5/31 Houston 'Stros

[Station 13]

Our hitting is way better than Houston. Their guys are not having great seasons. But we might have to battle them with the starting pitching Houston rolled out. Pom Pom got his work cut out for him to stay in the rotation. My streak depends falls on the lefty.

[Beaneater]

Recently Bellhorn04 gave some pitching advice to Porcello in the form of a ditty:

 

To Rick Porcello:

It's so simple, fellow

When ya keep the ball low

The wins will follow

 

Nice work! With my tongue in cheek, I asked him to do one for Pomeranz, too. Well, since it's Pom's turn today, I'll provide the poetical advice:

 

I bear no animosity

But I see low velocity

So if that knuckle curve won't dance

You're gonna get shelled, Pomeranz

[Bellhorn04]

Recently Bellhorn04 gave some pitching advice to Porcello in the form of a ditty:

 

 

 

Nice work! With my tongue in cheek, I asked him to do one for Pomeranz, too. Well, since it's Pom's turn today, I'll provide the poetical advice:

 

I bear no animosity

But I see low velocity

So if that knuckle curve won't dance

You're gonna get shelled, Pomeranz

 

Nicely done. By the end of the season maybe we'll have a collection put together.

[mvp 78]

There once was a player named Swihart

With utility, speed and smarts

Some thought he a savior

Who couldn't pass through waivers

But his offense was just a fart

[Maxbialystock]

Pom's problem is repertoire. He is the only MLB starter I know of with just two pitches, a fast ball and the knuckle curve, which I have never seen "dance," at least, not in the way Wright's knuckler does. moonslav and others love to remind me that Pom has been effective in the past, especially last year, but I remain a skeptic.

 

Thus it is a huge plus for this year's Sox that Wright and Pom were both on the DL early which gave Cora a chance to see Velazquez and Johnson start. Now Wright is back too and his knuckler actually does work.

 

So I think Pom is going out there tonight with a short string. Cora will want to win this first one if only because he doesn't want to make station 13 unhappy.

[mvp 78]

80% of Pom's pitches are either 4 seam FB or his curve. However, he does also through a cutter and a sinker from time to time (about 10% each). Edited May 31, 2018 by mvp 78

[mvp 78]

Pitch Repertoire At-A-Glance

Drew Pomeranz has thrown 11,824 pitches that have been tracked by the PITCHf/x system between 2011 and 2018, including pitches thrown in the MLB Regular Season, the MLB Postseason and Spring Training. In 2018, he has relied primarily on his Fourseam Fastball (90mph) and Curve using a Knuckle Curve grip (78mph), also mixing in a Sinker (89mph) and Cutter (86mph). He also rarely throws a Change (82mph).

 

BETA Feature:

Basic description of 2018 pitches compared to other LHP:

His fourseam fastball generates a high number of swings & misses compared to other pitchers' fourseamers, has less armside movement than typical, results in more flyballs compared to other pitchers' fourseamers, has slightly below average velo and has some added backspin. His curve has an exceptional bite, is basically never swung at and missed compared to other pitchers' curves and results in many more groundballs compared to other pitchers' curves. His sinker (take this with a grain of salt because he's only thrown 15 of them in 2018) generates a high number of swings & misses compared to other pitchers' sinkers, is an extreme flyball pitch compared to other pitchers' sinkers, has less armside run than typical, has little sinking action compared to a true sinker and has slightly below average velo. His cutter (take this with a grain of salt because he's only thrown 15 of them in 2018) is basically never swung at and missed compared to other pitchers' cutters, is an extreme flyball pitch compared to other pitchers' cutters and has good "rise". His change (take this with a grain of salt because he's only thrown 9 of them in 2018) is basically never swung at and missed compared to other pitchers' changeups and has a lot of backspin.

[Beaneater]

Good thing we don't have Mientkiewicz on the roster any more. That would be a tough rhyme.

[mvp 78]

Good thing we don't have Mientkiewicz on the roster any more. That would be a tough rhyme.

 

Would probably just stick with Doug...

 

Who gave Foulke a big hug

But he ended up keeping the ball

When the Sox won it all

And now fans just think of him and shrug

[Bellhorn04]

Good thing we don't have Mientkiewicz on the roster any more. That would be a tough rhyme.

 

Phonetically though, his name comes out as Mint Cave Itch. Might be able to work with that.

[Maxbialystock]

Pitch Repertoire At-A-Glance

Drew Pomeranz has thrown 11,824 pitches that have been tracked by the PITCHf/x system between 2011 and 2018, including pitches thrown in the MLB Regular Season, the MLB Postseason and Spring Training. In 2018, he has relied primarily on his Fourseam Fastball (90mph) and Curve using a Knuckle Curve grip (78mph), also mixing in a Sinker (89mph) and Cutter (86mph). He also rarely throws a Change (82mph).

 

BETA Feature:

Basic description of 2018 pitches compared to other LHP:

His fourseam fastball generates a high number of swings & misses compared to other pitchers' fourseamers, has less armside movement than typical, results in more flyballs compared to other pitchers' fourseamers, has slightly below average velo and has some added backspin. His curve has an exceptional bite, is basically never swung at and missed compared to other pitchers' curves and results in many more groundballs compared to other pitchers' curves. His sinker (take this with a grain of salt because he's only thrown 15 of them in 2018) generates a high number of swings & misses compared to other pitchers' sinkers, is an extreme flyball pitch compared to other pitchers' sinkers, has less armside run than typical, has little sinking action compared to a true sinker and has slightly below average velo. His cutter (take this with a grain of salt because he's only thrown 15 of them in 2018) is basically never swung at and missed compared to other pitchers' cutters, is an extreme flyball pitch compared to other pitchers' cutters and has good "rise". His change (take this with a grain of salt because he's only thrown 9 of them in 2018) is basically never swung at and missed compared to other pitchers' changeups and has a lot of backspin.

 

Cool. Very cool. Thanks, mvp 78. I'm enlightened but still have my doubts based on the world famous "eye test," by a rank amateur (me).

[Natick to NC]

There once was a player named Swihart

With utility, speed and smarts

Some thought he a savior

Who couldn't pass through waivers

But his offense was just a fart

Two hits yesterday run scored and played 1b.....Sandy could maybe fill in at ball boy ...doubtful the ball boys have better lateral quickness.

Edited May 31, 2018 by Natick to NC

[mvp 78]

Two hits more than Vaz yesterday ....he will pass Vaz. By mid June and Sandy by July ....traded or Un traded he will be just fine .

 

That is a terrible poem

[mvp 78]

Cool. Very cool. Thanks, mvp 78. I'm enlightened but still have my doubts based on the world famous "eye test," by a rank amateur (me).

 

I'm a professional copy and paster.

[Natick to NC]

I'm a professional copy and paster.

 

There once was two catchers 1 Vaz 1 Sandy they had no talent no nothing was handy along Came a Swihart oh boy could he hit but this freaking message board would rather see s*** ...

[Maxbialystock]

There once was two catchers 1 Vaz 1 Sandy they had no talent no nothing was handy along Came a Swihart oh boy could he hit but this freaking message board would rather see s*** ...

 

I can think of no better endorsement of Leon and Vazquez than your condemnation. I might add the same thing applies to the manager who has used them exclusively during the first third of a season in which the Sox have the best record in MLB.

[Kimmi]

1. Andrew Benintendi (L) LF

2. Xander Bogaerts ® SS

3. Mitch Moreland (L) 1B

4. J.D. Martinez ® DH

5. Dustin Pedroia ® 2B

6. Rafael Devers (L) 3B

7. Brock Holt (L) RF

8. Sandy Leon (S) C

9. Jackie Bradley Jr. (L) CF

 

 

Still no Mookie.

 

Leon is catching Pom tonight. Pom will be dealing.

 

WIN!

[Maxbialystock]

1. Andrew Benintendi (L) LF

2. Xander Bogaerts ® SS

3. Mitch Moreland (L) 1B

4. J.D. Martinez ® DH

5. Dustin Pedroia ® 2B

6. Rafael Devers (L) 3B

7. Brock Holt (L) RF

8. Sandy Leon (S) C

9. Jackie Bradley Jr. (L) CF

 

 

Still no Mookie.

 

Leon is catching Pom tonight. Pom will be dealing.

 

WIN!

 

It's to the credit of Cora and the team as a whole that they are 6-2 without Mookie Betts, who most of us agree is the team MVP this year so far.

 

Still, this is troubling.

 

Six lefty bats in the lineup vs. righty McCullers. Also interesting that Pedroia is back in there and batting 5th.

 

The bottom third--Holt, Leon, and JBJ--has actually hit pretty well recently.

 

Thanks, Kimmi, for providing a complete lineup.

[SoxHop]

Tonight, Pom is going to have diamonds on the soles of his shoes.

[d-money]

Hey pomeranz try not to get smoked this time around. How about keeping us in the game? Don’t suck so much

[d-money]

This series is a good test for this team. A worthy opponent although they haven’t played well recently.

[Station 13]

Can Pom just go 5 IP and 3ER or less?

[Spudboy]

Henceforth Pom's new name is poopy pants pomeranz

[jung]

Anything new on Mookie or are the Sox still pretty quiet on the topic?

 

Actually I just checked...Cora is just blathering along....more or less saying nothing. At some point if he does not get back into the lineup lets say in the next couple of days, the blather is going to stop buying the Sox time.

 

Pedey has just been made a late scratch, like just now. Swihart moving to 2nd. Not sure about the other details just yet.

Edited May 31, 2018 by jung

[Spudboy]

I like Swi a bunch but him playing 2nd base makes me nervous.

 

Mainly about turning 2.

[Jasonbay44]

Pedroia was scratched

 

Edit: Holt now at 2B, Swihart in RF

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Anything new on Mookie or are the Sox still pretty quiet on the topic?

 

Actually I just checked...Cora is just blathering along....more or less saying nothing. At some point if he does not get back into the lineup lets say in the next couple of days, the blather is going to stop buying the Sox time.

 

Pedey has just been made a late scratch, like just now. Swihart moving to 2nd. Not sure about the other details just yet.

 

Why not use Holt? Very strange.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Why not use Holt? Very strange.

 

Nevermind.

[jung]

Nevermind.

 

They just made that switch. NESN had it Swihart to 2nd and no other details. Probably should have figured, the "no other details" was the story.

[SoxHop]

BLacked out from the MLB cast. You MLB.TV dumbasses I live 3 hours away..... WTF and I supposed to do, drive there four days in a row.