6/30-7/2 Red Sox vs Cubs Series Thread

Gomes came to bat against RHPs with runners on base three times tonight and made outs all three times.

While watching the 9th tonight and the small crowd that was left I suddenly had the feeling I used to have years ago at the end of seasons when the Sox were way out of the race.

I like the Cubs team. I think Theo is going to have a winner again. It just took a little longer than it did with the Sox.

And Brandon Moss hit his 19th HR tonight, this one off Verlander.

They scored a week's worth of runs tonight and they still got their butts kicked and even better they got swept at home by a lowly Cubs team.

This team has been horrible all season and I don't see a reason why they can't top the 93 losses they had in 2012. The hitting should be lousy all season.

With or without Lester and Uehara come July 31st this team is capable of being horrendous. Just hope they do a better job with a high draft pick this time around.

The only thing to look forward, beside the high draft pick, is the hope that Bogaerts, Betts, and Bradley establish themselves this year. In other words, if Bradley can give us hope hitting .270 or so after the all-star break and not look overmatched at the plate anymore; if and when Bogaerts snaps out of his funk and starts hitting for more power, seeing if Betts can quickly become a top of the order threat sooner than later.

Perhaps get another sneak peak at Marrero and Cecchini and hope one of them can establish themselves on the left side of the infield at the big league level. Dump AJP and see what Vazquez can get them as Swihart moves up to AAA and see what Owens does in AAA.

These are the only things left to look forward to since the Ring Ceremony is gone and the 2004 reunion is done.

How strange the past few years have been: from the biggest Sept collapse in baseball to a pathetic last place finish to an exhilarating unexpected World Championship to another potential free fall into last place again. I grew up watching them win 85 games every year pretty consistently - never saw such dramatic ups and downs. Hopefully 2015 has the arrow pointing upwards.

I still do not understand the Bradley-Bogaerts Rules. If they get optioned, they still play every day, right? Other teams option their young players regularly, yes?

Is it SoxNation that wants to keep them in the show?

They sat Drew and Bradley and runs crossed the plate. Pray for a healthy outfielder who can hit .245, preferably a righty-bat. In the meantime, I'll settle for Brad Snyder, a LH CF. Or JC Linares.

It's the curse of ______ .

 I couldn't agree more. I've been wondering why several of those AAAA players are still on the roster at Pawtucket. The Sox aren't going to need them, and there are several players at Portland who probably should be at Pawtucket. And that also would open up some spots further down in the system. It's real crowded near the bottom. I don't know how those players can be assessed if they can't play.

“@ryanhannable: The guy who caught Mookie's homer actually played against him in high school summer ball. Small world. He got the ball back.”


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I don't know if the following technically are AAAA players, but their chances of playing for the Sox are very slim and they are taking up spots that maybe could be filled by more promising players at some point:

McCoy, Torres, Rivero, Brown, Roberts and Henry

Exactly. This is a prospect site, remember? I know we'd all love for the team to win the WS every year, and they were even good enough to accommodate us last season.

This year is about youth. Just getting to watch Betts, Holt, Bogaerts, yes even his struggles, and Bradley also, along with De La Rosa (get him back up here) is rewarding after tracking all of them. That's the team that's coming, along with everyone else who's knocking on the door: Webster and Ranaudo and probably Vazquez also and next year Owens and Swihart. Brentz and Middlebrooks if they ever heal may be part of it also. There will be trades maybe for other prospects, and there are younger players - good ones. I'm in.

It's the only reason to watch anymore.

I am all for getting all the dead weight off the Red Sox roster including Peavy, Pierzynski, Gomes, Breslow, Herrera, etc. If they can get back some salary relief and a lottery prospect or two all the better. Might as well trade Lester as well as it doesn't apoear as if the Red Sox ownership is willing to offer him anything close to the going rate for a starting pitcher of his pedigree.

It's annoying that it even has to be one or the other instead of Peavy.

Workman hasn't been the same since the questions began of whether he'd ever get another start and not knowing when it would be.  Pitchers seem to be creatures of habit.  Also of note, was RDLR's awful AAA start.  They are screwing everything up.

I agree.  I don't understand why some people are calling for Xander or JBJ to go to AAA to figure it out.  Why?  To make the team unwatchable with Corey Brown and Ryan Roberts?  I'll gladly watch the kids struggle and get out of it.