June 13 - Red Sox @ Orioles

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

OK...so that solves that mystery. The HP ump today is Brian Knight. The HP ump that day in Cleveland was one of the two Reynold's umpiring that year...maybe this year too. That day, nothing and I do mean nothing was a strike unless it was right down the middle of the plate. We are not talking about on or off the black here or at the knees or letters. He missed strikes everywhere. Both starters, Sale and Cleveland's starter were driven out of the game by the 4th inning and both bullpens were just raped. Probably changed the pens for both teams for a week after that game.

 

The umpires' union is very strong. The chance of a bad umpire being fired is very slim. Hell, Angel Hernandez is still employed.

[jung]

Bradley with the head jerk on the swinging K. Again.

 

Sox management is going to have some explaining to do if this keeps up. Like how can you let a guy have that many AB's producing those numbers? Do we see anything here suggesting he is not headed for something like .170/.290/.525? Maybe a string of opposing pitchers that I could hit. Possible I suppose. Heck a string of awful opposing pitchers happens now all the time. Just not so awful that I could actually get a hit somewhere in there.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Thank goodness that wasn't Nunez at 3rd.

[vegasbob]

Sox pound Yefry Ramirez off the hill in his first start. Hope his confidence isn't ruined by the 1-0 deficit he leaves his teammates. Someone educate me on why Sale with two outs thinks he should start practicing his curve ball losing all sense of rhthym and strike zone instead of just going hard fastballs and change to get out of the inning more quickly. Kimbrel does the same at times. I realize you can't throw every pitch hard and in the zone but too much sloppiness with 2 outs leads to 25 pitch innings. Also Sale is getting his customary support level of 1 unless JDM opens the floodgates.

[illinoisredsox]

2 runs on the board; I just hope Sale can stand the prosperity.

[a700hitter]

2 runs on the board; I just hope Sale can stand the prosperity.

Does he know how to pitch with a lead?

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Nice approach by Devers there.

[a700hitter]

Okay, would that be what they call a nice piece of hitting?

[jung]

The umpires' union is very strong. The chance of a bad umpire being fired is very slim. Hell, Angel Hernandez is still employed.

 

Oh yea I know that. I think I did track the guy to the end of the year and his numbers did improve as a HP ump and there are "remedies" in their contract. Somebody probably said something like "you are going to drive pitching staffs ambulatory at this rate!" Put him on a better track. He did not get any post season assignments as I remember it. THANK GOD!!!!

 

I think the most annoying thing about that day is that the dugouts were beside themselves it was so bad and the ump just got worse and worse each inning as if to say "OK.....you think this is a small strike zone...try this one on for size." Just an awful example of bad umpiring exacerbated by bad attitude. It got so bad that the hitters started doubting their own eyes. Like "My God that was not a strike. is it me?" You would think the hitters would universally think the situation to be advantageous to them.

 

Nice slide JD. Just got around that.

[a700hitter]

They never ever call a ball pulled for a base hit -- "a nice piece of hitting."

[a700hitter]

I like JD sliding feet first. I don't want him risking his hands or wrists sliding head first.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

To be fair Ramirez pitched pretty impressively against a very good team. The O's may have something there.

[a700hitter]

Nunez may be heating up.

[vegasbob]

2 runs on the board; I just hope Sale can stand the prosperity.

 

Amazing what happens with good AB's from the guys in the lower end of the order. Now see how Leon and Bradley come out to start the next inning. Bright shows nothing good from the mound. Sale needs to sail it home running with the wind.

[oldtimer]

Nice approach by Devers there.

 

Agreed. Going to left with two strikes on him is more impressive to me than if he pulled the ball.

[vegasbob]

To be fair Ramirez pitched pretty impressively against a very good team. The O's may have something there.

 

Maybe we could trade Swihart and Carson Smith's glove for Yefry

[vegasbob]

Agreed. Going to left with two strikes on him is more impressive to me than if he pulled the ball.

 

A little small ball mental discipline goes a long way. That was a key hit

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Great catch. Bitch about his base running all you want, but he's a damn good defensive OF'r.

[jung]

Occasionally we see OFers that are just exception in one of the three OF positions. Beni is one of those as he is just an exceptional LHer. He is not nearly as good in CF or RF. He is good enough to be considered outstanding in LF...especially true in Fenway LF. A little weak going to his throwing hand side but that used to be really rough and now he is just not as good going that way as he is going to his glove side. That is a huge improvement in that category. I would take Beni in Fenway LF over just about anybody else in that specific OF position in Fenway Park and take him over 75% of the OFer's playing LF in any ML park. Edited June 13, 2018 by jung

[Maxbialystock]

Great catch. Bitch about his base running all you want, but he's a damn good defensive OF'r.

 

JBJ isn't all the fast on the basepaths, but most think his baserunning is pretty good. Last year at least once he forgot the number of outs.

[Station 13]

Sale probably have 2 more inning in him.

[vegasbob]

Very extinguished hitting by Leon and Bradley to lead the 1-2-3 inning. Betts was mesmerized watching them.

[Maxbialystock]

Great catch. Bitch about his base running all you want, but he's a damn good defensive OF'r.

 

If you mean Beni, the critics of his baserunning are wrong.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

JBJ isn't all the fast on the basepaths, but most think his baserunning is pretty good. Last year at least once he forgot the number of outs.

 

Actually, I was referring to Beni.

[vegasbob]

Maybe they need a special coach to keep track of the outs in each inning.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

What makes Sale's K's number more impressive is that Chris Davis isn't in the line-up.

[jung]

Maybe they need a special coach to keep track of the outs in each inning.

 

You know things are going really badly for a team when weird s*** starts to happen around them that has nothing to do with their play. Just Kismet...going against them on top of everything else. I will be happy to get out of here before we contract whatever the O's have. I see a massive housecleaning coming.

[SoxHop]

You know things are going really badly for a team when weird s*** starts to happen around them that has nothing to do with their play. Just Kismet...going against them on top of everything else. I will be happy to get out of here before we contract whatever the O's have. I see a massive housecleaning coming.

 

Aint going to happen, but man I'd love to see Britton on our team.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Aint going to happen, but man I'd love to see Britton on our team.

 

I second that emotion.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Just Dandy.