Maxbialystock

JF gets a pass because he used that game to see if Kimbrel could recover from the bad start. He could not. As you say, next time Kimbrel gets the hook earlier even if he is the presumed closer. And let's not forget that prima donna Kimbrel doesn't even want to go to the mound unless it's a save opportunity. Plus somebody on this thread actually said last night wasn't his fault because it wasn't an important enough save so Kimbrel didn't have enough adrenaline. Laughable.

Fine. Here's the short version. The bullpen, with the single exception of Kimbrel, has been terrific in September, the most important month in terms of getting to and preparing for the playoffs. Kimbrel alone has had problems three different times in September, giving up a total of 6 runs. Uehara has given up 0, Ziegler 1 unearned run, and Kelly 1 earned run. Kimbrel was horrible last night but also horrible August 9 when he walked 4 guys in the 9th--but Barnes saved him with a critical K. Kimbrel should continue to close, but with a shorter leash than heretofore.

Sorry, but I can't buy the adrenaline argument for the simple reason that adrenaline is more likely to make you lose control. Focus and a calm state of mind are what contribute to control, not adrenaline. Any sports psychiatrist can tell you that. Besides, my point is that Kimbrel gave up 1 run or more on three different occasions in September. I might add that his only having two blown saves is kind of bogus because it's a fact that on August 9 he walked 4 guys in the 9th, but the Sox still won because Barnes came in and got the final out, a K. On Kimbrel's side, I think, is that, when he is on, he is very hard to hit because the combo of the knuckle curve and the fast ball keeps hitters off balance. I think he will continue to close, but maybe with a shorter leash.

Back to Kimbrel (and of course longwindness). I beg to differ with those who say we can safely ignore last night and here's why-- 1. Overall the bullpen has been great in September, but I emphasize it's greatness in a collective sense. There can be little doubt that it's been the bullpen and Farrell's willingness to use it that has overall made September wildly successful. 2. I myself have singled out 4 guys--Kimbrel, Uehara, Ziegler, and, believe it or not, Kelly--as giving Farrell a variety of options in the final 3 innings. 3. But here's the grabber. In September, an absolutely crucial month in terms of getting into the playoffs and at the same time preparing for them, only 3 of those 4 have been consistently good. You can look it up as I did. Uehara, Ziegler, and Kelly have all pitched multiple times and innings in September and have given up just 1 earned run--Kelly's gopher ball last night--in the entire freaking month. Ziegler gave up an unearned run in early September, and Uehara of course none. 4. Kimbrel, however, has give up 6 runs in September--4 last night and 1 each on two other occasions. So Farrell is now in the weird situation of having a closer--a very dramatic closer, I might add--who is actually the weak link in the bullpen especially when compared to Uehara, Ziegler, and Kelly. Moreover, the drama queen, unlike the other three, doesn't do windows. He isn't interested in getting a hold or in pitching at all unless it is for a save.

I've actually had pretty good success but deep down agree with you completely. Plus my OP's are invariably longwinded.

You only have to watch Kimbrel pitch maybe half a dozen games to know his strengths and weaknesses. His strengths are he has great stuff--a combo of a blazing fastball and a sharp breaking curve--that put him among the AL closer leaders in K's. His one big weakness is control, which puts him among the AL closer leaders in walks. In games I've watched he rarely paints the corners and instead relies on that deadly combo of curve and fastball. His ERA of 3.35 is 3d highest among the top 15 closers in the AL. But he has 30 saves to 2 blown saves, a very good ratio.

Like I said earlier, not much doubt the Sox would--now have won--win the ALE. The problem is the Sox going back to finding ways to lose after an 11 game winning streak. Last night it was the rotation, specifically, our $30M putz Price. Tonight it was our putz of a closer who has done exactly the same thing in one previous game--walked a million guys in the 9th. If I'm not mistaken, tonight it was 4 straight. Yes, Kelly gave up the grandslam, but he also got those 2 outs. At any point with all three hitters he faced, a little old single ties the game. And let's not forget that tonight 2 of 3 runs the Sox scored were unearned. Last night Ortiz left 7 guys on base, and tonight Benintendi did exactly the same thing--left 7 guys on. We had 5 hits, one of which was a hard hit double by Pedroia, another a freakish high bouncer double by betts that just missed being a GIDP. So the hitting isn't exactly clicking either. To be honest, Kimbrel was the real issue tonight. 4 walks and a single, 28 pitches (13 strikes), no outs. Tonight kind of reminds me of a couple of earlier outings when Kimbrel came in without a save on the line--the Sox were tied or down 1 run--and Kimbrel would just stink it up. And a bunch of guys would be all over Farrell for making poor Kimbrel go out there in the first place. "Kimbrel should not have to do windows," the cry went forth. "He's a closer, no more, no less. Anything else is mismanagement." Well now we have a new category--Kimbrel should not be sent to the mound for a save unless it's a really important game. My fear is that additional categories--when Kimbrel should not be asked to pitch--await us. Away games, perhaps? Lefty batters? Any batters capable of parking it? Any batters who refuse to swing at wild pitches? The above is exaggeration of course. It was just a bad night for Kimbrel. But it sure pisses me off because he makes such a big show--throwing his arms out like they are wings or something--when he gets ready to pitch--just the polar opposite of Mariano Rivera.

What is this "relax" BS? Yes, I'm pretty sure the Sox will clinch the ALE, but what worries me is that the Sox now seem to be rediscovering losing baseball after winning 11 in a row. Last night it was our $30M starter giving up 3 dingers and 6 runs. Tonight it's a lineup that can't hit or score runs through 7 innings. Two singles, that's it. Fortunately, Buchholz looked great tonight, the polar opposite of Price last night, and Ziegler pitched a clean 7th.

We know for a fact that this month Farrell has had no problem pulling starters early. But the Sox are now in the playoffs and a very good bet to win the ALE, so I think last night was kind of a test run. Come the playoffs, I think Price will have a shorter leash than usual. Last night he was lousy early and late in his 6.1 innings and just 89 pitches. Were the same thing to happen in the playoffs, I think Price doesn't come out for the 6th inning.

I think all the naysayers about the postseason are right. But I still like the idea that Sandoval has made progress and could be considered (without being selected) for the postseason.

Glad to hear it. I do know that not long ago--within a month--Farrell also said he would lead with Price. Last night only confirmed that Porcello is the right choice. If the ALDS goes 5 games, either one can pitch game 5.

A very good point because it seems obvious that right now--the final six games of the season--are both games to win and tryouts for the postseason roster. I think the "tryouts" might have an effect on the order of the rotation. Farrell has said he plans to start Price before Porcello, but last night had to give him pause. Assuming the Sox first postseason game is Thursday, Oct 6, we can posit that Porcello can pitch as late as Saturday and still be ready to pitch game 1 on Oct 6. Games 1 and 2 of the ALDS are Oct 6 and 7, then games 3 and 4 are Oct 9 and 10. So whoever pitches this weekend, Oct 1 and 2, will have ample rest for those two games. However, neither Porcello nor Price (presumptive first two starters) will have enough rest to pitch game 3 or 4. Game 5 on Oct 12 will provide enough rest for either of the games 1 and 2 (on Oct 6 and 7) starters to pitch again. However, whoever pitches that game won't be ready for game 1 of the ALCS on October 14. or game 2 of the ALCS on Oct 15. Back to the tryouts notion. If Moncada doesn't pinch run (or play) this week or this weekend, I don't see him on the playoffs roster. Same for any of the other position players who are on the bubble for the postseason--guys like Marrero. I think Young and Holt are shoo-ins. The second catcher is probably a toss-up among Vazquez, Hanigan, and Holaday, so look to see if they play this week/weekend.

Price gave up 3 dingers??!! Not exactly peaking for the postseason.

The problem is blatantly obvious. He loves his fastball and so do opposing hitters. The 2 run dinger was on a fastball, and so were both hits by Ellsbury. He also likes his cutter--ditto the hitters. Has he thrown a changeup yet tonight? A curve or a slider? I could be wrong because I'm certainly no expert, but it sure seems to me as though Price is too predictable. He is lucky to get out of the 5th with just one more run against him.

I forgot Tazawa, who would be a good reliever in the playoffs.

Who's mad? I'm thrilled and have said so repeatedly. And, believe me, plenty of folks on this thread have wanted to bring up Wright, goodness knows why. For these playoffs, he is merely a footnote. Assuming 11 pitchers because of the days off, we can be pretty sure of the rotation: Price, ERod, Porcello, and Buchholz. Bullpen is a little harder, but Kimbrel, Uehara, Zeigler, and Kelly are pretty good bets. Pomeranz as a lefty and long reliever. For another lefty I prefer Ross over Abad. Assuming those first six are right--and they very well might not be--I have no great insight into who else. Abad would provide a third lefty. It's the 14 lineup players who have attracted most of the discussion. I think the first 13 are pretty obvious: 6 infielders (HanRam, Pedroia, Bogaerts, Shaw, Holt, and probably Hill); 4 outfielders (Betts, JBJ, Benintendi, and Young); 2 catchers (Leon and Vazquez, I think); and 1 DH (Ortiz). I like Hill despite his weak hitting so far, but won't complain if Farrell picks another infield for #6. I prefer Vazquez as the backup catcher because I think he and Leon are the two best defensively and that the bench will likely continue to call a lot of the pitches. And I've changed my mind about the 14th guy and now think it should Moncada, about whom I have complained incessantly. But Sunday I watched Pedroia trying to score from 1st on that double and saw the throw beat him by 15 feet. I think Moncada's speed, assuming he is focused and takes off at the right time, would have enabled him to beat that throw. I doubt he tries to steal base, but his speed could be valuable just one time, and that one time could win a whole game. Francona had a pinchrunner in 2004 who saved the entire season, and Farrell had one handy in 2013 but didn't need him. So those are my 25, but I will be fine with almost any picks Farrell makes. If momentum in September and overall wins and losses mean anything, this team has the potential to get to the WS.

Of course it's silly. I'm just getting tired of reading about Wright on a thread about playoff roster. If you're still mad at Farrell, there is a thread called "referendum on Farrell." Back to the playoffs. Maybe we could have used Wright in October, but that's now very unlikely. Meanwhile, without him, the Sox are making a September run for not only the ALE, but the best record in the AL. I credit most of that to a bullpen which may not be lights out, but which has been awfully good this month. I mean these days Farrell almost delights in jerking a guy for giving up a hit or a starter after 2 or 3 innings.

Impressive.

It was absolutely the right call by Farrell. With Wright out of the picture, the rotation finally got into gear. So did the bullpen. Knuckleballers are nothing but trouble.

The number to clinch ALE is now 1 thanks to the Yankees beating the Jays tonight. We are 6 up on the Jays with 6 games to go. And we are up 1.5 games on the Guardians for 2d best AL record and tied with the Rangers for the best record. Tomorrow night it's Price and the Sox at Yankee stadium vs. Cessa, a righty who gave up 3 runs in 5 innings on the 16th in Boston.

Agreed.

Interesting. Me, I want that HFA, but I have to admit that the Sox right now have the best road record in MLB, even better than the Cubs. And you are probably right that HFA is overrated in general. What about my point that the Sox are guaranteed 3 days--1 day short of an All-Star game break--between Sunday's game and the ALDS? That's just a week away and today is a day off too. And what about my point that this team in particular has thrived on back to back to back ad nauseum games? The most recent example is the 11 game win streak without a day off despite playing 4 games in Boston, 4 in Baltimore, and 3 in Tampa.

I think Moncada may have used up his chances this year when he froze between 1st and 2d with 2 outs.

3B probably is the toughest pick, I agree. I think platoon might be the best choice--Holt or Shaw against righties, Hill vs. lefties. I think Hill is the best defender of the three. Agree Moncada is a no go.

I don't see how anyone right now has a lock on 3B. If, for example, Sandoval can hit again, I would be tempted to make him the DH. But his return to form in any case is a big if. Shaw has now had two seasons to prove himself, but has struggled at the plate. Hill ain't the long term guy. Holt is best as the utility guy because he is so versatile. So I think Moncada has a shot, but only if he can hit, which includes being able to hit a curve ball. I also think he has a better shot at the infield than the outfield.