5/19 Sox @ Padres

[Maxbialystock]

Paxton vs Snell, both lefties. Paxton was solid (5 IP, 2 ER, 1 BB, 9 K) in his first start in years, but Snell's ERA for May is 3.45 and he pitched 6 innings in each of those starts.

 

The Sox hit better than the Padres, and the Padres pitch better than the Sox. However, the Padres hit lefties well, and the Sox don't. Over the last 11 games the Padres are 2-9 and the Sox are 5-6.

 

Two games ago I assured one and all that Pivetta would lose to the Mariners at Fenway. He and the Sox won, 9-4.

 

So you tell me what you think might happen tonight. I like where the Sox are right now, but don't like the pitching matchup.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

This is pretty obvious. The Padres' young power hitters will pick on Old Man Paxton, and Snell will throw a no-hitter through the first six. However, analytic guys will run onto the field to pull him off the mound, and the Sox will rally to win late vs. SD's bullpen.

[moonslav59]

What is kind of strange about this year's offense, is that as strong as we look with LHBs, and I think we can field a 9 lefties line-up, is that we actually hit better in games where a LHP starts:

 

.805 in games a lefty starts

.786 in games a RHP starts

 

The overall splits tell the opposite story:

 

.774 v LHPs

.802 v RHPs

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Sale appears to be the pre-injured Sale. Paxton's 1st MLB start in years was very impressive and IF he can stay healthy most of the season, he's the #2 starter.

Bello has the stuff to be a future #1, but right now he's the #3. When Whitlock returns, he's the #4 and Kluber is the #5.

This is a very respectable 5 man rotation, but it centers on Paxton being able to stay healthy.

If Houck returns to BP duty, it obviously improves the BP.

Edited May 19, 2023 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[moonslav59]

Sale appears to be the pre-injured Sale. Paxton's 1st MLB start in years was very impressive and IF he can stay healthy most of the season, he's the #2 starter.

Bello has the stuff to be a future #1, but right now he's the #3. When Whitlock returns, he's the #4 and Kluber is the #5.

This is a very respectable 5 man rotation, but it centers on Paxton being able to stay healthy.

 

Maybe they try a Houck-Whitlock piggyback with each going through 9 batters.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Maybe they try a Houck-Whitlock piggyback with each going through 9 batters.

 

That's not a bad idea.

[mvp 78]

Maybe they try a Houck-Whitlock piggyback with each going through 9 batters.

 

My concern is that it's a waste of a bullpen arm if the reliever can't throw again between the appearance. Also, only going through 9 batters each maybe gets you into the 5th innning most days. That's just not good enough.

[Bellhorn04]

My concern is that it's a waste of a bullpen arm if the reliever can't throw again between the appearance. Also, only going through 9 batters each maybe gets you into the 5th innning most days. That's just not good enough.

 

Plus what if the first guy gets shelled.

 

Just say no to planned piggybacks.

 

If a golden opportunity arises, maybe.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

My concern is that it's a waste of a bullpen arm if the reliever can't throw again between the appearance. Also, only going through 9 batters each maybe gets you into the 5th innning most days. That's just not good enough.

 

 

You're absolutely right. Perhaps it would be better just to have Whitlock pitch as many innings as he's effective. With Houck returning to the pen the BP is definitely deeper. As for Pivetta I don't know if Cora is going to go with a 6 man rotation or if Pivetta will be used as a long reliever.

[moonslav59]

My concern is that it's a waste of a bullpen arm if the reliever can't throw again between the appearance. Also, only going through 9 batters each maybe gets you into the 5th innning most days. That's just not good enough.

 

Right. You can't do this for 5 starts. You'd use 10 pitchers and still need 3-4 innings of relief every day from the other 3 pitchers, but maybe we can support it for one game out of the 5, but we will need the others to go 6. I'm not sure we can count on that.

 

Ideally, Whitlock could go more than 9 batters. Houck is sometimes not so bad the second time through. it's the third that kills him.

 

Also, if we could use these guys in short situations between their scheduled piggyback games, that could make it work.

 

I'm not saying I'm for the idea, but certainly using a long guy in their starts will likely happen, anyway- scheduled or not..

[Old Red]

My concern is that it's a waste of a bullpen arm if the reliever can't throw again between the appearance. Also, only going through 9 batters each maybe gets you into the 5th innning most days. That's just not good enough.

 

Agree. Having a designated piggy backer to me is a big waste. If it happens that way fine, but to me take each day as it comes, and if it lines up fine, but if it doesn’t that’s fine too. With Pivetta in the pen, and someone else when Whit comes back they’ve got plenty of long men without designating someone.

[Nick]

With Pivetta now in the pen Sox can have a bullpen game from time to time.

 

Pivetta, Crawford, Winckowski could pit 7 to 8 innins combined.

[moonslav59]

With Pivetta now in the pen Sox can have a bullpen game from time to time.

 

Pivetta, Crawford, Winckowski could pit 7 to 8 innins combined.

 

We have a few days off, here and there, so we may not need a pen game, for a while.

 

If we do, someday, we might just go with one guy for 5 or 6, if he can make it that long.

[Thunder]

Hey guys! I'm here in San Diego. Currently watching the Sox take BP from the RF bleachers. Will be at tomorrow's game as well

[moonslav59]

Vs the lefthander...

 

1. Verdugo RF

2. Turner 1B

3. Refsnyder LF

4. Devers 3B

5. Yoshida DH

6. Kike SS

7. Reyes 2B

8. Duran CF

9. Wong C

 

[moonslav59]

Hey guys! I'm here in San Diego. Currently watching the Sox take BP from the RF bleachers. Will be at tomorrow's game as well

 

Cool!

 

I've never seen a Sox game on the left coast.

[Thunder]

Cool!

 

I've never seen a Sox game on the left coast.

 

It's been a tough couple months for me physically and mentally, so it was a solo weekend trip I felt like I needed. I went to Wrigley last year as well. Going to start going to at least one new ballpark per year until I hit all 30

[Thunder]

Dave O'Brien was also on my flight last night, so that was cool

[Maxbialystock]

Sox in the 1st looked awful, especially Dugo.

[Maxbialystock]

That was not a tough play for Refsnyder and therefore a dumb play by Tatis of the Padres.

[Maxbialystock]

Two batters, two hard hit balls by the Padres.

[Maxbialystock]

Paxton throwing a whole lot of fastballs. 90%?

 

Finally, against the 5th Padres batter, we see the knuckle curve.

[Maxbialystock]

OK, out of the 1st, but needed 22 pitches.

[Maxbialystock]

Devers--just unreal. That was an excellent pitch, especially lefty on lefty--and out it went. Now Yoshida singles to the opposite field.

 

Then Kike comes to the plate and acts like he's blindfolded, righty vs lefty yet.

Edited May 20, 2023 by Maxbialystock

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

I wonder if the Dodgers would have any interest in getting Kike back? He was a popular player on that team. Perhaps the SOX would have to eat some of Kike's contract. Dodgers have been helpful to the SOX in the past.

[Maxbialystock]

I wonder if the Dodgers would have any interest in getting Kike back? He was a popular player on that team. Perhaps the SOX would have to eat some of Kike's contract. Dodgers have been helpful to the SOX in the past.

 

Hah! All good points.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Machado on the IL. Couldn't happen to a more deserving person.

[Maxbialystock]

Dumb Padres. All they needed to do was throw fastballs down the middle to Dugo, who wisely let them walk him. Wong got that double off a first pitch fastball down the middle--also smart.

[Maxbialystock]

Great at bat by Refsnyder, including that double off a pretty good changeup on the outside of the plate.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Ref!