8/29 @ Cleveland

[Maxbialystock]

Houck vs. Morgan.

 

Game is at 1:10 pm

 

Both righties, ERA edge to Houck, 3.43 to 5.98. Houck averages about 4 innings per start, so once again the bullpen will be needed big time.

 

Best fix is for the lineup to hammer Morgan, et al, and make it easy on the pitching staff.

 

As for bullpen, Ottavino and Sawamura are likely unavailable. Barnes and Robles are rested. I think Richards, Whitlock, Taylor, and Davis can be available. What makes today harder is that tomorrow begins a 4 game series at Tampa, a team that is sure to test our pitching and hitting.

 

Renfroe should be back today, so I think Cora will choose between Dalbec at 1b with Schwarber in LF vs. Duran in CF and Schwarber at 1B. Arauz keeps 2b because Arroyo and Kike are both out. Vazquez has caught 5 straight games, so Plawecki should be catching Houck today. His OBP of .361 suggests he could even lead off.

Edited August 29, 2021 by Maxbialystock

[TylerD]

Let’s get the sweep!!!

[moonslav59]

Houck vs. Morgan.

 

Game is at 1:10 pm

 

Both righties, ERA edge to Houck, 3.43 to 5.98. Houck averages about 4 innings per start, so once again the bullpen will be needed big time.

 

Best fix is for the lineup to hammer Morgan, et al, and make it easy on the pitching staff.

 

As for bullpen, Ottavino and Sawamura are likely unavailable. Barnes and Robles are rested. I think Richards, Whitlock, Taylor, and Davis can be available. What makes today harder is that tomorrow begins a 4 game series at Tampa, a team that is sure to test our pitching and hitting.

 

Renfroe should be back today, so I think Cora will choose between Dalbec at 1b with Schwarber in LF vs. Duran in CF and Schwarber at 1B. Arauz keeps 2b because Arroyo and Kike are both out. Vazquez has caught 5 straight games, so Plawecki should be catching Houck today. His OBP of .361 suggests he could even lead off.

 

Plawecki has a .258 OPS over his last 7 games. That time frame coincides with the time some of us, myself included, we saying he should play more. Some, not me, wanted him to be the starting catcher over Vaz.

 

I would sit Dalbec vs the RHP and give Duran another game. I'm not sure I'd lead Duran off, though. Maybe something like this:

 

1. Verdugo LF

2. Schwarber 1B

3. JD DH

4. Devers 3B

5. Bogey SS

6. Renfroe RF

7. Plawecki C

8. Arauz 2B

9. Duran CF

[moonslav59]

1. Schwarber LF

2. Devers 3B (what a mighty 1-2!)

3. JD DH

4. Bogey SS

5. Verdugo RF

6. Plawecki C

7. Dalbec 1B

8. Duran CF

9. Arauz 2B

 

[Maxbialystock]

1. Schwarber LF

2. Devers 3B (what a mighty 1-2!)

3. JD DH

4. Bogey SS

5. Verdugo RF

6. Plawecki C

7. Dalbec 1B

8. Duran CF

9. Arauz 2B

 

 

Makes sense. Dalbec, Duran, and Arauz--newbies to the rear.

[Maxbialystock]

Are they going to play this game?

[Jasonbay44]

I’m confused at what’s even happening. According to Christian Vazquez Snapchat they’ve been in a “rain delay” for over an hour but it hasn’t rained…

[moonslav59]

It was sunny with blue skies, at game time.

[Maxbialystock]

It was sunny with blue skies, at game time.

 

That's also what nesn is reporting. Didn't we do this once already with the Yankees?

[Maxbialystock]

Don't forget it's the home team, not MLB and not the umpires, who decides when the game will start.

[Jasonbay44]

It was sunny with blue skies, at game time.

 

Based on pictures and videos I’ve seen on Snapchat, it looks to still be the case. I don’t get why stuff like this is allowed

[Maxbialystock]

NESN says the pitchers had already warmed up when the delay was announced.

[Maxbialystock]

Based on pictures and videos I’ve seen on Snapchat, it looks to still be the case. I don’t get why stuff like this is allowed

 

The Cleveland team makes the call, not the umps. Once the game starts, the umps take over on further delays, postponement, whatever.

[moonslav59]

Based on pictures and videos I’ve seen on Snapchat, it looks to still be the case. I don’t get why stuff like this is allowed

 

It's like that Yankee fiasco that was around the time the tide turned.

[Jasonbay44]

The Cleveland team makes the call, not the umps. Once the game starts, the umps take over on further delays, postponement, whatever.

I get that. I just don’t get why the Guardians would be allowed to delay a start when it’s not even raining.

[Jasonbay44]

According to Twitter it rained about 10 minutes, the tarp came off the field, then was put back on shortly after and people at the stadium don’t know what’s happening.

[moonslav59]

I get that. I just don’t get why the Guardians would be allowed to delay a start when it’s not even raining.

 

The Yanks did the same thing- by an hour, then the game got called after 5 with them getting the win by scoring in a downpour.

[illinoisredsox]

In looking at the Cleveland radar, there’s a line of strong t-storms passing over Lorrain right now headed east. Lorraine is about 30 miles west of Cleveland. That might be what they are waiting on. They probably don’t want to have to start and then stop. Of course, it could slide south of the stadium and all this would have been for nothing.

 

The more concerning thing is the line expected in about 7:30 in that area.

[Maxbialystock]

In looking at the Cleveland radar, there’s a line of strong t-storms passing over Lorrain right now headed east. Lorraine is about 30 miles west of Cleveland. That might be what they are waiting on. They probably don’t want to have to start and then stop. Of course, it could slide south of the stadium and all this would have been for nothing.

 

The more concerning thing is the line expected in about 7:30 in that area.

 

Hey, fella. There's an entire state between you and Cleveland. How would you know the weather.

 

Now me, I'm just a tad south of Cleveland plus I've got the terrific, authoritative NOAA map, which says the Cleveland team is playing games with the start time because almost all of the rain is going south of Cleveland.

[illinoisredsox]

Hey, fella. There's an entire state between you and Cleveland. How would you know the weather.

 

Now me, I'm just a tad south of Cleveland plus I've got the terrific, authoritative NOAA map, which says the Cleveland team is playing games with the start time because almost all of the rain is going south of Cleveland.

 

2+ states really, since I’m on the Iowa border. I was looking at the weather app I have which can be set for any city in the country.

 

However, since you’re in that area, I’ll accede to your local knowledge and observations.

[Jasonbay44]

Approaching 3 hours of rain delay. What a time to be alive

[a700hitter]

Have they announced a start time?

[moonslav59]

Maybe Sept 16th.

 

CLE is traveling from MIN to NYY

 

BOS is coming home from the west coast.

 

SEP 27 is also an option.

 

We play NYY on Sunday and go to BAL that Tuesday. CLE is at home that Sunday and travel for a TUE game.

Edited August 29, 2021 by moonslav59

[Maxbialystock]

The downside of the delay is the Sox have to fly to Tampa after the game. The upside is that with Houck starting and the bullpen a tad overstretched a shortened game should favor the Sox.

 

Last update from NESN is an hour ago. They reported it actually did rain hard at the ballpark.

[Jasonbay44]

They just announced a 4:20 est start

[illinoisredsox]

they just announced a 4:20 est start

 

est?

[illinoisredsox]

Maybe Sept 16th.

 

CLE is traveling from MIN to NYY

 

BOS is coming home from the west coast.

 

SEP 27 is also an option.

 

We play NYY on Sunday and go to BAL that Tuesday. CLE is at home that Sunday and travel for a TUE game.

 

I would think the second one would be better for the Sox, although at least it’s an afternoon game in Seattle.

[Maxbialystock]

NESN also had a story on how Sales now has three immaculate innings, which ties him with Sandy Koufax. Koufax quit MLB at age 30 because of arthritis in his arm. Doctors told him he would lose the use of it if he kept pitching. Probably a good decision: he's now 85. I saw him pitch in Philly in 1961, my last year in college. He went 8 innings and lost 2-1 on 2 unearned runs--errors by Maury Wills and Junior Gilliam.

[moonslav59]

est?

 

It's not Eastern Standard Time.

[moonslav59]

NESN also had a story on how Sales now has three immaculate innings, which ties him with Sandy Koufax. Koufax quit MLB at age 30 because of arthritis in his arm. Doctors told him he would lose the use of it if he kept pitching. Probably a good decision: he's now 85. I saw him pitch in Philly in 1961, my last year in college. He went 8 innings and lost 2-1 on 2 unearned runs--errors by Maury Wills and Junior Gilliam.

 

Sale will face his first very tough opponent in his next start: TBR.

 

A big game from him could be the lift we need.