July 4th Tampa Bay Rays at Boston Red Sox

[Maxbialystock]

One game at a time.

 

This one starts @ 1:35, with unannounced pitchers for both teams.

[Old Red]

Austin Davis to the rescue to start today’s game.

[moonslav59]

I guess they want to wait with Bello.

[d-money]

This is a big homestand for this team. They need to show they can beat teams in their division. Win a damn series.

[moonslav59]

This is a big homestand for this team. They need to show they can beat teams in their division. Win a damn series.

 

From now until August 3rd, the day after the deadline, we will be tested and re-tested over and over. We should know a lot more about the make-up of this team by then, but even if we don't shine, just sticking around might be enough to allow us to sneak into the wild card slots.

 

3 v TBR

4 v NYY

4 @ TBR

3 @ NYY

(All-Star Break)

3 v TOR

4 v CLE

3 v MIL

3 @ HOU

 

That's some 27 game stretch.

17 Home

10 Away

(No days off, except for the 4 day All-Star Break.)

 

[Old Red]

From now until August 3rd, the day after the deadline, we will be tested and re-tested over and over. We should know a lot more about the make-up of this team by then, but even if we don't shine, just sticking around might be enough to allow us to sneak into the wild card slots.

 

3 v TBR

4 v NYY

4 @ TBR

3 @ NYY

(All-Star Break)

3 v TOR

4 v CLE

3 v MIL

3 @ HOU

 

That's some 27 game stretch.

17 Home

10 Away

(No days off, except for the 4 day All-Star Break.)

 

 

What happened to 1 game at a time? Let’s just worry about today, and starting with the famous opener a day after the BP was worked hard.

[Old Red]

Bogey out today, and Vaz batting cleanup.

[notin]

Austin Davis to the rescue to start today’s game.

 

The decision to go with a pen game makes me seriously question Cora…

[Maxbialystock]

From now until August 3rd, the day after the deadline, we will be tested and re-tested over and over. We should know a lot more about the make-up of this team by then, but even if we don't shine, just sticking around might be enough to allow us to sneak into the wild card slots.

 

3 v TBR

4 v NYY

4 @ TBR

3 @ NYY

(All-Star Break)

3 v TOR

4 v CLE

3 v MIL

3 @ HOU

 

That's some 27 game stretch.

17 Home

10 Away

(No days off, except for the 4 day All-Star Break.)

 

 

Actually, it's 17 straight games with no days off before the ASG and another 17 after. Thus Cora's abortive attempt to get Robles back into the mix.

 

Meanwhile the lineup's big three--JDM, Bogey, and Devers--are struggling, which puts pressure on the rest of the lineup as well as the pitching.

[Maxbialystock]

During the Toronto series, I was encouraged.

 

That went away during the Wrigley field series, when the hitters didn't, Wacha and Hill joined Eovaldi and Whitlock on the IL, the defense looked awful, and the bullpen was heavily used in the first 3 games of 17 straight without a break.

 

Oh, and the guys already on the IL are not coming back as soon as we hoped.

 

So here come the Rays, right after taking 3 straight from the Jays, with solid pitching and defense and maybe an offense that's hitting again.

Edited July 4, 2022 by Maxbialystock

[moonslav59]

The decision to go with a pen game makes me seriously question Cora…

 

Did you want Bello?

 

Does Crawford deserve another look?

[Maxbialystock]

From now until August 3rd, the day after the deadline, we will be tested and re-tested over and over. We should know a lot more about the make-up of this team by then, but even if we don't shine, just sticking around might be enough to allow us to sneak into the wild card slots.

 

3 v TBR

4 v NYY

4 @ TBR

3 @ NYY

(All-Star Break)

3 v TOR

4 v CLE

3 v MIL

3 @ HOU

 

That's some 27 game stretch.

17 Home

10 Away

(No days off, except for the 4 day All-Star Break.)

 

 

Actually, I think injuries to the rotation--Sale, Eovaldi, Whitlock, Wacha, and Hill are on the IL--makes it really hard for the Sox to compete. Sale has at least recently pitched in AA ball. The other guys are just throwing off the mound, waiting to throw off the mound, or whatever. The Sox rotation right now: Pivetta, two rookies--Winckowski, Seabold--and two players to be named later, like Davis.

[Maxbialystock]

Duran CF

Devers 3B

JDM DH

Vazquez C

Verdugo LF

Story 2B

Cordero RF

Arroyo SS

Dalbec 1B

[Old Red]

Did you want Bello?

 

Does Crawford deserve another look?

 

No, and no.

[Maxbialystock]

The decision to go with a pen game makes me seriously question Cora…

 

Sale, Whitlock, Eovaldi, Wacha, and Hill are on the IL. That leaves Pivetta, newbie Winckowski (who's looking pretty decent), and newbie Seabold (might be OK) to fill a five man rotation with no days off.

 

Meanwhile, the boo birds on talksox insist that Cora only send out relievers who are guaranteed to shut down the opposing team--all this during a 17 game stretch without a break.

[Old Red]

Actually, I think injuries to the rotation--Sale, Eovaldi, Whitlock, Wacha, and Hill are on the IL--makes it really hard for the Sox to compete. Sale has at least recently pitched in AA ball. The other guys are just throwing off the mound, waiting to throw off the mound, or whatever. The Sox rotation right now: Pivetta, two rookies--Winckowski, Seabold--and two players to be named later, like Davis.

 

Where is Martin Perez when you need him? The one that got away.

[Old Red]

Sale, Whitlock, Eovaldi, Wacha, and Hill are on the IL. That leaves Pivetta, newbie Winckowski (who's looking pretty decent), and newbie Seabold (might be OK) to fill a five man rotation with no days off.

 

Meanwhile, the boo birds on talksox insist that Cora only send out relievers who are guaranteed to shut down the opposing team--all this during a 17 game stretch without a break.

 

This will be more fun than watching the A’s, and M’s, or the Angels during their long losing streak.

[Bellhorn04]

The decision to go with a pen game makes me seriously question Cora…

 

Who would you have started?

[notin]

Who would you have started?

 

Bello.

 

Not that I’d expect him to shut down Tampa, but every inning he gives you is one less inning from the bullpen. And as questionable as the Sox pen has been, they’ll be needed for this entire series so trying to get 9 IP from them today only weakens the pen for tomorrow and Wednesday…

[Bellhorn04]

Pivetta would actually be on regular rest today...

[Old Red]

Bello.

 

Not that I’d expect him to shut down Tampa, but every inning he gives you is one less inning from the bullpen. And as questionable as the Sox pen has been, they’ll be needed for this entire series so trying to get 9 IP from them today only weakens the pen for tomorrow and Wednesday…

 

Didn’t Bello just pitch 3 days ago?

[Bellhorn04]

Didn’t Bello just pitch 3 days ago?

 

Yes, he pitched on July 1.

[Old Red]

BREAKING NEWS! Bello will start on Wednesday.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Everybody raise your hand if you said in March you'd be surprised if any veteran starting pitcher over 30 or any Whitlock post-TJS being converted to a starter would be hurt by July.

[Bellhorn04]

Everybody raise your hand if you said in March you'd be surprised if any veteran starting pitcher over 30 or any Whitlock post-TJS being converted to a starter would be hurt by July.

 

I guess the good news is that none of the hurts seem to be serious ones.

[Old Red]

I guess the good news is that none of the hurts seem to be serious ones.

 

Except for the big bats at the moment.

[moonslav59]

Yes, he pitched on July 1.

 

Can't we try planning ahead?

[notin]

Yes, he pitched on July 1.

 

I see. That would crimp using him today. Crawford is available and he might be a bulk guy today with Davis just functioning as an opener..

[Old Red]

Can't we try planning ahead?

 

One game at a time.

[notin]

BREAKING NEWS! Bello will start on Wednesday.

 

What happened to Pivetta?

 

If Cora is bumping him back for the Yankee series, I could see that. Although I’d rather he faced the Rays…