oldtimer

While it had no impact on the game tonight, I had to wonder why robbie Scott came in and threw 3 balls to a hitter with a six run lead. He then threw 4 over the plate, some were fouled before losing the hitter. Then he had to pitch to another batter and he went 2 and 0 on him. i would think he could get the ball over if he wanted to and wound up throwing 20 pitches where he might have thrown 10. Doesn't seem smart to nibble with a 6 run lead.

Incredible display of Sox hitting with 13 plate aqppearances in one inning and 8 runs. No HRs either. Greaqt basis for a win tonight.

I should have asked if the ship has sailed on Castillo as a replacement for Young. He has more time in the US and may be useable as a 4th outfielder. His minor league numbers don't look that bad. Would adding his salary prelude his use on the roster?

We have Hanley with us through 2018 and possibly 2019 if he reaches 1050 PA in 2017/2018. He currently has 368 this year. No one else will pay the $22,750,000 we are paying so he is here and will be used. Encarnacion would have added another $20 million player who is aging and is limited to 1st or DH. He is a good power hitter but because of Hanley he wasn't a good fit.

It seems to start with his plate approach. He continues to wag his bat until the pitch is delivered. One more hitch in the swing is one too many. He doesn't seem capable of getting out of the slump and the coaching he is getting isn't helping. I don't mind the lack of home runs, but would like to see a more consistent hard contact.

I think we should replace Moreland, Young, Holt and possibly Bogaerts. Will Bogey be worth what he will be asking? We need to resign Nunez if possible and with Pedey possibly having ongoing injury issues a backup for him would be great. Dozier would be a great possibility if we can get him. The idea of spliting time at 2nd base and DH is also a good one. The question is whether Hanley can hold together as a 1st baseman for a whole season, given his shoulder issues. Paying a part timer $22 Million is a little hard to swallow. Lin could fill our utility infielder role but who do you suggest to replace Young? Bogey would be hard to replace.

To me, it is important to look at the results and to make decisions dispassionately about who plays, where they play and where they bat in the order. If a guy is hitting the ball hard but being unlucky with balls hit in play, you can give him a bye. If a guy is striking out a lot and hitting weak ground balls a lot, then action is needed to find an alternative. Betts is not the hitter he was earlier or last year. He is having a lot of trouble with balls down and away, but there is still a hope for more from him. JBJ does hit quite a few balls hard, but his movement to the 9th hole is a statement in itself. The results for Bogey are worse and making excuses for him because of an earlier injury don't cut it in the long term. He was a good hitter early in the season, but that has almost totally disappeared. If you had a .500 hitter for the first half and a .000 hitter for the second half, would that be a reason to continue to play him in the second half? I hope we can agree that it wouldn't be. Kind of the extreme to make the point on Bogey. Moreland showed signs of coming out of the slump but maybe he is slipping back again. Holt isn't going to help and Young only rarely does. So bye and large we are reliant on Nunez, Devers and Beni to carry the team and they too will have their downs. Beni finally started to pull more balls and his whole value and power improved but the opposition will be looking for any weakness. I hope Pedey gets back to health as he is our one pro who really can help. He has been out since about the time of the Price fiasco and that is too long. This team needs a lot of changes next year, in coaching, and players. Fortunately for us the pitchig has held up.

Replacing Holt with Lin gains 200 points in OPS and you get a very capable fielder as well. Both hit from the left side so that is nothing against Lin. lin is also a possible replacement for Bogey while he rests. The power differential is not noticeable between these two.

I prefer Lin to Holt. John won't go that way perhaps until the sept callup.

Two dingers from Devers tonight and one from Beni. Hard not to get a warm feeling when these kids are putting on a great show. The problem is that it has been a lot of them and Nunez and not so much of the others. We need Pedey back for Holt and Betts and Bogaerts have to contribute more. They should be able to but aren't. Betts is having problems with pitches low and away while Bogey just has too much motion of his bat prior to swinging, in my opinion. Getting Pedey back and Betts and Bogaerts putting up some numbers makes this team very hard to beat, when anyone other than Fister pitches.

It helps to have guys who are at least a threat. Too many guys didn't do a thing at the plate. The guys that hit the ball hard but come up empty are at least a threat. We got a win with great pitching and timely hitting. On we go and could have won the 3 games with a little more care of the RP. What a turn around for the Sox.

They got Frazier as well and we didn't. Smart on our part.

We are talking about a 4th outfielder who isn't that bad defensively. At times he can still hit but he is in a role where he only gets up infrequently so has to adjust on the fly. It will be time to replace him next year but for now he is our backup. Maybe some of the first string could pick it up a bit and Young wouldn't be in the game.

We all know Bogey is not going well now so JF needs to treat him accordingly. Move him down or rest him. When right , Bogey can help this team, in the meanwhile JF needs to consider alternatives.

Sometimes there are critical junctures in a game that involve hitting or lack thereof. Last night with the bases loaded for the Sox and one ouf up came Young. His job was to put the ball in play, hopefully to the outfield. Two cases for worst case were ground into a double play or the next worse was to strike out. He did that without putting a bat on the ball. Then bogey grounded out weakly to the pitcher. The Sox still should have won but gave it away in the ninth. Maybe Bogey needs a rest, while we have to count on Young as a fill-in against lefties.

Pedey is the exception. Price on the other hand is the rule.

Even one win would be okay. Sale will get his shot.

Whether you like him or not, Hanley is our guy again next year unless we trade him and swallow money. Lets just hope he can be healthier. Would love to sign Nunezz but he will be expensive. I am still high on Lin as a utility infielder and possibly he could fill in as a backup outfielder. Hernandez would also need a look if he can get back. Neither are power hitters so we need an infusion there. To get Mostakas, of at all available we might need to give up one of our so called killer bees. Would it be Bogey who is young and would be interesting to many teams? Duda would be a `1st baseman with power?

I'd be happy with a split

A logical adjustment to my approach. Hard to sit Beni when he has been hot. If you rest Bogey and play Devers it is a pretty effective lineup.

Back to hitting. So with the Yankees coming with a lefty and players on hot/cold streaks, who plays and in what batting order? 1. Nunez (3rd) 2. Beni (LF) 3. Pedey (2nd) 4. Betts (RF) 5. Hanley (1st) 6. Bogey SS) 7. Vaz © 8. JBJ (CF) 9. Young (DH) Beni has been hitting so well he is tough to sit. Devers is also hard to sit but I see it as he or Young. If Devers plays he is at third and Nunez is DH. Lots of other possibilities to keep our defense intact while putting our best hitting lineup against lefties in the game.

I have been a fan since right after the 2nd world war and the 1949 club was one of my favorites if not the top favorite ever. I think that this site is a place where we can express opinions both positive and negative. Some would criticize those that don't always see the positive side. We are winning now, so what is there to criticize? We have been riding Nunez and Devers who both have made an impact at the plate. In addition, Pedey was going well until having to deal with the knee and I believe he will be back among the stalwarts. Maybe some of the Price situation also rubbed off on him, who knows. Beni got to sit and consider what he was doing at the plate and has also come through of late. Vaz also had a hot spell, Otherwise, the expectations we set for some of last years heros have not been consistently met. Mookie just is having trouble hitting the slider down and away. Moreland started to come around but seems not to have adjusted fully. Hitting too many weak grounders to the left side or up the middle. Bogey has been struggling since the all star break and Hanley is not feared as our DH. Holt picked up to add an experienced pro has also underperformed. I keep hoping that one or two more will heat up while our effective hitters will not cool down. JF appears to be resting some players who are either tired or nursing injuries. He has some Minor leaguers to consider as alternatives to those that are underperforming. It might not be smart to wait for September call-ups to do that.

Tonight the first step. Great Sox pitching and 12 hits but spread out. Having these aligned differently should produce more runs. The trick is to know who will hit and who won't. Not an easy thing. Pedroia will get back to himself but probably needs a few games. The yankees lost tonight so the two key teams dropped another game to the Sox. All good.

I think your typification of Porcello stinking this year is unfair to him as he has gotten no where near the run support this year and has done an average job on the mound. I still prefer him on the mound to some of our lesser starters.