8/09 Astros @ SOX 7:10PM ET

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Blanco vs Houck

 

Duran

Abreu

Masa

Devers

Wong

Smith

Sogard

Rafaela

Hamilton

 

 

SOX need to get back to their 6-9 runs per game because there's no reason to believe the Astros won't also being scoring a lot.

 

Go SOX!

[vegasbob]

Good article by Speier in the Globe , using several analytics, to discuss the problems of Sox starters after the A-S break . Fatigue is only one factor . Middle -middle pitches are a small factor. Pitching on the edges , and not inducing swing/misses with 2 strikes seems to be an issue. Umpire strict calls on very close pitches doesn't seem to be part of the issue , but they are inning changers.

 

Pivetta having to skip a turn is a bit surprising since he is not exactly a first time starter.

 

Grissom assigned to WooSox makes sense . He will get a turn on the 26 , I am sure, before season end.

Edited August 9, 2024 by vegasbob

[Old Red]

Bello on paternity list, and Criswell on the Covid list. Criswell was supposed to start tomorrow.

[moonslav59]

 

Grissom assigned to WooSox makes sense . He will get a turn on the 26 , I am sure, before season end.

 

O'Neill will replace E Valdez, once he comes off the IL, but I can't see Grissom taking Romy or DHam's slot on the 26, unless DHam slumps even more than he has been the last few weeks.

 

Once the rosters expand in September, maybe he gets a call-up, but I would not feel sure about it.

 

I do think he has an equal shot at the 2B job for opening day 2025, with Mayer maybe being his toughest competition. (I think we will decide to keep Mayer in AAA to start 2025.)

[moonslav59]

MIN beat CLE 4-2 and play another game, tonight. They also found out Brock Stewart will miss the season and Joe Ryan is out "indefinitely."

 

Yanks-Rangers rained out and will play DH'er, tomorrow.

 

[Maxbialystock]

Bello on paternity list, and Criswell on the Covid list. Criswell was supposed to start tomorrow.

 

Bello will be back for his regular turn Monday.

 

Criswell should have masked, but in fact nobody does these days. Plus Houck, of course, is on the anti-vac bus.

 

O'Neill has a leg infection? How do you get one of those?

[moonslav59]

He could really use a lights out night from Houck. The Astros have had some real bad stretches of little offense, and have not had Tucker in the line-up for 3 months, so tonight would be a good chance to right the ship.

 

Houck has had one good start since June 25th.

 

Last 6 starts: 6.16 ERA and 5.95 FIP

 

or

 

First 12 starts: 1.85/2.19

Last 10 starts: 4.82/4.32

 

GO SOX!

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Off topic:

 

 

For those of you who love to snack I found a new to me bag of delights. It's called Candy Pop, which is a mix of popcorn and mini M&M's. I find it more addictive than Caramel Corn, which I also love.

[vegasbob]

Bello on paternity list, and Criswell on the Covid list. Criswell was supposed to start tomorrow.

 

That is so bad it is almost laughable. Told you Bello had no command nor control. Who did Criswell sit near, O'Neill?

[Oscars]

Paxton is the only starter not stinking it up at the moment .

[vegasbob]

Once again the Sox cannot score with a RISP, no outs in the first. Play from behind is the mantra.

[Maxbialystock]

Oh my goodness, it happened again! Sox have a man on 3b with 2 outs and Devers coming to bat, lefty vs righty. Plus of course he's the best hitter in MLB and will not be denied. Do the Astros wisely give him an intentional BB? Of course not. They simply strike him out--as impossible as that seems to some contributors to talksox.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Lead-off double syndrome. What is it? It's when a batter leads off the inning with a double and then dies at 3rd. No known vaccine is available. SOX have been suffering from this for most of the season.

[vegasbob]

The pitching which was hurting anyway gets worse not better, although Cam Booser is back in the BP. I think we will see a BP game here soon, which may not be a bad idea.

[vegasbob]

Oh my goodness, it happened again! Sox have a man on 3b with 2 outs and Devers coming to bat, lefty vs righty. Plus of course he's the best hitter in MLB and will not be denied. Do the Astros wisely give him an intentional BB? Of course not. They simply strike him out--as impossible as that seems to some contributors to talksox.

 

Abreu was as bad, taking a K3 which was in the zone, then complaining about the call . 3 straight LH hitters, heart of the lineup, and only 1 contact, a soft bouncer by Yoshida.

[vegasbob]

DHam does not have the same negative reaction to RISP as some at the upper levels. Timely and well placed hit for 2 RBI's

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Astros' pitcher firing 'blanks' to the bottom of the SOX order. Timely hitting by those 3, especially Hamilton.

[Hugh2]

3 innings and zero strike outs for Houck

[d-money]

Offense looks like crap early.

[vegasbob]

Sogard shows good plate discipline and pitch recognition, immediately followed by Rafaela doing the same. great examples today

[vegasbob]

Houck playing with fire tonight but brought his own extinguisher . Good escapes and moderate pitch count. Should be good for 6, but AC will keep him on short leash. Otherwise let it rain bigly now

[vegasbob]

Caleb Ort pitching again in Boston. This should be good

[vegasbob]

Ort mows them down !

[vegasbob]

Sims = SoS

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Good job by Houck; bad job by Sims.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

If it ain't the starters, it's the BP. Pick your poison.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

In defense of the SOX Fenway's a tough park for them to play in. Which is strange because Fenway's always been known to be friendly for LH batters.

[vegasbob]

Brilliant Bullpen work , 8 batters , 7 hits , 4runs and 1 out with the bases loaded. Got a decent start from Houck but the BP blows like a hooker

[Maxbialystock]

The bullpen stinks yet again. Houck deserves better. So does Cora. So does SPLENDIDSPLINTER.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

It's still early August; I can't wait to see what this pitching staff looks like in September.