Tag: red sox

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A Follow Up to Firing Bobby V

More coverage from [Over the Monster](http://www.overthemonster.com/), this time in reference to a [Pete Abraham column](http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2012/08/firing_bobby_va.html) saying firing Bobby V will not fix anything.

> That doesn’t take away from the overall value of Abraham’s points here. Valentine wanted Franklin Morales to start. He didn’t injure all of these players, and the training staff is in charge of deciding who rests and who plays when it comes to injuries. He’s been a huge proponent of Will Middlebrooks from the start, and is currently trying to keep Ryan Lavarnway in the majors.

Actually, that is what I want too. So maybe I was (https://johnkiv.us/2012/08/06/over-the-monster-on-whether-bobby-valentine-should-be-fired/) to say he should be fired? If anything, this proves the Red Sox have a difficult decision to make.

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Over the Monster on Whether Bobby Valentine Should be Fired

[Over the Monster](http://overthemonster.com) analyzes [John Tomase](http://bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view.bg?&articleid=1061151173&format=&page=1&listingType=sox#articleFull)’s piece that calls for Bobby Valentine to be fired now:

> This late into the season, with the Red Sox no longer in the hole that surrounded them in the campaign’s early going, things should have turned around in terms of the team respecting Valentine. If that hasn’t happened, fair or not to Bobby V, then something should be done. As said before, though, that’s if this is all true, and I’m not sure anyone knows what is besides those involved in the situation itsel

I am in the “fire Valentine now” camp. Get an interim manager to finish out the season, but get rid of Valentine now. I really wanted him to work out, however, the Red Sox are just not playing well with him at the helm. Make the change, hand the team over to the young guys, and get ready for 2013. At least that would keep some fans, myself included, interested this season.

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The End of this Year’s Red Sox

Yesterday’s game felt like the end of this year’s Red Sox. Time to blow things up. Let the young guys play. Get ready for next year, when hopefully they won’t get hit with so many injuries,

*See, e.g.,* [Providence Journal on how losses against bad teams are killing the Sox season](http://blogs.providencejournal.com/sports/red-sox/2012/08/losses-to-lousy-teams-killing-red-sox-chances.html), and [Over the Monster’s recap](http://www.overthemonster.com/2012/8/4/3220808/red-sox-4-twins-6-im-going-to-laugh-and-laugh-when-they-fire-bobby).

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Lavarnway Called Up

Fingers crossed he adjusts as well as Middlebrooks has.

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The end of the Lars Anderson Era (in Pawtucket)

Whenever the PawSox came to town, I was always excited about seeing Lars Anderson play. Sadly, there really is no place for him in the Red Sox system now that they have Gonzo at first for the foreseeable future. I wish him good luck in Cleveland. Unfortunately, his outlook does not seem very bright:

> He has always toted solid plate discipline skills and his first-base defense has improved in recent years as well. But Anderson has struggled to make contact as he progressed throughout the Red Sox farm system, and while the power is obviously there when he connects — he hit a prodigious home run off of the scoreboard at McCoy Stadium this year — connecting has been a struggle in and of itself.

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Fangraphs breaks down Will Middlebrooks

> Middlebrooks has shown the ability to hit the ball with authority in his short time as a major leaguer. To get the most out of this ability, he’ll need to make consistent contact. If he can take this next step, the Middlebrooks we’ve seen this year can be around for years to come.

I have my fingers crossed. I love Will Middlebrooks.

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Review of what the Red Sox did do and did not do at Yesterday’s Trade Deadline

Great review by the guys over at Fire Brand, including commentary on the [rumors of a deal that would have involved Beckett and Ellsbury](http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/21217731/red-sox-rangers-talked-blockbuster).

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Red Sox Win (with a little help from the Rain)

> The Tigers looked to be threatening in the top of the sixth inning, loading the bases with two outs against Morales, who had relieved Mortensen and looked poised to pitch for a while — perhaps setting him up to take Beckett’s turn in the rotation the next time through. But rain that had been steady throughout the game began falling hard enough that umpires waved the teams off the field. They never returned.

I’m sure Morales would have gotten them out anyway.[^win]

[^win]: Okay, I am not completely confident in that.

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Red Sox Trade for Left Reliever Craig Breslow

> The cost for the Sox, meanwhile, is not terribly impressive. While Matt Albers has managed to avoid surrendering much in the way of runs, actually watching him pitch gave the impression that was not terribly sustainable. He pitches up in the zone too often, and just doesn’t miss bats with any regularity

Yeah, Albers was starting to make me nervous whenever he came out to the mound. Of course, Boston has proven to be a tough place for any reliever to do well. Here’s hoping Breslow turns out to be one of the few that can handle it.

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Red Sox Should Bring Back Justin Materson

Yes.

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Sports

Red Sox Take 2 out 3 from the Yanks

I still cannot figure out this Red Sox team. I would be fine with them just letting all the young guys play though. I am about 3 games away from ordering a Pedro Ciriaco Fathead for my wall.

*See also* [Fenway West’s Recap](http://www.fenwaywest.com/2012-articles/july/yankee-killer-pedro-ciriaco-does-it-again.html)

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Why the Red Sox Will Make the Playoffs

> Although Adrian Gonzalez’ bat has gone missing, Carl Crawford is just now wading back into the pool of full-time play, and Nick Punto continues to exist, the 2012 Sox are fully capable of going on an absolutely torrid stretch. And I mean torrid in a good way, not in an “every episode of ‘Happy Days’ after Ron Howard left the cast” way. In fact, a 21-8 August is not entirely out of the question. Neither, of course, is the thought that a race of alien Jessica Biels will abduct me and whisk me away to their home planet to help them repopulate. But just work with me here.

I’m trying to be this optimistic, but I just do not think this team is going to go on some kind of winning streak. I hope I’m wrong.

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Wally the Green Monster Costume Stolen

The way this season is going, I would expect nothing less.

*UPDATE: Wally’s been located. It was apparently an employee who took it without permission. No charges filed.*

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Gonzo is AL Player of the Week

Small consolation.

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Valentine Believes in Lester

> “I believe in him,” [Valentine] said. “I know nobody else in this room does, but I do. That’s a good start. Maybe if he’s sitting in here, it’ll be two of us by the time he leaves.”

I hope he’s right.

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Another Weekend that Red Sox Nation Wants to Forget

I’ve avoided posting too much about this weekend for the Red Sox, mostly because it was brutal to watch. As always, the Providence Journal’s Red Sox blog has breakdowns of some of the major issues:

* [The Red Sox and Poor First Innings](http://blogs.providencejournal.com/sports/red-sox/2012/07/offense-put-in-early-hole—-again.html)
* [How does Jon Lester Bounce Back after another horrible start](http://blogs.providencejournal.com/sports/red-sox/2012/07/where-does-lester-go-from-here.html)

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Daniel Bard Update

> “Right now, he’s not consistent,” said Pawtucket Red Sox pitching coach Rich Sauveur of the 26-year-old right-hander who Boston tried to convert from a late-inning reliever to a starter. “But I’m seeing signs of what we’re looking for. He just needs to bring that from the bullpen to the mound and have that conviction on the first hitter he faces.

I really hope this whole starter experiment did not end the career of such a promising young pitcher.[^friend]

[^friend]: Full disclosure: One of my good friends went to school with Daniel Bard.

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Buchholz feeling like he did in 2010

> The last couple of times out, my two-seam fastball has been a pitch like it was a couple of years ago for me, being able to throw it to both sides of the plate,” he said. “My four-seam seems to be there whenever I have a good two-seam working. I was able to throw some changeups for strikes and get some swings and misses on it. My curveball has been my best pitch all year, so that was working for me when I gave it a chance tonight, also.

Music to my ears.

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Cody Ross – King for a Day

> “There’s no better feeling.”

Cody Ross

If you’re looking for a way to cheer yourself up, take a peak at all of the stories on Cody Ross’ game winner from last night:

* [Over the Monster](http://www.overthemonster.com/2012/7/20/3171708/cody-ross-walk-off-boston-red-sox-chicago-white-sox)(with video of the HR)
* [Over the Monster Game Recap](http://www.overthemonster.com/2012/7/20/3171144/cody-ross-walkoff-homer-red-sox-white-sox)
* [Fenway West](http://www.fenwaywest.com/2012-articles/july/cody-ross-does-it-again.html)
* [The Providence Journal’s Red Sox Blog](http://blogs.providencejournal.com/sports/red-sox/2012/07/ross-delivers-the-walk-off-home-run-theres-no-better-feeling.html)

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Jon Lester sits down with Gordon Edes

> “You think I’m happy right now?” Lester said. “You think I like coming to the park with almost a 5 ERA (4.80) next to my name, with a 5-7 record? I mean, who would be happy?

> …

> “It’s embarrassing. It’s embarrassing for my wife to be sitting in the stands to hear that. I’m embarrassed for her. I’m embarrassed what she has to hear in the stands. It’s not fun.

> “That’s not what I want to do. I don’t want to show up at the park and go, ‘[Expletive], I’m going to give up seven runs in four innings and call it a day, then go home and count my money because that’s all that matters.”‘

The rest of the interview is just as strong. I have never thought the Sox should try to trade Lester, and this interview makes me feel even more confident in that position.