9/28 Sox @ Baltimore to view winning team

[moonslav59]

That’s one way of looking at it, but the 2019 team started out with a similar length trip west and never really recovered from a horrific start.

 

I get how the start to a season can seem to "set the tone," but it sucks to head out west in July, too.

[Maxbialystock]

Rafaela is swinging at a lot of pitches out of the zone, which was the knock on him in the minors.

 

I think that's kind of endemic to most Sox hitters. They don't know how to "command" the strike zone, which I think means having a good eye/feel for what's a strike and what's a ball, as well as being prepared to swing at hittable pitches in the strike zone.

[vegasbob]

I can see starting with a 6 game trip, but 10 is kind of ridiculous, especially with the new "balanced" schedule.

 

It actually turns into a 12 game road trip including the final 2 ST games played in Texas , plus 2 travel days , one before and one after the Ranger games. The guys will be away from their regular or full season homes from mid-February until April 8.

[Maxbialystock]

I get how the start to a season can seem to "set the tone," but it sucks to head out west in July, too.

 

The Sox did get off to a bad start in 2019, but I think it was because the rotation wasn't ready after their truncated (fewer innings pitched than usual) ST.

 

They did, however, have a winning record, 49-41, going into the ASG. After the ASG break, they went 35-37, which I think is when the wheels came off the rotation.

[Maxbialystock]

It actually turns into a 12 game road trip including the final 2 ST games played in Texas , plus 2 travel days , one before and one after the Ranger games. The guys will be away from their regular or full season homes from mid-February until April 8.

 

Big deal. Playing 2 games in Texas is a smart way to help adjust to the time zone difference. Also, if memory serves, Pedroia and other Sox players used to begin their season prep in January by going to I think Arizona.

 

These are professional athletes being paid a king's ransom when/if they make it to MLB. In Ken Burns series on Baseball, someone comments that before Curt Flood attacked the reserve clause, the average MLB player made 7 times as much money as the average fan. After Curt Flood, it was 7 x 7 as much money. I just checked a chart from "Statista" which says the average MLB salary is $4.9M. If the average fan today is making $100K/year, that 7 x 7 is still holding up.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Weren't you the one screaming for the Sox to play the young guys in September? Last night's lineup included Rafaela (23), Abreu (24), Valdez (24), Dalbec (28), Wong (27), and Devers (26). Devers, Story, and Wong had the Sox 3 hits, all singles.

 

Excuse me, but what the hell does playing the young guys have to do with Devers' lack of leadership qualities? Take a couple of deep breaths, MAX.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

The only reason to watch tonight's game is to see how many more consecutive innings the SOX can go w/o scoring a run.

[mvp 78]

The only reason to watch tonight's game is to see how many more consecutive innings the SOX can go w/o scoring a run.

 

I haven't watched the past few games, because why bother? I probably won't watch until the Sunday finale when I go see my Grandfather In Law who I haven't seen in weeks since my family has been fighting off various illnesses and we didn't want to get him sick.

[vegasbob]

Per the Talksox unwritten rules, I'm not starting a 9/29 game thread but just continue on this one.

 

FYI---Sox are 9 up/9down, no hit through 3 extending their scoreless string to 22 innings.

 

Meanwhile Pivetta is trying to match, except for having given up 1 hit so far.

[vegasbob]

J. Means has a perfect game through4 innings, but Pivetta is nearly matching him at end of 4. Only egregiously bad ball/strike calls from Alan Porter led to a walk to go with the one hit given up by Nick. Nick only has thrown 50 pitches through 4.

 

He could go ALL THE WAY and rest that precious bullpen.

 

This just in: Refsnyder gets a double breaking up the no-no. Now if only they could score that RISP.

 

HOLY MACARONI: Trevor Story homers to score himself and Refsnyder. I guess now there is a reason to reassemble the band in Ft. Myers next February

Edited September 29, 2023 by vegasbob

[vegasbob]

7 inning , 2 hit shutout for Pivetta on about 86 pitches. With Chris Martin on IR, Nick should get to come out for the 8th. Then maybe see the elusive Kenley Jansen , who has pitches a total of 1 inning ( 3 appearances ) since September 12. In those 3 games, Kenley gave up a walkoff HR, 3 total runs and 2 walks. Hope he's not rusty

[moonslav59]

7 inning , 2 hit shutout for Pivetta on about 86 pitches. With Chris Martin on IR, Nick should get to come out for the 8th. Then maybe see the elusive Kenley Jansen , who has pitches a total of 1 inning ( 3 appearances ) since September 12. In those 3 games, Kenley gave up a walkoff HR, 3 total runs and 2 walks. Hope he's not rusty

 

If Pivetta goes 1.1 inning more, he'll be at a 4.00 ERA. 1.2 or 2 IP more and he's under 4.00.

[vegasbob]

Dalbec has crossed over the 50% K rate in this last effort to show himself as an MLB hitter. 27 K's in 47 AB's , but with 4 walks. I honestly wonder what his record would be if he just never swung at anything. He would increase his OBP.

 

As others have said, he can come off the 40 roster sooner than later.

[vegasbob]

If Pivetta goes 1.1 inning more, he'll be at a 4.00 ERA. 1.2 or 2 IP more and he's under 4.00.

 

Cora has plugged in Whitlock to pitch the 8th , so Nick Pivetta's successful season, IMO has concluded . He should be a key element of the pitching staff next year , either starting or following an opener.

 

Whitlock mows down the O's on 12 pitches. You think Orioles are perhaps less than motivated today ?

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

With Turner probably not returning next season the SOX will have only two RH batters who present any threat at the plate at that point. I'm pretty sure the SOX will try to re-sign Duvall. The new GM will have to employ a lot of plaster to fill the many holes of this SOX team. Good luck with that.

[Maxbialystock]

Excuse me, but what the hell does playing the young guys have to do with Devers' lack of leadership qualities? Take a couple of deep breaths, MAX.

 

I had the wrong Raffi.

 

That said, however, where do you get this whole leadership thing from? You think Mike Trout is a rotten leader because the Angels stink? How about Bogey--or Machado--and the Padres? Aaron Judge and the Yankees?

 

MLB is far and away the most individualistic team sport on the planet because the center of every game is the battle between pitcher and hitter.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

The SOX can still prevent the O's from having home field advantage if the O's play the Dodgers in the WS.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Pivetta, the 'iron man' of the SOX, pitched a great game tonight. The man is a competitor.

[notin]

With Turner probably not returning next season the SOX will have only two RH batters who present any threat at the plate at that point. I'm pretty sure the SOX will try to re-sign Duvall. The new GM will have to employ a lot of plaster to fill the many holes of this SOX team. Good luck with that.

 

The biggest holes are the ones atop the rotation. And they need to stop pulling pitchers out of the bullpen to fill starter roles. Not citing the 16 games the Sox used an opener, they had 4 pitchers who made at least 8 starts and 8 relief appearances. And that’s not counting Kluber, who was banished into a relief role until he was mercifully put to sleep.

 

The rest of the lineup might already be in house. They have a glut of outfielders. They’re not likely to move defensive liabilities Devers and Casas of position. Story and Wong will certainly return.

 

That leaves 2b…

[Maxbialystock]

Pivetta, the 'iron man' of the SOX, pitched a great game tonight. The man is a competitor.

 

Bello is the iron man with more IP, more starts, and more quality starts than Pivetta. However, I do think that Bello, Pivetta, and Sale are a decent start on a rotation next year.

 

Pivetta pitched in 5 games in September for a total of 26.1 innings and an ERA of 3.08. Not too shabby. I think his curve (or whatever it's called) has a sharper break and that his fastball is a little faster. I do think a starter needs a changeup, which Pivetta either doesn't have or doesn't throw very often.

[moonslav59]

The biggest holes are the ones atop the rotation. And they need to stop pulling pitchers out of the bullpen to fill starter roles. Not citing the 16 games the Sox used an opener, they had 4 pitchers who made at least 8 starts and 8 relief appearances. And that’s not counting Kluber, who was banished into a relief role until he was mercifully put to sleep.

 

The rest of the lineup might already be in house. They have a glut of outfielders. They’re not likely to move defensive liabilities Devers and Casas of position. Story and Wong will certainly return.

 

That leaves 2b…

 

Reyes is better on D at 2B than the combined carousel of 2023. I'm not sure about his offense for '23.

EValdez may help the O but hurt the D at 2B.

[moonslav59]

Bello is the iron man with more IP, more starts, and more quality starts than Pivetta.

 

I'd prefer to say we had no iron men in 2023.

[Maxbialystock]

I'd prefer to say we had no iron men in 2023.

 

True dat.

[notin]

Reyes is better on D at 2B than the combined carousel of 2023. I'm not sure about his offense for '23.

EValdez may help the O but hurt the D at 2B.

 

I don’t think either is the answer…

[notin]

I'd prefer to say we had no iron men in 2023.

 

Maybe an aluminum man?

[moonslav59]

I don’t think either is the answer…

 

I was hopeful we'd see a glimpse of the Urias of a couple years ago. I'm not sure we want to pay his arb total in 2024.

 

I do think we don't add a middle IF'er, this winter, except guys like Chang.

 

We have other needs:

 

SP

SP

SP

LH RP

RHB (I guess we could try and add a big RH'd bat who can play 2B and maybe CF. Any ideas?)

[moonslav59]

Maybe an aluminum man?

 

Tin foil.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

... Edited September 30, 2023 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Pivetta has been with the SOX 3 full seasons and I can't remember one time he wasn't available to pitch. I'd consider that an 'iron man.'

Last 3 seasons starting in 2021; 31 games, 33 games, 38 games.

Edited September 30, 2023 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER