Sox (Crochet) @ Nationals (Ogasawara), both lefties, Sun, July 6, 1:35pm

[Nick]

Not likely but we can be plus 8 games at the All-Star break. I'll settle for 6-1 finish here.

[dgalehouse]

Cora getting a little too cute there in using Chapman in the 8th , presumably due to matchups.  It's become a trendy thing with the analytics guys.  I think it is better to keep these guys in their roles. 

[Jasonbay44]

19 minutes ago, Hitch said:

I've always been a big Rafaela fan and thought his contract was worth it for what we were getting even if what we got last season was his level, but calling people that doubted him idiots is a bit much, especially with hindsight.

He had shown little with the bat.

Half the game threads a month ago were people asking for him to be sent to minors, benched or calling him a “BUM” and “useless with the bat.”

 

I was defending Rafaela during that time and half all this season and last. It isn’t hindsight. He’s always had value, now he’s looking extremely valuable 

[Jasonbay44]

7 minutes ago, dgalehouse said:

Cora getting a little too cute there in using Chapman in the 8th , presumably due to matchups.  It's become a trendy thing with the analytics guys.  I think it is better to keep these guys in their roles. 

I don’t mind it because it was against the Nationals best hitters. I get the logic 

[Jasonbay44]

Nationals fired their GM and manager after the game 

[illinoisredsox]

44 minutes ago, dgalehouse said:

Cora getting a little too cute there in using Chapman in the 8th , presumably due to matchups.  It's become a trendy thing with the analytics guys.  I think it is better to keep these guys in their roles. 

 

37 minutes ago, Jasonbay44 said:

I don’t mind it because it was against the Nationals best hitters. I get the logic 

Cora's now done this 3 times this year,; Sox are 3-0 in those games with Slaten, Weissert and now Hicks getting saves.

He's not going to make a habit of it, but obviously unlike a lot of closers, Chapman doesn't object to the practice and can actually do well when called upon.

[FredLynn]

1 hour ago, Jasonbay44 said:

Nationals fired their GM and manager after the game 

Of course they did. Their team just got swept at home by a very mediocre team. I’m sure that wasn’t the only reason but it certainly was the last straw.

[Larry Cook]

Nationals fire GM and manager after we swept them!!! 

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

4 hours ago, Jasonbay44 said:

Nationals fired their GM and manager after the game 

Getting swept by the Sox can get that kind of reaction.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Just now, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Getting swept by the Sox can get that kind of reaction.

I'm surprised Boone and Cashman weren't fired after the Sox swept the Yankems.

[Maxbialystock]

5 hours ago, Jasonbay44 said:

Half the game threads a month ago were people asking for him to be sent to minors, benched or calling him a “BUM” and “useless with the bat.”

 

I was defending Rafaela during that time and half all this season and last. It isn’t hindsight. He’s always had value, now he’s looking extremely valuable 

Such is the nature of talksox these days.  Sox struggle, so beat up the players and manager and CBO and owner.  Open season.  

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Btw, the next time you get frustrated with Story and his contract just think of the disaster of a contract the Padres gave to Bogey. That may qualify as one of the worst contracts of all time. A signing that bad should have gotten someone fired .

[Soxlover]

Big win! It’s amazing how quickly Story got to over.700. He may even hit 25-30 dingers this season!

whodathunk?

[Hitch]

10 hours ago, Jasonbay44 said:

Half the game threads a month ago were people asking for him to be sent to minors, benched or calling him a “BUM” and “useless with the bat.”

 

I was defending Rafaela during that time and half all this season and last. It isn’t hindsight. He’s always had value, now he’s looking extremely valuable 

The game threads are full of people wailing and crying that their team isn't delivering perfect baseball in every moment of the game. It's pointless taking any notice of what people say during a game - they aren't able to regulate their emotions. 

But either way, it wasn't long ago that reporters were saying that the Sox were frustrated with Rafaela for swinging too early in counts, and not taking pitches. He's looked better at the plate recently but his walk rate is still abysmal and he needs to keep his hitting up constantly or his value drops fast, so it's not like there weren't concerns. And I say this as someone who thought his value was good whatever. I love the guy, but people questioning his bat had every right to do so. It's still not a topic that is finished with. 

[mvp 78]

Ceddanne is very hot right now, but his chase rate is still high and he's still whiffing like crazy. His numbers will most likely come down. The good thing about him is that he won't miss a mistake pitch. 

[dgalehouse]

15 hours ago, Larry Cook said:

Nationals fire GM and manager after we swept them!!! 

Going to miss those guys. Could always count on Dave Martinez and the Nats to lay down for his buddy, Alex Cora, and the Red Sox. Most notably in 2021 when the Sox swept the season ending series in D.C. to reach the play-in game. Maybe Alex will give him a coaching job now that he is out of work. 

[Soxlover]

On 7/6/2025 at 6:18 PM, illinoisredsox said:

 

Cora's now done this 3 times this year,; Sox are 3-0 in those games with Slaten, Weissert and now Hicks getting saves.

He's not going to make a habit of it, but obviously unlike a lot of closers, Chapman doesn't object to the practice and can actually do well when called upon.

You can bet the first time it fails, the Cora sucks chorus will sing their refrain.