OT: What was Cora thinking?

[HuskyHawk]

Even Kike' said that he felt better about it when they ran for Vasquez...

I thought they'd do it when he got to 2nd base. Surprised they waited so long.

 

[Husky25]

Renfroe had a really bad night...

Really? I think otherwise.

The throw home in the 8th was ill advised. They were not cutting down that run, but if Renfroe doesn't make the play on Arozarena in the first inning, E-Rod likely spirals like he did in Game 1.

 

[the Q]

Really? I think otherwise.

The throw home in the 8th was ill advised. They were not cutting down that run, but if Renfroe doesn't make the play on Arozarena in the first inning, E-Rod likely spirals like he did in Game 1.

He also misplayed the fly ball into a double in the 8th costing them a run, and he didn’t exactly hustle over to the ball before that throw.

Once he slowly went after that ball you can’t throw home. Compounded the mistake

 

[Husky25]

He also misplayed the fly ball into a double in the 8th costing them a run, and he didn’t exactly hustle over to the ball before that throw.

Once he slowly went after that ball you can’t throw home. Compounded the mistake

I think you are misremembering, because none of that happened (highlights are on YouTube. The Rays 8th is around 12:00 of the 18:12 video).

The first two hits in the 8th were doubles off the bat. The first one hit the base of the wall in right center. The second was further towards center and his throw back into the infield kept Kiermaier from even thinking about taking 3rd. The third hit was a single and I disagree that Renfroe was not hustling.

He met the ball at a specific point to get his momentum going toward his target. It was textbook except for the target. The throw home was unwarranted and I've already conceded that was ill-advised. Arozarena went to second on the throw. If Renfroe throws it in to second, Arozarena is standing on 1st base. Luckily it was all academic.

Here's a question...What was Bogaerts thinking when he weakly pulled an outside pitch to third base with runners on 1st & 3rd and 1 out in the 7th? He has shown much better bat control than that in the past. Get that ball in the air anywhere near mid outfield and Kike' scores.

Renfroe then keeps Arozarena at 2nd on the very next play (Flyball to right) and Bogaerts fails to cut it off. If not for Whitlock backing up third, it would have been all for naught.

 

[feste]

Cora's bullpen management is fine. The bullpen arms need to be improved. They were masterful in going through everyone on the staff except for Matt Barnes on Sunday, and were lucky to patch together four innings last night. My only question about last night is why Houck only went 1 inning.

Whatever. While the Sox have overachieved all year, they were not expected to compete for the title this year. I do not expect them to get to the World Series, but they were not expected to get through Tampa either. They are playing with house money, and I'm enjoying it.

Keep not expecting. It's worked a treat for me.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Cora is the best. I trust his judgement.

Rule #1 of why you always wait until the last out in baseball to make a call. No shot clock or time clock to run out the game. Just gotta have a lead before 27 outs.