I know I said I was gonna be better in the second half, but holy shit it takes a lot to write after every single game. I gotta get back into the swing of it. Shit's been busy lately, personally, professionally, etc. But I've still been watching every game. And that's what matters, right?
And I have some thoughts. You can't use Steven Wright to pinch run. Ya can't. I'm 1000000% OK with using a pitcher in that spot, I actually love that and think it's smart. But use Buchholz (especially if he's about to come into the game to pitch) or Pomeranz, who was in the NL earlier this year. I don't think Steven Wright has ever been on the bases in the major leagues (I could look that up, but that's not happening). Part of it is on Steven Wright for not being able to run on the bases without hurting himself. Ugh.
Losing that extra game to the Yankees on that homestand hurt. Should've taken 2 out of 3 from them. Sweeping the DBacks took a little of the sting out of that.
Had to miss the Cleveland makeup game because of work, but was very glad to see that Pomeranz, who has faced a LOT of criticism, was able to contribute and pick up a win. Let's hope that trend continues.
LOVED what I was seeing from ERod last night. Not too worried about the hamstring, but definitely not thrilled. Very glad to see the bullpen (minus A-BAD) pick him up. And Mookie. What is there left to say about Mookie? Just incredible. He's putting on a show every game. Besides being so dominant, he's incredibly entertaining. Good idea to move him to 3rd/4th in the order so he starts getting more chances to hit with men on base. He's been incredible.
Price NEEDS to step up tonight to keep this thing going. Feels like the 1000th time we've said that.
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Friday, August 5, 2016
Quick Hits
A few thoughts on the Seattle series...
These late night weeknight games completely drain me. They seem quicker than normal games, but they're so late I'm just exhausted. Had to actually go to bed and throw it on the radio and listen in bed last night. It caught up to me after 3 late nights...
Was encouraged by the starting pitching this week. Price was veru good until he hit the wall, and ERod and Porcello did their part and Pomeranz gave you 6, which is more than you would've gotten for Buchholz. He's getting better. Losing that Price game was very tough, since it was very winnable and we thought they had it.
What was up with the whacky, untrue stats Lyons was spitting at us about Seattle starter Wade LeBlanc the other night?
Farrell should not have sat Benintendi last night. I know he has all of 2 games of big league experience, but he's a better option than Brentz at this point. He's hit LHPs well so far as a pro and last night's starter (Ariel Miranda) has been eaten alive against lefties in the minors this year, and we saw Travis Shaw go yard against him early. It would be nice if Farrell thought outside the box maybe once in while....
Interleague play this weekend. Goin on 20 years and I still hate it..
These late night weeknight games completely drain me. They seem quicker than normal games, but they're so late I'm just exhausted. Had to actually go to bed and throw it on the radio and listen in bed last night. It caught up to me after 3 late nights...
Was encouraged by the starting pitching this week. Price was veru good until he hit the wall, and ERod and Porcello did their part and Pomeranz gave you 6, which is more than you would've gotten for Buchholz. He's getting better. Losing that Price game was very tough, since it was very winnable and we thought they had it.
What was up with the whacky, untrue stats Lyons was spitting at us about Seattle starter Wade LeBlanc the other night?
Farrell should not have sat Benintendi last night. I know he has all of 2 games of big league experience, but he's a better option than Brentz at this point. He's hit LHPs well so far as a pro and last night's starter (Ariel Miranda) has been eaten alive against lefties in the minors this year, and we saw Travis Shaw go yard against him early. It would be nice if Farrell thought outside the box maybe once in while....
Interleague play this weekend. Goin on 20 years and I still hate it..
Sunday, July 31, 2016
Biggest hit of the season?
I heard it said on both the radio and tv that Pedroia's 9th inning, 2 out 3 run HR was the biggest hit of the season so far. Definitely have to agree. You drop 3/4 to the Angels this weekend and you're feeling pretty shitty going into Seattle. Instead, you've got a new lease on life and a renewed belief in your team's ability to come from behind. Huge hit indeed.
I have been staying up late for these games. Saw Hanley's throwing error. That was tough because that could've been a win that they didn't necessarily deserve, and you need those through the course of the season. Porcello came up huge and showed who the real stopper is on this team Friday night. I missed most of last night's game but did see a few innings, including the end. Still holding out hope for Pomeranz (I guess I'm just an optimist).
Don't forget Buchholz chipping in with 3 scoreless innings in relief to get the win today. Huge pick up and an actual contribution from that guy for the first time in a while.
I have been staying up late for these games. Saw Hanley's throwing error. That was tough because that could've been a win that they didn't necessarily deserve, and you need those through the course of the season. Porcello came up huge and showed who the real stopper is on this team Friday night. I missed most of last night's game but did see a few innings, including the end. Still holding out hope for Pomeranz (I guess I'm just an optimist).
Don't forget Buchholz chipping in with 3 scoreless innings in relief to get the win today. Huge pick up and an actual contribution from that guy for the first time in a while.
Monday, July 25, 2016
That was needlessly difficult
Was at a wedding over the weekend, so I missed Friday and Saturday's games. Was checking up on the disappointing results, but couldn't actually watch. Saw Hanley's 3 HR performance and yesterday's game.
I know any team can win any game at any time, but you shouldn't have to scrape, scratch, claw and bite to split a series with the 2016 Minnesota Twins. It should've been a sweep, or at least 3/4. I know it might seem like we're splitting hairs over literally one game here, but every game matters in this playoff system and you can't afford to lose games you should win.
Pomeranz has to have a better showing tonight than in his first start, right? I mean, could it be much worse?
I know any team can win any game at any time, but you shouldn't have to scrape, scratch, claw and bite to split a series with the 2016 Minnesota Twins. It should've been a sweep, or at least 3/4. I know it might seem like we're splitting hairs over literally one game here, but every game matters in this playoff system and you can't afford to lose games you should win.
Pomeranz has to have a better showing tonight than in his first start, right? I mean, could it be much worse?
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
Porcell 000 000 0
I know Porcello didn't go 7 but I'll take 6 1/3 blanks against a top team like the Giants. Great performance.
Being at the game last night, I was very glad to see the Sox welcome back Jake Peavy and Javier Lopez in their first appearances at Fenway after the '13 and '07 series championships. Call me a sentimental old softy but I love that shit. I eat it up. Easy to remember Peavy, but '07 and Lopez were a while ago. Goes to show if you win in this town you're remembered forever. I love it.
Let's see my boy Pomeranz tonight!
Being at the game last night, I was very glad to see the Sox welcome back Jake Peavy and Javier Lopez in their first appearances at Fenway after the '13 and '07 series championships. Call me a sentimental old softy but I love that shit. I eat it up. Easy to remember Peavy, but '07 and Lopez were a while ago. Goes to show if you win in this town you're remembered forever. I love it.
Let's see my boy Pomeranz tonight!
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Second half starting out nice
Okay, I know there was no game to blog about last night and I know my second half resolution was to be more consistent with these, so apologies all around.
Glad the Sox represented well in the ASG, very glad to take 2 out of 3 from the Yanks in NY to start the second half. Very concerned about Price's showing against the Yankees. It's starting to feel like he's not going to reach his normal performance levels at all this season. He needs to stop being a weak link in the rotation.
Speaking of the rotation, I love the Pomeranz trade. Sure it's a gamble on a guy in Drew Pomeranz who is really just now having his first good season, and he's doing it in a pitcher's park against NL lineups. I get that. But the pitching market is thin. What other names are you hearing? Sonny Gray has been shaky at best this year and would probably cost more than Espinoza. I love Rich Hill, but he has serious injury questions. I would love Jeremy Hellickson, but he's not pitching anywhere near as well as Pomeranz. The Sox desperately need starting pitching, and by giving up such a top tier prospect they forced the Padres to make the move now as opposed to waiting two more weeks. They're ahead of the curve. Look at the rotation now. If David Price can EVER start pitching well on a consistent basis like he should for the second half (he was brutal last night) then we got Price, Wright, Pomeranz, Porcello and Rodriguez (who looked phenomenal on Saturday. I get that it's just one start against a weak Yankees lineup but he looked like a different pitcher). I get that you have to figure Wright and Porcello will come back to earth a little bit, but that's still a rotation you can work with when this lineup is scoring runs the way they usually are. This lineup doing what it can do + that rotation = October baseball, which = something we haven't even come close to here for these last two last place finish seasons and counting.
Dombrowski's approach has definitely been to treat the farm as a means to acquire established, proven talent, as opposed to Cherington who seemed to view the farm as a system for developing young players to contribute to the big league team and was very reluctant to deal any prospects. We should be very glad about Cherington's patience, having just watched Bogaerts, Betts and Bradley all start the All Star game.
This particular trade depends on how you view the sustainability of our offensive production, I suppose. It HAS to come back to earth a little bit, there's just no way they can do in the second half what they did in the first half. So what does that mean? Are they going to go so cold that they won't score enough runs to keep them in games? Last night notwithstanding I don't think so. Getting Brad Ziegler will really help the bullpen, especially once Kimbrel and Tazawa come back and if Heath "Don't Call Me Alan" Hembree and Matt Barnes continue their emergence. is it the Yankees bullpen? No, but I don't think Dombrowski is done in that area yet, either.
How's all that opinion? Feel like you got your money's worth? Does it make up for me being a deadbeat lately? I hope so! I'll be at the game tonight, so look for me on TV (if anyone knows who I am!)
Glad the Sox represented well in the ASG, very glad to take 2 out of 3 from the Yanks in NY to start the second half. Very concerned about Price's showing against the Yankees. It's starting to feel like he's not going to reach his normal performance levels at all this season. He needs to stop being a weak link in the rotation.
Speaking of the rotation, I love the Pomeranz trade. Sure it's a gamble on a guy in Drew Pomeranz who is really just now having his first good season, and he's doing it in a pitcher's park against NL lineups. I get that. But the pitching market is thin. What other names are you hearing? Sonny Gray has been shaky at best this year and would probably cost more than Espinoza. I love Rich Hill, but he has serious injury questions. I would love Jeremy Hellickson, but he's not pitching anywhere near as well as Pomeranz. The Sox desperately need starting pitching, and by giving up such a top tier prospect they forced the Padres to make the move now as opposed to waiting two more weeks. They're ahead of the curve. Look at the rotation now. If David Price can EVER start pitching well on a consistent basis like he should for the second half (he was brutal last night) then we got Price, Wright, Pomeranz, Porcello and Rodriguez (who looked phenomenal on Saturday. I get that it's just one start against a weak Yankees lineup but he looked like a different pitcher). I get that you have to figure Wright and Porcello will come back to earth a little bit, but that's still a rotation you can work with when this lineup is scoring runs the way they usually are. This lineup doing what it can do + that rotation = October baseball, which = something we haven't even come close to here for these last two last place finish seasons and counting.
And, while I grant that it hurts to give up a guy who's listed as one of the top 15 prospects in baseball or whatever it is, keep this in mind. Kid is 18 years old. When will he be able to really contribute to a big league team? 4 years? 5 years? We could and probably will all be dead by then. Pomeranz is getting the job done now and is under contract for two more years. And like my dad pointed out, if Espinoza winds up being really good the Sox can always just go and get him back. Wait until he's a free agent, we have the money.
This particular trade depends on how you view the sustainability of our offensive production, I suppose. It HAS to come back to earth a little bit, there's just no way they can do in the second half what they did in the first half. So what does that mean? Are they going to go so cold that they won't score enough runs to keep them in games? Last night notwithstanding I don't think so. Getting Brad Ziegler will really help the bullpen, especially once Kimbrel and Tazawa come back and if Heath "Don't Call Me Alan" Hembree and Matt Barnes continue their emergence. is it the Yankees bullpen? No, but I don't think Dombrowski is done in that area yet, either.
How's all that opinion? Feel like you got your money's worth? Does it make up for me being a deadbeat lately? I hope so! I'll be at the game tonight, so look for me on TV (if anyone knows who I am!)
Thursday, July 14, 2016
Second half mon GO!
Ok, I know I'm supposed to do this every day, but it's been busy. Spent the weekend painting the living room while listening to the game, so I can't comment so much on what I saw as what I heard. And I'm typing this on the T while standing next to a weird lady humming some non descript song and ignoring the looks I keep giving her. So don't question my dedication.
I have high hopes for the second half. And you f you're questioning my dedication in light of my lack of blogs lately let me assure you I'm dedicated, as evidenced by my fight with the gf over my refusal to see "Secret Lives of Pets" tomorrow night. I'm DYING for that Sox-Yanks game, so I'll deal with a miserable life in the meantime.
So I'm PUMPED about the Drew Poneranz acquisition. I think he is exactly what we need. Sure we paid a steep price, since Espinoza is so highly touted. But he's also 18. Long way to go there. Signing Groome kinda softens that blow, gotta give up something to get something, etc. etc.
Ok, weird lady is still humming and I'm at my stop, so bring on the second half!
I have high hopes for the second half. And you f you're questioning my dedication in light of my lack of blogs lately let me assure you I'm dedicated, as evidenced by my fight with the gf over my refusal to see "Secret Lives of Pets" tomorrow night. I'm DYING for that Sox-Yanks game, so I'll deal with a miserable life in the meantime.
So I'm PUMPED about the Drew Poneranz acquisition. I think he is exactly what we need. Sure we paid a steep price, since Espinoza is so highly touted. But he's also 18. Long way to go there. Signing Groome kinda softens that blow, gotta give up something to get something, etc. etc.
Ok, weird lady is still humming and I'm at my stop, so bring on the second half!
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