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Maxbialystock

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Everything posted by Maxbialystock

  1. Maxbialystock
    I'm with sk7326. Closers are vastly overpaid, including Kimbrel, who can't pitch in the 8th, can't go more than 3 outs, etc. Thus he never, ever has to face the same hitter twice in a single game. A rarity, but I disagree with moonslav about 2003 and Pedro for exactly that reason--he was facing the Yankee lineup for the 3d or 4th time. Grady sucked in Boston and after Boston. How do I know? He had two MLB managing jobs in his 50's, got canned by both teams, and never managed again. He is, however, in the Kingston, NC Professional Baseball Hall of Fame. So there's that.
  2. Maxbialystock
    I personally don't give a s*** about Leon's hitting as long as he is optimizing what the guy on the mound is doing. We have hitting out the wazoo, but our pitching is sometimes suspect. Leon's defensive catching stats are way better than Vazquez's or Swihart's, and they don't include how the pitchers have more confidence in him. I'm not rooting against Vazquez or Swihart because we all know Leon can't catch every game. When either is catching, I not only root for him but comment when he does something well--including the odd hit now and then. About which, this: when either Vazquez or Swihart gets his OPS above .800, I'll be ready to say it's time to go with a catcher who can hit.
  3. Maxbialystock
    If you guys are talking about Kimbrel, I have to say he ain't one of my keepers. He's 30, he's expensive, he not only doesn't do more than 1 inning at a time, he rarely pitches any inning other than the 9th. He's picky even for a closer. Closers are notoriously up and down. We know for a fact Kimbrel gets into trouble when his knuckle curve isn't working, and sometimes that's exactly what happens. I agree he is one of the best closers in MLB if not the best, but I just can't see spending a lot of money on a guy who pitches an average of 64 innings a year and never, ever has to face the same batter twice in the same game. From what I can see, the setup guy is almost as important because the Sox starters rarely go beyond the 7th inning.
  4. Maxbialystock
    That's basically the way I saw last night during the game. I see three big problems with Kelly. The obvious one is command of his pitches, and lately it's just the two--fast ball and knuckle curve. Another seems to be the sheer hitability of his fast ball, which comes in at 97 to 100 mph and sometimes more. If the 100 mph fast ball is in the strike zone, opposing hitters are smacking it. It is possible he is telegraphing his pitches, but I'm sure--since this has been going on awhile--that the pitching coach, et al, are checking that thoroughly. Finally there's the confidence issue because I think his is shot. Kimmi quoted Price as saying his season turned around when he started throwing a cut fastball, but apparently this version had/has a little more bite to it. Maybe that would help Kelly. But right now it's very hard to see Kelly making the postseason roster.
  5. Maxbialystock
    Meh. We split with Houston in their park and they took 2 of 3 at Fenway when Sale was on the DL. We are even with the Astros in my book. Oakland took 2 of 3 there and at Fenway--good for them, especially when 1 of the wins was over Sale when Manaea got his no-no. But he's gone, and Oakland has a horrible postseason record--including the miracle team depicted in the movie Moneyball. So far the Sox have split 4 games with the Guardians, but still have 3 at Cleveland to play. I think they can be tough in the playoffs because their hitting has come around and the have a good bullpen and manager. Yankees are faltering because their rotation is-- plus they miss Judge. So, me, I agree with moonslav. I'll take all those wins and the home field advantage plus the best lineup in MLB and a rotation that should be pretty good. Our weakness, now obvious to the known universe, is the bullpen, but even there Cora has a few cards to play.
  6. Maxbialystock
    That's basically the way I saw last night during the game. I see three big problems with Kelly. The obvious one is command of his pitches, and lately it's just the two--fast ball and knuckle curve. Another seems to be the sheer hitability of his fast ball, which comes in at 97 to 100 mph and sometimes more. If the 100 mph fast ball is in the strike zone, opposing hitters are smacking it. It is possible he is telegraphing his pitches, but I'm sure--since this has been going on awhile--that the pitching coach, et al, are checking that thoroughly. Finally there's the confidence issue because I think his is shot. Kimmi quoted Price as saying his season turned around when he started throwing a cut fastball, but apparently this version had/has a little more bite to it. Maybe that would help Kelly. But right now it's very hard to see Kelly making the postseason roster.
  7. Maxbialystock
    Beni LF Kinsler 2B Moreland 1B JDM RF Bogey SS Swihart DH Nunez 3B Vazquez C JBJ CF ERod vs. righty Gaviglio Basically, no Betts. Plus JDM in RF and Swihart DH. Like we're back in April and May with Cora trying, some how, some way, to get at bats for Swihart without actually letting him play a position. Hmmmm.
  8. Maxbialystock
    Four of our kids live in Greensboro. My wife and I are in Fairfax County, VA. My NOAA map says we will both get a soaking, but NC a lot more than VA. this could change, of course.
  9. Maxbialystock
    True. Too bad, because he is a great story.
  10. Maxbialystock
    The 1912 team won 106 of 154, so I think this team needs to win 111 games to tie 1912. But, honestly, at this point I'm just delighted with the whole season and focused now on the postseason. Thus Price last night was huge. Wright last night and a couple games or so ago, also huge. Kelly still worrisome. Devers worrisome (but Cora has options). Catcher hitting worrisome (but Swihart helps there). Barnes worrisome, but not Poyner or Brasier or Kimbrel. . Sale definitely worrisome. Will that shoulder hold up or not? injuries to any of several guys, but especially to JDM, Betts, Bogey, or Beni--would be worrisome.
  11. Maxbialystock
    Sox have played 146 games. JDM has 137, Beni 135, JBJ 130, Mookie 126, and Bogie 124. Nunez 122, Moreland 114, and Devers 107. 46 MLB players have more games than JDM. Leon has caught the most games with 82--of the 12 "qualified" MLB catchers, the average games played is about 105 to 110 and the minimum 98. We all know Cora has given guys breathers all season long. In fact, most have complained whenever so and so isn't in the lineup--"doesn't Cora want to win any games?" I'm fine with whatever additional rest Cora wants to give, but I do not think this team is tired.
  12. Maxbialystock
    Stunning numbers--not just that they are revealing, but that you found them. I did kind of have the impression he needs time--pitches--to get the knuckler working right. Don't forget your other comment that pitchers who follow Wright benefit because the hitters' timing will often be off. You could almost make a case for Wright pitching the first two innings or practically any other innings. The big caveat is that it has to be working--it must move and not be way out of the zone.
  13. Maxbialystock
    I find it very credible because to me Price is way more comfortable throwing variations on his fast ball. I think he basically has abandoned the slider and curve but will still throw a changeup. I like lots of movement, but Price makes a strong case for his way.
  14. Maxbialystock
    Well that's two of you who think I was serious. I tried to say something so outlandish that no one could believe I meant it. I thought this was a dead giveaway: "And it's so simple. Just bring in the right guy at the right time." We have seen Brasier, Kimbrel, and just about everyone be the wrong guy in a given game. What saved Farrell's job in I think the 2016 season was the bullpen suddenly got very, very effective in September.
  15. Maxbialystock
    I don't know how to use those little faces, so have to depend on people being able to discern when I'm saying something so insane it has to be ironic/facetious. Cora should by now made believers of all us, but I still read sarcastic comments in game threads about how and when he uses the bullpen.
  16. Maxbialystock
    I like Cora a lot, but Francona has been successful with two very different teams. Besides, who cares? We fans are lucky Henry brought in Francona in 2004, only kept Valentine a year, 2012, got three division titles and one WS out of Farrell, 2013-2017, let him go, and brought in Cora.
  17. Maxbialystock
    Wright pitches the 8th in a 1-0 game. He also pitched the 7th and 8th in a 6-5 win last Sunday. And mvp78 doesn't want Wright on the postseason roster.
  18. Maxbialystock
    Meh. Swihart has been on the active roster from day 1. Keeping him there is not some bold step into the unknown. He is a pretty decent catcher, but can also switch hit, run, play 3b/1b and the outfield.
  19. Maxbialystock
    To me the only reason to carry three catchers in the postseason is to be able to pinch hit for one of them.
  20. Maxbialystock
    Catching too much plate--what a great phrase. I tend to think of that as sinful, but also believe it depends on the situation. Sometimes you can absolutely get away with it if you have the batter guessing. Last night, Tuesday, against the Jays I saw a fascinating. sequence. 8th inning, man on base, 2 out, Vazquez catching, and Kelly brought in to get the last out. Righty at bat. It takes Kelly 8 pitches and a 3-2 count before he gets the K. He throws several heaters and at least a couple knuckle curves. Finally, he throws an 88 mph slider low in the zone which Grichuk absolutely hammers--foul line drive into the left field stands. So what does Vazquez call for? A knuckle curve, with a little more break, in almost exactly the same spot--swinging strike three. I swear that pitching is as much art and artifice as it is muscle and coordination and hitting charts, etc.
  21. Maxbialystock
    Actually, that's not true. All you have to do is read the game threads to discover that Cora continues to make the same old dumb rookie manager mistakes. Including last night's game. It is a falsity to think that a good bullpen makes a good manager. It's actually the reverse. A skillful manager can take any bullpen and make them effective. And it's so simple. Just bring in the right guy at the right time. Cora hasn't figured that out yet.
  22. Maxbialystock
    Can there be any doubt that the John Henry era has been transformational?
  23. Maxbialystock
    Not very good, I agree.
  24. Maxbialystock
    By the way, where the heck is the turkey tedballgame, who is supposed to get a new thread started ASAP. I already know tonight's lineup, for crying out loud.
  25. Maxbialystock
    Not so fast. Yes, I'm in on Leon, but I also very much enjoy discussing him, including with those who aren't so sure. Goodness knows he looks pudgy, and his hitting lately sucks. His caught stealing % is only .267. He has 11 passed balls. But his DWAR is .8, well above average, and I don't think the DWAR reflects the confidence I believe the pitchers have in him. The Germans have a word, fingerspitzengefuhl, which means finger tip feeling or great situational awareness and intuitive flair. I think Leon has that when calling pitches. But also, as we saw Sunday night, the ability to see what must happen to make a play work.
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