Maxbialystock

Oh, come on. I agree Showalter was great today, but completely disagree he outmanaged Farrell in any of these three games. He gave Fister the ball and left him in for 7 innings after that 2 run 1st. He brought in Reed and Kimbrel in at the right times. The problem today was the exact same problem as yesterday--very weak hitting--1 run in 18 innings. In the first two debacles (plus yesterday's 7-0 rout) against the Guardians and Orioles, our starters--Sale, Porcello, and ERod--not only stunk but stunk early before Farrell could rationally do anything. Ultimately, of course, Farrell will be measured by wins and losses and how the Sox finish this season, and I am fine with that. Plus I did say in the game thread that Showalter's handling of the 6th to preserve a 2-1 lead--he used 4 pitchers that inning, including starter Miley--was something I don't think Farrell would have done. But I will also say that in none of these 4 games has he had an opportunity to save a game. Three straight starters--a Cy Young winner last year, a true ace, and a young lefty who's biggest problem is getting thru the first 2 innings--took all Farrell's options away. All three games were gifts to Francona and Showalter.

Have you noticed how well Devers is hitting now that he has been dropped down in the order. I kept saying it would make a difference and you kept saying no way. But I'm smiling because it's good you got thru Harvey.

Yeah. He's kind of my whipping boy. He looks and acts like Manny with the long hair and too often inattention, but without those great hitting skills. And guess what, he's paid what Manny was paid--$20M/year--but about 10 years worth of inflation later, which makes a difference. I have read that Manny studied pitchers and prepared carefully for his at bats, and I suspect that HanRam doesn't. He's the default clean up guy who doesn't clean much up. His OWAR is 0.1, for crying out loud. Last year it was 2.8. This year we really needed him with Ortiz gone and instead we get a guy who doesn't do windows. I've read he has injuries, but Pedroia has played and played well with worse in my opinion. Indeed, he is a year younger than Pedey and can't touch him for value to the team. All that said, I have to be honest. He's down from last year, but not way down. He didn't ask to bat cleanup, he got the job because Farrell can't find anyone better.

Disregard.

Not sure I agree about all those options--bringing up guys, changing the order again, etc. To me we just are what we are.

Ball game. Finally, the Sox competed before going down, but that's four in a row. Two bloodbaths followed by 1 run in 2 games and 18 innings. These guys are getting too good at losing.

Han Ram swinging at a fastball a foot outside on an 0-2 count. That's the HanRam we know too well, especially when he then pops up on a grooved fast ball right down the middle.

Agree the 25 LOB and 1 for 13 with RISP are awful, but to me the only real goat is HanRam back in the 1st striking out with men and 2d and 3d with nobody out. Brach for the save against Betts, HanRam and Moreland. Betts an easy first out on nothing but fastballs. Not good.

Tough luck. Nunez and Beni both hit the ball hard but not in the right places. Brach and Showalter got a little lucky there.

Holt pinch-running for Leon--of course.

OK. Hit it good, but catchable. Now it's Beni.

1 out, 1 on in the 8th, and here comes the closer Brach. Unfair of me to say, but I think Nunez really, really wants to GIDP or maybe K. I'm rooting for the K.

I'm repeating myself, but Showalter has shown me a lot this game in how he has handled his bullpen. I honestly believe that in the same situation with the same pitchers, Farrell would not have used 3 relievers in the 6th to preserve a 1 run lead.

Sox are 1 for 12 with RISP and have left 23 guys on base--Betts left 5 and Young 7. All four doubles by the younger set--Betts, Bogaerts, and Devers, who has2 and the only Sox rbi. The four over-30 guys (HanRam,Young, Rajai, Leon) have some singles and walks but have not been much of a factor. I'm still impressed with how Showalter used his bullpen. Castro got the one out in the 6th, but also 3 in the 7th, so now Showalter only needs to get thru the 8th and 9th. I should note, however, that none of the 3 relievers in the 6th had an ERA over 3--worst is Castro at 2.66. Here's Castro back for the 8th because our guys simply can't hit him. He just K'd Devers--the guy with 2 doubles--on a 3-2 sinker on the outside corner and low.

Nut case HanRam advances when it wasn't possible, so Rajai goes GIDP. Just like that. Castro got himself into trouble, but that darn sinker fast ball extricated him.

Not a meatball. Low in the zone and a very fast sinker, one of all whole bunch. The three that missed and were called balls weren't that much different. I say again, Betts has been our best guy with RISP, he doesn't K much, and he's a good hitter with double earlier in the game. Do I need to add that the same guy, Castro, is pitching the 7th and has walked the first two batters, HanRam and Moreland? He just made a great pitch which could easily have been ball 4 instead, tying the game.

Fister today was just what the doctor ordered. If Price comes back, a tough choice. Honestly, you can't drop Porcello with his contract, ditto Sale of course. Pomeranz is now our #2. That leaves ERod, who hasn't been so good, but could be if he could just start a game the way he finishes them. But he will be the one to go.

Not sure I agree that at bat was so terrible. Every single pitch was a very fast sinking fast ball, and all of them were low--including three balls. To me that's just great pitching because Betts is a good hitter, does not strike out much, and has an OPS over 1.000 with RISP. Credit too to Showalter who used 4 pitchers in the 6th to hang onto that lead.

Another high and tight fastball by Givens. Clearly, this is Showalters doing. Nunez K's on a fastball on the outside (but in the zone). Dead simple. Pitchers used to that a lot.

Nunez looks awful, but I love those fastballs. He'll either hit one good or K. No GIDP.

Bogie and Devers leading a comeback. Now men on 1st and 2d with Nunez coming to bat.

moonslav, Kimmi, and all you people who think you know how to slot hitters, listen up. I have argued endlessly for like 5 games that Devers should be dropped down in the order. Yesterday he got a double batting 7th I think, and today 2 doubles batting 8th. I'm just like Bo Jackson. I don't know diddly, but I do know baseball.

Givens has a good fastball, changeup, and slider and he is hitting his spots, mostly, including the high and tight fastball that almost hit Rajai.

High and tight ball set up a fastball in the middle of the strike zone--an easy called strike followed by two swinging strikes, both fastballs.

Credit to Bogie on the leadoff double off a high and almost outside fastball he made solid contact with. 8 pitches ended Miley's stint with 101 total. Now righty Givens, ERA 2.42, against Devers. My bad, I jumped the gun. It's Rajai.