Just Short: Red Sox Rally Isn't Enough To Overcome Bobby Jenks' Implosion
by Ben Buchanan on Apr 15, 2011 11:55 PM EDT
in Game Stories
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PrintThe time for encouraging signs is past, and so it is that the Red Sox' latest loss--a 7-6 defeat at the hands of the Toronto Blue Jays--is not something that can be glossed over, made light of, or even given a silver lining.
Kevin Youkilis hit a home run, perhaps signaling an end to his long streak of walking at the expense of slugging (he did, in fact, draw a walk as well).
Dustin Pedroia hit a homer, too, and was absolutely incredible on defense all night.
And, in general, the Red Sox' offense looked competent.
None of that changes the fact that the Red Sox are 2-10, and falling.
So, what went wrong with tonight's game? The first problem was Clay Buchholz, who was never really in command of the game, even when grabbing seven pitch innings and retiring ten straight men. His fastball control--often cited as one of the most important parts of his game--was all over the place. This wasn't helped by the curious strike zone, apparently impermeable by curveballs, but it was not entirely a matter of the ref.
After dodging a bullet in the first inning when Adam Lind's homer was ruled a foul ball after review, the control finally came back to bite him in the fifth and sixth innings, with all three of the runners who scored against him having reached base via the walk. He was not helped, sadly, by the defense of Carl Crawford, who misplayed the Monster and let a ball fall for a hit against its base when he easily had a play on it.
And then came Bobby Jenks, who, through a perfectly imperfect combination of contact and luck, managed to give up four earned runs while recording only one out after being next-to-perfect in his first four outings with the team. Only a late three-run rally in the eighth saved the Sox from another blowout..
Forget about panicking or not. At this point, the streak is getting hard just to rationalize, and we're moving into despondency territory. We may not make the playoffs? Right now, it wouldn't be unreasonable for Sox fans to miss that uncertainty.
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Hmmm....
Is a 2-10 start an acceptable time to join a team’s bandwagon without being considered an awful awful person?
I just want to be there for the 35-5 streak without feeling like a completely horrible person.
CAU: Pronounced 'Cow'. Cuteness Above Uggla, analytical measurement that gives a factor of a player's cuteness above Dan Uggla. For example,
Nobody has a positive CAU.
Martin Prado leads the league with a -0.0 CAU.
I gave up on the Braves
the minute Liberty Media bought them. My attitude concerning the Braves is, ‘They won a game? They just broke my expectations for the season’.
CAU: Pronounced 'Cow'. Cuteness Above Uggla, analytical measurement that gives a factor of a player's cuteness above Dan Uggla. For example,
Nobody has a positive CAU.
Martin Prado leads the league with a -0.0 CAU.
by frozendesert on Apr 16, 2011 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Some things HAVE to change.
Scoot did have a big hit tonight, but there is no reason Lowrie shouldn’t be starting. When we are hitting against lefties, Crawford shouldn’t be hitting anything higher than 7th. Is it infuriating that we paid a guy a ton of money and he can’t hit lefties? Yes, but we gotta make due.
Look, this team is ridiculously talented.
Multiple all-stars, should be Cy Youngs and MVPs, ACTUAL MVPs, etc… So where does that leave us? This year’s team is just bad despite that talent. The problem must be coaching. Period. Tito is garbage. I know “he’s soooo good with the players” and all but at some point even the most talented team needs someone to guide them and make the right decisions, not just jerk them off in the hot tub after a collision at home plate. I know I mentioned it here several times last season, and (not sure about this) I think it was SeanO who was constantly banging the Tito sucks drum. The guy is soft. Players like him because there is no accountability. My favorite teacher/coaches/superiors in the Army were the ones that let me do whatever the hell I wanted too. I get it. But Tito needs to go. End rant.
When I hear that trumpet sound, I'm gonna rise right outta the ground. Ain't no grave can hold my body down.
Whoa Whoa Whoa
Before this gets seen as truth, I’ve usually been on the Theo sucks bandwagon, not the Tito sucks one. I think Tito is nearly perfect for the role, as he can handle all of the ridiculous BS of being the Red Sox manager without any emotion whatsoever. Yes, he will routinely do stupid things, but generally I think he’s great for the role.
Haha sorry my surly friend.
Theo, Tito…you can see the mix up. No harm intended. To be fair I DID say “I think”. Sorry for the confusion.
When I hear that trumpet sound, I'm gonna rise right outta the ground. Ain't no grave can hold my body down.
Also, I still think Tito sucks
When I hear that trumpet sound, I'm gonna rise right outta the ground. Ain't no grave can hold my body down.
Who is better?
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Apr 17, 2011 12:02 AM EDT up reply actions
Guys, I hate to say this
but I think we might be turning into the ‘07-’08 Tigers.
I'm a 7 WAR player in bed.
Official Baker of Red Sox Nation
by TheLoneDavid on Apr 16, 2011 1:09 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
+1
Carl Crawford=Jaque Jones?
Contributor To Over The Monster, SB Nation's Resident Red Sox Site.
by Jared Stegall on Apr 16, 2011 12:57 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
We will be fine
we will be fine. we will be fine. we will be fine. we will be…
its so hard to stay rational. nothing makes sense. but I do think, that it is too early, to say this team is bad. Sure its been a horrifying start that defies logic. But there’s no way we are going to have this many guys hit under .200 for the whole season. Not a chance. Its literally something new every night. We win this game if the bullpen pitches . Other games we win if we hit with RISP. I mean, its a mathematical shitnado (shit + tornado).
And Tito has NOTHING to do with it. That’s absurd. But…
Lowrie’s gotta play. At this point, anyone who’s hot gets rewarded. Throw away the binder. Throw away the veteran preferences. We need to win games. Its game seven for the next month. Find a way.
We will come around… but if we miss the playoffs by a few games you can blame this start…. but remember, this team can get just as hot as it is cold right now.
I agree and disagree
Yes, hitters will adjust to their career norms, yes, hitting will regress to the norm with RISP but you sort of proved my point with the “take the blinders off” comment. Tito refuses to see the obvious. Lowrie should be starting, period. Scutaro cashed in on a career year at like 35 years old. He was solid last yeah, but borderline below average. Jed has huge upside and has more than played himself into a starting role. How many different lineups can one team use? Baseball players are creatures of habit. The TINKering (for Sandy) does nothing but hurt the team. We’ve all seen how he handles a pitching staff. It’s easy to win with a Pedro, a Lowe, a Schilling etc. I truly believe most people here at OTM could manage a game better than Tito simply by knowing the stats and playing the averages. Of course we may not be as good with the players…
When I hear that trumpet sound, I'm gonna rise right outta the ground. Ain't no grave can hold my body down.
"yeah" = year
Jesus, the beer has my friggin typing with my accent. I’m dumb
When I hear that trumpet sound, I'm gonna rise right outta the ground. Ain't no grave can hold my body down.
5 games back.
150 to play.
It’s not panic time.
(Yet.)
"If your happiness depends on Boston winning or losing, you have to get a life." Manny Somebody-or-other
Wow
Came over to get an idea of what you guys are feeling, what changes do you think should be made, etc, and you have to deal with this idiot. Stay positive guys and ban his account.
1.14.10, the day I went green.
But to answer your query
In terms of personnel, I don’t think any changes should be made yet. The guy with the shortest leash of course is Salty, but with nearly the whole team struggling I can’t say we should pull the cord on him yet until it’s clear that his troubles are unrelated to theirs.
But in terms of the lineup, Crawford is showing he doesn’t have what it takes to be leadoff, and his bat, even at its best isn’t good enough for the top half of the order when we have guys like Lowrie, Pedey, Youk, Gonzo and even Ortiz to fill those spots in the order. Lowrie should be starting at SS and he probably should be leading off.
Same with the rotation, Beckett and Lester have put together some nice games, but the rest of the guys are struggling, nothing we can do really to improve there, trade Lackey? Doubtful.
Really I think most understand that right now we’re facing some monumental bad luck, it’s really the only explanation for this large group of MVPs, ROYs, All-Stars, GGs, SSs to all be sucking so bad at the same time. This is much more of an individual sport than say the NBA where matching up all-stars can lead to some team cohesion difficulties, and if there is a manager out there who could deal with that stuff, It’s Tito. We just have to give it time and they’ll come around, unless they’re all injured they have to come around.
"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.
oh for fuck's sakes
you guys better do something about that troll. Seriously.
To Infinity. And BEYOND!!!
by YunelTheLazyLatino on Apr 16, 2011 8:47 AM EDT reply actions
This is his life's greatest accomplishment.
I say let him continue so he can feel like he’s finally worth more than all those beatings his father gave him.
by Florida Johnny on Apr 16, 2011 9:02 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, sorta amazed that this has managed to stay up here for two hours
Especially with the porn.
"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.....
That’s better.
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard
Just read that...
and I think there is good merit to it.
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard
I missed the beginning of the game but heard that the Sox were up 3-0 and was all excited… by the time I got home it was 3-3 and then all of a sudden it was 7-3…. basically all I saw of the game last night was the Jenks implosion :(
But today’s game is soon but I will be in class so game day it is!
GO SOX!!!!
A proclamation:
…I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the third Saturday of April, as a day of Banhammering and Praise to our beneficent [insert banhammer wielder] who dwelleth in the internet…
"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.
ALL PRAISE THE BAN HAMMER!!
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard
Man, the one night I go out late and some craziness happens.
Over the Monster -- SB Nation's Resident Red Sox Site
USG
HOW DARE YOU ATTEMPT TO HAVE A LIFE?!?
You left us!
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard
I saw things...
Things I can’t unsee.
"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.
^ slight blade runner reference
and if not, it could be if you knew it. ;)
I’ll take 11 players with heart on the field over 11 guys with just talent. Talent is fleeting, it goes away over time. Heart is what drives you to be better. To push yourself beyond what you think your capabilities are. To show us that when you strive, all things are possible.- SMP
I didnt stick around the entire game, so I dont know EVERYTHING that went on.
People who are consistent: Pedroia
People who are inconsistent: Gonzo, Youk, Scoot, Lowrie, Ortiz, tek
People who are just bad at batting: Salty, Ells, Crawford,
This is just at bats really. If I am missing anyone that comes in the lineup, Im sure you can also fit them somewhere in here.
Inconsistency is the name of the game(and I am not talking about pitchers). Those who are just bad, there will be many doubts that they will improve.
However, those who are INCONSISTENT, imo will have a good chance of eventually becoming consistent. I ask, is it better to be inconsistent in the beginning of the season, or later?
I know this is not baseball, but let me tell you a team with inconsistency, and got better: Miami Heat(basketball). They had Lebron, Wade, Bosh, Miller, and they were pretty bad in the beginning.
The Sand Diego Chargers(football). a VERY talented team that was not that great at all in the beginning, then popped a 10+ game winning streak.
I probably could name more, but the point is, very talented teams may take more time then they realize. If they go 4-17 before they get on a roll, then let it be so. I think it will take quite a bit more time before they start gelling.
Everyone, including with the teams I used above, panicked when their team was not playing up to expectations, but by the end of the season, they began to be play very good.
We are panicking now, but I have high hope that we will see our potential eventually this season.
I’ll take 11 players with heart on the field over 11 guys with just talent. Talent is fleeting, it goes away over time. Heart is what drives you to be better. To push yourself beyond what you think your capabilities are. To show us that when you strive, all things are possible.- SMP
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