DISQUS

Colin · 2 years ago

The Sox are 12-8 in their last 20 games and have won five of their last six series. I really don't think that's "near reeling mode." The Yankees are just playing exceptionally well right now, but that doesn't mean the Sox are playing poorly.

Andy · 2 years ago

Seems to me that the AL East is going to come down to head-to-head games remaining between NYY and BOS. NYY needs to essentially win out, in which case they might win the division by 1 or 2 games. If they don't, BOS will win by anywhere from 2 to 10 games.

Bill Burt · 2 years ago

Colin
The point is bad baseball is contageous, that's all I'm saying. As you probably noticed, I didn't even mention the Yankees. The Red Sox need to play good baseball, which means, pitch really well, play good defense and get timely hitting with Ortiz and Manny shouldering the bigger load. If they do that, they will be in the playoffs and win the division. If they don't, this will get interesting, which is not a good thing with holes in the lineup.

Alex · 2 years ago

Unfortunately, it seems like the errors Lugo makes are often at critical timesIt feels like there've been a few times when a shaky inning has turned into the losing inning because a Lugo error lengthened it. (I can't back that up at all.)

He has 12 errors so far this season, which is too many. Only Lowell has more. (And Lowell gets a pass because it's so abnormal for him, and also it seems to have stopped.) I agree, it's troubling, and I hope his glove settles down.

Colin · 2 years ago

Bad baseball is contagious, but the Red Sox aren't playing bad baseball. Are players making bad plays at times? Of course -- but nothing consistently bad enough to make me thing a plague of bad baseball is going to sweep through the team.

Nashua · 2 years ago

Mr. Burt,
You are so RIGHT! "If Julio Lugo makes that simple major league play..." DIDN'T you all hear it late last night through out New England, like the center of town churches and town halls ringing the bells for a holiday, these words ringing in your ears, "Alex Gonzalez would have made that play!" How many times have you said that to yourself this year? Come on, be truthful, more than you'd ever imagine. How about that Orlando Cabrera for the LA Angels, why can't the Red Sox get players like him? Oh, they used to have him, on a Championship team, whoops. Way to go Theo! You're so on Bill, so very 'shortstop' ON. Keep up the Good Blog!

The iTod · 2 years ago

Julio Lugo is a big, stinking pile of dogsh#t! He stinks in the leadoff, he makes huge gaffes in the field and his baserunning has been horrible. How many bad pickoffs has he had this season? How many times should he have gone for the stolen base and did not?

Jacoby Ellsbury should take that leadoff spot from him starting late this year or early next year followed by pedroia and the Red Sox should not mess with that for the next 8-10 years.

He is TERRIBLE... OCab, AGonz were both better... When will we learn? We had the guys and we let them go...

Dave · 2 years ago

That is what bothers me the most about Lugo. He has got picked off on numerous occasions. While alot of base stealers get picked off every once in a while, he seems to get picked off once a week. Like Itod says, how many times has he started to steal, stopped, and got picked off? He is a below average shortstop and abelow average hitter. He is fast but has no baserunning instincts whatsoever. He also looks like he has absolutely no confidence when he is at bat, on the bases, or in the field. However, like Bil said, we are stuck with him. We can't move him and we have no other option at shortstop. I think he will be a better hitter in the coming years, but will never be anything more than an average hitter and a below average defensive shortstop.

George · 2 years ago

Theo's stock is dropping rapidly.

www.sportsguyredux.blogspot.com

Bill Burt · 2 years ago

George
I disagree. I realize public perception is not high, because of Lugo and Drew, which baffle me sometimes. But he has to be graded on the finished product. If the Sox win a World Series this year, and right now their chances are as good as any, then that's how he'll be graded.
Remember, the farm system is his baby, too. and frankly, I don't know if there is a better one right now. The Sox seem to be developing players by the bunches.
Personally, I'd like to see more Pedroia's staying here and growing together, instead of trading.
Overall, I believe Theo Epstein has done a very good job. If the Sox blow this, and don't make the playoffs because of weak hitting, then I might change my grading system. But he has built a great pitching staff, rotation and bullpen. Please don't forget that part, too.

The iTod · 2 years ago

Theo has done a good job. He helped get us a WS win in 2004 and the minors are producing a large amount of quality players and some real impact players, especially pitchers. I think that the Red Sox have the best minor league pitching coming along with both quality depth and really high-upside pitchers. Position players have been tougher with some solid players like pedroia, ellsbury, lowrie and youkilis but no superstars yet. Free agency is necessary to get the big bats and so far the jury is out on him there. SS has been a disaster for Theo though!