The Official 2021 ALCS Thread

[Bellhorn04]

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.

 

Jeez, Max, you're still running with this?

 

Fact check:

 

1) The Red Sox have a grand total of 6 wins in the postseason (you only actually have to win either 11 or 12 to win it all.)

2) In one win we gave up 2 runs. In one we gave up 3 runs. In one we gave up 4 runs in 13 innings. That's half of the 6 wins.

[moonslav59]

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...

 

Taylor would be nice at 2B with Arroyo at utility, in hopes he won't get hurt sitting on the bench. It would also be a good thing that he can play other positions in a pinch, but yes, he'd be signed to play 2B.

 

I do have utility IF'er as a priority, but depending on how much Taylor will cost, I'm not sure we should spend a lot here.

[Maxbialystock]

Jeez, Max, you're still running with this?

 

Fact check:

 

1) The Red Sox have a grand total of 6 wins in the postseason (you only actually have to win either 11 or 12 to win it all.)

2) In one win we gave up 2 runs. In one we gave up 3 runs. In one we gave up 4 runs in 13 innings. That's half of the 6 wins.

 

Good catch. I stand corrected.

 

That said, I was talking about the bullpen. I will agree the Sox bullpen, especially Houck and Pivetta, was excellent in the ALDS.

 

But not so much in the ALCS and especially not in comparison to the Astros bullpen. In the ALCS, the Sox bullpen has pitched 20.1 innings and given up 16 runs, and the Astros bullpen has pitched 28 innings--that's more than 5 innings per game--and given up 11 runs.

 

Indeed, the shocker in the ALCS is that the Sox rotation has actually been pretty decent. Even Sale's truncated start in game 1--2.2 innings and 1 run--was better than the bullpen's 6.1 innings and 4 runs. Houck, Robles, and Sawamura blew that game, pure and simple.

 

In game 2 the lineup won that game, 9-5. Eovaldi started, gave up 3 runs in 5 innings, and the bullpen gave up 2 in 4 inning.

 

In game 3 the lineup won again, 12-3, with ERod going 6 and giving up 3 runs.

 

In game 4, Pivetta started and went 5 innings, giving up 1 run--a great start. But the bullpen gave up 8 runs. Meanwhile the Astros starter Greinke gave up 2 runs in 1.1 innings, but the Astros bullpen shut out the Sox lineup for 7.2 freaking innings.

 

In game 5, Sale had a pretty good start, giving up 2 earned runs in 5.1 innings--before the Sox bullpen can in and gave up 4 earned runs in 3.2 innings. Schwarber's error caused 2 unearned runs and Robles bad throw to 1b another.

 

So, while I agree the 6 run rule I've invoked doesn't tell the whole story--you're right about that--I still think I'm right that the Sox bullpen is in disarray.

[Bellhorn04]

Max, if the bullpen was excellent in the ALDS, but not in the ALCS so far, what does that tell you?

 

This stuff changes from game to game.

[Maxbialystock]

Since tonight is do or die for the Sox, I think Cora might tweak the lineup by sending Schwarber to LF, Verdugo to RF, Renfroe to the bench, and Dalbec to 1b.

 

I don't like Dalbec that much, but Renfroe is hitless in 4 games while piling up the GIDP's. He has that great arm, but it's erratic. Schwarber, despite my claims he would be fine at 1b, has now made 2 errors in postseason, both pretty bad. Dalbec should be better at 1b and can't be much worse than Renfroe at the plate.

[moonslav59]

Good catch. I stand corrected.

 

That said, I was talking about the bullpen. I will agree the Sox bullpen, especially Houck and Pivetta, was excellent in the ALDS.

 

But not so much in the ALCS and especially not in comparison to the Astros bullpen. In the ALCS, the Sox bullpen has pitched 20.1 innings and given up 16 runs, and the Astros bullpen has pitched 28 innings--that's more than 5 innings per game--and given up 11 runs.

 

Indeed, the shocker in the ALCS is that the Sox rotation has actually been pretty decent. Even Sale's truncated start in game 1--2.2 innings and 1 run--was better than the bullpen's 6.1 innings and 4 runs. Houck, Robles, and Sawamura blew that game, pure and simple.

 

In game 2 the lineup won that game, 9-5. Eovaldi started, gave up 3 runs in 5 innings, and the bullpen gave up 2 in 4 inning.

 

In game 3 the lineup won again, 12-3, with ERod going 6 and giving up 3 runs.

 

In game 4, Pivetta started and went 5 innings, giving up 1 run--a great start. But the bullpen gave up 8 runs. Meanwhile the Astros starter Greinke gave up 2 runs in 1.1 innings, but the Astros bullpen shut out the Sox lineup for 7.2 freaking innings.

 

In game 5, Sale had a pretty good start, giving up 2 earned runs in 5.1 innings--before the Sox bullpen can in and gave up 4 earned runs in 3.2 innings. Schwarber's error caused 2 unearned runs and Robles bad throw to 1b another.

 

So, while I agree the 6 run rule I've invoked doesn't tell the whole story--you're right about that--I still think I'm right that the Sox bullpen is in disarray.

 

I'd also like to note that the pen did a great job in game, until the 9th, and many runs were against our mop up pen guys, who should not be used in high leverage situations.

 

The top 3-5 pen guys have not done too badly.

 

In these last 2 games, that should be all that are used.

[Maxbialystock]

Max, if the bullpen was excellent in the ALDS, but not in the ALCS so far, what does that tell you?

 

This stuff changes from game to game.

 

The bullpen was excellent in the ALDS because Pivetta and Houck, both former starters, were amazing. In the ALCS, they are starters again and pretty good. But the bullpen clearly feels their absence. Whitlock, the best reliever on the team, gave up a dinger to the Yankees in the wild card, and--far, far worse--the tying dinger in the 8th to the Astros in game 4.

 

Taylor and Ottavino both have 0.00 ERA's, but have only pitched 3.1 innings each in 10 postseason games. Whitlock's ERA is 2.16 in 8.1 innings. After those three, it's a crap shoot. Robles, Sawamura, and Brasier all remind me on the little girl with a curl: when she was good, she was very, very good; and when she was bad, she was horrid.

 

The Astros bullpen, on the other hand, has been remarkably consistent despite having to pitch a ton of innings in the ALCS.

 

All that said, I still see some hope, but only if the Sox lineup figures out the Astros pitching. Maybe they don't need to score 6 runs, but I can't see them winning with less than 3 runs. If they score 6 or more, I honestly don't seen how the Sox can lose.

 

As for the pitching, I think Eovaldi needs to go 5 or 6 innings while giving up no more than 2 runs and preferably fewer. If once again--as he did in relief and thus gave up the lead off double to Correa-- he starts throwing lots of fastballs, he is a dead man. He must mix those other pitches, the ones with some break in them.

 

Second, Taylor, Ottavino, and Whitlock need to come through again. All three can pitch again tomorrow if they win tonight. Houck starts tomorrow, but Pivetta could be available tonight or tomorrow because he only threw 65 pitches on Tuesday.

[moonslav59]

Max, if the bullpen was excellent in the ALDS, but not in the ALCS so far, what does that tell you?

 

This stuff changes from game to game.

 

That's been my mantra all year, but it seems like some people are just locked into the idea that once a trend is happening, it is locked in.

 

I love the "We have no chance of winning." I know they mean "...if we keep playing like this," but the fact is, the whole AL has never kept "playing like this." Every team has flipped and flopped so many times, my head is spinning.

 

Yes, certain aspects of our team have been doing poorly while theirs is doing well. That mean very little for next game.

 

We saw our offense look like an explosive unit, then go quiet in an instant. The reverse can happen, too.

 

I'm hoping and actually expecting a reversal, tonight.

[Maxbialystock]

I'd also like to note that the pen did a great job in game, until the 9th, and many runs were against our mop up pen guys, who should not be used in high leverage situations.

 

The top 3-5 pen guys have not done too badly.

 

In these last 2 games, that should be all that are used.

 

See my subsequent note.

 

My view is that Whitlock--despite his two postseason dingers, one which cost a game--Taylor, and Ottavino are the only reliable relievers, and I'm not even sure that Cora trusts Ottavino or Taylor all that much. In 10 postseason games, neither has pitched more than 3.1 innings. I do not think Cora will use Brasier, Robles, or Sawamura. All three are way too risky in close game. I do think he might use Pivetta, whose postseason ERA is an astounding 2.63 in 13.2 freaking innings.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I'm worried,

 

the downside is that Cora is still going to have to go to the bullpen, which is simply unreliable. .

 

This -- more than anything else -- is the stuff of Halloween horror movies. Red Sox relievers are those kids in the commercial hiding behind the chainsaws. Gurriel is Freddy, Yordan wears the Meyers mask, and Altuve is Chucky.

 

Boston's bats should do more damage to Houston's starters, but Eovaldi, ERod and Pivetta must provide length, whenever they enter the game. It may be unrealistic to rely on rookies Whitlock and Houck in high leverage... but they're the best we've got. I still have hope Houck can flip a switch and be the unhittable force we've seen for one time through the order...

 

Gotta like our chances if we build another decent early lead. Sox bullpen has blown two games in this series, while the Astros' pen has won two. Framber is done, and Javier may not be as good again. Is it so outlandish to say Boston's professional relievers are due to make some big pitches late?

[moonslav59]

See my subsequent note.

 

My view is that Whitlock--despite his two postseason dingers, one which cost a game--Taylor, and Ottavino are the only reliable relievers, and I'm not even sure that Cora trusts Ottavino or Taylor all that much. In 10 postseason games, neither has pitched more than 3.1 innings. I do not think Cora will use Brasier, Robles, or Sawamura. All three are way too risky in close game. I do think he might use Pivetta, whose postseason ERA is an astounding 2.63 in 13.2 freaking innings.

 

Our pen is our weakest area. One could argue defense, but the pen has been a problem more, of late. I will add that the pen carried the team for long stretches of the season, especially when Barnes was doing his Koji impressions.

 

That being said, I still think Cora has enough faith and trust in Brasier and Robles to get a key out or two. That 3 batter rule kinda messes that up, though.

 

How long Eovaldi goes might make all the difference, tonight. We do have 3 guys that can go 2-5 innings, and all 3 happen to be our most trusted pitchers, right now- going by the recency factor:

 

Pivetta

Houck

Whitlock

 

We can use ERod in relief, if needed, too, and looking to game 7's starter should not come into play.

 

So, tonight, we might see:

 

Long:

Pivetta

Houck

Whitlock

 

Short:

ERod

Taylor

Ottavino

 

Borderline:

Brasier

Robles

(Sale?)

 

Nope:

Sawamura

DHern

Perez

[Maxbialystock]

That's been my mantra all year, but it seems like some people are just locked into the idea that once a trend is happening, it is locked in.

 

I love the "We have no chance of winning." I know they mean "...if we keep playing like this," but the fact is, the whole AL has never kept "playing like this." Every team has flipped and flopped so many times, my head is spinning.

 

Yes, certain aspects of our team have been doing poorly while theirs is doing well. That mean very little for next game.

 

We saw our offense look like an explosive unit, then go quiet in an instant. The reverse can happen, too.

 

I'm hoping and actually expecting a reversal, tonight.

 

About your reversal. It is possible. Eovaldi is our best, and Garcia is their worst, so the odds are good the Sox lethargic lineup will come back to life and give the Sox a lead, maybe even a good one. As my earlier post says, I also expect the Sox bullpen to be up to the task tonight, assuming Eovaldi can go 5 or 6 and not give up a bunch of runs.

[Maxbialystock]

Our pen is our weakest area. One could argue defense, but the pen has been a problem more, of late. I will add that the pen carried the team for long stretches of the season, especially when Barnes was doing his Koji impressions.

 

That being said, I still think Cora has enough faith and trust in Brasier and Robles to get a key out or two. That 3 batter rule kinda messes that up, though.

 

How long Eovaldi goes might make all the difference, tonight. We do have 3 guys that can go 2-5 innings, and all 3 happen to be our most trusted pitchers, right now- going by the recency factor:

 

Pivetta

Houck

Whitlock

 

We can use ERod in relief, if needed, too, and looking to game 7's starter should not come into play.

 

So, tonight, we might see:

 

Long:

Pivetta

Houck

Whitlock

 

Short:

ERod

Taylor

Ottavino

 

Borderline:

Brasier

Robles

(Sale?)

 

Nope:

Sawamura

DHern

Perez

 

Meh. Were I Cora, I would stick with Eovaldi, Whitlock, Taylor, and Ottavino. If long relief is needed, use Pivetta and save Houck for tomorrow. If it's extra innings, however, Houck might be needed.

 

Brasier's ERA is 9. That he has 4 holds shows how stupid that stat is. Robles' ERA is 5. Sawamura's is 4.5. None can be relied upon in a tight game for high stakes. So no way do I see them pitching tonight unless the game is a runaway or Cora runs out of arms in extra innings. FWIW, I am more than happy to say I have seen all three of them pitch extremely well this year--as have we all. So you are absolutely right that overall the bullpen has been a vital cog in this remarkable season.

[Maxbialystock]

This -- more than anything else -- is the stuff of Halloween horror movies. Red Sox relievers are those kids in the commercial hiding behind the chainsaws. Gurriel is Freddy, Yordan wears the Meyers mask, and Altuve is Chucky.

 

Boston's bats should do more damage to Houston's starters, but Eovaldi, ERod and Pivetta must provide length, whenever they enter the game. It may be unrealistic to rely on rookies Whitlock and Houck in high leverage... but they're the best we've got. I still have hope Houck can flip a switch and be the unhittable force we've seen for one time through the order...

 

Gotta like our chances if we build another decent early lead. Sox bullpen has blown two games in this series, while the Astros' pen has won two. Framber is done, and Javier may not be as good again. Is it so outlandish to say Boston's professional relievers are due to make some big pitches late?

 

This is really well done. Bravo.

[notin]

Taylor would be nice at 2B with Arroyo at utility, in hopes he won't get hurt sitting on the bench. It would also be a good thing that he can play other positions in a pinch, but yes, he'd be signed to play 2B.

 

I do have utility IF'er as a priority, but depending on how much Taylor will cost, I'm not sure we should spend a lot here.

 

Let's assume Taylor is closer to Kike Hernandez money. That makes sense to me. They're very similar players who now both have post-season games in which each has hit 3 HRs.

 

As much as pitchng is the top priority, there really isn't anyone on this free agent market the Sox should be dedicating massive wads of cash to. We talk about Stroman, but will he be looking for Eovaldi money and years? Or will he be looking for Patrick Corbin money? If it's the latter, let someone else have him.

 

The trade market is probably the better way to go, since free agency largely means paying players in their 30's for whatever they did in their 20's for another team. The Sox would be better off identifying some of those 20-something arbitration eligible pitchers that small market teams are looking to offload to save money. Oakland is an obvious place, with Montas, Bassitt, and Manaea. Also maybe KC (Keller, Junis), Detroit (Boyd, Fulmer), Arizona (Luke Weaver, Caleb Smith), Colorado (Freeland, Senzatela), and the Chicago White Sox (Lopez) might all be looking to move pitchers who are pricing themselves out of their team's budgets. And it is possible Cincinnati (Castillo, Mahle) might be as well, depending on how other arbitration cases work out.

 

Obviously, every pitcher named here is not a "ace," however you define that term. But I think there are a few diamonds-in-the-rough that could he had cheaply and perform surprisingly...

[Bellhorn04]

As much as pitchng is the top priority, there really isn't anyone on this free agent market the Sox should be dedicating massive wads of cash to. We talk about Stroman, but will he be looking for Eovaldi money and years? Or will he be looking for Patrick Corbin money? If it's the latter, let someone else have him.

 

The first question is whether they try to make a deal with E-Rod. I'd rather that than Stroman, assuming E-Rod comes at a livable price.

[moonslav59]

About your reversal. It is possible. Eovaldi is our best, and Garcia is their worst, so the odds are good the Sox lethargic lineup will come back to life and give the Sox a lead, maybe even a good one. As my earlier post says, I also expect the Sox bullpen to be up to the task tonight, assuming Eovaldi can go 5 or 6 and not give up a bunch of runs.

 

I think a reversal is likely, not just possible.

 

BTW, we won 92 games, this year. 47 were come from behind wins. That's a little more than half.

 

Sure, our odds improve, if we score first or get a big lead, but it is not essential.

 

This team is a "never say die" team. It's an elimination game. I'm sticking with my belief that this team will do what they have done all year: silence their critics.

 

I know, now I sound like I'm locked in on trends continuing.

[Maxbialystock]

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

 

I like Chris Taylor, but not obsessively.

 

Forget Taylor. The key is to keep Kike in centerfield, and the fix is to bring Arroyo and Iglesias back.

 

Especially if Schwarber returns, the Sox should have a pretty good lineup next year.

 

So the offseason investments should be in pitching. Wednesday night Sale impressed the heck out of me, so right now I'm thinking Bloom and Cora are looking at 5 decent starters if they keep ERod and 4 if they don't: Sale, Eovaldi, Pivetta, and Houck (especially if that splitter holds up--he needs 3 good pitches). The bullpen could definitely use some help even though that's kind of a crapshoot.

[notin]

I think a reversal is likely, not just possible.

 

BTW, we won 92 games, this year. 47 were come from behind wins. That's a little more than half.

 

Sure, our odds improve, if we score first or get a big lead, but it is not essential.

 

This team is a "never say die" team. It's an elimination game. I'm sticking with my belief that this team will do what they have done all year: silence their critics.

 

I know, now I sound like I'm locked in on trends continuing.

 

Three days ago, this team was pitching and hitting well and looked to run over Houston.

 

Today, this team is not pitching well and not hittng and should be eliminated by Hosuton.

 

If it switched one way so quickly, why can't it switch back?

 

Part of the reason seems to be we evaluate the Sox solely on their most recent games, but then evaluate Houston on their season-long performance and assume they had day-to-day consistency for 162 games.

 

They are just as capable of rolling over and dying as Boston is...

[moonslav59]

Meh. Were I Cora, I would stick with Eovaldi, Whitlock, Taylor, and Ottavino. If long relief is needed, use Pivetta and save Houck for tomorrow. If it's extra innings, however, Houck might be needed.

 

Brasier's ERA is 9. That he has 4 holds shows how stupid that stat is. Robles' ERA is 5. Sawamura's is 4.5. None can be relied upon in a tight game for high stakes. So no way do I see them pitching tonight unless the game is a runaway or Cora runs out of arms in extra innings. FWIW, I am more than happy to say I have seen all three of them pitch extremely well this year--as have we all. So you are absolutely right that overall the bullpen has been a vital cog in this remarkable season.

 

The sample size is so small for Brasier. I don't think it's all that telling. Sure, I lost some confidence, but he had been lights out for a long time beforehand.

 

We won't "save" Houck for tomorrow, if tomorrow might not ever come. To me, we'll use whoever we think id the best guy to get out who is coming up next. That very well might be Pivetta first, Whitlock second, and maybe Houck is not even needed, but if Cora likes the Houck match-up best, he might be the first one in.

 

I trust Cora to use who is best. I hope we don't have to use all 3. It would be great to only need to use 1 (or none.)

[moonslav59]

Forget Taylor. The key is to keep Kike in centerfield, and the fix is to bring Arroyo and Iglesias back.

 

Especially if Schwarber returns, the Sox should have a pretty good lineup next year.

 

So the offseason investments should be in pitching. Wednesday night Sale impressed the heck out of me, so right now I'm thinking Bloom and Cora are looking at 5 decent starters if they keep ERod and 4 if they don't: Sale, Eovaldi, Pivetta, and Houck (especially if that splitter holds up--he needs 3 good pitches). The bullpen could definitely use some help even though that's kind of a crapshoot.

 

I've said utility IF is a low priority and Iggy would be great. If we do go big at 2B, I'd get someone who might replace Bogey, if he opt out (Baez or Semien,) but pitching is by far, my top priority.

[mvp 78]

I've said utility IF is a low priority and Iggy would be great. If we do go big at 2B, I'd get someone who might replace Bogey, if he opt out (Baez or Semien,) but pitching is by far, my top priority.

 

Of course, that means Bloom will only get one decent starter and a bunch of low cost relievers.

[notin]

The sample size is so small for Brasier. I don't think it's all that telling. Sure, I lost some confidence, but he had been lights out for a long time beforehand.

 

We won't "save" Houck for tomorrow, if tomorrow might not ever come. To me, we'll use whoever we think id the best guy to get out who is coming up next. That very well might be Pivetta first, Whitlock second, and maybe Houck is not even needed, but if Cora likes the Houck match-up best, he might be the first one in.

 

I trust Cora to use who is best. I hope we don't have to use all 3. It would be great to only need to use 1 (or none.)

 

ERA is not remarkably useful when a pitcher has 4 IP...

[notin]

Forget Taylor. The key is to keep Kike in centerfield, and the fix is to bring Arroyo and Iglesias back.

 

Especially if Schwarber returns, the Sox should have a pretty good lineup next year.

 

So the offseason investments should be in pitching. Wednesday night Sale impressed the heck out of me, so right now I'm thinking Bloom and Cora are looking at 5 decent starters if they keep ERod and 4 if they don't: Sale, Eovaldi, Pivetta, and Houck (especially if that splitter holds up--he needs 3 good pitches). The bullpen could definitely use some help even though that's kind of a crapshoot.

 

Ah yes, the true biggest myth in baseball.

 

"Relief pitchers are a crapshoot." No, the truth is "Crapshoot pitchers are relievers." If you keep your good relief pitchers in the bullpen, many of them will continue to pitch well. But if you continually fill the bullpen with volatile pitchers whose performance will vary, then you will continue to get a bullpen that is just not reliable.

 

Right now, the sox have two very good pitchers in the bullpen in Houck and Whitlock, and the consensus is "GET THEM OUTTA THE PEN!!" Why? I get that SP is in need of improvement, but bullpens are very important in today's game and when you have one that works, try not to tear it down to build up other aspects of the team that don't. The Sox probably need a 2B next year (Arroyo injured himself this year taking a throw at first - if that doesn't make you question his durability, what will?). Hey, we have extra outfielders!! Let's put Duran in CF and move Kike to 2B. It might not work out, but centerfielders are a crapshoot, right?

[moonslav59]

Three days ago, this team was pitching and hitting well and looked to run over Houston.

 

Today, this team is not pitching well and not hittng and should be eliminated by Hosuton.

 

If it switched one way so quickly, why can't it switch back?

 

Part of the reason seems to be we evaluate the Sox solely on their most recent games, but then evaluate Houston on their season-long performance and assume they had day-to-day consistency for 162 games.

 

They are just as capable of rolling over and dying as Boston is...

 

Exactly, and over 162 games, the Astros won 3 more games than us. In the playoffs, we've both won 6 games.

 

Every AL team has had serious flaws and ups and downs. I've documented all the ups and downs from the Sox, so here's a quick look at some Houston trends...

 

They had 4 months of playing only 2-3 games above .500 and really made the playoffs based on their June>July record (35-17).

 

In April, they won 4 in a row and 6 of 7, then lost 6 in a row and 9 of 10, before flipping again to winning 6 of 7.

 

In May, they lost 3 in a row and 5 of 8 before winning 6 in a row. Later, they lost 4 straight and 6 of 7.

 

Even in their good month of June, where they won 11 straight, they quickly lost 5 of their next 6.

 

They started July off by winning 6 straight, then lost 3 straight and 5 of 7. Later, they won 6 of 7.

 

How did their last 2 months go?

 

They lost 5 of their first 6, won 5 of 6, lost 4 straight, won 3 straight, lost 2, then won 4 straight. they won-lost almost daily it into September before winning 4 of 5 and 8 of 10. Then, they lost 4 straight and 6 of the next 8 games before winning their last 2.

 

They have yo-yo'd like all AL teams.

[moonslav59]

Of course, that means Bloom will only get one decent starter and a bunch of low cost relievers.

 

Assuming he has $40M to spend on 5 slots, fill in some names:

 

$19M SP_______ (ERod?)

$7M RP _______ (Ottavino?)

$6M RP________ (????)

$5M RP________ (????)

$3M Utility______ (Iggy?)

[dgalehouse]

According to Paul "Needlenose " Minagge , A baseball game between two good teams can basically go either way. Even if one team is superior, never give big odds. Don't try to overanalyze . It's not quite a crapshoot , but it's pretty close to it. " Needlenose" knows a thing or two about gambling. That said, I've got a double saw on the Sox tonight.

[moonslav59]

According to Paul "Needlenose " Minagge , A baseball game between two good teams can basically go either way. Even if one team is superior, never give big odds. Don't try to overanalyze . It's not quite a crapshoot , but it's pretty close to it. " Needlenose" knows a thing or two about gambling. That said, I've got a double saw on the Sox tonight.

 

Don't spend all your winnings in one place.

 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

If it switched one way so quickly, why can't it switch back?

 

 

Re. a switchback: I think it can, because of an off-day to rest, reflect, and most importantly, reset... and relocate. Yup, the Sox just might be more focused at the task at hand behind enemy lines (if only they weren't so distracted by those twirling, orange hankies -- gimme a break, H-town, and mix in some real baseball fans).

 

5GGs new theory -- it's more likely for batters to get overanxious and roll over on outside junk when you're trying to be the home run hero for the hollering hometown crowd... instead of surviving via an adrenaline-induced laser focus, fighting for your lives in a hostile environment where you're outnumbered by tens of thousands of haters. Remember, if you're supposed to lose, then you've got nothing to lose -- and all it might take are a few elite athletes to channel the best hand-eye coordination in the world to stave off elimination.

[dgalehouse]

Don't spend all your winnings in one place.

 

 

I will let the winnings ride on Saturday's game.