After standing pat at the deadline perhaps the anger of the fanbase has leaked into the clubhouse? As Rick Porcello has become the embodiment of "just because you won the game, doesn't mean you pitched well"  with a 7.54 over his last four starts going into tonight. The numbers get stinkier (real word?) than a homemade candle when you go back a few starts further back.

Ricky allowed a run in the first inning and when the 2016 Cy Young Award Winner returned to the dugout he displayed the type of anger you only see when someone shows up to a dinner party uninvited with their babysitter slash lover and took it out on two dugout tvs.

At least he came back out and dealt after destroying (two) $200 plasma screen tvs.

Hopefully one night soon he'll make everything alright, but after what the Tribe did with Bauer maybe this means the Red Sox will consider parting ways with Porcello? At what point do you DFA?  I love Ricky and want him to do well, but you can't keep throwing this guy out there every 5 days. 22 million needs to get you more than a 5.55 era.

P.S. 

“Well, we talked right to the deadline,” Dombrowski said, as seen on NESN’s trade deadline coverage. “Our primary focus was relief pitching, that was our primary focus. Not back-end-type guys, because I think the reality of back-end guys when we start getting into those conversations, I don’t know of any back-end — well, Shane Green is one guy that moved — back-end guys that any of the ones we had on our list really moved. And I think part of that was the acquisition price. … We tried to (add bullpen pieces), we just didn’t like the asking price so we went right to the very end. Some people brought up positional player stuff to us today, so again you listen to anything, I bet you I have texts from 20 general managers on my phone right now from today and more than that over the last couple days. So we tried, we just didn’t like the price at the very end.

Excerpt via: https://nesn.com/2019/07/dave-dombrowski-explains-why-red-sox-didnt-make-move-at-trade-deadline/

Unfuckingbelievable. I cannot believe this team just did nothing at the deadline. Nahhhh, we're cool leading the world in blown saves! The 4th place Cincinnati Reds are out here bettering themselves with trades while the defending World Champs will just re-watch the God Awful 2018 World Series film all October with their thumbs up their asses because of how poorly allocated the Red Sox resources have been.

They (Albert Einstein, ever heard of him?)  say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Well ladies and gentlemen, It appears the Red Sox have gone insane. There's no more waiver-trades, so this roster is pretty much what the Red Sox have going forward. Boston relievers have a 5.18 ERA (83 1/3 innings, 48 earned runs) and 1.51 WHIP during July. Overall, Boston relievers have combined for a 4.53 ERA in 411 innings. (numbers via Mass Live). Buckle-up for the final 54 games of 2019.

While I totally agree the club here needs to be more consistent the biggest reason they haven't been and are  9 games back in the AL East is the bullpen.  If they only have say, 13 blown saves this year (which is still pretty bad) they're right in the heart of this.

Despite losing about 10 games they just frankly should've never lost, the Sox are 10 games over .500. They're only two games out of the wild card with the potential to "do damage" again in October.  They have most of the pieces. With the Yankees starting pitching woes and recent struggles against the Sox, you never know, it's not like teams haven't blown leads that big before in baseball history. (Look up 69 Cubs, 78 Red Sox, 95 Angels, 14 A's...those are just off the top of my head)

But even if you want to concede the division,  this organization should be trying to get in the dance by any means necessary.  We all know the tough decisions that are coming with J.D. and Mookie, you gotta go for it when you can because you're never promised another shot. I understand not wanting to mortgage the future, I don't want to either. But you gotta do something. You can't keep sending these same guys out there night after night. If you're gonna have this mentality to just bring back the entire team from last year that won the World Series then you also have to believe that this team can do it again if they get in, so wouldn't you do something to help their chances? Deep down the Sox front office knows they can't because of this bullpen, but since they already butchered the payroll they'll just keep going with they've got and what they've got is a bullpen that walks everybody and blows about 2 games a week. Poor Matt Barnes arm is going to fall off. 

The biggest reason they're 9 games back has been because of the bullpen! I want to be mad at the guys on the roster but it's almost not even their fault. You can't put AAA guys into these high leverage situations night after night and get mad at them for failing. You need to be mad at the guys who put them in a positon to fail. I will say the blown save stat is a little skewed because technically relievers that blow leads in the 7th or 8th that never would be in the game for the remainder of it are hit will blown saves when they give up a lead, so it's not like they've blown 18 9th inning leads, but still it's pretty fucking bad and frankly inexcusable for a team that just won 108 games and a championship. Highest payroll in baseball and they've spent about 40 bucks on the bullpen. Instead of doing anything to address that this off season when they let a HOF closer, and pretty cool set-up man go they replaced them with a bunch of nothing. 

​The Red Sox offense as a team is first in the AL in hits, runs, doubles, batting average, and OBP. They're 3rd in slugging % and 4th in homers. They rake. The offense has for the most part been 2018-like. Mookie isn't having an MVP season, but the left-side of the infield in Xander Bogaerts & Rafael "Baby Beluga" Devers  are having MVP-type campaigns. 

It's so annoying as a Red Sox fan. Part of me feels bad complaining, because I mean this ownership has won four World Series in 15 years,  hands down the most in the majors, I'll always be grateful and appreciative of those years.  We also have to acknowledge the constant bad contracts to the wrong guys, and overall attitude of ownership that seems to be pretty complacent after such a magical 2018. John Henry is more worried about Liverpool, and killing the constitution by controlling the newspaper and radio than putting money in the right spots. Yes this team spends money, but in the wrong ways. I almost wish they had a small-market guy in here. You gotta know how build a TEAM. Not just throw 30 million at starting pitchers. The 2019 Red Sox are basically a luxury mansion with a leaking roof and no windows. Yeah it may look great from a far, but it's going to protect you for shit. It doesn't matter how many runs you score or how the starters perform if you have nobody to get the final 9 outs of the game.

I think at this point bringing back the whole 2018 team minus a bullpen was a mistake. The way this team handled Spring Training was a mistake, and the way Alex Cora managed the majority of the 1st half just saying we're good, we'll be find was a mistake. I think teams that won a championship always need to bring in a couple hungry guys whether in be in free agency or the draft. Look at the NFL. Cause I mean, I get it, I'm a human. I understand how human nature works, after winning it all I'm sure you get a little complacent. It's hard not to. Sure they may say and do all the right things with the media saying we embrace the chase to repeat, but the on-field production and overall just vibe of this team has shown guys that may not have the same fire in their belly.

It all comes down to this offseason, the Red Sox got too sentimental and spent money the wrong way which handcuffed the pen. Dave Dumbroski is infamous for putting together great teams with poor bullpens. It's a major reason why the Red Sox won in 2013 and the Tigers haven't won a World Series since '84. Last year was incredible but it's fucking embarrassing how this team has followed it up this year. While I'm upset with Dumbo, the front office and ownership, a large slice of the blame pie belongs to the starting rotation. Chris Sale and Rick Porcello have been gross in 2019, and while David Price has carried the staff he too at times has had his bad moments, although his major issue is really just health and attitude. 

Today embarks the unofficial final third of the season. With no waiver-trades anymore the Red Sox are going out there with Colten Brewer and Marcus Walden.  Awesome.  

Congratulations to the Houston Astros on winning the AL Pennant.

As the 150th Major League Baseball season approaches its trade deadline I find it quite appropriate that one of the oldest teams in the league, the Cincinnati Reds have taken the baseball world by storm with moves both and off the field this evening.

I was in the camp that thought the Indians weren't gonna trade Bauer, but I guess most infamous throw by a Cleveland athlete since Red-Right 88 gets you sent out of town.  What a way to go out. 

At first I thought it was a bad trade for the Tribe just because I am a strong believer in you can never have too much pitching, but the more I looked into it, it's great deal for Cleveland. (Despite a 1000% impending suspension for his actions tonight) Yasiel Puig instantly upgrades the Indians outfield. The Indians outfield production is among the worst in baseball, and the Sox still found a way to let a dude hitting .100 beat them in the only game I've been to this year. 

Once the news broke that the Reds traded for their cross-state rivals' let's call him "misunderstood" mini-ace baseball world was a-rockin'.  I am so ready for an exciting trade deadline.  I want to see teams go for it. I miss the years of my early baseball fandom with wild trade deadlines.  Probably romanticizing the past a little hear but whatever.​

My timeline may be off but according to my twitter research less than a half hour after trading Puig to the Indians. in the top of the 9th of a game they were losing by 8 runs Amir Garrett appeared to be getting chirped by the Pirates dugout. In case you haven't following story-lines of sub .500, but exciting NL Central rivals, there has been some serious early 70's era bad blood this year between these two teams.  Derek Dietrich pimped a homer in April and the Pirates still aren't over it. It's a whole thing.

Insane stuff, but exactly what baseball needs. Yeah, I'm not a pro-violence guy,especially in a domestic setting,  I don't even follow UFC. But in baseball there is nothing more exciting than a bench clearing brawl. The Red Sox Yankees brawl on July 24th, 2004 is one of my all time favorite sports moments. Nothing like good, ole fashion, bad blood. You don't see enough of it in today's AAU culture that has sort of dripped into baseball and the NFL. Dudes grow up playing guys all the time and are more friends than foes. I'm all cool for being boys but how can you not enjoy seeing guys who absolutely hate each other compete? Amir Garrett literally took on an entire club. I don't understand how that isn't entertaining to some people. 

I'm sooooooo ready tomorrow. Bring on the deadline. 

P.S. 

What a way for Puig to go out as a Red. He's going to be a Cincy legend forever. All-time wild tenure-ending-moment guy trade. Bauer for Puig (+ way more) 

Song: Chamber of Reflection
Artist: Mac DeMarco
​Album: Salad Days

The Red Sox have finally done something to address the ineffectiveness of the 2019 team's bullpen. In a move that frankly had to be made, RHP Ryan Brasier has been sent down to the Paw Sox.  LHP Darwinzon Hernandez has been called up to take Brasier's roster spot. 

Sure, as a team the bullpen numbers aren't that far off from 2018, but make no mistake about it, the Red Sox bullpen has been a disaster in 2019. The internet has been wearing out Cherynobl references when talking about disasters, so I won't pick that low-hanging fruit. I wouldn't say it's been that bad as I'm fairly confident nobody has died from radiation poisoning due to the Red Sox bullpen, but then again Cherynobl didn't have have 18 blown saves as a team in the first 94 games of the year (nearly 20% of all games this year) so it'd be unfair to assume this team's play hasn't been hazardous to people's health.

After nearly squandering a 10-4 8th inning lead last night by allowing ​4 runs (3 earned) against the juggernaut, 35 win Toronto Blue Jays finally Sox decided they cannot keep trotting this guy out there. This team is too good to be squeaking out wins when they score double digit runs against teams that are 60 games under .500. 

In his last 3.1 innings over 4 appearances Brasier has allowed 8 runs, 7 of which were earned. If you're new to baseball that is bad. Small sample size, for sure, but believe me Brasier has been horrific in 2019. While ERA doesn't tell the entire story, especially for a bullpen guy, Brasier's ERA in 2019 is 4.24.  His WHIP has gone up nearly half a base-runner per inning,  walk rate is up, and he single handled ruined the only game I've been to this year by giving up 2 home runs (including one to a guy hitting below. 100)  in the 9th inning against the Indians after I stayed during the entire two-ish hour rain delay. Same week my Grandma died so thanks a lot for that moral booster, Ry.

Ryan Brasier was a pleasant, effective surprise in 2018.

In 33.2 innings over 34 appearances Brasier had a minuscule 1.60 ERA. He only allowed 6 runs during the 2018 regular season.  Between putting up those numbers (despite not appearing in a major league game for 5 years), his story of getting back to the bigs and telling Gary Sanchez to get back in the fucking box Brasier wasn't necessarily a "fan favorite" but he definitely was a guy Red Sox fans were diggin' for a brief period of time.

As much as I've shit on Brasier this year and have been frustrated by his ineffectiveness, I do in a way feel bad for the guy. I'm sure he'll be the first to admit he's struggled this year, but the Red Sox front office aka Dave Dombroski, who totally screwed up the bullpen (shocker!) this off-season deserve a major piece of this blame pie. I think they asked too much out of him. If you're not gonna re-sign Joe Kelly and Craig Kimbrel, you should at least do something to replace them, not just be like "we're straight".  Relying on a guy who's thrown under 50 innings in the big leagues to replace Craig Kimbrel (who is going to make the HOF) with hindsight, and also foresight was not an intelligent baseball decision. 

This was the Red Sox and Dumbo not allocating funds properly trying to save money on the pen. Let's not forget the Red Sox started this guy off as the closer. Yeah, as baseball evolves the idea of traditional "closer" may disappear, but it hasn't yet, and putting all that pressure on a guy who pitched 43.1 innings last year including the playoffs clearly was a mistake.

After designating another 2018 postseason hero, Eduardo Nunez for assignment,  it's clear the Red Sox are finally starting to realize this team as currently constructed is cannot win a World Series and achievements from last year aren't going to save your job as the deadline approaches.

There is a lot of blame to go around (Hi, Chris Sale), and while I feel bad for Brasier getting into this situation, at the end of the day he's a professional athlete and this is something that happens when you perform worse than reactor #4.

​Ah shit.


​
P.S.

Brasier had his moments last year and statistically he was solid in October.  I'll always appreciate what he did last year and hope he can figure things out. As annoying as this season has been with the countless blown games, this organization did just win 119 games and this thing called the World Series. As long as the Yankees don't win it this year I'm happy (boldface lie).  But that doesn't mean you just punt on 2019. Was it really fair to expect Ryan Brasier to turn into some legit back of the bullpen arm at 31 years old?