June 16: BOS (Richards) @ HOU (Anderson)

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Robo Ump needed....the ump just made up calls throughout the game.

 

That's referred to as improv umpiring. Something that might have been seen on SCTV.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Was that Curt Gowdy’s first year with the Sox broadcast team or Ned Martin’s?

 

I believe it was Gowdy; Ned was interning at that time. Narragansett Beer was the only sponsor. Love me some Narragansett.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Did we have any to begin with?

 

Pitching is obviously overrated.

[moonslav59]

Pitching is obviously overrated.

 

I haven't heard from that guy who kept saying good pitching always beats good hitting for weeks.

[Thunder]

Make Arroyo the starting 2B for the foreseeable future, please. Gonzalez can platoon until he starts hitting again.

[notin]

Why? I don't even see one on their 40 man roster.

 

You’re so young.

 

We traded for a pitcher named Anderson from the Astros in 1991…

[mvp 78]

You’re so young.

 

We traded for a pitcher named Anderson from the Astros in 1991…

 

No, we didn't.

[TylerD]

It’s amazing we are winning with the rotation like this lol

[Bellhorn04]

This team is going to set some sort of record for come-from-behind wins.

[mvp 78]

The only Anderson to ever pitch for the Sox was Jimmy in 2004. Everyone knows this.

[mvp 78]

At this point, notin is wondering "what is this guy going on about" and here is the answer. Yes, I'm old enough to know that Jeff Bagwell was traded. I was old enough at the time to have an opinion on the trade when it happened. Back then, the concern was that they were trading away Boggs' replacement as Bagwell had played 3b and wasn't the power threat he eventually became. While the playoff contender Red Sox of 1990 greatly needed bullpen help, thanks in part to trading Lee Smith (yet another future HOFer) for Tom Brunansky during the year, trading away a young promising player for only a few weeks of a reliever was a silly idea. The 1990 Red Sox weren't going to win the WS that year. No way were they getting by the A's in the playoffs. While a shortened rotation of Clemens/Boddicker vs Stewart/Welch is generally a toss up, the A's were just too good offensively (Ricky, McGwire, Canseco, Baines, Hendu). Ultimately, the A's were felled by the 1990 Reds who featured a solid young core of offensive players, a decent rotation and the Nasty Boys in the pen. Of the 4 teams in the playoffs, the Sox were well behind the Pirates/A's/Reds in terms of talent. So yes, it was pretty foolish to trade for Larry Andersen in 1990.

 

No, they did not trade for an Anderson in 1991.

[notin]

No, we didn't.

 

How about 1990?

[notin]

At this point, notin is wondering "what is this guy going on about" and here is the answer. Yes, I'm old enough to know that Jeff Bagwell was traded. I was old enough at the time to have an opinion on the trade when it happened. Back then, the concern was that they were trading away Boggs' replacement as Bagwell had played 3b and wasn't the power threat he eventually became. While the playoff contender Red Sox of 1990 greatly needed bullpen help, thanks in part to trading Lee Smith (yet another future HOFer) for Tom Brunansky during the year, trading away a young promising player for only a few weeks of a reliever was a silly idea. The 1990 Red Sox weren't going to win the WS that year. No way were they getting by the A's in the playoffs. While a shortened rotation of Clemens/Boddicker vs Stewart/Welch is generally a toss up, the A's were just too good offensively (Ricky, McGwire, Canseco, Baines, Hendu). Ultimately, the A's were felled by the 1990 Reds who featured a solid young core of offensive players, a decent rotation and the Nasty Boys in the pen. Of the 4 teams in the playoffs, the Sox were well behind the Pirates/A's/Reds in terms of talent. So yes, it was pretty foolish to trade for Larry Andersen in 1990.

 

No, they did not trade for an Anderson in 1991.

 

 

You’re making too big of a deal of a year off in a 30 year old trae and some Nordic spelling variations…

[mvp 78]

You’re making too big of a deal of a year off in a 30 year old trae and some Nordic spelling variations…

 

Please call me young again.

[mvp 78]

How about 1990?

 

Nope.

[moonslav59]

Simple:

Go to baseballreference.com

Type in "Jeff Bagwell"

Scroll down

"August 30, 1990: Traded by the Boston Red Sox to the Houston Astros for Larry Andersen."

 

Anderson with an "e".

 

Note: Sox management was so dumb, back then, that it never occurred to them that Bagwell or Boggs could be converted to a 1Bman.

 

[iortiz]

It’s amazing we are winning with the rotation like this lol

 

In all fairness pitching hasn't been good for a week or so. The rest of the season has been more than formidable.

[mvp 78]

Simple:

Go to baseballreference.com

Type in "Jeff Bagwell"

Scroll down

"August 30, 1990: Traded by the Boston Red Sox to the Houston Astros for Larry Andersen."

 

Anderson with an "e".

 

Note: Sox management was so dumb, back then, that it never occurred to them that Bagwell or Boggs could be converted to a 1Bman.

 

 

Anderson with an "e"? So a completely different name then?

 

That's like saying Hunter Renfroe and Hunter Renfrow are the same person.

[moonslav59]

In all fairness pitching hasn't been good for a week or so. The rest of the season has been more than formidable.

 

Yup, 9 days and 70 runs ago, our staff was a bright spot.

 

60 games before that:

 

3.81 ERA and 44 HRs allowed in 526 IP

 

Last 9 games:

7.00 ERA (7 unearned runs allowed)

23 HRs allowed in 81 IP!

Edited June 17, 2021 by moonslav59

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

I haven't heard from that guy who kept saying good pitching always beats good hitting for weeks.

 

It usually does, but haven't seen much good pitching in a while. EO proved it is possible.

[moonslav59]

It usually does, but haven't seen much good pitching in a while. EO proved it is possible.

 

How do we know if we have not seen good pitching or it was just good hitting beating good pitching?

 

His point was that anytime we weren't hitting, it was because we were facing good pitching, even if the pitcher was not known for being all that good.

 

Now, when we, and just about everyone else is hitting well, it must be poor pitching.

 

Look, I agree that good pitching teams usually win vs good hitting teams, but it has never been to the extent some think it is.

 

We've also seen teams win with great defense, base running and intangibles and without great pitching or hitting.

[Bellhorn04]

In the immortal words of Al Davis:

 

"Just outscore the other team, baby!"

[Bellhorn04]

It usually does, but haven't seen much good pitching in a while. EO proved it is possible.

 

Also worth noting that Josh Taylor hasn't given up a run since April 24.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Here's a stat none of us who watch the games should be surprised seeing. The SOX are last in MLB in total walks at 182.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Also worth noting that Josh Taylor hasn't given up a run since April 24.

 

Josh has been, perhaps, the biggest surprise of the season. Before this season most here, including myself, wanted him gone.

BTW, when I mentioned 'good pitching' I was referring to the SOX starters. My fault for not making that clear. The BP, for the most part, has been above average and is one of the main reasons the SOX are 15 games over .500.

Edited June 17, 2021 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[mvp 78]

Josh has been, perhaps, the biggest surprise of the season. Before this season most here, including me, wanted him gone.

 

Before the season? He was really strong in 2019 and not great after returning from COVID in 2020. I don't think anyone really knew what to expect. People wanted him gone the middle of April, but not before then.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Before the season? He was really strong in 2019 and not great after returning from COVID in 2020. I don't think anyone really knew what to expect. People wanted him gone the middle of April, but not before then.

 

Maybe my memory has failed me, but I remember Josh being mostly welcomed with sarcastic comments when he entered a game and that was before this season and early in this season.

But it really doesn't matter; the past is the past. Right now he's one of the guys who has contributed hugely to the SOX success.

Edited June 17, 2021 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[moonslav59]

Also worth noting that Josh Taylor hasn't given up a run since April 24.

 

Only 2 of 14 inherited runners allowed to score, since then, too.

 

Both on May 6th, so no runs or IR's since May 6th!

[moonslav59]

Here's a stat none of us who watch the games should be surprised seeing. The SOX are last in MLB in total walks at 182.

 

It's the leadoff walks that really have killed us- many to weak hitters before the top of the order comes up to drive them in.

 

46 BBs to batters leading off an inning! (608 PAs)

[moonslav59]

TBR @ SEA: Let's hope their woes continue.

 

NYY @ TOR: Hoping the Jays come to play, but someone has to lose, so either way, someone loses ground to the Sox, here.

 

CWS @ HOU: Again, someone has to lose a half game to the Sox.

 

Let's see if we can keep the bats white hot in KC, starting tomorrow.