Maxbialystock

I hear you, but would argue again two basic points: 1) those rectangles are misleading; the "bad" calls are rarely that bad and even more rarely that influential because good pitchers adjust; 2) umpires are an important part of the game and would be completely marginalized if they were taken out of calling balls and strikes.

Actually, I think Henry Kissinger said something like that: even paranoids have real enemies. And in my case I'm pretty sure I'm one of A700hitter's targets because I can get argumentative as well as longwinded. But moonslav? That's nuts. I'm sorry you don't post here more because I know from BDC days you are excellent.

I am certainly one of the apologists even though I too have expressed dismay on occasion. In the event, as I said elsewhere, I have always believed that no manager is indispensable. Some are better than others, no doubt, but all are expendable. But since you brought this up, I would add the following-- First, to remind, I am fine with Farrell being fired for whatever reason. Second, however, he did manage a team that won the AL East 3 times and the WS once in 5 years. Third, granted, he lost three straight to the Guardians last year and 3 of 4 to the Astros, but in both instances had starting pitchers who absolutely stunk--Price and Porcello in 2016 and Sale, Pomeranz, Fister, and Porcello this year. On top of that his ace reliever Kimbrel absolutely blew game 4 this year. Fourth, of the four teams--Cleveland, Houston, New York, and Boston--in the ALDS, the Red Sox had by far the lowest net runs scored--+117. The other three, in order, had +254, +196, and +198. Interestingly, two of the latter three are in the ALCS. And, if the Nationals beat the Cubs, they and the Dodgers will also constitute 2 of the top 3 in the NL in net runs scored (the 3d is Arizona). Fifth, the Sox had by far the best record in MLB this year in extra inning games, which are those games mostly likely to demand more of a manager. Sixth, however, I mean it when I say I have no quarrel with DD's decision. Yes, Ortiz was gone. Yes, Price spent a lot of time on the DL. Nevertheless, there was some real talent on this team and it is entirely possible Farrell did not get the most out of what he had. I don't think so, but don't mind saying I could be wrong. Seventh, on the other hand, espn, ever the rabble rousers, have a new article on the Sox: "With Farrell gone, Red Sox are all Dave Dombrowski's mess now." I personally think DD has done more good than harm and also think John Henry won't want to fire him. Still, Price needs to deliver on that hefty price tag, Porcello does too, Sale may need to be rested more than a typical ace would need to be, I still have my doubts about Pomeranz, the Sox may in fact need to hire a big bat, etc.

I didn't think that at the time because i was ignorant, but it would have made a lot more sense. But, you know, other GM's have goofed as badly as Cherington on Pablo--see Ellsbury and the NYY and Crawford with the Dodgers. Actually, Yankees fans have kind of warmed to Ellsbury this year despite that salary and having to DH.

Really? That lineup looks awfully good to me, but at what cost?

I started this thread and by and large have defended Farrell but have always believed upper management, including the owner, should have final say on the field manager. In this case, as with Francona, this was not exactly a firing but rather an unwillingness to give Farrell a new contract. Back in the day I also defended Francona regularly but in the end was fine with the decision to let him go. I honestly believe that, while some managers are better than others, almost no manager is indispensable. If DD and JH don't like what they see on the field or what they think they see in the clubhouse (or hear about), they are absolutely entitled to make a change.

This, I have to say one more time, is one of the reason why I think you are one great poster. We can agree to disagree on a whole bunch of stuff, but you have it all over me on assembling stats and numbers. In a NY Times review of Rick Atkinson's brilliant 3d book of his trilogy on the US Army in World War II--this volume is called Guns At Last Light--his narrative style was compared to a pointillist artist who uses many small facts and insights to create a larger tapestry that tells a compelling story. You do something like that when you produce these gems.

Moreland had 22 home runs this year. The most in MLB at 1b this year was 39. I think you need to work on your math a little. You know way more about trade possibilities than I will ever know, but you have convinced me (as have others) that a big deal next year would definitely put the Sox in luxury tax territory which I gather John Henry wants to avoid. So here is my view of things-- 1. Everyone had a down year this year except I think Vazquez. I think the hitting will improve next year if the same guys are back, including Devers--whether or not DD decides to hang onto Moreland. I definitely want to keep Beni in LF next year and think his homer production will increase even though 20 wasn't all that bad. 2. If Sale and Price are healthy, the rotation could be pretty good and better than this year. Again, no big acquisitions needed. Ditto the bullpen. 3. As it is/was, this team won its second straight AL East title and this time gave a better account of itself in the ALDS against an Astros team with much better hitting and, as it turned out, a better rotation. 4. The problem with my sanguine view of things is that the Yankees are looking very tough next year (and this year). Ditto the Astros and Guardians. Thus the pressure to do something productive in the offseason. Still, I would be fine with a stand pat approach even though, as you pointed out on page one, even that ain't cheap.

He did manage brilliantly. Your complaining he didn't fix a lineup that struggled all year long and ignoring the great job he did with the pitching when all four of his starters stunk and his presumed two best late relievers (Reed and Kimbrel) did too. Plus he's the guy who convinced Price he could contribute from the bullpen, and boy did he. He also brought Sale back at just the right time to darn near save our bacon in game 4 had it not been for Kimbrel's complete malfeasance.

Who gives a rat's ass? We lost that game 8-2 mostly because start Pom stank and the ERod and Reed also stank. And you are quarreling about the way Farrell arranged the deck chairs. My goodness gracious.

Verlander, the guy who gave up the 2 run dinger to Beni? I loved that move. If Kimbrel hadn't s*** in his pants, the Sox win the game thanks to Verlander.

Unfortunately, you do have a point. The Yankees were pretty tough this year with that youngish lineup and a rotation that was up and down.

The irony of me now defending Farrell is that just three days ago I was saying it would be understandable if DD fired him after winning the AL East but also lost the ALDS in three straight games. In fact, I even said you can't fire the players. As it is, Farrell managed brilliantly in this postseason when the hitting struggled in the first two games and the rotation was absolutely abysmal in all 4 games and, horror of horrors, his two closers, Kimbrel and Reed, turned out to be erratic. Farrell almost pulled off those 2 wins by using a former starter (soon to be one again next season) and a starter almost everyone on this board thought had given up the ghost after a so-so September. And he pretty much stuck with a lineup that in the last two games started to work if not all the time.

What the hell other era is there? The 86 years of frustration? John Henry no doubt has his faults, but he is demonstrably the best owner the Sox have ever had and he is certainly better than the Steinbrenner boys.

Last year maybe, but even then the Guardians had the better record and home field advantage. This year no way the Sox were favored over the Astros. As for high expectations, look homeward, why doncha? In the John Henry era the Yankees have continued to outspend the Sox but have clearly fallen behind in postseason success.

I'm no expert, of course, but I doubt it. The Astros had the better team or weren't you watching the first two games of the ALDS or the final four games of the regular season? Yesterday's win was largely because Farrell convinced Price a month ago he could contribute a lot from the bullpen and Price delivered big time after Fister bombed. Today, same deal, only this time it was Sale out of the bullpen, the same guy everyone said was toast after his last two starts, only Farrell didn't think so. The problem today was our ace reliever Kimbrel couldn't get one guy out in the 8th (before giving up a WP, a walk and a single to score the tying run) and then struggled in the 9th. How you can blame that on Farrell is beyond me.

BS. He pulled rabbits out of the hat to win game 3 and make game 4 close. He got ejected protecting Pedroia from getting tossed in the 2d inning when the ump was in fact giving Morton some calls and the Sox could not score with the bases loaded and no one out. On a 3-2 count he called strike 3 on JBJ when the ball was clearly outside the zone. Without that, the Sox score 1, and Morton gets seriously rattled.

Reed gave up 2 (in 1 inning) in his last game--against these same Astros in game 2 of the ALDS.

Of course it was because it's never, ever the players fault. Only the manager can lose a game and only the players can win one. Yea, verily, it is written. Me, I thought it was a helluva game, a helluva ALDS, and a helluva season.

Reed? Reed? Reed threw one inning against these guys in this ALDS (Oct 6) and gave up 2 runs. Reed?

Right. Kimbrel didn't do his job, simple as that. He had two outs and a man on first when he came in and gave up a wild pitch, a walk, and a single.

Two men out and one man on when Kimbrel came in. A piece of cake for any reliever, especially one of Kimbrel's calibre. He choked, pure and simple.

He threw fewer innings and fewer pitches in September than any other month. He had 9 days rest before he pitched Oct 5 and gave up 2 dingers in the first freaking inning. He just didn't have it that day the same way he had it today. That's baseball. Who knew, for another example, Verlander would give up a dinger to Beni?

I'm pretty sure it hit the bag.

And he certainly looked overworked today, didn't he? I was surprised he could actually throw the ball, he looked so exhausted. Let's not forget that he threw 100 pitches 4 days ago.