I mentioned a couple of days ago that a sports psychologist might help those underachieving Sox starters find some command to capitalize on their, overall, undeniably excellent stuff.
While that miracle-working headshrinker is at it he can address:
· Sox travails away from Fenway. Last year, their H/A winning percentages were .691/.481, for a difference of .210, while the American League overall was .565/.433, for a difference of only .132. So far this year, (still early, of course) their H/A is .765/.444, for a difference of .321, while the league overall is .556/.444, for a difference of only .112. To date in 2009, they are slugging .527 at home, and a dismal .387 on the road, a ridiculous disparity. Some of that has to be either psychological—or perhaps too much late night time at the bars while away from wife and kids?
. Tito and David Ortiz. Pap is ‘slugging’ an absurd .300 in that all-important #3 slot. Dropping him in the batting order can’t possibly embarrass him any more than the cold hard statistics and his woefully late swing do. Read the unanimous chorus of reader comments in the Globe, respectfully begging for him to be given some recuperative time off, or at least dumped out of his current rally-killing role. This is becoming an absurd case of putting one individual above winning, and above the fans who pay the bills. Sure, Big Pap’s past contributions were historic and are treasured, but batting third for a playoff contender is hardly an honorary role. But I guess we need a psychologist to convince Tito and Pap of that.
I agree with your assesment of Big??? papi. Drop 'em down to about 6th, or better yet, why not see if someone else wants him?? Maybe we can get someone who can hit. Look, this is a business not a sport (sadly). Big?? Papi was a huge part of making this business successful, now his usefulness is in question. get rid of him. We did pretty good finding a replacement for Manny.
ReplyDeleteAs for a sports psychologist...... next thing, you'll be wanting to bring in Laurie Cabot the salem witch, and we ALL know that shge can only be used to remove curses.
We were all wrong about Pap--see post above regarding Pap's Latest Hitting Rampage!
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping for the best, but I'm still afraid you'll change your mind about that psychologist when we see what Dice-BB has in store for us on Friday, probably against Santana. But I agree with one thing--sports psychologists that speak both Japanese and English are in short supply.
A wise man once said, " Dice-K should do the honorable thing, and give the $$$ back and go back to japan". I argee with that sage. It's a LOT of Money they paid/are paying him. John Henry could get 2 pitchers to do the same thing he is doing for that kind of money, AND still have some left over to get a big hunk of glass for his girlfriend
ReplyDeleteAnd yet Matzaka threw pretty well on Friday--except undone in the fourth by Lugo's imitation of a little-leaguer trying to turn his first DP, and then a really bad miss by the umpire of a third strike that would have ended the inning.
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