A Realistic View at 2016

[Bellhorn04]

HFA is a joke when you're facing a pitcher like Bumgarner.

[Dojji]

Madison Bumgarner is a postseason monster. Some guys just flip a switch when October roles around, Papi is one, Bumgarner is definitely another.

 

Wouldn't it be something if the two met this year?

[Slasher9]

HFA sure f***ing helped the Mets tonight.

lol. true enough.

1 game series is tough when your up against the planets greatest postseason pitcher of all time. home or away that is a tough ask....

[moonslav59]

Wouldn't it be something if the two met this year?

 

I'd rather see Lester vs Papi.

[Nick]

Bucky Dent didn't think much of HFA....

[mvp 78]

I believe HFA has a marginal effect. It's really not enough to stress about for MLB teams though. It's far more important for rowdy NHL and NFL stadiums.

[Bellhorn04]

Bucky Dent didn't think much of HFA....

 

Yeah, that was certainly an example of the Sox being hurt by their own ballpahk...

[mvp 78]

Yeah, that was certainly an example of the Sox being hurt by their own ballpahk...

 

And an example of ballplayers not being very bright. Throw a few warm up pitches, Torrez!

[Slasher9]

Bucky Dent didn't think much of HFA....

aaron boone did.

[Bellhorn04]

aaron boone did.

 

And Mark Bellhorn didn't.

[SoxnCycles]

Really?

 

We have to talk Bucky and Boone, hours before the playoffs start?

[Bellhorn04]

Really?

 

We have to talk Bucky and Boone, hours before the playoffs start?

 

Yeah, you're right.

 

Let's remember Pedro and Troy O'Leary breaking Cleveland's heart in 1999.

 

Let's remember Beckett and Drew and Youk and Pedey doing the same in 2007.

[SoxnCycles]

Yeah, you're right.

 

Let's remember Pedro and Troy O'Leary breaking Cleveland's heart in 1999.

 

Let's remember Beckett and Drew and Youk and Pedey doing the same in 2007.

 

Exactly.

 

The 2007 ALCS was almost as good as the series in 2004.

[mvp 78]

Let's remember Pedro and Troy O'Leary breaking Cleveland's heart in 1999.

Waaaaaaay back!!!

 

That season will always be my favorite non WS team.

[sk7326]

Waaaaaaay back!!!

 

That season will always be my favorite non WS team.

 

Being in Fenway for that 21 run explosion in Game 4 was one of my treasured ballpark memories

[sk7326]

Exactly.

 

The 2007 ALCS was almost as good as the series in 2004.

 

It didn't happen in Cleveland, but that JD Drew Slam in Game 6 ranks way up there in the most out of nowhere big plays

[sk7326]

The comeback from 2-0 down in 2003 against Oakland including SURVIVING Grady's first attempt to do that thing he did in that game against that team in the next series deciding game ... and there was always something wobbly about watching Derek Lowe try to get a save like that

[Bellhorn04]

The comeback from 2-0 down in 2003 against Oakland including SURVIVING Grady's first attempt to do that thing he did in that game against that team in the next series deciding game ... and there was always something wobbly about watching Derek Lowe try to get a save like that

 

I literally could not watch the end of that Game 5 in Oakland in 2003...I was a wreck.

[Slasher9]

Really?

 

We have to talk Bucky and Boone, hours before the playoffs start?

 

LOL...my bad SnC.

[oldtimer]

The American League Championship Series is underway. Players and coaches strive during the 162 game season for the privilege of playing in it. Once there, the realism is that you might not get there again so it is time to make the most of it. Execute each pitch, each at bat, each fielding play or go home. No excuses, just execute.

 

Last night we had our ace going but he didn't get it done. Porcello's bread and butter pitch is the sinking two seam fast ball. Hard to hit at all and really hard to get in the air. That pitch sets up his high four seamer, the changeup and the curve. Last night he started well using that pitch but for some reason went away from it. Maybe only a few for the rest of the outing, instead going with belt to shoulder level fast balls and changeups. I don't understand why he, Leon and the coaches didn't realize he had done so and correct it. Instead, he seemed mesmerized and was on his way to more than a 9.0 era for the game. Giving up so many in so few innings digs a big hole for our hitters.

 

Speaking of our hitters, they are facing major league pitching and you can't expect them to do more than put up good at bats and have occasional hits. A number of our players did just that but our original killer bees seem to have lost their sting. Betts at least drew a walk and should be okay. Perhaps the idea of being in a playoff game made him nervous. Bradley on the other hand was taking his power cut and having trouble making any contact at all while Bogaerts looked totally lost. These guys need to get in the game and execute or else we will be out early. Leon got a home run but clearly doesn't handle the curve very well. I'm guessing he will see a lot more of those as the series progresses.

 

The only field play I thought was not made as well as it might have been is Beni's throw to second base after making a catch in deep left. He seemed to hesitate getting the ball in perhaps thinking the runner would not try to tag and take 2nd. That resulted in a run so was important. I chalk that up to experience.

 

Pedey, Holt, Ortiz, Hanley and Beni looked good at the plate but they need more help. Price against Kluber will be to our disadvantage so we really need to step forward or go home down two.

[moonslav59]

The American League Championship Series is underway. Players and coaches strive during the 162 game season for the privilege of playing in it. Once there, the realism is that you might not get there again so it is time to make the most of it. Execute each pitch, each at bat, each fielding play or go home. No excuses, just execute.

 

Last night we had our ace going but he didn't get it done. Porcello's bread and butter pitch is the sinking two seam fast ball. Hard to hit at all and really hard to get in the air. That pitch sets up his high four seamer, the changeup and the curve. Last night he started well using that pitch but for some reason went away from it. Maybe only a few for the rest of the outing, instead going with belt to shoulder level fast balls and changeups. I don't understand why he, Leon and the coaches didn't realize he had done so and correct it. Instead, he seemed mesmerized and was on his way to more than a 9.0 era for the game. Giving up so many in so few innings digs a big hole for our hitters.

 

Speaking of our hitters, they are facing major league pitching and you can't expect them to do more than put up good at bats and have occasional hits. A number of our players did just that but our original killer bees seem to have lost their sting. Betts at least drew a walk and should be okay. Perhaps the idea of being in a playoff game made him nervous. Bradley on the other hand was taking his power cut and having trouble making any contact at all while Bogaerts looked totally lost. These guys need to get in the game and execute or else we will be out early. Leon got a home run but clearly doesn't handle the curve very well. I'm guessing he will see a lot more of those as the series progresses.

 

The only field play I thought was not made as well as it might have been is Beni's throw to second base after making a catch in deep left. He seemed to hesitate getting the ball in perhaps thinking the runner would not try to tag and take 2nd. That resulted in a run so was important. I chalk that up to experience.

 

Pedey, Holt, Ortiz, Hanley and Beni looked good at the plate but they need more help. Price against Kluber will be to our disadvantage so we really need to step forward or go home down two.

 

It's the AL Division Series.

 

Our timing looked off at the plate. I have never seen so many check swing strikes in one game. Great RP'ing by the Guardians caused much of it. Miller- Shaw- Allen...WOW! They didn't even use Otero, who had the best ERA and WHIP in the CLE pen this year: 1.53/0.906.

[Wade Boggs]

It's the AL Division Series.

 

Our timing looked off at the plate. I have never seen so many check swing strikes in one game. Great RP'ing by the Guardians caused much of it. Miller- Shaw- Allen...WOW! They didn't even use Otero, who had the best ERA and WHIP in the CLE pen this year: 1.53/0.906.

 

That would be the strength of Cleveland. That is the only way they can win this series. The key was Porcello more I thought. I didn't think they had great discipline at the plate, but the Cleveland bullpen was great. Hopefully that doesn't continue. That's why todays game might be the whole series in a nutshell. I didn't think he go to Miller that early. I guessed wrong. The next thing moving forward will be

 

 

1. Is Kluber healthy or is it all BS talk.

2. Is Price up to the pressure for today.

3. Will the Red Sox hit WRISP

[sk7326]

The story of the game was Porcello not being sharp at all - even early when he struck the side out, he was leaving everything high. Cleveland made him pay. Francona saw a chance to steal a game he was not expecting and he maneuvered the bullpen accordingly. He pulled Bauer before the Sox big bats could get a third look at him, used his best reliever in a vulnerable part of the game (as opposed to a garden variety "middle reliever") and called on his closer for a 5 out save. He is betting on Kluber to hold up his end of the deal.

 

Quietly ironic the Red Sox development people who saved Miller's career helped create this monster.

 

For the Sox, it's one game closer to elimination - but really no big worries - just have to get it done.

[User Name]

I think the Sox have a clear road to winning this game. Work Kluber over, and get to their middle relief. Only Otero remains of the highly-effective guys in Cleveland's BP. That lineup does not scare me at all.

[sk7326]

I think the Sox have a clear road to winning this game. Work Kluber over, and get to their middle relief. Only Otero remains of the highly-effective guys in Cleveland's BP. That lineup does not scare me at all.

 

This team did not build its run total up just feasting on 4s and 5s. They have hit good pitching too this year. I wish we had won Game 1, but I am not worried. (or any more worried than any short series would make me)

[moonslav59]

That would be the strength of Cleveland. That is the only way they can win this series. The key was Porcello more I thought. I didn't think they had great discipline at the plate, but the Cleveland bullpen was great. Hopefully that doesn't continue. That's why todays game might be the whole series in a nutshell. I didn't think he go to Miller that early. I guessed wrong. The next thing moving forward will be

 

 

1. Is Kluber healthy or is it all BS talk.

2. Is Price up to the pressure for today.

3. Will the Red Sox hit WRISP

 

Sox will win 9-3.

[moonslav59]

I think the Sox have a clear road to winning this game. Work Kluber over, and get to their middle relief. Only Otero remains of the highly-effective guys in Cleveland's BP. That lineup does not scare me at all.

 

Their O does not look scary, but they did finish second in AL runs scored!

 

Ahead of TOR and TEX.

 

The run the bases well, and that got them one run last night.

 

We had a runner thrown out.

 

One could say, that was the difference.

[Nick]

Xander looks more and more like a medicore hitting below average fielding shortstop. He looks completely lost at the plate.

[User Name]

That's stupid.

[moonslav59]

Xander looks more and more like a medicore hitting below average fielding shortstop. He looks completely lost at the plate.

 

Several batters looked "lost" last night. They were flailing at balls way out of the K zone. I never seen so many check swings in all my life!

 

Let's hope we get our timing back today.

 

I'm predicting a 9-3 win with about 14 hits.