moonslav59

He nailed it. On Holt. I'm okay with keeping versatility on the roster, but it is best saved for late game situations where JF would get the flex needed- not starting over Young (DH and HRan to 1B). Starting Holt last night was not a horrible call. What we need is 4 subs not 3, so we need to go with 12 pitchers again (maybe after Fister's start). I don't really want to send Scott down, so I'd look to invent a DL stint for Hembree or trade him for a decent prospect and add Brentz to the 40 man roster.

I wrote my post on Holt's defense before last night's game. I said .690 vs .720 is no biggie. I'll leave it at that. On 12 pitchers, honestly, I trade the out-of-options Hembree. He won't make next year's 25 man roster anyways. We have Boyer, Maddox and Carson Smith in AAA, if needed. I'd call up Travis but Marrero or Lin would be okay. We might add Brentz to take Hembree's 40 man roster spot. We might even get a decent prospect for HH.

It's also a mystery to me why certain players keep playing and playing.

More and more mental blunders. It seems to get worse- not better. No accountability.

Reed offers the only real hope beyond Kimbrel and Workman.

Where are all those Holt defenders from earlier this evening?

Bad vibes, but we've pulled out games like this. Hard hit outs. Plenty of chances with so few hits. Pen's gotta lock this down and give us another shot.

Sounds about right. I guess one also has to look at hard outs and cheezy hits as well.

I don't disagree, but here's a question: Say a normal .750 guy has been hitting .900 for a month. He's "the hot hand." How bad does he have to do, and for how long to decide to bench him? 2 for 9 over 2 games? 1 for 9? 3 for 13 over 3 games? 2 for 13? 4 for 17 over 4 games? 3 for 17? 2 for 17? Nothing specific like this, but about what? Just curious.

I could argue neither can Holt, but we all know HRam can.

Holt's career splits are very close to even, so it's not really about him hitting lefty, it's about how poorly Young has been vs RHPs over his career... until this year (.810 in 133 PAs). Holt actually hits lefties better, but it's close. Career splits: Young: .710 v R/.833 v L B Holt: .690 v R/.707 v L I'm not going to make a big deal over .710 vs .690, but Young has done better vs righties this year than in a long time.

It might be time to go back to 12 pitchers.

Young, too?

That assumes imbeciles have the ability to reason. Even if Moreland is hurt, HRam could have played 1B and Young could play vs the RHP as the DH. Young has done pretty well vs RHPs this year, and even his 2-3 year numbers vs RHPs compare favorably with Holt's over the last 2-3 years.

Screw the absolute lefty-righty obsession: bat Devers 4th.

MLB has Holt up 7th and playing 1B. What's up with Moreland?

Brock Holt starting at 1B tonight and batting 7th vs a RHP. That's now 7 starts out of 14 games in a stretch where we had 5 days off out of the last 20 games (counting tonight's). Yes, Pedey has been out, but this is not to give players a rest. It's because JF thinks Holt gives us a better chance at winning than others. Is it his hitting? (.663 OPS since 2016-worst on Sox with 400+ PAs) Is it his defense? (-8.9 UZR/150- worst on Sox since 2016 with 500+ innings) Is it infatuation?

I'm not ignoring our winning stretch. I've mentioned it in recent posts on this thread. Like this... "Only this recent winning stretch has made me a minority of one. 3 weeks ago, I was part of a majority." I get that many feel a team's win-loss record is all that counts in judging a manager. I've never been like that. 3 weeks ago, many on this board were ready to roast JF alive. Does a three week winning stretch really suddenly make JF a worthy manager? To me, it's absurd to change one's opinion several times within a season based on how hot or cold the team happens to be. I hope what I'm about to say doesn't happen, but I can see us losing in the playoffs due to some bumbling managerial decision and/or several fundamental (mental) mistakes made by our players, and you watch all the hang JF posters come alive. It will be the same JF as now, and it's the same JF from 3 weeks ago, one year ago, etc... Just because I am not giving JF credit for our recent winning ways, does not mean I am ignoring the fact that we are winning despite JF, despite countless mental blunders -even in wins, and despite awful line-up choices.

Now, that's a floor-to-ceiling window! 1) Pedey 2B 2) Betts RF 3) Votto 1B 4) Stanton LF 5) Devers 3B 6) HRam DH 7) JBJ CF 8) Vaz-Leon C 9) Hernandez-Lin-Marrero-Holt SS

I don't ignore much. That's part of my OCD.

This is really something new for me. I'm almost always the last guy calling for a manager to be let go. I gave Bobby V longer than anyone. I even supported Grady Little leaving Pedro in that game. It's not "new" in the sense that I have just begun thinking JF is not a good manager. I've felt this way for a long time. I guess I could tame my hyperbole as "imbecile" is apparently 2 levels smarter than an idiot. I'll stop calling him an idiot and moron from now on. JF is merely an imbecile.

Someone once told me, "A starting pitcher is only as good as his last start." While I am usually one to mock small sample sizes, there is a grain of truth to this statement- hyperbole and all. Porcello is almost a full run better in the second half; 4.75 ERA 1st half (19 starts) 3.77 ERA second half (7 starts) His OPS against has been below .730 in July & August after being above .860 the two prior months. I'm not expecting 2016 numbers to end the season, but 3.77 would be nice.

You missed "imbecile".

It's easy to forget bums.

So, are we 3?