5GoldGlovesOF,75

You may like this: after reading all these posts, I'm starting to change my mind; maybe players who perform below level in pressure situations are more apt to... exhibit somewhat of a pattern (neutral phrase?)... than the guys famous for exceeding the average (or their own average) level? My rationale: fans and media, especially in the past 40 years of so of mass communication. What's more vivid and memorable from TV: some celebratory pile-up on the mound after the last out of the World Series (which we see every single year) or that one image of a poor skiier bouncing off a mountain slope in a broken heap as "THE AGONY OF DEFEAT" Baseball is a game of failure, but when a player or team fails in an important game, and gets reminded of it over and over and over again, the pressures mount for them to fail again and again...

Don't forget Torrez (wish I could). He was the Sox' big free agent signing for '78, the World Series hero for New York... but no Sox fans were too excited, just for that reason, with our rational hatred for anything pinstriped.

Hopefully, Duran can learn to adjust like Verdugo, taking different swings in at bats, depending on the count and location. I know Bellinger was an MVP, but to me, with that wild uppercut, he's always been an all-or-nothing sort (and has regressed this year to rookie K rates). '21 K rate: Verdugo 14.7% (career 15.4%), Belly 27.8% (career 26.6%)... Duran 38.1% (yow).

For the modern fastball, if you don't start early enough, you're doomed. This is why there are millions of check-swings, coming in the last fraction of a second when guys with the best hand-eye coordination detect direction moving out of the zone. It's also why I can't see a guy like Duran sticking in the big leagues unless he changes his stance. His hands are too low; by the time he brings them up to swing, it's too late. I know he made it to the majors with this stance, but there are just too many pitchers throwing 100 mph at the top level. It just may be a skill guessing when to take, anticipating the junk, and having the discipline to leave the bat on your shoulder. But guessing wrong and watching one right down the middle can make a guy look foolish -- and actually more "fooled" than flailing at breaking balls (as described by announcers who never had to face pro pitching).

MLB hitters have some of the best hand-eye coordination in existence, but at what point does 100+ mph pitch velocity force human beings to just guess? How else to explain All-Stars like JD constantly whiffing at dirtballs and missing by feet, not inches? Maybe chase rates are more a product of that, than in past decades with more contact. Nowadays, it is a skill not to swing (but a major bore with constant appeals for umps to check the "check"). A decade ago, 95 mph was fast; 30 years ago anything over 90 was heat, and when Williams and DiMaggio played, they didn't have to face fresh arms coming out of the bullpen... or Negro Leagues. Age is certainly a factor, as well. When a batter in his 30s is said to be losing bat speed, it's probably less because of waning strength, and more due to vision issues -- like mere mortals who need reading glasses. In his mid-30s, Jim Rice couldn't turn on fastballs like he did in his 20s, but could still drive a golf ball over 300 yards (shhh... he's about to tee off... and the ball's not moving). Schwarber at 29 may just have better eyesight than Martinez at 34, and thus be a better investment for the Red Sox rebuilders.

Good point. But Merloni blames Bloom directly for not supporting this team. Maybe that's a tangible concept, but the face-plant is still on the current players. It's certainly not because of Alex Cora, who many in the industry were awarding AL Manager of the Year after the first half. Cora didn't suddenly change his personality or skipper strategies the past month; he's doing the best with what the front office gave him.

I'm not much on the blame game, but aren't all the posts about Bloom's fiscal handcuffs total conjecture? All we know for sure are what he refers to as his own imposed fiscal restraint, with an aim at sustaining the future. People can debate whether Merloni is a bitter ex-jock or a rational ex-jock, but is it so hard to believe him when he says Sox players on the current roster could care even less about future Boston teams than old fans who aren't so sure they'll still be around to cheer or jeer?

Getting one good reliever that Cora could actually trust in high leverage could've made a difference. The rest of the bullpen would've been fortified, and thus better rested. Barnes wouldn't be used on back-to-back days, which we all know is never a good idea. The Sox could very well have a few more victories today and be in a stronger position to make the playoffs. It wouldn't have made Boston the WS favorite, but certainly more favored to qualify for the crapshoot... The cost would've been better prospects than what was exchanged for Robles and Davis, but would it have really ruined the future of the franchise?

The thing is, few of us here, at least, have ever said the Sox were that good to begin with. The Yankees, on the other hand, were heavy favorites -- and though they improved one area that was overrated (Bronx bombing) -- they still have Sanchez behind the plate, and either a minor leaguer or Torres (when he returns) at shortstop. It's obvious NY will sign a big-time shortstop this winter, and that's the reason they didn't part with prospects for one this summer... but it's also why they won't win this season.

Have faith in the guy. At least he didn't spend money on a good dinner, opting to save it for another meal in the next few years when his family is really hungry...

Then there was the time Manny hit a one-hopper to the pitcher, did an immediate about-face and escorted his bat back to the dugout. Maybe Youk remembered that one.

I've been watching for just as long and know a lot of observers who find it unacceptable for multi-millionaires not to run 90 feet a couple times a night. Back in '66, I might've said three or four times, but nowadays batters are lucky if they make contact half the time. At least all the old-timers dropped their bats when they did.

Or hit a grounder and jog to first. Note to PR Dept: that's the fans' cue to change the channel. You may want to mention that in the next team meeting about giving up.

Did anyone note the bitter irony when Rizzo bounced that clutch "hit" off Dalbec's glove to put the game away, ensure a NY sweep, and possibly bury the '21 Sox? I was watching with the mute button on, but thought: (if only Bloom had the prospect depth to deal at the deadline)... 1. Rizzo was supposed to be delivering those moments for Boston; and 2. Rizzo would've made that play.

I don't remember Greenwell tantrums, but swearing and teeth-gnashing when he didn't deliver at the plate or on the field. I can relate to those reactions more than nonchalance or worse, grinning derisively when an ump makes a bad call.

Greenie didn't have puffed up muscles in the Michelin Man era, but superior bat speed generated MLB power. I liked him because he got visibly angry when he failed; it's easy to appreciate pros who at least look like they care as much as fans. Line drive hitter, lifetime Red Sox player. Twelve-year career: a negative dWAR but .318/.837, 19 HRs, 99 RBI. Wait, that's Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett... Here's Mike Greenwell: negative dWAR and .303/.831, 17 HRs, 93 RBI. His lefty swing reminded me more of Mattingly: 14 years, .307/.830, 20 HRs, 100 RBI.

You realize that implying qualitative data matters in baseball, too, could cause some posters' heads to explode? Steve Carlton and Tim McCarver say hi. Wait, McCarver wants to say more...

I've agreed with this about Leon for a long time. If JBJ was kept around because his D was that valuable to the pitching staff, imagine how much more having a trustworthy catcher means.

Mata was also the most likely starter to get called up midseason and contribute, like Gil in NY. I still can't believe the White Sox thought it was a good idea to trade Madrigal, a 24-year-old .300 hitter in the bigs for the privilege to pay Kimbrel $16 million in '22 when he's 34 (maybe there's a buyout... but still, talk about going for it now). Gotta wonder how much more Bloom could've gotten from Chicago for the younger Barnes at almost half the salary...

"But they're professionals! So what if the front office didn't celebrate their mid-season accomplishments by supporting them with legitimate reinforcements -- like all the other contenders did -- it shouldn't affect their performance." "It's not like these are young men playing a kid's game... they're not all entitled adolescents who have always been at the top of every level they've played in since Little League, praised and idolized by family, friends, and communities... until now..."

When I think of a dogfight, I imagine relentless, snarling and barking foes tearing into each other... not our beloved, despised Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde The Bats clubs. Now Tyler Wade steps out of the batter's box to readjust his velcro for the 8th straight pitch this at bat. And Hansel Robles walks back off the mound to look into his cap for the sign indicator with a runner on second and a 3-2 count. Fans bang on the wall down the rightfield foul line to keep each other awake...

The glory of Captain Carl. Only his most devoted fans remember in Game 163 that year when he pulled the best pitcher in baseball for a home run to give the Sox an early lead, and then singled off Gossage to drive in another run in the bottom of the 8th. Then he scored Boston's last run of the season from 2nd to make it 5-4. Some would say each of those feats show times he came through -- if you consider it important to score first in a do-or-die game or produce runs with your team trailing late...

Right; how many times does a batter need to come through... in pressure situations... to be considered "clutch"? Compare Big Papi and ARod. Each had over 1,000 regular season plate appearances in the big leagues. Their stats are very similar in what most observers would consider high leverage situations: Ortiz batted a little better with 2-outs, RISP, .276/.951 to .265/.849; ARod had a miniscule edge in Late & Close, .265 to .256 (same OPS). In tie games, the two big boppers had identical batting averages of .292... I couldn't find postseason stats for these categories -- but does it really matter (maybe that's the point)? If you polled 1,000 diehards who watched their careers -- including Red Sox and Yankee fans -- and asked which guy they'd want up at bat in a "clutch" moment in the playoffs, how many would pick Alex Rodriguez over David Ortiz? Seriously... any?

... at the deadline, while they were in first place, for two younger relievers no one's ever heard of -- who both throw 105 mph vs. Boston the very next week.

Aren't all championship teams that turnover GMs every five years or so the products of many regimes? Jalen Beeks and Santiago Espinal may have been drafted or signed by earlier guys, but it was Dombro who had the initiative to flip them for the MLB's best postseason pitcher and the 2018 World Series MVP. I've never seen one Sox fan regret the loss of Beeks or Espinal. I hope Schwarber turns out to be Bloom's gem acquisition, but nobody hits on all their choices. Crawford, Panda, Cashner and Robles say bye.