MLB 2016

Lester has always had a problem with it and now it's in his head. It seems like such a simple thing to do but just can't make it happen. The sox played well last night beating a good san fran team 5-3 in 10 innings. I just read an article about their schedule. This is the next month and a half to july 27

That ratio will get way out of whack over the following month and a half, with three long home stands and one and a half short road trips. In that span, they'll play 28 home games and only 9 road games. Also, they'll have four more off days over that stretch (if you count the Thursday after the All-Star Game as an off day).

This what august and september have to offer

From July 28 on, they will have four long road trips (at least 10 games and 3 cities each), broken up by 3 short home stands (6 or 7 games each), and followed by a short 3-game home stand to end the season. In all of August, they will have only one day off.

Which makes me ask, why make a team that has other west coast games to play this year, travel all the way to san fran, play 2 games with a day off before and day off after, and then cram 10 game road trips to 3 cities multiple times with no days off at the end of the season. I know it's a monumental task to try and schedule all the games fairly but it just seems they could have done something with one of the 5 or 6 teams they need to play outwest and even things up a little. Hopefully the sox can take advantage of the schedule the next month or so and build up a cushion and certainly in September the additional players on the bench will help, but man the end of the seasion is gonna be a bitch for the team

Wow, that really does blow, shame on the schedule makers!!

beat the Cubs

like the manager said - it's just a small loss for them, for us it's huge to beat a team like that

Ez wrote:

Wow, that really does blow, shame on the schedule makers!!

thats why it's important to win as many games as they can between now and the trade deadline,!!!!

take advantage of all the home games and build up a good record going into august and september is gonna be huge. one thing in their favor is the team is young, the rigors of all that travelling shouldn't affect them as much as a more veteran team.

i would like to see if they can make a deal for a pitcher sooner rather than later, getting a new guy in here and comfortable may help more than throwing him in when they are on the road all the time.

Yea, they definitely need another SP or two.

Ez wrote:

Yea, they definitely need another SP or two.

they need to steal some coaches from the rays minor league system. They seem to be pretty good at developing starting pitchers. they haven't developed a hitter since evan longoria but they pump out pitchers endlessly

meanwhile since Lester, the sox reallyhaven't been able to geta good solid starter out of the minors. i thought they had one in Bucholz but he has developed danial bard syndrome, and so far guys like owens , elias, johnson seem to take more steps back than forward

you need the Pirates pitching guru's - they're the ones resurrecting careers

blondie wrote:

you need the Pirates pitching guru's - they're the ones resurrecting careers

yeah they have been doing well also. for as long as I have been a sox fan, there have only been a few pitchers that came up from the farm. clemens, papelbon, maybe a couple of others who have had any real success. mostly they are JAG pitchers

ooo! a Papelbon reunion!

blondie wrote:

ooo! a Papelbon reunion!

I'm not sure they would want him, I am sure he would come back. there's been alot of talk about them trying to get Rich Hill back from the A's. he is 36, spent most of his career as a middle of the road side arm reliever, bouncing back and forth from the minors

he had tommy John surgery, was playing independent league ball last year he changed to more overhand pitching and has been tearing it up for the last year

The sox could have kept him at the end of the season but he wanted to start and at the time they thought they had enough starters

He has an era of under 2.50 and depending on what the A's want, would be a great addition to the staff for this year. I wouldn't give up too much for him at his age, but he would work.

One thing I do know, there is no debate that the sox will be buyers this year, their offense is too good to not make a run at pitchers to try and win now

dumbrowski is known for doing what it takes to win now, and will be willing to trade prospects to do so


if they aren't named Moncada or Benedenterie(sp??) I say anyone down in the minors is fair game for trades

I'm sure we're sellers - even if we stay sort of in contention there's guys that are obviously not going to be part of the future so they'll be available. No one Earth shattering but serviceable.

Everyone happy with their draft picks?

I see Boston picked up a local guy from here. Barnegat is where we fish from and camp near there.

The Astros took a kid from my hometown, Jake Rogers

Apparently tonight is canadadadian heritage night at the ballpark

A website giveaway was a tshirt with a pic of a hockey skate on the front; (Matt) Stairs and 12 on the back

Steven wright, who has been the most consistent pitcher we have should be in the all star game, and if he keeps pitching the way he has been, there should be talk of him STARTING the all star game. he gave up 3 runs last night, raising his ERA from 2.09 to 2.22

he consistently pitches into the 7th or 8th inning and if he isn't starting should be the NO2 out of the pen in the 3rd or 4th inning. he has been a great, not good great.

a much needed win over the O's.

despite being 8-10 in their last 18 games the sox are tied for first still. they need to take the rubber game tonight

we're still sucking

no offense whatsoever.

I went to the game Friday and Saturday. Saturday we baked in the sun - after the first hour I went and bought a hat (Irish green) and $8 sunblock (for a keychain sized bottle). Not a moment too soon too - I was really close to becoming a crispy critter; I thought I was going to be in the shade so I didn't wear sunblock.

steven wright pitches 9 innings with 1 Unearned run, and they load the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the 9th, at home, and can't get a stinkin fly ball to the outfield. lose the game 3-1 in 10 inning when your closer can't find the strike zone


now you have to go up against chris sale( with Bucholz on the mound ) and then Quintana.


All of a sudden nobody can get a hit, they were lucky to win on Sunday 2-1

they need a player off the bench with a bat, and they still need a starter if they are dragging clay out again to start.

I think his name has come up in the Options convo's too - maybe you'll trade him for someone controllable


I just want my new kids now. I don't care about development - let them develop up here. They need to get used to it anyway. I realize they've been playing really good teams lately but that doesn't change the fact that they're all swinging at the same bad first pitch. I really hate one pitch outs

blondie wrote:

I  think his name has come up in the Options convo's too - maybe you'll trade him for someone controllable


I just want my new kids now.  I don't care about development - let them develop up here.  They need to get used to it anyway.  I realize they've been playing really good teams lately but that doesn't change the fact  that they're all swinging at the same bad first pitch.       I really hate one pitch outs

unless it's your pitcher.

the red sox sometimes do the opposite, they get a great pitch right down the pipe, and watch it go for a strike, then get garbage after that and screw themselves into the ground on a changeup or slider

yeah obviously


my guys do that too. it's like they don't know what a strike is or they get so caught up in working the count that they forget they still need to find one they can hit

there's no middle ground. and at this point, they're all mental.

the sox are spiralling down another horrible game that they weren't competitive, losing to the Rays who had given up 66 runs in a 5 game losing streak, only to crush the sox

the pitching staff is a shambles at the moment

We're finally showing some signs of life - we even beat Madison Bumgartner the other day. They lost the other 2 games but fought hard in both of them so I can't be too upset.

Beat up on the D-Backs 8-0 last night. Our "Vinnie from Philly" is back but Nola is struggling badly.

Oddly enough, they say a talk by Howard helped get them back in the swing of things. By all accounts he's been the veteran leader they needed even though he's being phased out. He really is a good guy and I hope he finds new life in baseball somewhere after this season.

The Rays, really? Find some pitching somewhere, please!

Ez wrote:

The Rays, really? Find some pitching somewhere, please!

I know, for gawd sakes I could get a few of those guys to swing and miss, even with the ruptured disc in my neck. E-rod was throwing middle middle fastballs with no movement, i swear i was ready to fly down there and grab the ball out of his hand myself.


I'm tellin ya if they get swept, they need to fire somebody before they get back home on Friday

the month of June has been as bad as the month of May was good for them, all of a sudden they can' t get a pitcher out of the third inning and the bullpen is toast because of it

I can understand how poor they played in Texas, their the hottest team in baseball, the Rays though, thats unforgivable

clinched our first series win in about a month. going for a sweep today


they're being scrappy again - pulled out a W in the top of the 9th. Howard with a big-time bases loaded walk for the winning run.

I got 4 free tix to Friday's game - 15 rows behind the Phils on deck circle

blondie wrote:

I got 4 free tix to Friday's game - 15 rows behind the Phils on deck circle  

did EZ get them for you??

yup!


they came from our bank at work. I often get free tix this way. I guess other people have real plans for the holiday and couldn't use them.

I don't feel like doing anything but I'll take in a game. I'd be home watching it anyway. Now I'll get a good cheesesteak to eat too. Win Win.

Im happy with the All Star selections, hopefully Pedroia gets the last slot too. I don't agree with any of our pitchers making it though.

We only have the obligatory selection but he's worthy.

the rest of the team has also broken out and are hot right now. Hopefully they finish the second half strong.

Ez wrote:

Im happy with the All Star selections, hopefully Pedroia gets the last slot too. I don't agree with any of our pitchers making it though.

wright I have no problem with, but Kimbrel is iffy at best.


The position players all deserved it.

Last night was frustrating, you can't blame anyone but the hitters though, they had runners in scoring position all friggin night and couldn't get a hit or a sac fly when they needed it.


I do however wish that they would stahp giving up runs in the first inning, it seems everytime i turn on the game they are already down a couple runs.


i mean really, the first pitch of the game goes for a home run??? again????

Tonight's game is much better, offense is looking good

Ez wrote:

Tonight's game is much better,  offense is looking good

1.) they had a 1-2-3 first inning, which has been unusual
2.) they scored runs in the first 4 innings
C.) Wright pitched well, into the 7th inning, got a little tired
IV.) The bullpen managed to hold onto a 5 run lead in the last 2 innings


The desperately need a starter, and to get kelley into the bullpen to help out, but they have won 4-6 so far in this homestand.

Now if they can just sweep the friggin lowly Rays they can go into the all star break on a high note. I was looking for an 7-2 homestand, hopefully they can make that happen



Of course they went into last years all star break on a high note then started the second half with like a 7 game losing streak so my enthusiasm is somewhat guarded, but they are at least winning series which is what they need to do.

yea, I agree, it was nice to win the series against the Rangers, especially after last weekend in Arlington. They need to be big time buyers at the deadline.

Ez wrote:

yea, I agree, it was nice to win the series against the Rangers, especially after last weekend in Arlington. They need to be big time buyers at the deadline.

slim pickins in the starting pitcher market, and they will be giving up more than they want to, but i say give up whatever you have to in the minors who isn't named Moncada or benentendi, or at the very least keep one of them.

yeah, they need to be buyers

and throw in a Bucholz Bonus to whomever you trade with, offer to pay more than his salary for them to take him

Agreed, Bucholz has lost any magic he once had.

Ez wrote:

Agreed, Bucholz has lost any magic he once had.

the last time he pitched, farrell was walking out to the mound, Bucholz started walking back to the dugout before he got halfway there and handed him the ball as he was walking by.

Instead of watching what happens to the 2 guys he effin walked onto the bases he went right in the clubhouse.


he just don't get it.

the worst part is his interviews never have him saying i have to be better, it always well i threw the pitch and it was a good pitch the guy just happened to tag it 450 feet

http://fullcount.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/2016/07/07/report-red-sox-considering-trading-for-rhp-jeremy-hellickson/

OK Blondie,
we will give the Philiies some young talent, and you can have Bucholz, or a bucket of balls.....wait no we will keep the bucket of balls it's more valuable than Bucholz.

lets make this happen

We don't need him, pitching is what we have a lot of.

Hellickson has been good this year. A couple of stinkers but mostly good outings. Remember, we had trouble scoring runs in the first half, He's kept us in games. I'll be sorry to see him go if he's traded.

So you guys picked up mini mart That's a Reuben amaro move. Look out, he may weasel his way in long enough to empty your farm system

blondie wrote:

So you guys picked up mini mart   That's a Reuben amaro move.  Look out, he may weasel his way in long enough to empty your farm system

I didn't even hear a whisper about this move.

he's a bench filler from the looks of it, a stop gap measure to bolster the weak infield bench.


I have a feeling we are going to be letting go of a few farm players before the trading deadline regardless.

At least I hope they do.

despite the good homestand, and playing better, they really need a starter, and then hope that kelly or someone else can fill up some spots in the bullpen.

Yea, strong finish for the first half, optimistic for the second half, and the trade deadline.

Ez wrote:

Yea, strong finish for the first half, optimistic for the second half, and the trade deadline.

I said to myself they need to go7-2 in that homestand and they did what they had to do.

I see they are going to give Bucholz and EROD another shot in the rotation, I honestly think it's to try and get something for at least one of them.

Putting a major league starter in a package, mediocre or not, might help them land a starter.

there really aren't any starters out there in the market right now and they will have to put together a package that will look like they are giving up too much to get one


I like the ziegler trade regardless of whether kimbrel comes back or not, they needed another arm in that bullpen.


Koji cannot be expected to close games at his age, he can't pitch 2-3 days ina row and with the schedule they have in august and september the closer is going to have to do that.

I really think that shaw or bradley are going to be looked at by anyone who willing to give up a starter. They will NOt trade Bogarts or betts and those 2 are going to be targeted by the teams they need to talk to about pitching.

i don't want to lose either one of them but given a choice, i think shaw may be the one who ends up getting traded, they can fill 3rd base with someone else, and have options coming up in the minors.

Bradley is too good defensively and has proven he can hit consistently in the majors to be traded, i would hate to lose that arm and defense up the middle.

11 games over 500 and in the playoffs at this point is more than i expected from the Sox this year, i was hoping for a competititve team and have been pleased with what they have show so far, the pitching was always going to be an issue and honestly it is about where i thought it would be, Bucholz and wright basically swapped places as to who was going to be the third decent starter, but I knew they only had 3 that they could "depend on", and the 4-5 spot, like most teams was gonna be a crap shoot with a bunch of JAGS filling in.

I am very happy with how the season is going, especially after the last two seasons. They have a great shot at the division, and should get a wildcard at the least.