Closing Out The Sox

What a shit series. There are a bunch of problems and issues with this series and PLENTY of blame to go around. I didn’t think John Farrell really did that bad in Game 1 or 2 but tonight he really helped blow it. I mean pinch hitting Hill for Holt was ridiculous and then doing the same with Young for Benintendi doubled down on the idiocy.

Benny and Holt were two of the only guys hitting the ball at all and John Farrell decided to take them out of the game. Insanity. And I’m not gonna kill him for the quick hook on Buchholz because too often he leaves guys in longer than he should. BUT, I don’t get what this team’s love fest with Drew Pomeranz is. Bringing him in was not the right move. That guy gives up something every single time and tonight he got taken deep by Coco Crisp on a meatball. Pretty brutal. I’m not on the Farrell hate train like most people, but he got abused by a better manager all series and I won’t shed a tear if he isn’t back in the spring and we have someone like Jason Varitek.

Speaking of the other manager, I’m kind of happy for Tito Francona because I believe he deserved a lot better then being run outta of Boston and dragged through the mud. I’m sure it feels sweet to sweep the Sox and stick it to Henry and Werner.

Anyway, back to the blame. It really goes everywhere. I want to put it on the offense for going quiet after having such a great year but I also find it hard to not put it on the pitching as well. Rick Porcello had such a phenomenal year so it’s tough to get on the guy but he left EVERYTHING up and got hammered in Game 1. He had like 2 bad starts all year and somehow the second came at the worst possible time. I also didn’t love that he didn’t totally own it in his postgame comments. But that pales in comparison to David Price.

David Price had really the worst possible year he could have had. Yea his stats ended up okay but that just goes to show you how good he could have been if he didn’t suck for like 3/4 of the season. The guy got paid a ridiculous amount to give up runs, tweet like a girl and make excuses. And when the postseason rolled around he shit himself again. He literally couldn’t have been worse and then somehow he acts all upbeat postgame and says “I can’t wait to pitch again” and doesn’t take any responsibility. I don’t even know how this guy does it. Just such a loser. And now we go into a long offseason having to hate the guy because we’re left with a really bad taste in our mouthes from what he did.

The bats do deserve a lot of blame too though. I mean where was Mookie, JBJ, Xander, Pedroia and even Papi? They couldn’t wake up and find themselves and it was frustrating to watch. The whole team really gave a gutless, no show performance and it’s awful that Papi got sent out that way. There are no silver linings either, so don’t act like it’s no big deal we lost. The season was a failure. Earlier in the year I said they wouldn’t get out of the first round but then as the season went on expectations changed. And even if they hadn’t, this sweep at the hands of an Indians team that really isn’t that good and the way the whole thing looked is just utterly embarrassing.

We play for championships here in Boston and that was a real disgrace. We have to go into the offseason, fill a BIG whole with one of the Blue Jays sluggers, get some pitching and hope the young guys learned from what happened. They have some significant moves to make. This was one of the most excruciating losses I can remember but it’s because with it comes the reality of losing David Ortiz. It sucks. It’s gonna be a longgggggg winter.

*It sucks we lost so many games down the stretch and went limp but don’t blame it on the Ortiz ceremonies or the division clinch celebration. The team peaked early and yea I didn’t agree with the division clinch celebration but it’s not why this team lost.

**At least we don’t have to listen to that TBS crew anymore. Yikes.