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

[Maxbialystock]

Marvin, Marvin. You get four straight sliders, and you swing at strike 2 way, way out of the zone, and look at strike 3 in the zone. This is sheer incompetence.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

In baseball it's not 'what a difference a day makes;' instead it's 'what a difference a pitcher makes.'

[Maxbialystock]

Rasmussen, despite that great fastball in the first inning, is now mixing his pitches, still hitting his spots, and absolutely dominating the Sox hitters.

 

Correction on "hitting his spots." He went with nothing but heat vs. Cordero and all three strikes--swung at and missed--were in the middle on the zone.

[Maxbialystock]

In baseball it's not 'what a difference a day makes;' instead it's 'what a difference a pitcher makes.'

 

Truer words were never writ.

[Maxbialystock]

Houck, meanwhile, is pitching his heart out--despite the absolutely abysmal support from the lineup.

[Maxbialystock]

Top of the order. Rasmussen nailed the Sox first time thru--9 "hitters," 9 outs, 34 pitches.

 

This time thru, the Sox lineup needs to do something good.

 

Kike gets his 2d BB.

[Maxbialystock]

Duran swung at the 1st pitch but didn't quite get all of it. Fastball in the middle. Good at bat.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

DEVERS DEliVERS!

[Maxbialystock]

Great at bats by all four hitters in the 4th!!!

 

Thus no surprise when Devers nailed that game-tying double.

 

I don't like JDM pulling that slider, but it was a pitch to swing at.

 

Vital now for Houck to pitch a scoreless 5th. If he keeps it up, 13 1/2 pitches per inning, he could go 7 innings, easily his best start ever. With Plawecki catching.

 

Now let's see what he can do.

[Maxbialystock]

Another K for Houck! 1 down in the 5th.

[TylerD]

He is having himself a day! I knew Houck would come to play today. Need the bats to wake up.

[Maxbialystock]

Out 2 in the 5th, also another K, this one on a splitter!

[oldtimer]

Marvin, Marvin. You get four straight sliders, and you swing at strike 2 way, way out of the zone, and look at strike 3 in the zone. This is sheer incompetence.

 

Where is Verdugo? I thought he would be back today. Shame to see Marwin in there instead of Verdugo.

[Maxbialystock]

Great 5th by Houck!

 

Pitch count shot up to 69, but I think he comes out for the 6th.

[Maxbialystock]

I'm starting to think the Rays software data on positioning players is better than the Sox.

[Maxbialystock]

Plawecki owes--and makes a partial payment back!!!!

[moonslav59]

Woulda been a 2B anywhere else.

[Maxbialystock]

Gonzalez and Cordero have now both struck out against two different Rays pitchers. Duran the rookie looks more comfortable at the plate than either of them.

[Maxbialystock]

Woulda been a 2B anywhere else.

 

Yep.

[TylerD]

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

 

I was spot on with this. Houck is such a stud!

[oldtimer]

Another trip to the dead zone in the lineup and two strikeouts. I don't understand why Munoz hasn't replaced one of these guys. It's like trying to win with one hand roped behind your back. I don't know why Cora sticks with these guys.

[Maxbialystock]

Taylor warming up.

[Maxbialystock]

Another trip to the dead zone in the lineup and two strikeouts. I don't understand why Munoz hasn't replaced one of these guys. It's like trying to win with one hand roped behind your back. I don't know why Cora sticks with these guys.

 

They stink, I agree. But I'm not so sure anyone better is available.

[Maxbialystock]

Lowe and Franco are both tough outs and good at fouling off good pitches.

[jung]

Rays situational hitting is so good. Really pisses me off.

[Maxbialystock]

I was spot on with this. Houck is such a stud!

 

Say again?

[TylerD]

f***. 3-1.

[Maxbialystock]

Rays situational hitting is so good. Really pisses me off.

 

Those two are tough and this was their third time seeing Houck.

 

Cora's dilemma is that recently the bullpen stinks, with no exceptions.

[TylerD]

Say again?

 

 

DAMMIT. I jinxed it again. Aaaaah!!!!!!!!!!! Regardless Houck looked really good today till the end. The bats need to wake up. Won’t beat a good team like the Rays with one damn run. I knew they scored too many yesterday.

[Maxbialystock]

Looks like Plawecki is having trouble catching the ball, even strikes.