Tweet
-
-
I hope someone asks La Russa in the postgame if Andrew Vaughn is worthy of taking ABs away from Nick Williams yet. -
The only explanation for Williams starting over Vaughn is that La Russa doesn't want Vaughn to get down on himself after he likely would have gone 0-3 against the best pitcher in the AL. But this should never happen again. There's a reason that Vaughn was chosen for the opening roster and Williams wasn't - he's a better player.Comment
-
This is a team with designs on a World Series? With that lineup out there tonight?? My ass.Comment
-
Does TLR think that Nick Williams is KW's son or something?"Hope...may be indulged in by those who have abundant resources...but those who stake their all upon the venture see it in its true colors only after they are ruined."
-- ThucydidesComment
-
They had chances to add some quality depth, or another needed bat, and elected not to. You’re seeing the result of that now. If they really thought Vaughn was the answer, having not played above high A, then why isn’t he out there? I think it was more about the organization being cheap, as usual.Comment
-
The Sox are now 1-4 with the bastardized extra inning rule since it began in 2020.
Like I wrote Sunday this team can't execute basic fundamentals (bunting) so they only way they score in extra's is stringing together hits and right now they are having a hard time getting ANY hits period.
And someone needs to remind Mr. Crochet that fielding is a part of the game. Another costly error helps lead to yet another loss.Comment
-
Like Patrick Nolan (I think) wrote, the Sox always talk about having "payroll room" like it's a badge of honor or something yet when push comes to shove they never spend that money. Remember JR's mantra which he's had since at least his participation in the labor impasse of 1994-95, "fiscal responsibility." It's vastly more important to him than winning.
The Sox have made the post season six times in his 40 years, that's on par with the Orioles for God's sake. Even the Cubs, a staple of late night TV monologues for 50 years have made it more than that.
Nothing will change until he is no longer in control.Comment
-
I don't have any problems with the lineup or the moves. There are probably reasons Williams played over Vaughn aren't public for competitive reasons. I doubt that Vaughn has gone Tony Horton, but Vaughn has so little professional experience. I can see why Crochet started the 10th. Still, after coming out twice for the 10th under the bastardized rules, Crochet seems to have shown he is a different pitcher with runners on base. I can't see if he's pitching out of the stretch or speeding up his windup. You want a pitcher to come into the the 10th who will strike out at least the first hitter. Pitching with runners on base, especially with the game on the line where limiting advancement before the second out is crucial, changes the way pitchers pitch. Sunday, it looks like the Royals attacked him with bunts, and tonight there was the catcher's interference. Maybe there isn't a clear trend. in his lack of success when they tell him to pitch with a runner on second. .I haven't figured out how a pitcher can be charged with a run he didn't put on base, but Crochet seems set to lead the league in this new bizzarro baseball category.
Still, there was this pitching duel for nine innings. And then, because the commissioner apparently hates baseball and just wants to get it over with, the epic struggle turns into something completely different. I would rather call the game a tie and play the damn thing over again later in the seasons, but that would probably go seven or eight, with a runner starting the eighth on second base. This isn't major league baseball, not to the extent that I care, anyway.
Fearing tonight's game is why I didn't check into last night's game until late. The Indians turn two to end the ninth and this would be three extra=inning games in a row, all intra-division. If a division title is decided by this extra-innings rule, it sort of makes the postseason meaningless. The more competitive your division, the more extra-innings will decide the race. If baseball is your job, obviously you have to adapt to be successful, figure out what reliever can come in cold (but warmed up) and strand a runner from second that the league put there. As a fan who has spent tens of thousands of dollars on baseball in his life, I can adapt by leaving baseball, except for the occasional trip to a batting cage. (I could get more out of Daryl Boston throwing me batting practice than watching a game knowing there is a sort of clock that strikes where it stops being real baseball if it goes past nine innings. I probably wouldn't have a lifelong love for baseball but for the epic games against the A's in 1972, more than a few of which were tied after nine. The threat of a hard-fought baseball game ending up being twisted into something else is why I didn't check last night's game until late.
Tonight, I am so angry, I don't expect to check back on baseball until May.
Comment
Comment