7/6 @ Shohei in LA

[Thunder]

RHP Nate Eovaldi (9-4, 3.41) vs RHP Shohei Ohtani (3-1, 3.60)

 

Two all stars on the mound, and 5 more in the starting lineups (including Ohtani). Can we win a game that does not require a save? Give Barnes and Ottavino some much needed rest.

[TylerD]

Thunder magic working great.

[moonslav59]

Thunder mojo risin’!

[TylerD]

This team just finds ways to win in so many different ways. Get a very good outing from a starter, or the offense comes to play, or it’s the bullpen saving us. This team really has been a force all year

[moonslav59]

It really is amazing how many one-run and comeback wins we have.

 

I understand the "luck" argument, but this team has grit- something no stat can capture.

[Thunder]

It really is amazing how many one-run and comeback wins we have.

 

I understand the "luck" argument, but this team has grit- something no stat can capture.

 

Since Kimmi doesn't post in game threads, I can say this without being chastised: There is definitely a component of "clutch" in there too. Whether it be a big hit, big pitch, or great defensive play, we've seemed to come up with them more often than not.

[moonslav59]

Since Kimmi doesn't post in game threads, I can say this without being chastised: There is definitely a component of "clutch" in there too. Whether it be a big hit, big pitch, or great defensive play, we've seemed to come up with them more often than not.

 

Some mixed data on that.

 

Our team OPS is.760.

 

It's .682 "Late & Close," which to me, is the best "clutch" measure.

 

But, other stats show we hit well, when needed:

.870 2 outs, RISP (.782 RISP)

.793 men on base

.890 High Leverage

 

.676 innings 7-9

.690 in extra innings

[TylerD]

It really is amazing how many one-run and comeback wins we have.

 

I understand the "luck" argument, but this team has grit- something no stat can capture.

 

And that is how you win in playoffs. Gritty tight games!

[Maxbialystock]

Since Kimmi doesn't post in game threads, I can say this without being chastised: There is definitely a component of "clutch" in there too. Whether it be a big hit, big pitch, or great defensive play, we've seemed to come up with them more often than not.

 

They also say luck is the residue of hard work, and no one has worked harder than the Sox bullpen during these 11 excellent games with just 1 loss when Cora was forced to use Andriese in the 12th inning of a game the A's would have won in 9 but for those 2 unearned runs.

 

The defense has also been better. In the first 3 games of what so far is 14 games without break, the Sox committed 5 errors in the Trop while losing 2 of 3. But in the 11 excellent games that followed that had just 4 errors in 4 different games, the only costly one being Pivetta's errant pickoff that led to 3 unearned runs in a game the Sox won. Devers has been excellent, and the outfield had a bunch of assists, all of them superb and some of them game-changing, by Renfroe (of course), Hernandez (getting to be of course), Verdugo (5 so far), JDM (3 so far), and even Santana (2 so far). Of note too

is that in the 1st inning of ERod's latest start--in which he again showed he is capable of crawling out of the abyss of some earlier starts--Gonzalez at 3b made a crappy throw to 1st, but ERod would not let the A's score.

 

Speaking of which, the starters have all shown toughness and hard work because they were hit by the Commish's "no foreign substances" dictum.

 

And then there's the Sox lucky manager, Cora, whom Napoleon would have wanted as one of his generals. No manager is perfect, but Cora--despite sometimes betting against the Sox and sending his winnings to Puerto Rico --comes close. His biggest fault, resting his best players when everyone on talksox knows that is just stupid, is actually another strength. He did this repeatedly during the latest 11 games, causing a massive uproar on the game threads, and the only loss in those 11 games was when the lineup was Hernandez, Verdugo, JDM, Bogaerts, Devers, Renfroe, Vazquez, Dalbec, and Santana.

Edited July 6, 2021 by Maxbialystock

[moonslav59]

They also say luck is the residue of hard work, and no one has worked harder than the Sox bullpen during these 11 excellent games with just 1 loss when Cora was forced to use Andriese in the 12th inning of a game the A's would have won in 9 but for those 2 unearned runs.

 

The defense has also been better. In the first 3 games of what so far is 14 games without break, the Sox committed 5 errors in the Trop while losing 2 of 3. But in the 11 excellent games that followed that had just 4 errors in 4 different games, the only costly one being Pivetta's errant pickoff that led to 3 unearned runs in a game the Sox won. Devers has been excellent, and the outfield had a bunch of assists, all of them superb and some of them game-changing, by Renfroe (of course), Hernandez (getting to be of course), Verdugo (5 so far), JDM (3 so far), and even Santana (2 so far). Of note too

is that in the 1st inning of ERod's latest start--in which he again showed he is capable of crawling out of the abyss of some earlier starts--Gonzalez at 3b made a crappy throw to 1st, but ERod would not let the A's score.

 

Speaking of which, the starters have all shown toughness and hard work because they were hit by the Commish's "no foreign substances" dictum.

 

And then there's the Sox lucky manager, Cora, whom Napoleon would have wanted as one of his generals. No manager is perfect, but Cora--despite sometimes betting against the Sox and sending his winnings to Puerto Rico --comes close. His biggest fault, resting his best players when everyone on talksox knows that is just stupid, is actually another strength. He did this repeatedly during the latest 11 games, causing a massive uproar on the game threads, and the only loss in those 11 games was when the lineup was Hernandez, Verdugo, JDM, Bogaerts, Devers, Renfroe, Vazquez, Dalbec, and Santana.

 

Well said.

 

The defense has looked better, especially Devers and Kike, but I get the feeling it is not "fixed." It will come back to haunt us again, at some point.

 

The bottom of the order has improved a lot.

 

The starters are getting back on track.

 

The pen has remained mostly steady.

[moonslav59]

How many years in a row has our pen overachieved (not counting 2020)?

[jad]

This team just finds ways to win in so many different ways. Get a very good outing from a starter, or the offense comes to play, or it’s the bullpen saving us. This team really has been a force all year

 

... or their superstar comes up in the clutch and hits what should be a game-winning laser that just happens to find The Shift.

[moonslav59]

... or their superstar comes up in the clutch and hits what should be a game-winning laser that just happens to find The Shift.

 

It does seem like we’ve lost our fair share of winnable games, too, but our record in close games is very good.

[Bellhorn04]

They also say luck is the residue of hard work

 

Sometimes luck is the residue of hard work.

 

And sometimes luck is just luck.

 

Yours truly, Cap'n Obvious.

[TylerD]

Sometimes luck is the residue of hard work.

 

And sometimes luck is just luck.

 

Yours truly, Cap'n Obvious.

 

Luck just happens. Have to be good to be lucky and lucky to be good!

 

The other day I ate week and a half old pizza, didn’t get sick. That my friend is what luck is!

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Except for the ball being in play between the foul lines, there's nothing fair about baseball. It's probably the most unfair of all the team sports. So when there is so much unfairness in a sport what comes around to neutralize this unfairness? LUCK.

But 'luck' can go from good to bad in a heartbeat.

[Bellhorn04]

Luck just happens. Have to be good to be lucky and lucky to be good!

 

You don't necessarily have to be good to be lucky. Any random bozo can win the lottery LOL

[Maxbialystock]

Sometimes luck is the residue of hard work.

 

And sometimes luck is just luck.

 

Yours truly, Cap'n Obvious.

 

Undoubtedly.

[dgalehouse]

Luck counts too. That's how it is in life.

[Maxbialystock]

Except for the ball being in play between the foul lines, there's nothing fair about baseball. It's probably the most unfair of all the team sports. So when there is so much unfairness in a sport what comes around to neutralize this unfairness? LUCK.

But 'luck' can go from good to bad in a heartbeat.

 

Also well said. Indeed, that's why even the absolute best teams in MLB--like the 2018 Sox (108 wins = .667 winning percentage)--lose 1/3 of the time.

 

This year the best teams--Sox (.628), Astros (.612), Giants (.631), and Dodgers (.624)--actually win just a tad better than 6 of 10 games. Why is that so? Three reasons: 1) hitting a round ball with a round bat squarely is the most difficult skill in sports; 2) pitching at the MLB level is a close second and also fraught with peril; 3) even well hit balls can be outs and poorly hit balls can get thru. I think this is why moonslav says that the most one sided pitching/hitting matchups can produce surprises.

[Thunder]

Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good, but it is best to be lucky AND good.

[notin]

You don't necessarily have to be good to be lucky. Any random bozo can win the lottery LOL

 

Not true. Limited only to those who get tickets…

[Thunder]

Not true. Limited only to those who get tickets…

 

Last week, sign ups opened for the Massachusetts vaccine lottery and I was so excited to sign up. But, as it turns out, you had to have been vaccinated in Massachusetts. I was vaccinated in CT before I moved. So this random bozo cannot win the lottery.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Also well said. Indeed, that's why even the absolute best teams in MLB--like the 2018 Sox (108 wins = .667 winning percentage)--lose 1/3 of the time.

 

This year the best teams--Sox (.628), Astros (.612), Giants (.631), and Dodgers (.624)--actually win just a tad better than 6 of 10 games. Why is that so? Three reasons: 1) hitting a round ball with a round bat squarely is the most difficult skill in sports; 2) pitching at the MLB level is a close second and also fraught with peril; 3) even well hit balls can be outs and poorly hit balls can get thru. I think this is why moonslav says that the most one sided pitching/hitting matchups can produce surprises.

 

Speaking of 'fair', it's way overdue to rename the foul line and foul pole to the fair line and fair pole. If the line and the pole were actually 'foul', then a baseball hitting either one of them would also be foul.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good, but it is best to be lucky AND good.

 

Reminds me of a joke about two guys who go to a boxing match. One of the guys notices that one of the boxers before he goes to the center of the ring to get instructions from the ref makes the sign of the cross. After seeing that, the guy asks the other guy "do you really think that helps?" The other guy answers "yes, if he's a good boxer."

Edited July 6, 2021 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[notin]

Speaking of 'fair', it's way overdue to rename the foul line and foul pole to the fair line and fair pole. If the line and the pole were actually 'foul', then a baseball hitting either one of them would also be foul.

 

Technically the foul pole could be renamed “the home run pole”…

[Maxbialystock]

Speaking of 'fair', it's way overdue to rename the foul line and foul pole to the fair line and fair pole. If the line and the pole were actually 'foul', then a baseball hitting either one of them would also be foul.

 

Like this whole discussion.

[Bellhorn04]

The most accurate, but cumbersome description would probably be the fair/foul line and pole, as they mark the border between the two.

 

It's purely arbitrary, of course, that a ball that hits the pole is fair in baseball. In football, a field goal attempt that hits the upright and bounces back is no good. As is a shot that hits the post in hockey. In those sports, it has to carom off the post and into fair territory.

[Maxbialystock]

Could be a great game tonight.

 

Hernandez CF

Verdugo LF

JD Martzinez DH

Bogey SS

Devers 3B

Renfroe RF

Arroyo 2B

Santana 1B

Wong C

[redsoxrules]

I wonder if Ohtani will hit a few Sox players tonight. If he won't I'm sure someone else will in this series thanks to Ottavino last night