10/8 ALDS Game 2 @ Rays

[vegasbob]

Now Dugo does hit it out.

[RedSoxNC84]

Hell of a shot by Verdugo

[Maxbialystock]

I would bet that next year Sale will be very good. And if the Sox make the postseason he will finally get the monkey off his back.

We need a couple more very good SPs and a better pen. Might take two years.

 

That's possible. He is a terrific professional. But this year he is a shadow of his 2018 (first four months) self.

[iortiz]

Get out of here MF. Getting interesting.

[bmattioli]

Could have been back to back to back

[YastrzemskI]

Well.... hold on you Devils.... the Red SoX are not done just yet.

[Old Red]

Weren’t you advocating starting him against the Nats last Saturday (on short rest)?

 

Yes I was, and like I said short rest, or long rest would not make any difference right now. I saw all I needed to see on Sun, and that’s why I said I would have started Pivetta game 2.

[TylerD]

We have a game folks.

[vegasbob]

Sale may yet get off the potential "L" hook , but giving that shot to a .202 hitter after filling the bases is a real stain on the sheets. Hope his teammates bail all of themselves out with a great comeback win.

[Maxbialystock]

The pen isn’t the issue right now.

 

Agree. On the other hand, if we are talking about next year, you can never have too much pitching, and that certainly includes the bullpen.

[illinoisredsox]

Sale may yet get off the potential "L" hook , but giving that shot to a .202 hitter after filling the bases is a real stain on the sheets. Hope his teammates bail all of themselves out with a great comeback win.

 

Horrible pitch location and horrible pitch choice. He was totally set up for a slider but Vaz didn’t call it (Sale never shakes anyone off so I’m assuming it was Vaz’s call there).

[illinoisredsox]

Sale may yet get off the potential "L" hook , but giving that shot to a .202 hitter after filling the bases is a real stain on the sheets. Hope his teammates bail all of themselves out with a great comeback win.

 

Problrm is they are now into the Rays pen. They will trot 6 different guys out there the next 6 innings.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Dugo is showing that he's gonna be a special SOX player going forward.

[Maxbialystock]

Yes I was, and like I said short rest, or long rest would not make any difference right now. I saw all I needed to see on Sun, and that’s why I said I would have started Pivetta game 2.

 

Rest does make a difference for a starter. That said, you were right to have concerns about Sale. Tonight was a continuation of last Sunday only much worse.

 

That said, as I keep reminding you, Pivetta did get into last night's game when the Sox were down 2-0, so it's not as though Cora ignored him. He even pitched him 4.1 innings.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Highlight for me so far in the series has to be Houck striking out Arozarena so badly he threw his bat across the infield. Not only does a Sox pitcher finally retire the best player in the postseason, he does it convincingly. Could be the turning point...

[vegasbob]

Horrible pitch location and horrible pitch choice. He was totally set up for a slider but Vaz didn’t call it (Sale never shakes anyone off so I’m assuming it was Vaz’s call there).

 

No pitcher can simply get even a 100mph+ FB past any MLB hitter no matter how mediocre, time after time. That's how these hitters got to be in the box in the first place

[YastrzemskI]

Agree. On the other hand, if we are talking about next year, you can never have too much pitching, and that certainly includes the bullpen.

 

No question. But thus far in the post season.. the pen has been a strength, not a liability. I’m absolutely shocked at the lack of starting pitching.. I mean we have who? Eovaldi and who else? If I’m John Henry I call some of these players out. They certainly get paid enough.

[TylerD]

Houck is filthy so far.

[iortiz]

If u don’t convert Houck into Sp is beyond me.

[Maxbialystock]

Problrm is they are now into the Rays pen. They will trot 6 different guys out there the next 6 innings.

 

Too true. But I did like 6-4 a whole bunch more than 6-2. Plus, you know, Houck ain't half bad. The Sox actually have a pretty decent bullpen right now, and Cora knows how to use it. Plus tomorrow is a day off.

[illinoisredsox]

Highlight for me so far in the series has to be Houck striking out Arozarena so badly he threw his bat across the infield. Not only does a Sox pitcher finally retire the best player in the postseason, he does it convincingly. Could be the turning point...

 

Threw him an inside pitch. That’s where you have to pitch him at least once an AB.

[d-money]

Need to find a way and get a big inning offensively from this team.

[FredLynn]

That's possible. He is a terrific professional. But this year he is a shadow of his 2018 (first four months) self.

 

He just started facing real hitters what- six weeks ago? It takes time to recover from TJS.

He’ll be fine.

[d-money]

Need to try and take a lead. The offense has to win us this game.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Rays are like, "Faaack -- Sox are throwing a playoff pitcher..."

 

The Incredible Houck.

[YastrzemskI]

Houck dealing.. he’s got that look like “come at me bro.” Another quality outing.

[d-money]

He just started facing real hitters what- six weeks ago? It takes time to recover from TJS.

He’ll be fine.

 

The problem with this thinking it’s not his first time here. I know it’s a short work but he hasn’t been good in the postseason. We saw this with David price.

[iortiz]

Houck is filthy so far.

 

He’s been for a while.

[iortiz]

Houck is filthy so far.

 

Posters here said that NYY prospects were better. Can you believe it?

[Maxbialystock]

If u don’t convert Houck into Sp is beyond me.

 

He was converted--way back in April and when he returned in August. He's started 13 games this year and relieved in 3. He does not have a big repertoire, which is why as a starter he averages less than 5 innings.