3/29 at Rays

[mvp 78]

Sale vs Archer

[Spudboy]

I wonder what the crowd size will be.

 

I'm guessing about 17,000.

 

I also wonder about playing on grass all spring and then starting the season with two series on turf.

 

I hope we see no more injuries for a while.

[Bellhorn04]

Start time 4 PM.

 

As much as I don't like the TropDome, it's kind of nice to know we'll be playing our first 4 games of the season without any weather issues.

[cp176]

Must watch t.v. up here in the north woods of Maine.

[Kimmi]

A game thread! A game thread!

 

Woohoo!

[Kimmi]

Start time 4 PM.

 

As much as I don't like the TropDome, it's kind of nice to know we'll be playing our first 4 games of the season without any weather issues.

 

That's the one good thing about playing at the Trop - you know there won't be a rainout or a rain delay.

[Maxbialystock]

A game thread! A game thread!

 

Woohoo!

 

Exactly.

[mvp 78]

That's the one good thing about playing at the Trop - you know there won't be a rainout or a rain delay.

 

But it’ll be overcast and dark for sure.

[mvp 78]

@SoxNotes

 

The Red Sox begin their 118th AL season tomorrow. They are 58-58-1 all-time in season openers, having won each of their last three. Boston last won four straight Opening Day games from 1997-2000.

[moonslav59]

Sox vs opening day starter Chris Archer (RHP):

 

PAs Player OPS

54 Pedey .703

39 Betts 1.352

34 Bogey .653

31 JBJ .544

26 Holt .500

25 HRam .773

18 JMart .748

13 Moreland .748

11 Beni 1.145

 

Chris Sale vs TBR last year:

 

4-1 2.66 (.564 OPS against/0.885 WHIP))

 

At TB

 

1-1 3.48 (.637 OPS against/0.919 WHIP)

[Maxbialystock]

Thanks, moonslav.

[bkzwhitestrican]

Oh s*** a game thread. Now I'm starting to get excited.

[mvp 78]

@ScottLauber

 

Chris Sale will make his fourth career Opening Day start but first for the #RedSox, who have had five different Opening Day starters in the past five years (Sale '18, Porcello '17, Price '16, Buchholz '15, Lester '14).

[Maxbialystock]

Oh s*** a game thread. Now I'm starting to get excited.

 

Like that scene in fever pitch when the season tickets are delivered and they open them up and say, "this smells like the year."

[mvp 78]

@JMastrodonato

 

Cora says opening day Red Sox lineup to be

 

Betts

Benintendi

Ramirez

Martinez

Bogaerts

TBD (Devers)

TBD (Nunez)

JBJ

Vazquez

[Maxbialystock]

@JMastrodonato

 

Cora says opening day Red Sox lineup to be

 

Betts

Benintendi

Ramirez

Martinez

Bogaerts

TBD (Devers)

TBD (Nunez)

JBJ

Vazquez

 

That's what I would have guessed. Last year Devers did better in the lower half of the lineup. Even with him batting 6th, the bottom 1/3 looks pretty decent to me.

[moonslav59]

That's what I would have guessed. Last year Devers did better in the lower half of the lineup. Even with him batting 6th, the bottom 1/3 looks pretty decent to me.

 

Again, teenie, tiny sample sizes.

 

Devers had 4 PAs in cleanup (.750).

66 up 5th is not a lot (.626)

73 PAs up 6th (.813)

69 up 7th (.907)

Only 9 up 8th (1.000)

19 up 9th (1.109)

 

I'd love to see Devers get a chance up 4th or 5th this year, and not because of an injury. The kid is a great hitter.

 

He's got way more power than Bogey, so he might be better up 5th day one.

 

[fxkatt]

Of course, I hate Ramirez hitting third. And JBJ should hit 9th. But I'm guessing that in these lucky-start Florida games, this will make no difference.

 

Ramirez for me is a 6th or 7th slot hitter. And there's so many guys on this team who could effectively hit third, but Ramirez is not one of them. May he prove me wrong. (or is this 3rd pos. temporary?)

[Maxbialystock]

Of course, I hate Ramirez hitting third. And JBJ should hit 9th. But I'm guessing that in these lucky-start Florida games, this will make no difference.

 

Ramirez for me is a 6th or 7th slot hitter. And there's so many guys on this team who could effectively hit third, but Ramirez is not one of them. May he prove me wrong. (or is this 3rd pos. temporary?)

 

Apparently, this was a firm decision by Cora. Not a permanent one, of course. HanRam loves it and wants to deliver. Meanwhile the younger guys are wrapped around HanRam and JD batting 1st, 2d, 5th, and 6th. I think it could work. I like JBJ 9th too.

[moonslav59]

Of course, I hate Ramirez hitting third. And JBJ should hit 9th. But I'm guessing that in these lucky-start Florida games, this will make no difference.

 

Ramirez for me is a 6th or 7th slot hitter. And there's so many guys on this team who could effectively hit third, but Ramirez is not one of them. May he prove me wrong. (or is this 3rd pos. temporary?)

 

I think the studies show your worst hitter out of your top 5 or 6 should bat 3rd. That would indicate HRam.

 

I've always felt like your best all around hitter should bat 3rd, but I've changed my views.

 

So, if your best hitter should bat 2nd, shouldn't this be our template?

 

1) Betts

2) JMart

3) HRam

4) Beni

5) Devers

6) Bogey

7) Nunez

8) JBJ

9) Vaz

 

 

[MANNYHOF24]

Hopefully opening day will go as well as Celtics opening night did last fall!

[MANNYHOF24]

Sox win 5-2.

 

Sale goes 6 innings 2 runs, 9 k's.

 

Benny and JD homer.

 

and off we go!

[Thunder]

Let's do this guys. I'm back for the summer. Win. Dance. Repeat.

[mvp 78]

@PeteAbe

 

Mookie Betts hit Opening Day home runs in each of the last two seasons. He has four career home runs against Rays starter Chris Archer including one leading off the game last July 9.

[mvp 78]

@PeteAbe

 

Hanley Ramirez has two Opening Day grand slams [2009 for the Marlins, 2015 for the Red Sox]. No player since at least 1913 has had three.

[mvp 78]

This has been your daily Peter Abraham Corner.

 

Thank you.

[mvp 78]

http://www.masslive.com/expo/erry-2018/03/a5b1aa9c36/every_red_sox_opening_day_star.html#incart_river_mobile_index

 

Every opening day starter for the Sox since 1908!

[TylerD]

I've been waiting all my life for this moment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MLB IS BACK!!!!! K.... that was a bit of an exaggeration..... Mainly just been waiting since last season but regardless. GO SOX!!! Hope Sale can put some good work in today.

[moonslav59]

I've been waiting all my life for this moment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MLB IS BACK!!!!! K.... that was a bit of an exaggeration..... Mainly just been waiting since last season but regardless. GO SOX!!! Hope Sale can put some good work in today.

 

Have I meantioned lately that I'm just so glad we have...

 

Chris Freakin' Sale!

 

[TylerD]

Again, teenie, tiny sample sizes.

 

Devers had 4 PAs in cleanup (.750).

66 up 5th is not a lot (.626)

73 PAs up 6th (.813)

69 up 7th (.907)

Only 9 up 8th (1.000)

19 up 9th (1.109)

 

I'd love to see Devers get a chance up 4th or 5th this year, and not because of an injury. The kid is a great hitter.

 

He's got way more power than Bogey, so he might be better up 5th day one.

 

 

I'm guessing he will at some point. It will be a lot of trial and error to start the season especially with a new manager. It's a pretty solid looking line up to me as long as the bats stay hot. One thing I don't want to see is what happened last year, where the bats would be hot for a couple games and then zero fire power the next few games..... I am all for change till we find some consistency week in and week out with getting runs.