oldtimer

All the articles this morning still do no identify the last two pitchers. Certainly Cora has to identify those by the end of today.

I did see tthe Globe article that indicated both Lin and Travis were sent down to continue working, in case they are needed. In addition, Johnson and Velazquez were told they weren't making the playoffs. That leaves the final two pitching slots to Kelly, Poyner, Hembree and Workman. I expect that will be cleared up by sometime tomorrow.

I think the comment by Betts sums up the best way to look at effort during the POs. His comment; "Just think better urgency, and that will be our mindset from pitch one and treat each pitch like it's your last," Betts said. "I think it's very important to set the tone. It's something we haven't done the last couple of years and something we hope to do this year."

I hadn't heard that. Thanks

So far, the playoffs have gone with very good pitching. The highest run total was run up by the Dodgers at 5. Last night was 2 to 1 in 13 innings. Both those clubs have their share of good hitters. The point is that pitching and defense are critical in the PO's and a team will only go as far as their pitching takes them.

Did I say he needs to swing for the fences? No I didn't. It would be nice to see him hit the ball harder to right field, at least some of the time. Did he wear down? He is 24 years old and if he did, how come Betts and Bogaerts did not? His swing looks pretty but he could and probably will become a much better hitter in his upcoming years.

The only question is Lin versus one of the catchers. Lin has been outstanding of late, has speed and can play a variety of positions. He probably will not make it but is still a viable option.

Thornburg is out for the year and Cuevas is not on Coras list.. There is no chance either one makes the Playoff. I will remind you that Johnson was the firth option on Cora's list.

If he and/or the coaching staff feel he needs to make further adjustments to get back some of his power, he should not attempt to do that going into the playoffs. He can contribute a lot by being a table setter and a guy with a good on base percentage. The time to experiment is the off season and spring training.

While Cora said the playoff roster will include 14 field players and 11 pitchers, he didn't really identify the 14 field players. Clearly we know the majority of those but there is doubt on the last 2 or 3 based on players out of options. To me, one big question is whether we will keep 3 catchers. Another question, probably already settled is what do we do at first base. A final question is do we value Swihart and Lin enough to avoid cutting one of them loose, or are either or both of them seen as being more valuable in the PO then a third catcher or an underperforming player at 1st. Tough decisions for Cora but that is his role as helped and guided by his senior coaching staff. He did indicate 9 of his pitching staff with two to be determined. don't think any of the 5 pitchers that are candidates for the two slots have options left. More tough decisions, but this is the season where we have a better chance of winning it all than we may have going forward, so heshould pick the two that round the club out best. I think we know that none of the 5 identified are obvious choices.

There were several stories about how Benintendi bulked up in the offseason because he said he tended to lose weight over the long grind. He worked with weights so put on muscle to get to 185 or 190 pounds (depending on which you believe) on his 5'10" frame (also mentioned as generous). So, he had packed on weight and strength sufficient to up his power, and by what I have seen, he still looks stockier than he did last year. The point is that there are reasons to believe he would hit for more power this year. So what happened that his power tailed off since the AS break? I have attributed it to his reluctance or inability to pull the ball. Many ball he fouls to the left field side and he hits there or to center. Much less often will he pull the ball and in a place like Yankee stadium it would be made for him. The kid has a pretty swing and makes a lot of contact and for this year we have to be satisfied having a table setter, which he has done fairly well.

The first two PO games are moving along with the Brewers beating the Cubs 3 to 1 and now the Dodgers ahead of the Rockies 4 to 0 in the 6th. PO games tend to be lower scoring with pitching more of a factor. Our pitchig needs to hold up in the PO's to give us a shot at moving ahead. Our offense is very solid so pitching is the make or break for us.

I would assume that a high percentage of starting pitchers who throw hard will have durability issues. Don't know if there is a source within MLBB that can quantify durability, but there probably is. Thats why I cringe at the idea of giving any starter a long term contract and particularly if that pitcher has already got a lot of innings behind them. It might work out, but it is a risky endeavor. The Price contract in particular bothered me. He has had his issues, but at least he is still out there holding down a #2 starter role.

And for those who would manage by longterm WAR, good luck to them.

An the final answer is 108 and goes in the record book as our best ever. Great accomplishment. Now on to the post season. We have better odds of winning it all than perhaps ever before but no team is a lock. I will be satisfied if they play well.

Yes, but it is a lot to hope for. Be interesting to see the final roster choices by Cora. It comes down to picking the better among a group with flaws in the BP. Eaqch reliever in question has looked erratic in the past period, so Cora doesn't have obvious choices. I still think Poyner is needed as a lefty specialist and Workman for his sinker. Johnson is another lefty under consideration and Kelly and Hembree are the righties.

Eovaldi will probably be offered as someone in the 4th starter category. Probably 6 to 8 million for 3 years. He could help our team, but do we have the resources to sign him? You have excluded Kelly, Pom so perhaps some of that money could be applied to a much needed right handed starter. Lot to think about. Porcello may go in 2020 so a bridge there might be a help.

Yes, Sale will start in game 1 and Price in game 2 if against the Yankees since they don't want him starting in Yankee stadium. That leaves Porcello and Eovaldi to start games 3 and 4. I hope that E-Rod can give us mature innings from the BP. He has the stuff if he can get his mind around the magnitude of the situation.

Who is hot and who is not going into the PO's. Using Moon's list, which I find pretty close to my expectations: 1. Betts RF Red Hot 2. Beni LF Warming up but no real power 3. Bogey SS So so 4. JD DH So so 5. Pearce 1B Hot 6. Devers 3B Hot 7. JBJ CF So so 8. Kinsler 2B Cool 9. Leon (w Sale & Price) Ice Cold 10.Vaz (w Porcello & Eovaldi) Cool Bench: Holt (PH, 2B, 1B, 3B, SS, OF) I might use him at 1B over Moreland vs RHPs. Hot Nunez (3B, 2B, OF) Warm (good contact) Swihart (C, PH, 1B, OF) Warm Moreland (1B, PH) I'd think about taking Ice Cold Lin over Moreland. I've lost faith in MM. Warm I am for going with our best hitters (Lin probably won't make the team), unless there are strong extenuating circumstances, such as a big defensive disparity.

We are competitive without our best in there. Good pitching will hold the Yankees down while we should be good for 5 runs. Nothing is easy in the POs, but I like our chances.

Sounds like you have been drinking.

Lin certainly has looked good during the last week and Moreland is in a slump. Hard to pick him over Moreland though.

Workman and Poyner are decent choices. We could use a lefty specialist and Poyner seems to be our best at this time. Workman has a hard sinker and looks to be more reliable than either Hembree or Kelly. Too bad, as both have better velocity. Johnson's sort of a 7th ir spot starter but unlikely to contribute in the Post Season. Its a trade off picking among his last 5 in the running.

it wasn't really just a one game judgement. I liked the kids slider and thought he had more of a chance to make the grade. He obviously was knocked around by the Yankees which tells me his stuff isn't good enough for the post season. I wouldn't gived up on him for next year though.

The Red Sox need one grand slams to tie the franchise team record (11) and four to tie the MLB team record (14). Still a chance at 11.