Red Sox (Pivetta) vs Tigers (Skubal): 8/31/24, 6:10pm

[Brock Beauchamp]

Yikes, it's Tarik.

[jgar658]

We may lose today, but we can evaluate  Skubal for our team next year.

[moonslav59]

Our team OPS is about 40 points lower vs LHPs, and Skubal is one of the best. Our work is cut out for us, but we often do very well vs the toughest pitchers, and then fall flat ve unknowns or mediocre ones.

[moonslav59]

1. L Duran

2. R Refsndyer

3. R O'Neill

4. L Devers (DH)

5.  R Romy (3B, kinda sad for a 5 slot batter)

6. R Wong (2B)

7. L Casas

8. R Jansen 

9. R Rafaela

Bench: L Abreu, L Yoshida,  L-R Sogard & Gasper

 

[Maxbialystock]

With this new format the game threads grow shorter and shorter, which I don't think is a good thing.

The dismaying thing about last night's win is that the Tigers, ranked 19th in runs scored, aren't that good offensively, but still scored 5 freaking runs off the bullpen after Houck pitched 6 scoreless innings.  

So, even if the Sox hitters perk up and get some hits and runs off lefty Skubal, Pivetta and the bullpen's largesse could give the Tigers the win.  
 

I can't say the Sox are in the hunt for the postseason, not with the way they've been playing lately, but I can't say they are out of it either.    The Twins and especially the Royals are going to be hard to catch. 

It does not help that Hamilton is probably out for the season and that Devers' shoulders may have reduced his effectiveness.  It is not a good sign that Yoshida had to be benched so that Devers could DH, especially when Devers went 0 for 5.  Sogard at 3b was essentially fielding for Devers--probably an improvement--but hitting for Yoshida, a big step down.  

 

 

 

[Maxbialystock]

3 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

1. L Duran

2. R Refsndyer

3. R O'Neill

4. L Devers (DH)

5.  R Romy (3B, kinda sad for a 5 slot batter)

6. R Wong (2B)

7. L Casas

8. R Jansen 

9. R Rafaela

Bench: L Abreu, L Yoshida,  L-R Sogard & Gasper

 

Not much of a surprise to see Wong and Jansen in the lineup together with Wong at 2b.  Cora's got 6 righty bats:  everyone but Duran, Devers, and Casas, the three lefty bats  I would have gone with.  

Thanks to moonslav who, as always, could not resist sticking in a hopeful comment.  

[Maxbialystock]

 Sox OPS's vs lefties--

O'Neill 1.082

Gasper 1.000

Ref .912

Gonzalez .911

Wong .875

Jansen .829

Casas .754

Devers .718

Duran .695

Rafaela .694

Yoshida .610

[moonslav59]

10 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

Not much of a surprise to see Wong and Jansen in the lineup together with Wong at 2b.  Cora's got 6 righty bats:  everyone but Duran, Devers, and Casas, the three lefty bats  I would have gone with.  

Thanks to moonslav who, as always, could not resist sticking in a hopeful comment.  

I think we win, today.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

I think we win, today.

The '84 Tigers started the season at 35-5 and ended up with a 104-58 season. Four wins less than the 2018 SOX.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

O'Neill's 25th HR and 50th RBI.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

With a lefty on the mound and the bases empty, I would IW O'Neill.

[mvp 78]

QO pivetta?!?!?!?!?!?!?

[moonslav59]

20 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

O'Neill's 25th HR and 50th RBI.

He is 5th on the Sox in PAs.

He is 5th on the Sox in RBIs.

Does it matter than so many are from solo blasts?

RBI per PA:

.15 Devers

.14 Abreu & Yoshida (EValdez)

.13 Rafaela & O'Neil (before today)

.12 Refsnyder

.11 Duran & Wong

.09 DHam

[moonslav59]

That 2 run 2B is yet another example of a bad fielding mistake, not counted as an error, leading to a flip in the team leading.

Ref just coasted back, then had to jump, when it could have been a routine play. 

(Plus, the ball went off the side of his glove, not the top of it.)

[Maxbialystock]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

I think we win, today.

We are just 3 innings, and the score is 2-1, Tigers, but it's been an excellent game to watch.  If Ref catches that catchable fly to LF, the game is score is 1-1.  So your prediction looks pretty good so far.  

 

[Maxbialystock]

Home plate ump is doing pretty well so far.  He might be favoring the pitchers, but that's fine with me.  

Devers remains hitless in Detroit.  

[Maxbialystock]

That was a wicked changeup Skubal used to K Gonzalez.  

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

25 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

QO pivetta?!?!?!?!?!?!?

I soitenly hope not, but with the SOX no longer a big market team, who knows.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

4 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

Home plate ump is doing pretty well so far.  He might be favoring the pitchers, but that's fine with me.  

Devers remains hitless in Detroit.  

 

1 minute ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

And sleepless in Seattle.

 

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

10 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

I soitenly hope not, but with the SOX no longer a big market team, who knows.

I guess it would have to depend on the amount of the QO. Right now Pivetta is making 7.5 mil.

Would 20 mil for 2 years be too much for a #4 starter. I don't know.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

1 hour ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

The '84 Tigers started the season at 35-5 and ended up with a 104-58 season. Four wins less than the 2018 SOX.

Interesting fact:

In 1984 all three SOX OF's, Rice(122), Armas(123) and Evans(104), had over 100 RBI. The SOX finished the season at 86-76. Must have been some pitching woes on that team also.

 

[FredLynn]

Rafaela should be sent down to work on his k zone. He has no idea what to swing at. That last pitch he missed by a foot

[FredLynn]

TO also has no idea what to swing at. It’s a common problem on this team 

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

1 hour ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

 

 

 

 

[Maxbialystock]

I think Pivetta showed a ton of heart getting through 6 innings and giving up 2 runs.  Skulak, however, is just as tough as advertised.  But at 2-1 it's still a great game and one the Sox could win.  

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Very good job by Pivetta. Should have only been charged with one run.

[Maxbialystock]

12 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

Rafaela should be sent down to work on his k zone. He has no idea what to swing at. That last pitch he missed by a foot

Too valuable to be sent down.  He is the best Sox SS right now and the best centerfielder.  Plus he's a righty batter facing mostly righty pitchers.  I'm not sure the minors can teach him how to see and hit MLB pitching.  

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Slow runners help make great infield defensive plays.

[moonslav59]

Rafaela has been "working" on swinging at out of K zone pitches his whole life. 

I think he is what he is- sink or swim with it.

He seemed to make some sort of adjustment after the poor start to 2024, but now, he has to find a way to adjust to the opponents readjusting.

He plays great CF D and has some speed, when he gets on base. I think that should be enough to outweigh a .680-.690 OPS, and besides, .690 is the new .725 in MLB.

[moonslav59]

We gotta get to the 9th still down just 1.

Top of the order with Duran has to create some late thunder.