Countdown to the Parade - 2018 edition

[mvp 78]

Game 4 ALDS

Red Sox 4

Yankees 3

 

SERIES OVAH. good guys win 3 games to 1.

Big D Rik pitched 5 awesome innings. in realtime we thought Cora went to the Pen too soon but it worked as we bridged to a clean 9th inning for Kimbrel. Barnes pitching an Awesome 6th. Braz pitching an awesome 7th. Chris Sale pitching an awesome 8th. Kimbrel tried to take a dump on the mound but Sanchez justmissed one and nunez/pearce made a great play to end the game with the tying run at 2b.

What did this series tell us? that the Red Sox are still the Hammer and the Yankees are still the Nail.

Congrats to us. this feels GOOD!

 

3 Down, 8 to go.

 

Not we.

[Slasher9]

Not we.

 

fair. should have said me/I

[mvp 78]

fair. should have said me/I

 

I would say the majority of the gamethread posters wanted to keep Porcello in. There was a vocal minority supporting Cora's decisions throughout the night.

[jacksonianmarch]

Clearly I’ll be rooting for the Astros and Dodgers. If the Sox get by Houston and get to face the Brewers, you’re gonna win the title

[moonslav59]

I would say the majority of the gamethread posters wanted to keep Porcello in. There was a vocal minority supporting Cora's decisions throughout the night.

 

I'd have left Porcello in one more inning and Sale for 2 innings.

 

I'd have started Holt at 3B.

 

I'd have PH for Vaz in the 8th and brought Leon in with Sale.

 

That being said, I have absolutely no issues with Cora. He knows a hell of a lot more than I do and everyone else, too.

 

Besides, the moves I question mostly worked out anyways.

 

Nunez got 2 hits and made the play of his life.

 

I was fine with Pearce playing against the lefty, because Moreland is hurt, but some wanted Swihart.

 

Who knows what Holt would have done.

 

Cora's faith in Barnes and Brazier paid off.

 

He's a great manager who thinks outside the box. That was one of our biggest beefs with past managers. Cut the guy some slack. We're 111-55 with the guy in his first year as a manager!

 

[mvp 78]

I'd have left Porcello in one more inning and Sale for 2 innings.

 

Porcello let up 4 absolute lasers in the 5th. It was time to pull him.

 

If you leave Sale in for a 2nd inning and he struggles, you can't use him in game 5. Would you rather go to Kimbrel and have Sale ready to start game 5 if necessary or keep Sale in and have Price be the backup plan?

[Bellhorn04]

Porcello let up 4 absolute lasers in the 5th. It was time to pull him.

 

Plus the heart of the Yankee order coming up for their 3rd AB's.

 

That said, Cora had STONES putting Barnes in there. And what a clutch job by Barnes.

[SoxnCycles]

I'd have left Porcello in one more inning and Sale for 2 innings.

 

I'd have started Holt at 3B.

 

I'd have PH for Vaz in the 8th and brought Leon in with Sale.

 

That being said, I have absolutely no issues with Cora. He knows a hell of a lot more than I do and everyone else, too.

 

Besides, the moves I question mostly worked out anyways.

 

Nunez got 2 hits and made the play of his life.

 

I was fine with Pearce playing against the lefty, because Moreland is hurt, but some wanted Swihart.

 

Who knows what Holt would have done.

 

Cora's faith in Barnes and Brazier paid off.

 

He's a great manager who thinks outside the box. That was one of our biggest beefs with past managers. Cut the guy some slack. We're 111-55 with the guy in his first year as a manager!

 

 

No way Kimbrel wasn't coming in for the 9th.

[moonslav59]

No way Kimbrel wasn't coming in for the 9th.

 

I didn't say I thought Sale would pitch the 9th. I only expressed what I wanted.

 

We could have also had this: Porcello 6, Sale 2, Kimbrelk 1.

[Slasher9]

the bridge was not the problem. in fact it gives those boys (barnes/braz) some confidence going into the next series. the problem was kimbrel. but he has a short memory so hopefully he gets hot again.....

[moonslav59]

Porcello let up 4 absolute lasers in the 5th. It was time to pull him.

 

If you leave Sale in for a 2nd inning and he struggles, you can't use him in game 5. Would you rather go to Kimbrel and have Sale ready to start game 5 if necessary or keep Sale in and have Price be the backup plan?

 

I feel pitching Sale in game 4 pretty much severely limited what he could give us in game 5. Bringing him in was a win-now strategy, and I felt that if that was the choice then do it all the way. No halvsies.

[moonslav59]

I feel pitching Sale in game 4 pretty much severely limited what he could give us in game 5. Bringing him in was a win-now strategy, and I felt that if that was the choice then do it all the way. No halvsies.

 

(I also admit Cora knows more than I do, and I love him as our manager and no problems with his choices.)

[SoxnCycles]

I didn't say I thought Sale would pitch the 9th. I only expressed what I wanted.

 

We could have also had this: Porcello 6, Sale 2, Kimbrelk 1.

 

Wanting anyone but your closer in the 9th, with a 3 run lead doesn't make much sense.

 

I don't know... One long inning and Sale doesn't pitch game 1 on Sat.

[mvp 78]

(I also admit Cora knows more than I do, and I love him as our manager and no problems with his choices.)

 

But just continue to complain and second guess his choices over and over again. Got it.

[mvp 78]

Plus the heart of the Yankee order coming up for their 3rd AB's.

 

That said, Cora had STONES putting Barnes in there. And what a clutch job by Barnes.

 

Some were saying that it was an audition for taking over as closer next year.

[moonslav59]

Wanting anyone but your closer in the 9th, with a 3 run lead doesn't make much sense.

 

I don't know... One long inning and Sale doesn't pitch game 1 on Sat.

 

Normally, yes, you want your closer in the 9th.

 

We had Chris sale in the game with 1 IP under his belt. Does anyone really think Kimbrel had a better chance at closing out the game than the best pitcher in MLB, Chris Freakin' Sale?

 

I get the game 5 argument, but no way is Kimbrel better than Sale.

 

This isn't hindsight, either. I said it on the game thread before the 9th started.

[moonslav59]

But just continue to complain and second guess his choices over and over again. Got it.

 

Please. I hardly ever complain about Cora. I don't even go to the game threads much, because that's all it's about.

 

Just because I express my opinion on what I'd do, doesn't mean I think what Cora does is wrong, and I continually qualify my statements to say I love Cora's choices and the ones I disagree with work out more than they don't.

 

Many choices made in a game have no right or wrong answers. People love to judge by hindsight, and I do, at times, too.

 

I'll say it again. Cora knows a hell of a lot more than I do, and I respect and love the choices he makes. I have absolutely no issues with any choices he's made this year. Some, I'd have chosen differently, but again, to me, that does not mean I think he made or makes the wrong choices. His choices work. I love this guy as our manager.

 

I don't thik I've ever said that about any Sox manager...ever.

[moonslav59]

Some were saying that it was an audition for taking over as closer next year.

 

I could see us signing a marginal closer type this winter and having Barnes fight it out. I also think Smith or Thornburg could surprise us next year.

[mvp 78]

Please. I hardly ever complain about Cora. I don't even go to the game threads much, because that's all it's about.

 

That's what someone who complains about Cora all the time would say.

[SoxnCycles]

Normally, yes, you want your closer in the 9th.

 

We had Chris sale in the game with 1 IP under his belt. Does anyone really think Kimbrel had a better chance at closing out the game than the best pitcher in MLB, Chris Freakin' Sale?

 

I get the game 5 argument, but no way is Kimbrel better than Sale.

 

This isn't hindsight, either. I said it on the game thread before the 9th started.

 

That's not really much of an argument. If Kimbrel were better than Sale, he'd be starting.

Cora did the right thing by using Sale to GET to Kimbrel.

Sale did his job, Kimbrel failed to do his.

[Nick]

For penny pinching teams, why not use a starter for one inning in relief as their 'bullpen' session? 20-25 pitches max. Hell, maybe even just to get one batter out.

[Nick]

I'd have left Porcello in one more inning and Sale for 2 innings.

 

I'd have started Holt at 3B.

 

I'd have PH for Vaz in the 8th and brought Leon in with Sale.

 

That being said, I have absolutely no issues with Cora. He knows a hell of a lot more than I do and everyone else, too.

 

Besides, the moves I question mostly worked out anyways.

 

Nunez got 2 hits and made the play of his life.

 

I was fine with Pearce playing against the lefty, because Moreland is hurt, but some wanted Swihart.

 

Who knows what Holt would have done.

 

Cora's faith in Barnes and Brazier paid off.

 

He's a great manager who thinks outside the box. That was one of our biggest beefs with past managers. Cut the guy some slack. We're 111-55 with the guy in his first year as a manager!

 

 

I was at a bar watching the game. Most patrons agree to let Sale pitch the 9th ONLY because he already pitched the 8th. It would have limited his innings for Game 5 BUT WHAT THE HELL, I FEEL MORE COMFORATABLE WITH AN ACE THAT ALREADY PITCHED ONE INNING, KNOWING HE WAS ALREADY THROWING STRIKES versus a closer that has had control issues all year.

 

I don't have problems with pitchers getting hit but I have big problems with pitchers that can't find the strike zone.

[Kimmi]

I would say the majority of the gamethread posters wanted to keep Porcello in. There was a vocal minority supporting Cora's decisions throughout the night.

 

I would have left Porcello in for one more inning, but I did not criticize Cora for pulling him when he did. Clearly, the man knows what he's doing. Much more so than any of us.

[Kimmi]

Clearly I’ll be rooting for the Astros and Dodgers. If the Sox get by Houston and get to face the Brewers, you’re gonna win the title

 

I would expect nothing less.

[Kimmi]

I was at a bar watching the game. Most patrons agree to let Sale pitch the 9th ONLY because he already pitched the 8th. It would have limited his innings for Game 5 BUT WHAT THE HELL, I FEEL MORE COMFORATABLE WITH AN ACE THAT ALREADY PITCHED ONE INNING, KNOWING HE WAS ALREADY THROWING STRIKES versus a closer that has had control issues all year.

 

I don't have problems with pitchers getting hit but I have big problems with pitchers that can't find the strike zone.

 

I would have liked to see Sale come in for the 9th, but I knew there was 0% chance of that happening. I had a shaky feeling about Kimbrel coming into the game, but going to him was the right choice. Thankfully, it worked out in the end.

[notin]

I could see us signing a marginal closer type this winter and having Barnes fight it out. I also think Smith or Thornburg could surprise us next year.

 

Smith's chances of being offered arbitration and making the Sox next season are only slightly better than my chances. And Thornburg isn't a lock to be tendered an offer either...

[notin]

Clearly I’ll be rooting for the Astros and Dodgers. If the Sox get by Houston and get to face the Brewers, you’re gonna win the title

 

So you think the Sox can't beat the Dodgers, but should walk all over a team that can?

[moonslav59]

Smith's chances of being offered arbitration and making the Sox next season are only slightly better than my chances. And Thornburg isn't a lock to be tendered an offer either...

 

No, it wouldn't surprise me if neither get offered a contract, but I still think there's an outside chance they eventually become who we hoped they'd be-- probably not 2019, but the arb estimates are low on Smith ($1.2M) and probably too high for Thornburg ($2.3M, I think).

[moonslav59]

I would have liked to see Sale come in for the 9th, but I knew there was 0% chance of that happening. I had a shaky feeling about Kimbrel coming into the game, but going to him was the right choice. Thankfully, it worked out in the end.

 

My first though, when I saw Sale come in, was that we were going all out to win game 4 at the expense of game 5. I didn't think they use Sale for 1 inning and then let him start game 5. It's not a normal hard-throwing day.

 

I did not expect Sale to come out in the 9th, but I had a lot more faith in him than Kimbrel, and I even said it last night before Kimbrel imploded.

 

If we couldn't win with sale in the 9th, we probably weren't going to win with him in game 5.

 

Now, in hindsight, I can see the reasoning about limiting Sale to 1 IP, so he can give us meaningful and multiple innings in game 5, if needed, but now that I'm looking in hindsight, I'm thinking we could have tried this....

 

6 Porcello

1 Barnes

1 Brazier

1 Sale

with Kimbrel available if anyone started a fire.

 

[Bellhorn04]

Smith's chances of being offered arbitration and making the Sox next season are only slightly better than my chances. And Thornburg isn't a lock to be tendered an offer either...

 

No, it wouldn't surprise me if neither get offered a contract, but I still think there's an outside chance they eventually become who we hoped they'd be-- probably not 2019, but the arb estimates are low on Smith ($1.2M) and probably too high for Thornburg ($2.3M, I think).

 

Smith would seem to be worth a shot at $1.2 million, assuming he's healed.