cp176

The most rational and for me really the only reason for not sending Sale back out for the ninth was that there was just enough of a delay while they waited for the replay to get finalized that JF felt uncomfortable with Sale sitting in the dugout for any extended time. If this is what really finalized his decision, then it was a good one for him to make. If it was just about playing the numbers game - whether it was Sale's 102 pitches or the fact the Kimbrel has done a very good job - then not so much for me. When you have one of the best pitchers in baseball (sorry not Kimbrel in this instance) pitching against a team that absolutely can not hit him, it has nothing to do with Sale's win loss record or the fact that it is April or that the numbers say how good Kimbrel has been. It has everything to do with winning the game. Sale on the mound gives you a better chance to win then Kimbrel yesterday. That being said, if JF felt that Sale had been sitting around too long, it was an excellent coaches decision and I am sure as hell glad it all worked out. To Sale's credit, I think that he is a lot more interested in the team winning than his win loss record.

A win is a win and I loved what Sale said about it. He gets it. i certainly would have been one of the guys who would have sent him back out for sure. They literally could not hit him and he really hadn't tired. The book says bring Kimbrel in. This is where i think feel has to play a role as opposed to the book. Win is a win and it does give us something to talk about. i guess I just don't like the book all the time.

I still like the big bat in the middle of the lineup. Now I understand that someone is going to post all of the players with all of their homer totals from last year. I get that we can hit. I still hope that not really replacing that big bat in the middle does not come back to haunt us. If our pitching staff was healthy top to bottom, maybe we would be ok. it isn't. old school 3 run homers work for me.

I don't need your tears! whoops lol just kidding

good history stuff and the logical conclusion is even better

Say Hey!!! Remember Willie! He still heads my list of the greatest baseball player of all time. He could do it for sure. He could do it all.

total package i agree. Not to sure I buy that Mookie would be his equal in center though. Maybe, maybe not but there would likely not be much of a let down. They are wonderful to watch together for the time being.

I think correcto when it comes to Bogaerts for sure both offensively and defensively. Not someone we will want to lose. I'm still hoping that we don't really know what JBJ's offensive ceiling is just yet.

You know me when it comes to the budget stuff and the Red Sox. If when the time comes, these two guys are who they want, I think that they sign both.

thanks - makes a little more sense

That was a great grab! He reaches any lower and he is down a deck.

??? - You think JBJ is behind Benintendi and Betts in center?

How many guys can get away with a fastball that tops out at 89 these days. Just doesn't happen.

there you go - if he hangs around long enough there is our future second baseman.

In my world they are connected. His character is somewhat defined by the fact that being in shape to play for the best franchise in baseball didn't mean as much to him as I think that it should. It is my opinion. He gets a mulligan because he took care of business.

Camilio Pasqual for the Twins - ring a bell? probably not - one of the best curve balls I ever saw.

I get that but my negativity about Sandoval was caused by his own doing. It looks like he got a message that he needed to get. Get in shape or guess what you could be gone. It was message that he needed to hear. Im not aware of anything real or rumored that would cause me to question Pomeranz's fitness level or give a s*** factor. Sandoval gets a redo and we all get to see what he does with it.

I actually meant to say that the error he made was on a very tough play.

Actually after watching today's game, I'm pretty sure that Hernandez could do a better than average job at third base. His error was not made on a tough play with the wind blowing like it was. Tough play. I just hope he doesn't wind up there. I still and will see him as a 2nd/ss guy. In that order.

As much as I like Hernandez even at third, I am still really pulling for Sandoval. if we can get the good Sandoval, I will take what power he can give us. Hernandez may very well hit, but there never has been much hr pop in that bat. Now I get what comes next - Home run power is over rated yada yada yada. I'm just saying that If even the threat of power (meaning Ramirez primarily) is taken out of that lineup, it is going to make things difficult. I love the fact that we have a team that is a solid contact type team but I still don't under estimate how much influence a three run homer can have either.

Love Beni's bat control

batting practice? hope not

I know that this is true. I would just add that it can be a big play on the bases or in the field. Best players are not always the best hitters.

I didn't think that you trashed Benintendi at all. He is good and he will get better but bradley is a different breed of cat out there. he is clutch(lol). I agree with you!

He might have for sure but stuff happens. We know that. I was more upset with him not getting a few early calls than anything else. They could have gone either way. They didn't go his way. I just get upset when comments are made in general that relate to a person's character when we really don't know anything about him. My opinion is that it relates directly to the fact that some just didn't like the trade in general and thought that based on prospects rankings of a young pitcher we should have gotten more than Pomeranz in a trade. I'm ok with that. I don't agree with that opinion because I don't place as much value in prospects rankings with respect to what their future might become before they are 18 years old than some do. I would hate to think that a potentially good young ml pitcher gets victimized in Boston for things that he can't control. As an aside, i do think that Bradley might have made that catch but it still would have been a very good one.