The Sox threw the towel in on this game about 5 minutes into it, not 5 innings into it, not 5 outs into it, not 5 runs into it. 5 minutes is all it took. Not sure what I think about Cora's reaction to that. But clearly he didn't miss it.
Must be what the Sox said to themselves in the clubhouse before the game:
1) Val is pitching
2) Its on Fox
3) Val is pitching
"How can we possibly be expected to put up a competitive showing under such circumstances!"
We are on the verge of playing uncompetitive baseball in our building two games in a row against the team we are likely to face if we get anywhere in post season play. Really did not play competitive baseball last night and clearly not even on the same planet with the Astros tonight. Could have gone into last bats only 1 run down last night and just choked up the Astro's 3rd run late. You play a 1 run deficit entirely different from a two run deficit.
Tonight, we are just not even on the same planet. I don't know where we are tonight.
Great AB X. You dug that hole all by yourself by taking the check swing at an 0-0 pitch that was not even worth offering at in the first place. Never dug out of the count hole he made for himself.
We gave up two runs to the Astros on plays that were not even difficult to make. If they were difficult plays, that would be one thing. Just catch a thrown God Damn baseball. But even without the Chavis out call at 2nd before the Vaz HR, the Astros should not have more than 5 runs right now and we should not be down more than 2 runs to this point in the game.
I don't care who is throwing for us....if these guys cannot get up to play the Houston Astros in our building what are we doing? They are laughing at us from their dugout....even mimicking some of the Sox team celebrations right in their faces.
it looks like the players conceded this game based on Val taking the mound. They are playing this game like crap on toast. Cora managing about the same way and Station might be right. Cora might just be looking to send them a message.
I don't get not challenging that. Middle of the game would seem a good time to use a challenge. Cora could always beg for an Umpire's review late if need be and I doubt they would deny him.
Who plays CF this year if JBJ sits. Mookie is not a good CFer proven often? Beni is not a good CFer also proven. JD is not a good RFer and really should be DH as often as possible.
However, Mookie is the GG RFer in the game playing in the most difficult RF in all of baseball when we are in Fenway. You want to see much of Pearce out there? JD out there? The Astros challenged JD last night in RF because they knew there was a good chance they could beat him out there and they did which cost us a run in what was ultimately a 3-1 game.
Gotta' get Price and Nate back and this offense needs to get going at the top of the order. Never mind the bottom of the order. The only guy really getting it done 1-6 in this order is JD at .321 and a .944 OPS. The rest of them are meh and some of them are less than meh. Streaky at best describes the entire rest of the team's 1-6 hitters so far this year. I am OK with seeing Cole have the kind of start he had last night. Not liking Cy Martin having his way with them.
The game is just incidental to the crap they are yammering about. That last replay before the break almost looked like the ball ticked off of Mookies glove. Not a peep out of the broadcast team either on the initial replay or that one. No super slo-mo either.