Red Sox (Crochet) at Reds (Abbott): 3/26/26, 4:10pm

[Maxbialystock]

20 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

He has thrown a change in the past, just not very often. He really uses his sweeper as the change of pace pitch. 

Amazing.  I would have bet cash money he doesn't have the change.  

[mvp 78]

24 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

Amazing.  I would have bet cash money he doesn't have the change.  

He used it more than his splitter last year. He's been working on the splitter more this offseason and may be just deciding to stick with that instead? 

[mvp 78]

38 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Drop him down in batting order vs lefty, occasional day off vs lefty...Little things so his % of at-bats vs lefties is ~20% vs ~28% if they jsut left him hitting third every day.  ALso, bringing him to pinch hit vs righties if he starts a game on bench.  And sure , someone may emerge as a platoon partner if its like June and hes really struggling against lefties.

So you are sitting him more then. My point stands. 

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

16 hours ago, vegasbob said:

Wow, big time win by the Sox today.

To think the 9th inning was over on the umpires strike call but Anthony picked the perfect place/time to challenge a call well below the line.  This guy is , in fact, a winner

My first experience with the new challenge system.  Not because it worked for me I just think it's fantastic. They player, not the manager, makes the call.  I went back and timed it and it took all of 17 seconds.  

What I was most excited about, other than the pitching, was seeing Mayer get 2 hits. I'm concerned about his bat at the ML level, he lost a lot of development games.  

[Deja Doh]

Small ball was terrific. Getting/having base runners on will usually affect the pitcher.  Being able to sacrifice/bunt successfully to move the runner over is a must in close games.  Great pitching also helps.  That was an exciting game.  The challenge by Anthony was terrific.  Chapman got a strike called on an obvious ball but the Reds batter didn't challenge. 

I like the fact that the broadcasters are supposed to not have access to the strike zone box we see on TV (though someone could be - is - feeding it to them).

[moonslav59]

39 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

So you are sitting him more then. My point stands. 

Moving him down in the order can reduce PAs vs LHPs by some. A few more days off takes away a few more, but how well he does when he does play is still more important.

[mvp 78]

15 minutes ago, Deja Doh said:

Small ball was terrific. Getting/having base runners on will usually affect the pitcher.  Being able to sacrifice/bunt successfully to move the runner over is a must in close games.  Great pitching also helps.  That was an exciting game.  The challenge by Anthony was terrific.  Chapman got a strike called on an obvious ball but the Reds batter didn't challenge. 

I like the fact that the broadcasters are supposed to not have access to the strike zone box we see on TV (though someone could be - is - feeding it to them).

If it's the 9th inning and you still have 2 challenges, why not use your challenges? What are you waiting for? 

[mvp 78]

[Behindenemylines]

Other than the error by Durbin and LOB number a pretty good opening day. Nice to see Mayer come off the bench with some big hits. And it doesn't surprise me that it was Anthony who had the critical pitch challenge. The pitching was great as well!