Excellent analysis of what happened Tuesday but I'm still shaking my head trying to figure out HOW it happened.
The Orioles pitchers threw only 116 pitches all night. The Red Sox didn't have a single plate appearance with a runner in scoring pitches. By my rough count, they hit four balls hard all night -- the two HRs, Renfroe's infield single and the final flyout by J.D.
They weren't striking out (6) and they weren't walking (2). Instead, too many hitters were getting themselves out, hitting soft fly balls and routine grounders. No one but Schwarber even pretended to grind out at-bats.
Remember, this is the Orioles pitching staff we're talking about.
They just didn't look like a team playing with any urgency. That, I'm sure, is what pissed Sale off most. And it should.
If we see a similar effort tonight, I'm convinced they just don't care if they make it or not. Which I don't believe, and which would be a terrible shame after the roller-coaster ride they've been on.
A couple of other things occurred to me. First, while everyone was quick to assume the Sox would win at least four or five of these final games, they really have not been a good road team since the All-Star break.
Second, it can't be easy to play these games in a deserted stadium. You have to generate all of your own energy, and the Sox did very little of that Tuesday.
Excellent analysis of what happened Tuesday but I'm still shaking my head trying to figure out HOW it happened.
The Orioles pitchers threw only 116 pitches all night. The Red Sox didn't have a single plate appearance with a runner in scoring pitches. By my rough count, they hit four balls hard all night -- the two HRs, Renfroe's infield single and the final flyout by J.D.
They weren't striking out (6) and they weren't walking (2). Instead, too many hitters were getting themselves out, hitting soft fly balls and routine grounders. No one but Schwarber even pretended to grind out at-bats.
Remember, this is the Orioles pitching staff we're talking about.
They just didn't look like a team playing with any urgency. That, I'm sure, is what pissed Sale off most. And it should.
If we see a similar effort tonight, I'm convinced they just don't care if they make it or not. Which I don't believe, and which would be a terrible shame after the roller-coaster ride they've been on.
A couple of other things occurred to me. First, while everyone was quick to assume the Sox would win at least four or five of these final games, they really have not been a good road team since the All-Star break.
Second, it can't be easy to play these games in a deserted stadium. You have to generate all of your own energy, and the Sox did very little of that Tuesday.
Feel like there’s nothing better to gauge whether someone has earned based on the number of wins they have had.
Seattle & Toronto could both realistically get to 91 wins ?
Meaning we probably need 3/5 to at least reach a Playoff before the other Playoff !
Win Tonight & that looks "decently" achievable
But IF we lose I can see the Old 2011 Headlines Again of Debacle in Birdland ........
What worries me is we may "only" get 6-8-10 hits ??? IF we don't turn that into 4-5 Runs, at least, then The Bullpen might cough it up ........ Again
The Sox have resisted much this season, but everybody has their limits & at some point the roof might fall in here
We can only hope
I am still confident, JUST ....... but also still sweating too !
Go Sox