Things I'd like to see after 2012 All Star
Posted: Mon Jul 9, 2012 4:22 am
The Sox have been playing some beautiful ball this last couple of weeks as we go into All Star week. The Youklis move has been a Godsend and the first half overall is more than I'm sure any Sox fan could have even dreamed of. I'll admit that I would have been alright if we were sitting where Detroit currently is.
But there are a couple of things that I would like to see happen. One will be harder to pull of and the other is a simple,common sense thing:
1) This will be the hard thing to pull off because we will have to give up something in order to get something. I doubt we will be able to pull off a steal but we really do need some veteran help in the bullpen. All though they have been serviceable, I don't think we can rely on a pen full of youngsters in a pennant race. As the pressure rises I can just imagine them cracking under the pressure and there needs to be someone other than Thornton, who I really don't trust with anything less than a 3 run lead, and Jessie Crain, who hasn't been the most reliable either.
2) Adam Dunn to the 5th or 6th position in batting order. We just can't continue to have our #3 hitter not put the ball in play more than 50% of the time. I'm not talking about getting a hit. But just put the ball in play. Sacrifice flies. Hit the ball to get the man on 2nd to 3rd. Those kinds of things. Make the fielders make the plays. I'm not impressed with his walks either. I want the #3 hitter to hit the ball and be able to grind it out and battle. Rios is a monster right now and if he were in the 3 hole I have no doubt we would score more.
But there are a couple of things that I would like to see happen. One will be harder to pull of and the other is a simple,common sense thing:
1) This will be the hard thing to pull off because we will have to give up something in order to get something. I doubt we will be able to pull off a steal but we really do need some veteran help in the bullpen. All though they have been serviceable, I don't think we can rely on a pen full of youngsters in a pennant race. As the pressure rises I can just imagine them cracking under the pressure and there needs to be someone other than Thornton, who I really don't trust with anything less than a 3 run lead, and Jessie Crain, who hasn't been the most reliable either.
2) Adam Dunn to the 5th or 6th position in batting order. We just can't continue to have our #3 hitter not put the ball in play more than 50% of the time. I'm not talking about getting a hit. But just put the ball in play. Sacrifice flies. Hit the ball to get the man on 2nd to 3rd. Those kinds of things. Make the fielders make the plays. I'm not impressed with his walks either. I want the #3 hitter to hit the ball and be able to grind it out and battle. Rios is a monster right now and if he were in the 3 hole I have no doubt we would score more.