moonslav59

The back end of the pen has been horrible. I agree, and we don't know if it can be fixed with Houck or Schreiber/Strahm or someone else stepping up or into the role. From what I'm hearing, it sounded like we have lost 7-10 games we were leading in the 9th, and it's only 3. I get the fact that we are also 1-6 in extras, and that is on the pen, too, but usually not the closer, and often not even the top set-up guy, so I'm not sure the blame is being placed on the right part of the pen- not that it should matter, anyway. Our pen has been a significant factor in too many losses. There is no doubt about that. Maybe we can have some hope Houck can fill the role. Maybe we can have some hope that when Sale and or Paxton return, someone else can fill a hole or two in the pen, and stop the dumpster fires from happening so often. When you look at the game by game results of the pen, there are many times they went long innings helping us win or keeping us in the game until the end- sometimes to just watch one guy ruin the rest of the pen's work, late in the game or in extra innings. The whole ghost runner thing also clouds the picture, to me. I think everyone shares in the frustration and pain. It's obvious team management felt they had enough horses to carry us, at least to the deadline. The Sale injury messed things up, but plans should always be made to account for one starter to be out. Bloom & Co. had a similar looking pen, last winter, and it did well enough to get us close to a WS, Maybe they pushed their luck. Maybe they felt signing Wacha and Hill were more important than a top RP'er. Maybe they saw something in Diekman, I never saw. We also lost Taylor, who has been one of our best pen arms the last 1-2 years. They did okay with Strahm and claiming Schreiber off waivers. It just hasn't been enough. Too many failed, all at the same time. While greatness was not expected from many in this pen, this much failing was a bit unexpected, IMO. I'm glad we signed Wacha, Hill and Strahm. The Diekman signing looks bad, right now, and the jury is still out on Story. IMO, there were only so many dollars to spend, and it looks like we had 1-2 too many holes to fill, or we spent too much on Story and JBJ to allow us to fill those other holes adequately. Maybe Story will more than make up for the pen shortcomings over the rest of the season. Maybe Diekman, or Barnes, or someone steps it up. Maybe a deadline trades fixes the problem, just in time. There's still a lot of season to go.

How is 26-3 all that bad?

The pop out by Yaz. Bucky f***ing Dent. The grounder to Buckner. Aaron freakin' Boone.

What is our record when tied or leading by 1 or 2 going into the 9th?

OK. You asked ab out being ahead, and that's when traditional closers are used- usually when the game is close. I don't think 23-4 and 26-3 is all that bad. It's not great, either, but it's not bad. We do suck when we're tied. 3-4 in 8th, 0-5 in 9th, 1-6 in 10th, 0-1 in 11th. Here is a look at other current playoff track teams Ahead in 8th: 30-0 NYY 27-0 HOU 26-1 TOR 24-2 TBR 27-3 MIN 23-4 BOS Ahead in 9th 31-0 NYY 31-0 HOU 28-1 TOR 27-1 MIN 24-2 TBR 26-3 BOS Tied in 8th 7-3 NYY 5-3 HOU 4-3 TBR 3-4 BOS 3-6 TOR 2-3 MIN Tied in 9th 4-2 NYY 4-3 TBR 2-2 HOU 2-2 MIN 2-4 TOR 0-5 BOS Tied in 10th 2-1 NYY 1-1 HOU 1-2 TOR 1-2 MIN 1-6 BOS Nobody is doubting we have had serious issues in the 8th, 9th and 10th, but I'm not sure it's as bad as you make it out to be. 26-3 with the lead in the 9th is pretty close to everyone else. It's just 1, 2 or 3 more losses than others and just 3 from perfection.

That wasn't what the debate was about. It was about the contract being a "discount" and later about whether he was a deadwood contract when DD took over control. Of course, the injury made the contract an overall bust. I don't think anyone is saying it was not.

Well, we are 26-5 when leading going into the 9th. We are 23-4 when leading into the 8th. A team can never be leading going into the 10th. (We are 1-6 in the 10th, but you rarely use your traditional closer when tied.)

After so many seasons of intense heartache, it was so fitting to win that way.

We should have a chance to see how Houck does as a closer, before Sale comes back.

He hasn't even cracked soxprospects.com's top 13, but I think that will change their next adjustment. He's a plus defender and is only 21, so I think he's going to make some lists.

Because the pen has done okay to well in 36 games, this year.

Wacha v Syndergaard Gotta take one game at a time and keep the Angels reeling.

The day we get to .500 we also lead the last WC slot! +4.5 TOR +4.0 TBR - BOS -0.5 LAA -0.5 CLE -1.0 CWS -1.5 TEX

Lots of fun memories. Efin Machado!

The Rays & Jays both lost. Angels lost, too.

Good to see Wong and Downs heating up. RHern is, too. Maybe we'll get our back-up catcher for 2023 from Wong or RHern. VSantos pitched 5 shutout innings (3 H, 3BB, 4K). Hamilton had 3 hits in the 2-0 win. Greenville got a win as Rafaela went 2-4. Binelas had a solo blast (11th).

He was the original dirt dog, but he also seemed to make a lot of really spectacular defensive plays. Looked pretty athletic, to me. (Speed is not the only trait of an athlete.)

It's hard to know how good these guys are against opposite arms, as they hardly ever face them. Franchy has 12 PAs v LHPs and a higher OPS, before today (.750 to .721.) Dalbec only has 37 PAs vs LHPs (.711 before today) and 110 vs RHPs (.498)

Hill got his ERA down to 4.40. He's had 6 good to great starts: IP/ER 4.0/0 4.0/0 5.0/0 6.0/2 6.0/1 He's has 4 bad starts: 4.1/3 4.2/4 2.0/4 4.0/6

Some might take issue with the non athletic statement.

Agreed, and they should force a move, a new stadium and or owner upon them, if they won't spend more.

I still like the idea of Franchy playing in the OF on most of the days he's not at 1B. Verdugo or Kike can rest. Kike can play 2B or SS when Story or Bogey rest. You gotta find room for your hottest hitters, somehow. The good part of the problem is that just about every hitter is on a hot streak or beginning to warm up. 1.154 Story in last 81 PAs .930 JBJ in last 47 PAs (.809 in last 88) .900 Vaz in his last 80 PAs .868 Dalbec in his lat 26 PAs .836 Kike in last 70 PAs .779 Cordero in last 32 PAs (also .746 last 91 PAs) .759 Verduo in last 85 PAs .755 Arroyo in his last 35 PAs

Cordero is really making the Beni trade look more promising. Two more years left on his control. Beni's control years end after this year. Now, if Winckowski or one of the long shot prospects ever give us a plus, maybe we'll look back and praise the deal.

Tough out by Cordero. Man! 4 hits and just 1 run.

More insightful comments. case closed.