June 2, Rays @ Boston

[Maxbialystock]

Whitlock vs. Glasnow, both righties

 

Big series, David (us) vs. Goliath (Rays)--but the Sox have a winning record at Fenway and the Rays are just 14-12 on the road. The Rays will be playing their last four games of 20 games in 19 days. They have a run differential of +119 to the Sox +15.

 

Glasnow has started for the Rays for five years, but never more than 14 starts in a season--and just two starts last year and just one so far this year. So a bit of a mystery. Whitlock went 5 IP and gave up just 1 run vs Arizona last Saturday, so I'm hopeful even though the Rays beat up on him April 11 with 5 ER in 5 IP.

 

Terrific 8th inning rally tonight plus good defense plus good pitching, especially the bullpen (1 run in 5.1 innings!).

[Old Red]

Good news-bad news. Last night was a good win, and prevented another broom swat to the backsides. Better to be 2 games over 500 than 500 itself. Of course Sale going down for long time could be a big loss, and a MRI will be done today. 4 games in 3 days against Tampa, and will be going in with a BP that’s been worked hard the last 3 days, and it looks like Kluber going in one of the games on Sat. Tampa has had injuries to their staff too. The bats came alive for 1 inning last night, but outside of a few innings, and knocking around a batting practice pitcher in Arizona have been sleeping most of the time for over a week now. Div games are usually more exciting, so it could be an interesting WE. Edited June 2, 2023 by Old Red

[mvp 78]

You guys need to keep the standup mojo going. That's the rules...

[Dipre]

Again, I'm the dominican Dave Chappelle. I gots the jokes.

[Maxbialystock]

You guys need to keep the standup mojo going. That's the rules...

 

What's this "guys" crap? My OP is pretty level-headed, even optimistic despite the fact that the Rays have the best won-lost record in MLB and whipped the Sox 4 straight in April.

 

However, I did leave out that early last night Devers hit a 99 mph fastball in the top of the strike zone (or above it) to deep center for a double, then later in the 8th hit a changeup in the bottom of the strike zone, also to deep center for a double.

 

Old Red is the pessimist, naysayer, curmudgeon, doubter . . . I remember way back in 1941 when Williams hit .406 after playing a double-header on the last day of the season even though his manager said he would not play him in order to preserve .400 (Williams was hitting exactly .400). Williams went something like 6 for 8, after which Old Red commented, "why couldn't he have hit like that the whole season?"

Edited June 2, 2023 by Maxbialystock

[Old Red]

What's this "guys" crap? My OP is pretty level-headed, even optimistic despite the fact that the Rays have the best won-lost record in MLB and whipped the Sox 4 straight in April.

 

However, I did leave out that early last night Devers hit a 99 mph fastball in the top of the strike zone (or above it) to deep center for a double, then later in the 8th hit a changeup in the bottom of the strike zone, also to deep center for a double.

 

Old Red is the pessimist, naysayer, curmudgeon, doubter . . . I remember way back in 1941 when Williams hit .406 after playing a double-header on the last day of the season even though his manager said he would not play him in order to preserve .400 (Williams was hitting exactly .400). Williams went something like 6 for 8, after which Old Red commented, "why couldn't he have hit like that the whole season?"

 

Old Red was saying he wasn’t panicking back when the Rays broomed the Sox the first go around.

[Maxbialystock]

Average attendance at Fenway to date is 31,184, ranked 12th in MLB.

 

Excluding 2020 and 2021, both of which were affected by covid (as they should have been), 31,184 and 12th are the worst Fenway attendance in the John Henry era, now in its 21st season.

[Maxbialystock]

Old Red was saying he wasn’t panicking back when the Rays broomed the Sox the first go around.

 

Seriously? I was the exact opposite. I thought the Rays completely outclassed the Sox on defense, at bat, pitching, and running the bases.

[Old Red]

Average attendance at Fenway to date is 31,184, ranked 12th in MLB.

 

Excluding 2020 and 2021, both of which were affected by covid (as they should have been), 31,184 and 12th are the worst Fenway attendance in the John Henry era, now in its 21st season.

How’s the NESN ratings so far?

[Dipre]

What's this "guys" crap? My OP is pretty level-headed, even optimistic despite the fact that the Rays have the best won-lost record in MLB and whipped the Sox 4 straight in April.

 

However, I did leave out that early last night Devers hit a 99 mph fastball in the top of the strike zone (or above it) to deep center for a double, then later in the 8th hit a changeup in the bottom of the strike zone, also to deep center for a double.

 

Old Red is the pessimist, naysayer, curmudgeon, doubter . . . I remember way back in 1941 when Williams hit .406 after playing a double-header on the last day of the season even though his manager said he would not play him in order to preserve .400 (Williams was hitting exactly .400). Williams went something like 6 for 8, after which Old Red commented, "why couldn't he have hit like that the whole season?"

 

Jesus Christ man, what are you even on about? "Mojo" means doing something the board did yesterday, a day in which the Sox won, to keep the winning times going. We talked about stand-up comedy yesterday, so we should keep it up today.

[Maxbialystock]

How’s the NESN ratings so far?

 

Probably similar. I believe letting Mookie, Bogey, Price, and even JDM were all the right moves. But I also think big names, usually including big salaries, puts butts in seats. See the Phillies attendance the year after they picked up Bryce Harper.

[Maxbialystock]

Jesus Christ man, what are you even on about? "Mojo" means doing something the board did yesterday, a day in which the Sox won, to keep the winning times going. We talked about stand-up comedy yesterday, so we should keep it up today.

 

Guilty as charged. The mojo just might have turned the tide last night because it was certainly needed after Sale was pulled in the 4th inning.

[mvp 78]

Again, I'm the dominican Dave Chappelle. I gots the jokes.

 

I was told you were the dominican Jim Gaffigan?

[mvp 78]

Jesus Christ man, what are you even on about? "Mojo" means doing something the board did yesterday, a day in which the Sox won, to keep the winning times going. We talked about stand-up comedy yesterday, so we should keep it up today.

 

There's no sense with the 4/16 folx.

[wyo-sox]

SOX sweep the Rays... I'm saying it. Prediction locked.

[mvp 78]

1. Verdugo RF

2. Devers 3B

3. Turner 1B

4. Yoshida LF

5. Duran CF

6. Hernández SS

7. Casas DH

8. McGuire C

9. Valdez 2B

[Maxbialystock]

1. Verdugo RF

2. Devers 3B

3. Turner 1B

4. Yoshida LF

5. Duran CF

6. Hernández SS

7. Casas DH

8. McGuire C

9. Valdez 2B

 

I think Wong is our best catcher--and we saw why last night--but lately I think Wright has shown he is very capable.

 

I'm not sure I'd have Casas DH, but Cora knows what he is doing.

[wyo-sox]

I think Wong is our best catcher--and we saw why last night--but lately I think Wright has shown he is very capable.

 

I'm not sure I'd have Casas DH, but Cora knows what he is doing.

 

Casas should not be DHing. Cora knows more than me, and is wrong to play him. Both things can be true .

[mvp 78]

This is his first start at DH all season.

[Bellhorn04]

I think Wong is our best catcher--and we saw why last night--but lately I think Wright has shown he is very capable.

 

I'm not sure I'd have Casas DH, but Cora knows what he is doing.

 

It's just Turner and Casas swapping positions.

[vegasbob]

These 4 games are certainly important in trying to see which direction the Sox may progress. Anything from 2-2 to 3-1 to even 4-0 over the Rays would be a small to large success. 1-3 or another 0-4 sweep would tell us to forget about competing in this division.

 

The pending loss, even for 15 days of Sale, with question marks even when returned is a body blow to this group. He was back to being a formidable pitcher and the Red Sox's only Stopper . You can say that Kluber or Pivetta is Sale's replacement for the moment. Good luck with that.

Edited June 2, 2023 by vegasbob

[Maxbialystock]

These 4 games are certainly important in trying to see which direction the Sox may progress. Anything from 2-2 to 3-1 to even 4-0 over the Rays would be a small to large success. 1-3 or another 0-4 sweep would tell us to forget about competing in this division.

 

The pending loss, even for 15 days of Sale, with question marks even when returned is a body blow to this group. He was back to being a formidable pitcher and the Red Sox's only Stopper . You can say that Kluber or Pivetta is Sale's replacement for the moment. Good luck with that.

 

Thanks very much for that. I was about to say it, but remembered we're not supposed to talk real baseball on this game thread. Not the right mojo. So now you and I are completely responsible if the Sox lose tonight.

 

And I have to say I like the name maxbialystock (and Zero and Mel), but I'm not too happy being connected to vegas freaking bob.

[Old Red]

It could be a long, long WE in Boston. Showers forecast all WE long.

[Maxbialystock]

It could be a long, long WE in Boston. Showers forecast all WE long.

 

Wouldn't that be something? NOAA map agrees with you.

[moonslav59]

I think Wong is our best catcher--and we saw why last night--but lately I think Wright has shown he is very capable.

 

Do we have a new catcher?

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Do we have a new catcher?

 

Wong or Wright. It can be confusing.

Edited June 2, 2023 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[Maxbialystock]

Do we have a new catcher?

 

Its the Casey Stengal in me.

[illinoisredsox]

Average attendance at Fenway to date is 31,184, ranked 12th in MLB.

 

Excluding 2020 and 2021, both of which were affected by covid (as they should have been), 31,184 and 12th are the worst Fenway attendance in the John Henry era, now in its 21st season.

 

A little misleading. If the Sox sold out every game, they could be no better than 7th.

 

But even percentagewise, they are only pulling at just over 80% capacity, which is definitely way down from the 2010s.

[wyo-sox]

They going to get the game in tonight?

[notin]

Wong or Wright. It can be confusing.

 

Maybe if we get another Wong, since two Wongs…