Wright, Throwers and Pitchers

[bosoxmal]

It is getting worse. We have throwers, but not enough pitchers. I don't see anything about Wright's condition. Sale may be a problem for the rest of the season.Porcello amd Price are also "pitvhers" The rest are throwers, and the other teams are catching on.

[moonslav59]

Man... it doesn't take much for some to jump ship.

 

Does every championship team always go the whole season without a bad stretch here and there?

 

3 bad games is all it takes, and that coming fresh off the heels of winning 7 of 8 and 13 of 15.

 

In just 3 short games, the whole league has figured out how to beat us.

 

We're doomed!

 

[Emp9]

Man... it doesn't take much for some to jump ship.

 

Does every championship team always go the whole season without a bad stretch here and there?

 

3 bad games is all it takes, and that coming fresh off the heels of winning 7 of 8 and 13 of 15.

 

In just 3 short games, the whole league has figured out how to beat us.

 

We're doomed!

 

 

We were slumping a little bit before this Indian series (at least our bats were). I would’ve liked to see the Sox not have to face a team like that while slumping a bit. But it is what it is and it was bound to happen. We can still split. That would be nice.

[jacksonianmarch]

This is the first time the Sox lost three in a row. As it stands, the Sox are up 7 in the L column over NY and 16 on a playoff spot. I think you’ll be ok.

 

That being said, the Sox have absolutely feasted on the bottom feeders this year. They took care of business in Boston vs the Yanks but aside from that, have mostly annihilated the bad teams and have held their own vs good. The Yanks, until that Boston series, had annihilated the good teams and been bad vs teams like TB and BAL. It’s strange. The Sox have two more vs CLE before they get to feast on TB and the awful White Sox. I have a feeling they’ll right the ship

[notin]

A three game losing streak suddenly bears more weight than the 120 games that preceded it?

[SoxnCycles]

This is the first time the Sox lost three in a row. As it stands, the Sox are up 7 in the L column over NY and 16 on a playoff spot. I think you’ll be ok.

 

That being said, the Sox have absolutely feasted on the bottom feeders this year. They took care of business in Boston vs the Yanks but aside from that, have mostly annihilated the bad teams and have held their own vs good. The Yanks, until that Boston series, had annihilated the good teams and been bad vs teams like TB and BAL. It’s strange. The Sox have two more vs CLE before they get to feast on TB and the awful White Sox. I have a feeling they’ll right the ship

 

They lost 3 straight in late April. Just a nit-pick.

[SoxnCycles]

A three game losing streak suddenly bears more weight than the 120 games that preceded it?

 

I blame Slasher.

[moonslav59]

A three game losing streak suddenly bears more weight than the 120 games that preceded it?

 

I just don't get it. I guess some people expect us to win 80% of our games at a rigid and consistent rate.

 

Teams slump. Parts of teams slump. Good teams slump. Great teams slump.

 

Even within this 3 game slump, we almost pulled a game or two out.

 

Our seasonal OPS is .795, still 12 points up on the Yanks.

 

Our last 14 days OPS is .775, and suddenly the sky is falling.

 

A .607 OPS over our last 5 games should not scare anybody.

[S5Dewey]

There is something to be said for both arguments.

 

As Jax says, we have feasted on the bottom teams - but at the same time you have to play the teams on your schedule and beating them - regardless of their quality - is a lot better than losing to them.

 

OTOH, we've faced two good pitchers in two days and lost both games. Since these are the quality of the pitchers we'll be facing in the playoffs there's room for a little concern here.

 

My personal concern isn't the offense. The Sox have scored enough runs in each game to have won them. It's our pitching. Again, the Guardians are the caliber of team we'll be seeing in the playoffs and our pitchers need to be able to hold these teams to

 

And BTW, who in Hell does that CF for the Guardians think he is.... Jackie Bradly Jr? A couple of great and game changing catches in CF last night.

[mvp 78]

And BTW, who in Hell does that CF for the Guardians think he is.... Jackie Bradly Jr? A couple of great and game changing catches in CF last night.

 

It just goes to show that there are a lot of great CFers and there's no reason to hold onto a guy hitting under .200 for most of the season. JBJ is very replaceable.

[kenmeister]

 

My personal concern isn't the offense. The Sox have scored enough runs in each game to have won them. It's our pitching. Again, the Guardians are the caliber of team we'll be seeing in the playoffs and our pitchers need to be able to hold these teams to

 

My hope is that Sale - Price - ERod is our 1-2-3 in the playoffs, and Porcello - Eovaldi - Johnson 4-5-6 depth.

[mvp 78]

My hope is that Sale - Price - ERod is our 1-2-3 in the playoffs, and Porcello - Eovaldi - Johnson 4-5-6 depth.

 

Eovaldi could be a difference maker out of the pen.

[Kimmi]

Man... it doesn't take much for some to jump ship.

 

Does every championship team always go the whole season without a bad stretch here and there?

 

3 bad games is all it takes, and that coming fresh off the heels of winning 7 of 8 and 13 of 15.

 

In just 3 short games, the whole league has figured out how to beat us.

 

We're doomed!

 

 

The Sox have been so good this year that losing 3 in a row feels like a colossal collapse. When the Yankees win at the same time, having gained 2.5 games on us in 3 days, it doesn't make things any better.

 

Rationally speaking, there is no reason for panic, of course, as all teams go through spells like this. The Sox will be fine. It's still back to back to back.

[Kimmi]

We were slumping a little bit before this Indian series (at least our bats were). I would’ve liked to see the Sox not have to face a team like that while slumping a bit. But it is what it is and it was bound to happen. We can still split. That would be nice.

 

And we caught the Guardians while they are are on tear.

[Kimmi]

A three game losing streak suddenly bears more weight than the 120 games that preceded it?

 

The recency effect.

[Kimmi]

I blame Slasher.

 

Ha. There is no other explanation.

[Kimmi]

I just don't get it. I guess some people expect us to win 80% of our games at a rigid and consistent rate.

 

Teams slump. Parts of teams slump. Good teams slump. Great teams slump.

 

Even within this 3 game slump, we almost pulled a game or two out.

 

Our seasonal OPS is .795, still 12 points up on the Yanks.

 

Our last 14 days OPS is .775, and suddenly the sky is falling.

 

A .607 OPS over our last 5 games should not scare anybody.

 

From an emotional standpoint, I get it. I do. Sox fans have been there before and tend to prepare for the worst.

 

Thinking about it rationally though, we'll be fine.

 

Would anyone rather be in the Yankees shoes than in our shoes?

[Kimmi]

Eovaldi could be a difference maker out of the pen.

 

This is a great, and spot on tweet from Merloni:

 

Lou Merloni

‏Verified account @LouMerloni

6h6 hours ago

 

Cora’s bullpen decision come down to which RHP he wants to bring in that throws 94-96 with a curve ball. Unless Hembree with his little slider or Brasier with 98 and slider are needed. I’ve been saying for months, they needed a different look out there and they never got it

 

Meanwhile, Tito has a sidearm RHP. A sidearm LHP. 2 set up LHP’s with wipeout sliders and a RHP closer. Diversity everywhere.

 

 

I thought, and still think, that our pen will be fine, but I still would have liked to have added a late inning reliever at the deadline.

 

But as you said, Eovaldi or one of our other starters could very well solidify our pen once the injured pitchers return.

[vegasbob]

A three game losing streak suddenly bears more weight than the 120 games that preceded it?

 

It's more the way of losing the 3 games . No hitting in a team wide slump , no power bats, weak pitching both from starters and relievers, all while playing at home against a possible playoff opponent.

[bosoxmal]

Man... it doesn't take much for some to jump ship.

 

Does every championship team always go the whole season without a bad stretch here and there?

 

3 bad games is all it takes, and that coming fresh off the heels of winning 7 of 8 and 13 of 15.

 

In just 3 short games, the whole league has figured out how to beat us.

 

We're doomed!

 

No talking about 3 bad games!

[kenmeister]

It's more the way of losing the 3 games . No hitting in a team wide slump , no power bats, weak pitching both from starters and relievers, all while playing at home against a possible playoff opponent.

 

To be honest, I've been waiting for this slump. Betts, Benitendi, and Martinez have been carrying this team all year, by and large. This isn't the '98 Yankees with strong hitters up and down the lineup. It was only a matter of time before our big three cooled off a bit. That said, I'd like to see Steve Pearce more often, and Devers has some thump that is clearly missing while he's on the DL.

[bosoxmal]

It;s hard to find fevency when talking avout 196 and 2018, but it soed exist to some degeree, My fatger me to more Braves games than Red Sox, but we always managed to get to Fenway on days (many Sundays!!!) tha Feller or Grove pitched. After Grove;s injury (he went 8-8) season Philadelphia cmae n andGabby Hayes (I think) his former catcher (for certain) was quoted that Grove wa no longer Grove and that he'd lost his fastball

 

The pepers came out with Grove replying by throwing exactly 12 fast balls the entire game. They were all to Gabby who fanned 4 times..

 

I SEEM TO RECALL THAT LEFTY PITCHED MOST OF HIS GAMES THAT PARTICULAR YEAR ON SUNDAYS (When every one else was resting!)

 

Doesn't anyone else remember (or heard about) the Boston "life of lefty Grave?) It's a little spooky having these memories at age 93! Maybe I dreamed it!!!???

Edited August 22, 2018 by bosoxmal

[notin]

It;s hard to find fevency when talking avout 196 and 2018, but it soed exist to some degeree, My fatger me to more Braves games than Red Sox, but we always managed to get to Fenway on days (many Sundays!!!) tha Feller or Grove pitched. After Grove;s injury (he went 8-8) season Philadelphia cmae n andGabby Hayes (I think) his former catcher (for certain) was quoted that Grove wa no longer Grove and that he'd lost his fastball

 

The pepers came out with Grove replying by throwing exactly 12 fast balls the entire game. They were all to Gabby who fanned 4 times..

 

I SEEM TO RECALL THAT LEFTY PITCHED MOST OF HIS GAMES THAT PARTICULAR YEAR ON SUNDAYS (When every one else was resting!)

 

Doesn't anyone else remember (or heard about) the Boston "life of lefty Grave?) It's a little spooky having these memories at age 93! Maybe I dreamed it!!!???

 

It's not hard to believe Grove only threw on Sundays.

 

Hall of Famer Ted Lyons ended his career with the White Sox pitching every Sunday at age 41. He started 20 games that year and threw 180.1 IP. Teams didn't have dedicated bullpens in 1942, but if they did, Ted would have given them Sunday off...

[moonslav59]

No talking about 3 bad games!

 

I didn't hear doom & gloom 3 days ago.

[fxkatt]

The thing is that winning so many games hardly means the end of worries or concerns. Being up 7 in the loss column in August with 6 remaining games with that second place team; 3 straight losses AT HOME; and a starting pitching staff which continues to have too many question marks, are meaningful--as is a 3-5 series in which almost anything can happen, as we're lately well aware of.

[S5Dewey]

It just goes to show that there are a lot of great CFers and there's no reason to hold onto a guy hitting under .200 for most of the season. JBJ is very replaceable.

 

Allen's two plays go to show why you DO hold onto a guy with GG skills in CF, almost regardless of how he's hitting. Those two plays may very well have saved the game for them. And his 0-3 didn't hurt the Guardians a bit. They still won.

[mvp 78]

Allen's two plays go to show why you DO hold onto a guy with GG skills in CF, almost regardless of how he's hitting. Those two plays may very well have saved the game for them. And his 0-3 didn't hurt the Guardians a bit. They still won.

 

You don't hold onto a guy like JBJ, because they are almost dime a dozen these days.

[S5Dewey]

The fact that there are 4-5 very good outfielders in the AL right now doesn't mean there are dozens more pounding down the door to get in.

[mvp 78]

The fact that there are 4-5 very good outfielders in the AL right now doesn't mean there are dozens more pounding down the door to get in.

 

His WAR is about the same as Mallex Smith's over the past 2 years.

[S5Dewey]

His WAR is about the same as Mallex Smith's over the past 2 years.

 

Mallex Smith has a dWAR of 0.2 this year as compared to JBJ's 0.8. (just for clarification, 0.2 x 4 = 0.8. If you believe in WAR JBJ is 4x the CF Smith is.

 

Sure, we'd all like to have a CF who plays defense like Bradley and hits like Smith but those guys aren't "a dime a dozen'.