5/29 @ O's

[mvp 78]

Crawford vs Burnes

[vegasbob]

O'Neill back in Boston to get the knee checked. Cora says "We feel like he should be fine, just want to be sure...The medical staff ( known for exceptional diagnoses) feels like he should be ok" O'Neill says it doesn't feel so good, not improving. Who are you going to believe...Red Sox medical staff or the guy who specializes in injuries ?

 

I doubt Cora was trying to rip Tyler but AC's statements show a smidge of doubt. Would not be a shocker if this doesn't become a 10 day rest and rehab deal.

[mvp 78]

O'Neill back in Boston to get the knee checked. Cora says "We feel like he should be fine, just want to be sure...The medical staff ( known for exceptional diagnoses) feels like he should be ok" O'Neill says it doesn't feel so good, not improving. Who are you going to believe...Red Sox medical staff or the guy who specializes in injuries ?

 

I doubt Cora was trying to rip Tyler but AC's statements show a smidge of doubt. Would not be a shocker if this doesn't become a 10 day rest and rehab deal.

 

Cora has also thought some other players should have come back from injuries a little quicker than they did too. One recent example would be Raffy's early season leg issue that Cora noted as "pain tolerance" in nature and that he felt Raffy should have been able to get back in there sooner than what the actual timetable was.

[Maxbialystock]

I see no compelling need for O'Neill right now and would rather have Abreu, Duran, and Rafaela in the OF and Refsnyder as the DH (and backup LF/RF).

 

On paper, Orioles have the pitching edge tonight, but I like last night's lineup. Crawford does not have super stuff, but on good nights it's passable provided his command is sharp.

[Maxbialystock]

Crawford vs Burnes

 

Same lineup as last night--

 

Duran

Abreu

Ref

Devers

Wong

Smith

Grissom

Hamilton

Rafaela

[moonslav59]

I see no compelling need for O'Neill right now and would rather have Abreu, Duran, and Rafaela in the OF and Refsnyder as the DH (and backup LF/RF).

 

Can we give him a 1Bman's mitt?

 

I think I'd prefer O'Neill over DHam. (Rafaela at SS)

[Bellhorn04]

Hey Dad, who's pitching against the Sox tonight?

 

"Corbin Burnes, son."

[mvp 78]

Can we give him a 1Bman's mitt?

 

I think I'd prefer O'Neill over DHam. (Rafaela at SS)

 

Rafaela is too good in CF IMO.

[vegasbob]

Rafaela is too good in CF IMO.

 

When you see Cedanne's ability to get to the ball on a long running catches, saving extra base hits, I would want to keep him in CF also. It may only be one or two plays a game where Rafaela's speed can be applied, but they almost always will be run savers. At SS, he could make a difference but his hands are not as steady in the glove-throwing hand transfer.

 

I also agree with Max, that the OF with Duran and Abreu is certainly solid enough in the field, at Bat and on bases to compete at the MLB level. It is most likely that O'Neill turns into a one year rental ( or maybe to the trade deadline). Don't think he is the future here with Yoshida's contract clogging the arteries in the OF /DH for a few years

[gojohn99]

I just got a phone alert - O'Neil to the 10 day IL, Emmanuel Valdez recalled.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

If Abreu can reach it, he'll catch it. But it seems sometimes, like just now, he creates his own web gems.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

O's were very helpful in the top of the 2nd. Like helping an old lady cross the street.

[Maxbialystock]

Thanks very much, Orioles, for that ridiculous run in the 2d. But right now Crawford does not inspire confidence.

[Maxbialystock]

Thanks very much, Orioles, for that ridiculous run in the 2d. But right now Crawford does not inspire confidence.

 

I guess I got that right. Grand slam thanks to utter malfeasance by Crawford--and yes I know that first pitch to Henderson was a strike but called a ball.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

It sucks when reality arrives to greet a ballplayer. In this case a pitcher.

[vegasbob]

Thanks very much, Orioles, for that ridiculous run in the 2d. But right now Crawford does not inspire confidence.

 

When Crawford's shorts get a little tight he does tend to blow up , can't stop the opponents momentum.

[vegasbob]

I just got a phone alert - O'Neil to the 10 day IL, Emmanuel Valdez recalled.

 

Predictable, and it was up above

[Maxbialystock]

When Crawford's shorts get a little tight he does tend to blow up , can't stop the opponents momentum.

 

Pitching coach went to the mound right before the grand slam. I think he told him to loosen up, and it worked. Yes, he gave up the dinger, but then he struck out the next guy.

 

Bad news is the Sox are now down 5-1 against a good pitcher. Good news is that Crawford is loose and ready for the 3d inning with, however, some risk of 5 more runs.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Sad that a light batting player with excellent speed is not proficient at bunting. Who teaches these players?

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Sad that a light batting player with excellent speed is not proficient at bunting. Who teaches these players?

 

Better yet, who doesn't teach these players?

[Maxbialystock]

Better yet, who doesn't teach these players?

 

Agree--and agree. Sabermetrics insists that bunts are stupid, stupid, stupid.

[Maxbialystock]

4th inning, and the Sox so far have 1 hit, 3 K's, and an unearned run. Crawford has given up 5 runs, 3 hits (including a grand slam), a walk, and of course an HBP.

[Maxbialystock]

McGuire no longer exists. He's caught 3 games since May 13. More importantly, all 3 were not only wins, but well-pitched games: 2-1, 5-2, and 5-0.

 

Wong is the better hitter, agreed, but maybe McGuire should catch more games.

[vegasbob]

Agree--and agree. Sabermetrics insists that bunts are stupid, stupid, stupid.

 

I am sure the sabremetricians have reams of data to show that trading one of their 27 outs against an attempt to move a runner up 90' is a losing tactic. But , that does not mean it isn't a skill to be learned and worked on so when the right situation does develop, it is one of the tools available.

[Maxbialystock]

I am sure the sabremetricians have reams of data to show that trading one of their 27 outs against an attempt to move a runner up 90' is a losing tactic. But , that does not mean it isn't a skill to be learned and worked on so when the right situation does develop, it is one of the tools available.

 

I don't know exactly what sabermetrics says about bunts. Maybe, as you imply, they don't like sacrifice bunts. And maybe statistics agree with that. But, as you say, it's still a useful skill that can even get you some hits.

[vegasbob]

McGuire no longer exists. He's caught 3 games since May 13. More importantly, all 3 were not only wins, but well-pitched games: 2-1, 5-2, and 5-0.

 

Wong is the better hitter, agreed, but maybe McGuire should catch more games.

 

Risky to play both in the same game with the injury possibility . I am sure Cora is trying to put the better hitters at the plate when the team is scuffling for runs. McGuire , however, is no Sandy Leon at the plate and can carry his own weight. He should be the # 1 PH'er vs Rh'ers.

[Maxbialystock]

1 terrible inning by Crawford and 3 pretty good ones.

 

And zero good innings for the Sox lineup. The Orioles gave them that 1 run.

[Maxbialystock]

Risky to play both in the same game with the injury possibility . I am sure Cora is trying to put the better hitters at the plate when the team is scuffling for runs. McGuire , however, is no Sandy Leon at the plate and can carry his own weight. He should be the # 1 PH'er vs Rh'ers.

 

I agree we don't need to play both McGuire and Wong in the same game. I'm suggesting that the recent downturn in Sox pitching might be related to McGuire catching fewer games. I like a Wong a lot, but I like winning more.

[vegasbob]

1 terrible inning by Crawford and 3 pretty good ones.

 

And zero good innings for the Sox lineup. The Orioles gave them that 1 run.

 

It will be tough to lose this one on a single swing of the bat . But it's the pitching leading up to that swing that created the situation. Both Crawford and Bello have one bad inning where they can't shut it down. Good hitting by the O's or an adverse reaction to pressure ?

[notin]

Agree--and agree. Sabermetrics insists that bunts are stupid, stupid, stupid.

 

Well, sac bunts it does. But not bunting…