7:10PM Eastern
RED SOX
Rick Porcello (R)
1. Andrew Benintendi (L) LF
2. Mookie Betts (R) CF
3. J.D. Martinez (R) RF
4. Mitch Moreland (L) 1B
5. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS
6. Rafael Devers (L) 3B
7. Michael Chavis (R) 2B
8. Christian Vazquez (R) C
9. Eduardo Nunez (R) DH
ASTROS
Gerrit Cole (R)
1. George Springer (R) DH
2. Alex Bregman (R) 3B
3. Michael Brantley (L) LF
4. Carlos Correa (R) SS
5. Josh Reddick (L) RF
6. Yuli Gurriel (R) 1B
7. Aledmys Diaz (R) 2B
8. Robinson Chirinos (R) C
9. Jake Marisnick (R) CF
Gametime Temp: 67°F
Chance of Precip: 7%
Without a DOUBT, this is a BIG SERIES at the FEN's !!! thumb_u iono iono iono
Cole`s last 3 outings have been great bad great. I guess this is his bad game time.
Maybe not do or die unless we get swept embarrassingly on our home turf, but this is an important series for us. That hiccup Tuesday against Colorado was a bummer and also avoidable but a good series against the powerful Astros starting tonight at the Fens could go a long way to making us serious contenders for a major playoff run this coming fall. This is one of the teams that we're going to have to beat in order to achieve that goal and I keep thinking of how we took the Astros down in last Fall's ALCS, 4 to 1, and three zip in their own ball park. I'm thinking they might be out for revenge. I was watching the 2018 World Series film last night for the third or fourth time and one of the highlights from the season was Rick Porcello's magnificent one hitter he hurled against the Yankees on August 2. We need something of that order or somewhat like it tonight, and his time most of the hitters must go after Derrik Cole and chase him from the game. Hope we're up to i because it would mean a lot.
Yeah, Tuesday's game hurt. Sale was as dominant as ever and I agreed with Cora in getting him the hell out of there with 108 pitches. We can`t afford to see Sale throw 42 innings the last 3 months as he did in 18. No way should he be there to throw 120 plus pitches. We probably see fewer than 10 each year hit the 120 mark.
Sox blowing chances again. Lack of clutch hitting.
I could copy my post above and just keep reposting it, but what's the point. Sox just can't capitalize when they have runners in scoring positions.
Sox are 0-7 with runners in scoring positions. 7 lobsters so far.
Finally! Vazquez drives in a run.
Porcello is having a great game. I hope the Sox don't waste it.
And just like that, the Sox are down 2-1. All those wasted chances.
Houston up 3-1 now.
JD's throw home shows why he's a dh. Was all screwed up with his foot work.
This loss goes to the offense. So many RISPs and so little to show for it.
3 K's for Hembree. Nice inning.
Chavis is starting on another slump with an 0-4 night. Vazquez, on the other hand, is 3-4.
Lousy loss. 1-11 with RISP. ONE for ELEVEN How sad is that? 10 lobsters. Porcello deserved better.
Lack of situational hitting killed the sox tonight. Eck echoed my view that too many long swings on two strikes are killing the Red Sox. Chavis was particularly prone to that tonight. Vazquez kept his swing short with solid results.
I don't know what I can add to this thread since markj pretty much summed it up very succinctly. We hit crappy with RISP---what was it, one for eleven? That is terrible and will someone tell me when the last time Nunez got a clutch hit? First game of last year's World Series. Not to single him out but when he doesn't hit he is useless to the team because he can't field. Elk added how it looked to him like they were swinging from their asses all night. Too bad Mookie could't get his shot elevated in the ninth inning. He handled the pitch very well. Porcello pit ched very well for the most part but one run in never going to get it done. Is it possible the team is taking a page out of Sale's book and starving even Porcelo for runs now? Bad day at black rock.
With a HEAVY HEART, I awoke this morning to ANOTHER DEFEAT !!! Not good !!! Time for CHANGES ?? NOW GRASSHOPPER !!!!!!! thumb_d iono iono iono iono rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl
The Sox seem to be in a rut. Lots of goose eggs from the offense this week. 15 no show innings against the Rockies, 8 more last night.
Reading some of the posts above about the Sox hitting form, could a batting coach help them out of the mess? Could be they're becoming more like NBA players, where they don't listen to coachez and do their own thing. geez I hope not. Those fans call it Hero Ball. Did I read that JBJ hired his own batting coach? sigh
Quote from: Sea Dog 23 on May 18, 2019, 08:35:18 AM
The Sox seem to be in a rut. Lots of goose eggs from the offense this week. 15 no show innings against the Rockies, 8 more last night.
Reading some of the posts above about the Sox hitting form, could a batting coach help them out of the mess? Could be they're becoming more like NBA players, where they don't listen to coachez and do their own thing. geez I hope not. Those fans call it Hero Ball. Did I read that JBJ hired his own batting coach? sigh
If Jack Brad did hire his own hitting coach it is about four years too late, but knock yourself out Brad. It can't get much worse for you. Maybe you can get Nunez to hire him too. Yes Sea Dog, we're in a rut and it might get worse before it gets better......like in 2020 or 2021 when they will be ex-champs and Cora won't be tempted to pull another stupid ST move as he did this season. Analytics has downplayed RBI's as an important statistic and if anyone on this board agrees with that should have their heads examined. The fact that so many of our players have trouble driving in runs speaks volumes to our troubles. Yes, in my opinion, there are players who seem to have the ability to drive in runners and those who simply cannot on a consistent basis.
Bradley has periodically gone on hot streaks and shortens his swing hitting the ball the other way. But after a bit he thinks himself Willie Mays and goes back to the long swing and lifts his head and eyes off the ball as he tries to pull the pitch to drive the ball 500 feet for a six run homer. So Sea Dog is right too many Sox hitters are trying for hero ball.
Nunez the other night refused to accept a walk even though Boston needed base runners. Last night was no different. He always goes up hacking even Remy and Eckersley said as much.