Red Sox (Giolito) vs Mariners (Gilbert): 6/16/25, 9:40pm

[moonslav59]

Just now, Hitch said:

Big win to open this trip after recent events.

The offence needs to get going. Without its best hitter...

For this season, this win might be bigger than any one of the Yankee wins.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

With 88 games left it's a little early to get excited about a WC spot.

[Duran Is The Man]

Gilbert pitched a great game for them, but Gio was money. with the recent success from our starters, maybe we do have a chance.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

This team is now loaded with hustle. Toro's hustle provided the Sox a 2nd run.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Nice to win the 1st game on a Worst Coast trip.

[moonslav59]

13 minutes ago, Duran Is The Man said:

Gilbert pitched a great game for them, but Gio was money. with the recent success from our starters, maybe we do have a chance.

For once, we started a season with rotation depth. This year, we have really needed it. We even ended up giving Newcomb a shot, since we had so many guys out at once.

We are doing this without our best pitcher, last year (Houck).

We are doing this with zero IP from our IP leader, last year (Crawford.)

We are doing this with our highest AAV given to a SP'er since Sale (Buehler) having an ERA north of 5.

We are doing this without Pivetta, who was our rock for several years.

We haven't even started our best rotation depth pitchers from 2024 (Criswell) at all, this year. (Criswell had a 3.49 ERA in 18 GS in '24.)

Crochet was a major get.

Bello is finally coming into his own.

Dobbins came out of nowhere.

Gio has had 3 really nice starts in his last 5 starts, and one was pretty good- the one where he was yanked with 2 outs in the 5th.

All we need is Buehler, Houck, Crawford or Sandoval to give us a boost from the 5 slot, and of course, continued good pitching from the 4 guys listed above.

 

[moonslav59]

10 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

This team is now loaded with hustle. Toro's hustle provided the Sox a 2nd run.

Good call.

I forgot about it, until you mentioned it.

[d-money]

5.5 games back yet we traded one of our best hitters. 

[d-money]

1 hour ago, Duran Is The Man said:

Gilbert pitched a great game for them, but Gio was money. with the recent success from our starters, maybe we do have a chance.

I think our offense will be an issue. We shall see. 

[cp176]

4 hours ago, d-money said:

I think our offense will be an issue. We shall see. 

We need a proven bat to replace the one we lost.  I wonder if they are taking applications.

[Nick]

Our hitting will be fine once Mayer and Anthony figure out the major league pitching.

We're having to carry Campbell and Hamilton, in addition to Wong when he pitches.

But now with DH spot open, we can funnel through players there to maximize the matchup. 

I would love to see Narvaez bat there on his day off.  

I just wanted to see Mayer and Anthony this year so I'm pretty happy.

Having better starting pitching has really helped.

[Bellhorn04]

8 hours ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Maybe Bailey is as good as advertised.

It's almost inexplicable how good the starters have been over the last 6 games.  

Hard to explain in a good way, for once...

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Toro replaced Devers in the all-important second spot in the batting order.

Toro hustled to leg out a grounder to the second baseman and knock in the Red Sox second and final run.

In one night, the culture already changed.

[d-money]

19 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

It's almost inexplicable how good the starters have been over the last 6 games.  

Hard to explain in a good way, for once...

Unlike some i thought out starting rotation would be a strength but didn’t pitched like it in the beginning. 

[mvp 78]

52 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Toro replaced Devers in the all-important second spot in the batting order.

Toro hustled to leg out a grounder to the second baseman and knock in the Red Sox second and final run.

In one night, the culture already changed.

Was Toro not running before? 

I'd rather have the guy that's OPSing 1000 since April 1. 

[mvp 78]

47 minutes ago, d-money said:

Unlike some i thought out starting rotation would be a strength but didn’t pitched like it in the beginning. 

I hope they can keep it up. They are on a nice little run.

[cp176]

9 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

For once, we started a season with rotation depth. This year, we have really needed it. We even ended up giving Newcomb a shot, since we had so many guys out at once.

We are doing this without our best pitcher, last year (Houck).

We are doing this with zero IP from our IP leader, last year (Crawford.)

We are doing this with our highest AAV given to a SP'er since Sale (Buehler) having an ERA north of 5.

We are doing this without Pivetta, who was our rock for several years.

We haven't even started our best rotation depth pitchers from 2024 (Criswell) at all, this year. (Criswell had a 3.49 ERA in 18 GS in '24.)

Crochet was a major get.

Bello is finally coming into his own.

Dobbins came out of nowhere.

Gio has had 3 really nice starts in his last 5 starts, and one was pretty good- the one where he was yanked with 2 outs in the 5th.

All we need is Buehler, Houck, Crawford or Sandoval to give us a boost from the 5 slot, and of course, continued good pitching from the 4 guys listed above.

 

Dobbins did kind of come out of nowhere but watching him pitch for each of his starts, he has gone from a pleasant surprise to someone who looks like he could have a very good career moving forward.  Being big, strong and young with a high end fastball and control certainly helps.  He won’t be great every time he pitches but I won’t miss watching when his turn comes.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

51 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Was Toro not running before? 

I'd rather have the guy that's OPSing 1000 since April 1. 

You can be a Devers guy and still admit he wasn't running before.

And that wasn't just this season, either.

It's one thing to refuse to play a position that nobody knows for sure if he'd play well or play like hell.

It's another thing to actually dog it on the field, in front of teammates, coaches, media and paying fans. Even those who love Cora suspect he sometimes covered for Raffy.

I loved watching Raffy mash, and admit his production won't be replaced this year. But I also wondered lately if he was intentionally jogging himself out of Boston. If he plays first base for the Giants, that says it all.

[harmony]

Seattle won't win many games going 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

The Red Sox were 1-for-1 with runners in scoring position.

[cp176]

9 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

For once, we started a season with rotation depth. This year, we have really needed it. We even ended up giving Newcomb a shot, since we had so many guys out at once.

We are doing this without our best pitcher, last year (Houck).

We are doing this with zero IP from our IP leader, last year (Crawford.)

We are doing this with our highest AAV given to a SP'er since Sale (Buehler) having an ERA north of 5.

We are doing this without Pivetta, who was our rock for several years.

We haven't even started our best rotation depth pitchers from 2024 (Criswell) at all, this year. (Criswell had a 3.49 ERA in 18 GS in '24.)

Crochet was a major get.

Bello is finally coming into his own.

Dobbins came out of nowhere.

Gio has had 3 really nice starts in his last 5 starts, and one was pretty good- the one where he was yanked with 2 outs in the 5th.

All we need is Buehler, Houck, Crawford or Sandoval to give us a boost from the 5 slot, and of course, continued good pitching from the 4 guys listed above.

 

I actually think that Buehler still has plenty of gas in the tank.  When Houck comes back, I would hate to see him bump anyone in this current rotation.  Maybe he gets used as a sixth starter but he should have to earn his way back into the rotation.

[mvp 78]

Just now, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

You can be a Devers guy and still admit he wasn't running before.

And that wasn't just this season, either.

It's one thing to refuse to play a position that nobody knows for sure if he'd play well or play like hell.

It's another thing to actually dog it on the field, in front of teammates, coaches, media and paying fans.

I loved watching Raffy mash, and admit his production won't be replaced this year. But I also wondered lately if he was intentionally jogging himself out of Boston. If he plays first base for the Giants, that says it all.

I don't care that he wasn't running. I care that he was OPSing 1000 like I said in my last post. If he plays 1b for the Giants, it'll be because he has a better relationship with that FO. Posey probably knows how to communicate with his team. 

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, harmony said:

Seattle won't win many games going 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

The Red Sox were 1-for-1 with runners in scoring position.

Tightrope walking for Gio that one inning with bases loaded, no outs and top of the order up. 

[Maxbialystock]

11 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

For this season, this win might be bigger than any one of the Yankee wins.

Emphatically agree.    This is 6 straight great starts by the Sox rotation and 2 of them were by Gioloto.  Moreover, the Sox lineup scored just enough to win all 6 games.  

But winning at Seattle and against Gilbert (ERA 2.55) is huge.  I think Breslow lied to Devers, but I also think letting him and his salary go was the right move.  Last night's score was perfectly in line with the other 5 wins with Raffy, who was 3/18 with a dinger and 1 rbi.   He was not missed last night.  I do think he and Bregman were a good combo batting 2d and 3d in the lineup, but I like this lineup.

The pitching is just unreal. 

I took a peek at the 2018 Sox schedule and saw they had a very early 8 game win streak in which the Sox pitching gave up 0, 2, 1, 3, 2, 2, 3, 7, and 1 runs.  After losing to the Yankees, they won another 8 straight giving up 3, 3, 3, 1, 1, 0, 2, and 3 runs.   Those two runs, both in April, made the Sox awfully hard to catch and made possible the Sox best season ever.  Good pitching sure helps and doesn't necessarily need a good defense, which the 2018 Sox did not have.  

 

[Maxbialystock]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Tightrope walking for Gio that one inning with bases loaded, no outs and top of the order up. 

He got three straight K's.  That's great pitching!   This is 2 straight great starts by Giolito.  

[mvp 78]

8 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

He got three straight K's.  That's great pitching!   This is 2 straight great starts by Giolito.  

I can't figure out that guy. 

[Maxbialystock]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

I don't care that he wasn't running. I care that he was OPSing 1000 like I said in my last post. If he plays 1b for the Giants, it'll be because he has a better relationship with that FO. Posey probably knows how to communicate with his team. 

I completely agree Breslow was way out of line with Devers.  He lied to him about keeping 3b, right up until he announced Bregman would play 3b and not 2b.  Cora got Raffy to embrace DH, and he was excellent there and didn't miss a game.  Plus all the rbi's.  I was one of the few--and I don't recall that you were--rooting for Devers. 

Of course the Giants are thrilled and don't mind paying extra for a DH.  He's exactly what they need.

So let's agree that Breslow poisoned the well and made it necessary to trade Devers.

On the other hand, Raffy's OPS dropped about 80 points after Bregman went on the IL not quite a month ago (May 24).  OTOH, $30M/year is a bundle for a DH, especially when the Sox biggest need is pitching.  OTOH, the Sox have hit reasonably well since they lost Bregman and should get better when he returns.  Including Bregman and Abreu, both on the IL, the Sox have 5 hitters with OPS's ranging from .938 to .792.  Duran's is .740.  And this month Rafaela's is .839 and Story's is .826.  

If the pitching holds up, the Sox won't miss Devers.  If the pitching doesn't hold up, Devers, even with an OPS of 1000--which he never had--couldn't save the Sox from a losing season.  

 

 

[Maxbialystock]

7 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I can't figure out that guy. 

I thought he had good stuff. He used his fast ball a lot but he also had some nasty breaking balls.  10 K's.  And this is his 2d straight excellent start.

So, much as I hate to admit it,  maybe Breslow wasn't completely screwed up when he signed him.  

And maybe the pitching coach is working miracles because this is now 6 straight excellent starts by the rotation.  

[Maxbialystock]

3 hours ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

You can be a Devers guy and still admit he wasn't running before.

And that wasn't just this season, either.

It's one thing to refuse to play a position that nobody knows for sure if he'd play well or play like hell.

It's another thing to actually dog it on the field, in front of teammates, coaches, media and paying fans. Even those who love Cora suspect he sometimes covered for Raffy.

I loved watching Raffy mash, and admit his production won't be replaced this year. But I also wondered lately if he was intentionally jogging himself out of Boston. If he plays first base for the Giants, that says it all.

Credible.  

[Maxbialystock]

6 hours ago, cp176 said:

We need a proven bat to replace the one we lost.  I wonder if they are taking applications.

Meh.  Without Devers the Sox have Bregman (next month), OPS .938, Ref .933, Toro .884, Gonzalez .856, Narvaez .824. Abreu .792, and Duran .740.  Story and Rafaela both have OPS's in the .800's in June.  

I rooted like crazy for Devers and defended his position, but I agree with this move at this time.  

What kind of fascinates me is how Cora will manage this team because Breslow will want to play those rookies.  When Bregman returns, who plays SS and 2b?  When Abreu returns, who is the the starting outfield?  

[Maxbialystock]

5 hours ago, Nick said:

Our hitting will be fine once Mayer and Anthony figure out the major league pitching.

We're having to carry Campbell and Hamilton, in addition to Wong when he pitches.

But now with DH spot open, we can funnel through players there to maximize the matchup. 

I would love to see Narvaez bat there on his day off.  

I just wanted to see Mayer and Anthony this year so I'm pretty happy.

Having better starting pitching has really helped.

Nick, an outstanding summary.  I defended Devers relentlessly, but I agree with this trade/move and agree with you that the Sox will be fine.  Well, as fine as their pitching will get them.