10/18 ALCS game 5

[greenwell]

In the playoffs you have to suck it up and perform. I don't care if he threw 200 pitches yesterday-all the pitchers are getting much more work in unfamiliar situations. I do not expect anything different from him than we have seen in the past; why expect something else? He has had what-10 postseason starts? And how many games has he won as a SP? Zero. Like every Red Sox fan I will be cheering for him to succeed tonight, but I am not expecting success. I am expecting more of the same. As the saying goes, "Those who cannot learn from history are condemned to repeat it"...or something like that. Perhaps the best strategy is for Cora to tell Price he is only going to pitch a maximum of three innings, so give it everything you have for those innings. He was good as a RP in the playoffs. Make this a bullpen game with Price first up.

 

To be fair, while he doesn't have any postseason wins, 4 of his 11 postseason starts have been quality starts

[TylerD]

To be fair, while he doesn't have any postseason wins, 4 of his 11 postseason starts have been quality starts

 

Last quality start I remember for Price would have been in 2014 with Detroit where he went 8 innings only giving up 2 runs. His last 5 starts (including with the Jays) he has given up 28 runs. That is about as ugly as it gets for a starter. Let alone a starter who puts up the numbers that Price does in regular season.

[Maxbialystock]

An average game for an AL starter this postseason is about 4 innings and 2 ER. I'd be fine with that.

 

Pretty good target, agreed. Don't see 5 and could be 3 or less.

 

Since I'm one of the more renowned pitching coaches in MLB history, I have free advice for Price. He should do these three things: use his breaking stuff--slider, changeup, curve if he has one, to get the outs; use his fast ball and cutter as waste pitches; try to keep the ball low in the zone.

[Thunder]

It hasn't occurred to me yet that we're in the World Series if we win tonight

[TylerD]

It hasn't occurred to me yet that we're in the World Series if we win tonight

I may not get an ounce of sleep if we win tonight.

[jung]

Actually, I forgot about Barnes for tonight. My bad. He should be available for an inning as he hardly threw at all last night. I would not let him have more than an inning...but he should be able to do that. I would use him if we actually have a shot at winning this game.

[TylerD]

Actually, I forgot about Barnes for tonight. My bad. He should be available for an inning as he hardly threw at all last night. I would not let him have more than an inning...but he should be able to do that. I would use him if we actually have a shot at winning this game.

 

Give him the 9th. Let Kimbrel take the night off. Hell..... Let Kimbrel take the rest of the playoffs off

[iortiz]

I wasn't joking.

 

I think we have a good shot at winning it tonight.

 

We have JBJ. They don't.

 

That’s the mood we need tonight moon. +1

[Thunder]

I may not get an ounce of sleep if we win tonight.

 

I feel dumb because I've worn all my Red Sox gear to my Friday class each of the last 2 weeks. I don't want to be repetitive, but I gotta do what I gotta do

[Bellhorn04]

It'd be nice to see Mookie get his first postseason homer tonight. Maybe his second as well...

[TylerD]

I feel dumb because I've worn all my Red Sox gear to my Friday class each of the last 2 weeks. I don't want to be repetitive, but I gotta do what I gotta do

 

We all have our things. I almost s*** my pants when my girlfriend went to wash my Sox T shirt two nights ago! As gross as it is my Pedroia navy blue Sox shirt doesn't get washed till the end of the season!

[greenwell]

Last quality start I remember for Price would have been in 2014 with Detroit where he went 8 innings only giving up 2 runs. His last 5 starts (including with the Jays) he has given up 28 runs. That is about as ugly as it gets for a starter. Let alone a starter who puts up the numbers that Price does in regular season.

 

He had one in 2015 against KC, 6.2IP 3 ER

[TylerD]

He had one in 2015 against KC, 6.2IP 3 ER

 

Really? s***.... I don't even remember that. Well good for him and my bad for not remembering that. Hopefully he can do that again tonight.

[greenwell]

Really? s***.... I don't even remember that. Well good for him and my bad for not remembering that. Hopefully he can do that again tonight.

 

I didn't remember any of them, had to look it up

[greenwell]

Every game the sox won this series they got 2 in the first inning, let's keep that going

[Jasonbay44]

Hoping for the best for Price, this could be a big moment for his reputation and career.

[FredLynn]

Every game the sox won this series they got 2 in the first inning, let's keep that going

 

I think thats going to be the key to winning this game: scoring first. Playing from behind is losing baseball, especially against a team with very good pitching (though we have pretty much trashed their pitchers in most of the games).

[Slasher9]

I hear you and don't disagree, but yesterday was not even close to a normal throwing day for a Sp'er.

 

Price will not likely go very long.

Or maybe this is exactly what price needs to flip his postseason script. I am leaning towards 7ip / 1unearned...

[mvp 78]

If the Sox can get a good lead early, they cruise to the pennant.

[jacksonianmarch]

By moving price down from game 6, this is essentially a punt. It gives Price a built in excuse for his suckage against a pitcher who has dominated when his back is against a wall. This also burns Verlander from everything hit a game 7 relief experience. If the Sox somehow pull this game off, then they’re just destined to win. On paper, this should be an 8-0 whitewash

[TylerD]

I think thats going to be the key to winning this game: scoring first. Playing from behind is losing baseball, especially against a team with very good pitching (though we have pretty much trashed their pitchers in most of the games).

 

When's the last time Verlander has given up runs in the first inning?

[greenwell]

When's the last time Verlander has given up runs in the first inning?

 

14 1st inning runs this year, it's his worst inning until the 6th

[jung]

When's the last time Verlander has given up runs in the first inning?

 

Verlander is as tough minded a pitcher as I have see since Bob Gibson and that guy was a rock. There are some other notable tough minded pitchers that fit that mold including Pedro, Shill, Steve Carlton (Now he was tough minded). He was a mad man. Bumgarner sort of fits in there. Gibson sits atop the list.

 

Anyway, you can literally see Verander get his back up if a team dares to challenge him in the 1st inning. I think its a thing with him. But he has given more up as he has aged. He is getting up there in age.

Edited October 18, 2018 by jung

[Kimmi]

I am not saying that there was another better choice (maybe ERod?). All I am saying is that expecting Price to perform well (and I don't think that anyone here really expects that if they are being honest) would be foolish. At best we can hope that he is mediocre and that Verlander doesn't bring his A game tonight.

 

Verlander is due for a clunker.

[Kimmi]

I wasn't joking.

 

I think we have a good shot at winning it tonight.

 

We have JBJ. They don't.

 

We have a very good chance of winning it tonight.

 

This has the makings of a reverse lock mojo game.

[Kimmi]

Dear Red Sox,

 

Please win tonight.

 

Thanks,

Kimmi

[tombirner]

Pitching match-up certainly doesn't favor us, but... let's play some goddamn baseball!

[Slasher9]

Dear Red Sox,

 

Please win tonight.

 

Thanks,

Kimmi

 

From,

Me too

[a700hitter]

I doubt Brasier is available tonight. I'm not sure about Barnes, but I would prefer saving Barnes for games 6 & 7. The Red Sox will likely go with their B bullpen today, relying on guys like Workman and Hembree.

 

Who knows, maybe Price will come up big and guys like Workman and Hembree will also get it done. And perhaps Verlander will be off his game. It could happen, but the Astros are the clear favorites going into tonight based on the SP matchup.

 

I'm giving Pearce a day off. He is 35 years old, not accustomed to regular playing time, and it doesn't look like Moreland is going to start again in this series.

Betts RF

Benintendi LF

Martinez DH

Bogaerts SS

Devers 3b

Holt 2b

Swihart 1b

Vazquez C

Bradly Jr. CF

And he almost killed himself tumbling into the Astros dugout.

[a700hitter]

I am not sure why Cora is sitting Holt in favor of Kinsler, unless Kinsler has a good history against Verlander.