oldtimer

Who would have believed that we would have two guys with 15 HRs by May 20th?

Great leadoff double, productive out by Betts and Beni worked the count and got a FB to hit. That HR gives us three in the bank. Very good series of three hitters by the Sox.

Errors hurt in a lot of ways, even if runs are not scored. A primary one is to force the pitcher to throw to another batter and under tense conditions. Too many pitchers today run to an average close to 20 pitches an ining so having solid defense behind them can help with that.

JBJ has had incredible hot streaks at the plate over his time with Boston. That's what makes his total inability at the plate now such an enigma. That is also probably why they have tried so hard and long to get him going. No one questions his defense is very good. My patience with him has run out before the FO.

Continues the idea of giving plyers a day of rest here and there. Glad for Hanley getting one but we will miss Bogaerts. JBJ continues to be used so that is a bit of a question mark. We have 6 sollid hitters and perhaps Holt can hold his own. Go get them.

On the surface, it looks like the right approach but I am unsure that Moreland may have some physical issues. I hope Cora is handling this rationally but in other areas he seems fine, so I continue to give him the benefit of the doubt.

I agree that we are devoid of capable field players in the minors with the exception of Pedey. My great hope is that Cole Brannen would learn to hit this year and be a strong candidate for center field as he has great speed and all the right defensive instincts. Instead, to date the kid has not been hitting in the low minors so kiss that idea goodbye at least for this year. Onlly way we get a replacement for JBJ is in the FA market, or we have to play Beni in center. Sending JBJ down for a while might help him realize his hold on major league status is fragile. It might be though that he is a depressive personality and that wouldn't help him either. Tough situation for him and the new coaches haven't helped so it must be a deep seated problem.

Failure to make a move when there is a better alternative is a negative trait of a manager. Of course there may be circumstances that a fan is not privy to so I withhold criticism until it becomes a pattern. I still wonder about both Hanley and JBJ in the lineup when it appears to the outsider that there are better alternatives. Hate to lose games that might otherwise be winnable.

It appears to be the new norm for a starter to last only 5 or 6 inches and the stats bear that out. That's what makes Sale and Price unusual as both went 9 recently. I can't think as highly of a pitcher who throws 100 pitches in 5 or 6 innings as one who can last through the 7th or later.

Who would have thought 2 weeks ago that Beni would have a higher batting average than Hanley?

He is no longer a kid but an experienced player. He just doesn't hit like one. I wonder what Cora is thinking?

Beni did his job by drawing a walk and stealing to give us a runner in scoring position with 1 out and the 3 and 4 hitters coming up. Unfortunately Hanley has been cold, Martinez drew a walk but Bogaerts sung at a ball slightly out of the zone high. The only good thing is we racked up around 30 pitches on Bundy in the first inning so maybe good things will happen. No MOreland again tonight. Woner if he is hurt?

If we only had 9 JBJ's in the lineup and a very high quality pitching staff we will win a lot more?

I agree that much of the frustration of losing comes from a rotation and BP that has some significant flaws. Cora is trying to deal with that but it is tough to make a silk purse out of a sows ear. I am definitely not berating Cora for the lineup issues but would like him to take a more activist approach and recognize when players are struggling and replace them early in their struggles, if a good alternatives exist. One could argue that Hanley's decline has existed for long enough to warrant a move in the lineup or a rest period. Last night's 0-5 when he is sitting behind table setters who were on base 5 for the 10 times they were up really hurt the club. JBJ's case is so obvious that Cora pinch hit for him during the game, which was a strong message. I am looking for Cora to recognize situations as they are arising and having the convictions and toughness to make the moves to improve the team. Situations are always changing on a ball club and the manager is in the best position to understand and deal with them. Perhaps he has been and I just don't know the full story.

For some time now I have been puzzled about how the Red Sox lineup is being handled by Cora. I would hope when our solid players have good nights that we would be rewarded with a Red Sox win. Sure that isn't going to happen if our starting and/or pitching is weak but I am hopeful that Cora will make lineup moves when they seem to be needed and an alternative is available. One of these might be to recognize that Hanley is sliding into a slump and yet he has been kept in the key #3 slot in the batting order. It can be a rally killer to have a slumping hitter following our table setters. Either move him back in the order and slide others forward or rest him. Moreland seems to be a very adequate replacement if Hanley needs rest. JBJ's hitting has become pathetic. Two strikeouts where he fans on fastballs down the middle. Finally tonight Cora had seen enough and he put Holt in. I think JBJ 's performance may have finally made Cora decide that enough is enough. We can't do much about the catchers as they are the best we have and perhaps they can break out of their slumps and contirube. Vaz did tonight. Cora is dealing with the real world of the team and knows who is got physical problems and cannot play, but lately it seems like more of his choice from among playable personnel. Lets apply our best to the job.

That is classic Hanley. Shorten your swing and hit it to the outfield. No, doble play.

Maybe it is a frame of mind with him. He is not capable of painting the corners without giving up walks and running his own pitch count up. Would he be better off going for another couple inches of the plate and let the defense help him?

I tend to agree with this. We haven't got much from Nunez as yet, but he is certainly capable of hitting better and Pedey will be back soon. Our lineup should get a boost from that. Hard to keep going all year, what with injuries and slumps to some that may be key now. Better to attempt to improve where we have nearly black holes. The optimist in me thinks Devers can and will do better and Vaz can come out of the terrible slump and at least be close to an average hitter for a catcher. JBJ just hasn't got the job done and at his experience level, it is hard to see him having much of a contribution to the offense. The mantra that I subscribe to is continuous improvement is the goal.

There he goes again! What a weapon.

The Orioles have been scoring a lot of runs through the HR of late. Lets hope that we can get enough with our lineup. We are strong 1-6 and weak after that. No actions have been take to alleviate the back end of the lineup but maybe Holt will play tonight instead of Nunez and Devers will have his hitting shoes on.

We're on the same page. He and others sometimes lose focus. Maybe the terrible mistake the other night will shock him into staying in the game, so to speak. My view of Beni is if his timing got just a little more toward pulling he would have better results. Fenway is tough on leftys with limited power, but he could be a killler in Yankee stadium.

Yet he made a nice cutdown throw just a couple of days ago. His arm is average for the position not terrible.

I expect more from Nunez/Pedey slot in the lineup. JBJ just may not get the PA's going forward, but it begs the question, "Why have him on the roster if he doesn't get PA's? Our catching situation is pretty bleak but finding another solid catcher who can also hit is probably not happening.

My hopes for him this year were for a 280 average and maybe 20 HR based on his increased strength. So far, he is not showing an exit velocity that will give him that many homers but at least his average is moving in the right direction. Good swing, if often just a shade late and good plate discipline.