A Realistic View at 2021: Part II

[moonslav59]

Or Pivetta...

 

He was a summer “steal.”

[moonslav59]

the AL East standings are upside down from most projections:

 

4-3 Bal

4-3 Bos

4-4 TB

3-5 NYY

3-5 Tor

 

(The alphabeticalorder helps some, too.)

[Nick]

the AL East standings are upside down from most projections:

 

4-3 Bal

4-3 Bos

4-4 TB

3-5 NYY

3-5 Tor

 

(The alphabeticalorder helps some, too.)

 

It's way early but if our starters can give us quality starts we're right there......thank you Mr. Obvious.....Moon I'm talking to myself, not you...

[moonslav59]

It's way early but if our starters can give us quality starts we're right there......thank you Mr. Obvious.....Moon I'm talking to myself, not you...

 

I'm with you.

 

It's always been about the health of our starters and the need to have 3-4 of them doing well or 4-5 doing okay at any given time. The offense can cover the lack of defense.

[Nick]

Per MLB.COM

 

Tanner Houck, RHP, Red Sox

Key stat: +2.2 mph of fastball velocity, +2 inches of slider movement

 

Houck is currently at the Red Sox's alternate training site because they needed roster flexibility, but the 24-year-old's pitching during Opening Week was more than big league-caliber -- he has 10 strikeouts in six innings so far in 2021.

 

Boston's No. 7 prospect per MLB Pipeline was nasty in his brief debut stint in 2020, too, but his stuff got even better. Houck is throwing 2 mph harder in '21 than he did in '20 -- his four-seam velo has jumped from 92.8 mph to 94.6, and his sinker velo has jumped from 90.9 mph to 93.7, giving him an overall velocity spike of +2.2 mph.

 

Houck's wipeout, crossfire slider is moving even more, with his average horizontal break up to 15.9 inches from 13.9 in 2020. That break is a huge +9.2 inches above average, when you compare Houck's slider to similar ones based on velocity and release point. And Houck is getting the most out of it, throwing his slider 42% of the time so far, his most-used pitch type. With that stuff, he'll be back soon.

 

Sure looks like he's first one up if someone falters.

[moonslav59]

Per MLB.COM

 

Tanner Houck, RHP, Red Sox

Key stat: +2.2 mph of fastball velocity, +2 inches of slider movement

 

Houck is currently at the Red Sox's alternate training site because they needed roster flexibility, but the 24-year-old's pitching during Opening Week was more than big league-caliber -- he has 10 strikeouts in six innings so far in 2021.

 

Boston's No. 7 prospect per MLB Pipeline was nasty in his brief debut stint in 2020, too, but his stuff got even better. Houck is throwing 2 mph harder in '21 than he did in '20 -- his four-seam velo has jumped from 92.8 mph to 94.6, and his sinker velo has jumped from 90.9 mph to 93.7, giving him an overall velocity spike of +2.2 mph.

 

Houck's wipeout, crossfire slider is moving even more, with his average horizontal break up to 15.9 inches from 13.9 in 2020. That break is a huge +9.2 inches above average, when you compare Houck's slider to similar ones based on velocity and release point. And Houck is getting the most out of it, throwing his slider 42% of the time so far, his most-used pitch type. With that stuff, he'll be back soon.

 

Sure looks like he's first one up if someone falters.

 

No doubt.

 

If Richards stinks for 2 more starts, they may invent an IL stint for him.

[Nick]

Nice win....thought Cora did a good job pulling Richards after fifth inning with 3-2 lead. Why give struggling pitcher more rope to hang himself? Get his confidence up.

 

Good job by Barnes shutting down Orioles in 9th and Andriese in 10th.

 

I would love to see Whitlock get chance to pitch in later innings.

 

My only concern right now is Dalbec. He's struggling at the plate.

[Maxbialystock]

Nice win....thought Cora did a good job pulling Richards after fifth inning with 3-2 lead. Why give struggling pitcher more rope to hang himself? Get his confidence up.

 

Good job by Barnes shutting down Orioles in 9th and Andriese in 10th.

 

I would love to see Whitlock get chance to pitch in later innings.

 

My only concern right now is Dalbec. He's struggling at the plate.

 

Dalbec did get that crucial rbi to tie it in the 9th. No question he is struggling.

[Nick]

Dalbec did get that crucial rbi to tie it in the 9th. No question he is struggling.

 

He's got size, pretty athletic....think he'll be decent defender....it's way early..

[moonslav59]

It's only 8 games, but I'm worried a bit, too.

[Nick]

Per MLB.com

 

Domingo Germán was one of the Yankees’ most dominant pitchers this spring, breezily outpacing his competition for a rotation spot. His first seven innings of the regular season have not been as impressive, and after watching another two homers leave the yard on Saturday, the right-hander was optioned to the club’s alternate site.

 

Continuing a homer-prone trend that dates back to 2019, Germán surrendered long balls to Austin Meadows and Randy Arozarena, lasting four innings in his second start since returning from suspension. The Yankees’ bats offered no support, held silent by six Rays hurlers during a 4-0 loss on Saturday afternoon at Tropicana Field

 

Talk about a quick hook...He had been slotted as #3 starter...

[notin]

It's only 8 games, but I'm worried a bit, too.

 

Every hitter in MLB will have at least one bad 8 game stretch...

[Kimmi]

Nice win....thought Cora did a good job pulling Richards after fifth inning with 3-2 lead. Why give struggling pitcher more rope to hang himself? Get his confidence up.

 

Good job by Barnes shutting down Orioles in 9th and Andriese in 10th.

 

I would love to see Whitlock get chance to pitch in later innings.

 

My only concern right now is Dalbec. He's struggling at the plate.

 

Richards did his job last night. Keep the team in the game. More often than not, the offense will get it done.

 

A shoutout to our pen which has been surprisingly good so far.

[Kimmi]

Dalbec did get that crucial rbi to tie it in the 9th. No question he is struggling.

 

Imagine if that would have resulted in an inning ending double play instead. LOL Good hustle by Dalbec.

 

Maybe tying the game will get him going.

[notin]

It's only 8 games, but I'm worried a bit, too.

 

Might be worth acknowledging his leash might be a bit longer. Because Plan B comes from the list of Chavis, Ockimey and Marwin Gonzalez.

 

If Dalbec continues to struggle, he probably takes up the weak side of a platoon with Marwin...

[moonslav59]

Don't look, now, but Whitlock (5.1 IP), Barnes (5.0), Valdez (4.0) and Brice (2.2) have combined to go 17 innings allowing just 5 hits, 1 BB and no ERs. (19Ks- 11 by Barnes!)

 

Add Sawamura (3.0) and it's...

20 IP

6 Hits

4 BB

22K

0 ER

 

Eovaldi & Pivetta have combined for 17.1 IP

9 H

8 BB (WOW!)

15 K

2 ER

 

[harmony]

Nice win....thought Cora did a good job pulling Richards after fifth inning with 3-2 lead. Why give struggling pitcher more rope to hang himself? Get his confidence up.

 

Good job by Barnes shutting down Orioles in 9th and Andriese in 10th.

 

I would love to see Whitlock get chance to pitch in later innings.

 

My only concern right now is Dalbec. He's struggling at the plate.

FWIW this year Bobby Dalbec has a BABIP of .167 in 23 plate appearances. Dalbec's strikeout rate in a smidgen lower than his 2020 rate.

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/bobby-dalbec/19966/stats?position=1B

Edited April 11, 2021 by harmony

[Nick]

Richards did his job last night. Keep the team in the game. More often than not, the offense will get it done.

 

A shoutout to our pen which has been surprisingly good so far.

 

And someone said our pen was piece of crap....

[Maxbialystock]

And someone said our pen was piece of crap....

 

I don't think I said it, but I absolutely believed it.

[Nick]

Good news is our bats will warm up

 

OPS-PA

JD 1.335 32

Vaz 1.176 31

Cordero .824 17

Xander .770 30

Devers 767 31

Kevin .664 11

Marwin .617 30

Kike .614 36

Verdugo .571 32

Arroyo .550 20

Renfro .361 20

Dalbec .269 23

 

Team .741 7th in AL

Edited April 11, 2021 by Nick

[notin]

The Sox are 2-3 when trailing after 8 innings. 2-0 when trailing by 1 run...

[dgalehouse]

The bandwagon is filling up fast.

[moonslav59]

And someone said our pen was piece of crap....

 

Let's see, if that same guy was wrong about Pivetta sucking, too.

[a700hitter]

Let's see, if that same guy was wrong about Pivetta sucking, too.

That’s a layup.

[Larry Cook]

I thought pivetta started out really good today, but tired by the sixth and started throwing meatballs.

[Kimmi]

FWIW this year Bobby Dalbec has a BABIP of .167 in 23 plate appearances. Dalbec's strikeout rate in a smidgen lower than his 2020 rate.

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/bobby-dalbec/19966/stats?position=1B

 

Keep the good news coming Harmony!

[Kimmi]

And someone said our pen was piece of crap....

 

Not such a good showing today for them, but I'm sure the overall approach from Cora and the relievers was different given the 'comfortable' lead that they had.

[Kimmi]

The Sox are 2-3 when trailing after 8 innings. 2-0 when trailing by 1 run...

 

Something I was reminded of this morning: The Sox are undefeated in games in which someone forgets how many outs there are.

[Kimmi]

The bandwagon is filling up fast.

 

This is a good thing!

[Kimmi]

I thought pivetta started out really good today, but tired by the sixth and started throwing meatballs.

 

Pivetta did his job. Not the greatest line, but I'll take 4 runs in 6 innings.