Jump to content
Talk Sox
  • Create Account

Maxbialystock

Old-Timey Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    21,039

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    6

 Content Type 

Profiles

Boston Red Sox Videos

2026 Boston Red Sox Top Prospects Ranking

Boston Red Sox Free Agent & Trade Rumors, Notes, & Tidbits

Guides & Resources

2025 Boston Red Sox Draft Pick Tracker

News

Forums

Blogs

Events

Store

Downloads

Gallery

Everything posted by Maxbialystock

  1. Maxbialystock
    2 pitch Houck is why Cora couldn't be sure about him as a starter this year. That said, however, he has been just incredible tonight, in the wild card game, and in that great Saturday start six days ago. He owns October! And, yes, his fastball and slider and command have been way, way better than Sale's, no question. I do think he needs a good third pitch--a knuckle curve, a changeup, or even a splitter--to be a good starter next year.
  2. Maxbialystock
    I didn't see them always in the middle and certainly not against JDM. But that slider was definitely up in the zone.
  3. Maxbialystock
    Land o' goshen. I think everyone agree JDM would be needed in the ALDS provided his ankle was sort of OK. But I sure never expected that. Heck, I did not think it was possible for the Sox to score more than 2 or 3 runs off the Rays pitching. One astounding game, and a stunning response to last night's game.
  4. Maxbialystock
    Oh, stop it with Sale and watch the game already!
  5. Maxbialystock
    Sale's ERA this season in 9 starts was 3.16, the lowest on the team, so he is not just a name. That said, he has certainly faded badly in October, I think because he's lost his changeup and is trying to get by on his fastball and slider.
  6. Maxbialystock
    Actually, Sale's best month this year was August, ERA 2.35 in 3 starts. September was 3.24 in 5 starts. And October so far is 8 runs in 3.1 innings. And, don't forget, the Sox brought him back/along very slowly. His fastball is nowhere near it was. His slider looks OK except that he has to throw it a lot. And his changeup is basically missing in action. Chris Sale is a true professional, so we are seeing his very best effort in every game, and my fear is that his best might not be so great any more.
  7. Maxbialystock
    He was converted--way back in April and when he returned in August. He's started 13 games this year and relieved in 3. He does not have a big repertoire, which is why as a starter he averages less than 5 innings.
  8. Maxbialystock
    Too true. But I did like 6-4 a whole bunch more than 6-2. Plus, you know, Houck ain't half bad. The Sox actually have a pretty decent bullpen right now, and Cora knows how to use it. Plus tomorrow is a day off.
  9. Maxbialystock
    Rest does make a difference for a starter. That said, you were right to have concerns about Sale. Tonight was a continuation of last Sunday only much worse. That said, as I keep reminding you, Pivetta did get into last night's game when the Sox were down 2-0, so it's not as though Cora ignored him. He even pitched him 4.1 innings.
  10. Maxbialystock
    Agree. On the other hand, if we are talking about next year, you can never have too much pitching, and that certainly includes the bullpen.
  11. Maxbialystock
    That's possible. He is a terrific professional. But this year he is a shadow of his 2018 (first four months) self.
  12. Maxbialystock
    I'd say that these days the Rays are the gold standard except I think the right word might be something less expensive. Aluminum standard? In any case, what we are seeing is that talented guys are out there who don't insist on being paid $30M a year while recovering from tommy john surgery or whatever. Young guys, intelligently scouted, developed, and coached, can play pretty good ball.
  13. Maxbialystock
    Sales lasted 2.2 innings five days ago against the weak-hitting Nats. Sale had the same problem then he had tonight--no changeup, which is pretty vital for a lefty facing a bunch of righty bats. Moreover, Sale has never been very good in the postseason.
  14. Maxbialystock
    Agree on the Rays. Agree the wild card win was terrific. But do not agree it necessarily follows it's OK for the Sox to lose the first two games so ignominiously. The Sox won 92 games to the Rays 100, which to me does not translate into getting slaughtered and made fools of.
  15. Maxbialystock
    I don't think anything would have been "finished" in the first inning, but do agree Devers and Renfroe stunk.
  16. Maxbialystock
    My point was and is that Cora has in fact used Pivetta, and he used him before he used Sale. Besides, there is no way he doesn't start Sale in game 2. If you shift Sale to game 3, that means Eovalid doesn't pitch until game 4 which might never come.
  17. Maxbialystock
    The old Sale also stunk in the postseason, although not this bad.
  18. Maxbialystock
    His velocity is about what it's been this season. His location ain't that bad--the grandslam was off a fastball above the zone. The problem is he has only two pitches, slider and fastball, and he is going against mostly righty hitters. He needs his changeup but can't trust it.
  19. Maxbialystock
    This is embarrassing.
  20. Maxbialystock
    But he did pitch--in game 1--and he gave up 3 runs.
  21. Maxbialystock
    Ball game. Like I said, Sale has always stunk in the postseason, and tonight he goes against a bunch of righties and can't trust his changeup. So he is stinking with sliders and fastballs against a good hitting team that knows how to capitalize on a pitcher's weakness. Pitch 23, his first changeup, low for a ball.
  22. Maxbialystock
    Still no changeups. Score now 2-1.
  23. Maxbialystock
    As I said before, Sale has never pitched well in the postseason.
  24. Maxbialystock
    No changeups yet by Sale. If he stays with fastballs and sliders, this could be painful.
  25. Maxbialystock
    Nice K on 5 straight sliders.
×
×
  • Create New...