9/9 @ Toronto, Porcello vs. Estrada, for the AL East Championship (this week, anyway)

[Maxbialystock]

I'm starting this a day early to encourage discussion of the series, September, whatever. I have zero mojo, so we might as well discuss/argue/carp/cajole/analyze/pontificate.

 

I like our team right now and in this series and specifically the three matchups now that Farrell has moved Buchholz ahead of Pomerantz to pitch game 3. Both teams are starting righty-lefty-righty and in all three games I think our guys are pitching better right now.

 

As for Buchholz starting, I had a blinding flash of the obvious today. Farrell was manager in 2013 when Buchholz had that amazing first half before going on the DL, which means that Farrell, more than any of us or his coaching staff, knows what the good Buchhholz looks like. And something tells me he thinks this version is pretty darn close to the 2013 version. In his last 3 starts Buch averaged 6.1 innings and 1 run scored. And you can tell he's confident because he's pitching quickly (for him).

 

In the first six games of this road trip the Sox gave up no more than 2 runs in any one game. The two losses were 2-1 and 1-0. In their just completed road trip at Baltimore, Tampa, and NYC, the Jays were 3-6 and were just swept by the Yankees.

[Wade Boggs]

I for one am looking forward to this series. In this type of series as long as the Red Sox can take 2 out of 3 , or worse case win one don't get swept, they should be alright going into next week's big home stand of the season. It will be very interesting to see if the Red Sox starting pitching can hold that Jay offense down.

 

The first game is always key with Porcello pitching to set the tone. He's been their Ace even though Price has come around.

This is a big series but they all are. I'm excited about it. But concerned as well. These two teams are so equal to each other it's a coin flip.

[Bellhorn04]

Max carping mojo in the house?

[Maxbialystock]

I for one am looking forward to this series. In this type of series as long as the Red Sox can take 2 out of 3 , or worse case win one don't get swept, they should be alright going into next week's big home stand of the season. It will be very interesting to see if the Red Sox starting pitching can hold that Jay offense down.

 

The first game is always key with Porcello pitching to set the tone. He's been their Ace even though Price has come around.

This is a big series but they all are. I'm excited about it. But concerned as well. These two teams are so equal to each other it's a coin flip.

 

all good points.

[a700hitter]

Carping about carping mojo!!!

[mvp 78]

[Slasher9]

Day early mojo. wIN

[Youk Of The Nation]

In this type of series as long as the Red Sox can take 2 out of 3 , or worse case win one don't get swept, they should be alright going

 

This is a great position for the Sox to be in at the beginning of this series. One game up means even going 1-2 leaves you tied. Anything but a sweep keeps the Sox at least with a share of first place.

[SoxHop]

I hope we shellack those bastards.....

[Maxbialystock]

In the spirit of looking at the bigger picture, moonslav has a neat thing on his thread "A Realistic View of 2016," in which he points out that the AL East is easily the toughest and winningest division in 2016.

 

And those are the only teams the Sox will play for the rest of the regular season and more than half of those remaining games will be on the road.

 

So, yes, the business at hand is Porcello winning tonight--hopefully with some decent run support--and taking this series. But we can get just as excited at every series remaining.

Edited September 9, 2016 by Maxbialystock

[Maxbialystock]

espn.com allows a quick look at each hitter's last 10 games. I looked at our presumptive top eight hitters and can tell you the three hottest are not, repeat not, among Ortiz, Betts, Bogaerts, Bradley, and Leon. Nope. The hottest hitter in terms of getting on base is Pedroia, but you knew that. And the best rbi man--over his last 10 games--is Hanley Ramirez with I think 12. And second behind him with 9 is Shaw.

 

I think that admittedly small sample augurs well because we know Ortiz, Betts, Bogaerts, Bradley, and Leon can hit and that among those 5 the only one really struggling is Bogaerts.

 

I also think Farrell is likely to stick with 5 righties and 4 lefties in the lineup tonight. I'm guessing: Pedroia, Bogaerts, Ortiz, Betts, Ramirez, Leon, Shaw, Young, Bradley. The question mark has to be Young because he can always put Holt in LF--another lefty bat against a righty starter. On the other hand, this year the Toronto starter Estrada has been more effective against lefties than righties.

 

Why Oritz 3d and Betts 4th? I think mostly to protect Ortiz from getting walked too much.

[Slasher9]

HanRam has done an OUTSTANDING job this season. IMO he does not get the cred he deserves for the work he has put in and the positive results. the teammates seem to really like him too....

[SoxnCycles]

HanRam has done an OUTSTANDING job this season. IMO he does not get the cred he deserves for the work he has put in and the positive results. the teammates seem to really like him too....

 

Yup, he's been a little uneven, offensivesly, but he's coming on at the right time!

And while he's not going to win any fielding Bible awards at first,he done much better than most probably expected.

[mvp 78]

HanRam has done an OUTSTANDING job this season. IMO he does not get the cred he deserves for the work he has put in and the positive results. the teammates seem to really like him too....

 

I agree 100%. I've been on the Hanley train all year. Panda could have been like this too, but he doesn't seem to give a s*** anymore.

[Thunder]

Porcello solidifies his Cy Young candidacy. Sox hit a couple dingers. Joshua MFing Donaldson goes home crying. Win. Dance. Repeat. x3

[mvp 78]

Porcello solidifies his Cy Young candidacy. Sox hit a couple dingers. Joshua MFing Donaldson goes home crying. Win. Dance. Repeat. x3

 

Or he punches out the manager and then goes home with a suspension.

[d-money]

These are the games where porcello can build his candidacy for the cy young. Big series. Always nice to start off with a win.

[Slasher9]

Porcello solidifies his Cy Young candidacy. Sox hit a couple dingers. Joshua MFing Donaldson goes home crying. Win. Dance. Repeat. x3

 

IN.

[Thunder]

Jays are one of the few teams worse than us in one run games: we're 16-20, they're 15-23.

[a700hitter]

If Porcello keeps the Jays from going deep more than twice, the Sox should win.

[Wade Boggs]

Lineup....

 

Pedroia 2B

Bogaerts SS

Ortiz DH

Betts RF

Ramirez 1B

Shaw 3B

Leon C

Bradley CF

Holt LF

[Maxbialystock]

Lineup....

 

Pedroia 2B

Bogaerts SS

Ortiz DH

Betts RF

Ramirez 1B

Shaw 3B

Leon C

Bradley CF

Holt LF

 

Thanks, Wade. I got it wrong this time, but have no problems, of course, with Holt in LF. Shaw in the 6 slot suggest Farrell has confidence in him.

[Maxbialystock]

If Porcello keeps the Jays from going deep more than twice, the Sox should win.

 

I don't see Porcello as a Cy Young guy, but have plenty of confidence in him. My concern tonight is with the hitting.

[Spudboy]

I'm very relieved that the Sox have returned to Human Standard Time.

 

I watched all of the road games from the Other Coast. What a pain to adjust my sleeping!!!

[Maxbialystock]

I lost sleep, but did not watch entire games when they started at 9 or 10 pm our time. Too old. I hate the west coast games on Sun-Thurs nights.

[a700hitter]

Thanks, Wade. I got it wrong this time, but have no problems, of course, with Holt in LF. Shaw in the 6 slot suggest Farrell has confidence in him.

I think Porcello is a top Cy candidate this season. If he has had a weakness, it has been the gopher ball. If he limits the Jays to 2 or less Homers tonight, I am confident about our chances -- provided neither is a 3 run job or GS.

[SoxHop]

HanRam has done an OUTSTANDING job this season. IMO he does not get the cred he deserves for the work he has put in and the positive results. the teammates seem to really like him too....

 

I was super down on him last year and why wouldn't someone be. And I'm real glad they found a way to get the helmet to stick to his head, that got old quick.

 

I almost think from the beginning of the year that HanRam has been one of the most enthusiastic players on our team. I never would have thought that would be so.

 

I think he genuinely likes playing first and being in the action and working with the other infielders........

 

Almost immediately this year I did a complete 180 on him as far as wishing he was on our team.

[S5Dewey]

HanRam has done an OUTSTANDING job this season. IMO he does not get the cred he deserves for the work he has put in and the positive results. the teammates seem to really like him too....

 

Yeah, you had to bring THAT up.

 

Now I feel obligated to say that I never in my wildest dreams expected this to happen. I saw him as being a liability at 1b, refusing to bend over or stretch, and to be so "HR Happy" that he was going to excel Mike Napoli's K #'s. During the winter i was all for dumping Hanley for whatever we could get and having The Fat Man at 3B.

 

Could I have possibly been more WRONG??

[Hugh2]

Porcello ain't no Cy Young if the season ended today it would be a two horse race between Chris Sale and Corey Kluber. But if the Yankees or Tigers were to make a run down the stretch and these guys were part of it then I think Tanaka and Verlander could really make a strong case for themselves. But I think Porcello definitely belongs with those guys in that second tier behind Kluber and Sale with Tanaka, Verlander and I'd throw Quintana in there too.

 

He's definitely earned all the praise he gets this year and is easily one of the biggest reason why we are where we are. I've reached the point tow here I'm comfortable and confident every time he takes the hill. I love the control; out of all the guys in the Cy Young conversation he has the lowest BB/9 rate.

[a700hitter]

Porcello ain't no Cy Young if the season ended today it would be a two horse race between Chris Sale and Corey Kluber. But if the Yankees or Tigers were to make a run down the stretch and these guys were part of it then I think Tanaka and Verlander could really make a strong case for themselves. But I think Porcello definitely belongs with those guys in that second tier behind Kluber and Sale with Tanaka, Verlander and I'd throw Quintana in there too.

 

He's definitely earned all the praise he gets this year and is easily one of the biggest reason why we are where we are. I've reached the point tow here I'm comfortable and confident every time he takes the hill. I love the control; out of all the guys in the Cy Young conversation he has the lowest BB/9 rate.

Porcello will be high in the final voting. Unless he falls apart, he is in the top 3.