Maxbialystock

I'm starting this a day early to encourage discussion of the series, September, whatever. I have zero mojo, so we might as well discuss/argue/carp/cajole/analyze/pontificate. I like our team right now and in this series and specifically the three matchups now that Farrell has moved Buchholz ahead of Pomerantz to pitch game 3. Both teams are starting righty-lefty-righty and in all three games I think our guys are pitching better right now. As for Buchholz starting, I had a blinding flash of the obvious today. Farrell was manager in 2013 when Buchholz had that amazing first half before going on the DL, which means that Farrell, more than any of us or his coaching staff, knows what the good Buchhholz looks like. And something tells me he thinks this version is pretty darn close to the 2013 version. In his last 3 starts Buch averaged 6.1 innings and 1 run scored. And you can tell he's confident because he's pitching quickly (for him). In the first six games of this road trip the Sox gave up no more than 2 runs in any one game. The two losses were 2-1 and 1-0. In their just completed road trip at Baltimore, Tampa, and NYC, the Jays were 3-6 and were just swept by the Yankees.

Actually, I didn't quite say he does not work hard enough. I said four things--lack of experience, moving up to MLB quickly and then getting the starting 3B job, all the adulation in the press, and the big upfront money he got last year--are telling him he doesn't have to work hard. I have read nothing about his work habits, good or bad, so I don't honestly know. The lack of focus comment came from narrative on him in Sox Prospects and referred I think to grounders hit right at him. I think your point about management is well taken. They are indeed responsible for his development because we know he has talent. I thought the announcement that Shaw needed to work on his OF skills was a big mistake because it also told Moncada he had it made. In 2013 they did not take that approach with Bogaerts, and this year they did not do it with Benintendi.

Gotta admit that one of the best qualities of Talksox is the sense of humor.

I did watch the game, but went to bed after the 7th because of work today. Moreover, I rarely have the sound on because I have a low regard for the commentators. I get especially irritated with the NESN policy of having guests for home game discuss all kinds of things, thus relegating the game itself to the back seat. This includes camera shots of the whoever is in the booth, which I dislike. Why is carping about carping prohibited, especially when I included a discussion of why Farrell made the moves he did? Indeed, if the commentators questioned those moves, one has to wonder whether they know anything at all about baseball. More likely, however, is the notion that they just feel the need to fill the air with opinions and ideas of whatever value. P.S. You are right that there was very little carping on this thread, largely because the game went smoothly. However, that one example of misguided carping was just too choice and therefore irresistible.

Clutch, smutch. The only truly "clutch" hitter on this team is Ortiz and that's because he has an OPS over 1000. And let's not forget that the opposing pitcher has a lot to do with how well we hit. For those who have forgotten, the Sox great success in the 2013 playoffs was due primarily to the great pitching--an ERA of 2.00 over 16 games. Yes, there were a few "clutch" hits, but overall not many hits at all. This is a young team, especially in playoff experience or for that matter pennant race in September experience. But right now I like what I see overall. The rotation is worlds better than earlier in the season. The hitting is stuttering, but the talent is there. And the bullpen is showing definite signs they want to be reliable. The outfield defense is pretty good, but the left side of the infield lacks range. Right side, Pedroia, is still good and HanRam is good enough. Catching is a tad better than we should expect because of all the turnover last year and again this year. I love moonslav's constant reminder: other teams have weaknesses too. While I do like where this team is, I also think there are no guarantees. And, quite frankly, who the hell wants them? It's the imperfections that make this such a great game.

Gotta love reading the carping critics struggling with the simplest strategies being played out in real time. Farrell had the 4 run then 5 run lead and decided to run some key members of the bullpen out there because they had not pitched recently and because tomorrow is an off day leading into a big 3 game series in Toronto. Dead simple, but a700hitter's first comment said, "the announcers are questioning this move." If so, they are idiots. This was the perfect time to take a look at Uehara, Ziegler, and Kimbrel. I'm also surprised no one--at least, in what I've read--has commented on the no runs streak by the bullpen now through 3 games. I don't think we have the ingredients of a true shut down threesome, but right now it looks like Farrell has more options than before with the addition of Kelly and now Uehara. Plus Ross ain't half bad for a lefty. The hitting is still suspect in my mind--no doubt a weak one--but that's OK. We know the talent is there. I like our situation overall going into Toronto.

See above. I said it before.

I think Moncada might get to sit out another game or two. If he is the wild card who ignited Shaw, then he is a great success after all.

Thanks for saying that because it allows me to say the following. His talent is undeniable. But four things right now worry me. 1. His enormous lack of experience in professional baseball. 2. Moving him up to MLB while bypassing AAA, then, after he arrives and plays 4 or 5 games, Farrell basically saying Moncada owns 3B and Shaw needs to learn to play the OF. That was stupid. 3. The huge amount of publicity he receives as the #1 prospect in MLB. After his first game ESPN featured a video of him running the bases with the caption "19.5mph." 4. The for him enormous amount of money he has already been paid. To me all four things point in the same direction. They are telling Moncada that this game is easy, he's got it made, and that the last thing he needs to do is work on his game. So in that context I think the 10 strikeouts in 17 at bats were the best thing that could happen to him. If nothing else, he might now realize he does indeed have trouble with the curve. Ditto the rest day today (and tomorrow). Ditto getting picked off 1B--badly.

Looks like I got the lineup right in the OP, but it was pretty obvious. I apologize to Moncada fans for beating up on him. I have no doubt about his talent. But four things worry me: his humoungous lack of experience; his rapid promotion to MLB; the enormous amount of publicity he has already received as the #1 prospect in MLB, etc; the relatively enormous amount of money he has already been paid. All four of those factors point in the same direction: he has it made and won't have to work on his game. My goodness, he had played like 4 or 5 games and Farrell announced that Shaw was out at 3B and needed to learn to play the outfield. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Those 10 K's in 17 at bats were the best thing that could happen to him. The pickoff at 1B--the play wasn't even close--also helped.

Clearly an overmatch in our favor, but Cosart, another righty, could surprise. Nevertheless, I see a win and might even be able to watch more than a couple innings--the game starts at 9. Will Young be in LF again tonight? Look for him. We already know that superstar Moncada, greatest prospect ever, gets to rest because in 17 at bats he has 10 K's. As someone else said on the Moncada thread last night, "trouble with the curve." So Shaw at 3B and Leon catching again. Plus he will likely catch all 3 games in Toronto because tomorrow is a travel day. Tonight look for: Pedroia, Bogaerts, Betts, Ramirez, Leon, Bradley, Young, Shaw, Price. Two games in a row in which the bullpen has looked pretty good. Final 7 outs, no runs, Monday and again last night. Without Ziegler or Kimbrel or Tazawa or Uehara. I mention Tazawa only because his forkball looked pretty good last time and he is much better when it is working. Like Uehara and his splitter. The great mystery to me remains the hitting, which I find frustrating. However, I truly believe that is the true nature of baseball. Wasn't it Carl Hubbell who struck out a bunch of AL all-stars, including Ruth and Gehrig, in a row one year? 1934? And you don't even need to get K's to set guys down--hard hit grounders to the right infielder can get you GIDP just like that. A deep line drive to CF can just be a dramatic out, and a hard liner to LF can be a routine out. Or maybe a guy's curve is really working one day for a change.

OK. I probably got a little too enthusiastic about Buchholz last night. Plus I honestly am not a Pomeranz fan. I don't think DD made a bad trade. In fact, it's way better than the one made in 2013 for Peavy. I just don't like the way the guy pitches even though overall he is a plus for the rotation. Except for those two bad early starts, he has been very good.

I'm with you. Last night looked like the 2013 Buchholz. And beyond question JF would have been pilloried if Buch or Barnes had failed because it is never, ever the player's fault. Good managers use players in situations in which they can excel. If they don't excel, it's because of those two neurons misfiring.

Nice win. Need another tonight with Price, then a day off, then 3 in Toronto. I'm betting the 3 starters in Toronto will be Porcello, ERod, and Buchholz, which would explain the 87 pitches last night. Buch looked confident last night and minimized the walks (0) and the pauses between pitches. This remains the time of testing. The Jays lost but the Orioles won, and the race for AL East and for playoff berths is as tight as ever.

Love it!

Another curve, another K. Who needs AAA?

Shaw can't get in this lineup? So far anyway Ramirez and moncada are killing us.

Big time. Like he never saw one before. It's ok though. MLB is where you pick those skills up.

Disregard the k by Moncada. He can't be expected to have seen a curve before. No place like MLB for picking up those skills.

Read my gamethread lead for tonight. I now think the pitching is ahead of the hitting, which just might be feeling the pressure. The rotation has been solid for a month now, and the new arms in the bullpen might even make them reliable. But the hitting continues to struggle.

OK, I'll take the plunge at this late hour (7:55). Clemens is the name. Pitching is once again our problem, only now it's the opposing pitching. Throw strikes and mix in breaking balls and you can break our bats. It does not help that this is a NL park, which means no Ortiz, and that Clemens is a righty. Tonight we have 5 righties, 3 lefties, and Buchholz, almost certainly a non-hitter: Pedey, Bogie, Mookie, Hanley, Sandy, Jackie, Chris Y, Yoan M, and Clay. This is the testing month. Yes, the wins and losses of previous months count just as much as these, but now everyone is supposed to be peaking and playing their best ball. We are 1 back of the Jays and 1 ahead of the Tigers and Orioles with Houston 2 back of them. Another 1.5 back are the Yankees, 2 back the Royals, and 3 back are the Seattle. I'd say that's 7 teams still in the hunt--not including the Guardians and Rangers who seem likely to win their Divisions. Ted Williams said hitting a round ball squarely--the operative word--with a round bat is the most difficult skill in all sports. I think Kimmi and others have presented solid evidence that clutch hitting is more myth than reality, but I also think that unrelenting pressure, game after game, can get to hitters. I defy anyone to look at ours and say they are loose, relaxed, or confident. If I'm right, I place the blame on the manager because it's his job to keep them loose and confident, especially with a young team like this one. I make no predictions for this game because I truly believe every game now is a test of what this year's team really is. The first 137 games--or maybe just the 133 games through 31 August--are history. Now comes the denouement, and anything can happen.

All wins and losses are equal. Indeed, more than one team has won a division by beating up on weak teams and breaking even against good ones. As for these two losses, the worry is that the Sox consistently lose 1 run games and especially games in which they score 4 or fewer runs. Even more to the point, I think the pitching, even the bullpen, could be coming around, but the hitting is suspect. Now ain't that a punch in the kidney?

Hard to believe two straight losses like this. Also hard to blame Thunder. The pinch hitters Young and Hill had a home run and a double. The regulars--Pedroia, Holt/Leon, Bogaerts, Betts, Ramirez, Bradley, Moncada, Holaday, and the pitcher had I think 5 singles in 9 innings. HanRam had 3 singles but struck out on 3 pitches with men on first and second. Pedey, Bogie, and Betts had no hits of any kind.

Fair enough. That's clearly not an option.

So Farrell pinch hits for Holaday and Ross and gets a dinger and a double, but the top part of the order--Holt batting 2d but replaced by righty Leon against the lefty reliever--craps in their pants with a ground out and 2 K's. Too many choke artists on this team.