Maxbialystock

Nice DP by Dalbec, caught the grounder, threw quickly to 2b, caught the return throw.

Completely agree that fans, especially us on talksox, have zero effect on game outcomes. But so what? Game threads--all threads, for that matter--are fun.

It's what happened during the week that changed the mood. The rotation continued to slide backwards, the hitting did too, the Jays split a series we thought the Sox would take (3-1), Bloom made no moves to bolster the pitching and could only come up with an injured outfielder (the Sox need a hitting first baseman) to help the lineup, and the Rays beat the Sox 7-3 and, worse, 9-5 in the Trop, the latter game with the Sox ace Eovaldi getting smacked around--as was Ottavino, Barnes' set-up man who is paid more than Barnes. Oh, and bring-up infielder Arauz had 2 errors last night. To me the bad week fits the worst case scenario: the rotation sucks so badly the hitting can't make up the difference, and Bloom has signaled that this is not our year. I am more pessimistic than you because I just don't see how the pitching is going to come around, but I also am grateful for a superb first 2/3 of the season, which was completely unexpected. And this. Our two hotshot rookies, Dalbec and Duran, don't look like they are ready for MLB. I also agree with moonslav's analysis of why Bloom didn't go after a really good starter: JH didn't want to go over the luxury tax limit, and Bloom didn't want to give up any of the Sox best prospects.

We had this discussion on another thread, maybe last night's, and everyone agreed it is good for talksox to have differing perspectives and that everyone is absolutely entitled to his/her opinion. I myself am pessimistic, but am happy to read posts from the optimists.

Rays now in first place, which they can cement further with another win tomorrow. It was a fun 2/3 of a season, but the final 1/3 looks like a whole lot of pain.

Well, it's unlikely they will do any of those things. So, with Eovaldi going tonight and the Sox being trounced, 9-5, this season could well be over. Indeed, it's entirely possible Bloom and John Henry both knew the season was over when there was no attempt to fix the rotation--for the reasons you stated. JH didn't want to go over the luxury tax amount, and Bloom didn't want to give up a decent prospect. In their defense, I honestly don't think this rotation is fixable. However, I also think your ideas are as close as any I've seen for fixing the rotation.

Six straight sliders, and Renfroe still couldn't figure them out. Horrible at bat.

Actually, I'd settle for a catcher who can, well, catch the dadgum ball, who doesn't run into outs on the base paths, and who can throw out base stealers. He doesn't have to be a great hitter or a genius at working with pitchers to make them as effective as possible.

Well, at least the Sox got Shwarber and his .910 OPS. Too bad he's on the IL and can't play 1b.

Who, however, should have been brought in one batter sooner. Cora wasn't thinking very straight.

On top of which, Cora waited too long before bringing in Taylor. And let's not forget that Arauz did his level best to make Eovaldi's job a lot harder. And Vazquez's pitch-calling wasn't very smart either.

That could well have been a mistake by Cora. I thought Eovaldi had a good mix of pitches, but Franco, batting lefty, had no problem fouling off a bunch of them until he got that splitter up in the zone and nailed it for a triple, scoring the Rays 6th run. Now in comes lefty Taylor, who should have been the one pitching to Franco.

Vazquez K's after a 3-0 count, not because he swung at bad pitches, but because, well, he can't actually hit a fastball or even two straight fastballs in the middle of the zone. Neither can Dalbec, for that matter. So maybe Kitteredge really deserves that ERA of 1.40.

He was joking. No way is Cora going to pull Vazquez in the middle of a game. In the past, despite my animus toward Vazquez, I have in fact given him credit when the pitcher does well because I do honestly believe the catcher is part of a pitcher's success. Tonight, however, I think the two big hits in the 1st inning and the dinger in the 4th were the direct result of Vazquez calling for too many fastballs. Eovaldi is at his best when he is mixing his pitches, throwing fewer fastballs, and using that very good splitter he has. I also don't mind you disagreeing because I think Cora agrees with you: everything Vazquez does is just hunky-dory, which is why he catches 4 out of 5 games (or whatever).

Touche!!!!!

Probably right. With any other Sox catcher, I'd bring him back. But Vazquez is clueless. That dinger in the 4th was the result of Vazquez calling for fastballs and nothing but fastballs--Eovaldi's most hittable pitch.

You do know that Vazquez called for four straight fastballs from a pitcher whose fastball has proven, year after year, to be very hittable?

Clearly Arauz misses Worcester. Mighty fine folks live there who love their AAA team and will welcome Arauz back like their prodigal son.

Sox caught a huge break there. Vazquez didn't try to steal 2b and get thrown out. Maybe Cora told him to knock that stuff off. In any case, a very timely dinger by Dalbec!!!!!!!!!

No bad by you. I was just being a jerk. But we do disagree. I think really good catchers can help pitchers find a way to get batters out when they don't have their best stuff or command, which happens quite often. I also think job one for all catchers is to get the most out of the pitcher actually in the game and not the one they would like to have on the mound. I don't think Vazquez does that--the same way he doesn't prevent wild pitches from getting away and is tied for the lead league in passed balls and runs the bases like an idiot because he thinks he's Jacoby Ellsbury or something.

I have to assume you think Eovaldi is a rotten starter, and I disagree. As for the rest of the rotation, I agree they are all struggling, including Pivetta. And my fix would be to use Vazquez less. There is a fine art to calling for pitches that the pitcher can throw and which can get batters out, especially in games when pitchers don't have their best stuff or best command or both. Computer programs are pretty useless in those circumstances.

I discussed that in an earlier post. There is absolutely no question that Cora likes Vazquez a lot. Last year and earlier this year, he liked his bat so much he played him at other positions. As far as I can tell, he is fine with all those passed balls, preventable wild pitches, stupid baserunning mistakes, weaker hitting (than last year and 2019), and how he calls pitches/games. So, yes, I disagree with Cora on the topic of Vazquez.

With Arauz at 2b and Vazquez behind the plate, Eovaldi will be lucky to go 5 innings and hold the Rays to their current 3 runs.

Against Choi Vazquez called for one splitter, which was fouled off. He called for two curveballs, both of which Choi nailed (one was foul). Vazquez is not a smart catcher.

Arauz is killing Eovaldi and with him the Sox. This is a must win game.