June 23, 2023 Sox & Sox in Chi Town

[Bellhorn04]

Seriously?

 

You do realize they won that game?

 

Consider the source.

[Bellhorn04]

But no Duran nor Casas against a RH'er? Duran was 0-9 with 5 K's after his 3 for 3 double binge. vs Minn. Casas went 3 for 13 overall vs Twins. Must be a scheduled day off.

 

Giolito has the infamous "reverse splits" - right-handers hit him better (.751) than left-handers (.680) over his career.

 

So Cora was correct as usual.

[moonslav59]

One more time. Every time a Sox pitcher throws a pitch, the catcher throws the ball back--not as hard, but not a lob either. That's, say, 130-150 pitches per game, each requiring a throw back. Starters average maybe 100 pitches per game and therefore get 5 days rest (and sometimes 6) between starts. In addition, the catcher makes other throws in the game, usually a longer distance than pitching mound to home plate and usually with some zip on it. Plus the squatting behind the plate, chasing pop ups, going to bat, and even getting on base now and then.

 

I seriously doubt Wong's 4 K's last night were intentional. On the other hand, once the Sox grabbed that 3-1 lead on Devers's 2 run dinger in the 4th, it would almost have been sensible to do so.

 

So far this season (nearing the halfway point), Wong is among the top 3 defensive catchers in MLB with a DWAR of +1.3. He makes a big difference on the field whether or not he gets on base. This is especially true now that McGuire is on the IL and a rookie with zippo MLB experience is the backup.

 

If he starts tonight, it will be his 7th in 7 days although in one of those games he only caught the 6-10 innings when he came in for McGuire.

 

I doubt that any of us can remember the last time a Sox catcher caught 7 games in 7 days. But with Paxton on the mound Cora will be tempted. Tomorrow is TBD day in the Sox rotation and the perfect game for rookie Hamilton to start as catcher.

 

If Murphy starts or follows an opener, it would make sense to have Caleb Hamilton catch him, since he has already, this year.

 

BTW, C Hamilton does have MLB experience. He played in 22 games with the Twins, last year.

[moonslav59]

Giolito has the infamous "reverse splits" - right-handers hit him better (.751) than left-handers (.680) over his career.

 

So Cora was correct as usual.

 

That's why I forgot to complain, this time.

 

[Maxbialystock]

If Murphy starts or follows an opener, it would make sense to have Caleb Hamilton catch him, since he has already, this year.

 

BTW, C Hamilton does have MLB experience. He played in 22 games with the Twins, last year.

 

Great news on C Hamilton! Thanks.

 

Today Wong catches his 7th game in 7 days. His current WAR is 1.6, 2d highest on the team to Dugo's 2.9. With this lineup--

 

Duran CF

Turner DH

Yoshida LF

Devers 3B

Duvall RF

Casas 1B

Arroyo 2B

Hamilton SS

Wong C

[moonslav59]

Sox bWAR Leaders

 

2.9 Verdugo

2.1 Bello

1.6 Wong

1.5 Turner

1.2 Wink

1.2 Martin

1.2 Yoshida

1.1 Devers

1.0 Paxton

1.0 Duran

0.9 Sale

0.8 Crawford, Jansen, Bernardino

0.7 Whitlock, Refsnyder

0.6 Scheiber

0.5 Reyes

0.4 Duvall, Tapia

0.3 Murphy, Chang

0.2 Pivetta, Sheriff

0.1 Walter, Kelly, Arroyo

 

fWAR

2.5 Verdugo

1.2 Sale

1.2 Turner

1.2 Duran

1.2 Yoshida

1.2 Devers

1.1 Paxton

1.1 Bello

0.9 Jansen, Houck

0.8 Refsnyder, Crawford

0.7 Duvall, Whitlock, Martin

0.6 Winckowski

0.5 Wong

0.4 Tapia

0.3 Scheiber

0.2 Chang, McGuire, Reyes, Bernardino, Murphy

0.1 Arroyo, Sheriff, Jacques

[moonslav59]

Great news on C Hamilton! Thanks.

 

Today Wong catches his 7th game in 7 days.

 

Since the Sox are notorious for having caddy-catchers, I'm not sure we have seen 7 straight starts in 7 days by a catcher in a long time.