Who is your playoff 3?

[moonslav59]

No 8 man pen?

 

I prefer that to the 5 man bench..

 

With 3 days off before game 1 and then 2 days off during the 5 game series, it's hard to imagine needing more than 11 pitchers (4 starters and 7 relievers).

 

That being said, our starting 9 will not need to be PH for. We could PR for HRam, Pedey, Leon and Vaz. We could use defensive replacements for Devers and HRam, if he's at 1B, so maybe we don't need a 5 man bench as much as we might need that 8th RP'er- probably a lefty.

 

Tough call.

 

I guess with a sketchy 3 and 4 starters, we may need to go to the pen very early in Fenway and in back-to back games, so maybe you're right- an 8 man pen might be best.

[moonslav59]

Since when?

 

Since the last 4 games. Porcello blows Fister away in the last 4 starts, even though he has not looked very good in those 4 starts.

[moonslav59]

If Porcello going to be our #3 (or #4-they would both get one game) maybe he should start game 2, especially if we manage to win game 1. His home/away splits are quite different: 5.43/3.67 ERA and OPSa: .860/.781. Pom could start game 3, ERod game 4. You have to pitch a #3 sometime; why not game 2? Sale will pitch games 1 and 5 (if we get to game 5). Who knows...maybe Porcello still has something left.

 

I thought about that, but one thing sways the decision.

 

If we are down 2-1, we will pitch Sale in game 4. that leaves the game 2 starter ready to pitch game 5 on normal rest. That should be Pom not Porcello.

[Larry Cook]

They have verlander and Dallas going against sale and Pomeranz.

 

They have seen Pomeranz and we have not seen Dallas or verlander in this series.

 

Number 3 for them will probably be peacock, seems like fister might be a better option for us.

[Kimmi]

With 3 days off before game 1 and then 2 days off during the 5 game series, it's hard to imagine needing more than 11 pitchers (4 starters and 7 relievers).

 

That being said, our starting 9 will not need to be PH for. We could PR for HRam, Pedey, Leon and Vaz. We could use defensive replacements for Devers and HRam, if he's at 1B, so maybe we don't need a 5 man bench as much as we might need that 8th RP'er- probably a lefty.

 

Tough call.

 

I guess with a sketchy 3 and 4 starters, we may need to go to the pen very early in Fenway and in back-to back games, so maybe you're right- an 8 man pen might be best.

 

It's now sounding like the injury question marks surrounding both Pedroia and Nunez will necessitate Farrell having that 5 man bench.

[FredLynn]

It's now sounding like the injury question marks surrounding both Pedroia and Nunez will necessitate Farrell having that 5 man bench.

 

I would leave Nunez off the roster unless he is close to 100%. I would go with Holt and hold my nose.

[FredLynn]

I thought about that, but one thing sways the decision.

 

If we are down 2-1, we will pitch Sale in game 4. that leaves the game 2 starter ready to pitch game 5 on normal rest. That should be Pom not Porcello.

 

Wouldn't Sale be going on three days rest? I don't like that idea, given the number of innings he has pitched this year. We won't likely be getting vintage Sale.

[BstHcpr]

I'd go ERod, and then a 6 inning bullpen game with Price tossing two or three innings.

[moonslav59]

Wouldn't Sale be going on three days rest? I don't like that idea, given the number of innings he has pitched this year. We won't likely be getting vintage Sale.

 

It's not ideal, but in an elimination game, I'll go with 3-Day Sale over Porcello or Fister.

 

Plus, it allows Pom to pitch game 5, if needed.

 

2 Sale (one on 3 days rest)

2 Pom

1 ERod

 

vs

2 Sale (one on extra days rest)

1 Pom

1 ERod

1 Porcello/Fister

 

Ideally, we'll be up 2-1, and not need Sale for game 4.

[Northern Star]

Pom and Sale and pray for hail.

[moonslav59]

Pom and Sale and pray for hail.

 

Sale and Pom and pray to the holy Mom.

[Northern Star]

Sale and Price and don't think twice.

[devildavid]

The question, though, is whether a quick hook can sometimes win you a game.

 

No, one move never is responsible for winning a game. It only can increase the probability of winning a game.

[devildavid]

Every managerial move makes some difference. Just like every play of the game makes some difference. My points are that managerial moves do not affect the game nearly as much as some people think they do. Nor does any one single play.

 

My argument is against statements like 'Farrell cost us the game by leaving a pitcher in too long' or 'Beni's boneheaded running cost us that game'. Yes, those moves/plays did contribute to the outcome of the game. So did the seemingly insignificant strike one or ball one first pitch of the game.

 

Exactly.

[devildavid]

And expectations rear their ugly head.

 

Porcello pitched worse than expected. Fister pitched better than expected. Therefore Fister must be better than Porcello.

 

But the reality is Porcello has still pitched better than Fister.

 

The reality? By what measure? More of a tossup if you ask me.

[devildavid]

Statistically Porcello and Fister have been pretty close.

 

At this point I'd probably rather have Fister start than Porcello. But that's probably based mostly on gut feelings and the Recency Effect.

 

That's how I feel too.

[OH FOY]

Sale was a Reliever, maybe 3 days rest might be OK. What we need is a blowout for Game 1. Get him out, on low pitch count. Edited October 2, 2017 by OH FOY!

[Hugh2]

Sale/Pom/Erod/Porc.

 

Price the long guy if one of those guys look like they are going to lay an egg early.

[OH FOY]

Sale's game is huge, if your going to use Price in this way. Astros good hitting team, they see Price multiple times, they might catch up to him. Need others in that BP.

Sox have to hit. And when RISP more important. I don't see this as a Pitchers dual series. Maybe 1st game, but after that you better have a Offense.

For the Month of Sept. the Sox as a team hit .243 Astros hit .271

Edited October 2, 2017 by OH FOY!

[Bellhorn04]

No, one move never is responsible for winning a game. It only can increase the probability of winning a game.

 

That's fair...increasing the probability is all you can ask.

[Dalas21000]

He should be...If Im not mistaken he pitched Houston well

 

Too bad about Fister, he was some people's Game One starter for a short while there LOL

[Dalas21000]

Fister gave them a pretty good game from what I can remember

[Jasonbay44]

Yeah man, Doug Fister should've pitched game 1.

[Dalas21000]

Fister Sale Pomeranz

[devildavid]

Yeah man, Doug Fister should've pitched game 1.

 

Now we know it.

[Dalas21000]

It was obvious, but Farrell don't have the balls to make a move like that

[Dalas21000]

This is why Francona wins games, because he can make these kind of decisions

[Dalas21000]

We should have known this a long time ago when Fister threw a 1 hitter against Cleveland and looked good against Houston

[devildavid]

It was obvious, but Farrell don't have the balls to make a move like that

 

Yet we all know Farrell would have been ripped if he started Fister and the results remained the same.

[a700hitter]

Yet we all know Farrell would have been ripped if he started Fister and the results remained the same.

Not any worse than he will be if we go 3 and out.