6/10 vs Chi-Town White Sucks

[Thunder]

RHP Reynaldo Lopez (1-4, 3.42) vs RHP Rick Porcello (8-2, 3.59)

 

I think it's safe to say Porcello has had the most under the radar season among our starters. He's been sneakily good. But not today. Today he'll be very obviously good, because this is Chicago's butthole we're playing here. Chicago doesn't need two MLB teams, so they canned the White Sox and made them a AAA team. Goods vibes. Win. Dance. Repeat. x2

[Slasher9]

Good time for a Thunder win streak.

Let’s do this.

[Maxbialystock]

Even the Japanese attack on December 7 wasn't under the brand new radar on Oahu. They were seen and reported but were then disregarded.

 

After the last two seasons, Porcello should be under the radar but isn't--he is second in innings pitched on the Sox and leads in wins with 8. Even I have been impressed even though I'd written him off. He has a good repertoire which works when he mixes his pitches and generally keeps the ball low and throws strikes. I think the other four--Sale, Price, ERod, and Wright--have better stuff, but this year Porcello was pretty much our ace for a couple of weeks or so and overall so far are 2d best starter.

 

I do think Thunder starting his second straight game thread is a good omen at the right time. Tomorrow begins a 10 game road trip thru Baltimore, Seattle, and Minnesota before returning to play Seattle and then the Angels at Fenway. No better time to show what this team is made of with Mookie likely to return soon and, one hopes, for good.

[OH FOY]

Last time Hawk Harrelson comes to Fenway, remember that wild season he had very well. Went to a couple of games with my Pop, last time SRO, he cracked HRS both times. Into the Net.....No not the internet.

[jung]

1. Andrew Benintendi (L) LF

2. Xander Bogaerts ® SS

3. Mitch Moreland (L) 1B

4. J.D. Martinez ® DH

5. Rafael Devers (L) 3B

6. Brock Holt (L) 2B

7. Jackie Bradley Jr. (L) CF

8. Blake Swihart (S) RF

9. Sandy Leon (S) C

[jacksonianmarch]

Unless the bases are loaded, JD sees not a single pitch in the strike zone. The 5-9 should scare nobody

[Station 13]

Unless the bases are loaded, JD sees not a single pitch in the strike zone. The 5-9 should scare nobody

 

Why the hell does Cora do this? Shouldn't JD bats where he gets more PAs?

 

We should roast the faux sox regardless.

[moonslav59]

Why the hell does Cora do this? Shouldn't JD bats where he gets more PAs?

 

We should roast the faux sox regardless.

 

The 4 slot is more important than the 3 slot, according to 'studies".

 

I like the top 4 order.

 

The bottom 5 is frighteningly bad-looking.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

1. Andrew Benintendi (L) LF

2. Xander Bogaerts ® SS

3. Mitch Moreland (L) 1B

4. J.D. Martinez ® DH

5. Rafael Devers (L) 3B

6. Brock Holt (L) 2B

7. Jackie Bradley Jr. (L) CF

8. Blake Swihart (S) RF

9. Sandy Leon (S) C

 

I thought Cora and me had an agreement to bat JD third in the line-up for the rest of the season. I guess not. But, I guess, Cora knows best. I guess.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

From 5-9 Holt is the most dangerous batter.. Edited June 10, 2018 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[jung]

I thought Cora and me had an agreement to bat JD third in the line-up for the rest of the season. I guess not. But, I guess, Cora knows best. I guess.

 

JD should be batting 3rd.... I can't judge why Cora is doing this other than favoring LRLR at the top of the order and I honestly don't think it matters in this lineup today. Rafi Devers does nothing to help JD see pitches he can drive out. Moreland does. THE END.

 

Then again Cora could be counting on the incredible stupidity of batteries these days. How or why JD got a nothing Change, a clear mistake that he could drive out to RCer field is a total mystery. Never should have gotten a change that was anywhere near a strike much less one that was a mistake Change. They should have just shown JD the Change in order to speed up the FB if anything and even with that, it was dumb as dirt.

 

I can understand hitting in the contemporary MLB. I might not agree with some of it. But I can understand it. I don't understand a single thing about how batteries pitch to hitters any longer in MLB. It is an absurdity and we are no better at it. Sale who seems to pitch his own game is the exception. Price is something of an exception. The rest of them do the same stupid s***.

[moonslav59]

From 5-9 Holt is the most dangerous batter..

 

Last 28 days numbers shine a more positive light on our bottom 5:

 

.875 Leon

.780 Holt

.762 JBJ

.736 Vaz

.668 Nunez

.602 Devers

.382 Swihart

 

Last 14 days:

.895 Leon

.831 JBJ

.686 Holt

.518 Devers

.408 Swihart

 

Edited June 10, 2018 by moonslav59

[a700hitter]

Trying to get my @thegamemojo to .500 this week. I will bench myself if I fall to 1-3 for the week.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Shane Livensparger is my new favorite name

[Youk Of The Nation]

That could have been much more disastrous than it was. It should have been a double play but it was also inches away from being first and third with no outs

[dustcover]

Any explanation for 3 in the broadcast booth with both Remdog and Eck doing color?

[FredLynn]

Behind again to start the game vs the WS...what is it with playing from behind?

[Natick to NC]

Swihart goes yard today

[jung]

An 8 pitch inning from a guy with 31 walks in 71 innings. Nicely done fellas. Real nice lead off AB Beni.

[d-money]

I swear if they lose a series to this horrible team. Ughhh

[jacksonianmarch]

Why anyone pitches to JD is beyond me

[Jasonbay44]

Nice base running by Devers there

[Youk Of The Nation]

Jbj is comically bad at this point. What happened to this guy? There was a point a couple summers ago where he looked on pace for a 57 game hitting streak with 40 home runs

[Jasonbay44]

Jbj is comically bad at this point. What happened to this guy? There was a point a couple summers ago where he looked on pace for a 57 game hitting streak with 40 home runs

 

I think Swihart somehow looks even worse.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Jbj is comically bad at this point. What happened to this guy? There was a point a couple summers ago where he looked on pace for a 57 game hitting streak with 40 home runs

 

He is on pace for a 35 RBI season.

[Station 13]

Swihart used to hit linedrives all over. He can't hit anything now. 2 year of lost development, thanks Farrell.

[oldtimer]

An 8 pitch inning from a guy with 31 walks in 71 innings. Nicely done fellas. Real nice lead off AB Beni.

 

Beni is much better when he pulls. He got a good pitch to hit yet it appeared as though he was trying to flare the ball to left. When he does that he takes away most of his power.

[oldtimer]

Swihart used to hit linedrives all over. He can't hit anything now. 2 year of lost development, thanks Farrell.

 

Not impressive at this point. Part of the bottom of the order blues. The botob boys.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Beni is much better when he pulls. He got a good pitch to hit yet it appeared as though he was trying to flare the ball to left. When he does that he takes away most of his power.

 

Good point. Andrew seems to have fallen in love with going to the opposite field. Ted Williams would be very angry with Beni.

[FredLynn]

Devers needs to sit for a long long time. He sucks defensively and can't hit either. Send him down.