dannycater

Cora is a f***ing genius...But to anyone who thinks he can't in-game manage, he tooled Roberts...bottom line

I'm just hoping for Porcello in the 8th.

Ralph Houk

Vodka, lots of vodka...Its the Kimbrel TightRope Act cure for all that ails you

Cora is a genius again...

enjoy the drama, Cora...f***

Make sure a dead team like Houston get the fans going by going to GasLamp District

Cora is no longer a f***ing genius

Our bullpen is the starting staff

Cora is a f***ing genius

Sent the contracts after the deadline...nice job!!!

Right, Max, and the whole rally was generated by wildness of Kimbrel...including the near HR on the sac fly...forced to throw a meatier pitch than had he just gotten ahead of him.

Carl Mays was a beast. Agreed.

Price should start, he's a starter, and starters should start.

LOL, note

Not resigning Jon Lester long-term, but throwing a boat-load of money to Panda, then Price is No. 10

Worst Decisions in Sox Baseball History 1. McCarthy turning to Denny Galehouse (rocks) for the 48 AL championship playoff despite having Parnell and Kinder rested. 2. Not sending Dave Stapleton to play 1st as a defensive replacement in Game 6, 1986 WS 3. Selling Ruth to the Yankees, and never properly understanding how important Ruth could be as a full-time hitter 4. Pinch hitting for a cruising Willoughby with nobody on base for then futile-hitting Cecil Cooper in the 8th inning of Game 7, 1975 WS 5. Leaving in Pedro after his expiration date, 2003 ALCS Game 7 6. Bill Lee somehow thinking he get away with another blooper pitch to Tony Perez and giving new life to the Reds in Game 7, 1975 WS 7. McNamara holding a grudge against Sammy Stewart, thus forcing Schiraldi to be called on way too often in 1986 playoffs. Pitched lights out early in WS, but had a shaky performance v. Angels, and then went to pieces late 86 WS. 8. The Sox allowing Ted Williams to play in a meaningless exhibition game v. AL All-Stars right before the 1946 World Series. Williams plunked on elbow, badly bruised, was in constant pain as he hit woeful .200 in Series v. Cards. 9. Not making any effort to re-sign Adrian Beltre after his monster one 2010 season in a Sox jersey after a .321, 28 HR, 102 RBI and his career-best 49 doubles.

Buckner was playing on two bad ankles. He barely could walk, let alone play the field. The Sox also lost that series because they couldn't turn to MVP Don Baylor at DH at the New York, or they could have tried to have him at first base. Baylor having to not start hurt the Sox as much as in '75 when the Sox had to play both Cooper and Beniquez because Rice was out for season with a broken wrist courtesy of Vern Ruhle.

Exactly....great insightful post on what if Mueller had been hitting into today's shift environment. The fact is the shortstop probably would be waiting for his single up the middle to scoop up and throw Bill out 6-3.

Yes, results oriented is true, and that's why I brought up this thread because I'm bucking the norm by NOT USING THE RESULT to critique, but using the idea of how should you approach a series-clincher if you have the house cards on your side. By the time Kimbrel recorded his "save" there were no cards left, and Kimbrel hit on an 18 v. a 9 showing and landed a 3. When we are given 2 high cards, I'd like to think we can use some odds to our advantage. So yes in this case, Sale pitches the start of the 9th and Kimbrel waits for his opp, or Sale sails through the 9th, the Sox clinch, we all pour champagne, and Cora is still a genius. Now again, I didn't say don't bring in Kimbrel. I said be aware that he may not always have his control. If he doesn't, you better think fast, real fast. I feel better if I see someone warming up, maybe 2, hell 3 at that point. He pushed all the right buttons, Cora, BUT we had to have a spectacular 2-way defensive play to record out 3. The result is great, but for a genius, Cora stopped short in that bottom of the 9th. He pulled a Grady Little that worked, and that's the truth.

To moon's point. The Sox best pitcher is Sale. Sale was sailing, unlike Pedro in 03. Sale is my guy, not shaky Kimbrel at that point too.

Kimbrel's inning was entirely on Kimbrel. Every part of it. Before the hit by Gregorious, it was Gregorious who instinctively, but actually not smart jumped away from a ball that was going to make it 1st and 2nd. So that's 2 HBP in that inning even if he doesn't get a hit. Sanchez laid into that ball because the fact was that he knew Kimbrel could not be cute anymore. He had to throw him a strike and it was a good swing, Fenway HR actually. Look he got out of it, and lots of closers get out of jams, and it ended well....but you don't not warm up other guys. You don't have to automatically remove a guy after a 1-2-3 inning, and as far I'm concerned Chris Sale should have started the 9th inning with Kimbrel ready to go at a moment's notice. I don't really give a s*** about Game 5 when it's 4-1 in the 9th inning of a clincher at NY. I also don't care at that point about who starts game 1 of the ALCS on a Saturday. Win the game, show a sense of urgency, and think outside the box (which I thought Cora is known for) to do that. That's all folks.

And you don't bring me flowers...anymore.

For the record, I for one do not care one iota who is pitching when the final out occurs. It can be Joe Kelly, David Price, Ryan Brasier, Workman, Hembree, I don't care. As long as it's someone getting outs and not choking on the big stage.

It's overanalyzing, which I hate, but Cora brings a lot on himself by holding to different standards for different guys/situations, etc. Is Kimbrel a light's out closer? Sometimes he is, but again, I see no reason in an elimination game or clinching game to have others warming up....just in case a meltdown is taking place. And yesterday was indeed a meltdown.