|
Post by mgoetze on Apr 22, 2014 20:00:37 GMT -5
Red Sox roster construction issues strike again: our relievers are all too good, we don't have a mop-up guy.
|
|
|
Post by James Dunne on Apr 22, 2014 20:02:18 GMT -5
Red Sox roster construction issues strike again: our relievers are all too good, we don't have a mop-up guy. Seriously, their best starting pitcher gets knocked out early and they go and bring in their second best starting pitcher. What gives?
|
|
|
Post by Guidas on Apr 22, 2014 20:03:21 GMT -5
And now Sox doing all they can to piss this one away. Lovely.
|
|
|
Post by Guidas on Apr 22, 2014 20:13:18 GMT -5
I'm sticking by my contention that this team got worse the off season until they prove me otherwise. They may have two key injuries right now but they had two key injuries last April too and excelled. The division may be more competitive than last year which will keep the Sox close early, but they continue pissing away home games to substandard teams this could get to be a very tough slog.
I can't get too angry after winning a WS, but I hate losing games to the MFYs. Worse when fielders keep booting the ball around. Pitching and defense. Did the front office forget that?
|
|
|
Post by jmei on Apr 22, 2014 20:20:33 GMT -5
Well, apparently only three of Lester's runs were earned, so his ERA will be just fine.
|
|
|
Post by Guidas on Apr 22, 2014 20:27:09 GMT -5
btw, I don't want to sound all gloom and doom here on April 22. Hell, the 2009 MFYs were 2 or 3 games below .500 in mid-May. It's just disheartening to watch these guys play like the Astros in the field. I also hate the catcher and feel like between his crappy framing skills, his substandard arm and mobility behind the plate, and his never met a pitch he doesn't want to swing at offensive approach he's dragging more down than himself. I still can't figure out the logic of the acquisition.
|
|
|
Post by pedroelgrande on Apr 22, 2014 20:27:33 GMT -5
Should have signed that extension.
|
|
|
Post by mgoetze on Apr 22, 2014 20:32:07 GMT -5
Well, apparently only three of Lester's runs were earned, so his ERA will be just fine. And with 6 K 4 BB 0 HR so will his FIP. Half a year from now this will just be a case of bad BABIP luck. I do agree with your point that this performance was in some ways more worrisome than Clay's, but I also see a better chance that this one will be forgotten 5 days from now.
|
|
|
Post by ajs1994 on Apr 22, 2014 20:43:31 GMT -5
Capuano has been terrific for us so far. He may not have the prototypical velocity or stuff that people seem to think is needed to be successful in the AL East, but he locates well and mixes speeds. I've been very impressed with him so far.
|
|
|
Post by jmei on Apr 22, 2014 20:46:25 GMT -5
Man, that fastball is straight as hell. If it wasn't for the secondary stuff, he'd get killed.
|
|
ericmvan
Veteran
Supposed to be working on something more important
Posts: 8,923
|
Post by ericmvan on Apr 22, 2014 20:48:54 GMT -5
Hasn't helped that we're .333 / .333 / .762 with the bases empty and 0/6, GDP with runners on. This has become as predictable as Mookie reaching base.
|
|
|
Post by FenwayFanatic on Apr 22, 2014 20:51:34 GMT -5
Letting Ellsbury go is a move we could be very happy about not too long from now. Its not like that money we could've spent on him disappeared. Big ticket free agents are always going to be available. Ben may have his eyes on another target and we have some financial flexibility finally.
|
|
|
Post by mgoetze on Apr 22, 2014 20:59:54 GMT -5
Red Sox roster construction issues strike again: our relievers are all too good, we don't have a mop-up guy. Tazawa up in the bullpen. Another ROOGY appearance? Geez.
|
|
|
Post by jmei on Apr 22, 2014 21:00:49 GMT -5
Why the hell is Tazawa warming here? He's the best RH setup man and will be overworked as it is.
|
|
|
Post by mgoetze on Apr 22, 2014 21:02:12 GMT -5
Well we can't keep Mujica in there he gave up a home run!
But we should also warm up Miller just in case a lefty comes up in the lineup.
|
|
|
Post by mgoetze on Apr 22, 2014 21:09:33 GMT -5
Why did they bring in Herrera at 2B? Can he not pitch?
|
|
|
Post by Guidas on Apr 22, 2014 21:11:11 GMT -5
Mujica is damaged goods.
|
|
|
Post by mgoetze on Apr 22, 2014 21:17:08 GMT -5
You can't wipe out an error by making a really great catch, Napoli, that's not how it works.
|
|
|
Post by James Dunne on Apr 22, 2014 22:08:39 GMT -5
Why the hell is Tazawa warming here? He's the best RH setup man and will be overworked as it is. This is the first decision Farrell has made this season that I am truly mad at. I think he burns through too many relievers in general, but to use his most reliable reliever in a game like this is foolish. Can't wait to hear in June how overworked the bullpen is.
|
|
|
Post by mgoetze on Apr 22, 2014 22:13:52 GMT -5
I mean if they were going to win the game they would have needed so many batters that Pedroia's spot in the lineup would have come up again, so if you're giving up the game by taking out Pedroia then you could just as well have had Herrera pitch instead of play 2B. I think a game of rest for Taz is much more valuable than an inning for Pedey.
|
|
|
Post by redsox04071318champs on Apr 22, 2014 22:16:20 GMT -5
Man, the Red Sox look terrible. They're playing like crap. They can't even win at Fenway Park.
Their defense is terrible. It's amazing how many defensive mistakes they make and what little ground they cover. They definitely miss Drew defensively, but that was a gamble they needed to take. Whoever they put in the leadoff spot doesn't work out. They're last in runs scored during the first inning which isn't that easy to do when Pedroia and Papi bat in the inning.
Until the Sox are ready to call up Vazquez I'd like to see more of Ross and less of Pierzynski. I know Ross isn't much of a hitter, but at least he'll take some pitches and I have a strong feeling the pitching will be better when he catches as I believe he does a better job of calling a game, framing pitches and throwing out runners.
As weak as his offense has been perhaps it's time to try Bradley in the leadoff spot. His OBP is alright for a guy who's not hitting. If he hits better his OBP should be pretty decent for the leadoff spot.
Sizemore and Mujica are the Sox two biggest additions and they've been disappointing. Thus far (and it's early) Sizemore's bat doesn't make up for his terrible defense and I'm surprised at how poorly Mujica has pitched. I'm also surprised at how good Capuano has been. He's been their best addition.
They totally miss Ellsbury atop the lineup and in CF as he, Bradley, and Victorino would have made for a great defensive OF, but I can't say I blame the Sox for not giving out the silly money to him - I wouldn't have either. It'll take awhile for the Sox to adequately replace him and that will hurt the Sox in 2014.
I also think the Sox will really need somebody from the minors to step up and challenge for a spot in the rotation as the rotation is shaky now that Buchholz is very questionable every fifth day - I'd like to see him rehab in the minors as he rebuilds his arm strength. They need either Webster or more likely De La Rosa to step up (I had just about given up on him as a starter but he's pitching more like he did when he was healthy with the Dodgers).
I think it'll get worse before it gets better. I wouldn't be surprised if the Yanks swept the series. But ultimately I think the Sox will finally get their act together enough to win their fair share of games and the division is pretty weak, but the Sox can't afford to dig themselves too deep a hole.
This year feels so different than 2013 and I don't mean that in a good way.
|
|
|
Post by James Dunne on Apr 22, 2014 22:16:54 GMT -5
Farrell is just too reluctant to use his relievers for multiple innings. Capuano probably could have stayed in the game. Mujica almost certainly could have stayed in the game.
EDIT: It's not just Farrell, of course. It's a disease that runs league wide.
|
|
|
Post by mgoetze on Apr 22, 2014 22:21:07 GMT -5
Farrell is just too reluctant to use his relievers for multiple innings. Capuano probably could have stayed in the game. Mujica almost certainly could have stayed in the game. Goes well with his attitude of "if we start warming up Koji he comes into the game, even if we've scored 3 more runs by the time he's thrown 2 warmup pitches." And of course never ever bring Koji in the 8th with men on. Bah.
|
|
|
Post by huskies15 on Apr 22, 2014 22:22:54 GMT -5
There's a spark missing from the lineup. It appears like only Pedroia and Ortiz have confidence stepping up to the plate with runners on. I feel like in most of the games that have been close and they have lost they have run themselves out of innings pressing to score, or they just seem dearth of confidence that they are going to get the big hit. I know statistics say its bound to turn around but I just see a lack of confidence at the present moment.
|
|
|
Post by James Dunne on Apr 22, 2014 22:27:07 GMT -5
Farrell is just too reluctant to use his relievers for multiple innings. Capuano probably could have stayed in the game. Mujica almost certainly could have stayed in the game. Goes well with his attitude of "if we start warming up Koji he comes into the game, even if we've scored 3 more runs by the time he's thrown 2 warmup pitches." And of course never ever bring Koji in the 8th with men on. Bah. The Koji thing is totally different, in my eyes. Koji has a fairly intense warm-up routine, arguably more intense than his actual pitching. So once he's warmed up, he's effectively done the work of making an appearance. In that case, *not* using Uehara doesn't actually do anything to preserve him, so Farrell might as well bring him into the game.
|
|