5/20 @ Toronto

[moonslav59]

Bats gotta come back alive.

[Maxbialystock]

In case anyone's forgotten, the Sox pitchers have given up 5 earned runs. This game should be tied at worse. 3 errors are atrocious. And I'm guessing so is Vazquez's pitch-calling.

[moonslav59]

One thing the SOX BP has to lead the league in is highest pitch count.

 

We're 16th in pitches thrown and 17th in IP, so I doubt it.

[Maxbialystock]

On another thread someone raised the issue of swinging at the first pitch, which the Sox almost never do and which opposing pitchers know about and normally, usually throw a first pitch strike. Statistically, that gives the opposing pitcher a big advantage.

[Maxbialystock]

Good pitch for the K.

[Maxbialystock]

Whoops, there goes another rubber tree plant, by which I mean another first pitch strike by the Jays.

 

But throw one in the dirt and the Sox hitters will swing away.

 

JDM takes three called strikes after Verdugo gets a called third struck.

 

Whoops, there goes another first strike by the Jays pitcher.

Edited May 21, 2021 by Maxbialystock

[Maxbialystock]

I swear Cora has an iron clad rule: don't swing at first pitches.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Toronto has been a pretty good road team so far this season.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

We're 16th in pitches thrown and 17th in IP, so I doubt it.

 

Thanks. I guess it just looks worse than it really is.

[Maxbialystock]

In the 7th with the heart of the Sox order up, 3 up and 3 down in large part because all three believe you should never, ever swing at the first pitch. That wouldn't be so bad were it not for the fact that every team the Sox face knows they won't swing and therefore opposing pitchers basically get a free first strike.

 

Almost as bad is that, once our hitters get behind, they will swing at almost anything, especially pitches in the dirt.

[TylerD]

Toronto has been a pretty good road team so far this season.

 

Very good. They have a fantastic club.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

In case anyone's forgotten, the Sox pitchers have given up 5 earned runs. This game should be tied at worse. 3 errors are atrocious. And I'm guessing so is Vazquez's pitch-calling.

 

VAZ's pitch-calling? Richards seemed alright with VAZ's pitch-calling. But, of course, Richards can actually pitch.

[Maxbialystock]

Hernandez gets pulled, but why?

[moonslav59]

I swear Cora has an iron clad rule: don't swing at first pitches.

 

It might seem like that, tonight, but before tonight, the Sox swung at the first pitch 505 times, and took it 1,144 times. I'm not sure how out of whack that is with the league average.

 

BTW, you are right about one thing...

 

.826 OPS swinging at first pitch.

.745 OPS took first pitch.

 

Who swings the most?

77 JD

76 Devers

51 Renfroe

46 Vaz

40 Franchy

37 Marwin

36 Verdugo

31 Dalbec & Kike

28 Arroyo

26 Bogey

 

Took first

148 Bogey

137 Verdugo

113 Marwin

106 JD

102 Kike

100 Vaz

98 Calbec

96 Devers

81 Renfroe

55 Cordero

48 Arroyo

 

The Jays have swung at the first pitch 484 times, and took the first pitch 1058 times.

 

 

[Maxbialystock]

VAZ's pitch-calling? Richards seemed alright with VAZ's pitch-calling. But, of course, Richards can actually pitch.

 

A fair point. I'm picking on Vazquez because we are losing a game in which we had a 5-2 lead. So I'm also taking pot shots at the hitters, especially Verdugo, JDM, and Bogie in the 7th.

[Maxbialystock]

What a break for Valdez. Very, very lucky. Chavis actually caught a throw to 2b.

[oldtimer]

In case anyone's forgotten, the Sox pitchers have given up 5 earned runs. This game should be tied at worse. 3 errors are atrocious. And I'm guessing so is Vazquez's pitch-calling.

 

 

Three errors accounting for unearned runs and the shifts opening big holes for damaging hits. Our pitching wasn't as bad as the results indicate Even the first two runs were unlucky.

[Maxbialystock]

It might seem like that, tonight, but before tonight, the Sox swung at the first pitch 505 times, and took it 1,144 times. I'm not sure how out of whack that is with the league average.

 

BTW, you are right about one thing...

 

.826 OPS swinging at first pitch.

.745 OPS took first pitch.

 

Who swings the most?

77 JD

76 Devers

51 Renfroe

46 Vaz

40 Franchy

37 Marwin

36 Verdugo

31 Dalbec & Kike

28 Arroyo

26 Bogey

 

Took first

148 Bogey

137 Verdugo

113 Marwin

106 JD

102 Kike

100 Vaz

98 Calbec

96 Devers

81 Renfroe

55 Cordero

48 Arroyo

 

The Jays have swung at the first pitch 484 times, and took the first pitch 1058 times.

 

 

 

Great stats, as always. Tonight, however, I'm pretty sure not much swinging at first pitches by the Sox.

[Maxbialystock]

After 5 straight shut out innings, is there any hope the Sox will rally in the 8th? I ain't seeing it.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Really all a catcher can do is call for a certain pitch and present a target. The rest is up to the pitcher.

[Maxbialystock]

Devers swung at the first pitch, a strike, and missed. Also the 2d pitch.

[Maxbialystock]

Heart of the Sox order continues to roll over and play dead in crunch time. All fastballs to Devers, three swung on and missed badly.

[jung]

There is not enough season played yet to really have a solid number but the over/under in runs scored per game and wins associated seems like it will come out to 5 for the Sox. More than 5 runs, they will win (as will most teams I think), 5 runs or less and they are likely to lose maybe even more than other teams lose.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Really all a catcher can do is call for a certain pitch and present a target. The rest is up to the pitcher.

 

And because very few times do SOX pitchers shake off VAZ's calls, they must trust him highly.

[Maxbialystock]

If the Jays win this series, I have to say they sure look like the better team.

[Swiharts Ghost]

How many games has Vaz cost this team ? I mean how bad does one player have to be at his job until you just Pull the plug ? The man can’t frame a pitch without moving the mitt a foot into the zone ...He’s Horrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrible Only way he’s worth it if he hits 350 and knocks in 130 runs Edited May 21, 2021 by Swiharts Ghost

[d-money]

This team has to play better baseball in all facets. They failed here.

[Swiharts Ghost]

If the Jays win this series, I have to say they sure look like the better team.

 

Umm no but we have a horrific catcher

[Maxbialystock]

Really all a catcher can do is call for a certain pitch and present a target. The rest is up to the pitcher.

 

I'm questioning only his pitch calling tonight. I think Sawamura and Pivetta both pitched better than the results attained.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

How many games has Vaz cost this team ? I mean how bad does one player have to be at his job until you just Pull the plug ? The man can’t frame a pitch without moving the mitt a foot into the zone ...He’s Horrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrible Only way he’s worth it if he hits 350 and knocks in 130 runs

 

Counting tonight VAZ has cost this team 19 losses. He should be DFA'd and the SOX should re-sign Sandy.