The Official 2021 ALCS Thread

[redsox87871]

Carlos Correa is easily my MLB Villain! As a Red Sox fan, those theatrics in game 1 after the home run burned my hatred to a boiling white hot! Let's give him the collar in game 3 and go Sox!

[d-money]

I do not want to face the Dodgers. I do not want to hear about all the 'subplots' all series long.

 

Go Braves!

 

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

[Bellhorn04]

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

 

Amen to that. I watch a lot of sports with the mute button on.

[moonslav59]

Amen to that. I watch a lot of sports with the mute button on.

 

Me, too.

[YastrzemskI]

Another step in the right direction tonight. This team is making things happen and getting some breaks along the way. We are in good shape heading into game four.

[moonslav59]

Everything is looking easy for us. That catch by Renfroe seemed like slow motion, and he knew he had it.

 

Devers making slick plays.

 

Everybody contributing.

 

Keep it going, boys!

 

One game at a time!

 

[iortiz]

All engines are synced and oiled at full capacity at the right time.

 

Also the great atmosphere in that locker room and the confidence are palpable from 100 miles away.

[jgar658]

All engines are synced and oiled at full capacity at the right time.

 

Also the great atmosphere in that locker room and the confidence are palpable from 100 miles away.

 

Cora only used 2nd tier relievers in tonite's game (except maybe Robles)

The big guns are ready for tomorrow.

 

Iglesias is really into the team even though he cannot play. Why is he even there? Hope he is signed for next year.

[moonslav59]

All engines are synced and oiled at full capacity at the right time.

 

Also the great atmosphere in that locker room and the confidence are palpable from 100 miles away.

 

Yes, these guys are locked in a zone. Great coaching and clubhouse influences.

 

This team showed grit all year. I know I've beaten that word to death, but it's true.

 

It started after the sweep by the O's.

 

We won so many come from behind games in the first few months, you could just feel the magic in the air and the sense of never die.

 

Then, we hit some rough patches and just like the comeback wins, we always seemed to win just at the moment when it seemed like we couldn't recover with one more loss, we'd rip off 3 or 4 straight.

 

The deadline trades and return of Sale and Houck made a difference. Some surprising contributions by Richards from the pen and guys like Robles and Brasier exemplified how deep the teamwork spread around.

 

Look how some players saw some major role changes over the season- some not so good.

 

We started with Barnes looking like Koji and Ottavino looking solid, and ended up with them being mop up men. (Now, Ottavino is out of the dog house.)

 

I could probably list 35-40 names of players that helped us win a game or two (or more), this year.

 

What an amazing team!

[moonslav59]

Cora only used 2nd tier relievers in tonite's game (except maybe Robles)

The big guns are ready for tomorrow.

 

Iglesias is really into the team even though he cannot play. Why is he even there? Hope he is signed for next year.

 

He's there to push the HR cart, so nobody gets hurt.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I could probably list 35-40 names of players that helped us win a game or two (or more), this year.

 

What an amazing team!

 

The unofficial Jack Lopez thread...

 

... and Motter wants a ring, too (regular season OPS leader!)!

 

Each were worth 0.1 WAR -- one-tenth better than the average replacement player.

[kenmeister]

Yes, these guys are locked in a zone. Great coaching and clubhouse influences.

 

This team showed grit all year. I know I've beaten that word to death, but it's true.

 

It started after the sweep by the O's.

 

We won so many come from behind games in the first few months, you could just feel the magic in the air and the sense of never die.

 

Then, we hit some rough patches and just like the comeback wins, we always seemed to win just at the moment when it seemed like we couldn't recover with one more loss, we'd rip off 3 or 4 straight.

 

The deadline trades and return of Sale and Houck made a difference. Some surprising contributions by Richards from the pen and guys like Robles and Brasier exemplified how deep the teamwork spread around.

 

Look how some players saw some major role changes over the season- some not so good.

 

We started with Barnes looking like Koji and Ottavino looking solid, and ended up with them being mop up men. (Now, Ottavino is out of the dog house.)

 

I could probably list 35-40 names of players that helped us win a game or two (or more), this year.

 

What an amazing team!

 

So who is our closer now? It's been all blowouts so we haven't needed one.

[moonslav59]

The unofficial Jack Lopez thread...

 

... and Motter wants a ring, too (regular season OPS leader!)!

 

Each were worth 0.1 WAR -- one-tenth better than the average replacement player.

 

Maybe the list is over 40 long!

[Bellhorn04]

So who is our closer now? It's been all blowouts so we haven't needed one.

 

As of right now the closer is most likely Whitlock.

[jgar658]

He's there to push the HR cart, so nobody gets hurt.

 

Iglesias is a great cheer leader, I guess he was always a Red Sox at heart.

 

BTW, Altuve made a crucial error that massively helped the Sox, He did the same on game one. They are choking

.

Hopefully Pivetta could do as well as ERod that is the plan.

 

Eventually Sale will be Sale. The Stros are toast.

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

Yeah the announcers gave Altuve a huge pass, didn't hardly talk about the biggest play in the game. Taylor made double play ball that would have kept it 1-0 if I'm not mistaken.

 

This is amazing to watch. Talk about a team getting hot at the right time, we actually look like a good defensive team when we all know better as the Astros kick the ball around. Good ERod showed up when we needed him. Another grand slam? No words to express my feelings on that.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

What's wrong with Grienke? He led the Stros in innings pitched and games started, but threw one frame in relief in the ALDS, and wasn't in Baker's rotation at the beginning of the ALCS.

 

He must be hurt. In the past month his ERA is over 11, with opponents' OPS at .909, including a home run every nine at bats; let's hope he faces the Sox two times through the order...

[sk7326]

He had a neck injury and COVID ... so he just has not been able to build stamina. He will go today. He is someone the Red Sox should look at in the offseason.

[mvp 78]

He had a neck injury and COVID ... so he just has not been able to build stamina. He will go today. He is someone the Red Sox should look at in the offseason.

 

I'm not sure the Sox should be collecting 38 year old starters.

[sk7326]

I'm not sure the Sox should be collecting 38 year old starters.

 

If the commitment is reasonable (a year or two), whatever. He's still durable and good - I still think he gets paid well by somebody even it is for just a year.

[notin]

I'm not sure the Sox should be collecting 38 year old starters.

 

Agreed.

 

I still think the best option might start with discussing the arbitration eligibles in Oakland. They will definitely be moving at least one of Montas, Bassitt and Manaea and possibly moving multiple starters simply for financial reasons...

[notin]

If the commitment is reasonable (a year or two), whatever. He's still durable and good - I still think he gets paid well by somebody even it is for just a year.

 

He will very likely get paid. Possibly by his current employer, as they might be losing one $30mill pitcher to free agency in Kershaw.

 

The wrinkle in this plan is Trevor Bauer, whom they clearly do not want, but also has a player option for $40mill. Obviously, the Dodgers would like to void that deal, but that gets into an area I have no idea about...

[Maxbialystock]

Yeah the announcers gave Altuve a huge pass, didn't hardly talk about the biggest play in the game. Taylor made double play ball that would have kept it 1-0 if I'm not mistaken.

 

This is amazing to watch. Talk about a team getting hot at the right time, we actually look like a good defensive team when we all know better as the Astros kick the ball around. Good ERod showed up when we needed him. Another grand slam? No words to express my feelings on that.

 

I'm not sure I agree with "when we all know better." The fact is that the Sox have a pretty fair outfield when Kike is in CF where his DWAR is +2.1. Verdugo's DWAR is -.2 and Renfroe's is -.5 because of all those errors, but he also led MLB with 16 outfield assists.

 

As for the infield, Bogey, +.3, and Arroyo, +.7 both have positive DWAR's despite Bogey's lack of range. That leaves Devers, -.9, and Schwarber, -.5, both of whom have defended well in the post season. Devers actually has pretty good range at 3b. His problem is primarily throwing errors. The Sox have played 8 postseason games and committed 1 error--Schwarber's awful underhanded toss. Oh, and Vazquez's DWAR is +1.3.

Edited October 19, 2021 by Maxbialystock

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I'm not sure the Sox should be collecting 38 year old starters.

 

I'm content with the Hot Sox collecting hits and runs off him.

[sk7326]

He will very likely get paid. Possibly by his current employer, as they might be losing one $30mill pitcher to free agency in Kershaw.

 

The wrinkle in this plan is Trevor Bauer, whom they clearly do not want, but also has a player option for $40mill. Obviously, the Dodgers would like to void that deal, but that gets into an area I have no idea about...

 

Houston is his current employer. Greinke is pitching today.

[moonslav59]

As of right now the closer is most likely Whitlock.

 

Agreed.

 

I guess the real question is who are the top set-up men?

 

Houck

Robles

Brasier

Taylor

 

A while ago, I did a "confidence chart" on our staff that was highly influenced by the recency bias. Here is my updated list:

 

Listed in order of most confidence...

 

Very High Confidence

Eovaldi

Whitlcok

 

High Confidence

ERod

Houck

Pivetta

 

Moderate Confidence

Taylor

Robles

Ottavino

Brasier

 

Low Confidence

Sale

Sawamura

 

Very Low Confidence

DHern

Perez

 

Off the Roster

Davis

Barnes

Richards

 

 

 

[mvp 78]

The unofficial Jack Lopez thread...

 

... and Motter wants a ring, too (regular season OPS leader!)!

 

Each were worth 0.1 WAR -- one-tenth better than the average replacement player.

 

Most obscure guy to win a WS ring with the Sox?

 

Earl Snyder: 1 G, 4 PA, 0 H, 1K, 0 BB, -0.1 fWAR, he did make 3 assists and 2 putouts in his one game at 3b.

 

He hit 58 bombs for the PAWSOX in 03-04.

[moonslav59]

I'm not sure the Sox should be collecting 38 year old starters.

 

Short term deal might make him enticing.

[mvp 78]

Houston is his current employer. Greinke is pitching today.

 

*praise hands emoji*

[mvp 78]

Short term deal might make him enticing.

 

Sox should go for high upside guys. With the Sox current roster construction, they need guys that can throw lots of k's. Greinke is basically a ground ball pitcher who would have a good FIP here, but his ERA would suffer with the cement shoes in the IF.