moonslav59

Holt actually hits lefties slightly better than righties (career), but I would like to see Holt start a game at some point.

Agreed, and what bugged me the most about that situation was that they only gave Bogey 10 games at 3B in the minors before thrusting him into a new role right in the middle of a charged pennant race. (This wasn't hindsight bickering by me, either. I had been calling for him getting work at 3B all season long.)

Nobody else gave him a twitch test or even knew what it was.

I was a huge Buckner fan. He was a class player. It killed me how much he was demonized by fans and the media. It breaks my heart to think how much he and his family must have suffered. I brought it up as a worst case scenario and always have said I hope it doesn't happen. I never have felt it will happen, but certainly the chances of him making a key error is greater than anyone else. I shouldn't have responded to the post at a time like this. We should all be thinking of winning another World Series and have confidence in all of our players. Again, I am thrilled to see Devers in the line-up. I even called his HR (an AB too early) in the playoffs. I think he will become a top hitter in MLB at some point. He's one of my favorite players. I am 99.9% sure we'd never have made the '86 WS had we not had Buckner. He was a huge part of that team. I wasn't the one who disparaged Buckner. I just was hoping what happened to Buck did not happen to Devers, and for that I was accused of saying I felt it would happen and that Devers would be some sort of goat like Buck was. 1) Buck was not a goat, and it sucked what happened to him. 2) I do not want anything like what Buck had to go through to happen to any Sox player ever again. 3) I blame the manager not Buck for what happened. My love for Buck did not lessen one bit due to that play. 4) I'm just being truthful, when I say, I stop breathing when a ball is hit to Devers at crucial points in a game. (I don't think I'm alone on the one.) 5) I don't think #4 makes me any less of a Devers supporter or Sox fan.

Pearce is having a career year vs righties. He has a much longer history of struggling against them. I have no issues with Pearce hitting vs righties at this moment in time. The guy has been great for us, no matter what we ask him to do. It's no secret I'm not a huge Moreland fan, but we got the guy to hit vs RHPs and play great 1B defense. I'm noit going to criticize Cora for doing what has worked all year. besides, Moreland has gotten on base 6 times in 13 PAs during the playoffs. I know it's a small sample size, and Pearce's number look great, too, but I think Cora knows what he's doing here.

Shoulda never started... LOL!

The thing is, the timing seems pretty subjective, except in hindsight.

Yes, and I have no way of knowing what he wants, but winning a ring here in Boston and seeing all the love he's been getting, I'm hopeful he chooses to stay here, all other things being equal.

I trusted Sox management to get the timing right, and hindsight seems to show they did well with those two choices. It's the foresight judgement that is hard to call "in the moment."

That's certainly a big part of it, but when these kiddos fail, it's not helping the rating, except for a little boost in interest until the kid flops. I still think the "win now at all costs and we'll deal with tomorrow when tomorrow comes" philosophy is also a significant factor- not just in baseball, but in other areas of society, too. DD might be gone when Devers and Beni reach their end of team control. Winning this year might change those odds. (BTW, I felt both Beni and Devers were ML ready. I knew Devers needed on-the-job training on defense, but the kid coulda hit ML pitching from his crib!)

I would also give Betts whatever it takes to keep him in Boston until retirement. He's the best at just about everything he does.

Look at how poorly some of our pen guys did in September (and even August, too for some). I'm glad Cora doesn't just go by recent results to make his decisions.

Agreed, and I love this team. You're right. Today's society seems to only want to harp on what is wrong or needs to be fixed, even in areas where things are looking great. I love this team. I've been super confident about our chances from day one. If anything, I've been accused more for being a homer or wearing pink glasses than for being too critical. I do point out areas of concern now and then, but overall I have been very positive about this team, its chances of winning it all, its manager and just about anything associated with the Red Sox. I stopped going to the game threads for a long time, because the level of negativity was absurdly extreme and wrong. (I did go off on Kimbrel at the end of one game thread I joined late, so I am not blameless.) I appreciate the Sox. I'm obsessed with them, to tell you the truth. You are right. Baseball is a difficult game to play at a high level. Hell, I couldn't hit the ball at the college level and got cut on the first cut.

Why? IMO, maybe because the days of a GM staying in once place for 15+ years are gone. It's win now, baby, or see ya later! When the cliff comes, the GM goes, especially when they don't win it all at some point.

Yes, anybody and everybody!

Reminds me of a time I was working in a warehouse. The company decided to give a bonus to those who went the longest time without an injury. Someone complained that it wasn't fair, and they stopped it.

Good points, and often a person's favorite players don't match up with who is the best. My favorite player since 2012 or 2013 has been JBJ. He's had a lot of rough patches over those years, but he's still my fave. I'm a big Sale fan, but I don't really feel the same about him as JBJ, when clearly he is better and more valuable to the team. I'm a big Devers, Leon, Betts and Porcello fan as well. Those are probably my top 5 favorite players. Although I love what Bogey brings to us on offense, I haven't felt like he's one of my favorites, probably due to his slow defensive improvement. (Now, I'll catch more grief for that statement and be called a non-Bogey supporter.) I doubt anyone here loves every player equally. I doubt everyone here has no criticisms on some players on the team, even if just on one facet of that players game. There's nobody on this team I don't root hard for every time they play. Both Bogey and Devers have looked sharp on defense recently, and I'm thrilled they have done great in areas I worry about.

Pearce has done pretty well ve RHPs, but Moreland is still probably a better hitter vs righties. He's looked okay in the post season (in limited duty). In Cora I trust.

It's a no brainer. A 2-0 game lead doesn't change anything. JD's health is all that matters. Nobody here really knows how bad his ankle is, but I am certain that he will play, if it's okay for him to play on it.

Typical to revert to name calling when you get cornered. Yes, I have had concerns about his defense and worried he might end up making a crucial error at a bad time. You twist that into I'm not a Devers supporter and that I think he WILL make a big error at the wrong time. Both are so far from the truth, yet you cling them as givens. Your mental gymnastics are not showing a superior brain.

...even if it's bitching about bitching. LOL!

Well said, oldtimer. Well said.

Beni's defense has improved, too. Having the three B's in the OF is such a comfort for the pitching staff (and us fans).

I've thought all along, Porcello would be the starter who steps it up this post season. So far, Eovaldi and Price have done what it takes. Tonight, Big Dick joins the club.

I never said he'd become a running joke. You're the only one who used that term. Nice back-peddle on Buck and your so-called Sox fandom and player support. We all know now, you think of him as a joke. Wow, what a bogus fan!