Maxbialystock

What an absolutely gorgeous K!!!

Ottavino with his really good stuff today.

How superstitious am I? Try this. My wife tolerates my fanaticism and roots for the Sox, but doesn't watch. But periodically she drops by my study (a euphemism), usually with a tasker. Every time she has done this, the Sox have won. Today she issued another order right before Verdugo doubled home 3 runs to tie the game. Plus I missed the first 7 innings because of a 140 mile round trip I had to make for a new ID card--an appointment it took me four months to make.

I'm pretty sure I didn't say it, but I absolutely thought it. And the first three games confirmed it. This season ended early. At least, right up until some whack job couldn't even get the date right. That whack job is as superstitious as anyone else, but takes absolutely zero credit for the way the Sox have played, including today, game 4 @ Twins. Also, I like the way Cora went out there boiling made, made it clear he knew the ump had screwed up twice, and then left the field because this game was/is still winnable.

Thunder is right. Either day games or no games in some ballparks in early April. Like Fenway Park and Target Field.

Nor do I. I listened to almost all the Sox games in 1954, but by then I think night baseball had pretty much taken over because I remember Ted Williams complaining that night baseball was bad for hitters.

They are coddled for a multitude of reasons, and the most obvious of those is that it works. Every MLB team carries a minimum of 13 pitchers (vs. 12 position players) because that ratio works. Statistics emphatically show that hitters do better the 2d, 3d, and 4th time they face a given pitcher in a game. Pitchers are expected to throw as hard as possible within the context of having a good repertoire, which unsurprisingly can lead to arm/shoulder/elbow problems. Every manager needs options when the guy on the mound, whether starter or reliever, goes south on him. So he needs 5 starters and 8 relievers and nothing less. Position players simply soldier on when they can't hit spit that day or night or make a couple of errors or whatever. Cal Ripken, whose feat is unlikely to be repeated, played not only a record number of consecutive games, but also a record number of consecutive innings. These days, the good position players are expected to do what Ripken did 95% of the time. To put it bluntly, MLB teams simply don't need more than 12 positions players. Alex Cora is one of the few managers who actually prefers 90% and will take even his best players out of the lineup every so often. Here, for example, are the total games played (regular season only) on the incredible 2018 team: JD Martinez, 150; Benintendi, 148; JBJ, 144; Betts, 136; Bogie, 136; Devers 121. Let's not forget, however, that position players do not exert themselves anywhere near the degree to which pitchers do. Every single baseball game is dominated by the contest between hitter and pitcher. If we assume 270 pitches are thrown in an average 9 inning game, the odds are that maybe 65 result in hits or fielded outs. The other 200 or so are just strikes and balls (which can lead to K's, BB's, HBP's, WP's, etc). Interestingly, every MLB team carries two catchers (except on the rare occasion when they carry three) because catchers do in fact exert themselves on every single pitch thrown. Incredibly--to me anyway--two catchers seems to be the right number despite the immense effort needed to play that position and the real risk of injury.

Bellhorn has approved this thread.

I hate Vegas.

Box score says the game temp was 47 degrees, but 38 in the first game.

Nice. Very nice.

The Twins are nothing if not gracious. When they say, "Welcome to Target Field," they really mean it.

My vast experience and great insight into baseball at this level says that Barnes ain't closing game 2.

I taught English at the collegiate level and can assure you the correction expression is, "There really ain't any weak sisters in the AL East this year."

Ugh--that changeup for ERod this year is nasty. The only thing worse than missing it is hitting it like that.

I like 9, thanks. But I also think 7 x 2 for double headers makes sense.

OK. Time for ERod and company to get 9 more outs.

Twins manager making all the right moves. Not.

My goodness gracious. Another big rally by the good guys.

Wrong! Happily so. Back to back GIDP's, one of which worked.

I remember this ERod. Unfortunately.

So far 24/33 for strikes, no walks, 1 hit. He could easily go 7 innings if he keeps this up.

Berrios looks tough. Good stuff, good locations.

If the first was basically target practice for ERod, he was great. A lot of bullseyes and near bullseyes. And the Twins batters were definitely impressed.

Anybody know what time game 2 begins? Thanks again to Thunder for reminding us--back when we needed reminding--that it was/is a brand new season, just like that scene in Fever Pitch.