The Official 2021 ALCS Thread

[moonslav59]

It's amazing how down things seem right now because the Sox are only a game away from elimination, they're also only two away from a world series.

 

been a great season, everyday hoping for one more game at this point.

 

Way to stay positive.

 

It's been a great season by a gritty team. That grit ain't going away for game 6.

[Bellhorn04]

I think Cora saving Houck and trying to eek out another inning from an erratic Whitlock changes the series. Once Altuve hit that game tying bomb, you could see the air come out of the Sox and the life go back into the Stros

 

This makes no sense whatsoever!!!

 

Houck gave a game-tying 2-run bomb to Altuve in Game One, did you forget that? And you're trying to blame Cora for turning around the series by not replacing Whitlock after he pitched a scoreless seventh?

 

Stick to critiquing your doofus manager, please.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

There are plenty of counterparts that swing our way, and with injuries to the Stros staff, they shouldn't have had a big edge on us there.

 

We match up with them pretty closely.

 

Game 6 we have to do better. We can do it.

 

BTW, if you look at the Astros batters, many of them are not the model of consistency, either. Some were slumping badly, until the last 2 games. Some still are.

 

BTW, anyone notice Maldanado is 1 for 26 but still starts almost every game. Could it be staff-handling is really valuable?

 

Let's see how Plawecki does on Friday.

 

True points, all. Maybe as a Red Sox fan, it just feels like whenever a Sox batter gets a hit, it just means he may be getting hot (except Devers, always a legit threat). But the feeling watching Houston bat is constant dread and impending doom.

 

I'm glad Castro doesn't start for the Astros, because he's the only pinch hitter I can remember for either team that isn't an automatic strikeout.

[Bellhorn04]

There are plenty of counterparts that swing our way, and with injuries to the Stros staff, they shouldn't have had a big edge on us there.

 

We match up with them pretty closely.

 

Game 6 we have to do better. We can do it.

 

BTW, if you look at the Astros batters, many of them are not the model of consistency, either. Some were slumping badly, until the last 2 games. Some still are.

 

BTW, anyone notice Maldanado is 1 for 26 but still starts almost every game. Could it be staff-handling is really valuable?

 

Let's see how Plawecki does on Friday.

 

Trying to sneak in a CERA reference there, I see.

[moonslav59]

Trying to sneak in a CERA reference there, I see.

 

I'm thinking, if I call it something else, maybe some will buy in.

 

Obviously, Cora thinks it matters enough with Eovaldi.

[d-money]

I disagree. We are obviously polar opposites on this.

 

Let's move on.

 

Umm what happened yesterday? The offense did diddly poo through the first 5 innings and they lost the damn game. If you think being scoreless for another 5 is a recipe for a win in houston then knock yourself out. I know what will happen .

[moonslav59]

Umm what happened yesterday? The offense did diddly poo through the first 5 innings and they lost the damn game. If you think being scoreless for another 5 is a recipe for a win in houston then knock yourself out. I know what will happen .

 

Umm, one game proves you right?

 

I never said going scoreless for the first 5 is a good thing, is needed or adds to our chances of winning.

 

I just think it is silly to make statements like we need to score early to win.

 

It's just not true. Sure, it's helpful but not essential.

 

We keep going on and on repeating our positions. Let's just move on.

[Bellhorn04]

Baseball is so much about the analytics and game planning now. There was some talk that the Red Sox might have detected pitch tipping by Houston pitchers that contributed to our offensive barrage. I think the Houston people went to work and figured some things out. Now we have to do the same.

[dgalehouse]

Baseball is so much about the analytics and game planning now. There was some talk that the Red Sox might have detected pitch tipping by Houston pitchers that contributed to our offensive barrage. I think the Houston people went to work and figured some things out. Now we have to do the same.

 

The old MAD magazine had a feature called , " Spy vs Spy" . That's baseball now.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Baseball is so much about the analytics and game planning now. There was some talk that the Red Sox might have detected pitch tipping by Houston pitchers that contributed to our offensive barrage. I think the Houston people went to work and figured some things out. Now we have to do the same.

 

Well, the board can certainly give scouting reports for our own batters who drove us crazy all year -- like certain guys that shall remain nameless I'd never throw a strike to, who will start hacking sooner than later... or those who always take the first pitch right down the middle, then swing at crap the rest of the at bat.

 

High heat seems to whiff the most Astros (Altuve, Brantley, Correa), but that holds true with most hitters at any level. Houston hit men just don't miss anything golfable... Gurriel is the guy the Sox should avoid -- just pitch around him and go after the 8-9 men, or hope he gets himself out. Gurriel is lethal.

[oldtimer]

Been on the road for the past two days but watched 7 innings of game 4 and all of game 5. From what I have heard, the Sox hitters get together and decide how they will go after the pitchers they will face. I understand the discussion is led by JD Martinez, Bogaerts and Schwaber, with the others participating. Other teams may involve more from the hitting coaches. Whatever has gone on, it was frustrating to watch the Sox squander opportunities to score with a variety of their best hitters unable to doo anything during game 4. One could guess the Astros might score a run or two sooner or later. In game 5 the Sox seem to have no effective plan to score. Were they that overmatched or what was the problem. Frankly, I can't put my finger on the problem.

 

Unfortunately, Renfroe is just not hitting and Dalbec is not trusted to hit. All the remainder of our guys have contributed to some degree.

 

The worry we had about Devers and Bogaerts fielding have not materialized and Arroyo has been very capable at second. Schwaber should not play first but its him or Dalbec, so Schwaber gets the nod. Our outfield has played well with the exception of Renfroe who can be a defensive liability. But our other choice is Santana so the nod is going to Renfroe.

 

I hope our hitters get together and put an aggressive plan together where they refuse to be beaten. It's do or die time.

[Kimmi]

True. It does get sort of mind numbing to keep hearing all the Mookie Betts, Kike and Verdugo crap..

 

Yeah, that's where I am with all of that. If the Dodgers and Red Sox met in the WS, that's all we'd hear about.

 

Anyway, Go Braves!

 

More importantly, Go Red Sox!

[Kimmi]

Let’s hope the braves learned from last year and finish the job. The problem is the Braves have a history of this.

 

Up 3-1 now. You would think they'd be able to close this series out, but I wouldn't bet on it.

[Kimmi]

It's amazing how down things seem right now because the Sox are only a game away from elimination, they're also only two away from a world series.

 

been a great season, everyday hoping for one more game at this point.

 

100%

 

One game at a time.

[redsox87871]

We are two wins away from going to the World Series!

[d-money]

Umm, one game proves you right?

 

I never said going scoreless for the first 5 is a good thing, is needed or adds to our chances of winning.

 

I just think it is silly to make statements like we need to score early to win.

 

It's just not true. Sure, it's helpful but not essential.

 

We keep going on and on repeating our positions. Let's just move on.

 

We do need to score early tomorrow and often but we shall see what happens tomorrow. Stros don’t want a game 7.

[jad]

We are two wins away from going to the World Series!

 

Yes, but we don't know the year or the decade when those particular two games will be played.

[d-money]

Braves up already 2-0. They mean business.

[YastrzemskI]

Braves up already 2-0. They mean business.

 

I wonder if Freeman likes Boston.

[Larry Cook]

I think chris Taylor will love Boston!

[moonslav59]

I think chris Taylor will love Boston!

 

Is he your brother?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Nate may not be great, but Boston's bats will bounce back! Remember, in the ALDS, this Red Sox lineup crushed a Tampa pitching staff with the best ERA in the AL... when ALL NINE hitters in the batting order had five or more hits each in the four-game series. SIX guys had six or more hits, while SEVEN slugged home runs. It happened this month, and can happen again...

 

Optimistic outlook: Houston's rookie starter, Luis Garcia, has started two postseason games this October and got bombed in both, by two different colored Sox! His last win came over a month ago, vs. a last-place team that lost 102 games. In the regular season, left-handed batters had an .818 OPS vs. Garcia (Schwarber, Devers, Verdugo, take note). And here are playoff stats for Astros' reliever Yimi Garcia, no relation: 5 innings, 7 runs.

 

So look for a Garcia... and listen to the river sing sweet songs to rock our souls.

[Bellhorn04]

I have neither optimism or pessimism about Game 6. In baseball all you can do is watch and hope it's your day or night LOL

[moonslav59]

It seems like our season's biggest trait has been that when our backs are to the wall, we respond in a good way. The same might be said about Houston, so nothing is guaranteed, but I really like our chances.

 

I'm fairly optimistic.

[notin]

I think chris Taylor will love Boston!

 

Taylor is certainly a very good player who is now having a terrific NLCS. But at some point hopefully the Sox will stop grabbing all these multi-positional guys and get someone to pay an actual position every day.

[moonslav59]

Taylor is certainly a very good player who is now having a terrific NLCS. But at some point hopefully the Sox will stop grabbing all these multi-positional guys and get someone to pay an actual position every day.

 

I think this may be a hope to get another Kike.

 

I like Chris Taylor, but not obsessively.

[notin]

I think this may be a hope to get another Kike.

 

I like Chris Taylor, but not obsessively.

 

Yeah he's not all that wild about you, either

 

 

I'd be all for Taylor if they let him play 2B and nowhere else. Put Schwarber at 1B, Verdugo-Hernandez-Renfroe in the OF. And get some pitching...

[Bellhorn04]

It seems like our season's biggest trait has been that when our backs are to the wall, we respond in a good way. The same might be said about Houston, so nothing is guaranteed, but I really like our chances.

 

I'm fairly optimistic.

 

My optimism will increase if Thunder starts the game thread.

[mvp 78]

My optimism will increase if Thunder starts the game thread.

 

He has a CPA exam today. He'll forget.

[Maxbialystock]

I'm worried, plain and simple. The Astros hitters now look like the Sox hitters used to and are now longer--confident.

 

Eovaldi is starting, which could not be better for our chances, but the downside is that Cora is still going to have to go to the bullpen, which is simply unreliable. Thus have the Sox not won a postseason game without scoring 6 runs.

 

At the same time, I am grateful for a remarkable season, filled with ups and downs and ending on an amazing high note, winning the ALDS and having a real shot at the WS, which is still within reach.