Padres (Vasquez) vs Red Sox (Early): 4/4/26, 4:10pm

[illinoisredsox]

5 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Sure, he deserved a loss though. The first 3 innings were bad bad.

Yup.  Every pitcher who gives up 2 runs in the first 3 innings (or 4 as it ended up) deserves a loss. 

[vegasbob]

A chance to win thanks to Monasterio bouncing a DP ball to the pitcher.  The offense overall remains the concern it was all winter and ST

[illinoisredsox]

3 minutes ago, vegasbob said:

A chance to win thanks to Monasterio bouncing a DP ball to the pitcher.  The offense overall remains the concern it was all winter and ST

Not the ideal way to score, but it beats the K we’ve seen all too often.  As you, me and most of the board said all of last year, put the ball in play and something good might happen.

[vegasbob]

Chapman in total command ....until he wasn't.  Laureano has been a pain since his A's days

[illinoisredsox]

Why the hell wasn’t Chapman backing up the throw to home? Tough error on Anthony; throw wasn’t bad and Narvaez was knocked over.

[vegasbob]

Yoshida offers no challenge , as Abreu showed him the way.  Come on, Marcello

[illinoisredsox]

Another loss mostly due to lack of offense.

[illinoisredsox]

Just now, vegasbob said:

Yoshida offers no challenge , as Abreu showed him the way.  Come on, Marcello

I’ll predict they will hardly be the first ones to have that fate against Miller.

[vegasbob]

3 minutes ago, illinoisredsox said:

Why the hell wasn’t Chapman backing up the throw to home? Tough error on Anthony; throw wasn’t bad and Narvaez was knocked over.

That was very noticeable . I guess Aroldis was shocked that anyone could hit him.

Look back at Rafaela's positioning on Tatis's ball over his head.  He was relatively shallow at a point of the game where OF'er's let balls fall in front of them for singles, not doubles over their head

[FredLynn]

Not gonna win many games scoring two runs. 
Fourth place team. No better.

[vegasbob]

If the Sox gained 1 game per week on the Yankees, it will be in May before they would catch them.   

Already playing for a WC slot, if they start hitting.

[illinoisredsox]

1 minute ago, vegasbob said:

If the Sox gained 1 game per week on the Yankees, it will be in May before they would catch them.   

Already playing for a WC slot, if they start hitting.

They can pass the Evil Empire on the last day of the season for all I care.  Earlier than that doesn’t matter.

[vegasbob]

I am thinking about a common theme  from the past couple years.   This team just isn't interesting to watch.

Star Power ?   Ok, people will look at Roman expecting  exceptional hitting, Crochet looking for a no hit gem.

Some here think Cedanne Rafaela is prime time .   Not so much.    Chapman, an all-timer but a mercenary and today's LP after 2 out, 2 strike consecutive hits .  

Right now they are dull as a butter knife .

[vegasbob]

9 minutes ago, illinoisredsox said:

They can pass the Evil Empire on the last day of the season for all I care.  Earlier than that doesn’t matter.

In that case, they will only need to gain 1 game per month, much more doable.

[moonslav59]

Early was not at his best.

0 for 5 with RISP

More hits than the Padres but less runs.

Need the win, tomorrow.

[JoeBrady]

2 hours ago, vegasbob said:

Story paying no attention to advice continues to overpull every swing and can't buy a hit.  Very basic change , Trevor, is needed.  Try going up the middle because you have not got a wall ball in you right now

It was maybe his 3rd AB.  The count was 1-0.  The pitcher threw a nice-enough pitch, belt-high on the outside.  Maybe a strike, but maybe not.  But Story swung like it was an 0-2 count.  Like he was trying to protect the plate.  When you're ahead of the count, you should only swing at pitches you can drive.

By swinging, he was either going to go to 1-1, or make an out.  There was no upside to swinging.  The best possible outcome was likely a swing-and-miss.  This is grammar school level philosophy.

[JoeBrady]

2 hours ago, vegasbob said:

Story paying no attention to advice continues to overpull every swing and can't buy a hit.  Very basic change , Trevor, is needed.  Try going up the middle because you have not got a wall ball in you right now

It was maybe his 3rd AB.  The count was 1-0.  The pitcher threw a nice-enough pitch, belt-high on the outside.  Maybe a strike, but maybe not.  But Story swung like it was an 0-2 count.  Like he was trying to protect the plate.  When you're ahead of the count, you should only swing at pitches you can drive.

By swinging, he was either going to go to 1-1, or make an out.  There was no upside to swinging.  The best possible outcome was likely a swing-and-miss.  This is grammar school level philosophy.

[JoeBrady]

3 hours ago, vegasbob said:

Interesting AB by Mayer to get the sac fly and tying run.  Tales 2 strikes, one of which was a middle-middle, then hits a 390' flyball when Vazquez fails to exploit the near rookie  by giving him another cookie FB.

Marcello gets the job done.

An understandable rookie mistake.  It feels like he was trying to NOT be overly anxious.  I think a veteran would've jumped all over that first pitch.  And bad mistake by the pitcher keeping the pitch in the zone.

[oldtimer]

2 hours ago, vegasbob said:

I am thinking about a common theme  from the past couple years.   This team just isn't interesting to watch.

Star Power ?   Ok, people will look at Roman expecting  exceptional hitting, Crochet looking for a no hit gem.

Some here think Cedanne Rafaela is prime time .   Not so much.    Chapman, an all-timer but a mercenary and today's LP after 2 out, 2 strike consecutive hits .  

Right now they are dull as a butter knife .

A common theme could be taken from the Bible "As you sow, so shall you reap"

[moonslav59]

Speaking of the bible, we need some thumping, soon.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

There's no reason to believe this offense will ever shine this season.

It's most likely gonna be a long boring season.

Screw you JH.

[Old Red]

It’s only been 8 games, but as of right now the Red Sox at 2-6 have the worst record in all of baseball tied with the A’s, and Rockies. Getting to 500 at the moment looks like a BIG challenge let alone trying to catch the Yankees.🤔

[Old Red]

18 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Yes, we all know that.

I figured he'd DH more than Anthony, or at least I feel he should.

Counting Anthony, today, the tally will be:

3 Duran .539 as DH

3 Anthony .347 as DH

2 Yoshida .375 as DH

Cora said yesterday right now the Red Sox prefer Duran’s defense over Anthony, and that Anthony’s footwork is off. Remember after Anthony’s first game in Boston last year they had him out in the outfield teaching him how to field ground balls. Not a good sign that the Red Sox prefer Duran over Anthony in the outfield. Sounds like Roman The Great still might be a little suspect.🤔

Masa even scheduled to play LF today over Anthony who is DH.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

7 hours ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

There's no reason to believe this offense will ever shine this season.

It's most likely gonna be a long boring season.

Screw you JH.

Most concerning to Red Sox fans -- and most depressing as a season preview -- was the bottom of the 8th. Down a run, but 1st and 3rd with no outs in a frame everyone knew was do or die with Mason Miller warming for the 9th:

In that situation, any team would be thrilled to have its 2-3-4 batters up. But not Boston! 

... mainly, because the manager insists on batting his two worst strikeout machines -- Story and Duran (first and second in Ks last year) in two key spots in the batting order. Story, who once again leads all MLB shortstops in whiffs, was the guy I wanted Cora to pinch hit for. Nope: K.

And then with the team desperate for anyone to make contact, the batter who slugged the most home runs in ST/WBC for the Sox, Jarren Duran, was pinch hit for by a benchwarmer throw-in from the Durbin trade.

In the biggest moment of the game to that point, the skipper doesn't even have faith in his own Number Three hitter. Monasterio put up a good fight and touched the ball, but hit a DP comebacker to the pitcher that the second baseman dropped... or the Red Sox would've only scored one run yesterday. 

But there's still time to reshuffle baseball cards on the rowboat without a paddle... before fans revolt and toss them into the harbor.

[Old Red]

5 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Most concerning to Red Sox fans -- and most depressing as a season preview -- was the bottom of the 8th. Down a run, but 1st and 3rd with no outs in a frame everyone knew was do or die with Mason Miller warming for the 9th:

In that situation, any team would be thrilled to have its 2-3-4 batters up. But not Boston! 

... mainly, because the manager insists on batting his two worst strikeout machines -- Story and Duran (first and second in Ks last year) in two key spots in the batting order. Story, who once again leads all MLB shortstops in whiffs, was the guy I wanted Cora to pinch hit for. Nope: K.

And then with the team desperate for anyone to make contact, the batter who slugged the most home runs in ST/WBC for the Sox, Jarren Duran, was pinch hit for by a benchwarmer throw-in from the Durbin trade.

In the biggest moment of the game to that point, the skipper doesn't even have faith in his own Number Three hitter. Monasterio put up a good fight and touched the ball, but hit a DP comebacker to the pitcher that the second baseman dropped... or the Red Sox would've only scored one run yesterday. 

But there's still time to reshuffle baseball cards on the rowboat without a paddle... before fans revolt and toss them into the harbor.

Yes Duran did get a lot of ink on here for his power output in ST/WBC. How do you like me now?🤫

[JoeBrady]

1 hour ago, Old Red said:

Cora said yesterday right now the Red Sox prefer Duran’s defense over Anthony, and that Anthony’s footwork is off. Remember after Anthony’s first game in Boston last year they had him out in the outfield teaching him how to field ground balls. Not a good sign that the Red Sox prefer Duran over Anthony in the outfield. Sounds like Roman The Great still might be a little suspect.🤔

Masa even scheduled to play LF today over Anthony who is DH.

I don't see any issue.  Duran had 9 DRS last year, and two this year.

[notin]

15 hours ago, vegasbob said:

If the Sox gained 1 game per week on the Yankees, it will be in May before they would catch them.   

Already playing for a WC slot, if they start hitting.

Ummm..  May is neither that far away nor close to the end of the season…

[Duran Is The Man]

1 hour ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Most concerning to Red Sox fans -- and most depressing as a season preview -- was the bottom of the 8th. Down a run, but 1st and 3rd with no outs in a frame everyone knew was do or die with Mason Miller warming for the 9th:

In that situation, any team would be thrilled to have its 2-3-4 batters up. But not Boston! 

... mainly, because the manager insists on batting his two worst strikeout machines -- Story and Duran (first and second in Ks last year) in two key spots in the batting order. Story, who once again leads all MLB shortstops in whiffs, was the guy I wanted Cora to pinch hit for. Nope: K.

And then with the team desperate for anyone to make contact, the batter who slugged the most home runs in ST/WBC for the Sox, Jarren Duran, was pinch hit for by a benchwarmer throw-in from the Durbin trade.

In the biggest moment of the game to that point, the skipper doesn't even have faith in his own Number Three hitter. Monasterio put up a good fight and touched the ball, but hit a DP comebacker to the pitcher that the second baseman dropped... or the Red Sox would've only scored one run yesterday. 

But there's still time to reshuffle baseball cards on the rowboat without a paddle... before fans revolt and toss them into the harbor.

Story is undoubtedly "the worst strikeout machine" on the team. Currently, Duran is not second, third, or even fourth. Those spots belong to Anthony, Contreras and Mayer.

[UtahSox]

17 hours ago, vegasbob said:

I am thinking about a common theme  from the past couple years.   This team just isn't interesting to watch.

Star Power ?   Ok, people will look at Roman expecting  exceptional hitting, Crochet looking for a no hit gem.

Some here think Cedanne Rafaela is prime time .   Not so much.    Chapman, an all-timer but a mercenary and today's LP after 2 out, 2 strike consecutive hits .  

Right now they are dull as a butter knife .

Cede be is a hell of a lot closer to Brenton Doyle than Julio Rodriguez 

[UtahSox]

3 minutes ago, Duran Is The Man said:

Story is undoubtedly "the worst strikeout machine" on the team. Currently, Duran is not second, third, or even fourth. Those spots belong to Anthony, Contreras and Mayer.

Story AB’s are not even close right now, he looks so out of place right now….  Our lineup 5-9 is in the bottom 3rd of MLB and with Story mucking up 1-4 it’s making the top of lineup equally atrocious. We should see if Minnesota will trade B Buxton for Cede Rafaela.