SoxFanForsyth

Dude. I don't see how a 5% decrease in LD% justifies a 15% drop in BABIP. It makes absolutely zero sense at all. This early in the season, it's a difference of 4 total hits. That's it. So you're telling me that if he squared 4 of the 76 balls he's hit differently that his BABIP would be normalized? It makes zero sense.

Yeah. You're right. Confidence and comfort is a complete ******** argument at the plate. Magadan was out of his mind yesterday when he said "Crawford needs to be comfortable at the plate". That's exactly right. It would be ridiculous to try to help Crawford get comfortable by putting him in a slot that he's accustomed to. I mean it didn't help Ellsbury at all. Completely overrated. Nice response.

Red Sox line up vs Mariners: Ellsbury CF, Pedroia 2B, Gonzalez 1B, Youkilis 3B, Ortiz DH, Lowrie SS, Cameron RF, Varitek C, McDonald LF, Matsuzaka P

Crawford has never been a BB guy, we knew this when we signed him. He's never had more than 51 walks in a season and averages 33 per season over his career. The point is, he's got a .184 BABIP compared to a career mark. of .330. He is striking out consistent with career norms. I'm not sure if you heard Magadan's interview yesterday, but he said that Crawford is a different kind of hitter. He's not a guy that focuses on mechanics. He uses his athleticism to hit, and rather than focusing on mechanics, he wants to feel comfortable at the plate. Well, he's got 2,450 AB's in the 2 slot in his career and he has hit at a .305 clip while there. I'd say that's going to make him feel the most comfortable. His old manager said he does the best when he's hitting in the 2 slot. Why the hell not give him a shot hitting in the 2 slot and try to get his comfort level and confidence level up? It makes zero sense to NOT move him up.

I don't know what you're trying to say in that last post.

I have no idea how you can possibly believe that. He was 3 feet away from going deep yesterday, and then hit a double to right center. He got fooled in one at bat, but he's making solid contact, and he looks much, much better than he did last time he was up. I don't see how you can say he looks like s*** when he was 4 feet away from going 2/4 with 6 TB. :dunno: And by the way, Ellsbury was hitting .174/.296/.435 before we bumped him to leadoff. And I already told you what he's done since then. Sometimes that little vote of confidence can do incredible things for a player.

You're killing Crawford's potential by hitting him in the 7 hole. Hitting Ells Craw 1-2 is the best thing for this team. 1. I cannot stress enough how huge it is for our team to have 2 guys who can score from first on wall ball doubles hitting in front of Pedroia at Fenway. 2. With Ells and Craw back to back, you take away a TON of double plays. 3. Pedroia absolutely crushes fastballs. With Ellsbury and Crawford on in front of him, he'll get a ton of fastballs. 4. Gonzalez strokes with RISP. He's hitting .393 with RISP and .405 with RISP and 2 outs. 5. By hitting Crawford behind Drew or Salty, if either of them get on, you're taking away Crawfords biggest asset. His legs on the basepaths. Why bottle him up?? 6. Final thing - Look what it did for Ellsbury when Francona basically told him "Hey. We believe in you and want you in the top of our line up. We're going to lead you off, where you feel the most comfortable." It gave him confidence. He's hitting .429/.448/.607 since being bumped up to the leadoff spot. Crawford is right on the cusp of catching fire, why not put him in the 2 hole and see if we can't give him that last little spark to get him going??

Not to be a stickler, but Dice had his first gem on Patriots day at Fenway. But, either way. GO DICE! GO SOX!!!!!! Note to Francona: Hit Crawford 2nd. Drop Pedey to 3rd, Gonzo to 4, and Youk to 5. Thank you.

and yeh. i admit it. the Sox bring out the worst in me. but don't put together a team that looks beyond imagination and then just play like teams are going to lay down for you. it's pathetic.

this team is hopeless.

No we wont. We can't hit. Our offense is in a coma.

seriously. f*** this team. I'm f***ing over it. They can all get f***ed for all I care. I'm done getting f***ed pulled along like a little bitch by a team with a manager who doesn't know how to get the team fired up and by a team who is playing flat as f*** like it's mid august and they have an 18 game lead in the division. f*** this team.

Worst. Team. Ever. f*** you, Red Sox. f*** you.

f*** this is the absolute f***ing worst. f***!!!!!!!!

Come ONNNNN Sox. Please, please please PLEASE pull something out of your ass here.

Varitek. Catch the f***ING ball