I love Howie Kendrick. I think he's a future batting champion. But he needs to be on the bench on Sunday. He needs to be far away from the batters box unless they're desperate for a pinch hitter. He's 0-9 in the series with five strike outs, and he's left 11 men on base. And you know what? That's not why I think he should sit.
Sure, it's part of the reason, probably a big part. But in the eighth inning, after Jacoby Ellsbury reached base on a two out walk, he stole second. Mike Napoli grabbed the pitch and looked to throw to second. Ellsbury probably would have reached safely, but it was close enough to warrent a throw. Only, no one was covering. Right handed hitting Dustin Pedroia was at the plate, which means more likely than not, it was Kendrick's responsibility to cover second. But he was nowhere to be found.
His head is simply not in it. He's swinging at pitches nowhere near the strike zone. He's screwing up things you learn in Little League. He's not taking a first strike. He's killing this team. Hell, I expect nothing from Erick Aybar at the plate. But Howie has to hit, and he's an automatic out. He needs to sit. I don't know what they do, other than play Figgins at second and Wood at third. That sounds desperate, but they are desperate. There is not a person on earth who thinks the Angels will win this series, so maybe they have to do something crazy. Whatever they do, Kendrick needs to watch game three from the bench.
And let me reiterate to Ed Rapuano, if I ever see you in public, I will kick your fucking ass or die trying.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
10 comments:
It really looked like Aybar missed the tag. The throw was there of course, but I'm glad the ump didn't McCarver it. I want to see the replay on a bigger TV, so I can't be certain. I merely felt that Buck Martinez was overdoing his reaction because he sucks and he was only focused on the throw a la McCarver.
I am absolutely not convinced anymore that HK is the guy we all thought he was.
1) His stats all came in relatively high-offense leagues/parks (save for the MWL.
2) He never needed to learn how to walk.
#2 especially is a problem. I am looking forward to more suckage.
HK will be fine. Ellsbury for the Sox was great, went into a giant tailspin, and then shaped up again. It is a very bad time for him to lose himself.
I would also point out that the entire game was just bad luck for the Angels, and OK luck for the Sox. Ignoring the call, the Angels defense wasn't really there. The balls seemed to be flying on two wall ball hits (Ellsbury/Ortiz). Dice K did his usual kinfe-edge work, and the Sox defense made no mistakes. You give up that many hits and walks, you should be giving up more that 5 runs.
The media loves to talk about do or die/what have you. But three games in a row is not impossible. I think it really comes down to whether the Angels play tightly. I think if Beckett doesn't have anything, Vlad could homer 3 times off of Wakefield or Byrd.
The entire game was not bad luck. Four runs in the first? Four runs in the first? It all starts with pitching and defense. And the Angels got neither last night. Santana can be a big-game pitcher. That doesn't mean he will be.
He was out. It wasn't even close.
I'm not worried about Howie long term. His offense came in parks that help you hit homers, not line drives, so I think that's a non-issue.
The pitch Bay hit out looked to me like a pretty good pitch. A slider low that he went down and get. He was nowhere near that pitch last night. I thought he pitched fairly well, and basically got beat on one good swing.
4 two out runs are basically a little bit lucky. That inning was followed by several scoreless. This Red Sox team has played a large number of games where they left tons of guys on base and never really got the scoring or a two out rally. This game everything went well for the Sox.
I agree with I think 99% of what you said. Kendrick didn't cover 2nd on that one guy... oh yeah I think he led the league in SB's. You said it right with your 2nd and 3rd pp's, but 0-9, with 5 K's, 11 LOB, IS enough reason to sit! Dude isn't ready. If he were ready, he wouldn't go down, AT HIS AGE!!!, with a bad hammy OVER AND OVER AND OVER. Matt Kemp is playing hurt. He looks worse at the plate during this series than Wood EVER has in the big leagues.
Other TERRIBLE moment: Anderson striking out with the bases loaded on his TYPICAL, TYPICAL down-and-in curveball.
Great moments: Willing to put in Morales when it matters. Watching Juan Rivera fight off pitch after pitch and walking twice.
and those 2 out runs? it is naive of you to call them lucky (dude who just commented). 11 wins in a row, and almost 12, has nothing to do with luck, so it's looking at it with Angels blinders to say so.
Angels blinders? Pinko is a Red Sox fan.
AAGGGHHHH! Nice way to give the Sux 3 Free Runs, Take him out of the game Sosh!!!! Another one two three slider down and away K!
Did you see the last game?!?! He gave the Sux the series!! I'm a Yankee fan and should hate the Angels, but I have the Red Sox even more!! If it wouldn't have been for Kendrick and his sloppy defensive play, there would've been a game 5 at ANA....:S he reminded me of what Cano did most of the year for us...
Post a Comment