10/1 at Nats

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Hernández 2B

Schwarber LF

Bogaerts SS

Devers 3B

Martinez RF

Renfroe CF

Dalbec 1B

Vázquez C

Rodriguez P

 

That might be the worst defensive starting line-up Sox fans will ever see. Remember the image of ERod spiking his glove after giving up the home run to Puig in the World Series? He may have to be pulled even earlier than usual tonight, from sore arm anger every time the Nats make contact.

[Old Red]

If you have to throw ERod on Tuesday, it at least sets up your rotation for the ALDS if you win.

 

None of these starters throw 100 pitches anymore, so the so called short rest isn’t as big a deal.

[moonslav59]

I for one do not like the lineup. There is no hitter right now that is going so good that they deserve to stay in the lineup. If you had a softball team the outfield would be great, but this alignment all I can say is yikes. As for who pitches after tonight let’s see how things look after tonight, and then go from there. I’m not opposed to Sale tomorrow, and EO on Sun, and don’t worry about short rest. They have all offseason to rest, which might come sooner than later the way they are playing, and if they should make it till Tuesday worry about that then. They made this mess for themselves, so you can’t hold anyone back.

 

I don't disagree, but I have two worries about Sale starting on Saturday:

 

1. He has not been able to go past 65-70 pitches much at all, which shows he is not at 100%. He might suck worse than Seabold/Houck/Whitlock.

 

2. Yes, he'll have the whole winter to "rest," but we don't want him to get hurt, either.

 

I trust Cora's judgment, but we will likely need 2-3 innings in relief for Eovaldi on Sunday, so using Sale then makes more sense in some ways. Plus, if we don't need him Sunday, he's the starter in the WC game.

 

Again, it's a tough call, and the all hands on deck plan is a good one in these situation.

[mvp 78]

None of these starters throw 100 pitches anymore, so the so called short rest isn’t as big a deal.

 

Probably a big deal for Sale though.

[mvp 78]

2021 SSS:

 

CF Renfroe -26 UZR/150

RF JD -41 UZR/150

LF Schwarber -5 UZR/150

[mvp 78]

Is today's OF alignment worse than:

 

LF Youk

CF Kapler

RF Wily Mo

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BAL/BAL200609130.shtml

[moonslav59]

Probably a big deal for Sale though.

 

We'll need 2-3 inning from the pen on Sunday, so why mess with Sale? Just use him then, if needed, of have him fresh for the WC game if not needed, in a good way.

 

I get the argument that losing Saturday might make Sunday's game worthless, but Sale's arm is our golden goose.

[moonslav59]

2021 SSS:

 

CF Renfroe -26 UZR/150

RF JD -41 UZR/150

LF Schwarber -5 UZR/150

 

The larger career sample sizes look better but still poor:

LF: Schwarber +3 (-13 DRS)

CF: Renfroe -1 (just 41 CF innings career- scary)

RF: JD -5

[notin]

Hernández 2B

Schwarber LF

Bogaerts SS

Devers 3B

Martinez RF

Renfroe CF

Dalbec 1B

Vázquez C

Rodriguez P

 

Meanwhile Verdugo and Duran are on the bench. While neither is JBJ 2.0, both might be closer than Renfroe…

[Old Red]

We'll need 2-3 inning from the pen on Sunday, so why mess with Sale? Just use him then, if needed, of have him fresh for the WC game if not needed, in a good way.

 

I get the argument that losing Saturday might make Sunday's game worthless, but Sale's arm is our golden goose.

 

Don’t worry about the pen for Sunday on Friday. Anybody who is available today plays today, and anybody who is available on Saturday plays Saturday sun is a long time off, and might not even matter either way. The Sox don’t have the luxury to line things up, because the didn’t take care of business the last 6 games. What would 3-3 look like today instead of going 1-5.

[moonslav59]

Meanwhile Verdugo and Duran are on the bench. While neither is JBJ 2.0, both might be closer than Renfroe…

 

Versus a lefty, I think it makes sense.

 

Kike at 2B not CF might not, but that would come down to:

 

Renfroe v Iggy or Arroyo

[moonslav59]

Don’t worry about the pen for Sunday on Friday. Anybody who is available today plays today, and anybody who is available on Saturday plays Saturday sun is a long time off, and might not even matter either way. The Sox don’t have the luxury to line things up, because the didn’t take care of business the last 6 games. What would 3-3 look like today instead of going 1-5.

 

We will not pitch Eovaldi on Saturday, unless it's an elimination game. If the M's win tonight, then Saturday could be an elimination game, so I guess it could happen.

 

Tonight's games are going to decide a lot about Saturday.

 

It could be Cora's biggest call of the year.

[illinoisredsox]

Meanwhile Verdugo and Duran are on the bench. While neither is JBJ 2.0, both might be closer than Renfroe…

 

Duran? He’s not on the active roster.

 

Bazardo is pitcher 15; I assume he’ll be sent down when/if they activate Whitlock.

[Old Red]

Versus a lefty, I think it makes sense.

 

Kike at 2B not CF might not, but that would come down to:

 

Renfroe v Iggy or Arroyo

 

NO it should not be Renfroe v Iggy, or Arroyo. Renfroe should not be sitting for anybody. The only thing that it should come down to is Fred Flintstone Schwaber v Bobby D. JD in LF, and either Bobby D, or Schwaber at 1B, and Kike in CF. Forget about this lefty v righty thing. The Sox aren’t good enough for that, or playing good enough for that. I don’t trust Cora for nothing, and hopefully he is gone after this year, and the way the Sox are playing their season could be over on Saturday, so worry about Sunday is a. Waste of time.

[vegasbob]

Meanwhile Verdugo and Duran are on the bench. While neither is JBJ 2.0, both might be closer than Renfroe…

 

No Arroyo nor Iglesias either at 2B. The loss of the DH in NL parks penalizes AL teams more than the NL gaining one in AL Parks.

[vegasbob]

It is probably Capt Obvious speaking through me, but if ever Eduardo Rodriguez needed to suck it up and pitch 6 hard innings, this is the night. He needs to keep them in the game more than just the first 2 innings.

Either he can be a big game guy or his agent will get pissed on when trying to shop him this winter.

 

I'll give ERod 2 runs allowed over 6 innings and pat him on the back. He will still need some hitting support but that is in others hands.

[moonslav59]

NO it should not be Renfroe v Iggy, or Arroyo. Renfroe should not be sitting for anybody. The only thing that it should come down to is Fred Flintstone Schwaber v Bobby D. JD in LF, and either Bobby D, or Schwaber at 1B, and Kike in CF. Forget about this lefty v righty thing. The Sox aren’t good enough for that, or playing good enough for that. I don’t trust Cora for nothing, and hopefully he is gone after this year, and the way the Sox are playing their season could be over on Saturday, so worry about Sunday is a. Waste of time.

 

Exposed for all to see.

 

So much for Telling only "truths."

[moonslav59]

No Arroyo nor Iglesias either at 2B. The loss of the DH in NL parks penalizes AL teams more than the NL gaining one in AL Parks.

 

Agreed. My point was making a case for Iggy/Arroyo vs Renfroe as MAYBE being more worthy of debate than Schwarber vs Verdugo vs a lefty.

[moonslav59]

It is probably Capt Obvious speaking through me, but if ever Eduardo Rodriguez needed to suck it up and pitch 6 hard innings, this is the night. He needs to keep them in the game more than just the first 2 innings.

Either he can be a big game guy or his agent will get pissed on when trying to shop him this winter.

 

I'll give ERod 2 runs allowed over 6 innings and pat him on the back. He will still need some hitting support but that is in others hands.

 

In Erod's defense, he's gone 6+ Innings in 6 of his last 17 starts. While that might not sound great, and it isn't, my guess is it's pretty much 2nd best on the team.

 

He also has a 3.87 ERA, 3.07 FIP in his last 16 starts, despite a .351 BAbip.

[moonslav59]

The pitchers...

 

BOS (ERod) @ WSH (Rogers LHP)

TBR (McClanahan) @ NYY (Cortes)

BAL (Eshelman) @ TOR (Matz)

LAA (Suarez) @ SEA (Gonzalez)

[Old Red]

The pitchers...

 

BOS (ERod) @ WSH (Rogers LHP)

TBR (McClanahan) @ NYY (Cortes)

BAL (Eshelman) @ TOR (Matz)

LAA (Suarez) @ SEA (Gonzalez)

Could care less what goes on in those other games. Once again if the Sox take care of business it doesn’t matter what the other teams do. If they can’t win tuck your tail between your legs, and go home.

[mvp 78]

Meanwhile Verdugo and Duran are on the bench. While neither is JBJ 2.0, both might be closer than Renfroe…

 

No. I’d take Renfroe over Duran in CF.

[mvp 78]

Could care less what goes on in those other games. Once again if the Sox take care of business it doesn’t matter what the other teams do. If they can’t win tuck your tail between your legs, and go home.

 

^^^

[vegasbob]

The pitchers...

 

BOS (ERod) @ WSH (Rogers LHP)

TBR (McClanahan) @ NYY (Cortes)

BAL (Eshelman) @ TOR (Matz)

LAA (Suarez) @ SEA (Gonzalez)

 

It is a small thing but realize that if the Rays swept the NYY'ers and the Sox swept the Nationals , we would again be on top of those dogs. And if The Mariner's did the same vs the LAA, then the Yankees would be out altogether as would the Jays. That would be the most perfect end of a unexpected season finale. Old Red is right too, for that to happen our Red Sox need to win their 3 games. No odds are taken nor given on that

[vegasbob]

First three batters and no one yet to hit a fair ball, lol. Devers will fix that

[YastrzemskI]

Just turned the game on.. ERod in trouble in the first? Gave up a double?

[d-money]

Why is this clown pitching in such a critical game? I rather see someone else.

[jung]

Nice throw JD

[jad]

Been listening to Outrage against MLB for scheduling an interleague series at the end of the season. (Apparently the odd/even thing remains mysterious for some baseball fans).

[YastrzemskI]

Kike with an absolute s*** throw to first that should have been routine. God what the hell is happening with this team.