4/19 at the Angels

[Maxbialystock]

Eduardo Rodriguez vs. Nick Tropeano, lefty vs. righty.

 

ERod pretty good in his last start, his second of the year--6 IP, 1R, 8K. Second start for Tropeano, who went 6.2 with 0 runs and 6 K's in his first start.

 

Sox outscored the Angels 19-1 in the first two games.

 

15-2!!!! Sox now getting noticed.

 

Almost everything Cora tries seems to work, but especially last night going with lefty Moreland batting 4th vs. a good lefty starter. 3/4 with 4 rbi's. Maybe his best at bat was in the 3d with the based loaded and he hit a sharp opposite field single to keep things moving along until Devers hit the slam.

[Slasher9]

Max Mojo.

WIN.

[TylerD]

These players want to play for Cora is what it comes down to. Literally seems he can’t do anything wrong right now which is awesome to see. These players look loose and relaxed and confident. Cora definitely has a handle on this team. Not to mention our pitching rotation right now is just filthy. Our 3rd pitcher is putting up Ace like numbers in his 3 starts. Been a joy watching these boys play.

[moonslav59]

Fire & Desire are back!

[Thunder]

This team is blowing my mind every single night. To keep the mojo going, I will not watch this one, as I have not seen much (if any) of the first two games of the series. Win. Dance. Repeat. x7

[TylerD]

This team is blowing my mind every single night. To keep the mojo going, I will not watch this one, as I have not seen much (if any) of the first two games of the series. Win. Dance. Repeat. x7

 

The way we are playing right now offensively & defensively is absolutely mind blowing. I was expecting a pretty decent start to the season but this is incredible. We are literally blowing teams out of the water. The Angles are a tough team so I wasn't expecting a sweep but holy man the last 2 games we have absolutely owned them. I also won't be able to watch this game as I work tonight but should be another good one.

[d-money]

Hope we get good Eduardo Rodriguez and not the one that nibbles a little too much.

[d-money]

The way we are playing right now offensively & defensively is absolutely mind blowing. I was expecting a pretty decent start to the season but this is incredible. We are literally blowing teams out of the water. The Angles are a tough team so I wasn't expecting a sweep but holy man the last 2 games we have absolutely owned them. I also won't be able to watch this game as I work tonight but should be another good one.

 

Starting pitching's still the name of the game. Hope we keep getting good starting pitching.

[TylerD]

Starting pitching's still the name of the game. Hope we keep getting good starting pitching.

 

Once Poms is back our rotation will go from scary to just down right terrifying!

[moonslav59]

Once Poms is back our rotation will go from scary to just down right terrifying!

 

It might be hard for him to improve on what Johnson and Velazquez have given us, so far, but I agree with your sentiment.

 

Johnson 1-0 2.08

 

Velazquez 2-0 3.29

 

Edited April 19, 2018 by moonslav59

[Maxbialystock]

Once Poms is back our rotation will go from scary to just down right terrifying!

 

Meh. Pom had a good year in 2017, but I never thought of him as scary or downright terrifying unless you mean us fans. He relied very heavily on that big curve and a fastball, and he usually needed a lot of pitches to get through an inning, which is why he averaged just a tad over 5 innings per start. I think he had a changeup, but didn't see it very often.

 

We have had 17 starts this year, of which two--Price's 1 inning bomb 2 starts ago and ERod's first start--have been lousy. All the rest have been ridiculously good even though a whole bunch of them only went 5 innings. Our team ERA is 2.66, 2d best in MLB and better than any Sox pitching staff I can remember. Pom's ERA last year was 3.32.

 

Are you sure Pom is going to radically improve this rotation or this pitching staff? My hope is that he deepens it because history shows we are likely to need a deep staff.

Edited April 19, 2018 by Maxbialystock

[moonslav59]

Meh. Pom had a good year in 2017, but I never thought of him as scary or downright terrifying unless you mean us fans. He relied very heavily on that big curve and a fastball, and he usually needed a lot of pitches to get through an inning, which is why he averaged just a tad over 5 innings per start. I think he had a changeup, but didn't see it very often.

 

We have had 17 starts this year, of which two--Price's 1 inning bomb 2 starts ago and ERod's first start--have been lousy. All the rest have been ridiculously good even though a whole bunch of them only went 5 innings. Our team ERA is 2.66, 2d best in MLB and better than any Sox pitching staff I can remember. Pom's ERA last year was 3.32.

 

Are you sure Pom is going to radically improve this rotation or this pitching staff? My hope is that he deepens it because history shows we are likely to need a deep staff.

 

Pom is a pretty good pitcher. Nobody knows, if he'll do better than Johnson/Velazquez would have done, but our pen should be improved by adding a long relief guy.

 

If Pom repeats how he did last year or the first half of 2016, our rotation and pen should be significantly better with him than without him.

[TylerD]

It might be hard for him to improve on what Johnson and Velazquez have given us, so far, but I agree with your sentiment.

 

Johnson 1-0 2.08

 

Velazquez 2-0 3.29

 

 

Agreed, the rotation as a group has been extremely solid. Going off what Poms did last year, he was extremely consistent and become a solid 2 pitcher while Price was injured and Porcello was having an off year. I can only assume when he is healthy he will make this rotation solid. But it's good to know we have some serious backup if he isn't what he was last year.

[moonslav59]

Agreed, the rotation as a group has been extremely solid. Going off what Poms did last year, he was extremely consistent and become a solid 2 pitcher while Price was injured and Porcello was having an off year. I can only assume when he is healthy he will make this rotation solid. But it's good to know we have some serious backup if he isn't what he was last year.

 

It's hard to project a pitcher like Pom, but these numbers are impressive:

 

2017: 17-6 3.32 (174 IP)

 

1st half of 2016 (before the injury)

 

8-7 2.47 (102 IP)

 

If adding a pitcher like Pom to your 12 man staff does not make a significant difference, our staff must be top notch from one to twelve!

 

[Maxbialystock]

It's hard to project a pitcher like Pom, but these numbers are impressive:

 

2017: 17-6 3.32 (174 IP)

 

1st half of 2016 (before the injury)

 

8-7 2.47 (102 IP)

 

If adding a pitcher like Pom to your 12 man staff does not make a significant difference, our staff must be top notch from one to twelve!

 

 

Not buying "significant difference" when the staff ERA is 2.66. Pom replaces Velazquez as a starter, and as a starter Velazquez has had 2 starts, 10.2 innings, 10 K's, 2 walks, and I think a 2.52 ERA.

 

I say again: I'm glad to have Pom back because he definitely adds depth to the staff. And I certainly hope he is as good as you say he will be.

Edited April 19, 2018 by Maxbialystock

[Jasonbay44]

One thing Pomeranz coming back will do, is definitely improve our depth, and bullpen. I've been very happy with Cora's bullpen management lately, in blowouts, he has been pitching his long guys 2-3 innings and not wasting innings on guys like Hembree who seemed to be worn out by the ASB last year. He's help keeping the bullpen and starter fresh, while also giving Johnson and Velazquez work and keeping them ready. This rotation problem to have is a good one.

 

The one guy who I'm not sure where he'll fit in is Steven Wright.

[Maxbialystock]

One thing Pomeranz coming back will do, is definitely improve our depth, and bullpen. I've been very happy with Cora's bullpen management lately, in blowouts, he has been pitching his long guys 2-3 innings and not wasting innings on guys like Hembree who seemed to be worn out by the ASB last year. He's help keeping the bullpen and starter fresh, while also giving Johnson and Velazquez work and keeping them ready. This rotation problem to have is a good one.

 

The one guy who I'm not sure where he'll fit in is Steven Wright.

 

Agree with all. A long season demands pitching depth. Don't much care about Wright even thought moonslav says he can still be pretty effective. What worries me about Wright is twofold: his knuckler ain't moving enough and he gets hit hard; it's working, but he can't get it into the strike zone. When he is on, however, he does everything moonslave says he does.

[moonslav59]

Not buying "significant difference" when the staff ERA is 2.66. Pom replaces Velazquez as a starter, and as a starter Velazquez has had 2 starts, 10.2 innings, 10 K's, 2 walks, and I think a 2.52 ERA.

 

I say again: I'm glad to have Pom back because he definitely adds depth to the staff. And I certainly hope he is as good as you say he will be.

 

Velazquez will go to the pen and improve it. We are adding Pom not losing Velazquez.

[Kimmi]

Not buying "significant difference" when the staff ERA is 2.66. Pom replaces Velazquez as a starter, and as a starter Velazquez has had 2 starts, 10.2 innings, 10 K's, 2 walks, and I think a 2.52 ERA.

 

I say again: I'm glad to have Pom back because he definitely adds depth to the staff. And I certainly hope he is as good as you say he will be.

 

Not to take anything away from what Velazquez has done, but the improvement in adding Pom to the rotation should be felt over the long run. Pom is not likely to improve over the two starts Velazquez has already made, but he will likely be a fair improvement over what Velazquez would do the remainder of the year as a starter.

[Kimmi]

Keep the good times rolling!

 

Win!

[moonslav59]

Agree with all. A long season demands pitching depth. Don't much care about Wright even thought moonslav says he can still be pretty effective. What worries me about Wright is twofold: his knuckler ain't moving enough and he gets hit hard; it's working, but he can't get it into the strike zone. When he is on, however, he does everything moonslave says he does.

 

What matters is how often "He has it" vs how often "He doesn't have it."

 

The same is true for most MLB pitchers. if a curveball pitcher doesn't have it, he will suck.

 

Wright has very good numbers over the last 3-4 years (ML and minors). He's actually been pretty consistent.

[kenmeister]

I would have loved to have seen Velazquez and Johnson developed into starters for the whole year, but we have an embarrassment of riches in the starting pitching department. Keep them all though, because you never know Price might opt out of his contract next year and Pomeranz and ERod are injury-plagued.

 

Steven Wright ... I have to admit I trade him. I'm tempted to package Wright, Leon, and Hembree for some good minor league depth and bring Swihart back to catching.

[moonslav59]

I would have loved to have seen Velazquez and Johnson developed into starters for the whole year, but we have an embarrassment of riches in the starting pitching department. Keep them all though, because you never know Price might opt out of his contract next year and Pomeranz and ERod are injury-plagued.

 

Steven Wright ... I have to admit I trade him. I'm tempted to package Wright, Leon, and Hembree for some good minor league depth and bring Swihart back to catching.

 

What if it meant you add 0.80 to your ERA everytime Swihart catches instead of Leon?

 

Just a hypothetical....

[fxkatt]

Yankees drop struggling Giancarlo Stanton to 4th in lineup

 

Talk about an absurd ESPN headline--and a huge one too.

[fxkatt]

Pom, like Moreland and Nunez have turned out to be wise moves. All three have carried this team through portions of seasons... Moreland early last season, Nunez right after traded here, and Pom has been really as consistent as we cd hope for since we obtained him, despite nagging injuries. Edited April 19, 2018 by fxkatt

[moonslav59]

Pom, like Moreland and Nunez have turned out to be wise moves. All three have carried this team through portions of seasons... Moreland early last season, Nunez right after traded here, and Pom has been really as consistent as we cd hope for since we obtained him, despite nagging injuries.

 

Pom did not do well for us in 2016. Yes, the injuries impacted his performance, but he was a let down that year.

 

I'm glad we have him.

[moonslav59]

JBJ's turn to sit tonight.

 

1) Betts

2) Beni

3) HRam

4) JMart

5) Moreland

6) Devers

7) Nunez

8) Vaz

9) Holt

[fxkatt]

JBJ's turn to sit tonight.

 

1) Betts

2) Beni

3) HRam

4) JMart

5) Moreland

6) Devers

7) Nunez

8) Vaz

9) Holt

 

A very reassuring lineup. All tough outs, given Holt is facing a righty. I wouldn't want to have to face it. Is it possible that we score big again tonight?

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Wow, standing room only in Anaheim.

 

Just kidding.

[DontCallMeUncleRico]

I like this outfield. Jackie's a late inning defensive replacement. This makes our lineup more potent with Moreland in there.