Red Sox (Dobbins) vs Giants (Birdsong): 6/20/25, 10:15pm

[Maxbialystock]

12 minutes ago, iortiz said:

That HR will give Hamilton one more week of life lol

You're probably right.  You're wrong about his defense, but his hitting stinks this season.  

Cora is the one guy not to blame for Raffy's departure.  In fact, he managed to get Raffy to buy into DHing, and that turned out pretty doggone well.

He has been managing 4 rookies.  When was the last time a Sox manager did that?  Campbell, the rookie 2d baseman, got off to a great start, but his fielding stinks and his hitting went south on him--so back to Worcester.    Cora started with Bregman, Devers, and Abreu in the lineup, and right now it's just Abreu.  

Two fundamentals count way more than any others--hitting and pitching.  The manager can't fix those, but he can manage them to their best effect via decisions on lineups, batting orders, pinch-hitting, and the ever popular decisions on when to bring in a relief pitcher.  

Don't get me wrong.  I think the players should always get the lion's share of the credit when things go well.  So of course it falls on the manager when they don't.  In this case the front office and the owner know that Cora is perfect for this team, its rookies, and all the other challenges.  

The Sox are 2 games over .500 despite a pitching staff ranked 19th in team ERA.  

I think we can agree Cora can't get much credit for the fact that Rafaela's 3 rbi's so far tonight.  Nor can we blamed him for the abysmal pitching by Dobbins with his 5 freaking walks. 

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

That could have been a lot worse.

[illinoisredsox]

If Duran doesn’t go here, he’s injured.  He’s  not even looking like he wants to run.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Narvaez is getting a reality check by the baseball gods.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Roman is the man 

[Jasonbay44]

The giants 2B has grounded into two double plays and made an error. He’s having a rough game 

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

That wasn't Birdsong, OB.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

1 minute ago, Jasonbay44 said:

The giants 2B has grounded into two double plays and made an error. He’s having a rough game 

Baseball can do that to you.

[Maxbialystock]

You want to know what brilliant managing is?  It's batting a rookie with a .416 OPS third and having him rip a single to drive in the Sox 4th run.  

5-4 Sox.  After the first two innings, I thought the Giants had already won.  Man, do I love being wrong about stuff like that.

Bad as he is, Dobbins has pitched 4 innings and given up "just" 3 ER's.   So far, it's an OK start (in my opinion).  

[moonslav59]

17 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

And Cora not warming anyone up.

He's answering all those who complained he pulled guys too early.

[Maxbialystock]

8 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Narvaez is getting a reality check by the baseball gods.

Heck, I thought Birdsong was going to do that to everyone tonight.  But you're right.  

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Enough already. Yeah, Cora to the rescue.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Nice stretch by Toro.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Productive out by Devers.

[Maxbialystock]

31 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Just a gut feeling, but this team looks like a totally different team.

I'm seeing spark. Energy. Confidence.

Just in time with Dobbins having a so-so game--3 ER in 4 IP and leaving with a man on base.  

To me Anthony's hard hit single was huge.  And Rafaela is out of his freaking mind.  But his June OPS is over .800.  If he can keep hitting, no way, no how will the Sox take him out of centerfield.  Better to deal Duran or Abreu.  

I think MVP 78 said Dobbins should walk Devers every time tonight, but so far he's 0-3 in a game in which SF has scored 5 runs.

Great tag by Story and throw by Narvaez!!!

[Maxbialystock]

Nice cover by Bernardino at 1b.  

[Maxbialystock]

1 hour ago, Tedballgame said:

Dobbins is walking this game away and Cora has no one warming up. Smart.

For sure he's a whole lot smarter than you are.  

[iortiz]

Rafaela having a night and slowly he’s looking better in every AB. 

[Jasonbay44]

Big nights for Rafaela and Hamilton as we all expected 

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Raffy and Hammy are laughing at the baseball gods 

[iortiz]

1 minute ago, Maxbialystock said:

For sure he's a whole lot smarter than you are.  

Are you dating Cora?

[Maxbialystock]

Rafaela has gone completely ape.  So has Hamilton.  The world turned upside down.  

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Just now, Jasonbay44 said:

Big nights for Rafaela and Hamilton as we all expected 

No one expects the Spanish Inquisition.

[Maxbialystock]

Just now, iortiz said:

Are you dating Cora?

Did he divorce you?

Enough of that stuff.

We disagree on Cora.  I remember you on that other website when you consistently hammered Francona every time the Sox lost a game.  

This team is without Bregman and Devers. Tonight they started 3 rookies.   Dobbins had a bad start.  And the Sox are leading 6-5.  Why are you so down on them and their manager?  

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

We need a shut down inning. Thank you Captain Obvious.

[illinoisredsox]

I think Cora used tonight as a bit of a teaching moment for Dobbins.  You’re a starter; you aren’t always going to have your A game and you have to learn to get out of some messes early in games.

[Maxbialystock]

5 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

We need a shut down inning. Thank you Captain Obvious.

We did.  And the Giants didn't score.  

[Larry Cook]

There has to be someone, anyone better than Kelly to bring in to a close game 

[iortiz]

8 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

Did he divorce you?

Enough of that stuff.

We disagree on Cora.  I remember you on that other website when you consistently hammered Francona every time the Sox lost a game.  

This team is without Bregman and Devers. Tonight they started 3 rookies.   Dobbins had a bad start.  And the Sox are leading 6-5.  Why are you so down on them and their manager?  

Me bashing Tito? Really? lol I was against ppl saying Porcello was a good pitcher if anything lol

Regarding Cora and this game, he’s nothing but mediocre in my book and I’m just pointing out facts that’s it lol. Thing is you make look Cora every time as the ultimate manager of the Century and he’s not. After 2018 he’s being a failure along with the FO. 

Hopefully this pen hold this anemic SFG offense and we score at least 

[Jasonbay44]

Welcome back Wilyer!