Maxbialystock

If you weren't really worried, you weren't paying attention.

All due respect to dannycater, but no way, no how can a fault Cora for the 9th last night. Kimbrel was the right guy despite the 2 walks and the HBP. The first runner was a 4 ball K to Judge, horrible, but it was Judge; 2d runner was Gregorious with a seeing eye single to the right, Judge to 2B; but then he K's Stanton for out 1; then another BB but on a 3-2 count to Voit; then the HBP on a knuckle ball in the dirt that kicked left, scoring 1 run; then out #2 on a sac fly to LF, runner on 2B not advancing, score now 4-3 but 2 outs and no one on 3B; finally the soft ground out to Nunez who made a great play and Pearce an even greater one. Recalling that sequence again convinces me Cora had good reason to stay with Kimbrel, who was not panicking but did struggle with control. More importantly, I honestly believe no one else in the bullpen could have gone out there and done better once the bases were loaded with 1 out and the score 4-2. In fact, Kimbrel got the next 2 guys out. But pick another point in the sequence, say, men on 1st and 2d and no one out. Kimbrel actually struck the next guy out, so no way a new guy would have done that better. Now comes the walk on a 3-2 count to load the bases, lead still 4-2. Here I would argue any other Sox pitcher coming in would have melted like the wicked witch of the west. Ditto after Walker got the HBP, scoring a run and leaving the bases loaded with 1 out. And this. I don't know about you, but at home I was in a complete panic. But Cora wasn't. He stayed cool while assessing the situation and made a conscious choice based on what he knows about Kimbrel, the bullpen, and the flow of the game. I say this because, had Kimbrel given up a dinger at some point--or even if Torres grounder had resulted in a Nunez throwing error and the ball going to RF and allowing 2 runners to score and the Yankees to in--I would still be arguing I was and am happy with Cora's decisions. I think the guy really has a feel for the game and for this team that none of us comes close to having. And this. Way back in June in what became Wright's last start, he got killed and gave up 10 runs. I spent the next 3 or 4 days excoriating Cora for leaving Wright in. It made no difference that Sox won that one, I think 14-11 or something. Ever since then, however, I have been reluctant to second guess Cora. And there is no doubt in my mind he managed this ALDS brilliantly despite hitting issues (bottom of the lineup) and a problem bullpen.

That's a pretty important (and sensible) cautionary note at the end. That's where I start from, but the ALDS has persuaded me not to under value our own team. We had 3 of 4 solid starts vs. the full-up and hot Yankees lineup, and two of them were in their bandbox. That's a rotation. Almost as impressive was knocking out both Happ and Severino. Less impressive was not scoring after the 3d inning in game 1 and not after the 4th last night--on top of only scoring 2 in game 2. I am hopeful the bottom 4 of our lineup will be OK and would like to see more of Holt. I suspect that Leon, however, will catch at least one game, Sale's, and maybe two, also Price's. Yes, horrible at bats, but Sale pitching well is worth almost any hole in the lineup. I don't think our defense is all that great, but boy it looked pretty darn good in the ALDS. That one bad throw by Nunez followed by another that actually got an out thanks to Kinsler. Nothing all that spectacular in the outfield except that incredible throw by Betts, I think in game 1, that darn near got a Yankee tagging up after a fly out down the right field line (foul?). Wow. Kinsler also made a nifty stop of a hot liner/grounder to his left that was not luck. And the bullpen was OK, considering. The Yankees bullpen was better, but the Sox were always able to keep whatever lead they got off three Yankee starters.

Love iortiz's enthusiasm for the ALCS. But I'd like to go back to last night for a moment and without starting a new thread. That rally was almost entirely Kimbrel's creation: he gave up 2 BB's, 1 HBP, and a single to score the Yankees 1st run. With the bases loaded and 1 out, he got the catcher to fly out deep to LF, making the score 4-3 with men on 1st and 2d and 2 outs. Then Torres hit that weak grounder, which Nunez swept in to field cleanly and throw quickly to 1B. About the time the ball arrived the Yankees had one guy around 3b and the other at 2B. If that throw at that angle gets past Pearce to his right, it ends up in RF and there's a good chance the Yankees with the game 5-4. Of course, I think it would have been a travesty if that had happened, but it almost did, which would have meant game 5 after today off. I say travesty because there is no doubt in my mind that the better team won.

Fascinating discussion about the Yankees lineup, which I think was pretty good. The best insight I've read was in the today's NY Times, who said the problem was the team batting average of .249. They went on to say that batting average is passe and usually disregarded but nevertheless underscores a fundamental weakness in the Yankees offense. They then said the Sox pitchers stayed focused on keeping the Yankees lineup "inside the park," which worked beautifully in every game but game 2. The problem now for the Sox is that the Astros offense beat the Guardians pitching like a drum. In 3 games, 8 dingers, 21 runs, Avg .327, and OPS 1.037--way, way better than the Yankees' 6 dingers in 5 games (including Oakland), .219 Avg, and .669 OPS. Plus they have better pitching and are the defending WS champs. About the Sox home field advantage. Maybe it isn't. The Astros were great on the road this year, 57-24 vs. our 51-30--and they took 2 of 3 at Fenway Park a month ago. They also took 2 of 3 in Houston.

See Thunder's comment. You are probably right, but the media without exception slobbered over your Yankees all season long.

I was one of the pessimists during the ALDS and so have no great claim to insight. That said, the Sox beat the 100 wins Yankees at their best even though Happ, Severino, and Sabathia weren't at theirs. And they did it with starting pitching, timely hitting, and just enough bullpen. And the better manager, beyond question. ALCS will be 2017 ALDS redux--when the Astros took 3 of 4 with Sale losing twice, Pom once, and the bullpen, mostly Price (of all people), getting the one decisive win. The Sox lost game 5, but it was 5-4, and in that game Sale gave up 2 in relief and Kimbrel 1 in relief. My point is, this year's Sox, despite concerns again about our bullpen, is a lot better than last year's. When your rotation gets three good starts, two of them in NY, against the Yankees, you ain't pushovers. But neither are the Astros, who have the best pitching in MLB. Right now, I would call the ALCS a toss-up.

I think you have the seeing problem. Kimbrel stunk but doesn’t always and does need that knuckle curve to complement his hittable fastball. Beni had a bad night, but so did Mookie. Yes, the Yankees have a terrific bullpen. This surprises you? And Cora is an idiot for using his ace closer with a 3 run lead and not his ace starter?

Indeed.

Agree Leon is good, but Cora was right to stay with Vazquez as events proved. You didn’t say Cora was dumb, but certainly implied it when he did not pinch hit for Vazquez. Not so?

Exactly the thing to do.

Jacksonianmarch is excellent.

Are you kidding? Talksox wanted to lynch him for letting Sale go anywhere near that mound.

Ask Cora. He’s the dummy according to you. Now that the game is over, did you count the number of wild pitches Vazquez prevented in the 9th?

No. Kimbrel is a great closer but tried hard to blow it tonight. He was by far the worst of four Sox relievers tonight but will expect a kings ransom to stick around.

FWIW, I think your hitting is fine, but your rotation is not.

If you check, I’m sure you will find that Cora never ever pinch hit for any catcher with a 3 run lead this year. Why? Because it’s just dumb.

Yeah. Poor Sale looked helpless out there without Leon. And tonight VaQuez had more hits than Beni and and Mookie combined.

What risk? That his shoulder would go bad? Better to find that out tonight than the first inning Saturday. This inning was great for his confidence and it helped the team. I saw no downside.

Nope. Vazquez has been great behind the plate. See what the Yankees have scored? He helped make that possible. Why change catchers when you don’t need to?

I’ll give the best excuse possible. He’s been great behind the plate tonight which is a big reason we are winning. Why change catchers when you don’t need to?

Why is it dumb when it worked perfectly? Win this, and Sale doesn’t start until Saturday, 8 days after his last start. So far Cora has been letter perfect in the ALDS.

That 3d strike was close enough to call a strike because the ump has been calling it all night. Beni looked foolish complaining about it. His 3d k tonight.

Yup.

The stadium, the announcers, and the umps are all pulling for the Yankees.