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Maxbialystock

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Everything posted by Maxbialystock

  1. Maxbialystock
    I don't want to come across as two-faced, but I would vastly prefer that Kimbrel contribute in the playoffs. The lesson of September--truly a great month for the Sox--is the emergence of the bullpen who time and again came in early and late to keep the Sox competitive. To me it was not one guy, but several. I pick on Kimbrel because he gets the big bucks and is THE CLOSER. And I do think Kelly, Uehara, or Ziegler could close. But I would really rather Kimbrel close--effectively--because he has the best stuff when hitters can't sit on his fast ball or just plain wait for him to walk them. I'm pissed off at Kimbrel, but, believe me, I am not rooting for to fail.
  2. Maxbialystock
    Do you two really want to defend Kimbrel? My point remains: right now he is suspect. As for the character assassination, I was just observing that he seems to need to put on a show when he goes out on the mound--unlike other Sox pitchers. Plus, as I keep reminding one and all, he apparently doesn't do windows. That is, he is all about saves and nothing else. Right now the Sox three relievers who would do as well or better closing--Uehara, Ziegler, and Kelly. Fortunately all three are also willing to be set up men for Kimbrel. Until Kimbrel started to go bad in September, really, late September and early Oct, those four gave Farrell some pretty good options. I think they still can but Kimbrel is suspect.
  3. Maxbialystock
    I would not pick Mookie because I honestly don't think he is feared at the plate. But he is beyond question a five tool player who has had a very, very good year: OPS over .900, 113 rbi's, 122 runs scored, 31 dingers, 26 SB's, and an insane 14 assists vs. 1 error in the outfield. He has the second highest WAR in the AL behind Trout. So, despite my reluctance, he would be a darn good pick.
  4. Maxbialystock
    Porcello does not lead the AL in ERA or K's, so I really wouldn't pick him for the Cy Young.
  5. Maxbialystock
    He just blew a save with a 3 run lead. He stinks period.
  6. Maxbialystock
    Here we go again. Already with the excuses for Kimbrel. Again. It's not a save situation. It's not an important game. Vazquez is the real problem. Simple fact is that Kimbrel's control is tenuous, or at least it has been in September and October. He walked a guy, then a sac bunt, then a wild pitch. By the next batter, the one who had the rbi, he was throwing nothing but fastballs even though he has shown that his fast ball by itself is hittable. He's lucky the sac fly wasn't a double off the wall. I think Ziegler, Uehara, and Kelly would all be better closers, but Kimbrel will almost certainly keep the job because he is incapable of doing anything else besides close. Plus, when his curve is working, he can mow hitters down. But let's not kid ourselves. Right now our closer is suspect. Someone else pointed out that smart opposing hitters should take pitches, and that's exactly what the Jays leadoff batter did in the 9th--assume Kimbrel couldn't throw strikes. And he couldn't.
  7. Maxbialystock
    Both Happ and Rodriguez have thrown a lot of pitches--80 and 86--in four innings. Each as given up 4 walks.
  8. Maxbialystock
    Both pitchers with control problems from the cold and wet. Big single by Young.
  9. Maxbialystock
    I'm guilty too. I was mad as hell last night, then thrilled by the comeback, then somewhat frustrated with the bullpen even though they gave up no runs. I think last night's was a pretty important win for the Sox because I thought they were headed for six losses to end the season.
  10. Maxbialystock
    Well, the important thing is to give our guys some rest. Of course, I also have feeling that they will get plenty of rest after the ALDS series because right now everything stinks. In the 5th a leadoff double who simply never advanced, not even to 3b and in the the 6th a one out triple that also never advanced. The Jays on the other hand look tough and determined even though it's cold and wet at Fenway.
  11. Maxbialystock
    Interesting analogy, comparing a major league manager to a dog barking (or, in this case, not) barking in the night. Also interesting is that your chief complaint is that Farrell doesn't do enough, but in almost the same sentence you complain loudly that he made too many changes in the lineup for last night's game.
  12. Maxbialystock
    I am certainly capable of letting perception take over at the expense of reality. But, I say again, the simple fact is that Kimbrel gave up runs on 3 different occasions in this crucial month and Uehara has given up none. I would still use Kimbrel as my closer because he has the best stuff and because Uehara turns out to be a terrific set up man and we don't have many starters who can go 8 good innings. So we need both of them. Plus Ziegler and Kelly and a good lefty (Ross? Abad? Pomeranz?).
  13. Maxbialystock
    I suppose that's a fair accusation--impugning Kimbrel's character--but my point is that Kimbrel only seems effective when he is in for a save. I prefer Uehara because he just goes out there and pitches without the showmanship and is fine with going out for a hold or even to get us through an inning when the Sox are 1 behind. Uehara doesn't have nearly the "stuff" that Kimbrel has, but he does have command of his pitches.
  14. Maxbialystock
    I wouldn't call it a tossup, but it's close enough to be a reasonable approach when facing Kimbrel. However, I truly believe his fast ball is hittable even at 100 mph if the batter is sure that's what is coming. Kimbrel must have the knuckle curve working to be effective. Wright has an OK fastball that works, but only if his knuckleball is working. Of course, Wright doesn't need any other pitches when his knuckler is working, which means in the strike zone or close enough to get swings. I believe Kimbrel needs both pitches working even though that knuckle curve is pretty darn good by itself.
  15. Maxbialystock
    Moncada to Arizona is the right move even though very recently I said I would keep him for his speed.
  16. Maxbialystock
    I love moonslav's numbers, but would not only agree with Nick about the 3 days off. I would also note that Farrell had no choice to play his best guys more. Besides, Pedey is 11th in plate appearances and seems full of energy (or at least desire).
  17. Maxbialystock
    The most sensible thing I've read on Kimbrel is what S5Dewey wrote, that opposing managers should tell their hitters to take the first two pitches from Kimbrel because he could walk them and because, if he is throwing strikes, he is hard to hit.
  18. Maxbialystock
    In. Happy Smiley-Beni day!
  19. Maxbialystock
    So will I. Toronto is one of those nasty ALE teams. Their 4th place team has a winning record.
  20. Maxbialystock
    Boy, do I hope you are right and I am dead wrong.
  21. Maxbialystock
    You always make sensible posts, so I would love to agree with you on this. But I can't. First and foremost, when you think of closers, think or our own Uehara in 2013 or even, 3 years later and age 41, this month. That's what you need. Not a prima donna who can't pitch well when he isn't in for a save, who can blow up and simply not find the plate, and who gave up runs in 3 different games this month already. He could still do fine in the playoffs because he has great stuff when he is on. But he sure seems to be slipping backward this month and Farrell would be wise to have a backup in mind whenever he sends Kimbrel to the mound.
  22. Maxbialystock
    ARe you serious? Kimbrel is all about style points. He preens himself when he is on the mound, and he doesn't want to be out there for anything other than save. I entirely agree he has great stuff when he is on and that he has had a pretty good season. But he has not had a good September, and it is a simple fact that his weakness is control. I could be wrong, but I honestly don't think he ever tries to hit the corners but simply aims for the middle of the strike zone and hopes that his stuff will suffice, which it usually does. I also believe he will continue to close if only because he will refuse to do anything else. He is that much of a prima donna. Or, if he doesn't refuse to do something besides close, he will do it poorly because he will lack motivation.
  23. Maxbialystock
    Very sensible. I might add that those three days of rest should have made tonight's night off unnecessary.
  24. Maxbialystock
    Are you kidding? I wasn't just being sarcastic, I was downright venomous. Everything I'm seeing tonight pisses me off, especially because it is the 3d straight loss. I freely admit I am over-reacting, but I hate to see the Sox play with such a demonstrably lackadaisical attitude. Have they earned a "night off?" Sure they have. It's been a long, hard season and they came up aces in September with the 11 game winning streak. But right now they are pissing me off. It doesn't help that last night Kimbrel crapped all over himself. Or that two nights ago Price gave up 6 earned runs. Or that the team, especially Ortiz, has simply stopped hitting. Or that tonight Ross threw 32 pitches, 16 of them strikes, to get just 2 outs while loading the bases and giving up the 5th run. Or that Hembree gave up 2 runs.
  25. Maxbialystock
    Good game to just sit back and enjoy because there is no chance the Sox are going to win tonight. They just won the ALE while losing, so why not just keep on losing? Stupid Yankees seem to want to win even though they are out of it. Nope. That's not the Sox way. Move Benintendi up to batting 2d so he can strike out a little more. Heck, Bogaerts can do it too. Didn't Sabathia get him on 3 pitches right after the at bat when he got the dinger? And who's that leading off? Hill. I mean, how perfect is that. This is the right way to get ready for the playoffs. Nice and relaxed. Resting players. No tension on the bench. I mean, who really gives a s***? Isn't this Ortiz's third straight hitless game? The hitting stinks. The pitching stinks. Everyone's in a groove. I think I see a six game losing streak leading into the playoffs. What could be better?
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