[F]rom a physical, fundamental and mental preparation, we just didn't have it every night. ...The Herald's John Tomase's article on Page implies (to me, at least) that the texter was Josh Beckett. Page did tell WEEI that the Baltimore player was not Beckett, and a SoSH process of elimination suggests Lester was the pitcher.
We got to the end of the year where we had four guys - without naming names --we had four guys that we thought didn't make it to that part of the season where we hoped they would be: one position player - an everyday guy - one pitcher - a starting pitcher -- and two bullpen guys. For the most part, everybody else had stayed within where we wanted them to be. They were what we expected. Most of them were working. ...
I did have a good conversation with one player at the end of the year in Baltimore that really kind of opened my eyes. I said, "Hey, what's going on here? It seemed like you pulled the plug a little bit. Why?" He kind of looked down at the ground, looked back and me and said, "I don't know why. I can't answer that question." Which was kind of a shock. ...
I got a text message from one player the other night that said ... "I feel this is all my fault."
Bob Hohler's article in the Globe mentioned that Beckett, Jon Lester, John Lackey, Clay Buchholz, and other players cut back on their exercise regimens despite Page's appeals. One source (who could well have been Page, considering this radio interview), said, "It's hard for a guy making $80,000 to tell a $15 million pitcher he needs to get off his butt and do some work." (Beckett earned $17 million in 2011 and Lackey was paid $15.9. Lester earned $5.8, with Buchholz at $0.5.) Since the club knew Lackey was hurt and would likely need surgery at the end of the year, the butt-sitting pitcher here is probably Beckett.
Page also mentioned a game against the Yankees in late August that he watched from the bullpen as an excellent example of the team's lack of effort.
In the first six innings ... we hit 18 balls in play. [Of the] 18 outs that we made, seven times the guy who hit the ball never made it to first base - peeled off before he got to the bag. I said something to the other coaches. I said, "We're just not playing hard."Running all the way to first base seems like the least a batter can do after he has hit the ball. The peeling off annoys the hell out of me, as does the media's highly selective reporting on who does the peeling. Many Sox also do not bother running from first to second while the opposing team is trying to turn a double play. So a base runner (who is often lauded for "playing the game the right way") is busy making a wide half-circle in shallow right field while the other team turns two.
6 comments:
"Running all the way to first base seems like the least a batter can do after he has hit the ball. The peeling off annoys the hell out of me"
Agree 100% not running to first = dog.
This team has quite a few dogs. Next manager should have a jar in the clubhouse requiring $500 cash from the offending player be placed in it the next day.
That would fix the dogs.
Hey! Don't insult dogs.
If the batter (coughOrtizVaritekcough) grounds out to second or first, at least keep running until the out is made, rather than assuming the out will be made. Peeling off after the out has been recorded is not a problem.
Next manager should have a jar in the clubhouse requiring $500 cash from the offending player be placed in it the next day.
And then at the end of the season, all the money could be used for a huge chicken and beer blowout!
So if Beckett is the pitcher, who is the position player? An every day player...certainly not Pedroia. Scutaro seemed to improve at the end, so not him. Can't imagine it was Gonzalez. And Youkilis wasn't even playing. It wouldn't be Ellsbury either, given his season. Who is left that was really every day? Crawford??
And what bullpen pitchers? Hopefully not Bard, but he certainly was not as effective at the end of the season as he had been all along.
So if Beckett is the pitcher, who is the position player?
I wondered about that too. I looked at the batting splits for September at ESPN and both Salty and Tek hit like utter crap for the month. Reddick was also below average. Other than that, everyone did alright. Salty had more playing time than Tek, so maybe it's him?
Well, I didn't even consider the catchers because neither played every day. Maybe Reddick makes sense. But was he really playing every day? Not that I recall.
Perhaps I am taking "every day player" too literally.
"Page also mentioned a game against the Yankees in late August that he watched from the bullpen as an excellent example of the team's lack of effort.
In the first six innings ... we hit 18 balls in play. [Of the] 18 outs that we made, seven times the guy who hit the ball never made it to first base - peeled off before he got to the bag. I said something to the other coaches. I said, "We're just not playing hard." "
What game is he talking about? They only had one series vs NY in late August. Aug 30 through Sept 1 (they played Aug 5 - 7 but that would hardly qualify as late August).
Hard to imagine 18 outs (in play) in first six innings (i.e., no strikouts, DPS, etc.)
Aug 30 vs CC. 1st inning had one force out and 2Ks. 2nd inning 2 K's. 3rd inning Scutaro out at second stretching single and 2K's. So I'll just stop on this game. Clearly this ain't it.
Aug 31. vs Hughes. 1st inning - two K's and a very deep flyout by A gone. Maybe he peeled off. But probably cause Pedey was on first. 2nd - two deep flyouts and one K. Give them the two flyouts, what the heck. At most its 3 outs in 2 innings. 3rd - a couple of groundouts and a K to end inning. 4th had two groundouts and a foul pop. but I doubt one of the GB had a peel off. Reddick was bunting for base hit. but even if I give that, we still have 4 Ks through 6 innings. no way taht is 18 outs with no one runnng through first base.
Sept 1. 1st and 2nd inning. Maybe. Three GBs or pop ups. 3rd - two Ks. 4th inning. One K. 6th inning two Ks. So 5 Ks in six innings.
No way any of these games had 18 outs (balls in play - his words) with noone going through first base.
I get it. Your bitter. But don't exaggerate. Good luck with your next gig and I hope your memory gets better.
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