Cora resting players and losing all momentum

[IrishSox]

Man it's gonna be interesting to see how we do in the ALDS. If we come out lethargic like we are struggling along now Cora has a lot to explain. I can't ever remember a team so full of positive energy lose it so quickly in order to rest players.
This looks an awful lot like last year, basically limping across the line. The issue this time is it's totally self inflicted.

 

[tims4wins]

Found our BABIP sacrifice!

 

[IrishSox]

OK

 

[StuckOnYouk]

If Chris sale is 100% nothing is stopping us
He was the best pitcher this year
No one will worry about rest

 

[IrishSox]

If Chris sale is 100% nothing is stopping us
He was the best pitcher this year
No one will worry about rest

I hope you're right. I wouldn't wanna be playing Houston or even the Yankees in a series right now.

 

[DeadlySplitter]

relevant Globe article excerpt I just posted in the gamethread as well

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2018/09/29/redsox/NIubeKOZMs7yNkKXdNNP3N/story.html

Alex Cora has earned the benefit of the doubt after managing the Red Sox to a franchise-record 107 victories. His experience as bench coach of the World Series champion Houston Astros last season adds to the idea that he knows what is right for his team as the regular season winds down.

Cora, for one, is certainly sure of that. He smiled and laughed on Saturday when asked if he had concerns about how the Sox are playing after their latest loss, 8-5 against the Yankees.

The Sox have dropped three straight, five of seven and seven of their last 11 games. It’s their worst stretch of the season, the team playing with little passion or sense or purpose.

They’ve also lost four of five against the Yankees, one of the teams they could face in Game 1 of the Division Series on Friday at Fenway Park.

Cora dismissed the idea that any of it mattered.

“If we win eight out of 10, people will say it doesn’t count,” he said. “If we lose seven out of 10, people might say it counts. It really doesn’t count. We’re going to be 0-0 next week.”

...

“It really doesn’t matter,” Cora said. “Take a look at the whole season. It’s 107 and that’s pretty good. It’s not that we’re going through the motions but we’re taking care of our players. They get what they need to be ready and we’ll be ready for October.”

 

[Cesar Crespo]

And if they won 11 straight, it would be "they peaked too early."

 

[Papo The Snow Tiger]

The silver lining to all this is that this can become a wakeup call for the team, i.e. that you can't just show up, put on the uniform and expect to win. With four days off between the end of the regular season and Game 1 they'll have plenty of time to think about it.

 

[E5 Yaz]

 

[patoaflac]

The silver lining to all this is that this can become a wakeup call for the team, i.e. that you can't just show up, put on the uniform and expect to win. With four days off between the end of the regular season and Game 1 they'll have plenty of time to think about it.

And with so much time, all teams will lose or gain momentum. As far as we know, momentum in the next game is defined by whom your starting pitcher is.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

And with so much time, all teams will lose or gain momentum. As far as we know, momentum in the next game is defined by whom your starting pitcher is.

Playing in the wild card game is actually an advantage, because of the momentum gained in winning such a big game.

 

[patoaflac]

Playing in the wild card game is actually an advantage, because of the momentum gained in winning such a big game.

50/50 momentum. In the last 3 years, 3 teams winning the WC game won their division series, 3 lost it.

 

[judyb]

That article makes it seem like they're resting all their good hitters and getting shut out. They need to do whatever it takes to get their good pitchers right for next weekend. They're not going to pull Eovaldi after 2 scoreless innings in a playoff game, and hope for the good versions of Rodriguez and Workman to follow him up. And they're not going to start Brian Johnson and follow him with Cuevas, Pomeranz, and Poyner then, either. Other than one solo HR given up by Wright, those were the pitchers who gave up all the runs in both of these last 2 games.

 

[geoduck no quahog]

I find it reasonable to think a professional athlete can’t really get it up for meaningless games. I don’t think the mind can fool the body.

Yes, still want to play well and win, but it’s as if the team was a closer coming into the game with an 8 run lead.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

How is Beaker's off speed stuff? Do we think Cora will consider him for a pen spot on the post-season roster?

 

[patoaflac]

That article makes it seem like they're resting all their good hitters and getting shut out. They need to do whatever it takes to get their good pitchers right for next weekend. They're not going to pull Eovaldi after 2 scoreless innings in a playoff game, and hope for the good versions of Rodriguez and Workman to follow him up. And they're not going to start Brian Johnson and follow him with Cuevas, Pomeranz, and Poyner then, either. Other than one solo HR given up by Wright, those were the pitchers who gave up all the runs in both of these last 2 games.

Bravo.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

That article makes it seem like they're resting all their good hitters and getting shut out. They need to do whatever it takes to get their good pitchers right for next weekend. They're not going to pull Eovaldi after 2 scoreless innings in a playoff game, and hope for the good versions of Rodriguez and Workman to follow him up. And they're not going to start Brian Johnson and follow him with Cuevas, Pomeranz, and Poyner then, either. Other than one solo HR given up by Wright, those were the pitchers who gave up all the runs in both of these last 2 games.

Disagree. I think Cora is managing for his job right now and he is failing. The Sox may be in the market for a new skipper in the next few months, especially if they don't win it all. It kind of feels like the team has quit on him/tuned him out.

 

[judyb]

How is Beaker's off speed stuff? Do we think Cora will consider him for a pen spot on the post-season roster?

Was he in the organization in time to be postseason eligible?

 

[DJnVa]

Man it's gonna be interesting to see how we do in the ALDS. If we come out lethargic like we are struggling along now Cora has a lot to explain. I can't ever remember a team so full of positive energy lose it so quickly in order to rest players.

The 2004 Red Sox--how much "positive energy" did they have losing 19-8 in game 3. And yet...

 

[E5 Yaz]

Disagree. I think Cora is managing for his job right now and he is failing. The Sox may be in the market for a new skipper in the next few months, especially if they don't win it all. It kind of feels like the team has quit on him/tuned him out.

Scioscia will be available

 

[E5 Yaz]

How is Beaker's off speed stuff? Do we think Cora will consider him for a pen spot on the post-season roster?

Ice water in his veins

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Scioscia will be available

Truth be told, he is far better than Cora. He might be the most strategically sound manager the Sox could get since they had the misunderstood Grady Little. Unlike the stat nerds, a guy like Scoscia just intuitively understands how to manage a game and how to motivate players. Simply put, he is a winner.

 

[teddywingman]

Scioscia will be available

And are we sure that Buck Showalter wouldn't take the job?

 

[patoaflac]

Scioscia will be available

Why Scioscia? Haven’t you heard Showalter will be available.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

And are we sure that Buck Showalter wouldn't take the job?

He would be great too. He knows how to win and, unlike Cora, has conviction when and how he goes to the bullpen. He also wouldn't tolerate those celebrations the young Sox players are doing when they get on base either.

They are so busy congratulating themselves that they are now giving the Yankees momentum!

 

[patoaflac]

Why not give Bobby V a second chance?

 

[judyb]

The 2004 Red Sox--how much "positive energy" did they have losing 19-8 in game 3. And yet...

For some reason, I can't decide who I should be picturing saying "Don't let us win tonight." tomorrow.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

Why not give Bobby V a second chance?

Well, the whole coaching staff has to go too. Maybe Bobby V and Mike S will take coaching jobs.

 

[E5 Yaz]

For some reason, I can't decide who I should be picturing saying "Don't let us win tonight." tomorrow.

Travis would give it a shot

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

The fact is, some of the teams that have finished the season with the best record but lost meaningless games heading into the playoffs haven't won the World Series. How does Cora ignore this?

 

[joe dokes]

Nm
Taken care of without my help.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

Amen, brotha.

 

[uncannymanny]

He’ll never win anywhere with his attitude, especially in Boston. He just doesn’t understand what it takes.

 

[canyoubelieveit]

How is Beaker's off speed stuff? Do we think Cora will consider him for a pen spot on the post-season roster?

It's like you guys don't even really follow this team. Jalen Beaker was traded to Tampa Bay for Eovaldi before the trade deadline.

 

[Al Zarilla]

Why not give Bobby V a second chance?

They could, but better still, John Farrell probably hasn’t forgotten how to get to Fenway Park yet.

 

[mauidano]

Why not give Bobby V a second chance?

It's all about passion!

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

It's all about passion!

And that's a wrap.

 

[patoaflac]

Are Kerrigan, Kevin Kennedy and Verylittle alive?

 

[patoaflac]

It's all about passion!

What about Butch Hobson?

 

[Philip Jeff Frye]

What about Butch Hobson?

Zimmer's dead, right?

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

What about Butch Hobson?

You guys, you guys....you're neglecting the obvious candidate: the immortal Joe Kerrigan.

EDIT: nm...patoaflac got there first.

 

[lapa]

Man it's gonna be interesting to see how we do in the ALDS. If we come out lethargic like we are struggling along now Cora has a lot to explain. I can't ever remember a team so full of positive energy lose it so quickly in order to rest players.
This looks an awful lot like last year, basically limping across the line. The issue this time is it's totally self inflicted.

You’re joking right?
I’m assuming you’re joking, they’ve played .500 for a decent stretch now like the last 20 plus games right? They’ve not been resting / coasting all that time. Even if ‘momentum and positive energy ‘ was a thing in this case they didn’t really have any other than they’ve won 107 games
It’s LITERALLY this last Yankees series that they’ve tested up, you don’t think that’s reasonable with home field advantage secured and a month of intense every pitch counts baseball coming up where the intensity, and rotation of players in and out will be completely different to regular season mode

 

[budcrew08]

You’re joking right?
I’m assuming you’re joking, they’ve played .500 for a decent stretch now like the last 20 plus games right? They’ve not been resting / coasting all that time. Even if ‘momentum and positive energy ‘ was a thing in this case they didn’t really have any other than they’ve won 107 games
It’s LITERALLY this last Yankees series that they’ve tested up, you don’t think that’s reasonable with home field advantage secured and a month of intense every pitch counts baseball coming up where the intensity, and rotation of players in and out will be completely different to regular season mode

Joke.


You.

 

[NJ_Sox_Fan]

Not worried about "limping" in at all. When you really have not played a meaningful game in weeks, what do you expect? I think the Dodgers had a 1-16 spell towards the end of last year, and they did fine.

 

[judyb]

Why Scioscia? Haven’t you heard Showalter will be available.

At least Showalter would have used his best reliever to give his team a chance to win a game like the Sox played yesterday, no point in resting your best reliever for games that matter when you're not going to use him when you finally do play a game that matters.

 

[Traut]

Man it's gonna be interesting to see how we do in the ALDS. If we come out lethargic like we are struggling along now Cora has a lot to explain. I can't ever remember a team so full of positive energy lose it so quickly in order to rest players.
This looks an awful lot like last year, basically limping across the line. The issue this time is it's totally self inflicted.

Do you have any data to support that resting players results in poor playoff performance? In the thousands of articles that I have read about baseball and sports performance I have yet to see anything that correlates the two. I understand that hitters need to work on their timing - hence rehab starts - but all of the Sox regulars have been getting at bats. Further, everything I know about sports performance suggests that rest is vital to success across all sports.

And as a tactical matter, do you want the Yankees who you have 50/50 odds of facing next week in the ALDS getting more looks at Sale, Price, and Porcello?

 

[Al Zarilla]

Found our BABIP sacrifice!

I didn't notice that particular tool getting used this year. Anybody remember any usage? In any case, it ought to be real sharp.

 

[Al Zarilla]

Do you have any data to support that resting players results in poor playoff performance? In the thousands of articles that I have read about baseball and sports performance I have yet to see anything that correlates the two. I understand that hitters need to work on their timing - hence rehab starts - but all of the Sox regulars have been getting at bats. Further, everything I know about sports performance suggests that rest is vital to success across all sports.

And as a tactical matter, do you want the Yankees who you have 50/50 odds of facing next week in the ALDS getting more looks at Sale, Price, and Porcello?

Or Eovaldi. Wait...

 

[patoaflac]

Or Eovaldi. Wait...

Yep, Eovaldi could come out during a critical situation in the middle innings.

 

[Al Zarilla]

Yep, Eovaldi could come out during a critical situation in the middle innings.

He may start against the Yankees too. What I meant was why give them a few more Eopitches yesterday to possibly help them figure out a pitcher that had handled them very nicely to date.