Episode 21: Red Sox Manage To Interfere In Extra Innings!

WEBVTT 00:00:00.957 --> 00:00:06.517 Good evening, sports fans, and welcome to another episode of Red Sox Digest, 00:00:06.777 --> 00:00:11.157 the only podcast that dares to admit we watch this team voluntarily. 00:00:11.657 --> 00:00:17.197 Today is Monday, July 21st. I am your host, Jim Delfino, and your Boston Red 00:00:17.197 --> 00:00:20.617 Sox have come up with a new and creative ways to lose a ballgame. 00:00:20.917 --> 00:00:26.957 The Sox are now 54 and 48, clinging to playoff relevance like it's the last 00:00:26.957 --> 00:00:28.597 Fenway Frank at a doubleheader. 00:00:29.137 --> 00:00:32.997 For most of the game, the offense looked like it had already mentally checked 00:00:32.997 --> 00:00:34.897 into next season's All-Star break. 00:00:35.077 --> 00:00:37.177 But then we had a plot twist. 00:00:37.657 --> 00:00:42.617 Carlos Navias decided he wanted to go home early and put his glove out to a 00:00:42.617 --> 00:00:44.537 hitter who did not commit to a pitch. 00:00:45.117 --> 00:00:49.497 Joining me tonight is Nick Face, who just this morning sent a handwritten letter 00:00:49.497 --> 00:00:53.737 to the Red Sox front office demanding that they sign Manny Ramirez not as a 00:00:53.737 --> 00:00:56.577 coach, but to be an everyday left fielder. 00:00:56.577 --> 00:01:00.377 Ask Manny, Nick says, because Yoshida need a cutoff, man, bro. 00:01:01.217 --> 00:01:05.377 Spoiler alert, if you know, you know. Also joining us tonight is Thayer Doyle, 00:01:05.497 --> 00:01:09.877 who currently is leading a change.org petition to bring back Daniel Navar, 00:01:10.217 --> 00:01:13.777 because according to Thayer, we've never properly replaced the grit. 00:01:14.317 --> 00:01:19.897 And finally, Nick Diamond also is joining us tonight, and he swears to God that 00:01:19.897 --> 00:01:22.037 Brandon Marsh is really Jason Wirth. 00:01:22.257 --> 00:01:26.437 Without further ado, let's get into it. We'll start with you, Thayer. 00:01:26.697 --> 00:01:29.137 Give me your reactions to tonight's debacle. 00:01:29.872 --> 00:01:35.472 I've watched a lot of baseball games, and I've never, ever, ever seen a game 00:01:35.472 --> 00:01:40.872 end like that, which is really unfortunate because we couldn't have written a better script. 00:01:41.272 --> 00:01:45.812 As Red Sox fans, Wheeler was doing his thing, but we survived. 00:01:46.092 --> 00:01:51.452 In fact, we got the tying runs. We had an opportunity to take the lead, 00:01:51.472 --> 00:01:53.892 but we couldn't get that job done. 00:01:54.032 --> 00:01:57.972 We get to the top of the 10th inning. Here we go again, the top of the lineup. 00:01:57.972 --> 00:02:03.572 And it sort of seems to be the ongoing trend. Strikeout, strikeout, strikeout. 00:02:04.032 --> 00:02:07.012 16 strikeouts today. We have to be better. 00:02:07.452 --> 00:02:12.212 And, you know, it's unfortunate that this game ended this way because we should 00:02:12.212 --> 00:02:17.052 have been talking about the outstanding work by Buehler and Chapman and what 00:02:17.052 --> 00:02:20.052 they were able to do with Whitlock taking care of business. 00:02:20.052 --> 00:02:23.772 But instead, we get Hicks, who comes in, who can't throw strikes, 00:02:23.772 --> 00:02:29.152 and then Narvaez, who decides it's time to interfere with a check swing. 00:02:30.072 --> 00:02:34.772 It's very, very frustrating. Nick Diamond, your opening reactions and takes. 00:02:35.472 --> 00:02:39.332 Coming into this game, I thought they had no chance to win. So surprisingly, 00:02:39.792 --> 00:02:42.052 they kept it close against the Phillies. 00:02:42.672 --> 00:02:45.072 Battle against Zach Wheeler. I know they struck out 10 times, 00:02:45.212 --> 00:02:48.352 but almost every team is going to strike out 10 times against Zach Wheeler. 00:02:48.812 --> 00:02:52.092 They put up some bad at-bats late in the game. I thought Jaron Duran had a bad 00:02:52.092 --> 00:02:55.632 at-bat. Matt Williard-Bray, who had a bad at bat, not moving guys over in key 00:02:55.632 --> 00:02:57.432 situations, not driving a run in. 00:02:58.632 --> 00:03:00.592 Realistically, Aaron Hicks should not have been in this game. 00:03:00.732 --> 00:03:02.132 They should have won it in the eighth or the ninth. 00:03:02.452 --> 00:03:07.392 So it's a really disappointing way to lose. But I think they put some good at-bats 00:03:07.392 --> 00:03:09.632 against Wheeler. And after that, the offense went completely dead. 00:03:09.852 --> 00:03:11.992 They should have won this game before the 10th inning. 00:03:13.392 --> 00:03:18.032 And Nick, to face your reactions and initial takes to tonight's loss. 00:03:18.632 --> 00:03:21.792 Well, it's nice to be invited into the Hollywood Squares, first of all. 00:03:21.792 --> 00:03:27.372 We have four of us here tonight, so whoever wants to be the center square, go right ahead. 00:03:28.216 --> 00:03:33.576 Definitely the one that is not winning the Hollywood Squares tonight is Carlos Navarez. 00:03:33.876 --> 00:03:37.116 He is on the Punching Bag of the Night Award. 00:03:37.976 --> 00:03:42.576 That was inexcusable, lazy baseball at its finest. 00:03:42.936 --> 00:03:46.236 We have not talked about it and stressed about it enough. 00:03:46.596 --> 00:03:50.496 The Red Sox have a massive problem right now in terms of catching. 00:03:50.736 --> 00:03:56.556 We all have seen the moonlight of Carlos Navarez. Had a wonderful May, 00:03:56.856 --> 00:04:03.456 hit .356, got the nickname the Captain El Capitan for the team. 00:04:04.096 --> 00:04:09.176 June went down quite a bit, and then into the month of July, 00:04:09.176 --> 00:04:13.476 now we are seeing pass balls and catchers interference plays. 00:04:13.756 --> 00:04:20.016 But you can't go to another alternative because Connor Wong is disgusting too. 00:04:20.236 --> 00:04:24.596 So, I mean, it's just the situation that you have right now. 00:04:24.976 --> 00:04:27.756 You have guys that can't throw strikes that are in big spots. 00:04:27.756 --> 00:04:32.516 You have Little League mistakes being up at the plate where you go up to the 00:04:32.516 --> 00:04:34.596 plate with no baseball IQ. 00:04:34.616 --> 00:04:37.576 I'm going to steal that from you, Thayer, because I love what you said earlier. 00:04:38.036 --> 00:04:41.496 And you have no idea how to move the ball around. 00:04:41.756 --> 00:04:45.276 You have a runner at second base, okay, in the seventh inning. 00:04:45.476 --> 00:04:48.676 You can't get him in, okay? And then you have Duran. 00:04:49.036 --> 00:04:53.516 You've got Ref Snyder on second base, your ghost runner, And he strikes out, 00:04:53.676 --> 00:04:58.956 has no clue what he's doing whatsoever, had no business even being up in that 00:04:58.956 --> 00:05:00.496 at bat, cost you the game. 00:05:00.996 --> 00:05:07.236 This team continues to make boneheaded plays in the field, up at the plate. 00:05:07.776 --> 00:05:10.516 I don't know how much more we can take of seeing what we're seeing, 00:05:10.556 --> 00:05:13.136 but we have to watch what we see. 00:05:13.136 --> 00:05:18.256 And unfortunately, what we saw tonight, outside of some really good pitching 00:05:18.256 --> 00:05:24.876 from Walker Buehler and Garrett Whitlock and of course Chapman, 00:05:25.416 --> 00:05:29.936 you have offense that still doesn't know how to hit major league pitching. 00:05:30.856 --> 00:05:34.596 Very disappointed in Navarro's tonight. A lot of pass balls, 00:05:34.796 --> 00:05:36.136 had that catcher's interference. 00:05:36.496 --> 00:05:41.456 Nick Diamond, I want to start off with you in regards to Navarro's play. 00:05:42.096 --> 00:05:46.576 What are your takes exactly on him? Do you think it's starting to get exposed 00:05:46.576 --> 00:05:51.896 because of the fact that he's a rookie and he's been playing maybe more than he should be, 00:05:51.976 --> 00:05:57.836 and it's not a true platoon with a backup catcher like Connor Wong? 00:05:59.456 --> 00:06:02.516 Well, I think he's been playing over his head all season long. 00:06:02.616 --> 00:06:05.516 If you go back to his minor league numbers, he really hasn't hit like this. 00:06:06.036 --> 00:06:08.796 He was known for his defense, and I think now he's getting tired. 00:06:09.582 --> 00:06:12.662 Most of the time, your backup catcher plays way more than Conor Wong, 00:06:12.802 --> 00:06:15.842 but with how bad he's been this season, you almost can't play him. 00:06:15.902 --> 00:06:17.802 He's a black hole at the plate. He's got one RBI. 00:06:18.062 --> 00:06:20.982 He's got no hits with the run into the scoring position. So he's unplayable, 00:06:21.062 --> 00:06:24.322 and you have to build—basically, you're running Carlos Nervais into the ground. 00:06:24.722 --> 00:06:28.162 Tonight was pure laziness and, like, a lack of focus by him, 00:06:28.182 --> 00:06:31.502 but realistically, he's been one of your best players on the team this season. 00:06:31.662 --> 00:06:34.942 But it's really catching up to him, and catching is one of the biggest needs 00:06:34.942 --> 00:06:38.602 at the deadline. and it's turning out it might be the biggest need because you 00:06:38.602 --> 00:06:42.002 can't put Carlos Nervaiz out there for 140 games. You're going to kill him. 00:06:42.682 --> 00:06:47.702 And laziness is happening now and it's a bad look for him. And he's not one 00:06:47.702 --> 00:06:49.362 of your biggest problems, but tonight he was. 00:06:49.762 --> 00:06:53.622 But I really hope they go out there and acquire a catcher, a competent catcher 00:06:53.622 --> 00:06:57.922 that can actually, I would hope he could start over Carlos Nervaiz. 00:06:58.142 --> 00:07:01.722 So Sean Murphy might be the only option out there as a guy who's better than 00:07:01.722 --> 00:07:05.022 Nervaiz because he brought Nervaiz in here to be your backup catcher. 00:07:05.022 --> 00:07:06.842 We all thought Connor Wong was going to be the starter. 00:07:07.142 --> 00:07:10.902 He just turned out that he sucks. He's one of the worst players in Major League Baseball. 00:07:11.282 --> 00:07:14.522 Actually, I think he is the worst player in baseball. He's got like a 7 OPS 00:07:14.522 --> 00:07:15.642 plus or something like that. 00:07:16.242 --> 00:07:19.302 So he's unplayable, and you just got to keep killing Navarez. 00:07:19.542 --> 00:07:23.542 So I feel bad for the guy. I mean, he hasn't been bad this year. 00:07:23.622 --> 00:07:26.742 I know we're all going to kill him tonight, but he deserves it. 00:07:27.442 --> 00:07:32.282 Thayer, your reaction to what Nick said about Nervais, and what do you think 00:07:32.282 --> 00:07:35.282 the Red Sox need to do from here with their catching situation. 00:07:35.722 --> 00:07:39.802 I totally agree with Nick. And we've been talking about this for a while since 00:07:39.802 --> 00:07:46.222 we've been doing the podcast that he's really been doing a phenomenal job for a rookie. 00:07:46.222 --> 00:07:50.302 But there was going to come a time when he was going to hit the wall simply 00:07:50.302 --> 00:07:54.602 because he's not catching the number of innings behind the plate in minor league baseball. 00:07:54.782 --> 00:07:58.582 And in the minor leagues, they have multiple catchers. So he's not playing every day. 00:07:58.962 --> 00:08:01.042 This was coming and we knew it was coming. 00:08:01.741 --> 00:08:05.041 And unfortunately, like Nick said, there's no alternative. 00:08:05.861 --> 00:08:10.121 There's just Connor Wong, and he has not been able to replicate anything that 00:08:10.121 --> 00:08:11.481 he has done in the past with us. 00:08:11.861 --> 00:08:15.601 I don't know where they're going to go. I don't know what they're going to do. 00:08:17.121 --> 00:08:21.081 I'm assuming that pitching should be their number one priority. 00:08:21.081 --> 00:08:24.581 I don't know what catches are going to be available, and I don't know where 00:08:24.581 --> 00:08:29.721 they're going to go for it. And I fear they're going to probably overspend on 00:08:29.721 --> 00:08:31.961 someone that they shouldn't be doing anything with. 00:08:32.061 --> 00:08:36.021 And we'll probably see, you know, a Danny Jansen come back, that kind of catcher 00:08:36.021 --> 00:08:39.841 who we'll overpay for and will not be what we need to move forward. 00:08:40.621 --> 00:08:44.721 You know, this offseason, one of the first moves that was made kind of just 00:08:44.721 --> 00:08:48.181 ticked me off was Travis Darnot signing with the Angels. 00:08:48.401 --> 00:08:51.361 And it was a guy that I was really kind of picking at that would have been a 00:08:51.361 --> 00:08:56.281 really good fit, I think, here. never materialized, but kind of switching a 00:08:56.281 --> 00:08:58.581 little bit gears. I want to talk about Walker Buehler. 00:08:59.021 --> 00:09:02.141 Nick Diamond, I want to open with you on this one. Walker Buehler, 00:09:02.281 --> 00:09:03.181 what did you see tonight? 00:09:03.621 --> 00:09:08.741 Did you get a little bit more confidence in him now that he faced a better competition 00:09:08.741 --> 00:09:11.121 team and really held him in check tonight? 00:09:12.221 --> 00:09:15.001 Honestly, no. I think the Phillies really helped him out tonight. 00:09:15.301 --> 00:09:19.321 There was a lack of swing and miss. He got lucky. The Phillies were swinging 00:09:19.321 --> 00:09:22.901 at everything. I think he was at 76 pitches through six, and honestly, 00:09:22.901 --> 00:09:26.201 he hasn't looked that good. He's thrown a lot of balls over the middle of the plate. 00:09:26.941 --> 00:09:29.701 I know that one inning when they scored two innings, they hit him hard. 00:09:29.821 --> 00:09:31.261 Harper was all over him all night. 00:09:31.781 --> 00:09:35.481 So I think he got a lot of luck, a lot of hard contact right now, guys. 00:09:36.281 --> 00:09:39.901 There's still not a big swing and miss, but he got the Phillies out six innings, 00:09:40.041 --> 00:09:43.021 two runs. What is it, seven innings, two runs? So he did his job. 00:09:44.121 --> 00:09:48.161 But realistically, if you look at the stuff, look at the swing and miss stats, 00:09:48.201 --> 00:09:51.761 it wasn't very great. and I'm still not confident going forward in him. 00:09:51.881 --> 00:09:53.801 Nick Faye, same question to you. 00:09:54.001 --> 00:09:56.101 What is your reaction to Buehler's start? 00:09:56.321 --> 00:10:00.841 Have you gained any more confidence in him or was this just a good blip? 00:10:01.624 --> 00:10:05.744 I think if you want to look at confidence, I think Walker Buehler has more confidence 00:10:05.744 --> 00:10:10.984 in himself right now, which I think mentally was one of the best things that could happen for him. 00:10:11.344 --> 00:10:16.124 Now, for me, I'm a different cat, as we know. No, I do not have confidence that 00:10:16.124 --> 00:10:18.544 he's going to go out the next start and replicate what he did tonight. 00:10:18.864 --> 00:10:22.984 I think he also got lucky. I'm going to I'm going to say the exact what Nick said as well. 00:10:23.144 --> 00:10:27.764 I think when you what you saw for contact was balls being hit right at players. 00:10:28.124 --> 00:10:30.664 I mean, there was a lot of hard contact. There was some great plays. 00:10:30.664 --> 00:10:33.584 Marcello Meyer made some great plays at second base in particular. 00:10:34.264 --> 00:10:38.544 There was some deep flies as well. And I think a little bit of weather. 00:10:38.704 --> 00:10:42.304 I know the wind and everything that's at Citizens Bank Park had something to do with it. 00:10:42.704 --> 00:10:46.464 Held up the ball a little bit in the air. And I think that definitely was one 00:10:46.464 --> 00:10:49.204 of the cases here for Bueller. But he did keep his pitches down. 00:10:49.384 --> 00:10:52.824 That was one of the things I did notice with just location. 00:10:53.164 --> 00:10:56.824 I thought that was one of the things that worked for him well tonight was locating. 00:10:56.824 --> 00:11:02.044 He couldn't really find that in many of his starts, as we've seen previously. 00:11:02.284 --> 00:11:06.584 But I think location-wise, it was something that clicked for him and something 00:11:06.584 --> 00:11:10.284 that worked. If you had asked me last night, Walker Buell is going to give you 00:11:10.284 --> 00:11:16.364 seven innings of two earned runs and make the Phillies kind of look silly? No. 00:11:16.864 --> 00:11:21.584 No. And only one of those runs tonight was earned. His ERA now for the month 00:11:21.584 --> 00:11:23.564 of July is at a whopping three. 00:11:23.644 --> 00:11:27.904 So definitely serviceable. And again, if we're looking at Walker Buell to be 00:11:27.904 --> 00:11:32.864 a four or five and he throws anything like he did tonight in his next starts 00:11:32.864 --> 00:11:35.484 upcoming, sign me up. I'm cool with that. 00:11:36.684 --> 00:11:39.784 Yeah. I mean, you know, since the second half started, I know we had, 00:11:39.804 --> 00:11:43.784 you know, Bayo obviously give up the home runs and Giolito give up home runs, 00:11:43.804 --> 00:11:47.464 but you know, the starting pitching and of course, crochet was excellent. 00:11:47.744 --> 00:11:50.564 The starting pitching actually has been pretty good outside the gate. 00:11:50.564 --> 00:11:55.084 You know, it really didn't fall on them as much as the offense, 00:11:55.184 --> 00:12:00.144 which is why I want to switch gears a little bit now and move over to Thayer 00:12:00.144 --> 00:12:02.964 in this question about the Red Sox situational hitting. 00:12:03.644 --> 00:12:08.844 Really, really poor. I don't know what their batting average was with runners in scoring position. 00:12:09.024 --> 00:12:13.124 Obviously, it was pretty poor. But take us through some of the highlights that 00:12:13.124 --> 00:12:15.404 you saw and your takes on that. 00:12:16.644 --> 00:12:21.544 We've been talking about it a lot. The one that really frustrates me the most was the Abreu at bat. 00:12:21.984 --> 00:12:27.284 After they had gotten men to second and third, he came up with an opportunity to take the lead. 00:12:27.404 --> 00:12:31.044 And that was really, I thought, the turning point of this whole game, 00:12:31.064 --> 00:12:37.304 where he came up and his first two pitches were hittable balls. 00:12:37.404 --> 00:12:41.284 And he is swinging from his heels. And we saw that yesterday in Chicago. 00:12:41.564 --> 00:12:44.704 When he makes contact, the ball goes a long way. 00:12:44.704 --> 00:12:50.584 But there is a time and a place for that swing Yesterday when you're down a 00:12:50.584 --> 00:12:57.244 run And the team is really struggling Okay, go for that Maybe even strike one, 00:12:57.264 --> 00:12:58.744 I'll give it to you Go for it. 00:12:59.833 --> 00:13:02.493 On strike two and strike three, you have to cut down your swing. 00:13:02.573 --> 00:13:03.753 You have to put a ball in play. 00:13:03.993 --> 00:13:08.713 A fly ball scores a run. A slow ground ball gives you an opportunity to score the run. 00:13:08.893 --> 00:13:12.553 When you strike out, there is nothing positive that comes out of that. 00:13:12.753 --> 00:13:14.893 So that's the problem number one. 00:13:15.393 --> 00:13:20.753 And the second one is absolutely the Durant at bat in the 10th inning. 00:13:21.033 --> 00:13:27.053 It's awful. A pitcher who is a young pitcher, 2-0, was nowhere near the plate, 00:13:27.053 --> 00:13:32.193 and he swings at a pitch up that he cannot hit. He always swings at that pitch up. 00:13:32.533 --> 00:13:36.033 He hit the home run today. Whenever he hits a home run, I know that we're in 00:13:36.033 --> 00:13:41.153 a lot of trouble because he now thinks he's Fred Lynn and Ken Griffey Jr. 00:13:41.533 --> 00:13:45.953 And tries to destroy everything instead of doing what he's supposed to be doing, 00:13:46.293 --> 00:13:47.473 putting the ball on the ground. 00:13:48.073 --> 00:13:51.013 I really wish Cora would give him the Willie Mays Hayes treatment. 00:13:51.233 --> 00:13:55.593 Every time you put the ball up in the air, you owe me 10 push-ups. So he goes 2-0, 00:13:56.033 --> 00:14:00.873 swings at a terrible pitch Now it's 2-1 Again, he gets down in the count And 00:14:00.873 --> 00:14:02.753 instead of just trying to make contact, 00:14:02.773 --> 00:14:07.433 move the runner over He strikes out and you know the innings toast from then 00:14:07.433 --> 00:14:13.593 on Which is really just how they have been handling extra innings And now we'll 00:14:13.593 --> 00:14:16.193 talk about from a positive standpoint. 00:14:16.873 --> 00:14:19.713 Trevor Story with the big RBI to drive in 00:14:19.713 --> 00:14:22.753 that run He has been a guy that has been struggling in 00:14:22.753 --> 00:14:28.333 the past with this stuff I have to give him all kinds of credit He is maintaining 00:14:28.333 --> 00:14:32.213 the ability to hit the fastball That's what we have seen the last couple years 00:14:32.213 --> 00:14:37.333 He can't hit the fastball So he tries to compensate by speeding himself up And 00:14:37.333 --> 00:14:41.753 that's why he looks like a fool against off-speed pitches This year, 00:14:41.913 --> 00:14:46.553 he has changed his approach a little bit He's moving the ball from the middle 00:14:46.553 --> 00:14:50.813 to the right side on those fastballs So he's not cheating as much, 00:14:50.933 --> 00:14:54.993 which allows him to get the bat head on those curve balls and the off-speed pitches. 00:14:55.193 --> 00:14:59.573 And yet he's still having a good approach and not trying to do what Abreu is 00:14:59.573 --> 00:15:00.733 doing, jack everything. 00:15:01.253 --> 00:15:05.453 So story, I have to give him his props. That was an excellent at bat. 00:15:06.693 --> 00:15:11.713 Yeah, I feel exactly the way you do. One of the things that bothers me with 00:15:11.713 --> 00:15:18.233 Duran and Abreu is that they really don't have the ability to try to play a 00:15:18.233 --> 00:15:19.993 little bit more small ball than they should. 00:15:20.273 --> 00:15:24.493 Especially Duran being a speed guy. There's many a times that you feel like 00:15:24.493 --> 00:15:25.833 he should be trying to like... 00:15:26.606 --> 00:15:32.586 Read the room, bunt for a hit, try to get runners over, try to suicide squeeze, whatever it might be. 00:15:32.626 --> 00:15:35.886 And it just doesn't work. And it reflects in his on-base percentage. 00:15:36.126 --> 00:15:39.106 I mean, you've got a leadoff guy with an on-base of 323. 00:15:39.426 --> 00:15:43.266 It's really not good. I mean, obviously, Raffaella is low, too. 00:15:43.466 --> 00:15:50.126 But, you know, it's just something where, you know, it's kind of an all-or-nothing with Abreu, you know. 00:15:50.246 --> 00:15:52.986 And I think that's going to be a big problem moving forward. 00:15:52.986 --> 00:15:56.106 You know, he is leading your team in home runs, but, you know, 00:15:56.226 --> 00:16:00.806 we don't need just a guy that's going to just hit home runs and kind of be useless elsewhere. 00:16:01.226 --> 00:16:05.206 Nick Face, your thoughts on the Red Sox situational hitting, 00:16:05.746 --> 00:16:07.386 Abreu, Story, and so forth. 00:16:07.846 --> 00:16:12.186 We'll go positive to start. The star offensively tonight was Trevor Story. 00:16:12.406 --> 00:16:17.986 Coming through in the clutch, making small adjustments to make a great approach happen. 00:16:18.366 --> 00:16:22.666 That's what needs to be talked about more. and that's what we need to see more. 00:16:23.246 --> 00:16:25.026 In that story can do this. 00:16:25.366 --> 00:16:29.766 I myself, I always have in the back of my mind, oh, here comes an automatic out. 00:16:30.226 --> 00:16:33.986 What story's going to come up with runners on and he's not going to get the job done. 00:16:34.166 --> 00:16:38.086 I already was processing that moment going into my mind. I think it was the 00:16:38.086 --> 00:16:42.446 seventh inning when that was going down and he came through and he tied the game 2-2. 00:16:42.686 --> 00:16:48.626 It was a huge monumental turn in the game because then it gave us that little 00:16:48.626 --> 00:16:53.686 glimmer that kept us in the game and got Chapman up and put Whitlock in. 00:16:53.826 --> 00:16:57.426 And there was that thought, can they sneak something in? 00:16:57.626 --> 00:17:03.106 And then the 10th inning hits. And this is the big thing that I have to mention. 00:17:03.326 --> 00:17:07.306 And Thayer, you hit it right out of the park with your analysis and breakdown. 00:17:08.186 --> 00:17:11.446 Jaron Duran is killing the Red Sox. 00:17:11.726 --> 00:17:18.566 Yes, he did get the home run to start. But I can't take it anymore with his, I got to be Mr. 00:17:19.006 --> 00:17:24.346 Jacked up dude. I got to lead the league in home runs. It's not working for you, Jaron. It's not. 00:17:25.247 --> 00:17:29.267 He should have been bunting in that situation to move Refs Snyder over to third. 00:17:29.427 --> 00:17:32.987 And if that had happened, we would have taken a 3-2 lead. 00:17:33.387 --> 00:17:38.387 But that's what needs to be talked about more. And I'm not seeing that online. 00:17:38.507 --> 00:17:43.907 I'm not seeing fans understanding that that situational approach that the Red 00:17:43.907 --> 00:17:47.967 Sox have lacked all season, and if you really want to stress it, 00:17:48.027 --> 00:17:49.227 for the past three seasons, 00:17:49.427 --> 00:17:54.527 has continued to catch up to them and makes them unwinnable when it comes to 00:17:54.527 --> 00:17:55.927 these situations and extra innings. 00:17:56.207 --> 00:18:00.707 As soon as this game got to extra innings and I saw what Jaron Duran did, 00:18:00.707 --> 00:18:05.707 I said, well, I already know what this outcome is going to be because it's so predictable. 00:18:06.187 --> 00:18:10.167 We know what they're doing when they go up to the plate. It's the Pete Fatsy 00:18:10.167 --> 00:18:13.507 launch angle 24-7 with these guys. 00:18:13.787 --> 00:18:18.147 And he is in the head of Jaron Duran. And he is in the head of Willier Abreu. 00:18:18.347 --> 00:18:22.547 And it's all about the launch and how far the frigging ball is going to go. 00:18:23.467 --> 00:18:28.567 Until Pete Fatsy and this hitting approach is gone with this team, 00:18:28.867 --> 00:18:34.247 you are going to see this same shit happen more and more. 00:18:34.427 --> 00:18:38.367 It's just that's what's going to happen until John Henry, 00:18:39.107 --> 00:18:44.767 Sam Kennedy, and the rest of the idiot squad upstairs nut up and get rid of 00:18:44.767 --> 00:18:50.267 this freaking awful approach that's ruined this team for years. 00:18:50.267 --> 00:18:53.267 The philosophical changes that need 00:18:53.267 --> 00:18:56.027 to happen with this organization To get 00:18:56.027 --> 00:18:59.547 back to winning baseball starts right there And 00:18:59.547 --> 00:19:02.587 if you aren't going to do that You are going to continue 00:19:02.587 --> 00:19:08.927 to have your fan base suffer And have me start screaming and yelling Until any 00:19:08.927 --> 00:19:14.487 change is made That's what's got to get down That's the nitty gritty right there 00:19:14.487 --> 00:19:19.547 But it's not going to change Because that's how stubborn and inept this team is, 00:19:20.467 --> 00:19:22.187 Very frustrating for sure. 00:19:22.487 --> 00:19:28.227 My next point I wanted to bring up was about Alex Bregman, Nick Diamond. This one's for you. 00:19:29.496 --> 00:19:35.336 You know, you can definitely tell that he is not 100%. Or is he 100% and he's 00:19:35.336 --> 00:19:39.716 just not trying to put any strain on his legs? 00:19:39.736 --> 00:19:45.176 There was a couple plays today where he could have maybe scored in that earlier inning. 00:19:45.476 --> 00:19:52.376 And then later in the game, you know, he was trying to reach first base on an infield ground out. 00:19:52.556 --> 00:19:53.936 And he just couldn't make. It 00:19:53.936 --> 00:19:57.876 was close. But if Bregman's running full speed, are we a different team? 00:19:58.796 --> 00:20:01.836 Yeah, we probably scored at least one more run tonight. I think it was on the 00:20:01.836 --> 00:20:05.816 Roman Anthony double, he got to third base, and any other runner he would have scored. 00:20:06.116 --> 00:20:08.616 And there was an infield, it would have been an infield single, 00:20:08.656 --> 00:20:10.436 I think he would have got to first base. 00:20:11.616 --> 00:20:15.296 But I think we're a worse team without him, even if he's at 70-75%, 00:20:15.296 --> 00:20:16.616 I still want him out there. 00:20:17.176 --> 00:20:20.596 He's one of your best right-handed hitting bats. He lengthens the lineup. 00:20:21.036 --> 00:20:24.456 A question I got for you guys, do you think it's time for Roman Anthony to bet leadoff? 00:20:25.056 --> 00:20:27.856 He's your best on-base guy besides Alex Bregman at the moment. 00:20:28.476 --> 00:20:31.876 I think he can handle that leadoff spot, at least against right-handed pitchers, 00:20:32.396 --> 00:20:37.356 move Durant down maybe the 6th or 7th hole, and maybe completely lengthen his lineup. 00:20:37.416 --> 00:20:39.696 I think Roman Anthony needs to get the most at-bats on the team. 00:20:40.856 --> 00:20:44.716 Thayer, you want to take that one? I think eventually, yes. I don't know. 00:20:44.936 --> 00:20:48.576 We talk all about the pressure that they're putting on the kids. 00:20:48.816 --> 00:20:51.956 I think Anthony is absolutely capable of being the leadoff man. 00:20:52.176 --> 00:20:56.496 I don't know if I would do it just yet, I'd wait until we trade Duran, 00:20:56.736 --> 00:21:00.616 and we should trade Duran to get pitching and to get something in here. 00:21:01.316 --> 00:21:05.396 That would be once that happens, and I wrote an article about it before, 00:21:05.536 --> 00:21:07.956 I think he will be your leadoff guy. He's able to do it. 00:21:08.216 --> 00:21:12.336 He's proven that he's not totally overmatched. However, four strikeouts today 00:21:12.336 --> 00:21:13.356 is a little disappointing. 00:21:13.736 --> 00:21:18.956 Granted, you're facing a star in Wheeler, but I think he can do it. 00:21:19.476 --> 00:21:23.056 I wouldn't be shocked if that were the case. However, he's also one of those 00:21:23.056 --> 00:21:25.136 guys that right now I think is the most, 00:21:26.067 --> 00:21:29.767 Not that there's a lot of them, but he's putting up the best at bats and clutch situations. 00:21:30.127 --> 00:21:34.087 So I'd kind of like to have him in places where he can actually drive in some more runs. 00:21:34.547 --> 00:21:37.447 And I don't know if the bottom of the lineup, other than Rafaela, 00:21:37.607 --> 00:21:39.467 is going to really be on base all that much. 00:21:40.687 --> 00:21:43.927 Yeah, you know, Nick Diamond, it's an interesting question. And, 00:21:44.127 --> 00:21:47.627 you know, it's one of those things where it seems like he could probably excel 00:21:47.627 --> 00:21:50.887 at pretty much anywhere, one, two, three, and four. 00:21:51.567 --> 00:21:55.067 I think if we had the right, and I brought this up earlier with my frustrations 00:21:55.067 --> 00:21:59.387 with Duran, but I think if you had a more prototypical leadoff guy, 00:21:59.387 --> 00:22:03.207 I think I still like maybe Anthony in the number two hole. 00:22:03.447 --> 00:22:08.167 I know that, you know, Bregman's been there quite a bit, but I think overall 00:22:08.167 --> 00:22:10.567 that would be where I would like him the most. 00:22:11.187 --> 00:22:16.247 That said, I think he would excel there as well. I just don't know if he's got enough speed. 00:22:16.527 --> 00:22:21.347 I really don't know much about his speed as it relates to what I've seen, 00:22:21.507 --> 00:22:24.447 but I don't know if he's really going to be a guy that's going to steal. 00:22:24.447 --> 00:22:27.387 But, you know, you can't knock the on-base percentage. 00:22:27.627 --> 00:22:32.107 I mean, he and Bregman are the only ones that have an on-base over 370. 00:22:32.407 --> 00:22:35.887 And I know Anthony's a little bit more of a smaller sample size, 00:22:36.027 --> 00:22:37.887 but, you know, the proof is in the pudding. 00:22:38.107 --> 00:22:42.427 He definitely can, you know, take his walks, see good pitching, and so forth. 00:22:42.567 --> 00:22:48.107 So I like the idea, but I think if, gun to my head, I'd like him to stay at a number two spot. 00:22:48.367 --> 00:22:51.627 Nick Face, what's your reaction to Roman Anthony? 00:22:52.287 --> 00:22:55.207 Yeah, I'll go no. You don't want to mess with Roman Anthony. 00:22:55.707 --> 00:23:00.187 It is too fragile right now, guys, with our minor leaguers and this whole team 00:23:00.187 --> 00:23:05.567 in general to start mixing and matching and taking a strength right now of what 00:23:05.567 --> 00:23:08.547 you're getting from Roman Anthony and then putting him up to the top. 00:23:08.727 --> 00:23:11.887 I think it's a great question to ask. Don't get me wrong. 00:23:13.220 --> 00:23:19.140 I don't want to put that on his belt at the current moment. 00:23:19.360 --> 00:23:25.060 I like seeing him in the three spot, if that's where Cora's going to find consistency for. 00:23:25.840 --> 00:23:29.460 I really want to find, again, that spot that's consistent for him. 00:23:29.580 --> 00:23:31.940 I like the thought of the two spot. I do. 00:23:32.220 --> 00:23:36.380 If I put him at two, I'm probably going to put Bregman to three and then figure 00:23:36.380 --> 00:23:39.500 out who my four hitter was. Tonight it was Trevor Story. 00:23:39.700 --> 00:23:43.800 Is he really your four hitter? No. But tonight, he went two for three. 00:23:44.040 --> 00:23:49.000 So I might try my best to keep consistent with that. And then if he starts to 00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:50.100 struggle, then move him down. 00:23:50.340 --> 00:23:54.260 I did like tonight that we did see Carlos Navarez down to the eighth spot. 00:23:54.760 --> 00:24:00.200 I don't want to see Carlos Navarez up in the fourth spot anymore in this season. 00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:03.260 And if Cora does that, that's on him. 00:24:03.700 --> 00:24:07.480 I think one of the big questions, though, from this question here, 00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:11.620 is figuring out what spot these guys do align the best with. 00:24:11.880 --> 00:24:15.840 And I think all of us, all three of us or all four of us, including myself, 00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:20.460 would all say we don't know who our four, five, six, seven sometimes are going 00:24:20.460 --> 00:24:25.680 to be on a night by night basis because we don't really have a four hitter. There's no cleanup guy. 00:24:25.880 --> 00:24:27.880 There's not really a prototypical three guy. 00:24:28.140 --> 00:24:33.340 Our leadoff guy has been missing in action all season and strikes out every game. 00:24:33.540 --> 00:24:37.680 So that's that's what you have right now. And it's not pretty. 00:24:38.320 --> 00:24:45.000 No, I'd like to see the stat on how many different lineups we've had so far through 102, 103 games. 00:24:45.220 --> 00:24:51.740 I bet you it's staggering, you know, especially with Devers gone now and Koss is gone. 00:24:51.940 --> 00:24:58.080 But it's just a staggering amount of how this lineup has kind of been rewritten each and every night. 00:24:58.260 --> 00:25:03.200 I do want to switch gears to something that Nick Face had wrote in our chat 00:25:03.200 --> 00:25:06.520 room today. and that was involving Marcelo Mayer. 00:25:07.300 --> 00:25:11.120 And Nick, I'll let you take the reins on this because it was your topic. 00:25:11.660 --> 00:25:17.520 So my big question that I keep pondering here is, what is Marcelo Mayer? 00:25:17.960 --> 00:25:24.100 What is he? We know defensively, he could be a gold glove caliber player down the line. 00:25:24.300 --> 00:25:28.780 The glove has been Major League Baseball ready, looks polished. 00:25:29.040 --> 00:25:34.340 I think all of us here are pretty convinced that that is his best skill set that we have seen so far. 00:25:34.800 --> 00:25:42.260 I think when it comes to hitting, I think, at least on my end, I am a bit disappointed. 00:25:42.660 --> 00:25:49.060 And I think I'm disappointed because this was your number four prospect that was drafted. 00:25:49.540 --> 00:25:56.560 This was your guy that everybody said, star, this is going to be your future. 00:25:56.840 --> 00:25:58.900 This is going to be your identity. 00:25:59.620 --> 00:26:02.220 Your shortstop for years and years. 00:26:02.900 --> 00:26:07.600 And I'm still kind of sitting here waiting to figure out what he is. 00:26:08.738 --> 00:26:12.378 They've slotted him into many different spots here. When they called him up, 00:26:12.578 --> 00:26:14.158 it was because Bregman went down. 00:26:14.438 --> 00:26:18.378 He had never played third base consistently. That was your shortstop. 00:26:18.378 --> 00:26:20.438 That was in Worcester and coming up and everything. 00:26:20.718 --> 00:26:23.338 And he handled third base, again, defensively great. 00:26:23.858 --> 00:26:28.478 I think every one of us here was very pleased with when Bregman went down, 00:26:28.478 --> 00:26:32.638 what's going to happen with that whole position. And I think he handled that well. 00:26:32.718 --> 00:26:37.238 But I do think that he still has yet to have his moment. I think he is now being 00:26:37.238 --> 00:26:38.738 outshined by Roman Anthony. 00:26:39.038 --> 00:26:42.558 I think he's trying to figure out what his spot is on the team. 00:26:42.758 --> 00:26:48.318 We can also discuss here that Alex Cora platoons him because he doesn't hit 00:26:48.318 --> 00:26:49.498 against left-handed pitching. 00:26:49.778 --> 00:26:53.658 We've also seen samplings from him against lefties, and they've looked bad. 00:26:54.018 --> 00:26:59.318 Tonight, just for example, he was pitched hit for by Romy Gonzalez. 00:27:01.018 --> 00:27:05.298 And unfortunately, that is because you haven't seen enough. 00:27:05.418 --> 00:27:09.998 You don't know right now what this guy is going to do for you. 00:27:10.238 --> 00:27:16.458 And when the trade deadline is coming, I am left questioning here if Marceo Meyer is my future. 00:27:16.598 --> 00:27:21.858 If he is my future and he is a building block guy here, am I keeping him or 00:27:21.858 --> 00:27:26.478 am I packaging him to get me something that I can help build my team? 00:27:26.618 --> 00:27:32.898 To have a better pitcher or a better situational hitter or something like that. 00:27:32.898 --> 00:27:39.078 So I asked you guys the question here It's got a little bit of play on my Twitter 00:27:39.078 --> 00:27:41.558 ex that's gone on here But I'm still, 00:27:41.758 --> 00:27:47.618 at the end of the day, I am left here feeling disappointed And not overly thrilled 00:27:47.618 --> 00:27:50.038 with what I've seen so far of Marceo Meyer. 00:27:52.038 --> 00:27:55.138 Ther, your reactions to Mare And 00:27:55.138 --> 00:27:57.938 the other thing that I wanted to add into that is Is 00:27:57.938 --> 00:28:01.158 that as far as potentially using him 00:28:01.158 --> 00:28:03.958 as a trade piece what are your take what's your 00:28:03.958 --> 00:28:06.758 take on on that I agree with Nick 00:28:06.758 --> 00:28:09.678 I'm not gonna say it's totally frustration but I 00:28:09.678 --> 00:28:12.878 think from Mayer's standpoint Anthony is 00:28:12.878 --> 00:28:19.058 the real deal I think I think his talent level his ability is different and 00:28:19.058 --> 00:28:25.238 the the unfortunate part for Mayer is where he was drafted and all the hype 00:28:25.238 --> 00:28:29.818 that went around with that draft that he should have been a number one and number 00:28:29.818 --> 00:28:31.938 two kind of guy that they were all talking about, 00:28:32.118 --> 00:28:35.018 and he fell to us, and we got lucky, and we have him. 00:28:35.598 --> 00:28:40.238 And the way the organization has sort of played it up, that he was going to 00:28:40.238 --> 00:28:43.198 be the next great thing. He was our hope. He was the top pick. 00:28:43.518 --> 00:28:49.218 And he's never really shown all of that potential, I don't think, 00:28:49.358 --> 00:28:52.838 as we've sort of followed him through the minor leagues. He's been hurt at times. 00:28:53.078 --> 00:28:56.138 He's had some flashes, but it's never been... 00:28:57.224 --> 00:29:01.864 A situation like Anthony, where it was, this guy is absolutely it. 00:29:02.484 --> 00:29:05.204 We've sort of talked a little bit about it today in our war room. 00:29:05.304 --> 00:29:07.684 Like what does Mayer project to be? 00:29:07.984 --> 00:29:13.144 And I loved Nick's idea that I, it's really a Steven Drew. I think it's a Steven 00:29:13.144 --> 00:29:15.564 Drew where it's, he's going to be a good glove guy. 00:29:15.804 --> 00:29:20.764 He's not going to, he'll probably have some decent productivity offensively, 00:29:20.844 --> 00:29:23.744 but he's not going to be someone who's going to carry your team. 00:29:23.924 --> 00:29:28.204 He's not going to be someone that is going to be a perennial all-star. 00:29:28.804 --> 00:29:32.264 So I think he'll be a serviceable major league shortstop. 00:29:33.804 --> 00:29:39.264 Do I want to trade that away now? And I think Nick Diamond had just like, bye-bye. 00:29:39.544 --> 00:29:47.464 If Minnesota were to say you can have Ryan for mayor, I think I'd say yes. 00:29:48.004 --> 00:29:52.844 Yes, you can have him. Give me the pitcher. I will find another shortstop who 00:29:52.844 --> 00:29:54.904 can be a serviceable major league shortstop. 00:29:55.484 --> 00:29:57.044 David Hamilton lives. 00:29:58.124 --> 00:30:02.584 Well, the thing is, we have two other shortstops in the minor leagues that they 00:30:02.584 --> 00:30:07.224 couldn't if they trade Meyer, you also have Mickey Romero and Arias coming up 00:30:07.224 --> 00:30:09.184 behind him. So you have two more shortstops. 00:30:09.980 --> 00:30:12.480 I mean, they're not as close to the major leagues as Marcelo Meyer, 00:30:12.600 --> 00:30:17.640 but Marcelo Meyer is definitely a guy that you could trade. I don't think he's untouchable at all. 00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:21.340 I think he might be more profitable than Peyton Tolley at this point. 00:30:21.780 --> 00:30:26.940 Yeah, good points. I've not been a Meyer fan since the day he signed. 00:30:27.640 --> 00:30:32.700 He just didn't really jump off the page to me back when he was originally drafted. 00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:39.200 You have to kind of look back and say, why did he fall forth, right? 00:30:39.200 --> 00:30:44.960 What was it that Ben Sherrington, who had the number one pick, 00:30:45.160 --> 00:30:50.580 and I don't remember who was two and three, but regardless, work with me for a minute. 00:30:50.740 --> 00:30:56.160 What did these teams not see that the Red Sox did see? 00:30:56.380 --> 00:31:03.460 Or was it one of those things where you just had a naive high in bloom and because 00:31:03.460 --> 00:31:06.760 he was the sexy name that dropped to you, he took him. 00:31:06.760 --> 00:31:09.560 And a five-year-old could have picked him 00:31:09.560 --> 00:31:13.420 is my point so i can't 00:31:13.420 --> 00:31:16.520 say anything about the glove and some of his footwork has 00:31:16.520 --> 00:31:19.800 been pretty damn good pretty damn major 00:31:19.800 --> 00:31:26.780 league ready talent wise but to both of your all three of your points you know 00:31:26.780 --> 00:31:33.060 nick you face you said basically you know what is he fair same thing and you 00:31:33.060 --> 00:31:38.100 know nick diamond says that you know we we have the luxury to be able to move him. 00:31:38.320 --> 00:31:42.000 So I think I agree with everybody. You know, the Steven Drew comp, 00:31:42.080 --> 00:31:47.420 I just brought him up 12 years, a 15.8 career war. 00:31:47.920 --> 00:31:56.280 And he averaged a two 52 batting average, 15 home runs, 66 RBIs, five stolen bases. 00:31:56.720 --> 00:32:05.520 He had a three 18 on base percentage for his career, a 423 slugging and a 741 career OPS. 00:32:06.596 --> 00:32:09.516 You know, I mean, is that what we're going to get? Because if that's what we're 00:32:09.516 --> 00:32:13.316 going to get, to Nick Diamond's point, see you later right now. 00:32:13.476 --> 00:32:20.136 And I'll take two years of Joe Ryan, and hopefully I can add four years to that. 00:32:21.536 --> 00:32:26.776 That would be a wonderful thing to do. Kind of switching gears, 00:32:27.136 --> 00:32:29.136 I want to just kind of do some final takes. 00:32:29.836 --> 00:32:33.976 Nick Diamond, let's start with you. Any final takes for tonight that you want 00:32:33.976 --> 00:32:36.376 to go over or any rumors or things that you've heard? 00:32:37.156 --> 00:32:41.076 I think tonight just proves how much of a need the catcher position is. 00:32:41.476 --> 00:32:45.936 You can't get by with Carlos Nevaez no matter what. Connor Wong's a black hole out there. 00:32:46.276 --> 00:32:50.456 I think it's, besides starting pitcher, it's probably your second biggest need at this point. 00:32:50.716 --> 00:32:53.976 I think first base is an afterthought compared to catcher. And if you can get 00:32:53.976 --> 00:32:56.036 a catcher that can play first base, that's even better. 00:32:56.496 --> 00:33:00.376 There's not many names out there, but you can think of whoever you really want. 00:33:00.876 --> 00:33:04.236 I just think it's a really big need, and you can't keep throwing games away 00:33:04.236 --> 00:33:07.056 with pass balls and catchers' interferences. It's pathetic. 00:33:07.356 --> 00:33:10.496 It's worse than ground balls going between shortstop's legs. 00:33:11.476 --> 00:33:14.376 Nick Face, your final take and thoughts for the evening. 00:33:14.956 --> 00:33:21.596 Hold on. Hey, is this Alex Anthropoulos of the Braves? Hey, it's Craig Breslow 00:33:21.596 --> 00:33:22.796 over here with the Red Sox. 00:33:23.376 --> 00:33:28.156 Yeah, our catching is a disaster. What's it going to take to get Sean Murphy here tomorrow? 00:33:28.876 --> 00:33:31.936 Okay, let me sleep on it. I got you. 00:33:34.176 --> 00:33:38.016 Fair your final takes for For tonight final 00:33:38.016 --> 00:33:41.836 takes We've been hammering on Bueller we've 00:33:41.836 --> 00:33:45.096 been hammering On Cora a lot Let's give 00:33:45.096 --> 00:33:49.136 them some credit I thought Bueller you know he pitched To contact he didn't 00:33:49.136 --> 00:33:53.576 walk people got Us seven innings against a very good offense He got lucky but 00:33:53.576 --> 00:33:57.976 sometimes It's better to be lucky than good I think Cora made the right moves 00:33:57.976 --> 00:34:01.736 Bringing Chapman into the eighth to face Those bats and get through the eighth 00:34:01.736 --> 00:34:04.856 I thought put us in a nice situation where we had an opportunity. 00:34:05.636 --> 00:34:08.156 Whitlock came in, did what he had to do in the ninth inning. 00:34:09.171 --> 00:34:14.171 Those nine innings were done beautifully. Hicks still is someone I can't really trust. 00:34:15.811 --> 00:34:19.611 That leads to a conversation for next time about was the Devers trade good, 00:34:19.711 --> 00:34:21.531 bad, or indifferent? I don't know. 00:34:21.871 --> 00:34:26.831 We talked about, we'll actually see that as we sort of get into the iron of real pitching. 00:34:27.071 --> 00:34:31.351 Would it have been nice to have Devers in the lineup today? Maybe, but who knows. 00:34:31.651 --> 00:34:35.451 But in general, Cora did his job properly today, I think. 00:34:35.571 --> 00:34:38.691 And I also like what Buehler did. it's an unfortunate ending 00:34:38.691 --> 00:34:41.851 to what should have been a very positive 00:34:41.851 --> 00:34:44.711 conversation yeah my final 00:34:44.711 --> 00:34:47.711 takes is about pitching I want to talk a little bit about 00:34:47.711 --> 00:34:50.671 with there what you were actually saying in the war room was about 00:34:50.671 --> 00:34:54.551 the idea of Chapman in the eighth inning there you know I mean the matchups 00:34:54.551 --> 00:34:58.691 were great you had to bring him in you're facing two left-handers in Schwarber 00:34:58.691 --> 00:35:05.391 and Bryce Harper so I mean it was a great a great move there but I want to talk 00:35:05.391 --> 00:35:08.511 a little bit more in my final take about Zach Wheeler, 00:35:08.831 --> 00:35:12.311 because when you have good pitching, 00:35:12.631 --> 00:35:15.711 it neutralizes the hitting. It just does. 00:35:16.071 --> 00:35:21.271 This isn't rocket science. Everyone on this podcast and all our listeners know that. 00:35:21.711 --> 00:35:28.451 But I can't stress enough how I feel about going out and getting another bona 00:35:28.451 --> 00:35:34.351 fide front of the rotation starter or a number two to match up with Crochet. 00:35:34.611 --> 00:35:37.731 And I know we've been talking, Joe Ryan to death. 00:35:38.011 --> 00:35:43.611 He is under my Christmas tree. I think he's the guy that could take us into 00:35:43.611 --> 00:35:49.751 a playoff spot just by being here and you push every other starter down the road. 00:35:50.111 --> 00:35:54.611 There was nobody on this podcast that I believe would have thought you would 00:35:54.611 --> 00:35:57.971 have gotten this out of Bueller tonight but that's the problem. 00:35:58.411 --> 00:36:05.411 We can't assume he's fixed and we have no idea what to expect on the next outing. 00:36:06.151 --> 00:36:09.031 Everybody knows what they think they're going to get out of Garrett Crochet. 00:36:09.931 --> 00:36:14.471 You don't know what you're going to get out of Buehler. And I need a more dependable 00:36:14.471 --> 00:36:19.691 number two starter to slot into that spot and move everybody else down. 00:36:19.971 --> 00:36:23.151 And I think that's going to be the answer because you're going to have nights 00:36:23.151 --> 00:36:24.951 where you don't score a lot of runs. 00:36:25.111 --> 00:36:30.251 I mean, yesterday's game, you know, it looked like it was going to be a similar matchup to tonight. 00:36:31.331 --> 00:36:35.391 And, you know, Bray, you got into one Bregman got into one and all of a sudden 00:36:35.391 --> 00:36:39.231 it's six to one, you know, but it didn't look like it was going that direction. 00:36:40.256 --> 00:36:45.156 So the one thing that you can take home positively from the second half, 00:36:45.256 --> 00:36:46.716 and I brought this up earlier tonight, 00:36:47.496 --> 00:36:51.856 was that even though Giolito had a bad first inning and Baio had a bad first 00:36:51.856 --> 00:36:57.116 inning, they got through it, both of them, and of course Crochet and Buehler tonight. 00:36:57.116 --> 00:37:01.556 But you can see where strong pitching is going to be an important thing. 00:37:01.856 --> 00:37:06.996 And having another bullpen piece that's reliable. Garrett Whitlock in a one-inning 00:37:06.996 --> 00:37:13.396 situation, I think is nails. And I think it's the way that he should be managed from this point on. 00:37:13.776 --> 00:37:17.716 And Nick face, you've brought this up multiple times about getting rid of the 00:37:17.716 --> 00:37:22.256 two inning Garrett Whitlock, three inning Garrett Whitlock. And I think it's spot on. 00:37:22.716 --> 00:37:27.576 So, you know, I think all, everybody has great points. Nick diamond wants a 00:37:27.576 --> 00:37:29.256 catcher. I, I can't disagree. 00:37:29.616 --> 00:37:33.716 I want a number two starter. I can't disagree with myself, you know? 00:37:33.956 --> 00:37:38.176 So the idea here, now I'm going to keep checking this all night thinking I'm 00:37:38.176 --> 00:37:40.756 actually, friggin' Craig Breslow. 00:37:41.836 --> 00:37:45.256 Well, you see, I think we're going to try to maybe get a catcher. 00:37:45.336 --> 00:37:48.596 Let me talk to the other nerds in the department here and see if they can actually 00:37:48.596 --> 00:37:51.296 process this. Yeah, the XBA. 00:37:52.416 --> 00:37:56.276 Anyway. My robots will get back to you tomorrow. Exactly. 00:37:56.836 --> 00:38:01.116 So with that being said, I'm going to call tonight. I'd like to thank my quad 00:38:01.116 --> 00:38:06.196 members here, Nick, Nick, and Thayer, and I hope everybody has a great evening. 00:38:06.196 --> 00:38:09.816 Hopefully we go out tomorrow and there'll be a little bit of a surprise. 00:38:10.356 --> 00:38:15.096 We got to try to take at least one or two of these games to show that this team 00:38:15.096 --> 00:38:18.176 is worth investing in. But leave some comments below. 00:38:18.456 --> 00:38:23.516 Go ahead and join us. If you haven't subscribed to our digital product at redsoxdigest.com, 00:38:23.676 --> 00:38:28.816 we have articles every day and most of them are on the game from the night before 00:38:28.816 --> 00:38:32.316 as well as Therese Fenway articles as well. 00:38:32.476 --> 00:38:34.796 So have a good night, everybody, and go Red Sox.