4/18 @ Toronto

[Jasonbay44]

Brian Johnson (0-0, 0.00 ERA. 2017 Debut) vs Marcus Stroman 1-1 (1.76 ERA).

 

Not a great pitching matchup for us on paper, but who cares, win this s*** and lets continue streaking

[mvp 78]

My boy from Cocoa Beach is going to pitch deep into this game. Sox bats generally go quiet against guys they typically haven't faced before. This time, it's Toronto's turn.

 

[Wade Boggs]

Bogaerts SS

Benintendi CF

Betts RF

Ramirez DH

Moreland 1B

Young LF

Sandoval 3B

Vazquez C

Hernandez 2B

[mvp 78]

@iamjoonlee

 

Learned this in reporting my Mookie feature from a few years ago: first time he struck out in his life was in freshman year of high school.

[Fisk]

Interesting that he's playing Hernandez over Holt tonight a t second.

[Kimmi]

Toronto's offense has been really bad. I mean really bad.

 

So, that either bodes well for Johnson or Johnson will be the guy that gets their bats jump started.

 

I'm going with the former.

 

WIN!!!

[TylerD]

Sweep them and go into the Yankees series with some serious momentum!!

[cp176]

Interesting that he's playing Hernandez over Holt tonight a t second.

 

there you go - if he hangs around long enough there is our future second baseman.

[Jasonbay44]

Looks like Johnson still sucks.

[Hugh2]

Price can't get here soon enough

[d-money]

Already losing. The inconsistency continues!

[Hugh2]

Hopefully a Johnson can get through the first and calm down

[bosoxmal]

I am turnig negative on Pablo. His fileding has been atrocious. The first batter of the inning drove one down the line and Sandy looked like he was waiting for an email. He stood and watched until the basll was 1/2 way there. Now another bobble.

 

Johnson hasn't got anything, so it won't cost them the game, probably. By the time Johnson gets pulled there'll be about 6 runs scored.

[Hugh2]

Relax Bono it's early, this team has shown they can battle back

[TylerD]

Just like the Tampa game... a horrible start

[TylerD]

I am turnig negative on Pablo. His fileding has been atrocious. The first batter of the inning drove one down the line and Sandy looked like he was waiting for an email. He stood and watched until the basll was 1/2 way there. Now another bobble.

 

Johnson hasn't got anything, so it won't cost them the game, probably. By the time Johnson gets pulled there'll be about 6 runs scored.

 

Pablo is inconsistent but he has mad some beautiful plays at times. I think we give him the season and see how he does unless he goes completely downhill.

 

And yes Johnson has been atrocious. We had this exact start against Tampa. Here's hoping we can turn it around.

[cp176]

How many guys can get away with a fastball that tops out at 89 these days. Just doesn't happen.

[Jasonbay44]

I don't see anything in Johnson. He doesn't throw hard or fool hitters. I don't think he has much of a future in the majors.

[67RedSox]

So far things aren't looking too good. Sure would like to get our starting pitchers back

[Hugh2]

Johnson has a nice 4 pitch mix with good command that plays up well in the minors. His stuff is so fringey though, he doesn't have a plus pitch or an out pitch. this is likely what he is, a 5th starter type. He will have days when he's on and able to pitch to contact while nibbling the corners but he's just not that good.

[Jasonbay44]

Wow, Morales with a huge bailout, maybe Johnson can actually get out of this inning allowing 0 runs.

[TylerD]

K we get it... Johnson sucks.... wtf is he still in?!?!?!?!

[Jasonbay44]

Wow, hit hard but thankfully right at Betts..

[TylerD]

How the hell did we get out of that...

[Jasonbay44]

Xander hits Stroman really well.

[TylerD]

Hopefully Johnson can shut them out the rest of the way. Something tells me offensively we won't do s*** against Stroman tonight

[67RedSox]

Beni is up love that kid

[illinoisredsox]

K we get it... Johnson sucks.... wtf is he still in?!?!?!?!

 

Well after a couple of games where the starters didn't get out if the 5th, the bullpen has to be taxed. You can't burn the pen for 7-8 innings. Modern pens don't have a real long man anymore. There were several times when I was a kid when Bob Stanley would come in in the 1st or 2nd and finish the games. I recall once when he pitched from the 1st into extra innings.

 

This is part of the marathon, it's not the sprint portion of the season. More a hope game tonight; hope Johnson can keep it close and get some runs off a guy who can be tough at times.

[Jasonbay44]

Mookie is amazing.

[TylerD]

There's a run!