August 12, 2021: Red Sox (Houck) vs Rays (Rasmusen)

[moonslav59]

4:10 start time. (Free game on MLBTV)

 

Big game for Houck and the Sox.

[mvp 78]

1. Enrique Hernandez 2B

2. Jarren Duran CF

3. Xander Bogaerts SS

4. Rafael Devers 3B

5. J.D. Martinez DH

6. Hunter Renfroe RF

7. Kevin Plawecki C

8. Marwin Gonzalez 1B

9. Franchy Cordero LF

[Bellhorn04]

Plawecki is getting a lot more starts, answering the calls of many Talksox posters.

 

The paternity leave thing is great, but Dugo's seems to have been the longest one ever.

[moonslav59]

OMG!

 

Marwin starts again.

 

Bloom has to remove Cora's binky.

[mvp 78]

Plawecki is getting a lot more starts, answering the calls of many Talksox posters.

 

The paternity leave thing is great, but Dugo's seems to have been the longest one ever.

 

He was supposed to be back today. There was an off day, so I believe he got an extra day.

[mvp 78]

OMG!

 

Marwin starts again.

 

Bloom has to remove Cora's binky.

 

Is a 499 OPS vs RHP not ideal?

[moonslav59]

Is a 499 OPS vs RHP not ideal?

 

At least he's respectable vs LHPs (.754), but no- not ideal.

 

Over his career, he's been pretty evenly bad.

[mvp 78]

At least he's respectable vs LHPs (.754), but no- not ideal.

 

Over his career, he's been pretty evenly bad.

 

Still worse than Dalbec's split against LHP: 847.

 

I think I'd want Dalbec starting every game over Marwin. You can sell me on needing to start Kiké in CF and Marwin at 2B for a game or two.

[Maxbialystock]

Plawecki is getting a lot more starts, answering the calls of many Talksox posters.

 

The paternity leave thing is great, but Dugo's seems to have been the longest one ever.

 

No how, no way is Cora hearkening to us. Nor do I think he has suddenly decided that Plawecki is in fact the better catcher.

 

More likely might be some combination of Plawecki is hotter at the plate and behind it.

 

And just maybe this is sending a message to Vazquez: straighten up: stop running the bases like an idiot: focus when you are behind the plate; and, oh, yeah, do something about your hitting.

 

With Schwarber and Arroyo lost in the IL wilderness, perhaps never to return this season or not until September, Cora needs to get the most out of the guys who are still able to play.

Edited August 12, 2021 by Maxbialystock

[TylerD]

Houck goes 5 today and only gives up a run. We got this.

[moonslav59]

Still worse than Dalbec's split against LHP: 847.

 

I think I'd want Dalbec starting every game over Marwin. You can sell me on needing to start Kiké in CF and Marwin at 2B for a game or two.

 

Dalbec is starting vs LHPs over Marwin.

[moonslav59]

Dalbec is starting vs LHPs over Marwin.

 

Nobody can ever convince me to start Marwin, even in a triple header.

[moonslav59]

No how, no way is Cora hearkening to us. Nor do I think he has suddenly decided that Plawecki is in fact the better catcher.

 

More likely might be some combination of Plawecki is hotter at the plate and behind it.

 

And just maybe this is sending a message to Vazquez: straighten up: stop running the bases like an idiot: focus when you are behind the plate; and, oh, yeah, do something about your hitting.

 

With Schwarber and Arroyo lost in the IL wilderness, perhaps never to return this season or not until September, Cora needs to get the most out of the guys who are still able to play.

 

Maybe Vaz just needed a rest, and Cora goes back to him hard, despite Plawecki's recent success.

[illinoisredsox]

Plawecki is getting a lot more starts, answering the calls of many Talksox posters.

 

The paternity leave thing is great, but Dugo's seems to have been the longest one ever.

 

No how, no way is Cora hearkening to us. Nor do I think he has suddenly decided that Plawecki is in fact the better catcher.

 

More likely might be some combination of Plawecki is hotter at the plate and behind it.

 

And just maybe this is sending a message to Vazquez: straighten up: stop running the bases like an idiot: focus when you are behind the plate; and, oh, yeah, do something about your hitting.

 

With Schwarber and Arroyo lost in the IL wilderness, perhaps never to return this season or not until September, Cora needs to get the most out of the guys who are still able to play.

 

Maybe Vaz just needed a rest, and Cora goes back to him hard, despite Plawecki's recent success.

 

Vaz is on bereavement leave. It was announced about an hour before last night’s game. Nothing was said about the reason or how long he’ll be gone. It’s why Wong was able to come in and play late in yesterday’s game.

[mvp 78]

No how, no way is Cora hearkening to us. Nor do I think he has suddenly decided that Plawecki is in fact the better catcher.

 

More likely might be some combination of Plawecki is hotter at the plate and behind it.

 

And just maybe this is sending a message to Vazquez: straighten up: stop running the bases like an idiot: focus when you are behind the plate; and, oh, yeah, do something about your hitting.

 

With Schwarber and Arroyo lost in the IL wilderness, perhaps never to return this season or not until September, Cora needs to get the most out of the guys who are still able to play.

 

I bet it has 0.000000000000000000000001% to do with baserunning.

[mvp 78]

Dalbec is starting vs LHPs over Marwin.

 

He should start vs RHPs over Marwin too.

[mvp 78]

Vaz is on bereavement leave. It was announced about an hour before last night’s game. Nothing was said about the reason or how long he’ll be gone. It’s why Wong was able to come in and play late in yesterday’s game.

 

@BillKoch25

#RedSox announce Christian Vazquez has been placed on the bereavement list. Connor Wong has been recalled from Triple-A Worcester.

[moonslav59]

He should start vs RHPs over Marwin too.

 

I would start anyone over over Marwin, with consideration even given to pitchers. That's how little faith I have in his bat.

[Maxbialystock]

Stunning first inning. Houck mixes his pitches and locations and gets 3 outs in 13 pitches. Excellent work.

 

Rasmussen does what no pitcher on the Sox roster, now or in the recent past, is capable of doing. He throws nothing but fastballs, walks the leadoff batter, and gets the next three guys out, easy-peasy, on 12 pitches.

 

No doubt moonslav can confirm or disparage my impression, but I believe the Sox pitchers don't have good fastballs--thus requiring all of them, without exception, to mix in other pitches--and opposing pitchers seem to be able to get away with lots and lots of fastballs.

[Maxbialystock]

Stunning first inning. Houck mixes his pitches and locations and gets 3 outs in 13 pitches. Excellent work.

 

Rasmussen does what no pitcher on the Sox roster, now or in the recent past, is capable of doing. He throws nothing but fastballs, walks the leadoff batter, and gets the next three guys out, easy-peasy, on 12 pitches.

 

No doubt moonslav can confirm or disparage my impression, but I believe the Sox pitchers don't have good fastballs--thus requiring all of them, without exception, to mix in other pitches--and opposing pitchers seem to be able to get away with lots and lots of fastballs.

 

I hasten to add the Sox do have some batters who can hit fastballs with some regularity. But Duran is just one example of several Sox hitters who are completely cowed by heat.

[Maxbialystock]

Finally, a slider by Rasmussen, that is in the middle of the zone and which Devers pops up.

 

First pitch to JDM, a slider for a strike. Then a fastball, strike 2. And another fastball for strike 3. JDM swung at 1 pitch.

[Maxbialystock]

It also appears Rasmussen can throw that fastball and slider on the corners and margins of the strike zone. So far, no hits, 2 K's, 1 BB, and 23 pitches in 2 innings. Houck has thrown 30 pitches.

[Maxbialystock]

A second seeing eye hit for the Rays.

[Maxbialystock]

Nice throw, Plawecki.

[jung]

I hate lollypop throws no matter where they come from. That was a lollypop from our backup Catcher.

[jung]

And a lollypop from our young CFer.

[Maxbialystock]

One thing the Rays can do is put a bunch of lefty bats in the lineup against a righty pitcher.

 

Unearned run thanks to Plawecki. Duran had no chance, but it was still a lousy throw.

[Maxbialystock]

Houck is pitching well and getting zippo support. Looks like last Saturday, both games, in which the Sox lineup produced 1 earned run in 15 innings.

 

Today, however, we can't be sure the bullpen will be much help. Day before yesterday, given a lead after 5.1 innings, they gave up 6 runs in 3.2 innings.

[Tedballgame]

When is the last time a Sox catcher threw out a guy trying to steal second base? Or even made a good throw?

[jung]

Go sit down Marwin. You're out.