oldtimer

I was on the road so didn't see the las two games. From the box score last night it appears that only Moreland and Betts got two hits each and the rest (7 guys) took the collar. Our hitters seem to fall into cold spells for periods this season and that isn't unusual, but it is unusual that so many are underperforming their norms. Is it the hitting coach sharing the blame or is it all on the hitters? In my view, JF tends to stay too long with players who are underpeforming. Hanley is one of those and a shakeup may be needed to get players out of their malaise.

If your saying that a team that goes into a playoff pitching poorly, hitting poorly and defending poorly is as likely to win playoff series, then I disagree. Last year that happened to us and the result is we didn't compete. Now we are on a terrible 3 game funk and show signs of losinng our hard fought for advantage. Getting Pedey and jbj back would help but we also need to confront problems and be willing to make changes which improve our chances.

This feels similar to last years collapse at the end of the season. The team is flat and missing Pedey and JBJ is hurting. We need to have some decisions made to get this team out of the doldrums. Hitting is very poor .

It's possible as he has shown some signs these last few games.

It appears that we need and should get a new hitting coach next year as part of the change package. Right now we look like a tired team and I hope we don't go into a tailspin.

While we hope Hanley will perform, the team is handicapped by having a middle of the order bat which is largely disfunctional. Things are more confused by having both Pedey and JBJ sidelined at the present time. If those two make it back then the picture is clarified. Nunez, who is hitting would need a position. Clearly he would be a better option at this point as DH. If we took the $22.7 million dollar contract out of the picture and just went on recent performance, it would be a no brainer. I hate to see him struggle like this but Hanley just isn't getting it done. If we are serious about winning the pennant, hard decisions need to be made. At least Hanley had a good year to justify some of his contract. We ate Craig, Castillo, Sandoval contracts and have a major underperformance from Hanley and the verdict is out on Price. As the song goes, "When will they ever learn".

Bauer threw a ball that looked a lot like Maddox used to throw. Comes into a lefty and then breaks back to the inside corner. Several players, including righties didn't deal with that pitch, taking it for a strike. Very effective pitch against our guys.

Pitchers nibble on the corners or out of the strike zone to try and induce a swing which can lead to walks and increased number of pitches per inning. E-Rod is an example of that. Don't know why they do that when they can get the ball over, but it seems to be the way nowadays.

So should we make certain he gets 1025 pa's this season and next so we have him again in 2019? Hope not.

Several points worth considering about the performances in the game last night. Red Sox Pitching: What happened to Sale? He gave up 7 hits and 3 walks in three innings. Unheard of for him. The Guardians soomewhat depleted lineup appears to have solved him to some degree. 1. Is it just a fluke? Was Chris not feeling right? 2. Is Sales heavy workload catching up with him? 3. Were the Guardians able to tell what he was going to throw in advance? For the two days before, out staff shut down the same Guardians almost totally. Red Sox RPing. Our second tier RP gave up 11 hits and 6 runs in 5 innings. Our RP looked ineffective and should have been somewhat rested help us in the stretch? Are our 2nd tier RPs just not that good? Is the grind of the schedule just tiring the guys out? Have we the ML DL RPs to Red Sox Field Players: 1. Good news is that Moreland is hitting more like he did earlier in the year and first base seems to be well covered now against RH pitching. Re-raises questions about Moreland's future with Sox. 2. Nunez is hitting well also but it creates a question. He appears to be a bit of a liability in the field until Pedey can make it back. Should Holt come in and play 2nd temporarily? Then who plays LF and now possibly Betts will have to take time off with a contusion, how will our outfield be manned? Throw in our $22.7 million DH who did at least swing the bat last night even though going o0 for 4 and JF has some decisions to be made. We can stand pat in the infield until Pedey gets back but is that optimal?

Our relief pitching tonight is also quite hittable. As far as hitters, I can forgive a guy who strikes out when they at least swing at balls over the plate. The opposing pitcher was making tough pitches. I think my suggested lineup of Holt at 2nd base is better defensively. Nunez can really hit but his defense is a little shaky. Since Nunez can't play outfield, the only other place is DH. No problem facing a lefty but it creates a problem against a righty.

I'll be watching and will be properly chastised if he does anything to help the club.

Of course this year he would also love to have those numbers. He just looks disconnected up there. He reportedly works hard and cares, so I clearly don't get it. If he goes up there and hits again like he did last night then we will have a major hole in the lineup. If he performs then great for JF and the Sox.

Hanley can only play 1st or DH. Moreland will play first with a right hander pitching tonight. That leaves him only with DH to fill. I don't see him as a big offensive threat against the pitcher will we see tonight as we was awful last night. I see the better path is to let him rest and to pinch hit in the event that we see a favorable pitching change. While Holt is no world beater, at least he made contact with the ball for a double and drew a walk whereas Hanley stood as if transfixed as several balls came down the center of the plate without so much as an offer at them. We could do much better with the 22.7 million he is dragging down. Hope we don't allow him to get still another year in 2019.

I like the general roster but would find it difficult to leave Nunez on the bench. He's a servicable fielder and also one of the teams best hitters if not the best. I struggle with the idea of Hanley playing over Nunez. As far as RP's, your takinng a leap of faith on Smith. Maybe he will work out but we have to see some evidence to put him in. He has the talent if he is right Price is an unknown at this point as well. If he was healthy then okay but that remains a big if. Would he pitch in relief? We don't really need 5 starting pitchers in the Playoffs. I don't think Barnes is a good choice, and now he is on the DL I would leave him off. Hembree might be okay so will there be one of our younger guys on the 40 man who could fill the job.?

Last night Hanley was pathetic at the plate and perhaps he could use a rest. I think he can be a boat anchor on the offense. Against pitchers who don't throw as hard and miss over the plate he is able to hit, but against what he may face tonight, I wouldn't expect much. It depends what JF's goals are tonight. If he wants to load up on lefties then Holt plays and we need Nunez, which leaves DH as all that is left for him.

I'm more cconcerned about what JF does tonight to get the results we all want. That is a series win against Cleveland in their home park. It would keep the Yankees at bay and further drop Cleveland behind the Sox for any home field advantage. To achieve the results, he has our ace Sale (Slae) going which also means Leon will catch. I think JF needs to put his best defense on the field that the depleted lineup will allow and at the same time load up on left handed bats where possible. My own opinion is that Hanley looked pathetic at the plate last night so seeing another tough right hander going it might mean its time to rest him. So my personal approach would be to move Rajai Davis to CF and Beni back to LF. That leaves the left handed hitting Holt available to play his better position of 2nd base. With Hanley out, Nunez who has been our best hitter can bat in the DH role. The next thought is what to do with the lineup. Unlike some on these threads, I feel specific lineups can make a difference. Again, my personal preference would be to use the speedy Rajai Davis at leadoff. He has been slashing over 300 of late and on base still has the speed to steal a base of go from 1st to third on a hit behind him. I'g go conventionally with Betts and Beni behind him and then Nunez in the 4 hole. Devers remains 5th with Moreland 6th, Bogey 7th, Leon 8th and Holt 9th. I wouldn't be opposed to switching Holt and Davis as an alternative. That gives us 5 left handed bats with hanley and Young as PH's. Davis Betts Beni Nunez Devers Moreland Bogey Leon Holt Be interesting to see what JF comes up with.

Another tough game behind us and the Yankees remain 4 1/2 back. I like that a lot.

Price is missing all the fun. Having another lefty power pitcher would be great in September. Will it happen?

Reed has nasty stuff and fills a need as well as anyone we have to bridge to Kimbrel. He needs to adapt to the American League but overall he is a plus.

Holt actually had a nice game tonight. Played like a veteran. Thats all we can ask.

I thought JF took Pom out at the right time. Pom had begun to have control issues with many balls missing high or very high. With a freesh BP and a narrow lead, the time to remove a starter is when he shows signs of weakening. Good job, setting up our hitters to continue to apply pressure to the Cleveland pitching staff. Holding Cleveland to 2 runs over two games is a major accomplishment.

DD gets a lot of credit for signing Nunez. He continues to be a very dangerous guy who wins games for us. We need to keep him in the lineup when Pedey gets back. Hanley on the other hand looked pathetic tonight. Hard to understand what gives with him. Kluber is good but Hanley was bad, no other way to sugar coat it.

I like the trade. Davis is a veteran presence. He still has excellent speed and can fill in as an outfielder. His poor hitting line misses that of late he has hit over 300. With Bradley out, this is someone we need. Good going into the playoffs as well. Just hope this doesn't mean Bradley will be out for too long.

Marerro is being brought up so its clear where JF thinks he wants to go. holt will now be the utility outfielder.