oldtimer

When we are in a tight game in the 8th, I certainly hope we have a quality reliever (person) to put in the game.

Lin should be compared to Marerro and Holt. It appears he can play infield or outfield as they talk about him playing center at Pawtucket. He is an excellent fielder with better range than either Holt or Marerro. As far as hitting, he has good swing mechanics and is a tougher out than Marerro. He will never have great power but there is room for a super utiliity guy on the team that is a pesky hitter. I predict he will find his way back to the Sox and soon.

When statistics are given they cover the league as a whole. In the case of the Sox, we are a team with good defense, good starting pitching and decent to good relief pitching. What we haven't done well is hit for power or in many cases hit for average. One run to the Sox can be very meaningful as opposed to the Dodgers or Astros for instance. What we have been doing is not advancing the runner but often hitting into double plays. To me, that is the worst rally killer there is. Instead of one out and a man on second, we wind up with 2 outs and the bases empty. What seems to apply for some teams may not apply to the Sox.

In Pawtucket Devers wet 0 for 3 I think and LIn had 3 hits and one was a double. I hope we keep Lin and Devers both and the sooner Lin gets back up the better i would like it.

With the sox on the west coast, maybe some trade with Oakland will be announced.

We have a lot less now for DD to use in any trades plus we have salary cap issues. I don't expect a major trade this year but we still may be able to improvel

Due to the wear and tear on our BP, JF has had to bring up a few of the minor league arms and they have looked pretty good. Workman is back and has his velocity back up. One good set up man and getting Kelly back will do a world of good.

Interesting if somewhat frustrating game today with some good and some bad and some head scratchers. With 5 starters now, JF decided to go with Fister against Liriano, a guy who we should have been able to score against. JF presumably wanted to set up the rotation for the west coast but took a risk on giving up a lot of runs with Fister. We did get to Liriano with some good grind them out at bats (Holt 11 pitches, Betts 8 pitches, Pedroia 8 pitches. We got him out early with the lead but Fister didn't have good command and got unlucky when Holt misplayed a ball in the sun. Fister didn't last so we wound up using a lot of our BP anyway and they did quite well expect for Abad who had control issues. The good was how well Pedroia is hitting and Betts seems also to be getting back. While Bogey got one double he still seems off. I wonder why he doesn't keep the bat still just before the pitch is delivered. Hitting 101 advises to have no unecessary motion before the ball is delivered. Beni has been off for a while now and has had difficulty pulling anything. Most of his contacts have fouled to left or flied to left, where his power is limited. The last time up he actually pulled the ball to Smoak, which was at least a possible improvement. The same can be said for Moreland who got under a ball just a little but pulled it. That is really the first pulled ball for him in a while as he has been opening up and going to left. Hanley was off today, but Leon is starting to make a lot of hard contact. Maybe we are seeing a resurrgence in some of the guys hitting. It would be welcomed. Vazquez even got into the game today to play third after Marerro was pinch hit for. I wonder if the JF strategy of going with our weakest pitching against their weakest pitching made sense. I prefer to win the games when you can. A win is a win. Presumably, our strongest pitching will be up against some strong pitching on the west coast with a greater likelihood of getting beat in close games. To each their own.

The same period Bogey has been pretty bad. He plays tonight so I hope he can give us something.

Nobody out, speed on first and a tendency to be singles hitters. Opposing teams are aware of how our team is configured and tries hard to prevent the steal. We don't seem to want to try to bunt and the hit and run is a lost art. Even if our hitters could get the ball in the air it would be better than what we have been getting. Frustrating to watch but I'll bet it is fairly common among teams this year.

We are lucky to have Young as a utility outfielder who is good defensively. Beni has struggled at times of late so Young can platoon for him as a reasonble move. Young is no world beater but is a solid utility outfield. Brentz would give up defensive proficiency but does have some power. Moreland is in a deep slump and needs to sit or be sent onto the DL list until his injury is fully healed. I don't think it is totally his toe that is wrong, but time off might help. In the meantime Travis is a reasonble fill in and might actually shine. I would bat Travis back in the order. The Holt and Marerro proposed 3rd base platoon is the decision for now but Lin sits in the minors with potentially better numberss than either. Don't see anything much we can do at catcher. The platoon is reasonable but Pitchers have their favorite catcher so that also has to be considered.

I go after Neshek from the Phillies for two reasons. He could do the job in the 8th and the Rays are also interested in him. Next year we can look elsewhere.

Good win tonight with both the Rays and the Yankees losing. Pomeranz is a nibbler but he is getting the job done. Moreland's slump continues and Bogaerts status is unknown by me. Hope he gets back soon.

I wonder with the runs being so hard to come by that we dont consider moving runners into scoring position with the bunt. Again tonight, a promising inning is cut short with a double play and then a strikeout. Two baserunners in an inning and no threat.

Quando, Quando, Quando

Moreland's problems hitting seem to stem from two areas. The broken toe may be getting much better. The second problem is with his swing mechanics. He is still pulling off and hitting to left. That should be something he might correct. Once slumping it is difficult to find the answer, but we have seen he can get it done in the first half. Rest and work with the hitting coach could bring him back. Worth a try.

Solarte is on the disabled list but may be back soon enough to be of interest. He is low cost, hits in the 260's, has some power and has a mid 700s OPS. He even has option years and is someone we might actually get. I like the idea but it is one of several possibilities.

What are your thoughts about catcher? I think Vazquez stays but think we may move Leon next year. There is Butler in the farm system and an interesting trade in Texas.

I gave it up after the tenth and checked early to see the Sox had pulled it out. During the game, I found it frustrating that major league hitters would take called 3rd strikes over the plate with men on third and one out. Both Leon aand Beni did it in successive innings. What can they be thinking. Then there was the situation where Beni was given the gift of being hit by a pitch to lead off the 10th. The options for JF were to send Beni, to hit and run, to bunt or to let Beni stay at first and have Pedroia swing away. The worst outcome in the situation would be a double play. It was a tough decision, with a good catcher and attentive pitcher a steal had a questionable probability of working. Pedroia had been one of our bright spots in the batting order. It turned out Pedroia hit into the double play and Hanley followed with a double. Before it took place, I and the BJs expected a steal attempt. What would you have done? Those calling for Hanley's trade can see that he still has value for us and should stay in the 4 or 5 spot as Moon has said. Moreland is in my view pulling away from the ball and he hits the ball to left too often. He did that last night on a changeup down the middle, one he should be able to pull. He needs to find himself and should be temporarily out of the lineup or moved further back in the order. Marerro is not a viable offensive player for us. Lin can play infield utility positions as well and has a better plate approach. Devers might help the club now or they had better find another 3rd base candidate while the club is still in the lead. Time is running short DD. I didn't want Frazier either although Robertson might have helped. There are still options out there. I would keep Travis if at all possible. He is still a young player and may blossom next year.

Its not your opinion that I find offensive but the wy you express it. I too am very frustrated with the play of the Sox. its the expression of the frustration that I find crude.

I with you on both Young and Hanley. Young is a good defensive outfielder who makes hard contact agaist lefties. Thats all that can be expected for a utility player. Hanley is not performing at a high level but he is still our main power bat and has a huge salary so it makes no sense to move him. I might bring up Devers as a better prosect than Marerro, look for a relief pitcher (Neshek?) and if we can get a good middle of the order bat for a reasonable amount, then do it. With Bogaerts potentially out, I would consider bringing Lin back.

We need more than Marerro offensively. I would take Lin over him any day and would be happy to give Devers a try at third at this point. With Bogaerts having further tests on his hand, who knowws what we may need going forward.

No doubt I am old and old fashioned as well, but when I waas brought up, no one would use foul language on communication and if you used it in front of a lady, someone would punch you out. I'm probably not supported in this view here, but would you please tone it down?

Situational hitting again. Man on third and one out. Beni takes strike three on a fastball in the zone. Fortunately, the old pro Pedroia doubled to drive the run in and tie the game. The hell with Frazier. Bring up Devers and send Marerro down. Get Neshek (spelling) and see how that works. I seem to have been wrong about Holt. He is taking ABs like a MLer.

Situational hitting in the 6th. Men on 2nd and 3rd one out. Leon takes a call third strike pretty much in the middle of the plate. Marerro with a 215 BA is in the lineup which Lin with a 290 BA is sent back down. Its hard too score when chances are squandered.