5/20 Orioles at Fenway

[Maxbialystock]

Well, that alas will likely ensure another streak of 1-20 or so.

 

Meh. I see it as something to hope on. I would not have played JBJ today for obvious reasons, but said I was fine with whatever Cora decides. He threw the dice one more time and it paid off.

[oldtimer]

the Bicep comes through....

 

Great leadoff double, productive out by Betts and Beni worked the count and got a FB to hit. That HR gives us three in the bank. Very good series of three hitters by the Sox.

[OH FOY]

Man this guy blasts them

[DontCallMeUncleRico]

JD!!! This guy has been a BEAST! What a signing.

[Jasonbay44]

Holy f***ing s*** JD Martinez is good at baseball

[OH FOY]

Incredible Power.

[jung]

A bit surprised Buck has let Hess stay in here for this. even though its only the 5th.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Nothing PESKY about that one.

[Station 13]

Smashing JD Martinez.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Showalter should have removed him when JBJ got the double. That was a big 'red flag.'

[OH FOY]

When Vazquez is up I would put everybody on the right side. Opposite Shift.

[CliffKlowers]

Stolen bases may be less important now than in years past because many teams use sabermetrics and have read Bill James. Many teams may have decided that SB attempts are a poor percentage move in general. MLB at the top level is not responsible.

[OH FOY]

Stolen bases may be less important now than in years past because many teams use sabermetrics and have read Bill James. Many teams may have decided that SB attempts are a poor percentage move in general. MLB at the top level is not responsible.

 

That Cardinal Team only had Jack Clark as there real Power hitter, in that Park at that time hard to hit HRS. They made that team fast, for that reason. Contact and speed more important then swing and misses, for maybe long outs anyway.

[Maxbialystock]

I'm not sure I fully approve of those 2 dingers by JDM today because he is the DH, and I've been arguing with moonslav that JDM hits better when he is also playing LF.

 

JD Martinez is just nuts with that opposite field power. He and Mookie now tied at 15 each.

[FredLynn]

97 pitches...time to get someone up in the pen

[Maxbialystock]

Be nice if ERod can just get thru the 6th unscathed. Very nice play by Beni to hold that corner shot to a single.

[Station 13]

Nunez cannot play anymore

[jung]

Stolen bases may be less important now than in years past because many teams use sabermetrics and have read Bill James. Many teams may have decided that SB attempts are a poor percentage move in general. MLB at the top level is not responsible.

 

I would believe that were it not for:

- both hitting AND pitching being turned into power games for no particular reason that would make sense other than that is what MLB wants to do

- rules implementations clearly designed to favor big power hitters and power hitting over other aspects of the game. MLB has allowing the shift to flourish unabated for no particular reason and we have the rules around second base.

- Adopting stats that favor starters going fewer innings like the quality start which is a mutation if I ever heard of one. Just because Bill James likes something is not a reason for MLB to adopt it as meaningful.

- The juiced baseball is another example. We have hitters hitting HR's with broken bats now

 

I could go on but will resist the temptation.

[FredLynn]

What are the odds that Hembree walks the first guy he sees?

[jung]

Good start for Eddie. He may never be able to get through 6 innings with less than 100 pitches. But for Eddie, this was a darned good start.

[FredLynn]

Great job by ERod today...but he has to find a way to be more efficient if he is going to take it to the next level

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Good start today by E-rod. I reserve the word great for starts that go at least 7 innings.

[jung]

Has anybody heard anything on Carson Smith? Are they still waiting to do a further evaluation?

[OH FOY]

Heard 2nd opinion, mostly likely done for season.

https://sports.yahoo.com/red-sox-don-t-know-183144071.html

Edited May 20, 2018 by OH FOY!

[Tedballgame]

His glove is ok after hitting the dugout wall.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Gotta believe DD is looking for another BP arm. Brach anybody?

[SoxHop]

Get Baltimore a body bag....... YEAH!!!!

[Maxbialystock]

Has anyone else noticed that the Orioles absolutely refuse to run on Betts's arm--not from 1st to 3d on a single (at least twice) and not even from 2d to home on a single with 2 outs. The Sox, on the other hand, are running amuck on Rickard's arm.

[Tedballgame]

JBJ swings through a mediocre fastball right down the middle. Maybe he needs glasses.

[Maxbialystock]

Gotta believe DD is looking for another BP arm. Brach anybody?

 

I wouldn't. He's got 2 long relievers in Velazquez, who has been solid this year, and Wright. He's got Kimbrel, Kelly, Barnes, Hembree, and I believe Poynter is back as a lefty reliever. Don't know about Johnson. Bullpen went 4 yesterday with ease. So far, so good today going into the 8th with Poynter on the mound.