8:10pm Eastern
RED SOX
CHRIS SALE (L)
1. Michael Chavis (R) 2B
2. Mookie Betts (R) RF
3. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS
4. J.D. Martinez (R) DH
5. Steve Pearce (R) 1B
6. Andrew Benintendi (L) LF
7. Eduardo Nunez (R) 3B
8. Sandy Leon (S) C
9. Jackie Bradley Jr. (L) CF
HOUSTON
Wade Miley (L)
1. George Springer (R) RF
2. Alex Bregman (R) 3B
3. Carlos Correa (R) SS
4. Yuli Gurriel (R) 1B
5. Aledmys Diaz (R) 2B
6. Robinson Chirinos (R) C
7. Josh Reddick (L) LF
8. Tyler White (R) DH
9. Jake Marisnick (R) CF
Gametime Temp: 84°F
Chance of Precip: 1%
Well the rubber hits the road again tonight and this time we're going up against the big boys. In my opinion we have to win this series and we start by doing everything under the sun to win the first game of the series tonight. The Astros were shut out last night by the other Sox team so they are not omnipotent by any means, but we h ave wasted a lot of time by not ;making up for our dreary start by sweeping more teams. Losing a DH to the Tigers at home was pathetic and we can't make up that debacle, and we should have won BOTH games of that Colorado series instead of splitting it, and certainly although winning three of four from the Blue Jays was decent, we still lost ground because the Yankees won all four of their games against Baltimore. Come to think of it we didn't sweep Baltimore either when we played them. I know it is asking for a lot but we need to get a lot; we need to go on a long winning streak, then go on another long one but I wonder if our somewhat distracted team can harness that talent to do that. Greedy or not, I don't like the idea of eventually going in on a Wild Card entry. Except for 2004 our WC record is abysmal.
I really think we're shooting for the playoffs, with an assist from the FO. Signing Sale and Bogey was a heads up. At the trade deadline we're going to get a lefty and maybe a catcher or utility guy like we did last year.
Quote from: SeaBeachFred on May 24, 2019, 11:36:47 AM
Well the rubber hits the road again tonight and this time we're going up against the big boys. In my opinion we have to win this series and we start by doing everything under the sun to win the first game of the series tonight. The Astros were shut out last night by the other Sox team so they are not omnipotent by any means, but we h ave wasted a lot of time by not ;making up for our dreary start by sweeping more teams. Losing a DH to the Tigers at home was pathetic and we can't make up that debacle, and we should have won BOTH games of that Colorado series instead of splitting it, and certainly although winning three of four from the Blue Jays was decent, we still lost ground because the Yankees won all four of their games against Baltimore. Come to think of it we didn't sweep Baltimore either when we played them. I know it is asking for a lot but we need to get a lot; we need to go on a long winning streak, then go on another long one but I wonder if our somewhat distracted team can harness that talent to do that. Greedy or not, I don't like the idea of eventually going in on a Wild Card entry. Except for 2004 our WC record is abysmal.
Definitely don't want the WC, especially with the unpredictability of this team. They could have one of those days where they don't seem to show up. But the numbers are pretty interesting. In the last 22 they have gone 16-6, or .727. You can beef about losing 2 of 3 to Houston who was on a 10 game winning streak, but the fact is that they were 15-4 against the lesser teams in that stretch which is .789. I want to see them win this series but playing the next 10 against Houston, Cleveland and Toronto, mostly on the road, anything above .500 would be good. Last year at this time they had come off their hot start and lost 2 out of 3 to Oakland, then to Tampa Bay, then to NYY and another 2 of 3 to Oakland. They took 2 of 3 at TB on Memorial Day but split with Houston a week later. Dominate the crappy teams and split the good ones and you come out on top. The Sox are still paying for their terrible start. Even a decent start would have them in first place.
Quote from: longgame on May 24, 2019, 02:33:53 PM
Quote from: SeaBeachFred on May 24, 2019, 11:36:47 AM
Well the rubber hits the road again tonight and this time we're going up against the big boys. In my opinion we have to win this series and we start by doing everything under the sun to win the first game of the series tonight. The Astros were shut out last night by the other Sox team so they are not omnipotent by any means, but we h ave wasted a lot of time by not ;making up for our dreary start by sweeping more teams. Losing a DH to the Tigers at home was pathetic and we can't make up that debacle, and we should have won BOTH games of that Colorado series instead of splitting it, and certainly although winning three of four from the Blue Jays was decent, we still lost ground because the Yankees won all four of their games against Baltimore. Come to think of it we didn't sweep Baltimore either when we played them. I know it is asking for a lot but we need to get a lot; we need to go on a long winning streak, then go on another long one but I wonder if our somewhat distracted team can harness that talent to do that. Greedy or not, I don't like the idea of eventually going in on a Wild Card entry. Except for 2004 our WC record is abysmal.
Definitely don't want the WC, especially with the unpredictability of this team. They could have one of those days where they don't seem to show up. But the numbers are pretty interesting. In the last 22 they have gone 16-6, or .727. You can beef about losing 2 of 3 to Houston who was on a 10 game winning streak, but the fact is that they were 15-4 against the lesser teams in that stretch which is .789. I want to see them win this series but playing the next 10 against Houston, Cleveland and Toronto, mostly on the road, anything above .500 would be good. Last year at this time they had come off their hot start and lost 2 out of 3 to Oakland, then to Tampa Bay, then to NYY and another 2 of 3 to Oakland. They took 2 of 3 at TB on Memorial Day but split with Houston a week later. Dominate the crappy teams and split the good ones and you come out on top. The Sox are still paying for their terrible start. Even a decent start would have them in first place.
If we don't get our ACT together and run off about 10 in a ROW, we could all be back on the GOLF LINKS by the end of SEPTEMBER !! iono iono iono iono sigh sigh sigh
Pete Abraham reports JD batting clean up. So much for the IL.
Quote from: Murph on May 24, 2019, 04:03:04 PM
Pete Abraham reports JD batting clean up. So much for the IL.
I do like tonight's LINEUP !!! thumb_u iono iono iono
Lost in the excitement of Devers raking at the plate is the good news that he has not made an ERROR since May 2nd.
Heavy right-handed lineup tonight against the lefty Miley. Devers with the night off.
I saw a stat today that Sox are 21-1 when leading after 8 using Workman, Barnes, Brasier, Walden and Hembree. That probably beats the closers from last year at this point.
One hit off Wade Miley, are you kidding. Sale can't get any help.
I have been posting about a lack of focus for weeks now. Please DON'T TELL ME this team is playing well. In the last of the fourth the Red Sox have played about as poorly and as sloppy as I have ever seen a team play. Words can not describe how incompetent they looked.
Yeah, two costly errors so far. Sloppy.
The Astros are busting their humps playing all out to win; the Red Sox aren't.
We now have more errors than hits. Just about the whole team is choking tonight. Either that or they got jet lag from Toronto.
Bases loaded and nothing to show for it.
Aaaand another error. Unless the officials are really generous. Then Chavis almost commits another one. Super sloppy play tonight.
It is fairly obvious that Nunez is defensive liability.
Looks like the officials were kind to Nunez.
I'd rather have a root canal than watch Hembree pitch.
He got out of it, at least.
Vazquez is on fire. Those errors were the game. Please tell me again how well the Red Sox are playing.
Close, but no cigar.
Quote from: markj on May 24, 2019, 10:03:49 PM
Close, but no cigar.
Close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades.
They're 5-5 for their last 10. Playing .500 ball isn't going to cut it.
Just a hunch, but I suspect Sale won't be in the running for a Cy Young this season.
Sale wasn't the problem. He should have gotten out of the 4 th inning without giving up a run. Sale should sue for" non support". There was no excuse for the way they played defense. 3 (and there could have been 4 ) errors is indefensible!! Pun intended.
Yeah, I'm not blaming Sale. But he's 1-6 now. Hardly Cy Young numbers.
Come on guys, let's be honest about it and face the sad and sorry facts.......THIS TEAM SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There's a disconnect here somewhere. Last year they clicked well together. This year they're looking like a bunch of guys who don't know each other. The talent is there. They're just not melding as a team. If I had the answers, I wouldn't be running a two-bit board. I'd be making millions as an MLB manager.
Quote from: markj on May 24, 2019, 11:29:28 PM
There's a disconnect here somewhere. Last year they clicked well together. This year they're looking like a bunch of guys who don't know each other. The talent is there. They're just not melding as a team. If I had the answers, I wouldn't be running a two-bit board. I'd be making millions as an MLB manager.
Mark, the only thing I can figure that is there right now is a $$ sign. This is a contract year for several players. Mgmt has extended three players. However a few remain. One has been asking for a new deal on a couple occasions, and he has a voice around the clubhouse for example when the subject of catchers comes up. --- -- Porcello. Contract money and players not signed across the league was a hot topic in the off season, Sale let it be known in an interview about the state of the game.
I hope I'm barking up the wrong tree, and these guys are professionals. But this is a big spending franchise, the biggest right now. Maybe, just maybe some angst is starting to show.
I think you are on to something. Chavis's presence certainly upsets the applecart for a number of position players. From the outside looking in management hasn't done anything to ameliorate this situation.
Moreover Sox manager Alfred E Neuman continues to make some very strange lineup moves. Rather than admit his mistake by removing Betts from leadoff he puts added pressure on Chavis who is already playing a position he is not familiar with by having leadoff against the Astros. To my suspicious mind, I believe Manager "What me worry" is setting the kid up for failure.
Quote from: Bill-806 on May 24, 2019, 05:59:50 PM
Quote from: Murph on May 24, 2019, 04:03:04 PM
Pete Abraham reports JD batting clean up. So much for the IL.
I do like tonight's LINEUP !!! thumb_u iono iono iono
UPON FURTHER REVIEW, I take that BACK..... Just a lousy game , no life, no bump, just plain lousy !!! ……. Time to make some changes in the roster D D ????? thumb_d iono iono
Quote from: markj on May 24, 2019, 11:29:28 PM
There's a disconnect here somewhere. Last year they clicked well together. This year they're looking like a bunch of guys who don't know each other. The talent is there. They're just not melding as a team. If I had the answers, I wouldn't be running a two-bit board. I'd be making millions as an MLB manager.
B I N G O dat !!! SHAKE up that ROSTER, NOW GRASSHOPPER !!!! iono iono iono sigh sigh sigh sigh
WADE MILEY ? WADE MILEY ??? My GOSH, he looked like SANDY KOOFAX himself ???? iono iono iono sigh sigh sigh sigh rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl
Quote from: elktonnick on May 25, 2019, 07:31:52 AM
I think you are on to something. Chavis's presence certainly upsets the applecart for a number of position players. From the outside looking in management hasn't done anything to ameliorate this situation.
Moreover Sox manager Alfred E Neuman continues to make some very strange lineup moves. Rather than admit his mistake by removing Betts from leadoff he puts added pressure on Chavis who is already playing a position he is not familiar with by having leadoff against the Astros. To my suspicious mind, I believe Manager "What me worry" is setting the kid up for failure.
Maybe this team simply doesn't want to pay the price for success and feels that extra effort it takes to win another WS is just too much to endure.d Then there is the contract situation some of you brought up.d Too, for the players to read so much about Cora's abject stupidity in his botched ST regimen perhaps the players feel they have now a buikt ub excyse like IT ISN'T OUR FAULT; WE WEREN'T PROPERLY PREPARED. It all adds up to a team that is going nowhere.
Today, I asked my wife for a towel and after she gave it to me I threw it down. She started to ask why but quickly understood what it meant. She gave it back to me and wait a couple more weeks. Right now the team sucks and I wonder if it will even worse by Juned 8th when we will be in Boston.
Quote from: SeaBeachFred on May 25, 2019, 02:02:59 PM
Quote from: elktonnick on May 25, 2019, 07:31:52 AM
I think you are on to something. Chavis's presence certainly upsets the applecart for a number of position players. From the outside looking in management hasn't done anything to ameliorate this situation.
Moreover Sox manager Alfred E Neuman continues to make some very strange lineup moves. Rather than admit his mistake by removing Betts from leadoff he puts added pressure on Chavis who is already playing a position he is not familiar with by having leadoff against the Astros. To my suspicious mind, I believe Manager "What me worry" is setting the kid up for failure.
Maybe this team simply doesn't want to pay the price for success and feels that extra effort it takes to win another WS is just too much to endure.d Then there is the contract situation some of you brought up.d Too, for the players to read so much about Cora's abject stupidity in his botched ST regimen perhaps the players feel they have now a buikt ub excyse like IT ISN'T OUR FAULT; WE WEREN'T PROPERLY PREPARED. It all adds up to a team that is going nowhere.
Today, I asked my wife for a towel and after she gave it to me I threw it down. She started to ask why but quickly understood what it meant. She gave it back to me and wait a couple more weeks. Right now the team sucks and I wonder if it will even worse by Juned 8th when we will be in Boston.
Right now, even after that bad start they are in the second wild card spot, aka the 5th best record in the AL.
Last year they were 13-8 in May to this point. This year 13-7. That big start made all the difference last year.
The won loss record is very misleading. Right now they aren't playing well. They are beating mediocre and just plain lousy teams. They are losing to the better teams. Even playing as poorly as they have been they may well make the second wild card team. But that isn't the issue. They aren't playing up to their capability and Cora isn't helping the situation but is making things worse IMHO
All I can do is give my opinion on what I see happening on the field. But if this team with this talent doesn't make the playoffs given the number of truly terrible teams in the AL, I'd fire Cora thirty seconds after they are eliminated from a wild card spot whenever that happens. I wouldn't wait until the season ends.