10/8 ALDS Game 2 @ Rays

[d-money]

We’re in good shape but this game is far from over. It’s only the fifth but it feels like the 7th for some reason. This one will go down to the wire.

 

Ok I’ll say it. Hauck has been sensational tonight. Pressure situation and he HANDLED IT. That’s a quality post season reliever. I’m impressed.

 

Need more runs!!!!

[Thunder]

Thunder mojo bringing the bats tonight

[iortiz]

Please give me more, 2-pitch pitchers please lol

[Old Red]

I am always puzzled at how many people want him to opt out every time his opt out years come around. The guy is an elite hitter for years.

 

That’s why I keep saying that Schwaber may hit as many HR as JD, but he’s not a run producer like JD.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Houck has definitely taken the smiles off the cocky F'ing Rays' faces.

[vegasbob]

I remember when I talked about how great Houck was. Some “stat” people here thought he wasn’t good enough and that the sample wasn’t either long enough lol

 

If you watch baseball you don’t need samples and stats to figure out that this kid is great.

 

Visual observations get trounced here by the stats analysts. Cash and the Rays are stat guys; Friedman in LA trained Bloom in TB. In the long run I think it works well for overall talent evaluation but on the field in the short sample of one game, go with what you are seeing. Why did Cora pull Sale after 1 ? What if Luplow had hit a sac fly instead?

[redsoxrules]

Let’s add to this lead . So if they hang on who most likely pitches game 4?

 

Either Pivetta or Erod on 3 days rest. It's the only option

[vegasbob]

That’s why I keep saying that Schwaber may hit as many HR as JD, but he’s not a run producer like JD.

 

Schwarb's lower OPS is real, and his top slot )1 or 2) in the lineup affect rbi chances.

[redsoxrules]

That was so close for another Dinger for Kike. Like 1 foot

[Maxbialystock]

Oh, you mean like 2 pitch Houck. The difference I see tonight is that Houck's pitches have more movement than Sale's and he kept it low. Vaz must have noticed too.

Both Houck and Sale would be devastating with a change up

 

2 pitch Houck is why Cora couldn't be sure about him as a starter this year. That said, however, he has been just incredible tonight, in the wild card game, and in that great Saturday start six days ago. He owns October! And, yes, his fastball and slider and command have been way, way better than Sale's, no question. I do think he needs a good third pitch--a knuckle curve, a changeup, or even a splitter--to be a good starter next year.

[YastrzemskI]

Kee Kay absolutely RIPPED THAT!

[a700hitter]

I remember when I talked about how great Houck was. Some “stat” people here thought he wasn’t good enough and that the sample wasn’t either long enough lol

 

If you watch baseball you don’t need samples and stats to figure out that this kid is great.

i remember seeing him in ST. Was that when you, Dewey and i were together in Ft. Myers?

[iortiz]

Visual observations get trounced here by the stats analysts. Cash and the Rays are stat guys; Friedman in LA trained Bloom in TB. In the long run I think it works well for overall talent evaluation but on the field in the short sample of one game, go with what you are seeing. Why did Cora pull Sale after 1 ? What if Luplow had hit a sac fly instead?

 

Houck has a small sample in Major League Baseball.

 

But…

 

Still…

 

You don’t need larger sample to figure out he has elite stuff.

[TylerD]

Another walk for devers.

[TylerD]

Houck has a small sample in Major League Baseball.

 

But…

 

Still…

 

You don’t need larger sample to figure out he has elite stuff.

 

Exactly.

[vegasbob]

Houck has a small sample in Major League Baseball.

 

But…

 

Still…

 

You don’t need larger sample to figure out he has elite stuff.

 

Much agreed, great potential to be a key ingredient on the 2022 team

[YastrzemskI]

You can see Raffy is battling with his wrist injury. He’s grinding it out. Draws a walk. HUMPHREY BOGART TIME.

[vegasbob]

Another walk for devers.

 

Better than aggravating his sore arm/wrist

[iortiz]

i remember seeing him in ST. Was that when you, Dewey and i were together in Ft. Myers?

 

I think so compadre. Yeah!

 

This kid has a No. 1 Sp pedigree. He’s fearless. He controls the zone. He has an outstanding command — with 2 pitches?

[redsox87871]

JD Martinez is an elite hitter. I trust him to come through for us more than any other hitter on our roster.

[d-money]

Well can the pitching step up? 3 runs doesn’t sound like much for the a team like the rays.

[Maxbialystock]

Schwarb's lower OPS is real, and his top slot )1 or 2) in the lineup affect rbi chances.

 

The real point about JDM vs. Schwarber is that it's JDM + Schwarber. In final 3 games at the Nats with no DH, Cora insisted on playing both of them while sacrificing some defense.

[Old Red]

Schwarb's lower OPS is real, and his top slot )1 or 2) in the lineup affect rbi chances.

 

He hasn’t always hit 1 or 2, and all I was saying for all the people who either wanted JD to opt out, or get traded, and sign Schwaber is that Schwaber is not the run producer like JD, and not worth a JD contract.

[redsox87871]

Houck has definitely taken the smiles off the cocky F'ing Rays' faces.

 

Yeah, I'm starting to really dislike Randy Arozarena.

[vegasbob]

Houck moving Cruz off the plate then burns a FB past him, but not out yet

[a700hitter]

What a catch by Verdugo!

[YastrzemskI]

Last inning for Hauck.

[RedSoxNC84]

what a catch

[vegasbob]

Dugo steals a ball from a dogass Rays fan

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Mookie F'ing Who?