Red Sox are kaput in 2023!
I hesitate to write this the day before I'm heading to Fenway Park to see my only game of the year on Wednesday, Aug. 30 against the Houston Astros --- a scheduled 4:10 p.m. game that, based on the wet forecast, could turn into a lengthy rain delay --- but the Sox' season is over.
Finit!
Kaput!
Toast!
Thank you Chaim Bloom! I hope you're wicked happy with the "value" you're getting for all those castoffs like pitcher Kyle Barraclough that you've forced manager Alex Cora to use this season.
Though I must say that I suspect Cora's use of journeyman castoff, righthander Barraclough in the sixth inning (after pitching a scoreless fifth) just after the Red Sox had regained a 4-3 lead over the Astros thanks to Adam Duvall's towering two-run homer over the Monster seats was possibly a way to get back at Bloom for leaving him so few mound choices.
But I digress.
The fact is that Barraclough gave up 6 runs in the sixth and the Astros turned the game into a rout, eventually winning 13-5, with Barraclough staying in the game to become the sacrificial lamb.
But the reason for the collapse again goes back to Bloom's stubborn refusal to add some real starting pitching help in the offseason --- and for his abject failure to bolster the starting pitching at the trade deadline.
Instead, they relied on Chris Sale to return from his 5 millionth stint on the injured list --- and the Sox were doomed.
That's because Sale, --- well past his prime --- couldn't get out of the fifth inning again on Tuesday night. That followed the failure of Tanner Houck, also newly returned from the injury list, to go deep on Sunday.
Unfortunately, the returns of Sale and Houck have proven to be way too little, too late. Why? Because thanks to Bloom's inaction, the bullpen got burned out in July after the Sox were forced to use "openers" for 6 weeks TWICE through the rotation. That severely weakened what had been an improved relief corps.
Bloom's inaction also undermined the team and hurt the improved offense thanks to Duvall, Jason Turner, Rafael Devers, Mataska Yoshida, Tristan Casas and Jarren Duran --- before the incompetent medical staff of the Red Sox again misfired, first saying Duran's toe injury was no big deal and just Tuesday announcing that he'll need surgery and is done for the season.
But I digress yet again!
Fans shouldn't expect anything to change. The do-nothing ownership, led by billionaire John Henry, is raking in the dough and filling the stadium, which charges fans the highest ticket and concession prices in Major League baseball. Therefore, it's easy to predict that they will likely do what they always do: raise the prices and don't sign any big-named free agents.
They might not have been embarrassed by seeing Mookie Betts' fabulous return to Fenway Park with the Los Angeles Dodgers last weekend, but most Sox fans with a brain were embarrassed.
Getting rid of Betts will prove to be the worst blunder since Babe Ruth was sold off.
My prediction: Henry will let Bloom stay; he doesn't care. They may fire Cora, who has checked out and appears to be done working for an ownership that doesn't support the team.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox are done for another year.
Finit!
Kaput!
Finit!
Kaput!
Toast!
Thank you Chaim Bloom! I hope you're wicked happy with the "value" you're getting for all those castoffs like pitcher Kyle Barraclough that you've forced manager Alex Cora to use this season.
Though I must say that I suspect Cora's use of journeyman castoff, righthander Barraclough in the sixth inning (after pitching a scoreless fifth) just after the Red Sox had regained a 4-3 lead over the Astros thanks to Adam Duvall's towering two-run homer over the Monster seats was possibly a way to get back at Bloom for leaving him so few mound choices.
But I digress.
The fact is that Barraclough gave up 6 runs in the sixth and the Astros turned the game into a rout, eventually winning 13-5, with Barraclough staying in the game to become the sacrificial lamb.
But the reason for the collapse again goes back to Bloom's stubborn refusal to add some real starting pitching help in the offseason --- and for his abject failure to bolster the starting pitching at the trade deadline.
Instead, they relied on Chris Sale to return from his 5 millionth stint on the injured list --- and the Sox were doomed.
That's because Sale, --- well past his prime --- couldn't get out of the fifth inning again on Tuesday night. That followed the failure of Tanner Houck, also newly returned from the injury list, to go deep on Sunday.
Unfortunately, the returns of Sale and Houck have proven to be way too little, too late. Why? Because thanks to Bloom's inaction, the bullpen got burned out in July after the Sox were forced to use "openers" for 6 weeks TWICE through the rotation. That severely weakened what had been an improved relief corps.
Bloom's inaction also undermined the team and hurt the improved offense thanks to Duvall, Jason Turner, Rafael Devers, Mataska Yoshida, Tristan Casas and Jarren Duran --- before the incompetent medical staff of the Red Sox again misfired, first saying Duran's toe injury was no big deal and just Tuesday announcing that he'll need surgery and is done for the season.
But I digress yet again!
Fans shouldn't expect anything to change. The do-nothing ownership, led by billionaire John Henry, is raking in the dough and filling the stadium, which charges fans the highest ticket and concession prices in Major League baseball. Therefore, it's easy to predict that they will likely do what they always do: raise the prices and don't sign any big-named free agents.
They might not have been embarrassed by seeing Mookie Betts' fabulous return to Fenway Park with the Los Angeles Dodgers last weekend, but most Sox fans with a brain were embarrassed.
Getting rid of Betts will prove to be the worst blunder since Babe Ruth was sold off.
My prediction: Henry will let Bloom stay; he doesn't care. They may fire Cora, who has checked out and appears to be done working for an ownership that doesn't support the team.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox are done for another year.
Finit!
Kaput!
Comments
Post a Comment