oldtimer

Look at the start the Rays have had vs the Sox. We have had and continue to have a larger payroll but they get results. It's got to be roster construction, management and coaching. I had hoped for a series win against the Rays but we are off to a bad start. Even a split at this point would be okay but we can't afford a series loss.

We have slow to terrible starts in 7 of the last 8 years. Whether that was due to insufficient good players caused by owner indifference, poor general manager transition skills or poor coaching is hard to say. It is probably due in part to each of those, but I supported a change of coaching as at least one approach to improve the reslts.. Finding the teaming 8 games below 500 is not a good place to be and we have started the difficult process of digging out. If I look at the players this year I would say we are either better or worse at the following positions: RF Better CF Better LF Worse but Duran is showing signs of life now he is leading off. Anthony should come along but 4 OF? !st Better 2nd Marginally better with Mayer consistently playing and help on the way. SS Worse. Slow start both offensively and defensively. Recent signs of improvement. Arias in the hole. 3rd Worse. Good defense but poor offense to date. We shall see. C Worse. Navarez with numbers way below his best form DH About the same. ok hitting but no real power SP Better A plethora to choose from if we get past the injury bug. Other teams would like our situation. RP Worse. We are good on top but lack depth to date. My take is that we have a decent team but the very poor start has put us into a deep hole. Crawing out of that hole will take a major effort. While we are good, it certainly would help to address weak spots and soon.

How many times have we stranded runners?

Now we are seeing a willingness to bench Story for a couple of games based on his continued poor performance. Cora wouldn't have done that, perhaps the new manager is more likely to take action to correct problems such as players who are not contributing. Will Arias get a look this season? What about Duran as well. He has only performed well in a few games this year. There was an opportunity to trade him that was missed. With our record, I would think management would be taking corrective action, especially after we have a new manager who might not feel as inclined to support players who aren't getting it done.

Arms are not the answer if we are pathetic at sdcoring runs. Look for weak offensive players with more than 100 abs, especially if coupled with so so defense. Management needs to make the hard decisions and get rid of ones that can't get it done, particularly if they are well into their careers. Look to the minors for hope. We had chances to make trades earlier and whiffed on those. Another year in last place is not acceptable.

Just the act of shaking up the team may be leading to a reset of player perspective and performance. Now lets hope that when moves need to be made that the manager and front office have the will to see it through. If a player or players have a continuing period of underperformance, they should be replaced in the lineup, assumingwe have upcoming replacements available.

Billy Martin isn't.

I recommend hiring a hard ass manager who expect performance, or else. My guess is Cora said if you just wait, things will get better. I am over 85 and am sick of seeing the same poor start, year to year. I had thought 2026 would be a year of growth, instead the Sox are already in a big hole.

The team started poorly to very poorly in 7 of the last 8 seasons and despite spending and making changes, this season is starting off poorly again. Cora has been around long enough to has an extended record. In the words of Parcell " You are what the record says you are". I recommend moving on and getting a more hard line manager. If players aren't getting it done, face the facts and go find someone or ones that can. MVP78 had some good thoughts for changes, One was for Arias. Bring him up, what is there to lose?

This team would have a losing record playing in AAA.

Pretty depressing. During the offseason, we hoped for more effort to build the offense, but it didn't happen. Not only that but management seems incapable of getting enthusiastic responses out of the players. I would love to see more of a hard ass approach. Produce or we will find someone who can.

I posted earlier that we got off to either bad or horrible starts in 7 of the last 8 years. This looks like we are at least consistent, including this year. Whether it has been due to team building, poor management or both is anyone's opinion. The simplest attempt at a solution is to replace the manager. Get someone who is demanding of the players and shows more energy. Kick some butt. The alternative is a major restructuring of the team and that is not easy and would take a number of years. Clearly, what we are doing isn't working so the time has come for a change in direction. As a very long term fan, I have grown impatient with the very poor Sox performance.

I queried AI relative to Red Sox starts under Cora and this is what I got: Slow Starts under Cora: Entering the 2026 season, manager Alex Cora has reportedly overseen "horrible" or slow starts in 7 out of his first 8 seasons. Is this due to JH's reluctance to spend or is it due to Cora's laid back approach to management. I'd like to see more fire out there.

It is time for a hard ass manager. Billy Martin, where are you when we need some sparks? If a player doesn't perform, he sits and watches another player give it a try. If he yo-yos enough times, he either makes a move forward or looks for new employment. No excuses. Cora is too soft and placid.

I totally agree. The time for consistent and accurate calls has come, since the technology is here and has been shown to work.