oldtimer

Here we go again. With a 2 run lead, Barnes walks Gentry with Machado on deck. What are these guys thinking?

JBJ had a chance to so some damaage but couldn't get it done.

He can handle a bat. He hits better at the ML level than in AAA

was it mentioned before. Where is Nunez?

Thats the point I was making. At some point soon, unless we sustain another meaningful injury, a choice will have to be made. It is pretty clear which players the choice will come down to and the manager and FO is paid to make those decisions. Logically, you choose the guy who can do the most for the team, and that doesn't mean the guy who goes down is terrible, just not quite as good.

It looks like Bogaerts will return to the lineup before Pedey is available. At that time, who gets sent down? Looks like the choice is between Holt and Lin. A comparison of those two utility guys is hard to make because of so few opportunities to see them, but at this time Lin would have to have an advantage. He seems have more range defensively and he has hit a little, whereas Holt is not hitting (.056 BA). When Pedey gets back, the choice gets more difficult and probably comes down to Holt/Lin and Swihart. That would mean putting all the infield Utility assignments into Nunez hands.

We don't seem to see the entire best lineup in at one time, due to injuries and Cora's approach to resting players. If and when we do get Hanley, Nunez and Bogaerts in the lineup with Betts, Beni, JD, Devers, Vaz and JBJ, we have one hell of a lineup. I'm enjoying it and won't criticize what Cora is doing, since he is getting outstanding results.

I don't mind the single but the walk with a 5 run lead to a weak hitter finished his night.

Beni hasn't brought his hitting shoes tonight.

E-Rod just struggles to throw strikes. Got through this inning though

The Sox lineup, missing both Bogaerts and Hanley is still tough to deal with. Now, get the ball over, no walks.

He got out of the first with one run. Settle down and don't give up any walks.

What I thought about our hot start was that we needed to wait and play a stronger team to see how we do. Well, 2 for 3 from the Yankees and a good showing in the loss was a very good showing. We got a couple of our hot hitters dinged up as well, so with them back we can only get better. The season is off to a good start. JBJ is showing some signs of life at the plate and Beni is as well, all good.

Especially with our BP our weak spot this year.

Lots of bitching about his signing but with Hanley getting plunked it is good to still have a player who can do a good job at first.

Not sure i would put Holt in the lineup tonight with Lin available. Neither can hit, but Lin has more range.

Interesting article about the Red Sox newly found aggressiveness. https://bosoxinjection.com/2018/04/11/red-sox-hitters-thriving-aggressive-approach-plate/

Certainly a different approach from what I would expect. The real problem last night was pitching though.

Remember, JBJ struggled last year and in Sept he had a BA under 200. I believe it is up to the player to make the adjustments and if he is unable to do so, you have to look at alternatives. In his case he has shown flashes of ability at the plate and is excellent in the field, so he gets more leeway than most, but eventually he has to perform or be replaced. I hope for the former of these choices but it is up to JBJ.

Yes, we had Ortiz in the past and that made us better and so will JDM. Having three guys over their injuries and a 4th in Pedey returning has got to make us better. Having coaching changes result in changes in aggressiveness appear to have made an improvement. You may not see what I see in Bogaerts, but I believe he has changed his swing mechanics and is now hitting the ball harder than virtually any time in his past career. In addition, Hanley's attitude appears more upbeat for whatever reason. Maybe just being in a winning environment. Last year we had a talently team which underperformed, almost across the board. Perhaps this year we will have a team where the players have haad their right buttons push and will perform closer to their best. I can hope.

Time to move away from the bickering and bring up a different subject. It is my opinion that the Sox have one of the best hitting lineups that they have had in years and that Cora and his staff is at least partly responsible for that in stressing being aggressive early in the count when balls are in the strike zone. Some of the credit for the emergence of the offense has to go to the improved health of Betts, Bogaerts and Rameriz as well. I'll let Moon go on with his statistics if he wants but I will go strictly on the basis of observations this season to date. Betts has excellent hand eye coordination and has a very quick bat. He is being more aggressive and hitting in the one hole he is producing at an amazing rate. It's unlikely to continue at such a rate but with his pop and speed, we have one of the premier lead off hitters in the game. Beni has good plate discipline a very nice swing and can go either to left or can pull the ball. He will draw walks and when the weather warms and he gets to play in Yankee stadium, camden Yards or the like, I expect to see him go deep and be a threat there as well. I believe he can hit lefties as right handed batters have learned to hit right handed pitchers. His OPS will climb and be very respectable as the season progreesses and having another speed guy up front has got to be helpful. Hanley's health is better now and he is thriving in the third hole with JDM behind him. He has always had good pop, but I also notice he is shortening his swing and going to right wihen down on the count. He doesn't seem to have that disinterested look that so often showed up last season. JDM impresses me as a guy who resets after every pitch and has a hitting plan that he follows. Obviously he has a lot of power and would have more home runs already in the weather was warmer. I expect him to become more comfortable in a Red Sox uni and start to produce at a higher rate as the season moves along. Devers has a lot of pop, good bat speed and good hand eye coordination. At this point his pitch recognition is not the best and he will have a lot of swing and miss situations but his natural talent will keep him firmly in the lineup. Don't try to get a fasball past him on the plate as he will kill it. Bogaerts (while out briefly) got over his wrist injury, took to the idea of being more aggressive and seems also to have changed his swing mechanics. Love what I see from him as he has become a truly dangerous hitter and one that can hit for average and also decent power. Hope he can get back soon and he is a big part of the order. Nunez is a professional hitter and we havee seen what he can do from last year. It is a testament to the team that a guy with his ability is in the hole. I expect him to hit close to 300 and add decent pop from the 7th position. Vaz is a good catcher and surprised me when he started to hit for average last season and is continuing to look decent at the plate this year. He will probably get to start 125 games this year if he can remain healthy. Tough for a catcher with all the tipped balls but Cora appears to believe in giving guys a rest from time to time and he has Leon and Swihart on the teaam as backup. JBradley had a bad September hitting under his weight and is contiuing into this year. He takes a big cut at the ball and his contact rate is low. At his experience level, he should be hitting better if he was going to. My hope is that the coaches can help him as a hitter but it is up to him to want that. He brief hot periods seem to indicate he has it in him but it doesn't seem to be realized. That is for certain a scary lineup for any pitcher to face and when Pedey gets back, his hitting is likely to get back into the 300 BA region. Someone currently in the lineup will have to become the utility man and that is likely to be Nunez. He can get a lot of ABs substituting and giving the rest that Cora seems to advocate. Moreland is a professional hitter and will get his time and produce well enough to be used to rest Hanley. Holt still seems to be hitting in the Farrell era. He is patient and then takes called third strikes on the plate. Not impressed with his hitting. Leon can get hot but is likely to be a lower 200 hitter. Swihart is a bit of an unknown. Who goes down when Pedey is ready and Bogaerts back? Clearly Lin and possibly Holt. Our best hitter in the minors is Travis but he doesn't have the positional flexibility to be brought up so seems to be stuck there.

I could have managed the team to a win tonight. I love the aggessiveness at the plate the year and credit Cora for that change. Great win over the Yankees with Betts on fire and the top of the order not making outs. Hope they stay hot as Bogaerts won't return until around the 24th.

I replied to the comment that we didn't have any prospects for CF in the minors. I pointed out the best prospect we have and identified his weaknesses. I didn't say he was ready to replace JBJ, but you hear what you want to hear and react accordingly.

Yes, by all means, let Kimbrel go. We always have Kelly and Smith who can be our closers.

Those pulling for Hanley to have a great season and getting to vest believe it could lead us to a world series and if it does it would be a good thing. We also should be aware of the ramifications that wuld have on which players we might have to dump next season if that happens. How much of our young talent could be impacted? Moon has been pretty thorough with his scenarios so we keep Betts, Bogaerts and Beni? Something to think about.