June 3, Postponed Game from June 2, Rays @ Boston

[jad]

Kenley is going to make it interesting.

 

Not when he throws strikes like that!

[vegasbob]

That was a great win and generally excellent pitching , ex Whit's 2nd, . The hitters are still somewhat inexplicable, dead for so many innings, then a total binge. Guess it keeps us watching

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

You and Tedballgame are both right, of course. I wanted Martin because he was pitching well and I just want to win game 1. Game 2 is centuries away with its own dynamics. Plus Jansen makes me nervous.

 

Except right now, despite the double, he looks like the Jansen from early in the season.

 

Sox win, and I could not be happier that Cora sent the right guys out throughout this game.

 

Kenley doesn't come close to making me nervous as much as Kimbrel did. Now Koji, you'd go to the fridge to get a beer and when you came back, the 9th was over.

[Maxbialystock]

Btw, the results of the MRI on Sale's shoulder won't be available until around Friday. Hopefully, it's just inflammation.

 

Thanks. When you say it, it makes sense. When the team says it, I think they are hiding something. No question we need good Sale this year. Plus he's great fun to watch.

[Maxbialystock]

Kenley doesn't come close to making me nervous as much as Kimbrel did. Now Koji, you'd go to the fridge to get a beer and when you came back, the 9th was over.

 

 

God, he was so great and easily the gutsiest closer I ever saw. 88 mph 4 seamer, when he was feeling really strong. Kimbrel stunk in the 2018 postseason, but still got a bunch of saves.

 

Jansen looked really good just now.

[Bellhorn04]

Kenley doesn't come close to making me nervous as much as Kimbrel did. Now Koji, you'd go to the fridge to get a beer and when you came back, the 9th was over.

 

Koji in 2013, that is. That was by far the most dominant stretch we've ever had from a Red Sox closer.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

50 years of HoF left fielders and big time hitters

 

I doubt any MLB team can match that at any position.

[Maxbialystock]

That was a great win and generally excellent pitching , ex Whit's 2nd, . The hitters are still somewhat inexplicable, dead for so many innings, then a total binge. Guess it keeps us watching

 

Good description, especially on the pitching.

 

That freaking rally was what this "no name" lineup has pulled off several times this season.

[illinoisredsox]

Speaking of LF at Fenway, from 1939-1989 the SOX had 3 left fielders.

 

Sort of. Williams was gone for three years during WWII and then for basically 2 more during the Korean War. But it could be argued he would have been out there for those seasons under more peaceful circumstances.

 

Yaz moved to 1B when the Sox got Tommy Harper, who played left for a couple years just before Jim Rice arrived in 1975. IIRC, Rice DH’d his last couple years and Greenwell was in left.

[Bellhorn04]

Sort of. Williams was gone for three years during WWII and then for basically 2 more during the Korean War. But it could be argued he would have been out there for those seasons under more peaceful circumstances.

 

Yaz moved to 1B when the Sox got Tommy Harper, who played left just before Jim Rice arrived in 1975. IIRC, Rice DH’d his last couple years and Greenwell was in left.

 

Nicely recapped!

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Koji in 2013, that is. That was by far the most dominant stretch we've ever had from a Red Sox closer.

 

Dick 'the monster' Radatz wasn't too shabby, but, sadly, he was on some terrible SOX teams.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Sort of. Williams was gone for three years during WWII and then for basically 2 more during the Korean War. But it could be argued he would have been out there for those seasons under more peaceful circumstances.

 

Yaz moved to 1B when the Sox got Tommy Harper, who played left for a couple years just before Jim Rice arrived in 1975. IIRC, Rice DH’d his last couple years and Greenwell was in left.

 

"Sort of' is correct.

[Bellhorn04]

But when you have 3 Hall of Famers manning the position for half a century, it's natural to overlook the fill-ins.

[jad]

Just wondering if anyone thinks Casas gets the entire season to prove himself. He got a bit better once he started to swing the bat; but having done that, we can see why he so often went to the plate looking for a walk.

[Dipre]

This Yoshida guy can hit.

[Dipre]

Just wondering if anyone thinks Casas gets the entire season to prove himself. He got a bit better once he started to swing the bat; but having done that, we can see why he so often went to the plate looking for a walk.

 

I don't see what you mean.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

But when you have 3 Hall of Famers manning the position for half a century, it's natural to overlook the fill-ins.

 

I'll drink to that.

[vegasbob]

Just wondering if anyone thinks Casas gets the entire season to prove himself. He got a bit better once he started to swing the bat; but having done that, we can see why he so often went to the plate looking for a walk.

 

I do think he gets the majority of the season( 120+- GAMES/450+-PA's) to see if he can hit acceptably. That could be .250 with .700 OPS and .350 OBP. If Casas does that from June 1-Sept 30, he will stay at 1B R-L platooning with Turner . If Tristan can do that and since Turner is on a 2 year deal, Bloom will pronounce 1B solved for 2024.

[dgalehouse]

Koji in 2013, that is. That was by far the most dominant stretch we've ever had from a Red Sox closer.

 

Koji was a very underrated pitcher for much of his career. He finally got recognition in 2013 , but he was always very good. Kimbrel and Jansen have kind of had parallel careers , with both reaching the 400 save milestone this season. It could be a long time, if ever, until someone else does that. Chapman is closest , but seems to be stalled. Edwin Diaz , of the Mets, might have the best chance . He is 29 , with 205 saves . He is currently on the 60 day I.L.

[illinoisredsox]

I'll drink to that.

 

Yep.

 

And even if you take away Rice's last 2 years as primarily a DH, you still had HOF left fielders for 42 of 49 seasons, with only 2 of those 7 being due to decisions the Red Sox made (the Harper years).

[moonslav59]

I’m glad we won. The negativity has been in high gear.

 

I’m in San Fransisco for a week, so I only caught part of the game in the airport- luckily the big inning!

 

Let’s sweep!

[Maxbialystock]

I do think he gets the majority of the season( 120+- GAMES/450+-PA's) to see if he can hit acceptably. That could be .250 with .700 OPS and .350 OBP. If Casas does that from June 1-Sept 30, he will stay at 1B R-L platooning with Turner . If Tristan can do that and since Turner is on a 2 year deal, Bloom will pronounce 1B solved for 2024.

 

 

Casas is 23, 6'4" and 255 freaking lbs, which to me means he is not serious about being a professional athlete.

 

Because everyone else stunk at 1b last year and it looked as though he could hit, he was basically handed the job this year. And he hasn't done much with the opportunity because he's 1/3 into the season and has the lowest WAR on the team, -0.7. Nevertheless, it's clear Cora has instructions to give Casas every opportunity to show he can play--basically, hit--at this level.

 

But two things could limit Casas's ownership of 1b this year if he doesn't improve his hitting.

 

First is whether Bloom and especially John Henry want the Sox to get a wild card berth. If they do and Casas continues to have a negative WAR, he could sit more or go back to Worcester.

 

Second is the return of Duvall, who will be the 4th outfielder along with Yoshida, Duran, and Dugo. Little doubt in my mind Duvall will play. If he's in the outfield, either Duran--who is hitting and playing better than Casas--sits or, more likely, Yoshida takes over at DH. If that happens, Cora ain't going to bench Turner so that Casas can play 1B.