vegasbob

You are pounding Pedroia on this, and i could be wrong, but I believe the Jays sent the runner as on a steal attempt. With a RH batter up, usually the 2Bman covers second. That's what I saw. Classic hit/run set up to clear the 2B hole. But Pedroia did get the DP when he was batting, so there's that

Truly perplexing and a total anomaly that all 5 would be so wildly off their normal game. The consistency does give some credence to the discussion about the ST time on the mound. Even then, this is one hard one to explain. It will be worth rechecking after the 6 game homestand, where weather may be a factor in overall performances.

Here's hoping that today is the restart of Dustin Pedroia, who effectively missed the WS record win year of 2018. If he can be just average at bat and in the field, playing 4 of 6 games a week, it would be an improvement of this team's chances. Let Nunez and Holt(when ready) go back to being the utility players they were intended to be. Interesting that it was Tzu Wei Lin that went back to Pawtucket, even with Brock on the IL. If they sent a pitcher, would it have been Erod or Thornburg or Walden?

Again, just my opinions, but the comment on the "dive" related to Betts pulling up short. Beni did dive and almost came up with it.

I got to attend the Sat night/ Sunday day games in Phoenix and here are a few IMHO's : 1. Ryan Brasier looks to be the real deal we saw last year. Makes a great duo with Barnes, and doesn't seem to mind high leverage situations. 2. Not sure how Steve Pearce rehabbed and got ready after his calf strain, but he will be remembered fondly as the $6million+ mistake. Definitely not ready for prime time yet. Consider Adam Jones signed with the D'backs for $3mill, plus incentives and is hitting about .400 . Too bad he doesn't play 1B 3. Mookie Betts is still in a deep slump and looking bad at the plate. His defense is oddly unaggressive, other than the throw home to momentarily stop Brewer's self combustion in the 9th. Just to piss everyone off, no one would mistake the current Mookie for a Mike Trout or even Bryce Harper type contract. 4. JBJr has fully retreated to slump mode with no plate discipline whatever. 40% of bat contacts are on pitches outside the zone. The swing on a potential ball 4 late Saturday resulted in his 12th K in 38 AB's, with 1 rbi and 1 BB. I know he's been streaky before but how he lost his ST setup is a classic fail. 5. Nunez, Vazquez and Bradley, batting 7-8-9 in any order, is the gift of 3 determined outmakers for the opponents. Hitting .518 combined, all well below the Mendoza line. 6. Mitch Moreland is a pretty good 1st half hitter . If he could only get a full year without injury. 7. Seeing Price get spotted 3 runs and quickly give back 4 was no treat. Two of the hits were potentially catchable but Beni just missed and Mookie didn't want to dive , preserving himself for the big contract in 2021. 8. Bogaerts and Betts still take a lot of strikes during their AB's. Then look at the umpire. 9. JD Martinez is certainly one of the best hitters ( most consistent) in MLB. 10. Devers is another "fail to produce" after a good off season program and ST. at .225 with 40 AB's, 0 HR's and 0 rbi's . A few early errors rounds out the young players contribution so far. Hope Papi talks to him. 11. One overall issue is the LOB stats, lack of 2 out hits and power shots. Strictly opinions based on the eyeball test but I will guess it takes until May 1 for this team to reach .500. Hopefully 6 games at Fenway will get the team moving better but hard to see right now. With 20 games remaining in April, they will need to go 13-7 to get over that .500 mark.

Listening though the 4th inning yesterday, and got really weary of the constant pounding that was happening yet again. Stood up and said NO MORE. Ran to the car and started driving East for 350 miles to Phoenix and the scene of the ambush. Working StubHub along the way , obtained tickets for today's game right behind the Red Sox dugout where I plan to offer constructive suggestions to each and every Sox hitter and D. Price . No complaining or bad fan insults, just something to remind them of the '18 WS. OK, maybe one Wake the Hell Up . Anyway, this season so far is so unbelievable, I had to see it in person to check our players pulses because last night turned it into the Zombie Apocalypse despite scoring 8 meaningless runs. But they did start scoring the closer I got to Phoenix , so I take that as a good sign. Wish us luck

And both were somewhat flukes, with a PH 3 runner by Moreland in the 9th, and Betts' 3B bag bounce. They could easily be winless.

Last thought on Erod's inefficiencies (after a great 14 pitch 1st inn.) is that he burns the bullpen like a blowtorch. Puts added stress on the one group who are performing, especially with no days off. BTW to Cora- Give Pearce the rest of the day off and bat Moreland vs the RH reliever

Yes, the sure thing vs the hope

Not a bad idea. Maybe he has the problems in Venezuela on his mind. Just never see the grit and determination to overcome minor setbacks. The 2 run missed flyball was not a small issue, but notice how Erod died immediately thereafter.

The bottom 4 guys in today's lineup are hitting a combined .700 (.175 BA) That's a lineup for a getaway day for a team that is dominating long road trip. Brett Anderson gave up 3 runs early but hung around and now looks like a quality start. Erod imploded , was inefficient, then got bit by the Jackie/Mookie clown show. The right handed dominant lineup hasn't done enough vs. Anderson.

I do think the laid back ST approach , to a smaller degree, and the extended last 2 ST games on the road in Mesa, AZ followed by 11 consecutive on the road out west were pretty poor circumstances to start a championship follow up. Even after 6 games at Fenway, including a couple off days, it's back to the road again.

So Erod responds with a walk and gets pulled , like the pork that he is. The flyball miss was not on him but the subsequent "quit" was.

There's your MVP and best defender in baseball watching the game. Another long fly though

It may be lack of command of his pitches, in case the nibbling doesn't cover the outcome

No matter if he survives the 4th, Nibbles will max out on pitch count during the 5th. So many 3-2 counts because he has a case of the nibbles

Great observation !

Every ball that inning was a shot, including the outs. Just don't ever see this guy becoming more than a filler on the pitching staff

Rename Erod to "0-2 to 3-2" or just Nibbler for short

So that is exactly what he does and has lost his mojo completely. Falls behind , then gives up the 3 run jack. Erod has no serious mental toughness

Just don't start with the nibbling just off the zone.

It was a "Runcoster"

JDM is really remarkable

A's outfield arms get another scalp. Pearce probably not in best playing shape yet for stretching wall balls into doubles

Neither am I, lol. Although the triple he hit in the 9th inning rally to right center was a totally aggressive and nice swing. He's just very inconsistent on that type swing