4/11 vs Rays at the Thunderdome

[vegasbob]

Whitlock vs LH McClanahan . All you right hand batters get loose and ready to swing. McC is already 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA, like most Rays pitchers. Whitlock will get his season debut after a full rehab from hip surgery.

[moonslav59]

Whitlock may be a bigger key to this year's success than Sale and Paxton combined.

[Maxbialystock]

Whitlock may be a bigger key to this year's success than Sale and Paxton combined.

 

Perhaps. But, as I said on last night's game thread, the Sox pitching, especially Pivetta, looked awfully good last night.

 

In their first 9 games this season the Ray scored 75 runs--or over 8 runs per game. Last night they scored 1 run against Pivetta (5 innings) and the bullpen. Despite that, the Rays still lead MLB in runs scored with 76.

 

So, honestly, while I would love to see Whitlock shine tonight, I'm tempering my expectations. I think he has an excellent repertoire, but also think it's still way early for him as a starter.

 

Meanwhile, I'm more impressed with Pivetta, who did not impress (except occasionally) last season. Also, Klubar and Sale both bombed in their first starts and came back well in their second starts. So did Crawford. Houck has held his own.

 

Over the longer haul (after this season), I do like Whitlock over Sale and Paxton.

 

As for tonight, I will be astounded if Whitlock can duplicate Pivetta's 5 scoreless innings of last night. And I will not be astounded if the Rays shut the Sox down again tonight.

Edited April 11, 2023 by Maxbialystock

[Maxbialystock]

And this. I enjoyed the heck out of last night's game, especially given how dominating Tampa has been this season. The Sox hitting stunk, especially Devers, but the pitching was excellent and the defense pretty decent for a change.

 

Despite the pitching mismatch tonight, I'm looking for another good game tonight.

[moonslav59]

Perhaps. But, as I said on last night's game thread, the Sox pitching, especially Pivetta, looked awfully good last night.

 

In their first 9 games this season the Ray scored 75 runs--or over 8 runs per game. Last night they scored 1 run against Pivetta (5 innings) and the bullpen. Despite that, the Rays still lead MLB in runs scored with 76.

 

So, honestly, while I would love to see Whitlock shine tonight, I'm tempering my expectations. I think he has an excellent repertoire, but also think it's still way early for him as a starter.

 

Meanwhile, I'm more impressed with Pivetta, who did not impress (except occasionally) last season. Also, Klubar and Sale both bombed in their first starts and came back well in their second starts. So did Crawford. Houck has held his own.

 

Over the longer haul (after this season), I do like Whitlock over Sale and Paxton.

 

As for tonight, I will be astounded if Whitlock can duplicate Pivetta's 5 scoreless innings of last night. And I will not be astounded if the Rays shut the Sox down again tonight.

 

I wasn't trying to imply anything about tonight. I'm not sure how well Whitlock will do in his first ML start in many months. I was thinking about the full season.

 

I've been on the Pivetta train for a while. To me, he is one of MLB's best #5s and a pretty good #4, as well. He's probably as good or better than many team's #3's.

 

I've spoke about his long stretches of very good pitching, in the past 2 seasons. I'm hopeful he can do it for 33 starts, this year.

 

3.76 ERA 17 starts from 9/1/2020 to 6/28/2021

4.02 ERA 25 starts from 9/1/2020 to 8/13/2021

3.83 ERA 25 starts from 4/26/22 to 9/7/2022, including a 3.33 stretch of 15 GS'd

 

25 game stretches are not small sample sizes.

[moonslav59]

And this. I enjoyed the heck out of last night's game, especially given how dominating Tampa has been this season. The Sox hitting stunk, especially Devers, but the pitching was excellent and the defense pretty decent for a change.

 

Despite the pitching mismatch tonight, I'm looking for another good game tonight.

 

It's not a huge mismatch...

 

2021-2022 (Careers)

ERA/FIP/WHIP

 

2.73/3.07/1.062 Whitlock in 152 IP

2.47/2.98/0.942 McClanahan in 178 IP

[Maxbialystock]

I wasn't trying to imply anything about tonight. I'm not sure how well Whitlock will do in his first ML start in many months. I was thinking about the full season.

 

I've been on the Pivetta train for a while. To me, he is one of MLB's best #5s and a pretty good #4, as well. He's probably as good or better than many team's #3's.

 

I've spoke about his long stretches of very good pitching, in the past 2 seasons. I'm hopeful he can do it for 33 starts, this year.

 

3.76 ERA 17 starts from 9/1/2020 to 6/28/2021

4.02 ERA 25 starts from 9/1/2020 to 8/13/2021

3.83 ERA 25 starts from 4/26/22 to 9/7/2022, including a 3.33 stretch of 15 GS'd

 

25 game stretches are not small sample sizes.

 

That blew me away.

[moonslav59]

That blew me away.

 

Two non-overlapping 25 game stretches with the Sox with ERAs of 3.76 and 4.02!

 

Eovaldi's career ERA with the Sox is 4.05 (3.73 FIP) Nick's is 4.36.

 

2020-2022 Sox ERA Leaders as SP'ers

 

3.32 Wacha 23 GS

3.79 Nate 61 GS

4.27 Hill 26 GS

4.36 Pivetta 67 GS

4.65 Perez 34 GS

4.74 ERod 31 GS

4.87 Richards 22 GS (5.22 as SP)

 

SP/RP

2.73 Whitlock (9 GS w 4.15 ERA as SP)

3.02 Houck (22 GS w 3.34 ERA as SP)

[mvp 78]

It's not a huge mismatch...

 

2021-2022 (Careers)

ERA/FIP/WHIP

 

2.73/3.07/1.062 Whitlock in 152 IP

2.47/2.98/0.942 McClanahan in 178 IP

 

Whitlock as a starter would be the better comparison.

4.15/3.60/1.26

[mvp 78]

K. Hernández SS,

Devers 3B,

Turner DH,

Yoshida LF,

Refsnyder CF,

Verdugo RF,

Arroyo 2B,

Dalbec 1B,

Wong C

[moonslav59]

Whitlock as a starter would be the better comparison.

4.15/3.60/1.26

 

Could be more important.

[moonslav59]

Bobby D had 10 Ks in 31 PAs at Woo, but he did walk 4 times and had a .357 OBP and .522 SLG.

[mvp 78]

Bobby D had 10 Ks in 31 PAs at Woo, but he did walk 4 times and had a .357 OBP and .522 SLG.

 

Dalbec has a history of hitting LHP well. This is his shot. Maybe his last one here.

 

In 2023 at WOO vs LHP: 1371 OPS. Only 1 K in 5 AB's. He does see the ball better vs LHP. Need to sit him if a RHP comes in though.

[Maxbialystock]

Whitlock as a starter would be the better comparison.

4.15/3.60/1.26

 

Cool!!!

[Maxbialystock]

Dalbec has a history of hitting LHP well. This is his shot. Maybe his last one here.

 

In 2023 at WOO vs LHP: 1371 OPS. Only 1 K in 5 AB's. He does see the ball better vs LHP. Need to sit him if a RHP comes in though.

 

Also cool.

[moonslav59]

Dalbec has a history of hitting LHP well. This is his shot. Maybe his last one here.

 

In 2023 at WOO vs LHP: 1371 OPS. Only 1 K in 5 AB's. He does see the ball better vs LHP. Need to sit him if a RHP comes in though.

 

MLB Career vs LHP:

 

.270/.335/.523/.859

 

per 650...

 

.270 38 117

 

[Maxbialystock]

Boy, do they have Raffie's number. Three pitch K, all swings and misses on fastballs.

[guinness22]

Kike batting a robust .094 after that at bat. Probably could do with a little better from a lead off man but I know Cora gives Kike a long lease.

[guinness22]

Ok Ref. Big hit…need it!

 

Edit: or not

[illinoisredsox]

Boy, do they have Raffie's number. Three pitch K, all swings and misses on fastballs.

 

Remember when the Astros threw north of 50 straight fastballs at him a few years ago?

[d-money]

Need to make these ray pitchers pay.

[d-money]

Already squandered an opportunity. Let’s see how many.

[illinoisredsox]

You don’t get too many shots at a guy like McClanahan; you can’t squander them.

[guinness22]

Bad luck. He had it.

[d-money]

Come on whitlock. 🤦*♂️

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

In the recent history of the SOX they've either made the PO's or finished last. Want to guess which outcome will happen this season?

[illinoisredsox]

Two soft contact hits yields a run. When a team is going right …

 

Does Kike get that?

[d-money]

Last year this team looked very bad against the rays. More of the same it seems.

[illinoisredsox]

Rays have tossed 3 straight shutouts and are now at 29 consecutive scoreless innings. I don’t care if you’re pitching against the 62 Mets or the 88 Orioles, that’s impressive.

[d-money]

Whitlock is s***ing the bed.