7/17 @ Oakland A's

[Maxbialystock]

TBD vs. righty Blackburn, ERA 4.86

 

Big win yesterday in Chicago with 11 runs, 6 against Steele, maybe the Cubs best starter--and a terrific start (6 IP, 0 runs) by Crawford.

 

Smart money says a reliever starts tonight with Pivetta coming in shortly thereafter. Since he moved to the bullpen (May 21?) he's pitched 29 innings while giving up 9 ER for an ERA of 2.79. His last game was July 7 vs the A's: 5 IP, 2 ER (and the win).

 

Connor Wong caught all three games @ the Cubs, so Alfaro is a good bet to catch one of the three in Oakland--probably tomorrow night which should be an all-bullpen affair. However, thanks to days off, Connor should be able to catch all the rest of the July games.

 

Those three days off will also allow Bello, Paxton, and Crawford to pitch an extra game while still getting 5 days rest between starts. None of Sale, Houck, or Whitlock will be back before August--and maybe not until September. Kluber could start again before any of those three.

[Thunder]

This team has me so excited right now!! Great chance to go 5-1 (or better) this week

[vegasbob]

I'm staying out on my limb with a chainsaw in hand believing that Kluber will make a major miracle comeback and be an effective pitcher for August/September. It is incredible that his prior failures, along with Sale being Sale , Houck's batted ball incident, and Whitlock's general fragility have taken out 4 guys who should have been full season starters. Any of them could be expected to miss 15 days(IL) of basically aches/pain/fatigue , maybe 3 starts, over the course of the season but to lose all 4 for months at a time is beyond bad luck.

 

Let's lock up the first 2 in Oakland, then go for the sweep. Red Sox could be the hot MLB team in July, unlike last year.

[moonslav59]

I'm staying out on my limb with a chainsaw in hand believing that Kluber will make a major miracle comeback and be an effective pitcher for August/September. It is incredible that his prior failures, along with Sale being Sale , Houck's batted ball incident, and Whitlock's general fragility have taken out 4 guys who should have been full season starters. Any of them could be expected to miss 15 days(IL) of basically aches/pain/fatigue , maybe 3 starts, over the course of the season but to lose all 4 for months at a time is beyond bad luck.

 

Let's lock up the first 2 in Oakland, then go for the sweep. Red Sox could be the hot MLB team in July, unlike last year.

 

Remember last years 23 run loss to the Jays right after the AS break?

 

And people say we had a chance! Lmao

[vegasbob]

Remember last years 23 run loss to the Jays right after the AS break?

 

And people say we had a chance! Lmao

 

I do recall that game well and it was a watershed that should have influenced the non-moves at trade deadline, but enough discussion on that situation. A sell-off didn't happen and to some of us that was a missed opportunity. Others say we were only 3 games out of the WC with 2 months to go.

[Jasonbay44]

I actually really enjoy west coast starts times. As someone who works 12-9 Tuesday- Friday, I miss a lot of games during the week. I’m up till like 2 am every night anyway so this works out perfect for me.

[Jasonbay44]

Bernardino is opening. Faria DFA and Bleier is back off DL

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

I'm staying out on my limb with a chainsaw in hand believing that Kluber will make a major miracle comeback and be an effective pitcher for August/September. It is incredible that his prior failures, along with Sale being Sale , Houck's batted ball incident, and Whitlock's general fragility have taken out 4 guys who should have been full season starters. Any of them could be expected to miss 15 days(IL) of basically aches/pain/fatigue , maybe 3 starts, over the course of the season but to lose all 4 for months at a time is beyond bad luck.

 

Let's lock up the first 2 in Oakland, then go for the sweep. Red Sox could be the hot MLB team in July, unlike last year.

 

I certainly hope that's an ACME chainsaw. ACME products worked very reliably for Wily Coyote.

Edited July 18, 2023 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

There's probably more people here on this game thread than will be at the game.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Duran

Dugo

Turner

Masa(DH)

Duvall

Casas

Arroyo

Wong

Chang

 

The DU B'S will patrol the OF.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

The only thing that makes me a little antsy about tonight's game is it's on the west coast. For SOX fans no further explanation is required.

[Jasonbay44]

I love me some Jarren Duran

[Jasonbay44]

Good AB by Verdugo and Turner to get run home

[Jasonbay44]

Bernardino continues to impress

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Good job by Bernardino. He's been a very pleasant surprise so far this season.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Regarding MLB's top 100 prospects, the SOX have two. Mayer(SS) at #4 and Rafaela(OF) at #73.

[Jasonbay44]

Big hit for Connor Wong

[Dojji]

Christian who?

[Dojji]

Great inning.

[vegasbob]

Bernardino and Pivetta have now combined 3 times for excellent pitching efforts . Kind of amazing that a starter/middle long reliever is a mainstay in our rotation. It may be just the A's but it can be a W in any case.

 

What would be the outcome if you flipped Nick and Brennan so that Pivetta started for 5 innings, then Bernardino for 2 ?

Edited July 18, 2023 by vegasbob

[vegasbob]

Notin's promotion of Blackburn for a trade candidate may be fading.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

O's and Rays both lost earlier. A SOX win tonight moves them to 8 games back of 1st.

[Dojji]

Notin's promotion of Blackburn for a trade candidate may be fading.

 

Dunno, I actually liked a lot of what I saw from Blackburn, but mostly as a middle/long relief guy. That third turn through the lineup was pure murder.

[Jasonbay44]

Pivetta is dealing

[Dojji]

Bernardino and Pivetta have now combined 3 times for excellent pitching efforts . Kind of amazing that a starter/middle long reliever is a mainstay in our rotation. It may be just the A's but it can be a W in any case.

 

What would be the outcome if you flipped Nick and Brennan so that Pivetta started for 5 innings, then Bernardino for 2 ?

 

I know you said it, but yea, let's not go overboard about a performance against the Oakland AAAA's.

[vegasbob]

O's and Rays both lost earlier. A SOX win tonight moves them to 8 games back of 1st.

 

I recall one year when the Sox had a 14 game lead over NYY in mid August only to make a legend out of B.F. Dent in the 1 game playoff

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Notin's promotion of Blackburn for a trade candidate may be fading.

 

 

I like Sears much better, but he's probably untouchable.

[Dojji]

If Kotsay hadn't rolled out Blackburn for the 6th he would have had a 5 IP, 2 ER start against a very explosive offense. Just saying. As a bottom rotation guy, you take that 15 times out of 10.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

I know you said it, but yea, let's not go overboard about a performance against the Oakland AAAA's.

 

Actually, Pivetta's BP ERA is under 2 and his WHIP is under 1. He didn't do that just against the terrible A's.

[Jasonbay44]

If Blackburn is cheap I wouldn’t be against him. He’s at least a healthy starting pitcher, we don’t have a lot of those