Red Sox (Fitts) vs Phillies (Sánchez): 7/22/25, 6:45pm

[illinoisredsox]

5 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

As I stated above, that was one very weird catcher interference call because neither the batter nor the baserunner was interfered with.

Narvaez still has the best DWAR among MLB catchers.

Both Philly runs were earned because the guy on 3b did in fact steal home and the batter given 1b did not score.  

The essential nature of this game so far is that the Phillies can hit Fitts and the Sox can't hit Sanchez.  That's exactly what we thought would happen last night, but it didn't.  

Not sure why the run Harper scored was earned.  Yes, Harper was safe, but the ump never made a safe call and the next batter flies out to end the inning.

Edit - okay, OB’s explanation makes more sense.  The batter was awarded first on the CI; by stepping in front of home plate, Narvaez also committed a “catchers balk”, so Harper is awarded home and the runner on second is awarded 3rd.

Catchers balks don’t really exist in the rule book but the action causes one to be charged to the pitcher.

Harper was safe either way.

 

[FredLynn]

7 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

You must have stayed at a Holiday Inn.

We really should see who we can get in return for Bregman and Chapman. Plan to try to make the playoffs in a few years 

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

4 minutes ago, Nineintime said:

Too much creative writing from Cora every single game with his lineup.  This inconsistency and lack of acumen on Cora’s part to understand the value of familiarity and consistency with the lineup is beyond him. Every lineup in every game is different. Not slightly different but drastically.   No team can build symmetry and expectations when the lineup is a free for all

Cora is a genius. We are not worthy of questioning what he does. He also has his own cult.

[Maxbialystock]

8 minutes ago, Nineintime said:

Too much creative writing from Cora every single game with his lineup.  This inconsistency and lack of acumen on Cora’s part to understand the value of familiarity and consistency with the lineup is beyond him. Every lineup in every game is different. Not slightly different but drastically.   No team can build symmetry and expectations when the lineup is a free for all

"Symmetry and expectations" are meaningless.  Baseball is quintessentially a team sport played by individuals.  Thus the central part of very game is pitcher vs batter.   

Last night's lineup worked pretty well against the best righty starter in MLB, but tonight's starter for Philly is a very good lefty, ERA 2.44, who is really hitting the corners.  So Cora is loading up with righty bats (7) and leading off with Ref instead of Duran.   Why is that such a conundrum for you?  

Ref, 2d time up, hits a dinger, which no doubt disappoints you.  

[mvp 78]

Ref doing Ref things

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

There goes the no-no.

[illinoisredsox]

2 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Cora is a genius. We are not worthy of questioning what he does. He also has his own cult.

Analytics have their place.  Overuse/100 percent reliance on them does not.

[Maxbialystock]

2 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

"Symmetry and expectations" are meaningless.  Baseball is quintessentially a team sport played by individuals.  Thus the central part of very game is pitcher vs batter.   

Last night's lineup worked pretty well against the best righty starter in MLB, but tonight's starter for Philly is a very good lefty, ERA 2.44, who is really hitting the corners.  So Cora is loading up with righty bats (7) and leading off with Ref instead of Duran.   Why is that such a conundrum for you?  

Ref, 2d time up, hits a dinger, which no doubt disappoints you.  

Cora does like to keep Anthony near the top of the order, but tonight, lefty vs lefty, he looks awful.  

Both Sox hits so far are by righty bats.  Unfortunately, Narvaez's righty bat has turned to wiffle.  

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

4 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

We really should see who we can get in return for Bregman and Chapman. Plan to try to make the playoffs in a few years 

I'd agree with trading Bregman. See my earlier post regarding health issues.

[mvp 78]

One legged man can’t get to 2b there.

[FredLynn]

Just now, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

I'd agree with trading Bregman. See my earlier post regarding health issues.

And Chapman. He’s getting long in the tooth and won’t be as good next year. I’d also like to see the cheapskate John Henry spend the money he is saving on the Devers deal during the offseason.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

8 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

One legged man can’t get to 2b there.

If a one legged man had killed Dr Kimball's wife, Kimball wouldn't have taken so much time catching him.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Cora: "Richard, you just have to pitch better."

[Tedballgame]

7 hours ago, Nick said:

Our biggest mistake was not going after Kyle Schwarber. 46, 47, 38 and 32 homers for mere 4 Year $79M.

Ultimately, you need a power bat in the lineup. 

I have said that ever since they let him get away. Huge mistake by Chaim Bloom!

[illinoisredsox]

Since the break, Gonzalez now 0-11 with 7 Ks.

[illinoisredsox]

10 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

Cora does like to keep Anthony near the top of the order, but tonight, lefty vs lefty, he looks awful.  

Both Sox hits so far are by righty bats.  Unfortunately, Narvaez's righty bat has turned to wiffle.  

Phils may be developing a book on Anthony.  Or he might just be having a rough patch.  He was sick Sunday, wonder if there’s some lingering effects.

[FredLynn]

2 minutes ago, illinoisredsox said:

Since the break, Gonzalez now 0-11 with 7 Ks.

You had to know he and Toro couldn’t keep it up. Add Narvaez to the list too. 
Mayer should be playing every day along with Anthony. They are the future of the team, such as it is.

[Nick]

I hate Yoshida. Just taking away at bats from someone else.

[Maxbialystock]

6 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Cora is a genius. We are not worthy of questioning what he does. He also has his own cult.

Almost all comments and questions are allowed on talksox.  Indeed, the rarity this season is anything positive.

I seem to be the exception.  I do agree that managers are hired to be fired, but I also appreciate the complexity of what Cora has had to deal with this season--his expected rotation hit hard by injuries, missing his two best hitters, Bregman and Devers out each out for half of the season, starting 4 rookies, one of whom couldn't handle 2b and is back at Worcester, a less than reliable bullpen, plus right now he has 4 pretty good outfielders and just 3 positions to put them in. 

As for cult, they have a name--it's John Henry, who has fired 5 managers, 2 of them after watching them for 1 season each.   He fired Farrell after he won the 2013 and immediately after he managed the Sox to AL East Division titles in 2016 and 2017.  But he rehired Cora after he was thrown out of MLB for one year because of the sign stealing by the Astros.  

JH also makes the final decisions on how much to spend on players, which has an effect on the quality of the players.  For DD, JH spent like a drunken sailor.  For CB and now Breslow, not so much.  This year's Sox payroll is 12th.  

[mvp 78]

10 minutes ago, Tedballgame said:

I have said that ever since they let him get away. Huge mistake by Chaim Bloom!

Some people were upset about Renfroe, Schwarber was the much bigger loss.

[Maxbialystock]

10 minutes ago, illinoisredsox said:

Since the break, Gonzalez now 0-11 with 7 Ks.

Yep

[Sox 42]

We don't score runs!  Back in the day we could win 10-8 - now we lose 3-2 on catchers interference.  We have been behind in all 5 games since the All Star game.  We must sell because we can't win it all with what we got.  Getting in the playoffs and losing is not winning.

[FredLynn]

17 minutes ago, Nick said:

I hate Yoshida. Just taking away at bats from someone else.

From Toro? Gonzalez? Narvaez?

So many to choose from 

 

[FredLynn]

3 minutes ago, Sox 42 said:

We don't score runs!  Back in the day we could win 10-8 - now we lose 3-2 on catchers interference.  We have been behind in all 5 games since the All Star game.  We must sell because we can't win it all with what we got.  Getting in the playoffs and losing is not winning.

Exactly! But they won’t. They’ll pretend we have the team for a good October run. 
We don’t 

[Sox 42]

3 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

Exactly! But they won’t. They’ll pretend we have the team for a good October run. 
We don’t 

 

[dannycater]

Sox hitters don't recognize Sanchez changeup drops out of strikezone...don't swing...but then you see 1st pitch swings all game..all the analytics and no awareness. No Abreu...because god forbid you let a 20-HR hitters play v. lefty

[dannycater]

Gonzalez back to Earth, 0 for 16, Anthony 7 Ks last 8 AB...but hey sit Abreu

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

If the Sox win tomorrow and then sweep the Dodgers, then the Sox finish 5-4. Here's the thing; the Sox will have their 3 best starters scheduled against LA. Of course, what could screw this up is the inability of the Sox offense to score runs against good pitching.

On second thought 3-6 should be less a fantasy.

[Sox 42]

Actually I was just going to tell Fred Lynn how much I enjoyed him at USC and beyond.  Maybe if Jim Rice would sign as a free agent,

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

4 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

If the Sox win tomorrow and then sweep the Dodgers, then the Sox finish 5-4. Here's the thing; the Sox will have their 3 best starters scheduled against LA. Of course, what could screw this up is the inability of the Sox offense to score runs against good pitching.

On second thought 3-6 should be less a fantasy.

Reality sux!