moonslav59

You are 100% correct. Some of the exact same pitches were called strikes for Tanaka. I remember a few being even more outside than Price's but were called strikes for Price. It's not like Tanaka didn't get squeezed a couple times, but the differential was objectively significant.

I've been critical and highly critical over the decades of being a Sox fan, I've known and said we have no chance many times in that history, but this is absurd, and I'm calling it what it is. It's not being a fan to say it's over at this point.

Yes, but it bugs me how so many posters view knucklers differently. Every pitcher who is stuggling with their best pitch has trouble. Knucklers are no different.

Yes, it was clear this so-called fan has no hope at all in a 108 team that is tied in a series.

I have to ask what is a fan? This is the best team in Red Sox history. We are tied 1 to 1 in a 5 game series, and some so-called Sox fans say it is over. I'm not saying every Sox fan has to think we have a better chance of winning than losing, especially when we just lost the home field, but to say or think it's over already is just too much for me. Nobody has to agree with me about what a true fan is, but being a fan, to me, is all about remaining optimistic and positive about your team, even in tough times. The negativity and lost hope by several posters here makes it clear to me why it's so hard for players and managers to feel wanted in the Red Sox community. Maybe I'm being naive. Maybe I am wearing pink glasses, and we are going to get throttled in the next two games, then so be it. I know this team has weak areas. I've been critical many times this year, but this is crossing the line , in my opinion. I firmly believe this team will win this series and the next two. We've beaten the Yanks this year more than we've lost. We are a top 3-4 team in every area, except our pen, and even there, outnumbers are better than we've looked recently. Kelly looked real good yesterday, and only ERod bombed from our pen last night. This team has fought back after tough stretches all year. Believe what you want to believe, but this never-ending negativity sickens me and makes me see why many outside the Red Sox community shake their heads at our fans and media. Have some pride. This team deserves it.

Just because the momentum seems to be in one team's favor, doesn't mean Jack. You probably shut off your TV in 2004 and missed it all, didn't you?

You are not only wrong, you should become a Yankee fan, if you give up this easily.

Unreal! With fans like this, we deserve to lose.

Yes, 2-0 is a hell of a lot better than 1-1 going to NY for 2. I think the key is getting to the Tanaka early and often and Price starting off strong the first 2-3 innings.

I think the fear of starting Price in NY over-shadowed Porcello's Fenway success.

The Yanks are better off without Wright on the roster- for sure.

Many pitchers live or die by the fastball, curve ball, slider or whatever. While it is true, many knucklers rely on just one pitch, but most pitchers have just one pitch they really cannot be effective without.

Wasn't Willoughby one of the Buffalo Heads? Johnson certainly had his favorites and his black sheep.

I'm almost cheering more for Price to do well just to shut up the haters to some degree than anything else. Almost. I'm confident he'll do well, but I'll still be confident in his next game, even if he does poorly tonight.

I was 16. maybe i was spoiled by my Packers and Bucks successes in the late 60's and early 70's. You implied that loss did not hurt, but that other did...like what 2003? Were you a wuss on that one?

Maybe, but we still have many players on the upswing of their age progression curves. Plus, vaz, Leon, JBJ, Devers, Beni and Nunez declined from 2017. From 2016 to 2017, just about everybody but Vaz decline- some by a lot.

June 2 to Aug 31: .719 OPS against. Not great, but not all that bad either.

I wasn't a baseball fan in '67, but 1975 hurt like hell.

Loved the fact that the Red Sox beat up on J.Happ. I got so tired of hearing how good Happ is against the Red Sox. I guess we won't hear that anymore. Somehow I doubt it. There are several posters that are slaves to the "what have you done most recently" philosophy. Everyone was so high on Brasier, afterall, he's been great for the last 2 weeks, 2 months or whatever. Everyone was down on Beni, afterall, he's sucked for 2 weeks, 2 months or whatever. Everyone was down on Leon, because, well, he just sucks cause he can't hit. Everyone was down on Sale due to his low velocity 10 days ago. I could go on and on. It's not what you've done in the most recent cherry-picked sample size- it's what you are capable of doing. Our team is solid on paper. Now, just show us on the filed. Last night was a great start!

The Wright Conundrum is more about the many causes of his missing time for years and years.

When and how did he get hurt? We spent hours debating his playoff usage plans! We deserve answers!

Here's a comp of 2013 vs 2014 Listed in order of most PAs or IP in 2013 (many of the smae players but vastly different numbers) PA/OPS 2013> 2014 724/.787 Pedey 609/.712 636/.781 Ellsbury>> JBJ 423/.531 600/.959 Ortiz 602/.873 578/.842 Napoli 500/.789 536/.831 Nava 408>.706 532/.801 Vic 133/.685 501/.777 Drew 145/.685 & Bogey 594/.660 470/.804 Salty>> AJP 274/.633 374/.696 Middy 234/.522 366/.771 Gomes>246/.683 243/.885 Carp & 234/.785 Iggy>>> Holt 492/.711 As you can see, just about everyone did worse and many declines were not age related, but more out of injury or just off years. (Reminds me of 2017.) (Our starters were all traded during the season) IP/ERA 213/3.75 Lester 143/2.52 & Ranaudo 39/4.81 189/3.52 Lackey 137/3.60 & Kelly 61/4.11 171/4.57 Demp>> DLR 102/4.43 162/4.32 Doub> 59/6.07 & Webster 59/5.03 108/1.74 Buch> 170/ 5.34 65.1/4.04 Peavy> 124/4.72 74/1.09 Uehara> 64/ 2.52 68/3.16 Tazawa> 63/ 2.86 60/1.81 Breslow>> Badenhop 71>2.29 42/4.97 Workman> 87/5.17 37/4.86 Aceves>>>Mujica 60/ 3.90 31/2.64 A Miller> 42/ 2.34 29/3.77 Bailey> Wilson 28/ 1.91

We could have brought Wright in the game.

The game got closer than we all wished, but it was nice to see Porcello and Kimbrel get those last 6 outs. Sandy was unreal blocking all the wildness. Great to see Sale look strong. Too many walks (5) but the 13 Ks were big.

Sit down Sale doubters! After all, this is... Chris Freakin' Sale! (I'm out...this game thread stuff is not for me...see you after the game.)