July 22: BOS (Houck) vs NYY (Montgomery)

[moonslav59]

No more messing with start times.

 

Going against the lefty, so Dalbec will play.

 

Big game for Houck. Bigger game for the Yanks, as they try to determine if they will buy or sell.

 

I was kinda hoping they'd be buyers, but not at our expense.

 

GO SOX!!!!

 

[Maxbialystock]

Yankees have now won 4 straight thanks to the boost the Sox gave them. They are 7 games back and 7-3 vs. the Sox 4-6 in the last 10 games for each.

[moonslav59]

If Houck has a big game, it will certainly improve our confidence in this team as a whole.

 

I'm not one to move one way or the other over one game, but for some reason, this game means more than just putting the Yanks out of their misery.

 

[Maxbialystock]

In this 4 game series, the Sox vs. Yankees starters will be:

 

Houck (ERA 3.38) vs. Montgomery (ERA 4.18)

ERod (ERA 5.19) vs. Cole (ERA 2.63)

Eovaldi (ERA 3.57) vs. Taillon (ERA 4.60)

Perez (ERA 4.16) vs. German (ERA 4.16)

 

I think Cole has the edge (over ERod) for the Yankees in game 2 and Eovaldi (over Taillon) for the Sox in game 3. The other two are crapshoots--remembering of course moonslav's adage that mismatches often produce surprising outcomes.

 

The Sox to date have a +63 run differential and the Yankees +10--the latter mostly because of their tepid hitting which, however, just might be coming back to life.

 

Both teams need this series even though the Yankees need it more.

 

For the Sox tonight's game is the first of 11 back to back games vs. the other three AL East contenders: 4 vs. the Yankees, 4 vs. the Jays, and 3 @ the Trop vs. the Rays.

 

Then, after 3 @ Detroit, the Sox play 4 more at Toronto (not Buffalo), including a double-header with the make-up game) and 3 at Fenway vs. the Rays.

 

So that's 18 of 21 games vs. three winning teams, all of whom have a shot at the wild card or the AL East title.

 

Oh, and right in the middle of those 21 games comes July 31, the so-called final date for making a deal for this season.

[TylerD]

Yankees are red hot latrly winning 7 of their last 10 and beat us pretty good in the last series

 

This should be a good one. If Houck plays like he is capable of we have a good chance of winning tonight.

[iortiz]

I've been very high on Houck since day one based on what he did last year. Great to see him in the rotation.

 

We can (should) sweep these diminished Yankees. Cora should manage this series as a PO series. This could be the final nail in the coffin for them.

[moonslav59]

I've been very high on Houck since day one based on what he did last year. Great to see him in the rotation.

 

 

I was certainly impressed with his 3 starts in 2020 (23 IP), but his history before than made me think he was probably more like Beeks than anything better.

 

He could be a huge boost, if he keeps it up.

 

Then, the Sale boost might be just enough to get us to the WS.

 

Once there, I like our chances, even though we will probably be the dogs.

[oldtimer]

We need at least to play even with the Yankees to keep them 7 games back. I think Houck has a good chance tonight but it would have been nice to have Arroyo present for this series.

[mvp 78]

I was certainly impressed with his 3 starts in 2020 (23 IP), but his history before than made me think he was probably more like Beeks than anything better.

 

He could be a huge boost, if he keeps it up.

 

Then, the Sale boost might be just enough to get us to the WS.

 

Once there, I like our chances, even though we will probably be the dogs.

 

If Houck wins tonight, let's put a moratorium on "the Sox can't develop starters" until his next start at least.

[mvp 78]

1 CF Enrique Hernandez

2 3B Rafael Devers

3 SS Xander Bogaerts

4 DH J.D. Martinez

5 RF Hunter Renfroe

6 C Christian Vazquez

7 LF Alex Verdugo

8 1B Bobby Dalbec

9 2B Michael Chavis

[mvp 78]

Marcelo Mayer signed at slot, reportedly. Today is a good day.

 

Let's f***ing go!

[Bellhorn04]

1 CF Enrique Hernandez

2 3B Rafael Devers

3 SS Xander Bogaerts

4 DH J.D. Martinez

5 RF Hunter Renfroe

6 C Christian Vazquez

7 LF Alex Verdugo

8 1B Bobby Dalbec

9 2B Michael Chavis

 

Alex sure loves loading up with the RH hitters against a lefty. Worked last night, hope it does again.

[Maxbialystock]

Alex sure loves loading up with the RH hitters against a lefty. Worked last night, hope it does again.

After NYY debacle, he’s become aggressive with the lineups.

[Fan_since_Boggs]

It is time to stop playing Verdugo against lefties, he has been totally impotent against them with a .479 OPS. Verdugo needs a dose of Viagra against lefties. Alternatively, the Red Sox should figure out a way to get M.Wilson on the roster and make him Verdugo's platoon buddy.

 

Duran has reasonable numbers against LHP in AAA. I would play Duran against lefties over Verdugo.

Edited July 22, 2021 by Fan_since_Boggs

[iortiz]

It is time to stop playing Verdugo against lefties, he has been totally impotent against them with a .479 OPS. Verdugo needs a dose of Viagra against lefties. Alternatively, the Red Sox should figure out a way to get M.Wilson on the roster and make him Verdugo's platoon buddy.

 

Duran has reasonable numbers against LHP in AAA. I would play Duran against lefties over Verdugo.

 

Last time I checked his OPS was even better vs LHP.

 

It’s likely he posts better than Verdugo’s 470.

[Bellhorn04]

Verdugo's career OPS vs lefties is .672 in 342 PA's.

[d-money]

Big series . All these games are big. You wanna create some distance.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

If anyone is concerned with Bogey's recent slump, one should check out Babe Ohtani's stats since the ASB. 2-25 with 11 k'S.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

The Yankems are 7 back of the SOX, but in the more important loss column they are 6 games behind.

[d-money]

The Yankems are 7 back of the SOX, but in the more important loss column they are 6 games behind.

 

They can add to that in this series. Hope they’re prepared.

[Bellhorn04]

We're in the midst of an AL East cage match.

[Bellhorn04]

Man did Renfroe hit a couple of bombs against the Jays. On pitches that were pretty high in the zone.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

They can add to that in this series. Hope they’re prepared.

 

I hope Montgomery isn't.

[TylerD]

Let’s go Houck!

[TylerD]

Houck is so fast. Boom, boom, boom. Love it

[d-money]

Let’s get an early lead plz!!!

[iortiz]

Great 1st inning for Houck. He reminds me Chris Sale with that wind up and delivery.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

I hope Montgomery isn't.

 

It appears that he is.

[d-money]

They need this offense to show up in this series.

[d-money]

Great 1st inning for Houck. He reminds me Chris Sale with that wind up and delivery.

 

Idk if that’s a good thing . Sale was always a candidate for tommy john with that violent delivery.