So Joely blows the game in the 9th instead of the 10th when he had a platoon advantage?Why not save Martin for a save situation if you know Kenley is unavailable?
So Joely blows the game in the 9th instead of the 10th when he had a platoon advantage?Why not save Martin for a save situation if you know Kenley is unavailable?
I’m going to disagree. It was a terrible decision in any game that counts. They could have put Rodriguez on before Slaton came in the game. The force at home was worth it even if the hitters were even.Its not the playoffs. Let the kid try to nibble and compete. There is no way you develop guys to face Rodriguez without letting them try. Again its game three. But once you get 3-1 you aren't supposed to put one right down the zone. It felt like Slaten yolo'd it.
Ignore the missile that was snagged by Valdez.Cora: the contact was weak what are gonna do?
Especially with a rule 5 guy making his ML debut. But whoever was out there, it just made perfect sense situationally to send him to first.This. There is zero fucking excuse for pitching to Julio in that spot. None.
I heard back tightness.Cora saying Kenly had arm tightness and was not available. Will be available tomorrow.
Saving him for the playoffs.Cora saying Kenly had arm tightness and was not available. Will be available tomorrow.
Oh man, getting up 2-1 in games over Seattle, in Seattle would have been sweet. Do what you’re suggesting starting Monday in Oakland.When Breslow actually has the team that he wants on the field at the MLB level, someone other than Alex Cora will be the manager. Until then, enjoy baseball for what is is knowing that this team will probably lose more many more games than it wins while hopefully developing some young players.
Fire Kenley's doctor, personal chef, trainers, supplement providers and replace his arm with a PRP tank attached to a propeller.Cora saying Kenly had arm tightness and was not available. Will be available tomorrow.
Waiting for the save on the road is how Zack Britton didn't get into the AL WC game in 2016.Why not save Martin for a save situation if you know Kenley is unavailable?
Why isn’t that right? Martin ended up getting Crawford and J-Rod. Incredibly frustrating loss, but people are already going off the deep end.Cora re Martin in the 8th: Rodriguez was coming up 4th so you gotta manage around that. Need to get to the 9th tied.
Smh.
This makes sense in theory, but for a guy who's at least gotten his feet wet. Those were the first pitchers he's ever thrown in the major leagues, and he had only five games in Triple-A.Its not the playoffs. Let the kid try to nibble and compete. There is no way you develop guys to face Rodriguez without letting them try. Again its game three. But once you get 3-1 you aren't supposed to put one right down the zone. It felt like Slaten yolo'd it.
Otherwise that AB was handled ok by the kid - he didn't give him anything fat until that inexplicable last one.
It's fine except he had an opportunity to manage around Rodriguez in extras and let a Rule 5 kid pitch to him. Makes no sense.Why isn’t that right? Martin ended up getting Crawford and J-Rod. Incredibly frustrating loss, but people are already going off the deep end.
And again, with no follow up from reporters on why they didn't walk him to set up a force at every base with an inferior hitter coming up.Cora re: pitching to Rodriguez in extras: I told Slaten you're a big league now.
I agree with his use of Martin. I understand his use of Joely, knowing that Kenley was hurt.Why isn’t that right? Martin ended up getting Crawford and J-Rod. Incredibly frustrating loss, but people are already going off the deep end.
LOL Fuck that noise. He would have been in the big leagues pitching to Polanco, too. Just with a manager who was a little less of a fucking moron.Cora re: pitching to Rodriguez in extras: I told Slaten you're a big league now.
No argument there. Just thought the usage of Martin made sense.It's fine except he had an opportunity to manage around Rodriguez in extras and let a Rule 5 kid pitch to him. Makes no sense.
Slaten: Can I have a big league manager?Cora re: pitching to Rodriguez in extras: I told Slaten you're a big league now.
He was fine nibbling until the last pitch.This makes sense in theory, but for a guy who's at least gotten his feet wet. Those were the first pitchers he's ever thrown in the major leagues, and he had only five games in Triple-A.
He's such a smug, smarmy fuck. Or maybe he's just a moron.Cora re: pitching to Rodriguez in extras: I told Slaten you're a big league now.
Like you wanted to see Dalbec hit in the 11th.I was good with every decision except pitching to JRod. Now you’re in the big leagues. Does Cora think he is in a movie? Did he tell him to give him the hard stuff as well? What a fucking clown.
The Boston press loves Cora. Bloom gets all the blame for the last two collapses. I think Cora screwing up this season will be good for Breslow. Bailey is the manager in waiting, he had other offers to be a pitching coach, and I presume they have given him assurances he will be considered for the manager position.And again, with no follow up from reporters on why they didn't walk him to set up a force at every base with an inferior hitter coming up.
It's going to be a long season, and I'm not calling for firings, but Slaten was put in a ridiculously tough spot for his major league debut.He was fine nibbling until the last pitch.
This is game three and people are calling for firings and behaving as if it means anything. This is going to be a long season. We should just accept the fact that this team faces long odds and if they outperform we will be pleasantly surprised. They were never going to go 161-1 and even contenders lose games like that.
You are right, no doubt. I think some of us are taking these early games more seriously because we fear a bad start will push this team off the cliff before the Summer even starts. This is not a very good team, but I actually find myself liking the group and hope that we can stay alive for as long as possible.He was fine nibbling until the last pitch.
This is game three and people are calling for firings and behaving as if it means anything. This is going to be a long season. We should just accept the fact that this team faces long odds and if they outperform we will be pleasantly surprised. They were never going to go 161-1 and even contenders lose games like that.
Yup, and if Polanco beats you, so be it.Jansen being unavailable was the real killer, and it's hard to blame Cora for that, but Cora should have left Joely Rodriguez in (he had thrown only 16 pitches), walked Julio Rodriguez to set up a force at every base, and faced Polanco with a L-L matchup.
Manage to win the fucking game. If Jansen is unavailable, you adjust accordingly. Martin becomes your de facto closer, and instead of burning him in a tie game on the road in the 8th inning against the bottom of the order, you let Campbell pitch another inning after mowing down the side on 14 pitches in the 7th.Even for a gamethread this outcry is pretty insane. Kenley is hurt, Raffy is hurt, what do you want Cora to do?
It's not a "withholding". It's proper usage of your resources. Under what circumstances is it optimal for your closer's only inning to be against the 8-9-1 hitters in a tie game on the road in the 8th? No. You let the guy who only needed 14 pitches to get through the 7th at least face the bottom of the order.Again, withholding your best relievers in a tie game on the road is not how the game is or should be managed. See Buck Showalter in the AL WC game.
I will give you the bunt (playing for 1 run) makes much less sense, wonder if Valdez did that on his own.
Does it matter if O'Neill is in left or right given Abreu had to stay in the game? This park is pretty symmetrical last I checked. If Abreu made the error in LF, would people be crying that O'Neill wasn't there?
That's pretty hard to argue with. Decent chance of working, and completely defensible if it didn't given the circumstances in the moment.Jansen being unavailable was the real killer, and it's hard to blame Cora for that, but Cora should have left Joely Rodriguez in (he had thrown only 16 pitches), walked Julio Rodriguez to set up a force at every base, and faced Polanco with a L-L matchup.
All I can say is tonight's nutpunch aside, how good this team will be is as yet to be determined. There has been a lot to like, too. A lot.You are right, no doubt. I think some of us are taking these early games more seriously because we fear a bad start will push this team off the cliff before the Summer even starts. This is not a very good team, but I actually find myself liking the group and hope that we can stay alive for as long as possible.
I absolutely love this rant, and the only quibble I have is that Campbell went 2 the other day and struggled a bit at the end, so not sure they wanted to go right back to it. I may have been inclined to let Weissert start the 10th instead, though. Especially since he could have been pulled after a batter if trouble ensued.... Instead of any of that, we got an absolute shit sandwich. Unacceptable. Learn from the data, Alex.Manage to win the fucking game. If Jansen is unavailable, you adjust accordingly. Martin becomes your de facto closer, and instead of burning him in a tie game on the road in the 8th inning, you let Campbell pitch another inning after mowing down the side on 14 pitches in the 7th.
You also don't fucking bunt for one run in the 10th inning on the road if your closer isn't available.
You also, with a string of lefties due up, put your former GG-winning outfielder in right for defense rather than a rookie.
I want him to do his fucking job, which is to put his players in the best position to succeed and win. He failed in every regard tonight. Fuck him.
Before I knew Kenley wasn't available, I really didn't mind it, but given he wasn't, and rolling one over to second would have accomplished the same goal with a chance for more, I just don't get it at all.Even if he K's, Rafeala was at second as the ghost runner, so who knows what Kaos he could have created on his own. Giving up an out there seems stupid even if it's successful. More so after seeing them score two while giving up yet another out on an attempted steal. I'd rather he did it on his own, to be honest.I will give you the bunt (playing for 1 run) makes much less sense, wonder if Valdez did that on his own.
Polanco is a switch-hitter but has always been much worse vs. Ls. So it would have made more sense to leave Joely in, IBB J-Rod (duh) and try to get Polanco to hit it on the ground. I’ve followed Polanco for a long time. He sucks vs. Ls with no power.Jansen being unavailable was the real killer, and it's hard to blame Cora for that, but Cora should have left Joely Rodriguez in (he had thrown only 16 pitches), walked Julio Rodriguez to set up a force at every base, and faced Polanco with a L-L matchup.
I would argue that the real killer is carrying exactly ONE (1) LHP on the entire roster and its this Joely character when we have Bernadino in Worcester for some goddamn reasonJansen being unavailable was the real killer, and it's hard to blame Cora for that, but Cora should have left Joely Rodriguez in (he had thrown only 16 pitches), walked Julio Rodriguez to set up a force at every base, and faced Polanco with a L-L matchup.
The decision to try to keep the game tied with the better relievers obviously worked, it's hilarious that anyone would even question that part. It's like suggesting we would have been better off losing in regulation innings.I fell asleep in somewhere around the 7th.
I see that instead of people talking about decisions Cora made which panned out, everyone is talking about decisions Cora made that resulted in a loss.
What do I see from the box score?
In a tie game he trots out his better relievers for 1 inning apiece. Then they go to extras. They score two and Cora goes to the wildest pitcher on the staff with the Manfred Man on. He ties the game.
Then with only one run needed to lose the game, Cora puts a rookie pitcher in to face a good hitter, when he could have faced a weaker hitter with more force out options.
As usual, every single decision is maybe defensible in isolation by some general principle or truism, but the sum total of those kinds of decisions is a loss. So how good were they?
We get that you're happy they lost.The decision to try to keep the game tied with the better relievers obviously worked, it's hilarious that anyone would even question that part. It's like suggesting we would have been better off losing in regulation innings.
Thanks for proving there's no point trying to engage with you. Unbelievable.We get that you're happy they lost.
Like I said, it's a semi-justifable paint-by-numbers approach that again fails. Instead, he could have gotten another batter out of Crawford. He could have used Campbell for more than 3 batters. He could have used Slaten earlier. He could have used Rodriguez earlier.
And why those kinds of choices to stretch out your staff? How was Cora to know his team wasn't hitting over the last few games? How was Cora to know he was burning through his staff to get to the 9th only? How was Cora to know that extra innings start with a man on 2nd?
But somehow, with his ice-cold offense, he shockingly ended up in extras. And then when they went ahead, he was left with his wildest pitcher to start the 10th, with a man on 2nd.
***
Ultimately it's one game this year. But it's the same approach we've seen in past seasons. Cora will do shit like this once a week, and then, when the deadline rolls around, people will say. . ."Man, if we only had 4 more wins. . ."
Certainly, every single possible other decision was maybe defensible in isolation by some general principle or truism, but it failed -- again -- when Crawford's extra batter hit a bomb, and Slaten allowed the lead to widen before they even got to the 10th.Like I said, it's a semi-justifable paint-by-numbers approach that again fails. Instead, he could have gotten another batter out of Crawford. He could have used Campbell for more than 3 batters. He could have used Slaten earlier. He could have used Rodriguez earlier.
I agree with all of the pitching decisions up to and even into the 10th inning. I am fine with going to Slaten in that situation. I can even see some merit to pinch running Bobby Dalbec for Triston Casas, though I do not agree with that move.The decision to try to keep the game tied with the better relievers obviously worked, it's hilarious that anyone would even question that part. It's like suggesting we would have been better off losing in regulation innings.