Manager Farrell is a nice guy but...players can't give 100% if they feel the manager isn't giving them EVERY chance to win. Poorly constructed lineups, affects batters and pitchers. You can't constantly put three rookies (two plus Millbury) as well as Sizemore, none of which is doing well, in the day to day lineup. Also, When a rookie shortstop isn't getting any better with his range and throwing it's time to make a move. (Farrell finally did but not until Middlebrook broke his finger at third.
Some of the moves (or non-moves) by Farrell also seem against the very basic startegies of sound baseball. When the Sox are down by two runs (or more) in the last of the ninth they need baserunners not leadoff home runs. David Ortiz should be taking advantage of the shift instead of grounding out to short right field. Also, with a runner on first, two outs and John Lester at the plate (The Sox were playing the Braves), he had the runner steal second base?? If the runner is thrown out THE PITCHER LEADS OFF THE NEXT INNING??? As it was Lester wound up striking out but the unsound baseball move is still there, regardless of the fact there was no "apparent"harm.
In short, I see a lack of confidence in the manager's strategies affecting the team, especially the pitchers. The Sox are losing too many one run games (16) for one thing.....On the team's plus side, the bench clearing brawl in Florida the other night may have accomplished something very positive. TEAM UNITY. The players now have something very positive to focus on. Beating the Braves TWICE (since then) is no small feat. I believe that last years successes were the result of TEAM UNITY. If the Sox go on to better days this season look to that brawl as the answer.....Stay tuned.....
The Bruins are one of the hardest working guys I've seen in years BUT...from this corner they were outcoached by Montreal. Chiara should not be on the power play for one....the point players, Chiara being one of them, seem to be taking too long to shoot, seemingly looking for a better shot instead of putting a barrage of shots on the net. Chiara, also, is a little slower and should be used to a better advantage than he has been. Montreal knew it. SCORING was the big problem, not defense. Also, Needless penalties (like cross checking late in the 3rd period of game 7 when down by one point) is totally needless and the coach should hammer--"NO PENALTIES " into his players. They seem to be the only ones who don't know Montreal is death on the power plays.
Having said that let me say I have complete confidence that the GM will fix the problem BUT, DO NOT TRADE MARCHAND (or any of the other mainstays on offense). Just put in a better system, shoot quicker (more often) and further develop those young "offense-minded" defensemen.
Has anybody noticed there hasn't been a lot printed, or talked about on the sports shows
, about the Celtics. To me that means that Danny Ainge has a lot of irons on the fire and isn't about to show his hand. As far as I'm concerned that's great. Remember how the Garnett/Ray Allen deals just suddenly exploded on us. Same as the move that Red made to get us McHale and Parish. In both cases the results were world championships.
A trade for Minnesota center, Kevin Love, is most speculated upon and could be right on the money. I don't mind that as long as Danny doesn't trade Sullinger or Avery Bradley. I would like to see him also be able to keep Kris Humphries, Kelly Olynyk and Jeff Green but that may not be in the cards. I would also like to see Danny trade Rajon Rondo. He still can't make free throws, is dubious on defense and doesn't make good decisions on passing the ball to the open man, preferring to take the shot himself. If the guys work hard to get open and Rondo takes the shot himself, well they stop working to get open OR, in Ray Allen's case, move on to another team. I see Rondo gone as a case of addition by subtraction. How about Rondo, Bass, our #17 pick in the first round this year and next years #1 pick for Love? At any rate I have complete confidence in Danny making the right decisions. Stay tuned.....
All I've been hearing about is a quarterback controversy from the media going alll the way up to some reporters trying to speculate that Tom Brady will eventually become the Pat's president. (I haven't heard any comment from Jonathan Kraft about him stepping down or aside)
The real stories should be about the great depth Belichick has gathered from the draft especially some guys like that 6'8" tight end he signed as an undrafted free agent immediately after the draft. Also, many fans would love to know more about the running back they took in the 4th round and the defensive lineman who AVERAGED one sack a game for his entire college career. 'nuf said.
Stay tuned......