tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post8838859442629932762..comments2024-03-15T23:25:52.517-07:00Comments on the joy of sox: G82: Athletics 6, Red Sox 0allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04673233312198832937noreply@blogger.comBlogger211125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post-44284927654025679342009-07-07T18:17:47.838-07:002009-07-07T18:17:47.838-07:00Nobody's "flogging" 1978. I do not ...Nobody's "flogging" 1978. I do not think that what happened in 1978 is bound to happen again, or any of that nonsense. What 1978 says, to any team, is that when things are looking good, make the most of it, knowing that it will not last forever, try to minimize slumps and spread them around, deal with problems before they become enormous (e.g, let's not repeat the Hobson will be okay meme with Lowell unless, this time, it has some basis) and when things are not going well, don't panic.<br /><br />That's all I am saying. That was true 1978 but the front office moved too slowly, and it is true in 2009, when, I suspectm the front office will do what has to be done quickly.Barthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07358428327504448838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post-35380987265190160402009-07-07T16:14:36.709-07:002009-07-07T16:14:36.709-07:00"Maybe you had to be there in 1978 to watch t..."Maybe you had to be there in 1978 to watch the bottom fall out of a team that was 100 times better than the one which beat them."<br /><br />Most of us did live through that.<br /><br />But we also lived through 2004 and 2007, which makes some of us wonder why Sox fans are still flogging 1978. Let NYY fans do that. <br /><br />Like Redsock said, 1 GA isn't as good as 10 GA, but not as bad as 1 GB. The team's not perfect, but it's good. <br /><br />One person's realism is another person's crushing negativity. One person's realism is another person's pollyanna optimism. <br /><br />And as I said recently, I've gotten to the point where the thing I hate most about losses is fan's reaction. We hit a rough spot, and out comes 1978. Fuck 1978. I'm living in the present.laura khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05524593142290489958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post-76365069551286327142009-07-07T14:30:15.221-07:002009-07-07T14:30:15.221-07:00Maybe you had to be there in 1978 ...
I was. I ha...<i>Maybe you had to be there in 1978 ...</i><br /><br />I was. I have been following the Red Sox for 34 years.<br /><br /><i>This rah, rah, our team is great works for some people, I guess.</i><br /><br />Strawman. <br />No one is saying this.<br /><br /><i>Theo ... is not sitting around gazing fondly at his team or the standings.</i><br /><br />Again, you are talking about things that *no one* has said or even implied. Please stop.<br /><br /><i>My point is ... that up one is not all that meaningful at all right now.</i><br /><br />Up by 1 with 79 to play ... you're right.<br /><br />But again, who here is doing jumping jacks about having a one-game lead? <br /><br />No one that I can see.<br /><br />No one is saying the team is perfect. No one is saying we'd turn down more wins.<br /><br />I agree there is no reason to throw a party for a one-game lead in early July. But <b>for the exact same reason</b>, there is no reason to panic or even express serious worry -- there are 79 more games to go.<br /><br />...<br /><br />As I have said before, I no longer live and die by every inning and every game. 2004 changed that in my head. Didn't see it coming, could never have predicted it, but it happened. <br /><br />I don't stew over losses anymore. I go to bed and look forward to the next game. I saw two WS titles -- now I can simply enjoy watching my team every night without the overlying drama of maybe they will never win a title. It's nice. It's healthy. That means far fewer rants on this blog, but that's how it goes....<br /><br />Maybe that feeling is unique. I simply don't feel the need to rent my garments after an 11-inning loss anymore.allanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04673233312198832937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post-57335181915169358022009-07-07T14:14:06.147-07:002009-07-07T14:14:06.147-07:00This "negativity" thing always amuses me...This "negativity" thing always amuses me. It may be an age thing, not in terms of chronological age, but in terms of years of watching baseball. It is not "negativity" to not get too high on a one game lead in July or to worry about the team's progress. The season is, as the players tell us, a grind and when you hit rough patches we recognize them.<br /><br />This rah, rah, our team is great works for some people, I guess. Maybe you had to be there in 1978 to watch the bottom fall out of a team that was 100 times better than the one which beat them. But then again, we saw what happened in 2006, and, well, 2003 and last year, too so I am not sure where this giddy optimism that nothing can go wrong comes from.<br /><br />Sure being up one is better than being down one and not as good as being up 25. My point is not that, but that up one is not all that meaningful at all right now.<br /><br />Do you think we are eight games better than NY? Really? Good for you.<br /><br />Love our rotation until we get to the five whole. I like our bullpen a lot, but maybe Ramirez is being handed too much work and Pap is just not the Pap he was (and no numbers are going to convince me otherwise).<br /><br />I like our lineup, but some of the older guys concern me: Papi, Lowell, 'Tek in particular and you have to worry that they may wear down a bit. Unlike other years, I do not see instant fixes out of Pawtucket and Portland, for a sagging offense, though obviously I do see the arms down there.<br /><br />That's not "negativity." That is a realistic look at where we are right now,a couple of hours before game time. Mazz says we need a spark. Maybe that's it. Maybe all we need is the few days off that the break gives us, though six of our guys will be in SL.<br /><br />I dunno. But I do know this. Theo sees what I see and much more and he is not sitting around gazing fondly at his team or the standings.Barthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07358428327504448838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post-85663805265543423342009-07-07T13:38:46.122-07:002009-07-07T13:38:46.122-07:00As the Globe pointed out today, there is nobody in...<i>As the Globe pointed out today, there is nobody in our starting lineup hitting over .300.</i><br /><br />I don't much care about hitting .300 -- getting on base means more to me -- but that statement is deceiving.<br /><br />.299 - Ellsbury <br />.296 - Youkilis<br />.290 - Pedroia<br /><br /><i>The statistics comparing our hitting to the rest of both leagues is misleading since generally we hit crappy pitching better than most teams.</i><br /><br />Do you have stats/links/posts that show this? How do all teams do against pitchers with ERAs over 5? And does Boston hit worse than average against "good" pitchers? I'd like to see something on that.<br /><br />Obviously, Theo would love to have a 25-game lead in the East right now. Who wouldn't? <br /><br />Is Tito happy with a one-game lead? Compared to being 10 GA, no. Compared to being in the basement, though, I'll bet he's thrilled.<br /><br />I don't understand the negativity that often comes out when the team drops two in a row or gets shutout by a rookie -- which, by the way, I showed awhile back does not happen all that often, contrary to everyone's perception.allanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04673233312198832937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post-16762104031896900762009-07-07T13:19:08.029-07:002009-07-07T13:19:08.029-07:00I said first place AT THIS POIN doesn't mean m...I said first place AT THIS POIN doesn't mean much to me. I have some bad news if you think Theo has a different view. He does not.<br /><br />As the Globe pointed out today, there is nobody in our starting lineup hitting over .300. The statistics comparing our hitting to the rest of both leagues is misleading since generally we hit crappy pitching better than most teams. The problem is when we face good pitching, and if you think we are an offensive powerhouse, you are watching different games than I am.<br /><br />But I am happy with this team and where we are. I said nothing otherwise. I like this team better than last year's at this point, or the 2007 versio which won a world championship.<br /><br />Still, we are underachieving and it is somewhat concerning. Pedey, Bay and even Youk are having a rough time right now and blissing out on our 1 game lead gets us nowhere.<br /><br />There is much that I like about Terry Francona and one of them is his ability to deal with issues without panic and I have great faith that he will get us through this patch, too. But if you think he is happy with a one game lead, you are certainly mistaken.Barthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07358428327504448838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post-32096846732650360652009-07-07T10:57:34.493-07:002009-07-07T10:57:34.493-07:00W-L %: Boston is 2nd in MLB.
1 team better (Dodge...W-L %: Boston is 2nd in MLB.<br /><br />1 team better (Dodgers)<br />28 teams worseallanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04673233312198832937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post-34777960156469064112009-07-07T10:54:50.240-07:002009-07-07T10:54:50.240-07:00... we don't hit all that well, and really hav...<i>... we don't hit all that well, and really haven't for about three years.</i><br /><br />2006: 6th in Runs; 2nd in OBP; 7th in SLG<br /><br />2007: 3rd in Runs; 2nd in OBP; 3rd in SLG<br /><br />2008: 2nd in Runs; 1st in OBP; 3rd in SLG<br /><br />2009: 3rd (T) in Runs; 3rd in OBP; 4th in SLG<br /><br />I'm not sure how you can look at 2007 and 2008 and say the Red Sox didn't hit/score all that well. (The injury hell of August 2006 contributed to that year's low numbers.)<br /><br />The 2003-05 Red Sox were some of the best slugging/scoring teams in baseball history. No team can keep that up.allanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04673233312198832937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post-1833320220601715662009-07-07T10:39:54.618-07:002009-07-07T10:39:54.618-07:00The offense come back - since 6/16/2009 - 19 games...The offense come back - since 6/16/2009 - 19 games the sox have scored 88 runs and went 11-8. The offense is not the problem here since that is almost 5 runs a game. <br /><br />This has been a disapointing homestand because of who the sox are playing.<br /><br />Since 2003 - <br /><br />A's are 8 - 17 at Fenway with a 5.24 ERA.<br /><br />Mariners are - 7 - 12 at Fenway with a 5.24 ERA. <br /><br />The three losses this week are just that 3 losses. Sure they were frustrating but it is not like the A's and Mariners don't win games at Fenway.s1chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08012981832351433952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post-73161102320046723542009-07-07T10:15:28.162-07:002009-07-07T10:15:28.162-07:00"Still, were I Theo"
Lucky for us you&#..."Still, were I Theo"<br /><br />Lucky for us you're not, since first place means very little to you!laura khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05524593142290489958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post-72518756987666602662009-07-07T09:47:03.666-07:002009-07-07T09:47:03.666-07:00Not sure if you guys saw but Pedroia was at the ho...Not sure if you guys saw but Pedroia was at the hospital with his pregnant wife. I sure hope everything is ok, but WEEI is saying he is questionable for tonight's game (tuesday).<br /><br />As for Smoltz, only third game back and the 2nd one was interupted by rain and he threw less than or about 50 pitches.<br /><br />He will be there!s1chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08012981832351433952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post-56593189898798603512009-07-07T09:21:40.620-07:002009-07-07T09:21:40.620-07:00First place means very little to me at this point ...First place means very little to me at this point in the season. I like it, and it is better than being in, say, second place, but it says very little. We should be further ahead, frankly, but we don't hit all that well, and really haven't for about three years. (We won a pennant and championship in one of those years, which says something, too.)<br /><br />Still, were I Theo (oh, would that be great) I would feel pretty good and not anxious to do too much. I would try to find away to get Bucky and possibly Bowden up here and let the Smoltz thing take a back seat, for reasons I have mentioned. I would also try to shore up the bench with a little more pop than we currently seem to have in Pawtucket or Portland and yes, Nomie seems like the ticket to me, particularly if he can play first, which he did in LA. But nothing big.<br /><br />And NY is old. Old, old and old.<br /><br />I would like to see the offense come back a bit, starting tonight.Barthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07358428327504448838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post-19340965756742781942009-07-07T09:11:50.896-07:002009-07-07T09:11:50.896-07:00Thanks for that.
It has been a disappointing home...Thanks for that.<br /><br />It has been a disappointing home stand <i>so far</i> but we're still in first place, and that's what counts.<br /><br />When we're chalking up 3 or 4 wins in a row, or winning 6 out of 8, we feel invincible. When we hit the inevitable rough patches, we're throwing blame around and demanding changes.laura khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05524593142290489958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post-83406606887103021582009-07-07T08:52:53.545-07:002009-07-07T08:52:53.545-07:00On the flame comment it is duly withdrawn. I was ...On the flame comment it is duly withdrawn. I was tired and really ticked off that we blew a chance to gain ground. This has been a really disappointing home stand so far. There are extenuating circumstances out of our control (Lowell, then Bailey, going down, for instance) but this Smoltz thing is of our own doing. It is not just two bad innings. He does not look good to me: his slider does not break the way it used to, and his control is way off. He is 42.Barthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07358428327504448838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post-59695069584001481312009-07-07T08:48:52.660-07:002009-07-07T08:48:52.660-07:00On the comment about Buchholz last year as compare...On the comment about Buchholz last year as compared to Smoltz this year:<br /><br />I see them completly differently becuase Buchholz is a young up and coming guy who not only deserves patience, but requires it. We have much more time for him to work out the kinks, either in Pawtucket or, if he is ready again for it, Boston. I did not call for his head last year, though I though Pawtucket might be the best place for him while he was pitching poorly.<br /><br />With Smoltz, though, we are at the end of the road. His career has been long and distinguished, but there is not time to let him work things out, because he is 42 already and coming off surgery to boot.<br /><br />Yes, when you are talking about your own guys there is more leeway to be given out of deference to their many years of service. Yaz comes to mind, of course, but so does Schilling. Harry Sinden made a big mistake in casting Orr away so that he finished his career in another city, but it would be different if the player at issue was not so connected to the team.<br /><br />I admire Smoltz both for what he has done and what he is trying to do now. It's just that we are not the team with which he should be experimenting. Washington might be a better place or, if he is willing, I guess, Pawtucket.Barthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07358428327504448838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post-8732127554522500542009-07-07T05:54:04.783-07:002009-07-07T05:54:04.783-07:00Here in 2009, Clay Buchholz should have pitched to...<i>Here in 2009, Clay Buchholz should have pitched tonight and should pitch five days from now.</i><br /><br />Buchholz isn't in the rotation because of his own doing. He pitched terrible last season, which is why the front office went out and got Penny and Smoltz. Judging by your knee-jerk reaction to the <b>two</b> bad innings Smoltz has had this year, you most certainly would have been calling for Buchholz' head last season, and would've wanted him out of a Sox uniform as well.<br /><br />I, for one, stand behind Smoltz - he's been around in MLB for nearly as long as my life, meaning he clearly knows his stuff, he's coming back from a serious shoulder surgery, and he's made two starts in the A.L. Talk about small sample size, cut the guy some slack. It seems as if you are expecting him to be lights out. He really hasn't been all that bad. He has had two shitty innings - the first being inning 1 back in the bigs, and the second being last night. In both of those games, the Red Sox offense was completely shut down by opposing pitchers.<br /><br />If we come back and score 5 right after he gives up 4, I guarantee you don't make that post.timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12041184236514293677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post-17312690131067700862009-07-06T20:26:48.624-07:002009-07-06T20:26:48.624-07:00In that horrendous first inning for Cincinnati, th...In that horrendous first inning for Cincinnati, the start Johnny Cueto only lasted 2/3 of an inning. 5 hits, 3 walks, 9 runs. 49 pitches.Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14809080115678512743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post-41852613513907834332009-07-06T19:56:01.843-07:002009-07-06T19:56:01.843-07:00"Flame away again"
Can you show me an e..."Flame away again"<br /><br />Can you show me an example of any time you were ever flamed on this blog?<br /><br />Disagreed with, yes. Flamed? I'd be extremely surprised.laura khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05524593142290489958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post-38445748588143828722009-07-06T19:29:42.433-07:002009-07-06T19:29:42.433-07:00Ok. Flame away again, but this Smoltz "comeb...Ok. Flame away again, but this Smoltz "comeback" should be on another team that can afford to keep tossing him out there in the middle of a pennant race.<br /><br />Some SoSHer compared this to the Tiant "experiment" in 1971, but that was very different, which a younger pitcher, on a team going nowhere, but looking for something that might help later. (Yes, I know we wound up in the thick of it at the end, but that was a strike-infested fluke, as was Aparicio falling at third which put an end to all that.)<br /><br />Here in 2009, Clay Buchholz should have pitched tonight and should pitch five days from now. If not him, Michael Bowden. The pathetic A's showed us why tonight. The future is with kids. It is kids: the Pedroias, the Ellsburys and, before that the Youks and Paps who will lead the way, not someone else's hero playing his last days out here.<br /><br />As for washed up heroes making one last turn, Nomar, despite the disconsolate 2004 and his stupid agent, should get his chance before he hangs it up. Somewhere around September 1, when we can have 40, we ought to find a place for him and a shirt with a 5 on its back for him to wear. He might have seen a championship in Boston were it not for Grady's brain freeze and though he brought on his own departure by acting as if he had been imprisoned here, that was a long time ago and worked out for everyone except him. His mistake, to be sure, but he deserves to end it here. Smoltz should end it elsewhere.Barthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07358428327504448838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post-34469599664208761382009-07-06T18:49:25.327-07:002009-07-06T18:49:25.327-07:00Good night, Ofer, or is it good morning?Good night, Ofer, or is it good morning?Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15720293202890878993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post-66591509271144940042009-07-06T18:48:42.024-07:002009-07-06T18:48:42.024-07:00Good nightGood nightA Conformerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17312939307696267987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post-40042420861973636902009-07-06T18:47:26.369-07:002009-07-06T18:47:26.369-07:00Phillies with 10 in the 1st, now beating the Reds ...Phillies with 10 in the 1st, now beating the Reds 22-1 in the 8th.allanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04673233312198832937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post-38394900821113195012009-07-06T18:46:26.694-07:002009-07-06T18:46:26.694-07:00Piss on it.Piss on it.allanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04673233312198832937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post-71276593999299596912009-07-06T18:45:52.579-07:002009-07-06T18:45:52.579-07:0015-2
15 hits to
2 hits
are you fragging kidding ...15-2 <br />15 hits to<br />2 hits<br /><br />are you fragging kidding me!!!<br /><br />clean h20<br /><br />ughs1chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08012981832351433952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post-59415583278121965412009-07-06T18:45:37.753-07:002009-07-06T18:45:37.753-07:00i squirm a little bit when eck uses the word "...i squirm a little bit when eck uses the word "chink".allanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04673233312198832937noreply@blogger.com