9/4/23 Red Sox in St. Pete's Tropicana Field to compete with Tampa Bay Rays, 4:10

[Jasonbay44]

Big insurance runs this inning. Big homer by Yoshida

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Mass Attack!

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Going into today's game the Rays had the best won/lost record for the 1st game of a series at 32-14.

[jung]

It was a nice catch, nothing great. Biggest obstacle could have been the stupid bullpen mounds on the field, but fortunately he was comfortably past them.

 

We get it. Back in the day, no balls ever bounced into the stands. All fly balls are caught with ease and all outfielders were gold glove caliber.

 

Truth is you have no idea where the CF was playing on Abreu’s ball. You have no idea how hard the ball was hit. You could be right, but you could be wrong.

 

Yeah I do. Did you see how high it bounced when it hit? Line drives don't bounce that high when they hit. It was a long fly ball....should have been caught.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Fearless prediction:

I predict that Story will hit a homer today because I believe in the law of averages.

 

Well, I was half right. Or half wrong.

[Maxbialystock]

Wow. Just wow. Two dingers and a 7-3 lead after being behind 3-0 and then 3-1 after 5 innings. Casas with 4 rbi's and Yoshida with 2.

 

Of course, both have significant negative DWAR's, so here's hoping Bloom can somehow dump both of them for maybe a reliever or two.

[Maxbialystock]

Well, I was half right. Or half wrong.

 

It was a fantastic call on your part.

[illinoisredsox]

Not over yet, but I think they said the Sox have lost 13 straight at the Trop. Not going to look it up, but was the last win that game a couple years ago when the Sox were no-hit through 9 but won it in extras?

 

Edit - probably not, they must have won one in the post season in 2021.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Wow. Just wow. Two dingers and a 7-3 lead after being behind 3-0 and then 3-1 after 5 innings. Casas with 4 rbi's and Yoshida with 2.

 

Of course, both have significant negative DWAR's, so here's hoping Bloom can somehow dump both of them for maybe a reliever or two.

 

"DWAR, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing. Say it again. DWAR, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing."--apologies to Edwin Starr.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Not over yet, but I think they said the Sox have lost 13 straight at the Trop. Not going to look it up, but was the last win that game a couple years ago when the Sox were no-hit through 9 but won it in extras?

 

Edit - probably not, they must have won one in the post season in 2021.

 

13 straight is correct.

[Maxbialystock]

[/b]

 

Yeah I do. Did you see how high it bounced when it hit? Line drives don't bounce that high when they hit. It was a long fly ball....should have been caught.

 

I disagree it was that catchable, but you knew that.

 

The bigger issue is harping on the Rays defense when they are losing 7-3 mostly because the Sox pitching has been excellent after the 1st inning and the Sox hitters have produced a 3 run dinger and a 2 run dinger.

 

It's all about hitting and pitching.

[Jasonbay44]

Abreu’s double was hit 105 MPH and would’ve been a homer In 6 stadiums FWIW.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

What a pick-up Martin has been. Last time I looked he had an ERA+ of 250, which means he's 2.5 times better than the average reliever.

[Old Red]

Whitlock goes 2, then Martin for the save.

 

I don’t believe Whit is currently with the team, and on bereavement.

[illinoisredsox]

What a pick-up Martin has been. Last time I looked he had an ERA+ of 250, which means he's 2.5 times better than the average reliever.

 

Why am I hearing Yogi Bear saying “smarter than the average bear”?

[illinoisredsox]

I don’t believe Whit is currently with the team, and on bereavement.

 

That’s right, remember hearing that yesterday.

[vegasbob]

The mere thought of beating the Rays at the Tropicana makes the difficult chore of starting game threads all worthwhile

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

It was a fantastic call on your part.

 

Thanks anyway MAX, but I blew it. But a double is a start.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

The mere thought of beating the Rays at the Tropicana makes the difficult chore of starting game threads all worthwhile

 

You broke the 13 game curse, Vegas. Be proud.

[vegasbob]

Bit of an odd stat but Kenley has only blown 3 saves all year, but has lost 5 games, meaning he has entered a game ahead or tied and gave up the winning runs 5 times

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Good win. Anything negative that happens to Florida is fine with me.

[vegasbob]

Great team win. Shows us what they can do against a big winning team.

 

Bloom says this game validates his approach to baseball operations from the analytics PoV

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Bit of an odd stat but Kenley has only blown 3 saves all year, but has lost 5 games, meaning he has entered a game ahead or tied and gave up the winning runs 5 times

 

All in all, Martin and Jansen have been excellent pick-ups.

[notin]

All in all, Martin and Jansen have been excellent pick-ups.

 

The bullpen in heel has been great all year…

[Maxbialystock]

Well, it's an unfair matchup. Rays do 4 things well the Sox don't do well: hit, pitch, field, and run the bases.

 

OK, smartass, what do you have to say about the Sox winning 7-3--in the Trop, yet? I'd say there's at least 4 things you got wrong.

[Maxbialystock]

Great team win. Shows us what they can do against a big winning team.

 

Bloom says this game validates his approach to baseball operations from the analytics PoV

 

One game proves nothing. As a fan I couldn't be happier or, for that matter, more hopeful. But it's still just one game.

Edited September 4, 2023 by Maxbialystock

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

OK, smartass, what do you have to say about the Sox winning 7-3--in the Trop, yet? I'd say there's at least 4 things you got wrong.

 

Hopefully, it wont, but tomorrow's game could make your original post correct. One game at a time.

[Maxbialystock]

All in all, Martin and Jansen have been excellent pick-ups.

 

Yes, they have.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Getting ahead of myself, but sweeping the Rays, imho, would be the highlight of the season, so far.

[Maxbialystock]

Hopefully, it wont, but tomorrow's game could make your original post correct. One game at a time.

 

If you mean hitting and pitching, I agree that's always game to game, but I honestly thought the Rays hitting and pitching were simply better--and today I was dead wrong.

 

The Rays are still probably better on the basepaths--despite Devers SB--but the Sox defense was fine today.