8/16 @ Nationals

[notin]

Pablo made it interesting. Then Whitlock made it much less interesting…

[notin]

I don't recall Whitlock having a high 90's fastball. Whitlock got to start because he has a good repertoire of pitches. However, a good argument can be made that he just doesn't have the strength to start every 5 or 6 days and throw 70-110 pitches. I think Houck does have that strength. The issue with him is his repertoire. But right before the line drive hit him he seemed to be doing OK the 3d time through the other team's lineup.

 

The issues with Houck’s lack of a third pitch are overblown…

[redsoxrules]

I don't recall Whitlock having a high 90's fastball. Whitlock got to start because he has a good repertoire of pitches. However, a good argument can be made that he just doesn't have the strength to start every 5 or 6 days and throw 70-110 pitches. I think Houck does have that strength. The issue with him is his repertoire. But right before the line drive hit him he seemed to be doing OK the 3d time through the other team's lineup.

 

His velo was AVG 96 in his bullpen year. It's now 93

[Maxbialystock]

Just like they did with Daniel Bard. Making him a starter ruined him.

 

Very few MLB pitchers don't want to be starters, and Daniel Bard was very eager to become one. Same goes for Whitlock.

 

Moreover, since the 2019 season John Henry has shown an enormous reluctance to aggressively go after top notch starters, with the result that we have seen all manner of starters over the past 3 seasons, including this one. It is in that context that Whitlock was given a chance to start, both last season and this one.

[redsoxrules]

None the less he hasn't been the same pitcher. This could be Daniel Bard all over again

[moonslav59]

The issues with Houck’s lack of a third pitch are overblown…

 

His inability to pitch well after 50 pitches and/or the 3rd time through a line-up, for whatever reason, is not overblown.

 

I hope it's not too late to get Whitlock back to being the pen ace he was.

[Maxbialystock]

The issues with Houck’s lack of a third pitch are overblown…

 

I can't disagree. That's why they are bringing him back as a starter.

[d-money]

Thanks a lot shitlock. Just too inconsistent this team to make a run here.

[Maxbialystock]

None the less he hasn't been the same pitcher. This could be Daniel Bard all over again

 

Bard's problem was way, way, way worse than Whitlock's is. Bard completely lost his control.

[moonslav59]

That was a heart-breaker loss.

[d-money]

Right you have teams battling for that one spot. Tampa and houston likely grab the 4 and 5 spots.

[moonslav59]

I can't disagree. That's why they are bringing him back as a starter.

 

Let Houck start, but just yank him after 18 batter or 50 pitches, whichever comes first.

 

With the long RP'ers we have, our pen can handle it. Just no piggy-back BS. Mix it up.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

If it's any consolation the SOX are in much better shape than the Yankems going forward. Yankems' starting pitching is Cole and 4 days of rain and their offense is pathetic. They've got high-priced failing players they won't be able to get rid of very easily. I don't know the condition of their farm system, but I'm guessing it's not that great. Michael Kay has been quoted "this is just a bad team."

Btw, they were shut out again tonight by the Braves.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Another very good start by Paxton that was wasted. The SOX need to offer him an extension.

[moonslav59]

Right you have teams battling for that one spot. Tampa and houston likely grab the 4 and 5 spots.

 

With all the head-to-head series remaining, anything can happen, but it right now, it does look like a 3 team race for that WC 3 slot.

 

 

I do think there is an outside chance TBR folds, and makes it a 4 team race for 2 slots, but it's hard to tell. There is less and less time for that to happen.

 

Head to head games:

 

BOS

7 v HOU

5 v TBR

3 v TOR

 

SEA

6 v HOU

3 v TBR

 

TOR

6 v TBR

3 v BOS

 

TBR

6 v TOR

5 v BOS

 

 

[moonslav59]

Another very good start by Paxton that was wasted.

 

3.34 ERA

 

Team is 7-9 in his 16 starts.

 

12 of his 16 starts, he let up 0-2 ERs. (1 with 3, 1 with 4 and 1 with 5)

[a700hitter]

I didn’t see Whitlock tonight, but heard that he looked like garbage. Heard that his velocity dipped from his first outing.

[notin]

Just like they did with Daniel Bard. Making him a starter ruined him.

 

It’s his second outing since coming off the Injured List. And he didn’t look too ruined in the first one.

[Maxbialystock]

That was a heart-breaker loss.

 

Target. I kept saying the Sox hitters were flat on their ass while Paxton was pitching a quality start. Then Reyes came thru, yet again!

 

Suddenly, a ball game where none existed. Then Whitlock didn't have it even though his last time out vs the Tigers he went 2 innings while giving up 0 runs.

 

As everybody knows by now, my chief concern is hitting. Weak hitting by the Sox is the hobby horse I keep riding, and even I am getting tired of the whining.

 

Thanks to you, I still think this is a good team capable of getting to the postseason. All the pieces are there.

[notin]

I didn’t see Whitlock tonight, but heard that he looked like garbage. Heard that his velocity dipped from his first outing.

 

His fastball was a consistent 93-95mph, whereas in his first outing, he was hitting 95-97.

 

Too small of a sample to draw any conclusions…

[moonslav59]

Target. I kept saying the Sox hitters were flat on their ass while Paxton was pitching a quality start. Then Reyes came thru, yet again!

 

Suddenly, a ball game where none existed. Then Whitlock didn't have it even though his last time out vs the Tigers he went 2 innings while giving up 0 runs.

 

As everybody knows by now, my chief concern is hitting. Weak hitting by the Sox is the hobby horse I keep riding, and even I am getting tired of the whining.

 

Thanks to you, I still think this is a good team capable of getting to the postseason. All the pieces are there.

 

I still think our team can hit better than we have for the last few weeks, but how long can we go on like this, before we have to start thinking we might very well have been wrong.

 

I'm far from giving up, but our bats need to wake up.

[a700hitter]

We need Story to get going. He could carry the team for a week or two.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

I still think our team can hit better than we have for the last few weeks, but how long can we go on like this, before we have to start thinking we might very well have been wrong.

 

I'm far from giving up, but our bats need to wake up.

 

Sometimes one has to tip the cap to the opposing pitcher. Gore had damn good stuff tonight. He kept the SOX batters off balance for most of the game.

[illinoisredsox]

Sometimes one has to tip the cap to the opposing pitcher. Gore had damn good stuff tonight. He kept the SOX batters off balance for most of the game.

 

Yep. Plus the Nats have been playing pretty well the past couple weeks (I think they are 8-4 or 9-4 over that stretch).

 

Win tomorrow and take the series. Win series the rest of the way and they will make the playoffs.

[moonslav59]

We need Story to get going. He could carry the team for a week or two.

 

He certainly could, as could Devers, Duvall, Casas, Yoshida or maybe even Duran or Dugo.

 

Some have already shown they can do it, this year, at least twice:

 

OPS in 2023 stretch

1.544 Duvall first 9 games (1.030 first 20 games)

1.308 Dugo 8 games in June

1.288 Yoshida 14 games April-May

1.271 Casas 8 games in May

1.186 Duran 17 games Jun-Jul

1.164 Dugo in 9 games in May

1.149 Devers 12 games in July

1.139 Duran first 17 games of season (1.006 first 28 gms)

1.098 Casas 13 games in July

1.062 Yoshida last 9 games of May

1.042 Dugo 8 games in late April

1.025 Dugo first 5 games of season

1.024 Duvall 11 games in July

1.012 Devers first 14 games

0.990 Yoshida 26 games June-July

 

Story in 2022: 1.387 in 10 game stretch in May

 

Notice how none are from mid July to mid August, except....

1.019 Reyes in 8 games up to yesterday.

 

 

[moonslav59]

Sometimes one has to tip the cap to the opposing pitcher. Gore had damn good stuff tonight. He kept the SOX batters off balance for most of the game.

 

Indeed.

 

As much as this game seemed winnable, no one game, by itself, knocks a team out of a race.

 

If we can keep beating good teams, like we have, this year, we are still in this thing.

[moonslav59]

Yep. Plus the Nats have been playing pretty well the past couple weeks (I think they are 8-4 or 9-4 over that stretch).

 

Win tomorrow and take the series. Win series the rest of the way and they will make the playoffs.

 

Too bad we couldn't have played the Nats earlier, this year, and PIT & STL, later.

[FredLynn]

Indeed.

 

As much as this game seemed winnable, no one game, by itself, knocks a team out of a race.

 

If we can keep beating good teams, like we have, this year, we are still in this thing.

 

IF somehow we manage to make the playoffs and we are hitting the baseball well we could make a deep run. Our own is very solid and our SP is decent as well.

[moonslav59]

IF somehow we manage to make the playoffs and we are hitting the baseball well we could make a deep run. Our own is very solid and our SP is decent as well.

 

We thought our rotation and D would be our downfall.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

We thought our rotation and D would be our downfall.

 

If the Red Sox just miss the postseason, the rotation and D will be remembered as the downfall.

 

Boston's refusal to add a starter when 60% of the rotation was on the IL led to too many bullpen games -- and too many appearances by in-season waiver wire DFAed relievers. And the club's early decision to rely on Kike at shortstop led to too many errors from the key defensive position on the diamond.

 

Despite all the other inconsistencies on this team, the Sox still remain only two games back in the loss column for the last wild card. Is it unreasonable to think they'd have two less losses if they had acquired one more legitimate -- even mediocre -- MLB starting pitcher and shortstop?