8/26 @ Tampa Bay

[Bellhorn04]

Eovaldi vs. Snell

 

Well folks, we are staring at a virtual perfect storm of ugliness today.

 

The Red Sox, the highest-scoring team in baseball, have scored a pitiful total of 25 runs in 9 games at the Dump this year - an average of 2.78 per game.

 

To make matters worse, Blake Snell is the Rays' best starter (not that they have very many) and has owned us to the tune of 2 runs allowed in 19 innings for a 0.95 ERA.

 

To add to the ugly factor just a bit, Blake Snell is...well, he's not exactly Tom Cruise, let's put it that way.

 

We may really need some sort of reverse lock action today, especially with the Evil Ones expected to complete their 4-game sweep of the incredibly feeble Birds.

[Bellhorn04]

I just found out the Rays pitching coach is Kyle Snyder, who Sox fans may remember from his playing days, though not necessarily in a good way.

 

Snyder pitched for the Sox from 2006 to 2008 as a starter and reliever, compiling a line of 6-8 with a 5.20 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP.

 

His career mark was 8-17 with a 5.57 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP.

 

Showing once again, I guess, that you don't have to be good to coach good.

[OH FOY]

Loss today and a Yankees win and its a race again. 30 games after today, still a lot of baseball.

[OH FOY]

Pretty good at doing the reverse Kibosh.

[Maxbialystock]

When the going gets tough, the tough start game threads. From now on, maybe a V device after Bellhorn04. Speaking of which, what the heck is a bell horn? Sounds like something that would fit into the Trop.

 

I was going to start a thread on fatigue, but I'll insert it here. Our guys ain't any more tired in August than other teams.

 

If you figure 8 everyday players per MLB team, that's 240 MLB everyday players. I use 8 per team even though optimally it would be 8.5 (difference between AL with the DH and NL without it). But I figure no team had all 8 (NL) or all 9 (AL) every day.

 

The most anyone has played is 132 games--Freddy Galvis for the Padres.

 

JDM has played--mostly as a DH--in 124 games, which puts him tied for 40th in most games played.

Next is Beni with 123, tied for 46th most games played.

Then JBJ with 1116 games, tied for 96th.

Then Mookie with 111 games, tied for 125th. That's below the halfway mark of 120 players (of 240 everyday MLB players).

Then Bogey and Nunez at 109 games, tied for 142d.

 

Of course, we already know that Cora believes in rest days, so those number confirm it.

 

Of course, it's also been an especially hot summer, what with global warming or whatever. But I would argue no warmer--any maybe cooler--than for other other teams.

[Bellhorn04]

To me it's utterly baffling how hard it is to score runs in this Godforsaken place. 9 games, and the most the Sox have scored in a single game is 4. That's nuts.

[OH FOY]

This is a time when you need a guy like Sale, who ends losing streaks. Price has been doing OK, in his absence, but if the 2 were together, we wouldn't be having any doubts right about now. E-Rod too, need to get the boys back.

Gets down to 5 in the loss column, you better get the lead out.

Eovaldi facing his old team.

Edited August 26, 2018 by OH FOY!

[jung]

They are getting to the point where adrenaline will carry them through the remaining 31 games. It is no coincidence that they have not played that well since the four game sweep of the MFY's. I think they thought they won the division by Aug 7th. They are tired and letting down is the worse thing that you can do when you are tired. You just dig a deeper physical hole for yourself.

 

the only one of the everyday players that is somewhat concerning is Mookie who has swung a tired bat for two weeks anyway. Cora just has to help him get his second wind. I would like Cora to play him not more than 10 of the next 15 games. These next 15 should be the last dog days of August games. At the end of the 15 Mookie should have gotten the benefit physically and will likely be breaking down the manager's door to get back on his normal schedule for what will then be the remaining 16 and the post season. With the race tightening all of them should be able to finish the season on adrenalin if nothing else.

 

Beni is missing creampuff pitches but that looks less to be about fatigue and more about letting his swing get too big again.

Edited August 26, 2018 by jung

[Station 13]

Maybe, just maybe Cora can pieces together a bullpen today if Eovaldi looks like he can't get out the 2nd inning as Valesquez did.

[jung]

1. Mookie Betts ® RF

2. Eduardo Nunez ® 3B

3. Xander Bogaerts ® SS

4. Steve Pearce ® DH

5. Mitch Moreland (L) 1B

6. Ian Kinsler ® 2B

7. Brock Holt (L) LF

8. Sandy Leon (S) C

9. Jackie Bradley Jr. (L) CF

 

Looks like Cora was in fact getting the OFers off this turf for one game each of this series. Beni's turn today and JD off even of DH duties.

[Station 13]

Cora usually rest his top players with a team off day after. Today is not a day to rest these millionaires.

[TylerD]

Loss today and a Yankees win and its a race again. 30 games after today, still a lot of baseball.

 

Ugh. Don’t remind me. Just win anyway we can.

[jung]

I take it this is the last game of ugly uni-dumb nickname weekend. I pity the poor slobs that have had four game sets in these things. Must be somebody out there stuck with that bad luck of the draw.

[vegasbob]

1. Mookie Betts ® RF

2. Eduardo Nunez ® 3B

3. Xander Bogaerts ® SS

4. Steve Pearce ® DH

5. Mitch Moreland (L) 1B

6. Ian Kinsler ® 2B

7. Brock Holt (L) LF

8. Sandy Leon (S) C

9. Jackie Bradley Jr. (L) CF

 

Looks like Cora was in fact getting the OFers off this turf for one game each of this series. Beni's turn today and JD off even of DH duties.

 

Cannot fathom sitting JD Martinez in a game, which far from an ideal setup and not critical, is just an invitation for NY to get close enough to read our license plate. The DH spot doesn't need too much rest.

Mookie needs to reward Cora with a max effort . Kinsler & Pearce need to reward DD for getting them on a pennant winner . Neither has done much lately.

 

Eovaldi needs to redeem the trade for Beeks . If he can't , then DD got screwed on another pitching trade/pickup.

[a700hitter]

Loss today and a Yankees win and its a race again. 30 games after today, still a lot of baseball.

No it isn't.

[jung]

Cannot fathom sitting JD Martinez in a game, which far from an ideal setup and not critical, is just an invitation for NY to get close enough to read our license plate. The DH spot doesn't need too much rest.

Mookie needs to reward Cora with a max effort . Kinsler & Pearce need to reward DD for getting them on a pennant winner . Neither has done much lately.

 

Eovaldi needs to redeem the trade for Beeks . If he can't , then DD got screwed on another pitching trade/pickup.

 

I can see sitting Beni in the rotation of getting the OFers off this turf for one of three especially with a LH pitcher going for the Rays. Not sure why its Pearce at DH instead of JD unless Pearce has some monster numbers v Snell.

[Bellhorn04]

Eovaldi needs to redeem the trade for Beeks . If he can't , then DD got screwed on another pitching trade/pickup.

 

Beeks looked good yesterday, but let's not get carried away.

 

Beeks with Rays - 27.2 IP 5.20 ERA

Eovaldi with Sox - 28 IP 2.89 ERA

 

And yes, I realize Beeks got off to a terrible start and Eovaldi got off to a crazy good start.

[Carbo-Diem]

As The Water Boy said "it is time to open a can of whoop ass".

[jung]

This is getting into Mookies head now

[Station 13]

Ewwwwww

[d-money]

This team looks lost right now. Really need eovaldi to pitch a gem.

[Jasonbay44]

Mookie is in a bad slump right now. He'll get out of it eventually, but he looks bad right now.

[Jasonbay44]

Also, with the team struggling to score runs, I'm not sure resting Beni and JD Martinez on the same day and batting Nunez 2nd is best move.

[jung]

Nicely done Brock. What the f*** were you doing.

[Station 13]

Betts needs to swing at everything, taking pitches is what has send him into a spiral.

[jung]

Betts needs to swing at everything, taking pitches is what has send him into a spiral.

 

Mookie is mainly taking FB's which tells you something about his confidence in his ability to get around and get the barrel to the FB right now.

[d-money]

This team’s in serious trouble right now. They’re just stinking up the joint.

[Jasonbay44]

What was Holt doing in LF? Eovaldi gave up a bloop double that Beni catches if he's out there and an infield single, and now is in trouble already. Awesome.

[d-money]

Rodriguez and sale need to come back ASAP.

[jung]

We don't even have an out yet and regardless of Lyon's idiocy, Holt should have caught the ball to begin with.