Mariners - 003 000 000 - 3 9 0
Red Sox - 000 000 000 - 0 5 0Tito puts out the JV lineup, holds his pinch-hitters until after they can help, and wastes what turns out to be a pretty decent complete game from Tim Wakefield.
Why do Mark Loretta and Mike Lowell both need the day off? And why give them some rest (after only 10 games) on the same afternoon Jason Varitek has the day off? It makes no sense. Plus Francona moves Kevin Youkilis out of the leadoff spot and writes in Adam Stern and Alex Cora (?!) at the top of the lineup.
In the bottom of the 8th, down by three and with two men on, Francona lets Stern (who was over-matched and looked pathetic all day long) and Cora make feeble outs to end a potential rally. Tito did send up Loretta and Varitek in the 9th, but then he allowed Alex Gonzalez to make the final out on a dismal afternoon.
I had been thinking last night how nice Francona's moves had been this year, both in the lineup and the bullpen. I hadn't had any complaints at all. Well, that has changed. I don't expect his post-game comments to shed much light on the matter, but it sure seems like Francona threw up the white flag on this one.
Previews: Seattle / Boston.
Saturday's lineup:
Stern CF
Cora 2B
Ortiz DH
Ramirez LF
Youkilis 3B
Snow 1B
Pena RF
Bard C
Gonzalez SS
Wake wasted effort.
ReplyDeletesuch a shame. good performance, plus complete game from wake and no offense to speak of.
ReplyDeletestern + cora = instant 2 outs
wth were they doing in the 1,2 spots?
and that bases loaded, no out sitch in the 2nd without scoring a run was embarrassing. i wonder how many times that has happened to the red sox in the last 3 years.
Five Sox hitters were 0-fers today. That's not counting the pinch-hitters. Disgusting. I'm still not worried about Manny because I believe he will get hot sooner rather than later. I read in the Globe today that Tito wanted to rotate guys in & out due to the weird times of the games this weekend. Wha...?! Typical Wake to battle through and get a complete game & then not get the run support.
ReplyDeleteAm not for sure that cora and stern are 2 instant outs, but why have them batting 1 - 2 in the order, especially after Youk has been solid in the lead off spot. Its a long season and I know he wants to get cora into one or two games every week playing either 2nd or short. Just not for sure why this line up today. I still say Pena is going to kill us in the outfield. I just don't think he has the tools yet to be a quality outfielder. I want more of MOHR.
ReplyDeleteCalling Wily Mo Bluto is an insult to John Belushi, and the cartoon charactor, too. Yukking it on a Sunday, a Sunday that the offense monster might awaken at Fenway.
ReplyDeleteAnd of course I meant Boomer. But it makes sense both ways!
ReplyDelete