Red Sox (Early) vs Rays (Boyle): 9/21/25, 7:35pm

[FredLynn]

No need to watch any more of this. It’s been over since I called it. Outta here

Next time I’ll trust my judgement 

[Maxbialystock]

Early recovered, plus only 2 of his runs were earned.  And the bullpen has been pretty good.  Horrible Sox baserunning although one out at home was on the 3d base coach.  Duran caught not stealing was just stupid.   Rafaela excellent in CF.  

My, my.  Tolle replaces Kelly in the 8th with 2 on and no one out.  

Not his cup of tea.  Ugh.  

[vegasbob]

Let Tolle finish this up. Maybe he should keep the ball a little lower

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Tolle just needs a few more hours in the air fryer.

[illinoisredsox]

Just now, vegasbob said:

Let Tolle finish this up. Maybe he should keep the ball a little lower

He will now.  If he holds it at 3, fine.  If it gets away further, oh well.

[Nineintime]

1 minute ago, vegasbob said:

Let Tolle finish this up. Maybe he should keep the ball a little lower

He’s a one trick pony and was brought up way too soon.   

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Sox win series. On to next challenge.

[vegasbob]

Rafaela throws the ball the way he swings the bat. 

Look out below!

[vegasbob]

What's disappointing is  losing the sweep of a weaker team, when the win really mattered.

The overal baseball skills and execution were poor.  These guys go unfocused from time to time

[Nineintime]

The reality of this team is that they didn’t get the injection of talent they needed to compete this year, especially at the deadline.  Breslow knew this all along because he was hell bent on keeping his blue chippers and he knew after the deadline that this team was incomplete and was willing to sacrifice yet another season to bolster the minor league talent.  Henry is distracted with Soccer and Cora won’t ever rock the boat.  This franchise has been for years now sacrificed with full seats and incomplete rosters 

[vegasbob]

Yoshida grounding out to 1B was the perfect end to this mess

[Maxbialystock]

7 minutes ago, Nineintime said:

He’s a one trick pony and was brought up way too soon.   

Funny thing, but whoever was calling Early's pitches in the first inning kept asking for fastballs, which is how he got into trouble.  His hallmark is that he likes to tbrow breaking balls.  

[vegasbob]

7 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

Funny thing, but whoever was calling Early's pitches in the first inning kept asking for fastballs, which is how he got into trouble.  His hallmark is that he likes to tbrow breaking balls.  

You mean the pitch selection was Wong

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

10 minutes ago, Nineintime said:

The reality of this team is that they didn’t get the injection of talent they needed to compete this year, especially at the deadline.  Breslow knew this all along because he was hell bent on keeping his blue chippers and he knew after the deadline that this team was incomplete and was willing to sacrifice yet another season to bolster the minor league talent.  Henry is distracted with Soccer and Cora won’t ever rock the boat.  This franchise has been for years now sacrificed with full seats and incomplete rosters 

Was this the last game of the season?

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Btw, my thanks to the Rays for providing the Sox with half the games (7) of their 14 games above .500.

[Maxbialystock]

3 minutes ago, Nineintime said:

The reality of this team is that they didn’t get the injection of talent they needed to compete this year, especially at the deadline.  Breslow knew this all along because he was hell bent on keeping his blue chippers and he knew after the deadline that this team was incomplete and was willing to sacrifice yet another season to bolster the minor league talent.  Henry is distracted with Soccer and Cora won’t ever rock the boat.  This franchise has been for years now sacrificed with full seats and incomplete rosters 

The talent was there after 31 July.  The biggest problem is that Anthony and Abreu went on the IL and Bregman into a slump.  Before Abreu went on the IL, just about everybody claimed--incorrectly--that the Sox had too many outfielders (Duran, Rafaela, Abreu, and Anthony.  

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

4 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Was this the last game of the season?

I'd better check the schedule.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

1 minute ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Btw, my thanks to the Rays for providing the Sox with half the games (7) of their 14 games above .500.

The Yankems helped, also.

[FredLynn]

22 minutes ago, vegasbob said:

What's disappointing is  losing the sweep of a weaker team, when the win really mattered.

The overal baseball skills and execution were poor.  These guys go unfocused from time to time

It was a very sloppy game by the Flops. I’d be very surprised if they make the playoffs. They don’t deserve it.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

20 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

Funny thing, but whoever was calling Early's pitches in the first inning kept asking for fastballs, which is how he got into trouble.  His hallmark is that he likes to tbrow breaking balls.  

I believe Tolle was the pitcher being referred to.

[Maxbialystock]

6 minutes ago, vegasbob said:

You mean the pitch selection was Wong

 

8 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Was this the last game of the season?

Apparently.  

 

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

4 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

It was a very sloppy game by the Flops. I’d be very surprised if they make the playoffs. They don’t deserve it.

If the Flops make the PO's, are they still the Flops? Or do they have to fill out your questionnaire?

[Nineintime]

1 minute ago, FredLynn said:

It was a very sloppy game by the Flops. I’d be very surprised if they make the playoffs. They don’t deserve it.

Even if they do it will be short lived.  They are not of the caliber of many other teams and won’t be able to compete.  The Red Sox organization has not put. a Premium on winning and that’s clear.  And I don’t want to hear about crochet or Chapman or Bregman.  Every team adds new players and these were good additions. But they weren’t enough.  The whatever it takes Dombrowski days are over and Henry couldn’t care less

[Maxbialystock]

3 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

I believe Tolle was the pitcher being referred to.

Tolle was the 8th inning reliever who almost has to throw fastballs. Early is also a rookie, but one with a repertoire.  His hallmark is that he mixes his pitches up, but didn't early on in the 1st.  

[Tedballgame]

1 hour ago, FredLynn said:

It was a very sloppy game by the Flops. I’d be very surprised if they make the playoffs. They don’t deserve it.

If they win enough games to get in to the playoffs, then they deserve it.

[harmony]

Sunday's loss notwithstanding, Red Sox fans should be celebrating their favorite team's return to relevance with the first winning season since 2021 and a likely berth in the postseason.

 

[FredLynn]

6 minutes ago, Tedballgame said:

If they win enough games to get in to the playoffs, then they deserve it.

You’re right of course. You are what your record says you are if you’re a baseball team. Some coach said that a long time ago.

[FredLynn]

3 minutes ago, harmony said:

Sunday's loss notwithstanding, Red Sox fans should be celebrating their favorite team's return to relevance with the first winning season since 2021 and a likely berth in the postseason.

 

They could have been better if our GM did his job at the TD. 
Who did the M’s get? Vs who the Flops got?

[FredLynn]

1 hour ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

If the Flops make the PO's, are they still the Flops? Or do they have to fill out your questionnaire?

They could request an exemption 

[moonslav59]

We missed a big chance to put some distance between us & CLE/HOU/DET.

We still hold the #2 WC slot, but by just 1 game over the three teams I listed above. One of those three (DET or CLE) will win the ALC, so it's basically down to 3 for the remaining 2 WC slots.

The Yanks are closer to the first base Jays (2GB) than we are to them (3GB.)

In the NL, AZ is one back from CIN & NYM, who are tied for the last WC berth.