2024 Red Sox discussion

[loyalsoxfan2]

Honestly I think until they bring better players in, things really won’t change no matter what they do.

 

[HarpoSF]

I was thinking more of a different former Sox guy in David Ross. Played and worked with Breslow, well respeced guy. Did well with the Cubbies.

I second this emotion!

 

[HarpoSF]

Thanks to Mike Trout and the Ångels (well, and the Good Guys winning today, too)... there is once again a three-way tie for 3rd Place (and Last Place) in the AL East.

 

[philthepat]

Cam Booser has been called up... his bio is wild

"Lengthy injury history: broke his femur playing football in high school and had knee surgery, fractured a vertebra as a senior lifting weights, had Tommy John surgery as a freshman in college and a related elbow scope during his second minor league season, and labrum surgery during his third. While rehabbing in Fort Myers following the shoulder surgery in 2015, was hit by a car while on a bicycle and broke a bone in his back. Was suspended for 50 games in 2015 after testing positive for marijuana. Retired in November 2017 and became a carpenter. Spent two-and-a-half years installing ceilings before becoming a coach at a Washington training facility in 2020, where he realized he could still throw in the upper 90s without pain, leading him to attempt a comeback. Threw an inning for a semi-pro team in Seattle and was signed by the independent Chicago Dogs (managed at the time by Butch Hobson) in 2021. Garnered interest from teams, but was still under contract with the Twins and could not sign with another organization until he was released. Was finally released in 2022 and almost immediately signed with Arizona. Signed with the Red Sox as a minor league free agent in February 2023. Re-
signed before reaching free agency in October 2023."

 

[philthepat]

 

[HarpoSF]

I don't want to be batting 9th!

 

[CabanaBoyKen]

I think generally there is a real lack of leadership on the team. We don't have any players like Pedey, Tek, Papi... or even someone like Mike Napoli. The closest we've had I think was Sale, and he was always hurt. Combine that with the fact Cora is not really a leader himself, more of a mentor type, it's a bad mix.

Just seeing this now regarding the fielding woes of the team. IMO it’s not so much lack of leadership among the players but a lack of leadership from Cora and a lack of recognition of what exactly the problem is. For the past 3 years the defense has spiraled downward after some key injuries have happened. I think the biggest reason for that is the players who are left filling in all collectively try to do too much to “make up for” the loss of the injured players. In doing so they try too hard to make the spectacular play or even the play just outside of their actual ability, and even on ones they can make they try to rush things and be just a touch quicker in that attempt to “make up” the loss. In doing so they actually do worse than they otherwise would. If they were capable of moving that little bit quicker they would have been doing so all their career. If they’d all just play their game, make the plays they ARE capable of making at the speed they’re capable of the team would be better off. They’d still be a little lacking defensively but not the “worst in the league by a lot” stuff we’ve seen.

Even the collision between Devers and O’Neill is a factor of this. Both guys trying to go for a ball and either not calling for it or not listening if another player called for it, and in the process they knocked each other out of the lineup for multiple games. A smarter manager would have noticed this stuff going on and had a team meeting to get everyone re-focused and to relax a little. Cora has had 3 years of this now and it’s still happening.

 

[loyalsoxfan2]

Who on this team is a leader?
I can't think of anyone who is stepping up to be a leader on this team.

 

[CabanaBoyKen]

Who on this team is a leader?
I can't think of anyone who is stepping up to be a leader on this team.

Story was before he got injured. For a young player Casas was as well, before he got injured. I think Devers is trying to be more of a leader but isn’t really comfortable in that yet. This is where a strong manager would be a big help. Cora is OK with a “2018 Sox” type team full of veteran players with a couple young guys but he wants to be too much of a player’s manager buddy to everyone type. That’s not a great fit for a really young team.

 

[HarpoSF]

The RED SOX should not feel too bad about losing tonight to Cleveland. The Guardians do have the best record in MLB right now. Plus, both Les Jays Bleu and the Ray Devils lost their prospective games today, too, so the Good Guys maintain sole possession of 3rd Place still.

(Yeah. Grasping at straws, but it is something.)

 

[HarpoSF]

(Correction: They "share" 3rd Place with Les Jays Bleu still. Whatever. They are not the bottom-basement loosers, at least.)

 

[HarpoSF]

Today is one of those rare days where all three Boston-based teams will be playing in late April. Luckily, not all three are Home games (that would make a very strange mess at the Gahden, of course).

Let's go for the Hat Trick-Wins, RED SOX & Celtics & Bruins!!!

 

[HarpoSF]

Thanks a lot, Celtics! (I would have guessed it would have been the RED SOX to mess up their end of the Hat Trick.)

 

[HarpoSF]

Well, at least the Good Guys and the Bear-Boys held up their end of the Hat Trick. (What is 2/3 of a Hat Trick called... a "Beanie"?)

 

[HarpoSF]

Okay, all three Boston-based teams will be playing tomorrow. Here is another chance at the Wins-Hat Trick. (Do not bl*w it, guys!)

 

[philthepat]

 

[HarpoSF]

Okay, the RED SOX held up their end of the Hat Trick. Looks like the Celtics are trying to do the same. C'mon, Bear-boys, make the City of Boston proud, too!

 

[DemonessBaby]

17-0 today for the Red Sox. One more big game like that tomorrow?

Nice to see the offence break out.

 

[philthepat]

 

[HarpoSF]

The Ray Devils are playing sub-par right now. Time for the Good Guys to put them out of our misery!