greg775

Modern baseball. Too.Many.Cooks. Get a good roster and play ball. Isn't it funny how that one inning Sox were down two runs and it was first and second no outs, 10 years ago that's bunt no matter what, down two on the road no out. Moncada made out instead of bunting. Not that I want the bunt with the Sox's big boppers.

I don't really care about $$ in Jerry's pockets and the investors, but they are not going to sign two mega contract catchers. McCann isn't going to sign with the White Sox to be a backup and I doubt they trade Grandal. I'd probably prefer they trade Grandal for two reliever prospects and have McCann and Collins but I doubt they do that. The idea they are going to have Grandal and McCann both just isn't a possibility. Sox have many holes to fill and I'd fill some by trading Grandal. What is going to happen is next year it'll be Grandal catching most of the games and Collins catching 50 or so.

Eloy's injury didn't help either. So did not getting a home game where our bashers could bash.

Exactly. It might be cliche (a bit) but your "managing scared" line is correct. Yes he should have left Dunning in, hindsight being what it is. By the middle innings he had a batch of horrible matchups occurring on this day because he didn't give his starter a chance and he had an injury. It could have been 3-0 A's. Big deal. Sox have a potent lineup. It's ALL second guessing sure but Ricky deserves the second guessing now. Yes the injury to Crochet means Sox would look bad firing RR for having a bad day Thursday.

I knew Sox had lost when with four innings to go the Sox had Frye, Cordero, Cease and Colome left and that was it. RR as expected had a bad day (not helped by the Crochet injury at all and the Eloy injury) and the Sox had just one homer. The Sox bullpen walked nine guys and the Sox hitters didn't loft enough home runs. Game over. Wish at least one of the games was in The Cell. That rule has to change in a non COVID season. Even with no fans Sox needed the familiar Cell to bash some more home runs today. BTW: It wasn't meant to be. If it was meant to be Dallas would have been unstoppable in Game Two and the Sox nailed down an impressive two-game sweep and carried that into the Houston series. Maybe at that point the Sox start Cease and Dunning and hope for they come through and go five and not play a ridiculous brand of baseball in which the starter doesn't exit inning No. One. As badly as the Sox played they were a clutch hit or two from winning yesterday and today both. Many many failed to get that hit, including my guy, Jose baby.

Sometimes I think managers should just pull a Costanza and do the opposite thing of what they come up with. So many managers make the wrong call in crucial decision-making situations. Everything I'm saying here is with hindsight on my side so it's just anger talking probably. Once the decision was made to start Denning, you stick with him and hope he has a gem for 4-6 innings. Then play the bullpen game. Taking him out that early is a defensive move, on your heels move. Olson eventually came up against Marshall, it just took longer after RR decimated the bullpen instead of the first inning. RR I think it's safe to say is a mediocre manager. You get what you pay for. Sox can either a.) let him stay since players like him. b.) get rid of him and hire another cheap replacement from our minor league system. c.) fire a famous guy and see what happens. I'd suspect cause of the injuries today and fact the team only had two starters available for the postseason saves RR. He'll be back.

RR deserves whatever Frank throws his way. Lot of stuff to second guess.

True dat about the walks. You deserve to lose when you do that. However ... also a lack of key hits by EVERYONE including my guy, Jose. Sox in the last two games failed to come up with the big hit in SOOO many instances. Sox also didn't hit enough dingers. They live by the HR ball, folks. All three games being in Oakland ... Sox fans shoulda known we had a small chance of winning, In our park? Home run haven for the guys ... we'd have won the series had we had just one home game. I'm very frustrated. I thought only the Rays or Yankees would kick our butt. Didn't think Sox would lose to anybody else cause of that offense. Positive people will blame injuries Yes they hurt the team badly as well as loss of Kopech.

Either you leave in the starter and take your chances with him or figure some of those relievers who failed today give you a better chance than the starter. RR made the wrong call today. It's a big boy game and if management wants to fire him for making some/many wrong calls, it's OK with me. If he comes back I guess that's OK too.

Awful game. Sox had their chances. Lot of things to second guess now. I won't list all of mine. I'll just say my heart won't be broken if RR is not back with the team. It's a big boy game. Sox were pathetic the last week, lost their mo-jo. Today's game can be second, third, fourth guessed. It was a horrible game for the Sox, one frankly we could have won. The starting pitching thing was a disaster as it turned out. Ricky defenders can say we had Eloy get hurt and Crochet get hurt and that mattered, too. Fine. My heart won't be broken if RR does not return. Stoney obviously isn't a fan. Oh well. Very disappointing. Hopefully the team can build on a good season.

Good luck folks. I am out. I haven't been in game threads all season so I won't start now. Cmon Eloy baby! Have a game. Goodbye all.

I didn't know all 3 games were in oakland. that kinda sucks; our park is homer friendly

they just said it'd be on espn2; not yet

espn news has just started an nba show

what channel do i turn on? it aint on espn right now; thanx

It's called second guessing. It'll take place as long as there are fans.

Very good post. He's a huge factor when he's in the lineup and healthy.

I haven't read what's happening but it's got to be Dunning even though there are no guarantees he'll be good.

You have the right to feel that way. But obviously it's second-guessing. What if he rips it in the gap? Then he's a genius pouncing on the first pitch. It's disappointing sure. I'm more disappointed Semien and Bassitt beat the Sox today. I actually think the Sox have the better team. On to Game Three. Hope the Sox win.

This is a very good post and frankly why managers would be dumb to care about opinions of fans ever. One common complaint during the course of any season is the use of relievers in individual games. And like you said managers and pitching coaches have all sorts of reasons for not using their best on given nights. Every game is indeed game seven to many fans and a manager just manages for the long haul. ... Another fan thing is blaming a guy like RR for playing Grandal too much or EE too much when they are being outplayed by McCann and/or struggling. A manager has to play the big-time acquisitions no matter what. If you embarrass the GM, that is not good.

Now it's trouble. Down by a full five runs. Not giving up yet but if Sox lose I'd start Dunning for 4 to 5 innings then go to Cease, then the pen in Game Three.

You are acting like the Randy Quaid character in Major League. Stuff happens. It's baseball. Hopefully Sox win today, if not, the next game in Chicago. GO SOX.

I can honestly say I saw it coming.

OK, relievers and defense, pick him up. He pitched a fine game and Sox have hit the long ball. Formula for a Sox win. Just.Complete.It. Thank u.

Oops. Me disagree with no brainer decision to yank him, but excited to see if Lucas gets out of jam.