Maxbialystock

Good reminders (and facts). Thanks. I was too lazy to look up the schedules.

Please do not put me in the pessimist category. I have already written why I think we are the only AL team who can beat the Guardians in the ALCS. I also think we can beat the Astros. We have the second best defense (pitching and fielding) in the AL plus we potentially have some good starters to match up with theirs. Our one real problem is that we actually need to score runs to win, and that has generally our weak point this year against good pitching.

Interesting. Thanks, moonslav. I've read about his practices, but this is the first time I've seen an analysis and a quote from Farrell on how Price might actually pitch again this year--or not. Price still has good stuff when he uses all of it and hit his spots. A short start (3, 4 innings?) might be worth trying before the postseason.

Moon, I would argue that even that example--guy on 2b, no one on 1b--can be situation dependent. If he is fast and smart, he could well--and justifiably so--go for 3b based on where the ball is hit and how much lateral movement (or, better still, movement toward home plate by the thirdbaseman) is required to field the grounder. If no one is out, there are significant advantages to gettin someone to 3b on a groundout because then he can score on a fly ball, a groundout, a bunt, a passed ball, a balk, whatever. That's why we often expect the batter to move the runner by hitting to the right side in that same circumstance. If the guy on 2b obeys your golden rule and doesn't budge no matter what, he is still on 2b but with one out--big advantage to the pitcher because only a hit can hurt him. Even if the runner advances on a ground out or fly, there are now two outs, which means another groundout or fly ball won't bring him home. Let me re-emphasize that generally your rule makes sense. I just think there can be exceptions.

Bad day at black rock. But still up 3.

They we don't have much to disagree on. Pom is my #3 even though I think ERod has better stuff--but he is way too inconsistent.

did that really happen again? Two men on and we ground out to end the inning? 1 for 7 with RISP, 13 left on in 7 innings?

Fair enough. Here's where I am coming from. Pom, it's true, has the 2d best pitching WAR on the team after Sale--overall he has as you say been good the whole season. He has also exceeded my expectations. What worries me is the number of pitches he needs to get thru 5 or 6 innings, which means the great majority of his starts depend on the bullpen being good. Thus I get nervous every single time he starts. Fister actually didn't join the club until late June. His first month was definitely terrible, but I charge that up to the new team, etc. But, as I keep saying, he has been our best starter for the last six weeks, which is over half of his season. To me he is no worse than our 3d best starter and I like him more for #2 for the simply reason that, when he is on, he is not only very good, but is also a good bet to hand the game off to Reed and Kimbrel, our two best relievers. Among all our starters, only Sale is consistently that good (or better, season long)_ when he is on. Yes, I think Pom is capable of pitching well, but think he is still basically a 5 or 6 inning guy.

Exactly where I am. Plus it's a helluva wave, especially the last 4 starts.

I like the manager decision even though Hembree gave up the 1 run. I agree the whole team, especially including Fister, looked shaky tonight. Especially tough when the Yankees won today.

I honestly hope he does because that firstbaseman made a really good play to get him and Moreland going to 1b. And I also apologize for being a smartass. Game thread opinions are bound to differ.

Really? And just who is? Is you say Sale, I will of course say you're right season to date, but then will hastily add he ain't exactly been Mr. September in the past and has in fact been out-started by Fister from July 31 to now. Do I need to also go through how Pom, ERod, and Porcello have been since July 31--again?

Ah, yes, the old argument--our guys are so weak on the fundamentals this year, including dummies like Pedey who just can't focus. Boneheaded running at its worse because of course HanRam was going to get a hit despite all compelling evidence to the contrary--like in 2 at bats vs. Cotton he popped up and struck out. For shame, Pedey. Don't you know you have a bad knee and you're 33 and pretty much over the hill?

No question these games are big, all of them. Are you also saying the games from July 31 to now ain't no big deal even though that is when the Sox leapt into first place and kept it? My gosh, he had two high quality starts in his last two starts--in September-- when we really needed them, and you want to say he ain't manning up? jeez.

Another easy out on a first pitch swing. This one at least a fastball, but Betts popped out to 1b.

Wow. You sound like you want him to be lousy to confirm your low opinion. And you ignore the simple fact that in the last 6 weeks he has been easily our best starter--including Sale.

Absolutely. HanRam was on deck. When he came to bat the next inning, he struck out foolishly in 4 pitches, which is exacty what he would have done if Pedey had stayed on 3b and Moreland's grounder to 1b only been the 2d out. HanRam has been uniformly bad with men on base this year, which is why he has the most dingers and 2 fewer rbi's than pedey, who has played in 20 fewer games.

Terrible at bat by Beni, going for the changeup down and away on the first pitch. Pedey, on the other hand, got beat by some pretty crafty stuff that set up that changeup, low in the zone but definitely a strike, for the swinging K. I have complained about not swinging at first pitches, but maybe need to change my mind because our guys seem to be so rotten at it. By that I mean they swing at lousy first pitches--pitcher's pitches, the ones they want you to hit.

That surprised me. I fully expected Fister to pitch the 5th, but those guys Abad got out, 1, 2, 3, were giving Fister fits. Great move by Farrell, dummy, fireless, incompetent though he no doubt is.

Devers not looking so hot either. He got his pitch on that 3d one, a fat fastball at 92 mph, and could only foul it off.

OK, down 4 but still in the 4th inning. Maybe the real Fister is back and can go 1 more. On the other hand, our #5 and #6 batters look totally amateurish tonight. We just saw Han Ram look at fast ball and and swing at miss at a breaking ball out of the zone. That's exactly what he would have done with the bases loaded (or men on 2d and 3d).

I didn't and I was dead wrong. As you imply, it was pretty obvious.

May I say too that tonight Moreland has been a complete putz. What's the point of starting him against an at best so-so righty when all he can do is pop-up and ground out with men on base both times?

I do not believe it. Bases loaded and 1 out and a GIDP the hard way. Given HanRam on deck, Pedey had good reason to try to score, but just was not quick enough.

Season long, yes. But in his last 4 starts against the Jays, Yankees, Orioles, and Guardians he went 7, 7, 7, and 9 innings and gave up 1, 1, 2, and 1 run. Counting July 31 he has had 6 of 8 quality starts including tonight (not a quality start). During the same period, Sale has had 5 of 8 quality starts, Pom 5 of 7 quality starts, and Erod 5 of 8. Do I need to bother with Porcello?