Any single is a triple with his speed. Unless you’re talking about him not stealing as much against them.
5/27/2024 Make It Memoriable in Baltimoriable
- Thread starter E5 Yaz
- Start date
This post made me look up Duran's season. He has 11 total SBs, 6 in the first six games of the season and 5 since. Those 11 are 2nd 10 times and home once, no steals of third all season.
I feel like this is a pivotal game in some senses. Sure the Orioles are tough, but Cora kept Criswell in too long. Then he went to the punt-the-game pitcher that was recently acquired.
If they lose this game, as they're essentially conceding, they can "make it up" with Cora-Math - simply winning most of the series, most of the time. But Cora-Math hasn't worked. You get a team taking one step forward and one step back. A team conditioned to lose with the manager telling them, "it's OK." Sloppy game? Who gives a shit, we were going to lose it anyway. No batting plan? Who cares - swing and try to boost your numbers since we're going to lose it anyway.
It feels very 2023 in many ways.
Going back to early May, we were 3 games up or so. The total Runs Allowed are going to be pretty close between April and May - but Runs Scored have fallen quite a bit (injuries, I know). . .but even so, I'm not seeing small-ball, I'm not seeing guys driving in guys, I'm not seeing any of the fast players (Duran, Hamilton, Ceddane) turned lose on the basepaths to apply pressure. (April/March 27 SB/10 CS v. May 17/3.) I'm just seeing "same plan, and all will be OK stuff."
If they lose this game, as they're essentially conceding, they can "make it up" with Cora-Math - simply winning most of the series, most of the time. But Cora-Math hasn't worked. You get a team taking one step forward and one step back. A team conditioned to lose with the manager telling them, "it's OK." Sloppy game? Who gives a shit, we were going to lose it anyway. No batting plan? Who cares - swing and try to boost your numbers since we're going to lose it anyway.
It feels very 2023 in many ways.
Going back to early May, we were 3 games up or so. The total Runs Allowed are going to be pretty close between April and May - but Runs Scored have fallen quite a bit (injuries, I know). . .but even so, I'm not seeing small-ball, I'm not seeing guys driving in guys, I'm not seeing any of the fast players (Duran, Hamilton, Ceddane) turned lose on the basepaths to apply pressure. (April/March 27 SB/10 CS v. May 17/3.) I'm just seeing "same plan, and all will be OK stuff."
The Red Sox have been much more watchable than I anticipated. But reality is starting to set in. I think the next few minutes might be the last we see this team above .500 this year.
I literally was about to post that this team needs to start winning some series and losing game one in this fashion isn't how to go about accomplishing that.
I mean, ultimately, if you win most of the series most of the time, you're doing fine. But I see absolutely nothing to indicate that's going to happen.
What I see is Cora punting a game and doubtless saying "Well, with a fresh bullpen. . ."
Well, that'd be great if we had any indication the Sox could adapt their offensive approach to opposing pitching (like the Orioles did today.) I think it's more going to be Cora will start punting games they're behind on, and meanwhile they hope "the weather will warm up" and they'll start winning the games they don't punt.
I'm trying to think of the last in-season stopgap/replacement/project guy we brought in who didn't regress with the bat.
I think they are clearly punting more than this or that game.
They are punting the season but slowly just to keep the fan base marginally interested.
Don't want to rehash this but why trade Sale if you wanted to compete?
He is nothing if not a true competitor. They sent a clear message at the beginning of the season with that trade.
If you want to trade him the time to trade him was at this trading deadline not earlier.
I realize this is hindsight but they would have gotten a much better return next month than Grissom who has been terrible.
If they are punting this season then do it.
I do think they have a young, strong future core. Invest in the future.
Trade Kenley now.
Get rid of Yoshida who clearly does not have a role on this team going forward.
Trade O'Neill to the Braves who now need an outfielder.
I realize this is easier said than done but they do have some value to other teams.
And yes I do realize we are only a few games back of the last wildcard but they are not going to get there this year playing .500 baseball unless many many things fall their way and up to now with the serious or season-ending injuries to Casa, Story, Whitlock and Giolito, clearly they have not.
Memorial Day Game from 2024:
'What was interesting about this game is that the Sox starting pitcher shares the same last name as a psychic who was prominent in a couple of Ed Wood movies. Criswell wasn't that good of a psychic, but like his pitching namesake, he didn't see this disaster coming.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/401569273/red-sox-orioles
Starting Lineup:
'What was interesting about this game is that the Sox starting pitcher shares the same last name as a psychic who was prominent in a couple of Ed Wood movies. Criswell wasn't that good of a psychic, but like his pitching namesake, he didn't see this disaster coming.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/401569273/red-sox-orioles
Starting Lineup:
- Jarren Duran (L) LF
- Rob Refsnyder (R) RF
- Connor Wong (R) C
- Rafael Devers (L) 3B
- Garrett Cooper (R) DH
- Romy Gonzalez (R) SS
- Vaughn Grissom (R) 2B
- Dominic Smith (L) 1B
- Ceddanne Rafaela (R) CF
- Gunnar Henderson (L) SS
- Adley Rutschman (S) C
- Ryan O'Hearn (L) DH
- Ryan Mountcastle (R) 1B
- Colton Cowser (L) LF
- Jordan Westburg (R) 3B
- Kyle Stowers (L) RF
- Cedric Mullins (L) CF
- Jorge Mateo (R) 2B
Seems like a fair question. We weren't expecting Cooper and Smith to light it up, but they're OPSing about .550 between them.
In trying to answer your question, Reyes did OK last year, though not a very strong example. Refsnyder has hit better with the Sox than elsewhere.