SOX V RAYS
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2018, 4PM AT TROPICANA FIELD
TV: NESN
BOSTON, 0-0...TAMPA, 0-0
BOSTON:
CHRIS SALE, LHP, 0-0, -.-- ERA
The lefty ace makes his fourth Opening Day start of his career, but his first for the Red Sox.
Sale is 3-0 with a 2.45 ERA in his previous openers. In seven career starts at Tropican Field, Sale
is 3-3 with a 2.31 ERA.
TAMPA:
CHRIS ARCHER, RHP, 0-0, -.--ERA
Archer will make his fourth consecutive Opening Day. The staff ace has electric stuff and
he's a blue-collar guy, notching 200-plus innings the last three seasons. But he's posted three-
consecutive losing seasons.
Sale-Archer the main event in Sox-Rays opener
ST. PETERSBURG -- A classic pitching matchup will highlight the Red Sox-Rays opener at Tropicana Field on Thursday at 4 p.m. ET.
Highly regarded aces Chris Sale and Chris Archer will start for the Red Sox and Rays, respectively, in a matchup that almost got derailed late last week.
View Full Game Coverage
Archer made his final Spring Training start Friday in a Minor League game and had to leave after getting hit on his right forearm with a comebacker. Saturday, Sale experienced a similar fate when he got hit in the hip by a line drive.
While both teams received scares about their aces, the Sale-Archer show will go on, as both sustained only minor bruises.
"I don't see anything lingering from this. It looked a lot worse than it actually is," said Sale.
Following suit, Archer noted: "I'm going to be good."
Sale will be making his first Opening Day start for the Red Sox. The left-hander is particularly tough on left-handed hitters, but he's equally tough on righties. Rays first baseman C.J. Cron explained why.
"For starters, he has great stuff," Cron said. "He doesn't fall into any pattern. He can throw any pitch he has any time he wants, and he can usually throw it where he wants to. So there's not really much you can sit on as a hitter in different counts. You just have to be ready for everything and hope he gives you something to hit."
Archer will be making his fourth consecutive Opening Day start for the Rays.
"We don't need him to do anything more than what he's capable of, which is a lot," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "If he goes out and performs, we have a very good pitcher going every fifth day for us."
Thursday's game will mark Alex Cora's first game as manager of the Red Sox, and it will be a big event. Cora's mother will be flying in from Puerto Rico, as well as many other members of his family.
"This is a great opportunity," Cora said of managing the Red Sox. "I know the expectations, I know how people feel, but we have to enjoy it."
Cora's first game will be against a former teammate in Cash, whom he won a World Series championship with in 2007 with Boston.
The last time the Red Sox opened their season at Tropicana Field was March 31, 2003, and they suffered a gutwrenching loss as Carl Crawford smashed a walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth against Chad Fox.
Three things to know about this game
• For the first time since 2006, Dustin Pedroia won't be in the starting lineup for the Red Sox on Opening Day. The second baseman is expected to miss the first several weeks of the season as he recovers from left knee surgery. In the Rays' camp, this will be their first Opening Day without Evan Longoria. Tampa Bay traded its veteran third baseman to the Giants in December.
• Among the Red Sox's additions, they will have J.D. Martinez in their lineup. The veteran slugger signed a five-year, $110 million contract in February. New to the Rays is Carlos Gomez, who signed a one-year, $4 million deal with another $500,000 in incentives.
• Thursday will begin the Rays' season-long 20th Anniversary celebration.
Bill Chastain has covered the Rays for MLB.com since 2004.
https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/chris-sale-chris-archer-to-duel-on-opening-day/c-269894428
Alex Cora reveals Red Sox lineup for Opening Day
Jason Mastrodonato
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Red Sox were loud and full of laughter during their workout on Wednesday afternoon, when they sounded as enthusiastic as a high school team a day before the regular season starts.
Just more than 24 hours before their 4:10 p.m. ET Opening Day game against the Tampa Bay Rays was set to begin, manager Alex Cora released his probable lineup against Rays’ right-handed starter Chris Archer:
1. Mookie Betts, RF
2. Andrew Benintendi (L), LF
3. Hanley Ramirez, 1B
4. J.D. Martinez, DH
5. Xander Bogaerts, SS
6. Rafael Devers (L), 3B, OR Eduardo Nunez, 2B
7. Eduardo Nunez, 2B, OR Rafael Devers, 3B,
8. Jackie Bradley Jr. (L), CF
9. Christian Vazquez, C
Cora said he wasn’t sure yet in which order he’d hit Devers and Nunez, but Devers would be in the lineup somewhere, despite his home plate collision on Tuesday that left him with a bruised right knee.
There should be no surprises in the lineup, though Vazquez getting the nod at catcher is a stark contrast from last year, when Sandy Leon caught Chris Sale for every one of his starts except one.
“We feel comfortable with Vazquez catching Sale too,†Cora said.
Cora will have most of his family on hand for his first game as manager of the Red Sox, with around 15 people in attendance.
“I told my daughter the other day, she asked me ‘Are you nervous?’†Cora said. “I said, ‘Not really.’ She's like, ‘Dad!’ She's more nervous than me. Obviously tonight is going to be interesting how much sleep I'm going to get.â€
Sale is making his first Opening Day start for the Red Sox after Rick Porcello, coming off his Cy Young Award, earned the nod last year.
“It fun, it's exciting, and I've done it a couple times before,†Sale said. “This would be obviously my first one here, which is special. Boston, obviously, is a great city for sports, a great city for baseball, and to be named Opening Day starter for this organization is not something I take lightly and I'm actually really excited about.
“That's part of playing here. We're held to a very high standard by not only ourselves but obviously you guys and our fan base, and rightfully so. This is one of the best places to play sports, and from what I've heard, it's one of the places to win -- the best place to win. So, yeah, I mean, we're all in.â€
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/red_sox/clubhouse_insider/2018/03/alex_cora_reveals_red_sox_lineup_for_opening_day
Appropriate TIME to THANK BEAR, her assistants, for all the HARD WORK & LOVE that they put in on this BOARD...... ALSO, a good bunch of RED SOX FANS makes the BOSOXBOARD a good/GREAT place to be.... GO ALEX CORA, and his BOSTON RED SOX in 2018..... MAKE us PROUD !!! DAD & BILL-806 thumb_u thumb_u thumb_u rofl rofl rofl
Quote from: Bill-806 on March 28, 2018, 02:57:13 PM
Appropriate TIME to THANK BEAR, her assistants, for all the HARD WORK & LOVE that they put in on this BOARD...... ALSO, a good bunch of RED SOX FANS makes the BOSOXBOARD a good/GREAT place to be.... GO ALEX CORA, and his BOSTON RED SOX in 2018..... MAKE us PROUD !!! DAD & BILL-806 thumb_u thumb_u thumb_u rofl rofl rofl
Bill, on another thread in the ST section which I couldn't download for some reason, you said we have to play the games first despite the fact that the first nine games supposedly favors us, and in relation to that was the story of whether the fans would embrace this team from the start. I can tell you this......if we come out of it 7-2 or so they will. If we come back to Fenway with a 4-5 record or worse the wolves will be howling, especially if a couple of suspects who I have been suspicious of from the beginning of ST do their usual job of not hitting a lick or choking in the clutch. No excuses!!!!!!! I don't expect to go 9-0 in those first nine games but I sure as hell expect no worse than 6-3 and, better still 7-2. We did win the AL East last season and to my way of thinking we did win something so the season wasn't a complete washout after our beating at the hands of the Astros, and the year before from Cleveland. We expect a longer run this season and we had better get it----and within two or three weeks we have to weed out the guys who are not doing the job, like you know who!!!!!
Quote from: SeaBeachFred on March 28, 2018, 03:09:37 PM
Quote from: Bill-806 on March 28, 2018, 02:57:13 PM
Appropriate TIME to THANK BEAR, her assistants, for all the HARD WORK & LOVE that they put in on this BOARD...... ALSO, a good bunch of RED SOX FANS makes the BOSOXBOARD a good/GREAT place to be.... GO ALEX CORA, and his BOSTON RED SOX in 2018..... MAKE us PROUD !!! DAD & BILL-806 thumb_u thumb_u thumb_u rofl rofl rofl
Bill, on another thread in the ST section which I couldn't download for some reason, you said we have to play the games first despite the fact that the first nine games supposedly favors us, and in relation to that was the story of whether the fans would embrace this team from the start. I can tell you this......if we come out of it 7-2 or so they will. If we come back to Fenway with a 4-5 record or worse the wolves will be howling, especially if a couple of suspects who I have been suspicious of from the beginning of ST do their usual job of not hitting a lick or choking in the clutch. No excuses!!!!!!! I don't expect to go 9-0 in those first nine games but I sure as hell expect no worse than 6-3 and, better still 7-2. We did win the AL East last season and to my way of thinking we did win something so the season wasn't a complete washout after our beating at the hands of the Astros, and the year before from Cleveland. We expect a longer run this season and we had better get it----and within two or three weeks we have to weed out the guys who are not doing the job, like you know who!!!!!
I am looking for a QUICK 6-0 coming out of Florida..... After all the SNOW, baseball will be good for all of us..... thumb_u rofl rofl rofl
Quote from: Bill-806 on March 28, 2018, 03:28:03 PM
Quote from: SeaBeachFred on March 28, 2018, 03:09:37 PM
Quote from: Bill-806 on March 28, 2018, 02:57:13 PM
Appropriate TIME to THANK BEAR, her assistants, for all the HARD WORK & LOVE that they put in on this BOARD...... ALSO, a good bunch of RED SOX FANS makes the BOSOXBOARD a good/GREAT place to be.... GO ALEX CORA, and his BOSTON RED SOX in 2018..... MAKE us PROUD !!! DAD & BILL-806 thumb_u thumb_u thumb_u rofl rofl rofl
Bill, on another thread in the ST section which I couldn't download for some reason, you said we have to play the games first despite the fact that the first nine games supposedly favors us, and in relation to that was the story of whether the fans would embrace this team from the start. I can tell you this......if we come out of it 7-2 or so they will. If we come back to Fenway with a 4-5 record or worse the wolves will be howling, especially if a couple of suspects who I have been suspicious of from the beginning of ST do their usual job of not hitting a lick or choking in the clutch. No excuses!!!!!!! I don't expect to go 9-0 in those first nine games but I sure as hell expect no worse than 6-3 and, better still 7-2. We did win the AL East last season and to my way of thinking we did win something so the season wasn't a complete washout after our beating at the hands of the Astros, and the year before from Cleveland. We expect a longer run this season and we had better get it----and within two or three weeks we have to weed out the guys who are not doing the job, like you know who!!!!!
I am looking for a QUICK 6-0 coming out of Florida..... After all the SNOW, baseball will be good for all of us..... thumb_u rofl rofl rofl
Already I'm getting angry at looking at our starting lineup for tomorrow. Why the hell is Jackie Bradley and his 152 average in the lineup. He has played his way out of it and should not only not be in the lineup but sent down to work on his hitting. If the Red Sox are going to go with "experience" over talent we could get in real trouble very quickly. I really think this sucks.
Quote from: SeaBeachFred on March 28, 2018, 09:46:09 PM
Quote from: Bill-806 on March 28, 2018, 03:28:03 PM
Quote from: SeaBeachFred on March 28, 2018, 03:09:37 PM
Quote from: Bill-806 on March 28, 2018, 02:57:13 PM
Appropriate TIME to THANK BEAR, her assistants, for all the HARD WORK & LOVE that they put in on this BOARD...... ALSO, a good bunch of RED SOX FANS makes the BOSOXBOARD a good/GREAT place to be.... GO ALEX CORA, and his BOSTON RED SOX in 2018..... MAKE us PROUD !!! DAD & BILL-806 thumb_u thumb_u thumb_u rofl rofl rofl
Bill, on another thread in the ST section which I couldn't download for some reason, you said we have to play the games first despite the fact that the first nine games supposedly favors us, and in relation to that was the story of whether the fans would embrace this team from the start. I can tell you this......if we come out of it 7-2 or so they will. If we come back to Fenway with a 4-5 record or worse the wolves will be howling, especially if a couple of suspects who I have been suspicious of from the beginning of ST do their usual job of not hitting a lick or choking in the clutch. No excuses!!!!!!! I don't expect to go 9-0 in those first nine games but I sure as hell expect no worse than 6-3 and, better still 7-2. We did win the AL East last season and to my way of thinking we did win something so the season wasn't a complete washout after our beating at the hands of the Astros, and the year before from Cleveland. We expect a longer run this season and we had better get it----and within two or three weeks we have to weed out the guys who are not doing the job, like you know who!!!!!
I am looking for a QUICK 6-0 coming out of Florida..... After all the SNOW, baseball will be good for all of us..... thumb_u rofl rofl rofl
Already I'm getting angry at looking at our starting lineup for tomorrow. Why the hell is Jackie Bradley and his 152 average in the lineup. He has played his way out of it and should not only not be in the lineup but sent down to work on his hitting. If the Red Sox are going to go with "experience" over talent we could get in real trouble very quickly. I really think this sucks.
Hang in there FRED, being the first game, J B J deserves an opportunity to "start hot" or play his way into a TRADE.... Will see, soooon !! thumb_u thumb_u rofl rofl iono iono
Pete Abraham
Verified account
Mookie Betts hit Opening Day home runs in each of the last two seasons. He has four career home runs against Rays starter Chris Archer including one leading off the game last July 9.
Quote from: Bear on March 28, 2018, 02:44:11 PM
Alex Cora reveals Red Sox lineup for Opening Day
Jason Mastrodonato
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Red Sox were loud and full of laughter during their workout on Wednesday afternoon, when they sounded as enthusiastic as a high school team a day before the regular season starts.
Just more than 24 hours before their 4:10 p.m. ET Opening Day game against the Tampa Bay Rays was set to begin, manager Alex Cora released his probable lineup against Rays’ right-handed starter Chris Archer:
1. Mookie Betts, RF
2. Andrew Benintendi (L), LF
3. Hanley Ramirez, 1B
4. J.D. Martinez, DH
5. Xander Bogaerts, SS
6. Rafael Devers (L), 3B, OR Eduardo Nunez, 2B
7. Eduardo Nunez, 2B, OR Rafael Devers, 3B,
8. Jackie Bradley Jr. (L), CF
9. Christian Vazquez, C
Cora said he wasn’t sure yet in which order he’d hit Devers and Nunez, but Devers would be in the lineup somewhere, despite his home plate collision on Tuesday that left him with a bruised right knee.
There should be no surprises in the lineup, though Vazquez getting the nod at catcher is a stark contrast from last year, when Sandy Leon caught Chris Sale for every one of his starts except one.
“We feel comfortable with Vazquez catching Sale too,†Cora said.
Cora will have most of his family on hand for his first game as manager of the Red Sox, with around 15 people in attendance.
“I told my daughter the other day, she asked me ‘Are you nervous?’†Cora said. “I said, ‘Not really.’ She's like, ‘Dad!’ She's more nervous than me. Obviously tonight is going to be interesting how much sleep I'm going to get.â€
Sale is making his first Opening Day start for the Red Sox after Rick Porcello, coming off his Cy Young Award, earned the nod last year.
“It fun, it's exciting, and I've done it a couple times before,†Sale said. “This would be obviously my first one here, which is special. Boston, obviously, is a great city for sports, a great city for baseball, and to be named Opening Day starter for this organization is not something I take lightly and I'm actually really excited about.
“That's part of playing here. We're held to a very high standard by not only ourselves but obviously you guys and our fan base, and rightfully so. This is one of the best places to play sports, and from what I've heard, it's one of the places to win -- the best place to win. So, yeah, I mean, we're all in.â€
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/red_sox/clubhouse_insider/2018/03/alex_cora_reveals_red_sox_lineup_for_opening_day
BOS
4:10 PM ET
In Domed Stadium
TB Boston Red Sox
@ Tampa Bay Rays
RFMookie Betts (R)
LFA. Benintendi (L)
1BHanley Ramirez (R)
DHJ.D. Martinez (R)
SSXander Bogaerts (R)
3BRafael Devers (L)
2BEduardo Nunez (R)
CFJackie Bradley (L)
CC. Vazquez (R)
BOS: Chris Sale (L) (0-0, 0.00)
3B Matt Duffy (R)
CF Kevin Kiermaier (L)
RF Carlos Gomez (R)
1B C.J. Cron (R)
C Wilson Ramos (R)
LF Denard Span (L)
SS A. Hechavarria (R)
2B D. Robertson (R)
DH Rob Refsnyder (R)
TB: Chris Archer (R) (0-0, 0.00)
Rob---I am trying to be as optimistic as I can be but I do NOT like that batting order one bit. We have guys in it batting in the wrong spot and one player who shouldn't be in there at all save for the fact that he is somebody's favorite in the front office. We need to win six or seven games on this nine game trip. Coming home 5-4 or 4-5 or worse against two or the supposed weaker teams in the game bodes ill will for the team----games we may never get to make up for. I'm very disappointed in Alex Cora for putting out this batting order and for the roster he constructed. I hope I will feel better in five or six hours.
Quote from: SeaBeachFred on March 29, 2018, 02:41:40 PM
Rob---I am trying to be as optimistic as I can be but I do NOT like that batting order one bit. We have guys in it batting in the wrong spot and one player who shouldn't be in there at all save for the fact that he is somebody's favorite in the front office. We need to win six or seven games on this nine game trip. Coming home 5-4 or 4-5 or worse against two or the supposed weaker teams in the game bodes ill will for the team----games we may never get to make up for. I'm very disappointed in Alex Cora for putting out this batting order and for the roster he constructed. I hope I will feel better in five or six hours.
I think Cora is going to tinker a bit until he sees how it goes. I don`t know if this will ever happen but I like Nunez leading off and Mookie 3 or 4.
2 Ks 13 pitches for Sale and the hip appears fine.
Nice AB by Bogey.Hard hit liner base of LF wall.JD who walked on 3rd.
Raffy IFGO scores JD and XB to 3rd. Nuney with an inside the parker on a blooper to the gap between the 2 fielders.
3 zip
The best part of Nuneys HR was that the leg held up just fine.
Quote from: Rob from Mass on March 29, 2018, 03:26:37 PM
The best part of Nuneys HR was that the leg held up just fine.
B I N G O dat.....I was thinking the same thing..... Got to love the NEW VAUNTED OFFENSE that does not SPOT the PITCHER 1.5 strikes by looking.... Always said, once you jump on a pitcher, that throws off his timing and keeps the DEFENSE guessing !! thumb_u thumb_u rofl rofl rofl
22 pitch inning for Sale but no runs. 35 pitches 21 strikes
Sale struggles with control the last 2 IP with 43 pitches after only 13 in the 1st.
Who is the RED SOX SHORTSTOP today ??? GEEZZ, the guy is 2 for 2 & looks ALL WORLD !!! thumb_u thumb_u iono iono rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl
Speedy 8 pitch inning for Sale.
Bogey with a wall ball double to CF and scores on a lined double by Raffy.
Quote from: Bill-806 on March 29, 2018, 04:13:49 PM
Who is the RED SOX SHORTSTOP today ??? GEEZZ, the guy is 2 for 2 & looks ALL WORLD !!! thumb_u thumb_u iono iono rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl
CHECK that, 3 FOR 3 !!! "ALL WORLD" !!! thumb_u thumb_u rofl rofl rofl rofl
Whudda thunk our top four batters are hitless (JD with a walk) and we're up 4-0.
Kelly scuffling. Rays on the board.
Kelly with his 3rd BB of the inning. The game is suddenly in trouble.
Good to hear Remdawg in the booth, though.
Sean McAdam
@Sean_McAdam
The Red Sox talked about Kelly mixing his pitches more in spring, but 21 of first 23 pitches he threw (and 23-of-28 overall) were fastballs.
This is getting damn UGLY.
First game and we see a big improvement in managing. Farrell would have put the rookie in this tough situation just because of the R/L matchup. Cora wisely goes with Smith (who then walks in a run). What the hell is with these guys? They're going to blow another great game by Sale?
Un-real. The BP just threw this game away. Pathetic. Hell of a way to start the season.
Sox catch a break on the WP as the ball bounces off wall right to Vazas runner held. Double scores 3 and the Sox are down 5-4.Crazy bottom 8.
3walks in the inning and all 3 scored.
5 runs on 3 hits for TB. Now 6-4 on 4 hits.
Unreal !!! I need a stiff drink.
Quote from: markj on March 29, 2018, 05:38:16 PM
First game and we see a big improvement in managing. Farrell would have put the rookie in this tough situation just because of the R/L matchup. Cora wisely goes with Smith (who then walks in a run). What the hell is with these guys? They're going to blow another great game by Sale?
lawd have mercy.
Cora's made some very poor managerial decisions by leaving Kelley in way too long. Sale got screwed. Absolutely no excuse for that decision.
Quote from: markj on March 29, 2018, 05:47:30 PM
5 runs on 3 hits for TB. Now 6-4 on 4 hits.
Not the amount of hits its when you get them.
Finally out of the inning. Kelly and Smith should be ashamed. Awful showing.
Quote from: elktonnick on March 29, 2018, 05:48:41 PM
Cora's made some very poor managerial decisions by leaving Kelley in way too long. Sale got screwed. Absolutely no excuse for that decision.
That may be true, but it was still a good move not to put the rookie into that bases-loaded mess.
Quote from: markj on March 29, 2018, 05:51:10 PM
Quote from: elktonnick on March 29, 2018, 05:48:41 PM
Cora's made some very poor managerial decisions by leaving Kelley in way too long. Sale got screwed. Absolutely no excuse for that decision.
That may be true, but it was still a good move not to put the rookie into that bases-loaded mess.
I agree.
WOW..... #1, What would J F SAY ??? # 2, JOE KELLY & his 100MPH fastball is a STIFF.... D D needs to package his ass out of town, NOW GRASSHOPPER !!! # 3 Welcome Alex Cora to BOSTON, as PEDY would say, "THIS IS HOW WE DO THINGS HERE" !! thumb_d thumb_d thumb_d thumb_d slap slap slap slap slap rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl
JBJ with the last chance to save this mess.
JBJ does squat, of course. Sox blow the opener. I hope this isn't an omen for the season.
Remy said it best with 1 word. Painfull.
Alex Speier
@alexspeier
4m4 minutes ago
The Red Sox lose, 6-4. They endure a blown save in a loss on Opening Day for the first time since ... 3/31/2003 in their 6-4 loss-by-committee to the Devil Rays in the Trop.
Kelly and Smith may have been the instrumentalities for this debacle but the author was Cora. I blame his inexperience with Kelly and his history of complete melt downs. Kelly may have a great sense of humor and be a wonderful clubhouse guy but first things first.
I don't know why any of you out there are surprised or shocked at what happened today. They took Sale out after six innings and already Cora is in my cross hairs with that stupid move. Oh yea, we need to save him for later in the season.... BULLSHIT!!!!!!!! You have to win the game you're playing TODAY, not tomorrow or the next ****ing month. We did not score enough runs today to help Sale. We did not hit except for couple of players. I also said much earlier that our bullpen is suspect and got laughed at for it....Well our bullpen today sucked, Cora's managing sucked, and the team sucked when it counted. And Bradley who should be out washing dishes w ent 0 for 4------big efen surprise!!!!!!! But loud mouth Hanley who boasted about what he was going to do this year started off like he ended last season----for shit!!!!!!!!!
I don't need a wake-up call my friends but some of you out there do. I told all of you how leery I was about this game. I sensed disaster coming and it came. Now let's see if we can hit tomorrow, let's see if we can pitch tomorrow, let's see if Cora can manage tomorrow. I am very very angry right now b ecause I saw this coming. BTW, Cora, you baboon, you still plan on starting Bradleyt tomorrow? Well, he's only down to about 140 right now, you dumb ass.
Quote from: elktonnick on March 29, 2018, 06:08:21 PM
Kelly and Smith may have been the instrumentalities for this debacle but the author was Cora. I blame his inexperience with Kelly and his history of complete melt downs. Kelly may have a great sense of humor and be a wonderful clubhouse guy but first things first.
Today Cora was a totally shitty manager. The first mistake was keeping Bradley in the lineup and it followed from there. And this Carson Smith? Is this what we have been waiting for from this piece of shit??????? What about Bobby Poyner???? He pitched well in ST and was not used. No, we can't use rookies. We need experience. Well w e had experience in there with Bradley, Kelly, Smith, Ramirez and what did it get us? A @#$%&^*( loss. You're are now in my cross hairs Cora. You sucked mightily today.
Not gonna put this all on Cora. Most of blame is Kelly and Smith. What a s--t show.
Having deja vu of last year when Sale would pitch these gems and get no W because offense or pen new it.
Quote from: ipot on March 29, 2018, 06:29:39 PM
Not gonna put this all on Cora. Most of blame is Kelly and Smith. What a s--t show.
Having deja vu of last year when Sale would pitch these gems and get no W because offense or pen new it.
Most of it IS on Cora. Playing Bradley after he hit a miserable 152 in ST facing sup-par pitchers----did he think he would suddenly start hitting against Major League pitchers? And why take out Sale after only six innings? He was pitching well......we need to win games early against the supposed weak teams.......as some said. Well here is what I say.....When the Red Sox go on the field there aren't ANY weak teams. We've shown the sickening ability to lose games we never should lose. Why wasn't Kimbrel called upon in the eighth inning? He most likely would have gotten through that and at least given us a four run lead heading into the ninth. Well let'see----does he play his pet Bradley tomorrow again? Does he use Kimbrel this time around. Does he show he can manage as he sure as hell didn't today? And why did he have Bradley bat in the ninth inning? The game most likely over, he could have sent a message that favoritism is down the crapper and players who perform will play. One wonders if Cougher Cora will play him tomorrow
Down on one KNEE with TEARS in my EYES..... So much for going 162 & 0 ...... BUT, they had a GREAT/FUN SPRING TRAINING ??? It hurts old men like me....... But there again, KELLY ??? You could see it in his FACE, all he has is a fastball, as DAD would say, "SON, any damn FOOL can hit a fast ball" !!..... There are 2 or 3 LEFTOVERS in that bullpen from last year that will break our hearts every time !! DRAIN that PEN , NOW GRASSHOPPER!!! thumb_d thumb_d thumb_d iono slap slap slap slap slap slap slap
Quote from: Bill-806 on March 29, 2018, 06:44:24 PM
Down on one KNEE with TEARS in my EYES..... So much for going 162 & 0 ...... BUT, they had a GREAT/FUN SPRING TRAINING ??? It hurts old men like me....... But there again, KELLY ??? You could see it in his FACE, all he has is a fastball, as DAD would say, "SON, any damn FOOL can hit a fast ball" !!..... There are 2 or 3 LEFTOVERS in that bullpen from last year that will break our hearts every time !! DRAIN that PEN , NOW GRASSHOPPER!!! thumb_d thumb_d thumb_d iono slap slap slap slap slap slap slap
Well Bill, my friend, one lesson I think you learned today is not to assume we are going to win and have a drumfire opening weak. You go out there and play like your @#$%&?@ life is on the line. That's how you win. You take no team for granted and assume nothing? Know when I was pretty sure we would lose today and my senses kept telling me? When I saw that lineup and it had Bradley in it. How the hell can you keep a guy like that in it when he simply is lost at the plate---that is, unless, you think the rest of the team will all hit. Well they won't, they didn't last year and, mark my words, two or three of them besides the woeful Bradley will let us down this season. Tomorrow is Price and that Coughing Cora had better let him pitch at least into the seventh, get that efen Bradley out of the lineup and take Ramirez out of the third spot or we could have another sad and sorry ending tomorrow/ To be certain, I did not firmly believe we would lose today but I had the feeling that we p robably would. I just don't like this lineup as presently constituted and if it isn't changed we will have more of the same. I am totally pissed off.
OK, Smith, Kelly, Cora, wasn't their best day, maybe their worst. But what about LeVangie the pitching coach. He was our BP coach last year. If anything, he shoule have been in Cora's ear after Kelly gave up the double, really in his ear after the subsequent walk. Of all people he knows Kelly, he saw walk out of the pen all last year.
Let me be very specific why the architect of this loss is squarely on Cora. He wasn't watching Kelly pitch. Kelly's history is one of sudden quick melt downs. I knew when Kelly came in that there was a high possibility that he would have control issues since that has been his history. Either he has control or he doesn't there is no middle ground with hi!. Cora for all his reliance on data should have been cognizant of that fact. For some one who is supposedly so data driven he certainly didn't act upon that fact until it was too late. Carson Smith's quirky delivery is not the type of pitcher I would bring in with the bases full and not expect a walk. I will however give Cora a pass on not bringing in Kimbrel given the fact of his short spring. I question how reliable his control would be in that situation given how he has performed early in the year in the past.
Regardless. Cora should have pulled Kelly sooner and not waited until the bases were full to do so since by then it was too late.
Quote from: Sea Dog 23 on March 29, 2018, 06:58:30 PM
OK, Smith, Kelly, Cora, wasn't their best day, maybe their worst. But what about LeVangie the pitching coach. He was our BP coach last year. If anything, he shoule have been in Cora's ear after Kelly gave up the double, really in his ear after the subsequent walk. Of all people he knows Kelly, he saw walk out of the pen all last year.
You are correct sir
I am SICK to my stomach over this loss.
UNACCEPTABLE to lose this way.
6 runs in the 8th inning?????
DAMN!
OK. First game of the season totally sucked donkey balls.
I'm on the road all day (west coast) so I'm keeping track of the game on my phone. Everything is going great. Sale is awesome. 1 hit over 6 innings. Leaves with a 4-0 lead. Game is in the bag.
Stop at a friends house while heading back to my office. Was there about 45 minutes. He must live in a dead signal zone. Could not get a cell signal at all. Got back in my work truck and had a signal. 6-4 Rays up. WTF??? 6 runs on 3 hits? How the **** is that even possible?
Where was Kimbrel? I'm guessing he was available. What was Cora saying about using him in the 8th when needed? Hey CORA! HE WAS NEEDED!
First game as a manager and he already ****ed up. However, the players also ****ed up by not doing their ****ing job as BB would say.
BTW, is cursing allowed on this board? I really ****ing hope so.
Looks like cursing is not allowed. ****.
Quote from: wpete on March 29, 2018, 10:10:16 PM
Looks like cursing is not allowed. ****.
The "F" word is broken down to symbols but shit is used and used liberally, and for today's game it is more than appropriate. I cannot understand how Cora could do such a totally crappy job of managing today. He has Kimbrel, said he would use him in the eighth inning but never used him at all. He has most likely the worst hitter on the team back in the lineup after a woeful 152 season in the Grapefruit League, has Hanley and big bragging mouth in the third hole in the lineup where he most certainly should not be, and this Carson Smith who we waited for so long to watch pitch looked like shit warmed over. Kelly ought to stop the clown act and get serious because he stunk up the game today and once again the team did not score enough runs for Sale and once again screwed out of a possible win as they did so many times last season. This could actually turn out to be a real shitty team when you consider the Yankees have a blow out bullpen, good starting pitching and hitters who go out and score enough runs to give their starting pitcher a win.
Hey Cora, you butt, if someone tells you they saw this on Bosox Board, let's see if you get your head out of your ass and sit down Bradley tomorrow and make him a fourth outfielder until Dumbo gets the smarts to trade him away for a pound of grapes and a can of lard.
Quote from: SeaBeachFred on March 29, 2018, 06:43:10 PM
Quote from: ipot on March 29, 2018, 06:29:39 PM
Not gonna put this all on Cora. Most of blame is Kelly and Smith. What a s--t show.
Having deja vu of last year when Sale would pitch these gems and get no W because offense or pen new it.
Most of it IS on Cora. Playing Bradley after he hit a miserable 152 in ST facing sup-par pitchers----did he think he would suddenly start hitting against Major League pitchers? And why take out Sale after only six innings? He was pitching well......we need to win games early against the supposed weak teams.......as some said. Well here is what I say.....When the Red Sox go on the field there aren't ANY weak teams. We've shown the sickening ability to lose games we never should lose. Why wasn't Kimbrel called upon in the eighth inning? He most likely would have gotten through that and at least given us a four run lead heading into the ninth. Well let'see----does he play his pet Bradley tomorrow again? Does he use Kimbrel this time around. Does he show he can manage as he sure as hell didn't today? And why did he have Bradley bat in the ninth inning? The game most likely over, he could have sent a message that favoritism is down the crapper and players who perform will play. One wonders if Cougher Cora will play him tomorrow
After watching the rewind of the game, I stand corrected. ;) It's on Cora. Yup Not so much the Bradley thing but his handling of the pitchers - it was bad managing. Bad.
1st game is in the books, we move forward again tonight........ As DAD would say, "SON, yesterday hurt as much as it did when all the girls would hang up on you on the big TELE PHONE" !! moveon.org iono iono
I had a terrible thought last night. One poster here said last week that we "babied the staff" in ST. If that's the case, starters will get yanked on short pitch counts, then we'll see what is really in that bullpen. I hope Cora has those young arms in AAA on speed dial. (I can really only recall two new guys --- Haley and Walden --- Poyner is already close by). 'cause the vets in the BP are just that, old or recycled vets that every ALEast contender knows all about.
Please help out this "OLD SALT"...... In all the excitement yesterday, not sure if I was DREAMING, but it looks like my post about a "bad dream" due to yesterdays game thread being dated APRIL 29 was REMOVED, why would that be ??? PLEASE SPLAIN ?? ALSO, Game 2 thread for Saturday has me confused again, I thought that game 2 was TONIGHT (FRIDAY)....... Boy, I must be loosing it !! iono iono iono rofl rofl rofl
Quote from: Bill-806 on March 30, 2018, 07:44:48 AM
Please help out this "OLD SALT"...... In all the excitement yesterday, not sure if I was DREAMING, but it looks like my post about a "bad dream" due to yesterdays game thread being dated APRIL 29 was REMOVED, why would that be ??? PLEASE SPLAIN ?? ALSO, Game 2 thread for Saturday has me confused again, I thought that game 2 was TONIGHT (FRIDAY)....... Boy, I must be loosing it !! iono iono iono rofl rofl rofl
If you think you're losing it, whaddaya think young Cora feels like today? (quoting John Lester, "there are 162 games, but every game in Boston is like the 7th game of the World Series")
Quote from: Sea Dog 23 on March 30, 2018, 07:55:37 AM
Quote from: Bill-806 on March 30, 2018, 07:44:48 AM
Please help out this "OLD SALT"...... In all the excitement yesterday, not sure if I was DREAMING, but it looks like my post about a "bad dream" due to yesterdays game thread being dated APRIL 29 was REMOVED, why would that be ??? PLEASE SPLAIN ?? ALSO, Game 2 thread for Saturday has me confused again, I thought that game 2 was TONIGHT (FRIDAY)....... Boy, I must be loosing it !! iono iono iono rofl rofl rofl
If you think you're losing it, whaddaya think young Cora feels like today? (quoting John Lester, "there are 162 games, but every game in Boston is like the 7th game of the World Series")
And that my friend is a "B I N G O" !!! rofl rofl rofl
Quote from: Sea Dog 23 on March 30, 2018, 07:27:33 AM
I had a terrible thought last night. One poster here said last week that we "babied the staff" in ST. If that's the case, starters will get yanked on short pitch counts, then we'll see what is really in that bullpen. I hope Cora has those young arms in AAA on speed dial. (I can really only recall two new guys --- Haley and Walden --- Poyner is already close by). 'cause the vets in the BP are just that, old or recycled vets that every ALEast contender knows all about.
I attended 5 st games and Cora did baby the starters and in doing so almost resulted in serious injury to Sale by instructing him to pitch at 80% effort on his fastball. A hard hit comebacker resulted in the hip contussion. It could have been a disaster. It is obvious that the Sox are going to coddle their starters and rely on the pen more this year than any year in recent history.
Cora needs to get his act together on bullpen management. BTW Kelly wasn't lights out his last week in ST. This was an avoidable disaster. I know its only the first game but I am not impressed.
First of all, that game was putrid. Second, and most importantly, it was something of a repeat of last year - Sale pitches well, the offense doesn't get enough except when it is given to them, the bullpen comes in and blows it.
I was disappointed in Cora for not getting Kelly out of there sooner, ditto Smith who stunk. That's the real problem here.
Quote from: Sea Dog 23 on March 30, 2018, 07:27:33 AM
I had a terrible thought last night. One poster here said last week that we "babied the staff" in ST. If that's the case, starters will get yanked on short pitch counts, then we'll see what is really in that bullpen. I hope Cora has those young arms in AAA on speed dial. (I can really only recall two new guys --- Haley and Walden --- Poyner is already close by). 'cause the vets in the BP are just that, old or recycled vets that every ALEast contender knows all about.
Wel said Sea Dog. We will see. We also have another John Farrell on our hands. It is incredible just how crappy a job Cora did yesterday. It was pathetic. The only way the team can make up for it is to win THE NEXT THREE GAMES AGAINST THE RAYS. Hearing bullshit that , well, at least we got a split is going to cut it. We have to win the next three games period. No more shitty excuses. Yesterday was a total bummer. And get Bradley out of that damn lineup and put Martinez in left field and keep him there.
Quote from: longgame on March 30, 2018, 08:44:15 AM
First of all, that game was putrid. Second, and most importantly, it was something of a repeat of last year - Sale pitches well, the offense doesn't get enough except when it is given to them, the bullpen comes in and blows it.
I was disappointed in Cora for not getting Kelly out of there sooner, ditto Smith who stunk. That's the real problem here.
The problem can also be helped by getting Bradley out of the lineup. W hy so many people keep defending that guy with their silence is absurd. He has no freakin' business being in the lineup. He has played his way out of it and I expect his ass to be on the bench today or I'm going to howl and keep howling. And give Walden and Poyner a chance. They can't be any worse than Meltdown Kelly or Fatso Smith.