6/25 v. Nationals

[Cocos Disciples]

They're not a terrible offensive team.

[Spudboy]

it was very hard to predict how this game was gonna go. besides a disastrous first inning' date=' Smoltz pitched pretty well and showed he can still get big league hitters out which is a good sign[/quote']

 

We all want him to succeed. You're right. after the first inning, he did pretty well. I think even an old "vetran" like Smoltz can have butterflies. He settled down and looked pretty good. I don't see him having another 1st inning like this again this year. Onward.

[Spudboy]

They're not a terrible offensive team.

 

No, they are not. The Natinals remind me of the Devil Rays of about 5-6 years ago. They are talented ( except for their BP) but can't overcome themselves at this point. They are a major league team, just not a very good one.

[castigs850]

bring up buchholz

[whitesox901]

bring up buchholz

 

I agree, if you can't fool the Nats, your in trouble

[MANNYHOF24]

He had a really tough first inning, the velocity was there, the control wasn't. I think he will be a good deal for the Sox this season. I am not too worried. He finished very strong.

[Dipre]

The Natinals are 19th in the Majors in runs scored, so that means they're a middle of the road offensive team, so whoever says they're "not a majors team" or "if you can't fool them you're in trouble" or "bring up bucholz" is being a douchebag and understimating the Natinals lineup, which is actually pretty good.

 

Not only that, but the fact that Smoltz settled down pretty well after that disaster of a 1sr inning, the velocity is there, the break on the slider, split and change is there, all he needs is to recover his location and he'll be embarrasing hitters in no time.

[Mr Crunchy]

They didnt really hit him hard either, they found some holes and had some key hits.

What are you going to do, taking 2-3 on the road is fine against anyone in the league and our guy pitched fine after the 1st inning.

Im not sure what the problems are with these old guys coming off major surgery but the 1st inning is generally brutal...The sox had Ramon Martinez at the end of his career and hed get knocked around in his 1st 30 pitches then hed settle in, Petey had the same issues with the Mets at the end,Saberhagen Cone etc..all these guys had a hard time in the 1st inning.

He sounded pleased with his effort and hes also too proud to be out there with nothing in the tank.

The next 3 starts will indicate whether he can or cant and its not as if we dont have other options just in case he fails.

[a700hitter]

Both ends of the spectrum were on display in this game- an old post-surgery pitcher and a young inexperienced pitcher. Smoltz' velocity was good, but the test will be whether he can go to the hill every 5th day with consistent velocity. As for Bard, he is still developing. Will he become a Papelbon? The odds are against that, but the hope is that he becomes more consistent. The risk of using young pitchers in prominent roles is inconsistency. No questions were answered by this game regarding the future of the rotation and any pitcher personnel moves.

[BoSox21]

I agree' date=' if you can't fool the Nats, your in trouble[/quote']

 

anyone who draws conclusions from that first inning has no business expressing an opinion about baseball

[jacksonianmarch]

so, if you draw conclusions based upon the worst team in baseball tuning up your 42 yr old pitcher, we dont know baseball? Cmon now. He wasnt sharp, that being said he was far from his previous unhittable self.

[BoSox21]

so the John Smoltz experiment is a complete bust based in the 35 or so pitches he threw in his first inning back? by that logic, if he pitched 6 innings, allowed 2 runs on 5 hits, the Sox will have had the coup of the entire 08-09 offseason

[TheKilo]

Not too concerned, they won the series, on the road, and he looked really good for the last four innings.

 

They weren't beating Zimmermann last night anyway.

[BoSox21]

Not too concerned' date=' they won the series, on the road, and he looked really good for the last four innings.[/quote']

 

but he allowed 4 runs in the first innings...so expect him to be DFAed as soon as Theo finishes his morning bagel, right jacko?

[YAZMAN]

so' date=' if you draw conclusions based upon the worst team in baseball tuning up your 42 yr old pitcher, we dont know baseball? Cmon now. He wasnt sharp, that being said he was far from his previous unhittable self.[/quote']

 

He made a lot of good pitches, he still has it. He made a few bad ones and left the ball up a bit early, he's still not sharp. The outing will bring him back for his second start much more comfortable and confident.

 

As for the "worst team in baseball", is it any surprise that they rallied a bit last night? The Nats were playing arguably the best team in baseball, facing a possible future HOF'er making a highly watched return, trying to avoid a sweep at home in a series which featured their house packed full of cheering Sox fans.

 

It's OK, MJ, I know you could use a glimmer of hope right now.

[Mr Crunchy]

Tuned up?

They got 1 extra base hit off him if Im not mistaken. I had a few last night so feel free to correct me.

His command was certainly off and that can be attributed to 100 different things.

his press conference was certainly upbeat and he hasnt pitched in anger in a very long time.

Ya we would prefer 7 shut out innings but it is what it is.

 

Forgot about the 3rd inning double, they did get 2xtra base hits off him.

[Cocos Disciples]

He'll be fine.

[TheKilo]

Spudboy should totally start the next GT

[Cocos Disciples]

Yes we need Spudboy mojo.