegasbob said:

Moon,   Bello is never ready for the first inning and showed that again today.  Digging the hole early.

He really has had that issue.

Before today: 1.110 OPS in first (BR says 2 runs scored)

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

4 hours ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

I'm guessing LZ was your favorite group. Mine was the Kinks .

Although this red sox season is reminding me of a Paul Simon hit.

Slip Sliding Away

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

19 minutes ago, TheSplinteredSplendor said:

Although this red sox season is reminding me of a Paul Simon hit.

Slip Sliding Away

Good one. I'm reminded of Over Under Sideways Down by the Yardbirds. "When will it end?".

[Maxbialystock]

1 hour ago, jdc69 said:

I've got to give props to Duran too. Everytime the Sox get a little something going, its usually instigated by Duran but its not being sustained. So far, to me the fulcrum of the season up to this point is still the series against Toronto. Thats when we truly lost games when we didn't have to and it kicked any momentum we had straight in the balls. Excuse my language.

Agree.  Duran is coming around, and I think Rafaela as well (.800 OPS in May).  Narvaez WAR is a whopping 1.4.  And so on.  You can't expect a perfect lineup, so you have to accept Story not hitting, and Gonzalez (1b) on the IL) and now Campbell struggling (at the plate and at 2b).  If people would only appreciate how valuable a good DH can be, they would stop pointing fingers at Devers, who was told by Cora to embrace his new position of DH.  FWIW

In short, the hitting and fielding are pretty good.  It's the pitching that stinks.  

[Old Red]

19 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

Agree.  Duran is coming around, and I think Rafaela as well (.800 OPS in May).  Narvaez WAR is a whopping 1.4.  And so on.  You can't expect a perfect lineup, so you have to accept Story not hitting, and Gonzalez (1b) on the IL) and now Campbell struggling (at the plate and at 2b).  If people would only appreciate how valuable a good DH can be, they would stop pointing fingers at Devers, who was told by Cora to embrace his new position of DH.  FWIW

In short, the hitting and fielding are pretty good.  It's the pitching that stinks.  

Good post as always Max, and I agree with you on Raffy. He’s been pretty much chastised on here, and I’ve been one of the few on his side, and I’m not even a Devers Forevers guy.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

1 hour ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Good one. I'm reminded of Over Under Sideways Down by the Yardbirds. "When will it end?".

 

Btw, after the Yardbirds split up in 1968 Jimmy Page formed a new band he was going to call The New Yardbirds. He changed the name to Led Zeppelin after Keith Moon said Page's new band would go down like a lead balloon.

Page was the last of the 3 ,HOF guitarists who played for the Yardbirds during their 6 year run. The other 2 were Clapton and Beck.

 

[Maxbialystock]

5 hours ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Roman and Mayer just a gettin' higher in Woo, you know where that's at. And everyone is getting fat except Mama Casas .

They are both hitting well, but neither is a pitcher, let alone a good pitcher.

This reminds me of the hullaboo about moving Raffy to 1b.  Everyone who has played 1b since Casas went on the IL has done as well or better than Casas.  Meanwhile, as the DH Devers could be about to become our best hitter despite the terrific season Bregman is having.  So far Raffy's OPS this month is 1.132, not including today's game.  Bregman's OPS for the season is .951 and Raffy's is .920.  Is that remotely possible because he has been the DH?  Someone needs to explain to me why Breslow insists on messing with success.  

Right now the hitting/fielding half of the team is doing much better than the pitching half, so management has some justification for not bringing up Mayer and Anthony.

On the other hand, I would love to see them play for Boston.  Not sometime this season, but right now.  

 

 

 

[jdc69]

3 hours ago, Maxbialystock said:

They are both hitting well, but neither is a pitcher, let alone a good pitcher.

This reminds me of the hullaboo about moving Raffy to 1b.  Everyone who has played 1b since Casas went on the IL has done as well or better than Casas.  Meanwhile, as the DH Devers could be about to become our best hitter despite the terrific season Bregman is having.  So far Raffy's OPS this month is 1.132, not including today's game.  Bregman's OPS for the season is .951 and Raffy's is .920.  Is that remotely possible because he has been the DH?  Someone needs to explain to me why Breslow insists on messing with success.  

Right now the hitting/fielding half of the team is doing much better than the pitching half, so management has some justification for not bringing up Mayer and Anthony.

On the other hand, I would love to see them play for Boston.  Not sometime this season, but right now.  

 

 

 

To get Yoshida in the line-up I imagine. That they didn't offer 1st base to Devers in the first place and put Casas as DH, is a case of misplaced loyalty in my view. 

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

13 hours ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Good one. I'm reminded of Over Under Sideways Down by the Yardbirds. "When will it end?".

Great tune!

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

12 hours ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Btw, after the Yardbirds split up in 1968 Jimmy Page formed a new band he was going to call The New Yardbirds. He changed the name to Led Zeppelin after Keith Moon said Page's new band would go down like a lead balloon.

Page was the last of the 3 ,HOF guitarists who played for the Yardbirds during their 6 year run. The other 2 were Clapton and Beck.

 

If you get a chance, if you haven't already, I would suggest checking out the movie "Becoming Led Zeppelin"

[mvp 78]

16 hours ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Roman and Mayer just a gettin' higher in Woo, you know where that's at. And everyone is getting fat except Mama Casas .

Mayer's numbers are going the wrong way. 794 OPS

[mvp 78]

Just now, mvp 78 said:

Mayer's numbers are going the wrong way. 794 OPS

Mayer May OPS: 709

Mayer OPS vs LHP: 698

He's still working on hitting offspeed stuff too. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Mayer May OPS: 709

Mayer OPS vs LHP: 698

He's still working on hitting offspeed stuff too. 

If only Mayer wouldn't keep repeating driving in a run a game the whole season so far -- 40 RBI in 40 games -- then we wouldn't care that's he's a better all-around infielder than everyone in Boston except Bregman.

[mvp 78]

12 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

If only Mayer wouldn't keep repeating driving in a run a game the whole season so far -- 40 RBI in 40 games -- then we wouldn't care that's he's a better all-around infielder than everyone in Boston except Bregman.

Hunter Refroe is an RBI machine! We need to re-sign him! 

He averaged 61 RBI the following 3 seasons. He's on a 22 RBI pace this season. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

18 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Hunter Refroe is an RBI machine! We need to re-sign him! 

He averaged 61 RBI the following 3 seasons. He's on a 22 RBI pace this season. 

He had a great arm, too. Could overthrow third baseman and catchers with equal inaccuracy.

[moonslav59]

3 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Mayer May OPS: 709

Mayer OPS vs LHP: 698

He's still working on hitting offspeed stuff too. 

Ok, well Story is hitting .547 vs RHPs, who we face way more often.

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

Ok, well Story is hitting .547 vs RHPs, who we face way more often.

That doesn't mean call up Mayer when he's still working on his game. He'd get eaten alive by MLB. Look how Campbell is playing right now. Anthony's bat is ready, Marcelo's is a little bit behind. 

[Bellhorn04]

Maybe Anthony is the guy who should be working out at 1B?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

21 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

That doesn't mean call up Mayer when he's still working on his game. He'd get eaten alive by MLB. Look how Campbell is playing right now. Anthony's bat is ready, Marcelo's is a little bit behind. 

The sooner they're up here, the sooner pitchers can write books on their weaknesses, and Fatse and Co. can buy the Cliff Notes to study up for midterms. 

Can't do much worse than lead the league in strikeouts like the Red Sox current shortstop.

Somewhere in a front office conference room, an assistant vice-president is arguing that Mayer and Anthony are Boston's best pair of prospects since Moncada and Benintendi were each rated #1 overall... another Asst. VP just said neither is going to Cooperstown, or even the Red Sox Hall of Fame... a third just replied guys they were traded for might be: Sale, Wink (Mustache HOF).

[mvp 78]

18 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Maybe Anthony is the guy who should be working out at 1B?

They won't do that. 

1. He's never played the IF before.

2. It would destroy his value as an OFer (ARB, trade, other). 

3. Since he's going year to year, he wouldn't agree to it. 

Why rock the cart on the #1 prospect in baseball? 

[moonslav59]

22 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

That doesn't mean call up Mayer when he's still working on his game. He'd get eaten alive by MLB. Look how Campbell is playing right now. Anthony's bat is ready, Marcelo's is a little bit behind. 

No, it doesn't mean that's the only reason to call up Mayer, but Mayer's struggles vs LHPs should be weighed vs Story's vs RHPs. Lately, Story hasn't been hitting L's or R's.

I don't see why Campbell's recent struggles means Mayer will do worse. Mayer could blast off, if promoted. He could do worse. It's hard to imagine anyone doing worse than Story has for a few weeks, now.

My idea is to play Story at 2B, mayer at SS and Campbell at 1B, so Mayer would be replacing Sogard, Toro and eventually Romy's bat in the line-up.

[mvp 78]

11 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

No, it doesn't mean that's the only reason to call up Mayer, but Mayer's struggles vs LHPs should be weighed vs Story's vs RHPs. Lately, Story hasn't been hitting L's or R's.

I don't see why Campbell's recent struggles means Mayer will do worse. Mayer could blast off, if promoted. He could do worse. It's hard to imagine anyone doing worse than Story has for a few weeks, now.

My idea is to play Story at 2B, mayer at SS and Campbell at 1B, so Mayer would be replacing Sogard, Toro and eventually Romy's bat in the line-up.

Why not wait for a month when he has an OPS that's better than 700?