moonslav59

They were a little better than middle of the road in last year's short season (12th) and 2019 (11th), but yes, they were largely known for pitching defense, base running and doing all the little things right. They trade Snell and lose Glasnow plus their top closer, Anderson, plus a couple decent pitchers like Chirinos and Beeks and suddenly turn into an run-scoring team. On the surface, it looks like smoke and mirrors, but they've done this for too long, to believe it's just blind luck. Look at the offenses of Houston, LAD, BOS, CWS and TOR. The Rays have scored more than all of them! Almost 50 more than the Jays! Runs 733 TBR 710 HOU 699 BOS 692 LAD 686 CWS 685 TOR/CIN OPS is supposed to be one of the best predictors of runs score: the Rays are 10th in OPS- closer to 11th than 9th. .785 TOR .774 HOU .772 BOS ,762 CIN .755 CWS .754 SFG .752 ATL .750 LAD .750 WSN .743 TBR Within the OPS stat, they say OBP is more important than SLG: TBR are 13th in OBP at .319. Power? They are 5th in ISO and 3rd in the ALE! .192 TOR .190 ATL .188 SFG .186 BOS .184 TBR .181 CIN .180 MIN .179 LAD They are 7th in team speed, according to fangraphs. They are 12th in BAbip at .292. (BOS, CWS & WSH are 1st at .307). They are 10th in wOBA at .320 (TOR, HOU & BOS are all over .331.) They do look better, but still not best in... wRC+ 116 HOU 111 TOR 109 CWS 107 TBR 106 BOS 106 LAD 104 SFG 103 OAK 102 CIN fangraphs base running 12.4 COL 9.1 KCR 8.6 TBR fangraphs batting 102 HOU 69 TOR 59 CWS 44 TBR 39 LAD 39 BOS Will they come down to earth, or have they found ways to defy the odds and score more without being better hitters and runners?

It's a huge game, no doubt, and a win here could give us the added boost we need. I do want to point out that we are 7-4 in our last 11 and 9-5 in our last 14, so one could argue, we started turning things around a couple weeks ago.

On a DH only player?

Although signing a top SP'er costs more than a top closer, they seem more likely to not fail than RP'ers often do. I have no evidence to support this, and out last big pitcher signing, Price, did not work out all that greatly. I know we want to avoid 5 or 6+ year deals, so I really would not be surprised, if we sign one or two of the older pitchers to a 2-3 year deals and use Houck in the pen. Yes, Houck has great value as a starter, even if he continues to get yanked after the second time through a line-up, but getting starters who can go 6-7 takes a lot of stress off the pen.

I already explained this.

He wasn't much before either, especially after Scwarber got healthy enough to play.

I think it was to make a point about sticking with someone, despite a long slump.

Nice post. Maybe the idea is playing everyday against live pitching in AAA is better than taking batting practice in the MLs, but what is it 3-5 PAs a day? Yes, pitchers have a better situation in the minors.

I can't even remember the last time we went into the 9th with a classic one run lead save opportunity. It seems like maybe once in the last month.

He and Ort are the only 2 untried.

Right now, I'm writing on a thread about closers, and ours are coming in during the 7th and 8th inning. We hardly have any 9th inning save situations anymore. Our "save men," right now, are 2-3 inning pitchers like Whitlock & Richards. I'd love to have a lights out, one inning closer, right now. They are extremely valuable. I'm not one to believe anyone can do it, so I'm not sure we are in disagreement over this one.

The Sox have played more games than all our competition. 2 more than TBR. 3 more than NYY. 4 more than TOR 2 more than SEA. Here's who they play on our 4 days off, this month: THU 9/9 NYY v TOR THU 9/16 NYY @ BAL, TBR v DET MON 9/20 NYY v TEX, TBR v TOR, SEA @ OAK MON 9/27 SEA v OAK FRI 10/1 TOR v BAL SAT 10/2 TOR v BAL SUN 10/3 TOR v BAL *TOR plays 2 @ BAL on 9/11

What's harder? Coming into the 7th with bases loaded in a tied game or the 9th up 6 runs? There is always context needed. That being said, it's not easy being "the guy" in the ninth in tight games.

Such an optimist! What if the Yanks or Rays get hit by COVID?

If we need to win the last day of the season, I want Sale pitching. If by then, we've clinched a WC slot, Sale sits and starts the WC game on extra rest. What is wrong with this idea?

23 games left and we only need to start of #5 twice. If we need to, we can pitch... Sale 6 times- twice with extra rest. ERod 5 times Eovaldi 5 times Houck 5 times Other teams have way fewer days off and will be using their 5th and even 6th starters more often.

Why not use Sale 9/22 and 9/28 and have him ready for the last game of the season, if needed or the WC game on extra rest?

Are we calling up the wrong guys, or do we just have guys that only do well in the minors? On the farm, today, after our teams went 5-0, yesterday. Woo wins 2-1 Hart 6IP 2H 1ER 2BB 5K Feltman & Ort 3 IP 1H 0ER 0BB 3 K Meneses 3-3 with 2B & BB Ockimey 2-4 w RBI POR- 2 games cancelled GRE loses 8-0 Nothing to report except Howlett went 1-3. SAL won 6-5 Gonzalez 5 IP 2H 0ER 2BB 5K Jimenez 2-4 Decker 2-4 w HR Northcut 2-4 w 2 RBI

It's a miracle we were in it until the 9th, but we did waste scoring opportunities in all 9 innings.

After winning 13 in a row, the Yanks have gone 2-6. The worst I can come up with on the Rays is 2-3 in last 5. OAK is in freefall going 4-10 in their last 14 & 6-14 in last 20. On the flip side... SEA is about to win 5 straight and 6 of 7. TOR has won 4 straight and 7 of 8. BOS has won 7 of 11 and 9 of 14.

Arroyo should be due back, too.

They yanked him in the August 31st game, so assuming he has passed all subsequent protocols, September 9th? (Maybe the 10th?) Arroyo's last game was 8/26. He must be real close.

Lots of chances: 1st: 2 on 1 out Dugo lines out/ Plawecki grounds out 2nd: 2nd and 3rd and 0 outs Lopez K, Arauz fly out, Schwarbs ground out 3rd: man on 1st 1 out and 2nd with 2 out Plawecki fly out 4th: 2nd and 3rd and 1 out Arauz fly out/ Schwarbs Ks 5th: After JD's double & Plawecki's rbi single- 2nd & 3rd 2 out Dalbec flies out 6th: After JD's 2 run HR, Verdugo 2Bs - 1 out Plawecki & Sahe ground out. 7th: Motter walks with 1 out and gets picked off 8th: Renfroe singles with 1 out JD & Verdugo ground out 9th: Plawecki lead off single 1-2-3 outs Every inning, we had opportunities lost.

That would be great to see the Yanks and Toronto have to play-in for the WC game vs the Rays... errr, I mean the Sox.

While true, we haven't really had many classic one inning save opportunities where we are up 1 or 2. We've needed 2-3 inning saves or someone to come into the 9th with a 3 or 4 run lead and not blow it.