A Realistic View at 2021: Part III

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

 

Our pen was great, then imploded, then got good again.

 

 

Playoff Cora. The manager never throws a pitch, but ours threw out the book that strongly advises living or dying by the anointed closer and set-up men. Barnes and Ottavino were a big part of the club's early success, but alarmingly unreliable in the second half.

 

The turning point pitchers out of the bullpen in the three ALDS wins turned out to be Houck, Pivetta and Whitlock -- two starters and a reliever who was injured down the stretch.

 

We saw Cora win with the same approach in the 2018 postseason. He doesn't adlib, either. Kevin Cash had the best pitching staff in the American League, but the Red Sox were better in the ALDS because Cora was more cutthroat with his moves.

[Bellhorn04]

We were playing our 4th game in 6 days and 5th game in 8 days, so some of our pitchers should not have been tired.

 

I liked the choice of going to Houck, early, even though he was not all that "fresh" and sputtered a little.

 

We should be well rested for Friday's game.

 

That was actually the 4th game in 5 days and 5th in 7.

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

The last time I posted here was in 2018. It was also the only season before this one that I purchased the MLB Network so I could see every Red Sox game here in Maryland.

 

Just sayin'

[moonslav59]

That was actually the 4th game in 5 days and 5th in 7.

 

Yes, but also 4th in 6 and 5th in 8th.

 

I know a day off 6 or 8 days ago might not matter, but when a RP'er went 4 or 5 IP that long ago, it probably matters.

 

Using Houck, last night, after a long stint a few short days ago was "pushing it," and Whitlock on back to back nights for more than 1 IP maybe was, too, but Whitlock only pitched 17 and 15 pitches those two games and was not used for a few days before that.

 

I really can't point to any Sox pitcher and say, man we really pushed that guy hard over the last 5 playoff games.

 

We had a daay off before and after the Yankee game, so we were well rested going into the Rays series. We played 2 and had a day off, then 2 more.

 

Even with the 13 inning game, I don't see a pen that was overly taxed.

 

We never used Perez, thank God, and barely used Davis, Ottavino & Barnes. Brasier was used often, but just for one inning and not every game. Taylor was not overused.

 

Only Houck and Pivetta were pushed a little bit.

[moonslav59]

Playoff Cora. The manager never throws a pitch, but ours threw out the book that strongly advises living or dying by the anointed closer and set-up men. Barnes and Ottavino were a big part of the club's early success, but alarmingly unreliable in the second half.

 

The turning point pitchers out of the bullpen in the three ALDS wins turned out to be Houck, Pivetta and Whitlock -- two starters and a reliever who was injured down the stretch.

 

We saw Cora win with the same approach in the 2018 postseason. He doesn't adlib, either. Kevin Cash had the best pitching staff in the American League, but the Red Sox were better in the ALDS because Cora was more cutthroat with his moves.

 

With RP'ers and to a lesser extent SP'ers, the recency effect pulls a lot of weight.

 

Look at Brasier and Robles. No way anyone thought they'd be go- to guys in the playoffs.

 

Look at Pivetta and now ERod.

 

Who knows? Maybe, Sale turns things around, just in time.

[kenmeister]

 

Who knows? Maybe, Sale turns things around, just in time.

 

As is, I think we have a chance. If Sale suddenly becomes dominant, I think we move to favorites.

[mvp 78]

As is, I think we have a chance. If Sale suddenly becomes dominant, I think we move to favorites.

 

Not a likely scenario right now unless he finds his changeup again.

[kenmeister]

Not a likely scenario right now unless he finds his changeup again.

 

If this were a movie, there would be a montage of bullpen sessions, throwing at stop signs at night on the street, and having to disarm a robber with a well placed throw of a salt shaker, and then he'd be good to go.

[mvp 78]

If this were a movie, there would be a montage of bullpen sessions, throwing at stop signs at night on the street, and having to disarm a robber with a well placed throw of a salt shaker, and then he'd be good to go.

 

LOL. Need to get this to Cora ASAP.

[moonslav59]

Playoff OPS Leaders (11+ ABs):

 

1.266 Kike

1.250 Tucker

1.200 JD

1.167 Posey

1.158 Franco (eliminated)

1.100 L Roberts

1.085 Bogey

1.074 Arozarena (eliminated)

1.041 Schwarber

1.017 Devers (one-handed)

.954 Bregman

.946 W Smith

.933 Anderson

.917 Abreu

.917 Riley

.913 Verdugo

.882 Vazquez

 

Edited October 12, 2021 by moonslav59

[sk7326]

Playoff OPS Leaders (11+ ABs):

 

1.266 Kike

1.250 Tucker

1.167 Posey

1.158 Franco (eliminated)

1.100 L Roberts

1.085 Bogey

1.074 Arozarena (eliminated)

1.041 Schwarber

1.017 Devers (one-handed)

.954 Bregman

.946 W Smith

.933 Anderson

.917 Abreu

.917 Riley

.913 Verdugo

.882 Vazquez

 

 

JD Martinez has a 1.200 OPS on one leg and 15 ABs!

[moonslav59]

Playoff ERA Leaders with 6.1+ IP:

0.00 Logan Webb SFG

0.00 L McCullers HOU

1.59 Scherzer LAD

2.57 Houck

2.61 Eovaldi

3.12 Pivetta

 

[moonslav59]

JD Martinez has a 1.200 OPS on one leg and 15 ABs!

 

For some reason, he was not on MLB's list, until I clicked all players.

[moonslav59]

Forget about records and 9 game winning streaks.

 

Think about the team we had in April, May and June (plus maybe the team that won 4 of the first 5 of July).

 

Are we better now, of was that a better team?

 

A lot of players have been added and taken away. Some roles have changed for the ones who stayed. Some stats looked great in April and May, but what team is better?

 

I'd prefer you go with your gut feeling, but here are some stats to remind you who we were back then...

 

OPS by order of most PAs before the All Star Break:

.913 Devers (369 PAs)

.926 JD (367)

.930 Bogey (361)

.771 Verdugo (356)

.780 Renfroe (312)

.747 Kike (316)

.659 Vaz (299)

.673 Dalbec (258)

.583 Marwin (246)

.762 Arroyo (163)

.522 Santana (104)

.501 Cordero (102)

.658 Plawecki (71)

 

Pitchers by IP

3.66 Eovaldi 103

4.30 Pivetta 96

4.91 Richards 92

5.52 ERod 90

4.04 Perez 85

1.44 Whitlock 43

2.61 Barnes 38

6.03 Andriese 37

2.68 Ottavino 37

2.45 Sawamura 37

3.86 Taylor 30

2.70 DHern 30

4.24 Valdez 23

3.21 Workman 14

6.59 Brice 14

3.38 Rios 11

4.35 Houck 10

 

After the break...

.862 Devers 295

.832 Kike 269

.787 JD 267

.858 Renfroe 260

.787 Verdugo 248

.761 Bogey 242

.660 Vaz 199

.955 Dalbec .955

.957 Schwarber 168

.576 Duran 112

.792 Plawecki 102

.622 Arauz 65

.915 Iggy 64

.843 Shaw 48

 

Pitchers....

3.87 Eovaldi 79

3.71 ERod 68

3.38 Houck 59

4.91 Pivetta 59

4.80 Richards 45

3.16 Sale 43

2.73 Whitlock 30

3.60 Robles 25

6.48 Ottavino 25

2.60 Taylor 17

4.86 Davis 17

6.48 Barnes 17

8.10 Valdez 17

4.41 Sawamura 16

3.95 Rios 14

1.50 Brasier 12

5.40 DHern 10

 

 

[iortiz]

This is not the Red Sox team which faced Houston two months ago. This is a way better and rounded team right now, which btw has arguably the best momentum in POs.

 

It’s probably going to be a tight series but the Sox will prevail in the end.

[Larry Cook]

This is not the Red Sox team which faced Houston two months ago. This is a way better and rounded team right now, which btw has arguably the best momentum in POs.

 

It’s probably going to be a tight series but the Sox will prevail in the end.

 

Amen brother! I agree 100 percent.

[moonslav59]

This is not the Red Sox team which faced Houston two months ago. This is a way better and rounded team right now, which btw has arguably the best momentum in POs.

 

It’s probably going to be a tight series but the Sox will prevail in the end.

 

It's not the same Astros team, either, and I'm not just talking injuries.

 

They ended the season 31-26- nothing special.

 

[harmony]

It's not the same Astros team, either, and I'm not just talking injuries.

 

They ended the season 31-26- nothing special.

 

The Red Sox needed a three-game sweep of the Washington Nationals to close with a 29-28 record over their last 57 games (despite a purportedly easier schedule).

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The Red Sox needed a three-game sweep of the Washington Nationals to close with a 29-28 record over their last 57 games (despite a purportedly easier schedule).

 

in the middle of that, Boston's roster was also decimated by a Covid outbreak. During that span, the Sox somehow managed to tread dirty water by going 7-8.

[moonslav59]

The Red Sox needed a three-game sweep of the Washington Nationals to close with a 29-28 record over their last 57 games (despite a purportedly easier schedule).

 

Easier at the very end, but maybe not so easy over the last 57 games:

 

11 v TBR

6 v NYY

4 v TOR

3@ CWS

3@ SEA

[moonslav59]

The Red Sox needed a three-game sweep of the Washington Nationals to close with a 29-28 record over their last 57 games (despite a purportedly easier schedule).

 

We all know how the Sox season ended. Maybe some were not aware how the Astros had their struggles, too.

 

It took longer for them to clinch the ALW than expected. The A's swept them, near the end and during 2-6 stretch before winning the final 2 games of the season.

 

Like us, they yo-yo'd much of the season. From near the end of July, they did this.

 

won 6 of 7

lost 5 of 6

won 5 of 6

lost 4 straight

won 3 straight

lost 2

won 4

lost 5 of 7

won 12 of 16

lost 6 of8

won 2

 

We were not the only inconsistent team in the AL, this year.

 

[mvp 78]

The Red Sox needed a three-game sweep of the Washington Nationals to close with a 29-28 record over their last 57 games (despite a purportedly easier schedule).

 

And then they beat the preseason favorite in the WC game and trounced a 100 win #1 seeded Rays team.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The underdogs are still playing with house money. Which would be more surprising: a four-game sweep that Boston loses... or Boston wins?

[mvp 78]

The underdogs are still playing with house money. Which would be more surprising: a four-game sweep that Boston loses... or Boston wins?

 

A Boston sweep that they win would be legit crazy. I don't see them bowing out easily though. This team has a lot of fight left in it and Cora seems to manage the pitching staff pretty well.

[moonslav59]

One game at a time.

[Larry Cook]

One game at a time.

 

Exactly! Get the lead and make them play from behind!

[jad]

Exactly! Get the lead and make them play from behind!

 

Like last night?

[MADSTORK]

Pitching Pitching Pitching there ain't enough, thanks Orlando it was a great run

[Bellhorn04]

Pitching Pitching Pitching there ain't enough, thanks Orlando it was a great run

 

You're such an idiot. It's only the fact that you're too stupid to be taken seriously that keeps your troll ass from being banned.

[moonslav59]

Pitching Pitching Pitching there ain't enough, thanks Orlando it was a great run

 

Like a broken troll clock.