Sox Pitching Staff Discussion

[SoxnCycles]

What's the difference? The trade was in July. The trade deadline was August. This didn't happen until later. I answered Kimmi's question in a fair manner.

 

Another poor white knight attempt by our resident fedora owner. Sad!

 

I's say there's a difference between last August and last week, when puniment was handed out to the SD GM.

If the Sox could've sent him back a couple of weeks ago, after getting use out of him, that's different than sending him back immediately after the deadline.

 

And stop being such a pussy. If you're going to post snark, expect to take it once in a while.

[Slasher9]

A. if the Sox were in fact offered to rescind the trade and declined - DD should be fired.

2. i hope limping into the playoffs shrugging off HFA in the divisional round doesnt bite us.

III. #KOJI4CLOSER

Four. i have zero confidence in Price. Zero.

[User Name]

I's say there's a difference between last August and last week, when puniment was handed out to the SD GM.

If the Sox could've sent him back a couple of weeks ago, after getting use out of him, that's different than sending him back immediately after the deadline.

 

And stop being such a pussy. If you're going to post snark, expect to take it once in a while.

 

Glass houses bro.

[a700hitter]

The bigger issue is that DD must not have a very high opinion of Espinoza if he declined to get him back. I trust his judgment in these matters,

[SoxnCycles]

Glass houses bro.

 

I'm not your bro.

I have standards.

[Dojji]

That, or even with this potential for injury, he still has a very high opinion of Pomeranz.

[User Name]

I'm not your bro.

I have standards.

 

I highly highly doubt that.

[mvp 78]

The bigger issue is that DD must not have a very high opinion of Espinoza if he declined to get him back. I trust his judgment in these matters,

 

To me, the thought process was probably "we could get Espinoza back, but there's a chance the Pomeranz can pitch for the rest of the year during this stretch run. It's too late to trade for another starter now and we really need all the help we can get with this rotation."

 

If they were offered this remedy prior to the deadline, I bet they would have reversed the trade.

 

We'll never really know though. It will be oh so enjoyable to talk about this for the next decade or so.

[Wade Boggs]

A. if the Sox were in fact offered to rescind the trade and declined - DD should be fired.

2. i hope limping into the playoffs shrugging off HFA in the divisional round doesnt bite us.

III. #KOJI4CLOSER

Four. i have zero confidence in Price. Zero.

 

I'm not taking sides Slash. But if they won say 15,16,17 in a row, you might have said they peeked way2soon. The NYY and TORONTO played hard all the way through. The Jays needed them games real bad. The Yankees played hard as well. The only thing that bugged me this week was Kimbrel. I know he could do better. I think he will.

[Slasher9]

Hey DD:

[sk7326]

The Red Sox wanted Pomeranz - they thought the deal was fair. From the evidence, they are pissed off at San Diego for misrepresenting the medical data, but clearly there is nothing in Pomeranz' medicals (although not as good as before) which prompted DD to want to send him back. I think DD would have asked for Espinoza back if the new medical revelations changed the calculus significantly. Moreover - the Sox have a title to win, so if there is a way to eliminate the distraction (with a pitcher they like) then who cares? Maybe the league and the Padres huddle up with them after the season for some additional considerations - but that's all you'll get.

 

Given Pomeranz was not shut down and actually pitched in Game 162 - he has not been forgotten or shut down yet.

[sk7326]

A. if the Sox were in fact offered to rescind the trade and declined - DD should be fired.

2. i hope limping into the playoffs shrugging off HFA in the divisional round doesnt bite us.

III. #KOJI4CLOSER

Four. i have zero confidence in Price. Zero.

 

We won a lot of games with fundamentals to match - relax. We could lose - because it's baseball, and almost any "upset" is a mild one.

[Slasher9]

I'm not taking sides Slash. But if they won say 15,16,17 in a row, you might have said they peeked way2soon. The NYY and TORONTO played hard all the way through. The Jays needed them games real bad. The Yankees played hard as well. The only thing that bugged me this week was Kimbrel. I know he could do better. I think he will.

 

yeah man. we will need him to. a game 5 in Cleveland will really make me think about how important every single regular season game really is. listen, i get that HFA is different in Baseball v Football but the way we just finished this season really does remind me of how BB treated the Miami game last year. if we win that game we are hosting Denver in the AFCCG. and no one can convince me that if that game is in Foxboro we dont win it. and no one can convince me that we wouldnt then roll Carolina in the SB and TB12 could have given the NFL the middle finger salute as they handed him the lombardi.

[Slasher9]

We won a lot of games with fundamentals to match - relax. We could lose - because it's baseball, and almost any "upset" is a mild one.

 

apologies SK, but im unsure which one of my 4 points this is in response to or which ones you disagree with?

as for "upset" - since cleveland finished with a better record wouldnt us winning the ALDS be considered the "upset"?

[sk7326]

yeah man. we will need him to. a game 5 in Cleveland will really make me think about how important every single regular season game really is. listen, i get that HFA is different in Baseball v Football but the way we just finished this season really does remind me of how BB treated the Miami game last year. if we win that game we are hosting Denver in the AFCCG. and no one can convince me that if that game is in Foxboro we dont win it. and no one can convince me that we wouldnt then roll Carolina in the SB and TB12 could have given the NFL the middle finger salute as they handed him the lombardi.

 

There is truth there - but a healthy focused team is still the better bet. After all, the Patriots (on offense) did not play well in that game.

 

The Red Sox have had such a history of home heartbreaks and a history of some very very proud moments on the road that it's not much to worry about. (the last time we had a deciding game in Cleveland did not go so badly)

[sk7326]

apologies SK, but im unsure which one of my 4 points this is in response to or which ones you disagree with?

as for "upset" - since cleveland finished with a better record wouldnt us winning the ALDS be considered the "upset"?

 

Not really - by a lot of markers we're a better team. And it's baseball - almost all these series are coin flips anyway. If the Giants or Mets picked of the Cubs, it would elicit a raised eyebrow - but nobody would confuse it with the Miracle on Ice or Douglas over Tyson.

[User Name]

If the Giants picked off the Cubs, there would be a lot of "Here we go again" vibes though.

[mvp 78]

There is truth there - but a healthy focused team is still the better bet. After all, the Patriots (on offense) did not play well in that game.

 

The Red Sox have had such a history of home heartbreaks and a history of some very very proud moments on the road that it's not much to worry about. (the last time we had a deciding game in Cleveland did not go so badly)

 

Not to disagree, but:

 

1986 was lost at Shea.

2003 was lost at Yankee Stadium.

2004 featured huge home wins in the ALCS.

The 2007 ALCS featured home wins in games 6 and 7.

2008 ALCS was lost at Tropicana.

Sox had a pretty memorable few games at Fenway in 2013 ALCS and World Series if memory serves me correctly...

[mvp 78]

If the Giants picked off the Cubs, there would be a lot of "Here we go again" vibes though.

 

The Cubs fans would deserve it, honestly.

[S5Dewey]

apologies SK, but im unsure which one of my 4 points this is in response to or which ones you disagree with?

as for "upset" - since cleveland finished with a better record wouldnt us winning the ALDS be considered the "upset"?

 

IMO there is no "upset" in this matchup regardless of who wins. The Guardians finished one game ahead of the Sox over a 162 game season. One game is 6/10 of 1% of the schedule - hardly a significant amount. For everything except determining HFA it's statistically a dead heat. It now comes down to who performs and who doesn't.

 

Speaking to the issue of #Koji 4 Kloser, it's going to be an interesting choice for JF to be making. The temptation is there to go with the guy who was signed to be The Closer, but The Closer hasn't been the best reliever on the team recently. If this guy blows one game in a five game series.... that's A LOT. Whatever JF decides to do he'll be second-guessed forever if it doesn't work.

[sk7326]

Not to disagree, but:

 

1986 was lost at Shea.

2003 was lost at Yankee Stadium.

2004 featured huge home wins in the ALCS.

The 2007 ALCS featured home wins in games 6 and 7.

2008 ALCS was lost at Tropicana.

Sox had a pretty memorable few games at Fenway in 2013 ALCS and World Series if memory serves me correctly...

 

And the Red Sox lost the 1967 and 1975 World Series at Fenway ... the Sox completed comebacks from 2-0 down in Division series at Cleveland and at Oakland. The Red Sox in 2003 and 2004 won 3 of 4 elimination games (and obviously kicked away a fourth) in Yankee Stadium.

 

In the 2008 ALCS the Red Sox tied the series on the road with an extremely compromised Josh Beckett. In 2007 the Red Sox saved their season with an elimination win in Cleveland. In 2013 the Red Sox went 6-2 on the road in the postseason.

[Bellhorn04]

And the Red Sox lost the 1967 and 1975 World Series at Fenway ... the Sox completed comebacks from 2-0 down in Division series at Cleveland and at Oakland. The Red Sox in 2003 and 2004 won 3 of 4 elimination games (and obviously kicked away a fourth) in Yankee Stadium.

 

In the 2008 ALCS the Red Sox tied the series on the road with an extremely compromised Josh Beckett. In 2007 the Red Sox saved their season with an elimination win in Cleveland. In 2013 the Red Sox went 6-2 on the road in the postseason.

 

I think I read something about a playoff game at Fenway in 1978 too.

[mvp 78]

The team has a wonderful history of heartbreaks at home and on the road. The team also has a wonderful history of tremendous wins at home and on the road.

 

Hard to really say that there is more heartbreak at home than on the road or more success on the road than at home.

[Bellhorn04]

The team has a wonderful history of heartbreaks at home and on the road. The team also has a wonderful history of tremendous wins at home and on the road.

 

Hard to really say that there is more heartbreak at home than on the road or more success on the road than at home.

 

Agreed - the overall conclusion, though, has to be that home field has been a non-factor either way.

[mvp 78]

Agreed - the overall conclusion, though, has to be that home field has been a non-factor either way.

 

I agree. While I don't really care about HFA, I just wish they didn't completely limp through the final week.

 

They're in. I'm happy.

[a700hitter]

Post season baseball is back in Boston!! I am a little concerned that Ortiz is emotionally spent after this weekend. For the first time, he expressed that he was exhausted from the farewell. It happened to Yaz in 1983. Emotions and performance on the baseball field don't mix well. Hopefully, David can regenerate and tuck away his emotions for a few more weeks.

[sk7326]

Post season baseball is back in Boston!! I am a little concerned that Ortiz is emotionally spent after this weekend. For the first time, he expressed that he was exhausted from the farewell. It happened to Yaz in 1983. Emotions and performance on the baseball field don't mix well. Hopefully, David can regenerate and tuck away his emotions for a few more weeks.

 

The few days off help - better than pre-Wild Card game when you had to dive right in that Tuesday.

[d-money]

I think david price has to be feeling alot of pressure. I hope he can finally deliver and pitch like's he capable off.

[illinoisredsox]

I think david price has to be feeling alot of pressure. I hope he can finally deliver and pitch like's he capable off.

 

True his postseason record is less than stellar. On the plus side, he has always pitched well against the Tribe; career against the Guardians he is 10-2 in 14 games with a 2.24 ERA. At Progressive Field he is 5-0 in 7 games with a 2.24 ERA. This year, he only faced them on opening day, he went 6 innings, allowing 2 runs while striking out 10 and walking 2.

 

All of which means ... nothing. He is likely to be facing Kluber, so a game similar to yesterday could easily be in the cards.

 

The team that has beaten him up throughout his career, no matter what uniform he's wearing, is the Rangers.

[moonslav59]

3 Days off

8 pm @ CLE

4:30 @ CLE

Day Off

4 pm CLE

? pm CLE (if needed)

Day Off

? pm @ CLE (if needed)

 

Plenty of rest and then 2 days off within the 5 game series.

 

If needed, we could go with Porcello in game 1 and 4 on 3 days rest and then have Price in game 5 on regular rest. If up 2-1, we may go with out 4th starter (ERod or Buch, whoever doesn't start in game 3). This would allow Porcello to pitch game 5 on an extra day's rest, probably not against Kluber (who would likely have been used in game 4 down 1-2 games).

 

Our offense should be well rested for every game.

 

One would think every relief pitcher would be rested enough to pitch in all games, unless used for 2 or more innings in the previous game.