oldtimer

Today Johnson only lasted 2+, which is about what I expected. He isn't really starter material. The difference is the BP was stronger with both Cashner and Eovaldi eating innings. We can win with decent pitching and taking two from Cleveland shows what we might have done over the season with pitching. Devers was great again and Bogie gave us a big lift. Vaz and Beni were also solid. What was apparent though is that Betts, JDM and JBJ all were unable to pick up the spin on the balls and time after time took big swings at balls totally out of the zone. All three of these guys have fought with those demons this year. Make a mistake and they hit it but sliders give all three of them serious trouble. Others make adjustments where they don't seem to have that ability.

Marco was sent down because he could be. The mystery was why Owings was brought up and inserted as lead off hitter when Marco was available. Credit Cora with that one.

We don't have the starting pitching to win 3 straight, let alone 20 straight. It is delussional to see us winning enough to overtake a 7.5 game deficit. I am in agreement with not giving arbitrary rest days when a player isn't hurt. Substituting Owings for Betts in the lineup probably lost a game the other day and games were precious at the time. Now, I am running out the white flag so the smart approach is to prepare for 2020 and beyond. The sooner we get a look at players in competition the better. We have Marco Hernandez and DHern both to look at. Travis would benefit from more exposure. I have given up on Johnson and Velazquez, and any other minor league pitcher will probably have to await Sept. Duran and Dalbec are probably Sept call ups that might find a place on the team in 2020 or 2021 so also deserve a look.

Moving Devers up in the order was one of the smartest moves Cora made this year. Sale's stamina remains in question.

Sale had a good performance last night until the caught onto him the 3rd time through or he weakened, whichever was the case. It will be something to watch going forward. He had a good performance the prior time so his effort last night is inconclusive. If he becomes a 5 inning ace going forward, is that good enough?

Marco seems to have a decent bat and the verdict is out on Chavis. There is room for improvement the second his year. Can't expect a great deal there but I would expect less strikeouts. I am open to another defensive CF who can at least duplicate JBJs offense but for a lot less money. It definitely is a good lineup. It will be hard to keep together though. Ultimately, I would prefer a left handed first baseman and a right handed second baseman. Lets see what the pllan is in the off season.

Sorry to heat it. They do become family members and of course they are missed so much when they go.

I don't think people are kicking him while he is down. It's more about finding a new GM more suited to rebuilding this team over the next few years. DD got us a championship but giving out long term FA contracts,by depleteing the farm system and by spending to the second LT limit. There are several American League teams that are better than us now and that have an extended period of quality. To match that and become competitive we need draft choiced, wise moves in the FA and Trade markets and a way to lessen the burden of underperroming current contracts. I think Shaunessy is correct in thinking DD is gone.

I guess those were your expectations, but Beni had a decent year last year and is repeating that again. He began hitting well a couple of weeks back when we still had a chance. He is getting arround 3/4 of a million, chump change when you compare him to Betts, Bogie and JDM. I would rate his performance as consistent not bad.

I would be surprised if DD isn't gone for next season and we don't do a full reset. The question about Betts is probably in his corner. The Sox are probably agreeable to a fair value contract. If they sense Betts will only go to the highest bidder, I think he will be gone and we will shoot to get the best value in any trade. There is still a question about JDM who without a whole lot of fanfare is having a good season. If he opts out of essentially $24 Mil for 2 years, then good luck as that pay is on the high side for a DH. I would trade Barnes and save on his contract also.

So, get a new training staff or don't sign so many muscle bound players.

Beni's OPS this year is 830 and 2018 it was 830. It seems like your expectations were that he would improve over last year. His rbi and runs are both over 60 and I would guess he will come in around 80+ for the year since he is hitting better of late. How is that bad?

The team tried hard tonight, even though it might have been our best starter against their 4th best. Its just our pitching doesn't hold opponents down. I had reviewed the games in August and projected an 11 and 7 record. NOt one to make up any ground. I had us winning 3 aqgainst the Orioles and one against Cleveland. Well, we lost 2 against Baltimore and have lost what I thought was the most likkely win against Cleveland. Our record could look pretty scary before this all plays out.

I've been lucky, playing for nearly 10 years without a serious injury. I worked until nearly 70 so had no time for softball as my job took me far and wide on a regular basis. I hear some pro baseball player do some intrmural softball for fun in the off season.

I am still a fan and will probably watch for interest sake. I still play softball and did today for 4 hours of sun filled competition. Yes, its lower level but as I approach 79, its about my speed. I see the same blunders (base running, wild throws, not hitting behind the runner, etc) that can be seen by MLers. Perhaps just a little more pronounced. Once a fan its hard to see giving it up. A lot of the kids playing today are the age of my grandsons.

Funny. He is our #4 prospect and our #1 outfield prospect. He is very fast, is a line drive hitter and yes, could use additional seasoning. We are suggesting at looking at him for 2020 or 2021.

I really think Casas is in that situation as well. i would love to see us get a young, left handed, power hitting first baseman, but he won't be ready next year or maybe even until 2021 (even if he ever makes it). Until that time we have Travis and Dalbec as possibilities. I don't notice Ockimey on our prospect list. Is that an oversight?

E-Rod is a nibbler who hasn't changed now in several years. He is still fairly young and may just be our most effective pitcher. We might not do better in a trade. Workman is fairly inexpensive and would be a good keep to help the team not totally bomb in 2020. Barnes is a head scratcher who seems unable to do well under pressure. BP guys are known to be volatile and he is that. He has a major league arm and someone may want him. I would certainly consider a trade in his case and in Hembree's case. Generally we think alike on the reset and restructure. Cora hasn't looked all that clever this year but I'm not for dumping him in 2020.

Since Duran is our top outfield prospect and a possible replacement for JBJ, we ought to get a look at him as well. I wonder though, are the players needed on their minor league teams for the period until September? If so they may be reluctant to move guys up until then.

The original question of this string was "Who was to Blame?" I am not into the blame game but am into what do we do and who do we need to make those moves going forward? I think that is more of a positive approach. I have said I don't think DD has the right kind of qualities to lead a rebuilding team. He did whaqat he did and we had some success but not it is about strengthening the pitching staff, the farm system and being willing to trade or let go of older players and nnon performers who won't be around in 2021 and beyond. I wouldn't have said a week ago that I am losing confidence in Cora and the coaching staff, but there have been silly moves and widespread underperformances. Got to wonder if the pitching staff has been well led and/or if there is some sort of internal issue in the clubhouse. I am willing to go another year with our manager and coaching staff, but I don't think they will all survive such a poor team performance this year. I don't blame the players, they are who they are unless there is a curmudgeon stirring unrest. If so, we should get rid of that person or persons. I do think we should get rid of underperformers this off season.

Marco is back tonight so I think he was locked down until the 13th, which is Tuesday. If he was held down and todays new is incorrect, then I would have brought up Chatham instead of Owings and batted him way down in the order. If Cora decided on this move, it was a bad mistake to make when your fighting for a WC slot, unless they no longer are or were. With the bases loaded, I would have stuck Mookie in for Owings and said to hell with the rest idea. Cora has some blind spots.

Obviously we can't be competitive with pitching like that. Add to those numbers all the blown saves and we have a team that will finish out of the race, a big comedown for a team which such a high payroll and a WS championship just last year. We need to consider the appropriate GM for rebuilding but there is also a question about coaching and management.

Hembree and Barnes both seem to get flustered when under pressure. Better to find replacements for them going forward.

I am beginning to wonder if Cora is a good manager. His spring training approach laid an egg and his concept of resting players has left our lineup weak at times. I am for giving him more time but perhaps he has some flaws which need to be addressed.

Well at least Betts got his rest (Not). It was do or die and Cora goes back to his rest players concept. Cora is partly to blame for this.