Yea last nights game was a gift. Sox lineup shut down the entire game really. That one swing from Ortiz was it. As much as I want to give TB pitchers credit, looked like bad hitting to me. Moore hung at least a few curves that should of been hammered that were swung through. Resulting in a couple strikeouts. Moore had his moments. But he wasnt fantastic after that first like the #s suggest.
Nope more to do with his approach at the plate. Swings at everything, doesn't do a good job going with the pitch to the opposite field (although recently he has been), the pitchers just keep throwing balls outside and he chases them like that have mini skirts on.
Sox hitters did hit a couple of ropes right at guys too. Just bad luck last night mixed in with some good pitching by TB.
You stick with me kid and I'll teach you everything.... starting with the "Legend of the Jeffs (Francoeur/Karstans)".
Jeff Francoeur was the savior. He somehow put it together for 1 year, and after that the people killed him daily. Boston would be proud of Atlanta.
From the Manny Files....... [video=youtube;H64GyReeD3s]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H64GyReeD3s&feature=player_embedded[/video] everytime I see a Manny gaffe I think of this...... [video=youtube;U5nuY1X8GBY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=U5nuY1X8GBY[/video]
Finally, need a good start from Doubrant today to keep it going. Drew is starting to heat up at the plate lately, leaving Middlebrooks in his rearview mirror.
It's funny but Middlebrooks has looked better at the plate as well. Driving two pitches to right center. The HR he hit off Farnsworth was a rocket. Drew has been very good since the end of April. I think most of his early struggles was just trying to get enough at bats since he barely played in ST and was rushed up at the start of the year.
Speaking of Daniel Bard, he was pretty bad last night as he walked 5 guys, threw 2 wild pitches in 1 inning. Only 8 of his total 30 pitches were strikes. He's walked 17 batters in 12.2 innings at Double A this year, including 13 walks in 3.2 innings since he was sent back down. So yes it would be a shock if he ever is a useful MLB pitcher at this point. Really sad.
No chance, he probably hasn't swung a bat since high school (he did have 2 at bats in 2012). Plus don't forget Ankiel was a great athlete and had pop in his bat even when he was pitching. I believe Ankiel was also scouted as an OFer too ala Casey Kelly because he had a good bat.
Big big big win last night. Great hitting from Middlebrooks too after awful at bats by Napoli and Drew. Nice to see Rodney is now Rodney again. And I know everyone was knocking the Victorino signing, with reason, but man the guy has been great defensively this year.
Well said earlier bout Middlebrooks Finkle, that was a rocket. Victorino has been awesome, love what he has brought to the team so far. Speaking about players that may be done, Iglesias just can't hit. Garin Cecchini is crushing at Salem. I kept reading about his tools, but it seemed like he was always hurt.
Cecchini recently has a minor injury, I forget what he did but it was said if it was a big game that he would have played but the Sox are very cautious with their prospects. I wouldn't be too concerned. Cecchini might be the 3rd baseman of the future. As far as Iglesias, still a small sample size but yeah I don't think he'll ever hit enough in the MLB to be at least average at the plate.
Ok Scott Diamond back to reality. Papi still mashing, and the pen needed some rest so it was nice to put up a 12 spot. Ellsbury I thought would come around by now, but at .309 obp at the top of the lineup is a bit rough. He is losing value quickly for his upcoming free agency. Boras sad.
Ortiz is just unreal right now. Yeah Ellsbury really needs to step it up, at the rate he's going he might accept arbitration from the Sox to try and re-establish his value. He's not hitting for average or power, not getting on base but at least he's stealing bases right?
It appears to be a dog fight for this division yet again. Sox appear to be a lot better then I expected and I Didn't expect the Yankees to finish within the top 3 in the division. Impressive start from them.
I'm more shocked that the Yankees have been as good as they are with all the injuries and the roster they have right now, there's no way they should have the 3rd best record in baseball. But hey tip your cap to them. I do think they're doing a lot of this with smoke and mirrors with the offense but their pitching has been good and that's the key. It's going to be a dog fight until the last day of the season. I'm still not counting TB out and I do think Baltimore is better than we all thought (although I'm still not a big fan of their pitching). I still don't want to count the Jays out either but they look like a disaster right now from top to bottom. Should be a fun summer.
Agreed. TB is going to be there. I jumped the gun earlier in the season with them. They have been hitting.
Yeah I thought TB was going to win the East at the start of the year, so I'm not giving up on them yet but they need Price to be Price again and they need the pen to fix their holes. Looks like Rodney is back to being Rodney so hopefully guys like McGee and Peralta will step up for them. The main reason why they're around a .500 team right now is because of the pen blowing all of those leads late in the game.
Yea, bullpen has been a lot better as of recent. Their going to have to be strong to compete, as is any pen in the East.
Sox are going to start having Jose Iglesias take ground balls at both 2B and 3B and he still slowly get game action at those positions to not only possibly be used as a ULT player but to boost his trade value. Sox view Bogaerts as the future SS.
Wow, I just don't think he will ever hit enough to make a splash for any team. Bogarts is the real deal, not sure he doesn't move eventually.
I don't he'll hit enough to be an everyday MLB starter on a good team, that's why I think the Sox are exposing him to other positions. I mean at the very least he could be a useful utility player due to his glove. It can't hurt.
6 and 3 road trip isn't anything to be too upset about, big 4 game series against Cleveland as their schedule starts to get a bit tougher.
It doesn't matter what Cleveland does record wise this year as the pick would count for what the Indians did in 2012. I believe they have a top 10 protected pick so the Yankees would get an extra pick at the end of the 1st round.
