9/17 O's @ SOX 7:10PM

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Arizona also can lose their 100th game tonight; right now they're losing to the Astros 2-1 in the 8th. 2 shite teams losing their 100th on the same day; that's weird.

 

Arizona has just tied the Astros 2-2 in the 8th. C'mon, Arizona, don't blow the loss.

[moonslav59]

84-65 BOS

83-65 NYY

82-65 TOR

 

Just keep winning.

[Maxbialystock]

Funny thing, but last year I hated those yellow and blue uniforms, and this year I like them.

 

Chris Sale is such a professional. Last night he did not have his best stuff, but the did have good command and was able to mix both locations and pitches to hold the Orioles to 1 run in 5 innings. Against a lineup that was almost all righties, he used his changeup most, then his fastball, then his slider.

 

This was also probably the best defense the Sox have had this year. Dalbec is now very comfortable at 1b, Iglesias is easily the best we've seen at 2b, Devers and Bogey were at their best--which isn't great, but is good enough--at 3b and SS, and the outfield was solid. I am not a Vazquez fan, but am happy to give him credit for his pitch calling throughout the 9 innings--a solid job.

 

An addendum to the above is that Schwarber, a pretty good hitter in a mild slump, did not play at all. I think that is because the 9 guys in the lineup were/are the best combination the Sox currently have of good hitting and decent fielding.

 

Someone else commented on this thread that the defense benefitted from how quickly Sale pitched, and I emphatically agree with this. If a pitcher is not getting good defensive support, part of his problem might be the interminable hours his defense spends standing around waiting for something to happen--6 days a week for 26 weeks. Sale almost nerve shakes off his catcher and simply focuses on execution, not only on his pitches, but also on playing defense after he releases the ball.

[moonslav59]

I like the yellow jerseys, too.

 

I think Schwarber in the line-up makes for a better line-up but worse defensive alignment. He will not slump forever. With Iggy's defense and surprise offense, there is no need to move Kike to 2B. This helps the O and the D, but it squeezes Verdugo, Schwarber, Dalbec and maybe even Renfroe or JD a little bit.

 

With so many days off and just 13 games to go, nobody should need to be "rested," unless it is because they are slumping and could use an extra day off to re-group.

 

Anybody who know me, knows I do not think offense trumps everything else, but here are the L-R splits of our key players:

 

Career (2021)

vs RHPs:

.874 Schwarber (.955)

.860 Verdugo (.928)

.782 Dalbec (.752)

.728 Renfroe (.767)

.678 Iggy (.653)

 

vs LHPs:

.912 Renfroe (.912)

.897 Dalbec (.868)

.761 Iggy (.794)

.678 Schwarber (.774)

.670 Verdugo (.538)

 

Devers, JD and Bogey are playing everyday. Maybe JD sits one game in the NL park vs WSH, but even that is doubtful.

 

Kike's defense is too valuable to sit, but maybe he sits one game vs a RHP:

.685 vs RHP (.729 in 2021)

.824 v LHP (.841)

He will likely play everyday in CF (no Verdugo/Schwarber/Renfroe) or 2B (no Iggy)

 

That leaves 4 slots to fill each game: LF, RF, 1B and 2B/CF (wherever Kike does NOT play.)

 

It's hard to think of sitting Dalbec or Renfroe, at all, the way they are both hitting, but others are hot, too, and Schwarber is too good to think he won't snap out of a mini-slump. Iggy is likely hitting over his head, and Verdugo sitting vs LHPs seems automatic.

 

Last 14 days:

1.159 Dalbec (.944 last 7 days)

1.152 Iggy (1.516)

.904 Verdugo (vs mostly RHPs) .812 last 7 days

.820 Renfroe (.542)

.527 Schwarber (.451)

.317 Kike (.403)

 

I'm thinking we do this:

 

vs RHP

1B: Dalbec (maybe Schwarber 1-2 games vs tough righties)

2B: Kike & Iggy

LF: Schwarber & Verdugo

CF: Verdugo & Kike

RF: Renfroe (maybe Verdugo 1-2 games)

Bench: Iggy

 

vs LHPs

1B: 100% Dalbec

2B: 100% Iggy

LF: 100% Schwarber (Verdugo late game replacement)

CF: 100% Kike

RF: 100% Renfroe