Clutchless: Red Sox Can't Find Big Hit, Fall To Mariners

by Ben Buchanan on Apr 30, 2011 11:25 PM EDT in Game Stories

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 30: Dustin Pedroia #15 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after the final out of the game against the Seattle Mariners on April 30, 2011 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. The Seattle Mariners defeated the Boston Red Sox 2-0. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

At this point, the Red Sox have to be actively trying to be this bad. Because it's one thing not to score. It's another thing to not score despite having 14 baserunners in a regulation game, and still that doesn't even begin to encompass just how impossible it was for the Red Sox not to score tonight.

Allow me to paint you a few pictures.

It's the bottom of the first inning, and the Red Sox load the bases with just one out. Up next are David Ortiz and J.D. Drew. From Ortiz, all the Red Sox need is a decent fly ball. Instead, they receive a pair of bad hacks that come up completely empty and send David Ortiz back to the dugout. Up comes J.D. Drew, and after an impressive battle, working the count full, Drew gets his fastball and swings. It is deep, it is far, it is caught in dead center. Zero runs.

Next, it's the bottom of the third. Jacoby Ellsbury again leads off by reaching base--this time with a double. All the Sox need from three of the best hitters in their lineup is a single, or even a couple of appropriate outs. Instead, Dustin Pedroia's ground ball goes to third, leaving Ellsbury stuck at second, Adrian Gonzalez strikes out, and Kevin Youkilis can't come through, hitting a ground ball for the third out.

Then, worst of all, the bottom of the fifth inning, when Jarrod Saltalamacchia's leadoff double and walks from Ellsbury and Pedroia loaded the bases with zero outs and Adrian Gonzalez at the plate. The dream scenario led to the nightmare conclusion: Gonzalez swung the bat, hit the ball hard, and had it snagged by Jack Wilson, who fired to second to double up Ellsbury. Again, zero runs scored.

These were just a few of the 11 different times the Red Sox failed to come through with runners in scoring position. And when that's the offense you receive, it doesn't matter how well you pitch. That's not to say John Lackey pitched terribly well, but he did manage to keep runs off the board aside from a pair of one-run innings.

This was a terribly winnable game, lost only thanks to terribly frustrating performances in the clutch.

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I guess Francona is geting blamed for the shit sox performance.

Unfortunately, hearing Francona. RT @obxkerouac: do who do you think gets the blame? Players- francona- theo ?

This is hilarious. The ownership is getting angry at the guy that impacts the game the least. Unless he’s trying to lose the game, his impact on the game is damn near microscopic. So if he’s catching flack this early, he’s gone if the sox don’t make the playoffs. I don’t think firing him will make a difference, but maybe it will light a fire under everyone’s ass, something they don’t have.

The Red Sox suck, and I am the dirt that was sucked in, I am a dirty.
Twitter: @BoldandBrash

by BoldandBrash on May 1, 2011 12:09 AM EDT reply actions

The tweet if from Jared Carrabis

http://twitter.com/#!/Jared_Carrabis

The Red Sox suck, and I am the dirt that was sucked in, I am a dirty.
Twitter: @BoldandBrash

by BoldandBrash on May 1, 2011 12:10 AM EDT up reply actions

Who?

by Sologub on May 1, 2011 12:29 AM EDT up reply actions

He's media

I don’t know if I would call him “official” media. He runs a blog and if governor of RSN. He knows FO people and has done interviews with them in the past. Although, he said he didn’t directly talk to the FO people about Francona getting blamed.

The Red Sox suck, and I am the dirt that was sucked in, I am a dirty.
Twitter: @BoldandBrash

by BoldandBrash on May 1, 2011 12:49 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

that's a pretty broad, non-specific statement

interpret it as you will but realize it wasn’t necessarily intended the way you interpreted it. Doesn’t mention the ownership at all.

by wolf9309 on May 1, 2011 1:59 AM EDT up reply actions

He mentions the ownership in his other tweets.

Specifically Henry and Luccino.

The Red Sox suck, and I am the dirt that was sucked in, I am a dirty.
Twitter: @BoldandBrash

by BoldandBrash on May 1, 2011 11:20 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

he says that they're unhappy

and that Francona is catching some blame internally. There’s really not much you can take out of that besides pure speculation. He also specifically says he doesn’t think Francona is in the hot seat.

by wolf9309 on May 2, 2011 1:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Firing Francona

It will make a difference. Remember Morgan Magic? What’s Joe doing these days? LOL Changing manager’s is a time tested option to get a talented team playing the way they should. Tito’s act has grown stale. They need a manager with a stronger personality that won’t think of his players as buddies. Bobby Valentine comes to mind. He would bring some fire an passion to the team, and he would not be afraid to sit people down at the right time. He would also bring a new set of coaches in. After that, fire Theo. He did a terribble job of putting this team together.

by Robert57 on May 1, 2011 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions

How can you say Theo did a terrible job

His job is to assemble the best team on paper. It’s not his fault if they don’t actually perform.

The Red Sox suck, and I am the dirt that was sucked in, I am a dirty.
Twitter: @BoldandBrash

by BoldandBrash on May 1, 2011 11:27 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

He's had a gigantic payroll for years

And we underperform more than we should. I’m not calling for his head, yet, specifically because this is the first time he’s tried since 2007. But he’s the one to blame if we continue failing.

by Sean O on May 1, 2011 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions

One Little Example

Just one mistake for today. Taylor Bucholz. The Sox had him during ST, and let him go. As of today he is working on a 10 innings plus streak of no earned runs with the Mets. That’s the tip of the iceberg. I could go back to 2003, probably his best year, and point out many bad judgement calls by our GM for life.

by Robert57 on May 2, 2011 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Every GM makes mistakes.

Name one that hasn’t made mistakes and I’ll find some mistakes for you. Not having Taylor Buchholz is not why our record is as bad as it is today (I’d point out as well that Buchholz’ 100% LOB is probably not likely to stay). In general Theo assembled very good players who are underperforming for this team. You don’t fire your GM because they didn’t hold onto Taylor Buchholz.

by wolf9309 on May 2, 2011 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions

If anyone should be fired I think we can all agree it's Bogar!

He costs us at least 5 games a season.

by ruktuim on May 1, 2011 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions

I didn't get to see the game...

…but I assume they took the field in pretty dresses with little angel wings stapled to the back, right?

Embarrassing. Pathetic. Unacceptable.

"Laser show. So relax."
I am unable to certify that this team contains an acceptable level of feces.

by nuthinboutnuthin on May 1, 2011 1:30 AM EDT reply actions

I too missed the game (thankfully it would appear) but I just can’t believe what’s going on. At some point the averages have got to swing in our direction right? If the Sox have any aspirations of making the playoffs they have to win every game they are SUPPOSED to win. Leaving that many men on base means they probably should’ve won the game. Just like last night leading with Jenks in the 7th- supposed to win that one. When you start piling up losses in games you should win then winning that one game that you pull out of your a$$ means nothing.
PS- King Felix tomorrow…that would be one we need to pull out of our a$$! Despite it all- GO SOX!

by Fenway302 on May 1, 2011 2:14 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Maybe the Sox aren't as good as we thought they would be

I’m starting to think that as good as this team looks on paper, that the results aren’t ever going to be where we thought they would be. People are human, after all, not machines.

by rexbab on May 1, 2011 2:49 AM EDT reply actions

They’re much better than they’re playing, no doubt. Has nothing to do with people being human.

by mikery on May 1, 2011 6:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Still Pathetic

Still playing like they did in spring training. All talk, no hit.

by Old Fan on May 1, 2011 7:22 AM EDT reply actions

This is the boston red sox

Stop trying to figure it out and just play ball..they got larsitis (lars anderson)…most frustrating loss to date

by royredd87 on May 1, 2011 7:58 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

That game was so frustrating that it was funny in the end.

Between the amazingly bad luck (2 shots by Drew and Salty that were a foot away from being gone, 2 shots in the same at bat by Pedroia that just missed the line, Drew just missing a HR…) to amazing ineptitude (Papi K-ing with bases loaded, Ellsbury getting doubled on a not so hard hit liner, leaving the bases loaded 2 times, not plating a man on 2b with no outs 2 times, and missing 89 MPH belt high fastballs right over the plate too many times to count) I don’t know what to say. “Just One of the Boys” was on VH1 Classic, so at least there was something enjoyable to watch from 8-10.

by Buzzy on May 1, 2011 8:14 AM EDT reply actions

Boys 'n' Girls...

we’re on the verge of being swept by the Mariners. Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan.

We gonna need to bring the boomsticks tonight.

Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.

@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard

by Bloggy on May 1, 2011 9:30 AM EDT reply actions

Pulling in the RF fence

There are three things that would bring immediate gain to the Sox. First, by putting the bullpens down below, and bringing the fence in another 10 feet, you would have a fairer ballpark. Second. They would be creating space for 500, or more seats, at 200 bucks a pop.. Third. People that pay huge money for RF seats would actually be able to see home plate. There is no reason the city should have any objections.

by Robert57 on May 1, 2011 9:30 AM EDT reply actions

1). That would not be a fairer ballpark

2). Nobody would pay that much for seats that go for $25 everywhere else in the majors.
3). Nobody in RF will ever be able to see jack.

by Sean O on May 1, 2011 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions

Is it 1pm yet?

But seriously, after watching last night’s game, I was just depressed, and that depression is still with me. I don’t know where to start between the scoring chances, the Mariners, hitting “loud outs” and everything else in the game. The fact that it was only 2-0 is a bright spot, cause it could have been much worse (i.e. beginning of the season).

The optimistic fan in me is excited for Wake because I personally enjoy watching him pitch, but maybe it will provide the spark this team needs.

by JLS89 on May 1, 2011 10:18 AM EDT reply actions

With a runner on third and less than two outs...

this year’s Red Sox has got to be the worst team of all time. They would instead strikeout, popout, weak fly, lineout (& get doubled off), or ground out but the 3rd base runner stays put while the runner on 2nd goes and gets caught in no-man’s land.

by OzTiger on May 1, 2011 12:13 PM EDT via mobile reply actions