I agree about throwing strikes, but it is kinda hard with an ump like that. I don’t know what a strike was. I don’t blame Geren for arguing. There were 35 hits in that game! That is 1.6 per inning for each team. That crap only happens when the strike zone is so small that the pitcher (Clay and everone else) has to throw the ball right down the pipe to register a strike. I am not blaming the ump for the loss (there is enough to go around on the team) but the high pitch counts and hits were distributed all around to all pitchers in that game. To me, that screams ump.

All of which was warranted. Another one I have. What happened to hussling out ground balls?? It is as if the whole team decided to give up on trying to win.

What happened to playing good defense?? It is as if the team decided that they are not going to try and catch the balls hit into the gaps. I am also sick of our outfielder’s arms. We have let so many singles become doubles because they can’t play the ball and throw it well enough.

I thought Clay pitched well. The Ump was AWFUL on both sides and it showed.

Tito is really pissing me off too. He is not running the bullpen very efficently at all. He needs to make Paps pitching in something besides the ninth to let him know “Hey learn how to pitch”.

Tito needs to give the whole team a kick in the ass.

Lack of leadership. There is no one stepping up in the bullpen or on the field to say “Hey, lets beat the snot out of these guys.”

Nothing more to add… I just highly agree with everything here. Papelbon has been less than effective and I’m always nervous when he is in a save situation. I also don’t think training the members of the bullpen to pitch only one inning is helping them out if they get into a situation where they have to face more than three batters in an inning.

Baseball is a game of peaks and valleys. Have you not watched this game before? Have some confidence in our team and stop trying to get shock value out of your emotional titles. Two of those 3 hits that Paps gave up were infield singles… funny that you forgot to mention that. As bad as that loss was, it only counts as one loss. As long as we get that kind of thing out of our system before Sept/Oct, we’ll be all good. Have some faith my man.

What’s with these “indifferent” stolen bases? Just allowing a leadoff hitter to take second base. You are big-time closer and you can’t hold runners on? A possible double play on the next batter didn’t happen because of it….and you know the rest.

Drew, Ortiz, Bay, Varitek…..generally .all weak performances this year at the plate (and a weak hitting bench) while Dice-K, Smoltz and Buchholz have done almost nothing on the mound but THE KEY CONCERN, is Papelbon. Without a lights-out closer, we’re dead. Those save numbers for him, by the way, are misleading. The other night he comes in with a 3-run lead, almost blows the game leaving the tying and winning run on base – and still gets a save! Ridiculous. We’ve all watched him this year – he’s not the same dominant pitcher he was in the past. What’s the deal with him?

What happened last night is not an abberration. He’s struggled a number of times this year. The Red Sox have to straighten him out…..or the rest of the problems are moot. as far as a championship goes.

Paplebon has not been himself this season people are hitting him I say we put bard in the tight situations.

Also I think we could trade Paplebon to a team that needs a decent closer like the Marlins. We package Paplebon, Lowrie, and Bucholz for Hanley.

Until I hear from someone who knows more than I about what’s wrong with Magglio this year, I’d take that straight up trade in a heartbeat! He’s a carreer .310 hitter, 273 HRs and a .881 OPS…compare that with Drew’s…
DB

The Phils just got LH Cliff Lee from the Indians. The Phillies are not resting on their laurels!

Paps is an absolute disaster this season. To get through ANY of his performances requires 5 rolls of Rolaids, three quarts of Jack, and a handful of Paxils.
Theo needs to weave the magic and pick up both a bat and an arm. Heck, I’d even settle for a Marco Scutaro if it were attached to a Roy.
What makes this L so horrific is the fact that not only do we lose the chance to gain on the Yanks but that Texas is now breathing right down our necks