illinoisredsox

I don’t actually think clutch really exists. Clutch is the ability to stay relaxed and do what you normally do. Big Papi’s stats late and close were not a whole lot different than his overall stats, it just seemed that way. Nonclutch describes guys who tense up in those situations. You know, like everyone on this team.

Attn. Red Sox hitters. See what can happen if you actually hit the ball with guys on base? Something good might happen.

You could have used the word clutch had you added one of the antecedents un - or anti-.

I think it’s a major league rule that Red Sox hitters are not allowed to actually hit a ball with a guy on second and less than 2 outs.

It’s the Sox one size fits all special. I wrote earlier today on another thread that if Rice, Boggs and Ortiz all came along now, the nerds would have them all swinging the same way. I also said Mayer looks like a guy who would benefit greatly from some tutoring from Boggs on how to pepper the Monster.

I think it is absolutely the case. The Sox would have Jim Rice, Wade Boggs and David Ortiz all doing the same thing if they came along now. These guys probably would have screwed up Ted Williams. Mayer looks to be a textbook example of a guy who could use some tutoring by Mr. Boggs and learn to pepper the Green Monster (assuming he's willing to listen). Breslow's problem is he thinks he knows everything. He doesn't know hitting and can't admit to himself that he doesn't. Instead of getting someone or a couple people who do and listening to them, he surrounds himself with yes men computer nerds whose little models say x is the only correct way to swing

He’s not good, but he’s the 8th guy in the pen. He’s out there to eat innings in unwinnable games. Anything positive is a bonus.

As I wrote in Sunday’s game thread: Rookie pitcher hits rough patch. Film at 11. The league has adjusted to them, now they have to adjust back. They are also still getting used to the major league norm of 4-5 days rest between starts. The minors play 6 game series against 1 opponent Tuesday through Sunday (Monday is always an off day). Starting pitchers start once a week with 6 days off in between. Tolle gave up 3 solo homers in 5 innings. Not great but with a competent offense it still should give you a chance. The offense scored 1 run. They had chances against Cease early and failed to take advantage of it. He’s too good not to do some damage when he gives you the opportunity. Score a couple there and the whole bullpen usage changes and so might the result.

Prediction: Yoshida 4 hopper to second. Edit - I was wrong. It was a 3 hopper.

Miserable is not the right adjective. Familiar or predictable come to mind.

Rookie pitcher hits rough patch. Film at 11.

Bello made his first start for Worcester tonight. Results were less than ideal. 4 innings, 5 hits, 2 runs, 0 walks, 5 Ks. 76 pitches in 4 innings says he's still nibbling,

Nah. They've won 2 in a row 5 times now. This is the second time it's happened at home. It's happened twice on the road, and once it was 1 road, 1 home. They've even won 3 in a row 3 times, all on the road. No four game win streaks yet, but hoping for that with this bunch would be greedy.

Schlitter was a 7th round pick out of Northeastern meaning roughly 200 guys were picked before he was. He was undrafted out of high school. He’s a late bloomer and nobody foresaw him turning into what he has, including the Yankees.

Would you be/would have been happy taking a demotion where you work(ed)?

Breslow would not have hired Mattingly in a million years; he wants no one around who won’t kow tow to his “brilliance”. Mattingly would never have accepted the job even if it somehow had been offered. He knows a cl**terf€***k when he sees it. Now not hiring Mattingly because of his Yankee stench would be a legit reason.

Every position player should just do the same and tell whoever is on the payroll as a hitting coach/instructor to go to hell. What’s Breslow going to do, demote/DFA them all?

Let’s see, Early was at 96 pitches in the 5th inning (most high stress since runners had been constantly on all game), hadn’t been sharp and had just allowed the go ahead run to score. Guerrero comes in and ends the inning by striking out a guy on 4 pitches (2 fouls) and then pitches the 6th allowing 1 hit. Are you really complaining about a move that worked?

Supposedly the Brewers took a look and changed his arm slot. I have little faith that the crack Sox pitching lab would have done that.

IIRC, Wes Farrell holds both the single season and career records for homers by a pitcher.

Re. Priester, those are last year’s numbers. He has yet to throw a pitch for Milwaukee this season and his rehab numbers are horrific (8 games, 0-5, 15.75 ERA, 2.875 WHIP). Which is the true Priester? I sure don’t know. Too soon to call this one. The Brewers studied Harrison and changed his arm slot which seemingly has made him much more successful. Think the Sox pitching lab would have done that? I have my doubts. The real bad thing about trading Harrison is that the Sox never really gave him a chance to show them something. Drohan spent 5 rather nondescript years in the Sox minor league system. He really never showed he was ready, and it’s still very early to make that call at the major league level. A lot of guys start out great until the league figures them out. Let’s see how the guys we lost do over 2-3 years, not 60 games. No trade should be evaluated that quickly. All that being said, I can’t explain why Breslow got the job, much less still has it. Since the Sox are in Tampa, I’ll borrow from John McKay, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers first coach. The Bucs went 0-14 their first year in the NFL and lost their first 11 or 12 their second year. Sometime during that second year, McKay was asked about his team’s execution; he replied he was in favor of it. (Note, I am not advocating actual execution here, but I would not object a squad of upper management firing him).

Early wasn’t sharp but you really can’t complain when your starter only allows 2 runs. He's given the team a chance.

I always get nervous when Duran hits a few homers in a short time; he starts getting pull happy trying to hit more and the Ks accumulate faster.

You are assuming that the crack Sox pitching lab would have developed him properly.. Huge assumption.

Pretty sure he already knows the Spanish equivalent.