6/28 vs Royals

[moonslav59]

If Richards had gotten that final out in the top of the 6th, he would have gotten the win.

 

The pen deserved the win, but Richards surprised me by settling down after 2 innings.

[Maxbialystock]

The pen deserved the win, but Richards surprised me by settling down after 2 innings.

 

Absolutely. In this case justice was served. Besides, Richards' 3.2 shutout innings give him something to build on. His big curve did not look half bad tonight. And that 93 mph fast ball has a nice bend to it. A changeup is still too much to ask.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Hopefully, Cora's gutsy patience leaving Richards in the game will make Richards a better pitcher in his next start.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Looking forward to see if Kik'e can go 3 straight games with a lead-off HR tomorrow.

[moonslav59]

Hopefully, Cora's gutsy patience leaving Richards in the game will make Richards a better pitcher in his next start.

 

When's the last time a pitcher invented a pitch like a 67 mph curveball, mid season, and it worked out well?

 

This all reeks of desperation and grasping at straws.

 

I'll be shocked silly, if this works.

[Fan_since_Boggs]

A good game for Bobby D. I can't believe we have fans on this forum who want the Red Sox to replace a phenom like Bobby D.

 

Does Richards get another start? Tough call. It was another weak effort but he did settle down after giving up 5 runs. Did he turn a corner? I would put Houck in the rotation, but the Red Sox could go with a six man rotation. In fact, Cora has discussed the idea of going with a 6-man rotation to give the starters some extra rest.

 

Richards' spin rates continue to be problematic:

Curveball: 2736 vs. 2750 last week, not used the week before, and ~3300 pre-crackdown

Fastball: 2328 vs. 2304 last week, 2337 the week before, and ~2600 pre-crackdown

Slider: 2620 vs. 2653 last week, 2619 the week before, and ~2900 pre-crackdown

Edited June 29, 2021 by Fan_since_Boggs

[Bellhorn04]

Hopefully, Cora's gutsy patience leaving Richards in the game will make Richards a better pitcher in his next start.

 

Right. And in the same way, Cora showed gutsy patience with E-Rod in the Tampa game when he gave up the 3-run homer to Franco. E-Rod got 6 outs after that with no more damage. And he pitched well in his next start.

 

I shouldn't be getting all gushy here, but Cora really knows how to handles his players and get the most from them, IMHO.

[Bellhorn04]

If Richards had gotten that final out in the top of the 6th, he would have gotten the win.

 

The pen deserved the win, but Richards surprised me by settling down after 2 innings.

 

Absolutely. In this case justice was served. Besides, Richards' 3.2 shutout innings give him something to build on. His big curve did not look half bad tonight. And that 93 mph fast ball has a nice bend to it. A changeup is still too much to ask.

 

Funny how we still pay so much attention to who gets the W.

[Maxbialystock]

Funny how we still pay so much attention to who gets the W.

 

Pitchers, especially starters, care.

[Bellhorn04]

Pitchers, especially starters, care.

 

Yeah, it still has some sort of symbolic value for them, I guess. A number that goes "on the back of the baseball card".

[Maxbialystock]

A good game for Bobby D. I can't believe we have fans on this forum who want the Red Sox to replace a phenom like Bobby D.

 

Does Richards get another start? Tough call. It was another weak effort but he did settle down after giving up 5 runs. Did he turn a corner? I would put Houck in the rotation, but the Red Sox could go with a six man rotation. In fact, Cora has discussed the idea of going with a 6-man rotation to give the starters some extra rest.

 

Richards' spin rates continue to be problematic:

Curveball: 2736 vs. 2750 last week, not used the week before, and ~3300 pre-crackdown

Fastball: 2328 vs. 2304 last week, 2337 the week before, and ~2600 pre-crackdown

Slider: 2620 vs. 2653 last week, 2619 the week before, and ~2900 pre-crackdown

 

Too bad you couldn't watch the game last night and decided to look up spin rates instead. If you had watched, you would have noticed that command in the first 2 innings was a bigger problem than spin rate. Both dingers were off pitches--a fastball and a slider--in the geometric center of the strike zone. After the second one, Richards pitched 4.1 innings of shut out baseball and kept the Sox in the game long enough to get the score to 5-5 with 2 outs in the top of the 6th inning. In terms of bullpen usage, this game had disaster written all over it.

[Bellhorn04]

In terms of bullpen usage, this game had disaster written all over it.

 

As in, "Matt Andriese as tonight's designated sacrificial lamb" disaster.

[Maxbialystock]

A good game for Bobby D. I can't believe we have fans on this forum who want the Red Sox to replace a phenom like Bobby D.

 

Does Richards get another start? Tough call. It was another weak effort but he did settle down after giving up 5 runs. Did he turn a corner? I would put Houck in the rotation, but the Red Sox could go with a six man rotation. In fact, Cora has discussed the idea of going with a 6-man rotation to give the starters some extra rest.

 

Richards' spin rates continue to be problematic:

Curveball: 2736 vs. 2750 last week, not used the week before, and ~3300 pre-crackdown

Fastball: 2328 vs. 2304 last week, 2337 the week before, and ~2600 pre-crackdown

Slider: 2620 vs. 2653 last week, 2619 the week before, and ~2900 pre-crackdown

 

About Bobby Dalbec. JBJ, a terrific defensive outfielder, inherited the starting CF position in 2014 after Ellsbury went to the Yankees. He started and stopped (meaning he was sent back to AAA) several times that season because his hitting stunk. Then, somehow, in August he finally started to hit. But over the next 5 years he would have greater fits and spurts than most players. He was an improvement over Ellsbury--despite Jacoby's incredible 2011 season--because he was a better defensive centerfielder and not excessively prone (as Ellsbury was) to season-ending and career-ending injuries.

 

Bobby Dalbec, on the other hand, is a defensive liability (DWAR -1.1) while playing the easiest infield position. Thus, despite being 5th on the Sox in dingers (11) and RBI's (40), his overall WAR is -.9. He also leads the position players in strikeouts with 86 in 213 AB's.

 

What keeps Dalbec on the big club is in fact his hitting and the lack of it from guys like Chavis, Gonzalez, Cordero, Santana, etc.

[Bellhorn04]

Bobby Dalbec, on the other hand, is a defensive liability (DWAR -1.1) while playing the easiest infield position. Thus, despite being 5th on the Sox in dingers (11) and RBI's (40), his overall WAR is -.9. He also leads the position players in strikeouts with 86 in 213 AB's.

 

What keeps Dalbec on the big club is in fact his hitting and the lack of it from guys like Chavis, Gonzalez, Cordero, Santana, etc.

 

Dalbec had decent defensive numbers at third base.

 

He's a bit of a project, but there are still enough positive signs to make it worth investing in him, IMHO.

[Bellhorn04]

The other thing about a guy like Dalbec is the economics. He's a minimum wage player from now until 2023.

[moonslav59]

Dalbec had decent defensive numbers at third base.

 

He's a bit of a project, but there are still enough positive signs to make it worth investing in him, IMHO.

 

I can’t see Dalbec remaining a minus on defense. Maybe by the end of the season he’ll be plus..

[Maxbialystock]

Dalbec had decent defensive numbers at third base.

 

He's a bit of a project, but there are still enough positive signs to make it worth investing in him, IMHO.

 

Probably. Youk was a third baseman who moved to 1B and did great immediately. Why? Because 1b is a much easier position to play.

[illinoisredsox]

A good game for Bobby D. I can't believe we have fans on this forum who want the Red Sox to replace a phenom like Bobby D.

 

Does Richards get another start? Tough call. It was another weak effort but he did settle down after giving up 5 runs. Did he turn a corner? I would put Houck in the rotation, but the Red Sox could go with a six man rotation. In fact, Cora has discussed the idea of going with a 6-man rotation to give the starters some extra rest.

 

Richards' spin rates continue to be problematic:

Curveball: 2736 vs. 2750 last week, not used the week before, and ~3300 pre-crackdown

Fastball: 2328 vs. 2304 last week, 2337 the week before, and ~2600 pre-crackdown

Slider: 2620 vs. 2653 last week, 2619 the week before, and ~2900 pre-crackdown

 

Houck is not ready to be part of the rotation right now.

 

When the Sox sent him down in April, he went on the IL and just got off of it. Last I checked, he had made 3 appearances at Worcester for a grand total of 9 2/3 innings and has been hit around in those games. He is basically back in spring training; it might be several weeks before you could put him in a major league rotation.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Houck is not ready to be part of the rotation right now.

 

When the Sox sent him down in April, he went on the IL and just got off of it. Last I checked, he had made 3 appearances at Worcester for a grand total of 9 2/3 innings and has been hit around in those games. He is basically back in spring training; it might be several weeks before you could put him in a major league rotation.

 

I have more faith that Sale will help the starting rotation more than anyone the SOX will bring up from the farm. Even if Sale begins in the BP, it's still a major plus.

[Maxbialystock]

I have more faith that Sale will help the starting rotation more than anyone the SOX will bring up from the farm. Even if Sale begins in the BP, it's still a major plus.

 

Beyond question Sale is the man based on his track record in the past and spot reports on his recovery this year.