Bosox Board

7:10PM Eastern

Red Sox

Chris Sale (L)

1. Kyle Schwarber (L) 1B
2. Hunter Renfroe (R) RF
3. Rafael Devers (L) 3B
4. J.D. Martinez (R) DH
5. Alex Verdugo (L) LF
6. Christian Vazquez (R) C
7. Jarren Duran (L) CF
8. Jack Lopez (R) 2B
9. Jonathan Arauz (S) SS

Rays

Drew Rasmussen (R)

1. Randy Arozarena (R) RF
2. Nelson Cruz (R) DH
3. Wander Franco (S) SS
4. Yandy Diaz (R) 1B
5. Manuel Margot (R) CF
6. Mike Zunino (R) C
7. Jordan Luplow (R) LF
8. Joey Wendle (L) 3B
9. Taylor Walls (S) 2B

Gametime Temp: 96°F
Chance of Precip: 1%

It's hard to believe what has happened to this team since being one of the best teams ever in 2018 to playing this badly now.

In almost 70 years of following baseball, I don't think I've seen anything quite like this for a major market team.  Maybe I'll explain it away as the 21 Sox playing way over their heads for a couple months.  Some crazy stuff.

Bloom is speaking to the media at 4PM.  If he's speaking about Covid, it can't be good.

Quote from: longgame on September 01, 2021, 01:51:58 PM
Bloom is speaking to the media at 4PM.  If he's speaking about Covid, it can't be good.

One other thing he could speak about would be the firing of Cora (for something that's been brewing), I really doubt it happens in Sept., or announcing his own retirement.  That's just idle talk on my part, but something like more a severe spread of covid would be a major body blow.  The timing so close to gametime is really unusual timing.

Cora is scheduled to speak at 4:30.  I'm guessing its Covid related but if Bloom is speaking it must be serious.  I don't see why Tampa Bay would want to be on the field with these guys and have them in their facility.

Quote from: longgame on September 01, 2021, 02:34:56 PM
Cora is scheduled to speak at 4:30.  I'm guessing its Covid related but if Bloom is speaking it must be serious.  I don't see why Tampa Bay would want to be on the field with these guys and have them in their facility.

WOW , Crazy times at Ridgemont High ????? iono iono

News that Yairo Munoz is now on the covid IL.  I guess they now have Arauz and Santana to play infield, maybe Connor Wong in a stretch, but I doubt they can continue this series with the new numbers. 

On the NESN site, they had this headline at 4:30PM.  It looks like a go for tonight.

Chaim Bloom Expects Red Sox To Continue Series Despite COVID-19 Outbreak

Cora talked to reporters this afternoon and challenged the news that only 85% of players are vaxxed.  Also ...

"The Red Sox are in the midst of a COVID outbreak and being lambasted for being one of six MLB teams below the 85% vaccination threshold.

"Alex Cora is pushing back against that commentary.

"In his weekly interview Wednesday with Merloni & Fauria, the Red Sox’s skipper said he doesn’t think some of his players are receiving their comeuppance for being unvaccinated. “I deserved to be suspended, because I broke the rules,” Cora said. “I don’t deserve for my players to get COVID. I’ll leave it at that.”

"In particular, Alex Cora responded to Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy, who called the Red Sox a “dumpster fire."

“There’s more to this,” Cora said. “Without getting into details of our situation, I don’t think what he’s saying is correct, in a sense. The 85%, there’s less testing, a lot of things you van do as a group because you’re there. But I don’t think it’s one of the reasons we’re getting COVID. It’s happening all over the world.”

"Even with all their absences, the Red Sox are still slated to take the field Wednesday for an important matchup against the Rays. Earlier in the season, MLB postponed games when teams were experiencing COVID outbreaks. The same gesture hasn’t been extended to the Red Sox.

"Cora says they’re just trying to fight through it.

“We can do everything possible: keep the distance, wear the masks, eat by yourself. Wear masks in the dugout, and all that,” he said. “But tomorrow, we hop on a plane again, and we’re going to Boston, we’re going to our families. It’s one of those that you start wondering what can happen. How’s it going to work this weekend when we get home? It’s frustrating â€" like I’ve been saying.”

These were Bloom's comments (from Alex Speier)

@alexspeier
Chaim Bloom on ongoing COVID outbreak: ‘It’s gut-wrenching.’
Bloom on why the outbreak has occurred: ‘I wish we knew exactly why this happened and why it happened when it happened.’
Bloom on connection of vaccination rate to outbreak: ‘every person that isn’t vaccinated in this organization, it pains me. … In this specific situation, we have a lot of breakthrough infections. There’s no way to know’ if outbreak would have been different with higher vax rate
Bloom says ‘majority’ of positive infections have been breakthrough positives.
Bloom says levels of symptoms have varied. Sox optimistic that no one will have long-term symptoms.
Bloom says vaccination status ‘will have to be a conversation in the industry’ regarding player personnel decisions.
Bloom says he believes Red Sox ‘moved the needle’ in terms of vaccinations among team personnel through education earlier this year. He’s been asking himself whether the org could have done more.

Jack Lopez? I don't know Jack.  ;)

Quote from: markj on September 01, 2021, 04:40:34 PM
Jack Lopez? I don't know Jack.  ;)

Lol.  Career minor leaguer. Never heard of him.  That’s what we’re down to.

¨Kiss of Death¨Obrien commenting on Raffy not having COVID.  Let’s see if the poor kid makes it through the game.

Schwarber muffs a play that should have been an out. Maybe still a bit rusty.

GIDP gets them out of it.

Sox showing a bit of offense. Up 1-0.

Sale not having great command so far, but the GDP is his friend tonight.

Good news for Kike'.  Showed no symptoms today.  He could beat the 10 days, but need the negative tests.

Vaz runs into yet another out. By a mile. I hope he gets some base running lessons in the off season.

The coach waived Vaz in.  So the coaches are brain dead as well.

Just saw that on replay. I'll give Vaz a pass on that one, then.

JD needs to change his initials to DP.

Sending Duran wouldn’t have been a good idea in that situation.  Not sure but I believe one or two coaches are out too but that´s fundamental.  Sox need to be sharper than this to win a close game.

Decent game for Sale. Wasn't to sharp but got through it giving up only 2 runs through 6 innings.

Vaz atones with a solo dinger.

Sox up 3-2. Can Ottavino hold a one run lead?

He did it. Unbelievable. The BP done good tonight. That win has to feel really good to the Sox tonight.

Great win. 

Tiggers beat the A's, so the Sox should be back to 2 games up in the WC standings.

Now THAT was a good game.
Chris Sale - 6 innings, 2 runs
Whitlock - 2 innings, no runs
Ottavino - saves the game with 1-2-3 outs.

Good pitching and finally a few timely hits.

Red Sox 3 - Rays 2.

We came from a small deficit and pulled it out with some clutch hitting (for a change) and good relief pitching.  I'm pleased about the win but not fooled.  This team seems to be is disarray and no matter what I keep hearing the opinion I have is that some of our players did NOT get vaccinated this season.  Also it was Carlos Feebles who blew the duke by sending Vazquez in.  Christian, a notorious miserable base runner, gets a pass on this one blunder.

Feebles coaching blunder is just the latest and obvious example that team has a coaching problem.IMHO.

The win is about as Utopia as you can get in this weird season. Great start by your ace, great relief from Whit and Otto and the new guy Duran finding out how to get the big hit in MLB.  There is a problem, who is left to pitch Thurs, and we used all of our good bull pen guys this game.  Maybe Cora can figure it all out.

Quote from: Sea Dog 23 on September 02, 2021, 05:38:26 AM
The win is about as Utopia as you can get in this weird season. Great start by your ace, great relief from Whit and Otto and the new guy Duran finding out how to get the big hit in MLB.  There is a problem, who is left to pitch Thurs, and we used all of our good bull pen guys this game.  Maybe Cora can figure it all out.

One of the beauties of baseball, for me, is the any single night all the needed performances can happen.
Feebles! Pffffftttt!

So, someone please tell me that it's not simply team control that is keeping Feltman out of consideration. He's had himself a nice promotion to Worcester, especially when considering his 1st appearance in July was an implosion. He's been making 2-inning appearances, too. I understand the need to eat innings, though, which is why we brought up who we did.

Anyone know the status of Richards these days?

I really wish Cora would not burn out Valdez so readily.

PINCH me , "WOKE" this morning to see that the SOX WON 3-2 ????  Great stuff !! With so many players out ???  As DAD would say , "SON, ya can only put 9 players on the field at once & that goes for both teams" !!!!! thumb_u thumb_u iono iono rofl rofl rofl

Quote from: MongoLikeSox on September 02, 2021, 06:47:18 AM

Quote from: Sea Dog 23 on September 02, 2021, 05:38:26 AM
The win is about as Utopia as you can get in this weird season. Great start by your ace, great relief from Whit and Otto and the new guy Duran finding out how to get the big hit in MLB.  There is a problem, who is left to pitch Thurs, and we used all of our good bull pen guys this game.  Maybe Cora can figure it all out.

One of the beauties of baseball, for me, is the any single night all the needed performances can happen.
Feebles! Pffffftttt!

So, someone please tell me that it's not simply team control that is keeping Feltman out of consideration. He's had himself a nice promotion to Worcester, especially when considering his 1st appearance in July was an implosion. He's been making 2-inning appearances, too. I understand the need to eat innings, though, which is why we brought up who we did.

Anyone know the status of Richards these days?

I really wish Cora would not burn out Valdez so readily.

Mongo, maybe I’m wrong but I think Bloom is doing two other projects right now for pitching. He’s trying to get the best pitchers that are available, key word, for each series. And at the same time trying to put a value on ten or so starter/bull pen guys for the off-season, protect or release from the 40 man. 

I’d say Crawford, Seabold, Ort, Winchowski(?), Feltman(?), will be protected.  Those he’s tried last two weeks don’t hold much value, except Whitlock, Otto, Taylor.  Anybody else? Not sure how that translates to beating Rays and  NYY.

Take the win and move on.  Any chance they can win again tonight?  E-Rod goes so we know the bullpen will be in heavy use tonight.

Yes, that is a whole other issue. protecting guys who did not have a year of development to match the seniority. It should be an interesting rule-5 draft this off season. Even the next 1 or 2 after that.

Quote from: longgame on September 02, 2021, 08:05:36 AM
Take the win and move on.  Any chance they can win again tonight?  E-Rod goes so we know the bullpen will be in heavy use tonight.

I'm getting a little tired of imploring Rodriguez to finally stand up and go out there and pitch a real quality game for us.  It seems to always fall on deaf ears and either the guy is not fully recovered from the physical scare he had last season or his talent level has taken a deep dive this year.  Or is he just one of those guys who is going to under-achieve and disappoint.  We've seen those kind before so it wouldn't go down as a surprise.  Let me put it this way.  Would anyone out there want to bet one year off his life that this time ER will actually win tonight.  I sure as hell know I wouldn't do it.