Maxbialystock

As I've said repeatedly, no Cora critic has yet successfully responded to the following: In 2018 he managed an excellent Sox team--but not much better in personnel than the 2016 and 2017 teams--to 108 wins and 11-3 in the postseason. That was the best Sox season ever, and the players deserve tons of credit. But there were times when Cora's managing helped. In 2019 the pitching collapsed (ERA of 4.70 was 19th in MLB), but they still won 84 games (and lost 78). In 2020 Cora was justifiably banished from MLB, and the Sox were terrible, 24-36. In 2021 Cora returned without Mookie, Price, Sale, Kimbrel, Beni, and Moreland and the Sox won 92 games and got to the ALCS in the postseason despite having to face the Yankees ace Cole in the wild card, followed 2 days later by the 100 win Rays (best record in the AL in 2021) in the ALDS, which they won 3 games to 1. In that postseason the Sox played 11 games without a closer and in fact never got a save. But the only blown save was in the 6th inning of game 2 vs. the Astros when Sale started, went just 2.2 innings, and Houck got the blown save in the 6th inning. That, sir, took some managing. And that was last freaking year!! This year, 2022, the Sox have the 2d worst ERA in the AL but are now 67-69, which is a ton better than Sox teams in the John Henry with lousy pitching. But going back to April the ongoing theme on Talksox--as it was years ago about Francona on a different blog site (BDM)--has been all the irretrievable, bonehead mistakes Cora has made. Plus the new theme that he mysteriously somehow "lost the clubhouse" sometime back in the spring. If you can, take a shot at the above. Explain it all away. To remind. I don't in anyway object to anyone saying, "well I would have done it this way." Or, "I think Cora should have done this." What I don't get is the insistence that he's stupid and doesn't know what he's doing. There is literally no meaningful evidence to support that.

Sox are 4th in MLB in HB (hit batters) and 11th in BB's.

JD Drew had his best years before he signed that 5 x 14 = $70M contract with the Sox. A good right fielder and bat, but not a gamechanger.

Finally, someone I can agree with. Cora threw all the pitches, took all the at bats, ran all the bases, and made all the plays in the field. These insightful game threads have made it clear that Cora has been at the root of all the losses and helped to win none of the games. So to get ready for next year, all Chaim Bloom has to do is fire Cora and get a winning manager and thereby save a ton of money because the pitching, hitting, baserunning, fielding, and will to win all suffered because Cora lost the clubhouse sometime back in April and May.

Good pitching beats good hitting, simple as that. And in this game the Rays bullpen just overwhelmed the Sox hitters. In the 6th, Casas and Kike K'd and Refsnyer lined out. In the 7th, Plawecki walked, Pham K'd, Dugo grounded out, Bogey walked, Devers walked, and Story K'd. So that so-called huge rally was based on 1 ground ball single and 3 walks. In the 8th, all 3 Sox batters K'd. And in the 9th, McGuire singled to lead off, but then Pham K'd, Dugo grounded out, and Bogey also K'd. Indeed, the Sox were lucky the bullpen--actually Familia--only gave up 2 runs in 2 innings. Also this. Let's give Bogey a single in the 9th and Wong enough speed to score and tie the game. The Rays still have the bottom of the 9th to score the winning run.

The presumption, a not unreasonable one, is that Plawecki is better handling the pitchers. The Rays got one HBP and two doubles in that inning. Also, the baserunner stealing 2b got a huge jump.

They are hitting in the clutch against the worst bullpen in the history of baseball. Or something like that.

Kike doing his best to take some of the heat off of Casas's K--by looking a lot worse.

The HBP was very weird, but Familia wanted to walk him anyway--he threw 10 pitches, 4 for strikes. And the Rays hits looked pretty solid to me. You want a fluky hit, sit Devers' rbi bloop single. This year the late innings belong to the Rays because of their vastly better bullpen than the Sox.

No etc to it. The Sox have the 2d worst pitching in the AL and the Rays have the 2d best. That's essentially why the Rays have a 74-58 record and the Sox are 67-68.

True. In this case, some credit has to go to the Rays reliever, who threw some excellent pitches. Indeed, we are watching a team with good pitching battle a team with lousy pitching--except for Wacha's quality start. Once the Rays bullpen appeared, scoring was bound to be tough. And now that the Sox bullpen is engaged, holding a 3-2 lead is problematical. That said, the HBP was just weird. On the other hand, it was reasonable to expect Brujan to get a BB. Game now tied, man on 2b with 1 out. Hello, Sox bullpen.

How does he get hit by pitch when his elbow was in the strike zone? And how does the ump explain that to Cora?

So the Sox got a twofer--rest Arroyo, give Casas some MLB burn.

Didn't Arroyo finish the game? The box score says he did.

I like that move by the Rays, walking Devers. They could even walk Story to get to Casas--except that Story grounded out weakly.

To me he's a good infielder who is now hitting. I'd rather see him out there than Casas even though I understand why Casas is getting a look. It's September and the Sox are very unlikely get to the postseason.

Sox need to keep Wacha.

Based on what?

Rays helped by the Trop. Again.

Thru 3 1/2 innings the last four Sox hitters are hitless in 8 AB's with 2 K's by Cordero, who's getting better because this time he fouled one off.

After 3, Wacha with 43 pitches and 1 run. Patino with 62 pitches and 3 runs. Thus it becomes the duty of the bottom of the Sox order to give Patino a break--again.

OK, OK. I get it. Let Story be Story.

Lucky hit for Raffy, but aided by the Rays computer telling their centerfielder to play him deep. Story swings at two non-strikes, possibly because he simply didn't notice that Patino's a little wild.

That was a huge k for them--and unfortunately for us. Back to back hittable sinkers that Bogey couldn't touch.

Top of the 3d: Plawecki, then 2d time through the order. Come on, guys. Don't let the Trop get to you.