June 1, 2012: Red Sox @ Blue Jays

[BornToRun]

Do you EVER have anything positive to say about the Red Sox ?

 

No. We might not play at a .714 clip but when we get healthy, watch out.

[Station 13]

Buchholz HR is alarming.

[evilhand]

We won't keep playing .714 baseball. Problem is' date=' our bad start takes away some room for other bad streaks later in the season. Thats what happened last year: they overcame one bad streak but could not overcome the second one.[/quote']

 

And for all the talk of the team being mediocre, they're 3 games out of 1st in the division. Does 3 more wins and 3 less losses really make up the difference between best in the division and a mediocre team?

[TutGadol]

Still hitting 95.

[FredLynn]

And for all the talk of the team being mediocre' date=' they're 3 games out of 1st in the division. Does 3 more wins and 3 less losses really make up the difference between best in the division and a mediocre team?[/quote']

 

I think all the ALE teams are mediocre. No one is running away with it this year; its up for grabs IMO. Most years one or two teams gets ahead of the group.

[TutGadol]

Salty keeps making great throws but not getting the runners.

[KCBRUIN]

DiceK? Really?

This season will be successful if Beckett, Lester, Buchholz, Bard, and Doubront are effective, and if our pen keeps functioning well. If they fail, we aren't winning the division.

 

Yes Dice K out of the pen will be effective IMO. I don't think he was ever meant to be a Starter.

[TutGadol]

Buch lost his command a bit, don't let him go out there for the 8th.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Buchholz dealing.

[Station 13]

Buch lost his command a bit' date=' don't let him go out there for the 8th.[/quote']

 

Walking Davis is asking for trouble. f***er always seems to cost trouble.

[TutGadol]

Yes Dice K out of the pen will be effective IMO. I don't think he was ever meant to be a Starter.

 

It's intresting but the FO will try and push him to the rotation hoping either him or Cook can push Bard back to the bullpen where he's effective.

[FredLynn]

Buch lost his command a bit' date=' don't let him go out there for the 8th.[/quote']

 

He has given up two solo HRs. Gotta be able to live with that. No one tosses a shutout every game. I would bring him out for the 8th and allow him one baserunner.

[SoxFanForsyth]

We won't keep playing .714 baseball. Problem is' date=' our bad start takes away some room for other bad streaks later in the season. Thats what happened last year: they overcame one bad streak but could not overcome the second one.[/quote']

 

No, we won't. But baseball is a long season of spurts. We don't have to play the entire remainder of the season to a .714 W%. There will be streaks where this team goes 12-4, and there will be streaks where they go 6-10.

 

Even the past 20 games, where they've gone 14-6, they've climbed right back into the AL East race, not just the Wild Card race.

 

Just keep winning series, that's all. Just keep winning series and they'll be in the post season, guaranteed.

[TutGadol]

He has given up two solo HRs. Gotta be able to live with that. No one tosses a shutout every game. I would bring him out for the 8th and allow him one baserunner.

 

It's not the HRs, his pitch count his a little high, he walked Davis and hanged a few to Johnson too. With this lead I'd say get him out when his confidence is high and let him build on that. The bullpen with or without Aceves can handle this lead.

[SoxFanForsyth]

It's not the HRs' date=' his pitch count his a little high, he walked Davis and hanged a few to Johnson too. With this lead I'd say get him out when his confidence is high and let him build on that. The bullpen with or without Aceves can handle this lead.[/quote']

 

Huh?!?

 

He's at 97 pitches through 7. That's extremely efficient for the AL East. Anytime you can get your SP to get through 7 in the AL East you have to be thrilled.

[evilhand]

I think all the ALE teams are mediocre. No one is running away with it this year; its up for grabs IMO. Most years one or two teams gets ahead of the group.

 

I'd argue that they're all really good and are beating up on each other. It's certainly up for grabs, though.

[jung]

It is the starting pitching that fits the "mediocre" description so far. Simply not consistent enough 1 through 3 and that has been the most significant team dynamic to date. This will be the first time Buch has put together two "good" starts in a row (meaning good for a 3). Lester has not put even two in a row together yet. Beckett has put two in a row together but not three. Doubront and Bard have been far more consistent in that regard but consistency down at the 4 and 5 don't yield as much benefit as those guys are not going to be able to give you as many innings.

 

Those three guys at the top of the rotation have got to pitch better on a more consistent basis for this team to really make ground in what is a very tough division.

 

We have gone on an absolute rip the last couple of weeks and are still in the basement. Yes the division has tightened up and I expect it will be tight all year. However we are due to come off this peak period and some of the other guys are now due to go on a bit of a run themselves.

 

That is going to force us to sustain it and the only way to do that will be if 1,2 and 3 in the rotation pitch with more consistency.

[TutGadol]

Huh?!?

 

He's at 97 pitches through 7. That's extremely efficient for the AL East. Anytime you can get your SP to get through 7 in the AL East you have to be thrilled.

 

Didn't say it isn't effective. It is very good, a great start indeed. I'm just worried that if he goes out for the 8th he'll start handing walks and lose some of his confidence. Time will tell though.

[BornToRun]

Another sterling outing for clay. Looks like he's on his way to figuring himself out. That's a great sign for us.

[SoxFanForsyth]

It is the starting pitching that fits the "mediocre" description so far. Simply not consistent enough 1 through 3 and that has been the most significant team dynamic to date. This will be the first time Buch has put together two "good" starts in a row (meaning good for a 3). Lester has not put even two in a row together yet. Beckett has put two in a row together but not three. Doubront and Bard have been far more consistent in that regard but consistency down at the 4 and 5 don't yield as much benefit as those guys are not going to be able to give you as many innings.

 

Those three guys at the top of the rotation have got to pitch better on a more consistent basis for this team to really make ground in what is a very tough division.

 

We have gone on an absolute ripe the last couple of weeks and are still in the basement. Yes the division has tightened up and I expect it will be tight all year. However we are due to come off this peak period and some of the other guys are now due to go on a bit of a run themselves.

 

That is going to force us to sustain it and the only way to do that will be if 1,2 and 3 in the rotation pitch with more consistency.

 

If he's pulled now, that's 2 starts in a row of 7 IP, 2 ER. That would be a 2.57 ERA. That's not just good for a #3. If you get a SP who can throw to a 2.57 ERA, he's an ace.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Didn't say it isn't effective. It is very good' date=' a great start indeed. I'm just worried that if he goes out for the 8th he'll start handing walks and lose some of his confidence. Time will tell though.[/quote']

 

Ah. I agree - I would pull him now. 5 run lead. Let the bullpen take over here. Get him out now, he's got 2 stellar starts in a row under his belt, and he's really moving in the right direction.

[FredLynn]

Another sterling outing for clay. Looks like he's on his way to figuring himself out. That's a great sign for us.

 

It would be huge. Now if Lester could find HIMSELF we could really be in great shape.

Win tonite and win one of the other two this weekend is all we need.

[SoxFanForsyth]

It would be huge. Now if Lester could find HIMSELF we could really be in great shape.

Win tonite and win one of the other two this weekend is all we need.

 

I really like our chances tomorrow with Doubront going.

[FredLynn]

If he's pulled now' date=' that's 2 starts in a row of 7 IP, 2 ER. That would be a 2.57 ERA. That's not just good for a #3. If you get a SP who can throw to a 2.57 ERA, he's an ace.[/quote']

 

I want to see 2-3 more good starts for him before I will think he is "cured" of whatever malady he was afflicted with earlier. Very good outing, and its not over yet. Good move IMO. Give him one baserunner.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Shouldn't have put him out there in the 8th.

[Station 13]

Huh?!?

 

He's at 97 pitches through 7. That's extremely efficient for the AL East. Anytime you can get your SP to get through 7 in the AL East you have to be thrilled.

 

He's pitching well. but his HR rate is really awful.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I want to see 2-3 more good starts for him before I will think he is "cured" of whatever malady he was afflicted with earlier. Very good outing' date=' and its not over yet. Good move IMO. Give him one baserunner.[/quote']

 

I'n not saying he's cured. I was just saying 7 IP, 2 ER back to back is excellent even for an ace, not just a #3.

[FredLynn]

ONE baserunner Bobby V...you left him in one batter too long.

[TutGadol]

Wasn't the sharpest hits I ever saw, but still. I think he should've been pulled out.

 

By the way, Santana is on his way to the first Mets no hitter in history.

[FredLynn]

This is a mistake.