27th of May: Boston @ Arizona

[Maxbialystock]

McGuire catching. I hadn't noticed until he trotted down to 1b on the grounder.

 

Right now I'd say no blame should attached to his catching Whitlock. In fact, given that Whitlock is relying on just two pitches, give both of them some credit.

[vegasbob]

Wasted the challenge when Tapia thought he was hit on the hand but ruled the ball hit the bat first

[Maxbialystock]

Tapia looked safe

 

Agree. But Cora lost that first challenge--primarily because Tapia insisted he was hit--and doesn't want to waste his remaining challenge on a single in the 3d inning. I agree with Cora.

[Maxbialystock]

Wasted the challenge when Tapia thought he was hit on the hand but ruled the ball hit the bat first

 

You beat me!

[vegasbob]

Bats eerily quiet so far. 2 singles, 2 walks by Dugo.

[vegasbob]

You beat me!

 

Max, I have to go out now, but will turn the job of making this a win over to you , ask SS for word plays and Moon for stats, if necessary to win this one. Good luck , guys.

[Maxbialystock]

Given how well that changeup is working, I think we are seeing a righty pitcher, Whitlock, preferring to pitch against lefty batters. A lefty batter hit the dinger of course, but it was off that stupid sweeper Whitlock has abandoned.

[Maxbialystock]

Seeing a lot of grit from Whitlock tonight. Good for him. And good for McGuire.

[moonslav59]

Kike coming through- 2 games in row!

[Maxbialystock]

No name lineup ties it up on a single by the worst hitter--in the opinion of some on talksox--in the history of MLB. Enrique Hernandez is the name, and pissing on his detractors is his game. I'm not sure Kike can hit, but am grateful he is available at SS.

 

In case anyone's interested, Kike's DWAR is +0.1.

[mvp 78]

"Supposed to be better" than Davies? Davies faced a pretty good Dodgers offense twice in April and gave up 1 run in 5 innings and I think 5 runs in 4.1 innings. He, like Whitlock, is coming off the IL. Whitlock started 3 games in April--5 IP and 5 runs vs the Rays; 7 IP and 1 run vs the Angels; and 4 innings and 5 runs vs the Brewers.

 

So who knows which one is better?

 

Last night's offense--sans Devers and sans Duran--worked brilliantly to counter the slump the Sox were in. Kudos to Cora even though Pfaadt pitches like his name sounds.

 

Could not agree more about which lineup tonight and how they will do.

 

Yeah, Davies kinda sucks…

 

Couldn’t get past 3.1. He’s got history of being a bad pitcher. Whitlock could grow into something better hopefully.

[mvp 78]

Davies 21-22:

280 Innings, 0.4 fWAR

[Jasonbay44]

Good bunt by Jerk off man

[moonslav59]

I'm not big on sac bunts, but that was nice.

[Maxbialystock]

Yeah, Davies kinda sucks…

 

Couldn’t get past 3.1. He’s got history of being a bad pitcher. Whitlock could grow into something better hopefully.

 

Well, hello there. Peace. I'm glad Davies took a downturn, and so are you. Whitlock is gutting it out on his fastball and changeup.

 

Sox load the bases on a walk to pinch-hitter--in the 4th freaking inning--to Reyes. The relief pitcher gave up the walk.

 

No name McGuire bunted home the go ahead run. So three good calls by Cora: pinch-hitter, telling McGuire to bunt; keeping Whitlock in the game.

[Jasonbay44]

Agree. But Cora lost that first challenge--primarily because Tapia insisted he was hit--and doesn't want to waste his remaining challenge on a single in the 3d inning. I agree with Cora.

 

I wasn’t saying he should’ve necessarily challenged it, I was just noting he looked safe.

 

 

I actually missed the first Tapia HBP play, so I’m not sure what was really challenged there

[Maxbialystock]

I'm not big on sac bunts, but that was nice.

 

I love sac bunts. Not because they are necessarily useful, but because bunting is a skill too rarely seen thanks to sabermetrics. Especially by our Sox.

 

And, since you are a leading McGuire booster/cheerleader, you should be thrilled.

[Jasonbay44]

Valdez has really been struggling lately. I think he’s making one of the choices of who gets sent down when Arroyo/Duvall/Story come back.

[Maxbialystock]

Nice grab, Duran! That changeup is big medicine.

[Jasonbay44]

Not the greatest communication but good play Duran

[Maxbialystock]

Close up of the non-collision in CF. Neat pause by Dugo saved the day.

[Maxbialystock]

Not the greatest communication but good play Duran

 

I could be wrong, but I think communications inevitably break down when it's not clear who can actually catch the doggone thing. That's why collisions happen in the outfield. Nice grab by Duran.

[Jasonbay44]

Whitlock is looking good

[Maxbialystock]

Four excellent innings by Whitlock--on pure buzzard guts. He has like 5 pitches in his repertoire and tonight he's basically going with the fast ball and that oh so sweet changeup.

[Maxbialystock]

Whitlock is looking good

 

Yessir.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Duran has definitely established himself defensively as an very good CF. Amazing improvement from last year.

[Maxbialystock]

We're just in the 5th inning, but so far this is a heckuva game.

 

Diamondbacks (I like that name) scored first, but the no name offense tied it and then went ahead, 2-1. Whitlock does not have his best stuff, but is getting guys out.

[Jasonbay44]

Duran has definitely established himself defensively as an very good CF. Amazing improvement from last year.

 

I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone improve their fielding that much, in that short amount of time. He definitely put the work in. Good for him

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Agree. But Cora lost that first challenge--primarily because Tapia insisted he was hit--and doesn't want to waste his remaining challenge on a single in the 3d inning. I agree with Cora.

 

When Cora lost that first challenge, he has no challenges remaining.

[Maxbialystock]

Duran has definitely established himself defensively as an very good CF. Amazing improvement from last year.

 

I loved that catch, but can't be sure he's in the "very good" category. His DWAR so far is +0.1. According to espn's stats, there are 21 better centerfielders.