oldtimer

Ahead two strikes and throws 4 balls to put another man on. Do these guys think at all?

Interesting> I have been around a long time and I hadn't ever thought about that. Most effective reliever. There must be some way of qualitying that.

We got three innings for our relief pitching to do their thing. Hembree has already pitched so we should be into our best quality relief. We need this game guys so do your thing.

Right now I am most comfortable with Brasier, Barnes, Thornburg, Kelly, Velazquez and Workman in that order. Kimbrel is a special case as the closer. He has been off but he is what we have. I don't trust Hembree since he has often had terrible outings. Once in a while he actually does some good.

Especially Brasier. He has been a find.

This loss is just an indication that our offense, which had been incredible, is now at a lull. Betts isn't hitting and he is one key to our offense. Another game with 5 hits or less. Whether it is lack of aggressiveness or some other issue, I can't really say. There have been no homeruns of late either. Cleveland has a lot of power hitters in their lineup where we have one or two, depending on how the guys are going. Three losses in a row, but the symptoms were showing before the Cleveland series.

The Sox hitting is not getting it done. Beni is the only one that seems to be solid. The guys need to wake up, never mind the pitching.

Betts has a very good n base % but has recently struggled with sliders down and away. Any FB over the plate is his meat and potatoes. Perhaps he will adjust to the way he is being pitched soon. Beni has not hit for power in a long while and seldom pulls the ball but he is also has a solid on base % with singles and walks. Good in the 1 or the 2 hole. Moreland and Pearce are both professional hitters with some pop and fit well into the 3 slot. Arguments could be made for Bogey there, but that is Cora's call. JDM is our main power hitter. He has chased some pitches of late but he is very likely to know all about that and make adjustments quickly. Bogey has been as constant a plate presence as we have with a new found slashing stroke this year, Great to have him in the 5 hole Our top 5 hitters are tough to face and will continue to give us a lot of runs. Our problem last night reminds me of the saying "for want of a nail, the shoe was lost and for want of a shoe the horse went lame, and so on". Last night it was for want of a momentary focus by Porcello Cleveland had a base runner who bothered Porcello and perhaps took his focus away from pitching. Home run, tie game and we were in a different place for an eventual loss. Small things matter.

Up and out of the zone. Too bad.

We have 12 hits but no home runs. Just not stringing things together. We really need Mookie to get going. In the last 7 days he has gone cold with 4 hits in 24 AB's and little or no power. The slider away his getting him right now. He is a very good hitter and will make an adjustment, I just hope he can get on to lead off the 9th. We will be facing their closer so it won't be easy.

The Sox threatened but no go. More is needed from Mookie to get things started. maybe he will get another chance and the top of the order will come through. Got to holld the Guardians.

Failure to cover immediately then probably caused him to throw a bad pitch to Brantley as well. A shame, but now the Sox will have to score more as Cleveland probably will.

What I said is Panda is off the books after 2019. Next year we still are carrying that heavy weight.

A slump is where we stop getting hits. We got 4 in the previous game but scored 5 runs since their starter was wild. The game today we got 2 hits and 0 runs. We weren't facing a top starter in either game. The top of our order has carried the team offense for much of the year. They looked tired for the last couple of games. Better get their hitting shoes on against Cleveland and compete.

I don't see any issue with JDM batting 4th. What we need is for the top of the order to reach base more frequently, so that bringing him up puts pressure on the pitcher. Mookie has cooled off temporarily and Beni is hitting but mainly singles. Either Pearce or Moreland are solid hitters and I have no problem with them in the 3rd slot.

Losing games here and there is normal and not worrisome. Slipping into a hitting slump is somewhat worrisome as we are going in against a hot Cleveland team. A split against them would be a good result. It's like the long season is wearing on the team and they need a boost to get going again. I'm hoping they find something which can energize them.

I don't think Pedroia will ever be able to stand the wear and tear of regular play. That knee will probably not take a lot of abuse. I have a lot of respect for what he has meant for the Sox over the years but believe he should consider retiring while he still have mobility.

You are right about that. 4 hits last night and two tonight. Bets has cooled off Don't knnow why the team goes into these spells but it happens. Here we see so so pitching getting the best of us. I don't understand it, but it is happening. They need to snap out of it so as not to lose to Cleveland, who is hot of late.

Mookie has gone cold. We need the top of the order to get on. Is the Tampa Bay staff that difficult for us?

Like you, I think we will have a question mark at 2nd base with Pedroia on the payroll but far from certain to be on the roster. I see us looking for a younger player who can be our 2nd baseman of the future. There may also be a need at 3rd base. The problem of moving Devers to first next year is that we also have Moreland signed and we don't need two left handed first baseman on the same team. Presumably, after minor knee surgery Moreland will be good to go for another season. We probably will keep Devers at 3rd for another season and hope that he shows significant impprovement in his fielding, his hitting and also his physical conditioning. After that he may find himself at 1st. I think Pom is gone next season. Panda's salary is off the books after that and one major burden is off the books.

Something about the Rays pitching staff. Lots of 0 fors in the lineup. Beni got 2 of the 5 and JDM got the home run with a double by Moreland. If it wasn't for early wildness this might have been a very close game.

Seems like Mr. Brasier always does a good job.

We should be seriously concerned as this is the second time he has felt shoulder discomfort. They need to do the MRI and try to uderstand the cause.

I agree with a lot of what you say but we have to remember that the kid is only 21. He could well understand that he has to work hard on his deficiencies or wind up out of the 3rd base position. Probably would go to first, but only stay there if he gets his hitting straightened out. One thing I noticed that bothered me just after making a his last game changing error, he had a mouthful of sunflower seeds he was chewing on and spitting out while playing. I would think that would be just another distraction. My view is Raphael needs some tough love, first to get him to get into better shape (something best for him and that he should do if he doesn't want to become another Panda) and 2 is to work on pitch recognition and swing mechanics. That is much harder for him to do and to some extent is innate. I hope he makes it but I do agree with Moon that he is likely to wind up at 1st base.

Cora handled the BP well tonight against the Rays. We got a look at what might be his late inning rotation where a save is not in the cards. Henbree was only in for one out, then Brasier who has been terrific, Barnes also is a definite and Thornburg was used last since it wasn't a save situation.Good handling and similar to what I suspect we would see in the post season. I wouldn't rule Kelly out of the post season although I would suspect Pom is not doing enough to stay in and Henbree has also looked bad for many of his appearances.