What is Francona thinking?

[PressCoverage]

so, you go with Wakefield, thereby requiring weak-hitting Mirabelli in the lineup... so then you compound the offense's limitation by sticking with anemic Coco Crisp over electric Jacoby Ellsbury? wow...

what a complete disappointment the last 3 games have been... one bad managerial decision after another...

the clowns on WEEI this afternoon cut off a caller who made a fantastic point ... he railed on the Sox for not trusting their late-season rookie call-ups (Ellsbury, Buchholz, Lester), while the Indians are thriving with theirs (Cabrera, Lewis, Mastny, Gutierrez, etc.)... of course, the EEI blowhards pointed to Pedroia, ignoring the guy's point, and hung up on him...

anyhow, bringing in Gagne in Game 2 was precisely the worst decision of the season... nothing but a disaster ever since... we lit him up with Texas earlier this year... he's been no good since shoulder surgery, and he was never gonna simply "find it" here in October... that's all on Francona, and Theo...

horrible...

 

[maverick4]

The Sox are a sinking ship. Ortiz is almost done, he's manning up now but it gets worse the longer he plays without getting surgery, and Schilling/DiceK/Wakefield are a toss up.

Very disappointing.

The Sox need to re-tool this lineup, get rid of Crisp and Drew for some better players. Let Schilling walk, sign another vet pitcher and hope Lester and Clay develop more.

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

Buchholz was never an option in the postseason. He was shut down with a tired arm.

The problem in game two wasn't Gagne. The problems were Schilling not making it through the 5th and the offense going into the tank (they had one baserunner after the 5th inning. Ortiz, Manny, and Lowell went down 1-2-3 against a pitcher no one has ever heard of).

I agree 100% that Ellsbury should have been starting in place of Coco. Comparing Ellsbury and Buchholz to the Indians's rookies is unfair though, as neither of them were expected to make it to Boston this year. They were essentially September call-ups.

It's not Francona's fault that Pedroia, Drew, Coco, Lugo, Varitek (even with the home run), Schilling, and Daisuke have been bad.

Varitek can catch Wakefield. Mirabelli should never start a playoff game.

Drew isn't going anywhere with 4/56 left on his deal. Besides, everyone deserves a year two. This was Coco's year two and he was just as bad as last year. Thankfully Coco is affordable and can play defense, meaning he can and will be traded.

There is no pitching to be had in free agency, and what is out there will be horribly expensive. If the Sox need another arm for next year Schilling is probably the best option if a one year deal gets it done. If the Sox have any hope for good pitching next year (outside Beckett) it needs to come from Daisuke, Buchholz, and Lester.

 

[frankiesfly]

Speaking of Francona. Did you see his post game press conference? He didn't look good at all. He looked really sad and hopeless. Not a thng I would want my players to see. Did you see the way the Arizona coach acted after every loss to Colorado? He had his head up, and spoke with confidence in his team. To me that's the way a coach should act. Francona looked as if the series was over already. If the players are going to feel like they have a chance, then coach is going to have to act like they do.

 

[scout]

Buchholz was never an option in the postseason. He was shut down with a tired arm.

The problem in game two wasn't Gagne. The problems were Schilling not making it through the 5th and the offense going into the tank (they had one baserunner after the 5th inning. Ortiz, Manny, and Lowell went down 1-2-3 against a pitcher no one has ever heard of).

I agree 100% that Ellsbury should have been starting in place of Coco. Comparing Ellsbury and Buchholz to the Indians's rookies is unfair though, as neither of them were expected to make it to Boston this year. They were essentially September call-ups.

It's not Francona's fault that Pedroia, Drew, Coco, Lugo, Varitek (even with the home run), Schilling, and Daisuke have been bad.

Varitek can catch Wakefield. Mirabelli should never start a playoff game.

Drew isn't going anywhere with 4/56 left on his deal. Besides, everyone deserves a year two. This was Coco's year two and he was just as bad as last year. Thankfully Coco is affordable and can play defense, meaning he can and will be traded.

There is no pitching to be had in free agency, and what is out there will be horribly expensive. If the Sox need another arm for next year Schilling is probably the best option if a one year deal gets it done. If the Sox have any hope for good pitching next year (outside Beckett) it needs to come from Daisuke, Buchholz, and Lester.

Have you ever seen Veritek catch Wakefield? No, he can't. Wake surprised me and if they had left him in, don't think he would have given up all those runs. Had Youk caught the foul ball, or had he missed putting his glove on that infield hit, he's out of the inning with the runner scoring from third.
The big question is, why on earth do you not play a youngster who BLISTERED everyone who threw the ball to him. Was not because he was a liability in the field. No, lets play J.D. Drew because he had a great year.

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

Have you ever seen Veritek catch Wakefield? No, he can't. Wake surprised me and if they had left him in, don't think he would have given up all those runs. Had Youk caught the foul ball, or had he missed putting his glove on that infield hit, he's out of the inning with the runner scoring from third.
The big question is, why on earth do you not play a youngster who BLISTERED everyone who threw the ball to him. Was not because he was a liability in the field. No, lets play J.D. Drew because he had a great year.

He caught Wakefield between '97-'01 and I don't remember anyone bemoaning the fact that he couldn't do it. He can catch Wakefield. He doesn't during the regular season because he can use the day off and Mirabelli is better at catching it. With how bad Tek has been it seems silly to say he should catch Wakefield, but Mirabelli is so bad that I'm compelled to argue it.

And yes, Ellsbury should be playing. Why you want him replacing Drew? Drew might be awful, but Coco is even worse.

 

[patsfanofNC12]

I don't think the problem was Wakefield starting. He did good, but Francona just left him in a little to long, and he had to pitch a lot with no run support behind him. These last 3 pitchers have had to pitch for at least 3 innings with no runs to help them. Everybody knows that you feel motivated to pitch longer and better when your team is functioning behind you.

 

[scout]

He caught Wakefield between '97-'01 and I don't remember anyone bemoaning the fact that he couldn't do it. He can catch Wakefield. He doesn't during the regular season because he can use the day off and Mirabelli is better at catching it. With how bad Tek has been it seems silly to say he should catch Wakefield, but Mirabelli is so bad that I'm compelled to argue it.

And yes, Ellsbury should be playing. Why you want him replacing Drew? Drew might be awful, but Coco is even worse.

Do you remember the episode where they traded a very good catcher (Josh Bard) to San Diego and flew in Mirabelli who then was given a police escort to Fenway. He changed his clothes in the cruiser as it was making its way to the game well above speed limits. Bard had 10 passed balls catching for Mirabelli, and I remember Jason trying to catch him also without any luck.
May 28,1999 Jason Veritek had five passed balls against the Indians, one less then the ML record (he was catching Wake).

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

Do you remember the episode where they traded a very good catcher (Josh Bard) to San Diego and flew in Mirabelli who then was given a police escort to Fenway. He changed his clothes in the cruiser as it was making its way to the game well above speed limits. Bard had 10 passed balls catching for Mirabelli, and I remember Jason trying to catch him also without any luck.
May 28,1999 Jason Veritek had five passed balls against the Indians, one less then the ML record (he was catching Wake).

And when Mirabelli started catching Wake he had a bunch of passed balls too.

Bard's failues (and the lack of patience in dealing with him) doesn't mean that no one else can catch it. It means that he struggled and everyone overreacted.

Wakefield isn't the first knuckleballer (nor the best), yet he seems to be the first who can only be caught by one person. The notion that only Mirabelli can catch him is lazy, shortsighted, and propped up by the fact that one guy failed when given a short leash.

 

[scout]

And when Mirabelli started catching Wake he had a bunch of passed balls too.

Bard's failues (and the lack of patience in dealing with him) doesn't mean that no one else can catch it. It means that he struggled and everyone overreacted.

Wakefield isn't the first knuckleballer (nor the best), yet he seems to be the first who can only be caught by one person. The notion that only Mirabelli can catch him is lazy, shortsighted, and propped up by the fact that one guy failed when given a short leash.

Well, since your posts are speculative, then I don't remember Mirabelli having 'a bunch of passed balls' go by him. While, I remember Jason not handling Wakefield well at all, and verify that with almost setting a major league record with 5 passed balls. Maybe you can look up how many passed balls got by Mirabelli in one game and qualify 'a bunch'.

 

[BadMoFo]

Don't worry guys, this will be over soon.

 

[scout]

Don't worry guys, this will be over soon.

I don't think this is their year, but I would never count them out.

 

[dalero]

Don't worry guys, this will be over soon.

We've got em right where we want em!