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oldtimer

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Everything posted by oldtimer

  1. oldtimer
    Last night the Sox ran into especially good pitching. It happens, and one can't be too upset when that happens. What bothered me more is two if the earlier games where the Sox took two one run losses, Going back to the lack of action at the trade deadline, possibly we could have brought at least one of those games home. The dog fight you speak of is real and the possibilities of getting to the playoffs could hinge on a margin of a couple of wins. Too late now, but it seems that year to year, the Sox don't seem to learn their lessons. Will we need yet another change in management to push this club forward?
  2. oldtimer
    Good hitters need to remain unpredictable. If a hitter almost always takes the first pitch, guess what the pitcher will throw. Fastball over the plate is a good guess. If a hitter almost always swings at the first pitch on the other hand, he's likely to get a slider or cutter off the plate. In both cases, the hitter winds up in the hole, and his BA falls. Anthony takes most first pitches while Rafaela swings at most. Both have a lot of capability but should consider being less transparent. They are young and are our future so I hope they get good advice.
  3. oldtimer
    Toro is a below average hitter and an okay first baseman. There were other teams who made the trade we could have made. If the reason for not doing so is that we have Casas back next year, I still don't get it, as we have a real chance at a wild card. If the reason was we were ready to bring Campbell back, then why haven't we? As far as Yoshida is concerned, I was all for trading him, even if we had to pay half his remaining salary. He is not a terrible player but he isn't a good fit on our team. We have a surplus of outfielders, including one in AAA we should bring up. Yoshida is not a capable defensive outfielder, hasn't a lot of power or growth potential. We could easily fill the DH role from players we want to keep on the roster.
  4. oldtimer
    Speaking of hitting, had we picked up a better hitting first baseman at the trade deadline, would we have been in a better position to win a game like the 10 inning loss to the Padres? I see losses like that one as a cost of inaction by our GM, perhaps as informed by ownership. As far as hitting goes, I'm not a fan of chasing outside the zone. On the other hand, I hate to see a hitter take a third strike fastball down the center of the plate. I am for allowing the batter to swing when they see a pitch they think they can handle, unless the manager has a play on. Anthony has a great sense of the strike zone, however he seems to be constrained from swing at the first pitch and I have seen him take third strike fastballs down the middle and wondered why. I know it is not easy up there but hitters have to give themselves a chance to succeed.
  5. oldtimer
    Would Raffy made all of those plays?
  6. oldtimer
    Bres said he tried to make trades. Other teams actually did make trades and got some very good additions. Bres didn't try hard enough.
  7. oldtimer
    We have been competitive in the American league up to now. Other teams made a concerted effort to improve through trades, we did not so we on paper are now less competitive. We needed a starter, relief pitchers, a first baseman with power and a backup catcher. We got some iffy relief help. I can't see how that improves our relative competitiveness against the better American league teams.
  8. oldtimer
    Numerous other teams made consequential trades, which on paper at least, should improve them. That indicates the Red Sox could have made those trades if the management had they had the will to do so. Clearly they did not, whether it be due to tight budget restrictions, ineffective management or any of many other reasons one could cite. Another year without the attempt to be a factor or even reach the playoff. It's a shame, since this team has the potential to make some noise. Now I expect that noise to be a whimper.
  9. oldtimer
    Others are making trades that improve their teams now. Nothing from Bres yet but we need action. Tough market where you have to give up a kings ransom to get a knave Jack. Less than 24 hours to act. Get going man.
  10. oldtimer
    He hasn't gotten over chasing.. He still has the bat speed to be a valuable hitter provided he doesn't chase. He could learn from Anthony and Bregman.
  11. oldtimer
    He has to be willing to swing the bat. His last AB he took two fast balls down the heart of the plate. Just awful look for a kid with tremendous potential.
  12. oldtimer
    Devers has proven he is a substandard defensive player who is a streaky hitter with real power. I don't foresee him ever being a defensive asset and it is also highly likely that his hitting will erode with time. He is a very highly compensated player. I don't think you are anymore of a fan of long term contracts than I am. I realize teams sometimes have to get into those long term arrangements to keep special players. The trick is to know when a players will maintain production as they age. Personally, I would stay away from more than 5 year contracts for players approaching 30 unless a special assessment of their abilities identifies them as likely to produce over the long term. I never felt Devers fit in that category so in my view the Sox made a mistake granting his contract and have rectified that mistake by trading him
  13. oldtimer
    Still it is a crazy rule where a ball well out of strike zone and away from the batter can qualify for batter interference.
  14. oldtimer
    Please, no more!
  15. oldtimer
    Our hitters don't know how to hit a pitcher that locates the ball and sets them up. Swinging out of their shoes and trying to pull balls on the outside corners led to popups and or swings and misses. Yoshida was our only hitter who seemed to be trying to keep his swing down. Maybe they teach that in Japan as well.
  16. oldtimer
    I see Duran, Abreu, Rafaela, Refsnyder, Anthony and Garcia as viable outfield options for 2026. I don't see Yoshida as an outfielder and Campbell should stay in the infield but does add flexibility. I would try to trade Yoshida and also Duran. That approach comes with the risk some of our top prospects don't come through. Refsnyder can be a candidate for PT designated hitter. Who would I look to get for Duran? A first baseman. Yoshida wouldn't bring much but ridding some salary would help. We do need additional catching help. Resigning Bregman and planning for Mayer at short and either Campbell or Story at 2nd looks like a team that could compete.
  17. oldtimer
    If you can't hit, you don't belong in the majors. If you can't hit and your below average defensively, your taking up space that someone else should begiven a chance to fill. Its the harsh reality of professional baseball. The Sox have more than one of those players on the active roster.
  18. oldtimer
    We are loaded in the outfield and even have another prospect in line for call up there. Time to trade one for a pitcher or first baseman. Duran might bring the return we need.
  19. oldtimer
    Man on second, no one out. Hit a fly ball or hit behind the runner. Never attempt third with a ball hit in front. Trying to take 2nd with a view of the play ahead. Three misplayed rolled into one. What is going on with Sox coaching?
  20. oldtimer
    Hamilton made an error again today. No hits today after a good showing yesterday, We do need the O to do better and some of our vets have to lead the way.
  21. oldtimer
    If you can't hit you don't belong in the majors, no matter how well you can defend and his defense was shaky. Give the kid a break so that he can hone his talents before bringing him back. He will be a good one after a little more time in the minors.
  22. oldtimer
    I think Brez is more likely to take action than his predecessors. Perhaps he has been given more leeway to fix the team. Certainly Bregman, Chapman, Crochet have been notable gets. Stealing a formidable defensive catcher who may be one reason the pitching is looking better and the guy can hit too looks smart. Brez is not afraid to make moves, some controversial. Early on I thought we should bring up our top prospects and give them a shot. He has done that, if belatedly. I was ambivalent about Devers. Paying the big bucks for a DH, especially on a long term basis didn't appear to be a winning strategy. After Devers difficulties with management, Brez and ownership decided to take action. Sure, there is risk but it may prove to be a good decision. I was for getting Yoshida off our books but his contract and injury status made that impossible. Now lets see if Brez can pull another rabbit out of the hat and sign a capable first baseman. It's no longer unrealistic to see the Sox as a wild card team.
  23. oldtimer
    Yes, we have to look at the positives and negatives. On the positive side, Devers is currently a very productive hitter who has great hand-eye coordination. But as a DH that's what he brings and I don't believe he has ever been a leader in the clubhouse. On the negative side, he is getting $30 mil/year to be a DH. He is on a long term contract and he swings at a lot of balls out of the zone. My question is what happens when his natural talents are eroded with age. Clearly there has been friction between Devers and the front office. Has that become a distraction in the clubhouse? I am surprised by the trade but not shocked by it. The Sox appear to be rebuilding around some really talented players, some already in the majors and some knocking on the door. Perhaps Devers didn't fit well enough on a long term basis.
  24. oldtimer
    The Sox won last night although I only watched the game sharing time with another program. While I watched, Devers ran into an out at home and Looked bad at the plate, Rafaela launched a throw to home instead of the cutoff man and there were other poor plays but not errors. The Sox need to play clean baseball.
  25. oldtimer
    Interesting sidebar. Betts was a gold glover in right field but now I understand he is the Dodgers SS. Rafaela has a similar multi-positional flexibility and his move would make room for Anthony, but the Sox haven't made that move even though the season is going down the tube. I have no understanding of what makes the Sox management tick. It's time to make management changes.
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