The Kids Can Play

You're so right though, you can truly understand where this Grifol arrogance comes from, when you listen to Jerry, Kenny and Rick talk to the media.

I agree with you, I think we all wanted to like the Grifol hire. However his bad managerial decisions during the game, mishandling the bullpen and of course bad lineups, makes it really difficult to respect him as a manager. When you make bold promises that your team is going to play with heart at a 100% max effort and you clearly haven't seen that this year, then why shouldn't people question him. I do agree with you that Burger should be batting between 3-6. He should be there not only because of his power, but he might also get better pitches to hit, when men get on base in front of him.

He is saying that which is a joke. It's a slap in the face to his immediate boss Rick Hahn.

When is the last time we've heard a manager tell the fans and media, if we don't like his decisions, then go speak to the owner and not his immediate boss Rick Hahn? Grifol is so over his head here!

These last two tirades show us the pressure is clearly getting to Grifol big time. The sad thing is, he hasn't earned the right to be so snarky to the fans and media, as he hasn't proven jack s%*# as a manager! I'm sorry, but Grifol doesn't have the success yet of let's say a Francona or Bochy to be so damn arrogant and condescending to the fans and media. Maybe as a rookie manager, Grifol should be more tactful with his comments.

Ok if you were still undecided on whether Grifol was a complete loser, this little tirade just officially put the final stamp on it. When you think of how challenged this Sox team was in the off-season, this further illustrates what a idiot Hahn is, thinking a rookie manager from a losing organization could come in and make significant improvement to this flawed Sox team. Both Hahn and Grifol need to be fired.

I totally agree. It would be fun to get rid of several overpaid players who are either over the hill, or don't care and let a bunch of young guys play and show their excitement like they were still playing little league. We might not win much, but it sure would be fun watching the hustle and enthusiasm on the field and in the dugout.

I just hope Remillard can stay grounded and not too hyped, to have just a decent second game. One hit, maybe a walk and solid defense would be just fine.

I wonder what the Sox record is the last few years playing against a pitcher they never saw before? I'm sure it's really bad.

You're right about Hamilton needs come back and be able to contribute offensively, besides his ability to come in and pinch run or play center in the last inning. Robert will need rest as the season goes on. If Hahn and Pedro were smart, they should have Hamilton in Charlotte working daily on being extremely proficient at bunting. Hell, even learn to crowd the plate and get hit by the pitcher. Once Hamilton is on with these new rules of bigger bags and pitcher disengagement, he could swipe second and third every time he got on. I also like TA and Remi at the bottom. If they can get on, now you have the top of the order...that could be something big.

I know you're being facetious, but imagine if Remillard has a amazing 2023 finish and then continues to sustain a nice 5-6 year career that started at 29. We're talking the next "The Rookie" movie. ?

Not sure why you're still having trouble, but lets break it down further. In my post I told you it was the job of the hitting coach to work with Jake and other struggling hitters on pitch recognition and swinging out of the zone. This was your reply: There's no coaching that can help anyone if a player swings at almost every pitch. That is on them. I'm pretty sure "there's no coaching that can help anyone"...was clearly you telling me, it's not up to the hitting coach to help him. Also, "That is on them", is a clear as day, you are informing me, it's the responsibility of Jake and others to figure out their swinging outside the zone problem on their own, as well as it has nothing to do with the hitting coach.

One of the best in the game. We all know when he gets a pitch in the zone, he can kill it. Unfortunately he hasn't learned that patience yet, to get lots of good pitches to hit hard, he needs to work the count. All we can do is hope because you're right it's scary to think of how great he could be.

Wow, LMAO now. You not only have an issue with reading comprehension, but you have a memory problem. You never once said "of course the hitting coach works with Jake. Here is your specific post to me: There's no coaching that can help anyone if a player swings at almost every pitch. That is on them. He is having severe pitch recognition issues right now. I'm pretty sure that suggests from you it's all on Jake. I am out of here to go take my family out to dinner. Have a nice evening and we can further debate this tomorrow.

I know that wasn't Gio's best game, but he has been one of, if not the most consistent starter for several starts now. I give him huge credit for starting out so poorly and yet he gutted it out and got 5 innings in at 105 pitches.

You're right but at least he decided this was his time! Better late than never.

Remi is the man!

If you go back and read all my posts more carefully you will see I have been calling out the entire team. There are several posts from me mentioning how bad the entire team is regarding plate discipline stats. Neither one of us knows if the hitting coach works with Jake. You are taking on my comments of of context. The previous poster I was debating with said, it was not the job of the hitting coach to help the struggling hitter which is false. However, here is a key point, knowing so many hitters on this team swing at pitches outside the zone, makes me believe it is a coaching problem and maybe they are not spending ample time with these hitters. Again, the team is 30th in pitches taken per at bat, 30th in swing % outside the zone and 30th in walks. I've stated this numerous times in many posts, so how am I defending only Jake and not calling out the others, when i keep stressing the team stat? Unless you are going to tell me it's Jakes stats alone why the Sox are 30th in all these key plate discipline flaws.

That is absolutely not true. Good hitting coaches sit down together with a player and watch film of their AB's. They also go to the batting cage to work with them, especially now, when they can use that new batting machine that can throw secondary pitches to help.

Totally agree! Jake is raw but if someone works with him, he has so much upside!

Well he forgot to do it with the Sox! LOL

This does not involve my biases. I am as harsh as anyone here when it comes to calling players out. His talent is huge and yes he has some major learning and flaws to correct relative to plate discipline. Yet that is exactly what a coaching staff, especially the hitting coach's job is to help him learn that discipline. That is not what is expected on good winning teams. They do not to expect the player to figure it out on their own, when they have Jake's type of talent.

That would be a great day to pop the cork and celebrate.

Wasn't that suppose to be one of Pedro's major convictions and promises to the FO and fans that this Sox team would give max effort all the time! LOL!

That's our new second baseman!