Ben Buchanan, OTM: "Let's call tonight what it was. This was the death rattle of the 2014 season in its full brutal glory. ... When the Red Sox needed to rise, or at least to tread water, they sank to the furthest possible depths. Talking about "shaking things up," "going on a run," or really making any move with real consideration to its impact on the 2014 standings just rings at best false, at worst delusional and desperate. For all intents and purposes, tonight was the last night of 2014, and tomorrow is the 2015 preseason."
Sure, that's obvious but is the dugout so divided that even Ortiz, Pedroia, Napoli et al can't get the kids to play decent ball?
There must be something else going on...my dear departed dad would just shrug and call them a bunch of bums, and to borrow another metaphore from his time, this is kind of like the arrival of the Hindenburg!
It reminds me of the painting on the cover of the Minutemen's "Project: Merch" album. The record executives are standing in front of a sales chart, and one says, "I've got it! We'll have them write hit songs!"
I think they made a series of bets in the offseason: Victorino would be able to play. JBJ would start hitting. Grady Sizemore would be decent. Middlebrooks would contribute as a power bat. XB would continue to hit. They went bust on all of those bets. If even two of them had worked out, this would be a much better team.
I've made this point before. Remember those simulations where a 90-win team is run through 10,000 seasons. And sometimes they win 115 and sometimes they win 75. Well, this is one of those 75-win years.
I think they made a series of bets in the offseason: Victorino would be able to play. JBJ would start hitting. Grady Sizemore would be decent. Middlebrooks would contribute as a power bat. XB would continue to hit. They went bust on all of those bets. If even two of them had worked out, this would be a much better team.
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Ben Buchanan, OTM:
"Let's call tonight what it was. This was the death rattle of the 2014 season in its full brutal glory. ... When the Red Sox needed to rise, or at least to tread water, they sank to the furthest possible depths. Talking about "shaking things up," "going on a run," or really making any move with real consideration to its impact on the 2014 standings just rings at best false, at worst delusional and desperate. For all intents and purposes, tonight was the last night of 2014, and tomorrow is the 2015 preseason."
Then bring on the 2015 preseason. The 2014 season hasn't been a lot of fun to watch.
Why do they suck so bad?
Why do they suck so bad...
Ellsbury, Victorino, and rookies..
Sure, that's obvious but is the dugout so divided that even Ortiz, Pedroia, Napoli et al can't get the kids to play decent ball?
There must be something else going on...my dear departed dad would just shrug and call them a bunch of bums, and to borrow another metaphore from his time, this is kind of like the arrival of the Hindenburg!
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/Hindenburg_burning.jpg
"Get" them to play decent ball? If that's how it works, no team with veterans and rookies should ever slump.
I don't think it's quite that simple.
None of them are baseballing well. And even when they are baseballing well, they aren't doing it for long enough. :-)
I don't think it's quite that simple.
It reminds me of the painting on the cover of the Minutemen's "Project: Merch" album. The record executives are standing in front of a sales chart, and one says, "I've got it! We'll have them write hit songs!"
Why do they suck so bad?
I think they made a series of bets in the offseason: Victorino would be able to play. JBJ would start hitting. Grady Sizemore would be decent. Middlebrooks would contribute as a power bat. XB would continue to hit. They went bust on all of those bets. If even two of them had worked out, this would be a much better team.
I've made this point before. Remember those simulations where a 90-win team is run through 10,000 seasons. And sometimes they win 115 and sometimes they win 75. Well, this is one of those 75-win years.
I think they made a series of bets in the offseason: Victorino would be able to play. JBJ would start hitting. Grady Sizemore would be decent. Middlebrooks would contribute as a power bat. XB would continue to hit. They went bust on all of those bets. If even two of them had worked out, this would be a much better team.
Good analysis.
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