oldtimer

During the PO's, we will be playing teams who are nearly as good as us, better in some areas and worse in others. Because of that an extra hit here or a good play there may well make a significant difference duriing the series. We have only two questionable area in the field that Cora needs to focus on and they are catcher and 3rd base. Tough decisions loom for him there as has been discussed on this thread. At catcher we have two very weak offensive players who are good to very good defensively. The starters seem to like them. Then we have a more versatile player who is a better hitter and can catch but has little to no experience with the majority of the staff. As we discussed, there is an option of taking all three and pinch hitting for the weaker offensive players in key situations. An alternative is to take the best defensive catcher and the best hitter. We can always replace a guy at the end of a series should we sustain an injury. Both are non-optimum decisions but Cora is being paid to make the tough ones. At third base we have a pro and seasoned hitter who is a so-so fielder and a young player who is neither hitting or a reliable fielder but offers the possibility of running into one as a left handed bat. Phillips is not in the discussion now so Cora needs to choose. It would be nice to have better at third but those are the choices. We can possibly take both if we go with 2 catchers. Next year, both those positions need to be given real thought with the possibility of some moves to improve, possibly from the FA market. As far as pitching, I still think it comes down to deciding between Kelly, Thornburg, Workman and Hembree for the last spot. I don't recommend 12 pitchers, but if we do I see it as two of those 4.

We mayhave a unique situation with catchers who are terrible offensively. How many other teams will carry 3 catchers on a 25 man roster?

If you noticed from Devers down and including Mookie we struck out 4 times and hit into a double play. We seem to have problems early in the game with being able to hit starters no matter the ERA. Yes Leon is just not hitting the ball. Cora is watching all these guys, particularly catchers and third basemen. Tough decisions to come.

Two opportunities but nothing to show as yet. Devers certainly didn't have a good at bat, but then neither did Holt. Give them another time around the batting order and see what happens.

A couple of nights ago one of the broadcasters said that if they went beyond the three current caqtchers, Pearce would be the next option. I thik it was the night we had pinch hit for Leon and Vaz. Don't know what inside info the broadcaster had, but I assume he got that information from talking with the Sox manager.

Pearce can also catch in a pinch.

Pretty brave projections leaving out Vaz and Devers and inserting Lin for running and back up infield. Since both Vaz and Leon are so bad offensively I can see where your going. Devers is also on the cusp but Lin probably won't beat him out. With E-Rod out of the BP we probably still do need a left handed relief specialist and Poyner has done the best in limited appearances. Barnes will probably be there, whether 7th or 8th inning. Sometimes it is wise to bring your non-closer shutdown guy in early, when the other team has a big threat going. I can see Brasier in that role. Wright is surely in the conversation for long relief. The final spot is probably up for grabs between Kelly, Thornburg, Workman and Hembree. I can see each getting a hard look in the next 17 games. I like to see our relievers get ahead of batters and if they choose to nibble, at least be close to the plate. Too often we see these guys getting ahead and then running to a full count with meaningless (way offf the plate) pitches and with men on base, letting them run with 3 and 2 counts. Cora has some tough decisions going forward. It's not clear to me at this time that Sale is fully mended. I certainly hope so as a healthy Sale improves our chances.

I'm not surprised that some folks feel superior when they think they are pointing out the shortcomings of others. Maybe if it makes them feel good its worth it, but to me it just indicates their own issues.

That should make for a full game toward the pennant. Ninety nine wins for us. Good day for the sox.

Why do our pitches seem to take the count to 3 and 2 with a baserunner and 2 outs. Seems like giving the runner a head start is not the smart thing to do. He got the strikeout, but I think the approach makes no sense.

Our lineup has one hit in 4 innings and have not pushed this guy as yet (just 50 pitches). Second time around at least they started to hit the ball with more authority. This guy throws a lot of sinkers. Betts and Beni went to center and JDM got a changeup and hit is better. Can't beat the ball into the ground.

Foe Eovaldi to be an effective long reliever, he needs to be able to throw a higher % strikes. He went 20 pitches in his first inning and had trouble finding the plate.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion. Cora's opinion counts. Cora needs to wrap up the pennant while still getting closure on the BP. 3rd base and catcher. What you have that looks debatable is; 1. Swi at util instead of starting catcher. The top pitchers will want Leon 2. Porcello as the #3 starter is more likely 3. I agree that at this point in time Nunez looks like the 3rd base starter, although that is still up in the air 4. Barnes will almost certainly make the RP roster if his hip inflammation is solved. 5. Brasier will probably be used as 8th inning bridge or to squelch scoring opportunities earlier in tthe game. 6. Poyner is our likely left hand short relief specialist. (Don't like POM or Johnson in that role) 7. If we go with 11 pitchers, I see Thornburg, Kelly, Workman and Hembree in the mix, in that order over Velazquez. I personally like Cuevez but he is not ready for the PO pressure.

I'll weigh in by saying we still will be carrying Panda's contract next year less the little that the Giant's will pay him. Panda by the way is playing as a 5'11" 268# while Devers at now 22 is a 6' 237# youngster, with the potential to improve, but also to get heavier and less mobile. I see Moreland as our left handed first baseman and we don't need another. Swihart may stay as a utility player who can back it up at first so Pearse may be gone. No place at first for Devers next year. Phillips won't be here next year and maybe Nunez will also be gone. Maybe we will try Chavis at 3rd, to go long with Devers. I hope we keep Kinsler to co-anchor the 2nd base slot with Pedey. I wonder about catcher. Hard to find good defensive catchers who can hit. We should be well set in the outfield, SS and DH. No cliff in the field.

I'll bet Cora has it boiled down to 4 starters and 8 or 9 relievers and his effort now is to decide on which of the remaining 1 or 2 to drop. If Barnes can make a quick recovery he is in. If we take 7 relievers, I see Kimbrel, Barnes Brasier as sure things and also Wright and Eovaldi as long relievers. That leaves either 2 or three spots depending on how many we take. (I am assuming E-Rod may wind up in long relief, at least in the first series.) Poyner looks to be going the best for left handed relief as Johnson and Pom look weak. Henbree, Kelly, Thornburg and Workman all stand a chance. I think it will be Kelly and/or Thornburg. You can make a case for or against any of the 4 righties. Cora can take his time in reaching a decision.

Of those you mention, Johnson, Hembree, Scott are questionable at this point. In addition, Velazquez and Cuevas are unlikely, and what of Barnes hip inflammation? After Kimbrel, Sale, Price, Porcello and E-Rod we probably can only take 6 more. My guess for the 6 are Wright, Eovaldi, Brasier, Barnes,Thornburg or Kelly and Poyner.

Everytime I watch the guy pitch I get nervous as he often has issues.

Last night we were in a situation where it was a particularly important game to win while of course Cora is still trying to get a look at which personnel he will need to take forward into the playoffs. We were fortunate, as Porcello looked good except for one lapse in concentration early and we got good hitting to have a nice 5 to 1 lead. Sitting pretty early, especially since the Houston BP is very good. Another lapse by Porcello and then the signs were pointing to him losing effectiveness in the 6th. Two out two on with a 5 to 2 lead and Cora rightly made the decision to go to the BP. Several had pitched and weren't available and arnes is out with hip inflamation. I think it called for our best reliever not used as a closer. Instead, Cora chose Hembree who can get strikes on a batter and then throw the ball off the plate putting you into a 3-2 count, letting the baserunners be off and have to come in with the pitch. Two across the plate later and a double with two in and Cora then chooses Johnson with his difficultly throwing strikes and not great stuff, to walk a batter and then give up a hit. Walla, tie game and Cora has to bring in Brasier anyway, which if he wanted to win, he should have done in the first place. Too predictable and winning the game should have trumped looking at players for the post season. We did see that Cora doesn't believe in bunting later on in a clear bunt situation. As far as a better understanding of the pitching for the PO's and the lineup, my takeaways were as follows: 1. We are much better defensively with our normal outfield and with JDM at DH. JDM is okay in a pinch but not a guy you want covering right field if there is an alternative. 2. Porcello looked pretty good last night and may be a better 3rd starter than E-Rod. He gives us a right handed starter against the lineups which hit lefties well. 3. Johnson is not a solid choice for left handed relief. Neither is Pom. Need to keep looking at Poyner. 4. Hembree is a power arm but I rate him below several others since he doesn't seem to be able to come in under pressure and get outs consistently. 5. Our catchers for the PO's still are unclear. Leon is a guy that doesn't hit period. The starters like him and he is good defensively so that is in his favor. Vaz doesn't hit well either and his is a decent defender while Swihart can hit, especially from the left hand side but may rate third defensively. How does Cora amove forward with this situation? Take all three? 6. Another look at 3rd base. Phillips this time. He had one bunt situation which he fielded well and had to make a good throw to get Altuve. He made a one bouncer that got past Pearse. Would Moreland have picked it? No matter, still came out as a throwing error against Phillips. He didn't hit well in two plate appearances. Nunez hit better as DH. Clearly Devers was not the guy against a lefty starter. Really, 3rd base remains wide open. We may just have a situation where there is no top notch answer.

That win required 3 of our guys to come through. Got to look at a lot of players tonight. Cora really needs to ponder his BP useage for the POs. Now I can go to bed without thinking whaqt might have been.

When we get up 5 to 2 with 2 men on base and 2 outs it isw clear that you want to take your best shot of not giving up any more. So, in my view the best shot who is not our closer is Brasier. Cora knows he doesn't want to match BP's with Houston. Putting in Henbree who has been pretty unreliable is not the thing to do and then Johnson on top was also not a good idea. We got a beak on Altuve not scoring or it would be over. Don't understand the relief pitching moves nor to some degree the pinch hitting choices.

Agreed. Hembree is a proven bad choice and Johnson is not adequate. With two men on you bring in Brasier right away to quell the rally. No Barnes tonight so it might get tough. We should be cruising but the choice of relief pitching no has it tied.

It might be a matter of choosing the best man for the job. You have to admit, neither of the others is particularly good defensively at 3rd. As an aside, has anyone mentioned that Barnes is sidelined indefinitely with a hip inflamation? Don't know how long he will need to recover at this point.

He's a 4 time gold glove guy at 2nd who can play third. Thats better than Nunez and also better than Devers

Bogaerts is hot right now but JDM will get back to his outstanding performance level. He is still a major threat either in 3rd or 4th in the oder.

I'm gradually coming to the same conclusion as our regular catchers are not hitting at the ML level. Swihart is showing up pretty well offensively since being given more opportunities. If we wanted to go to the FA market for a replacement for either or both of our current catchers it might cost a bundle to land a superior talent so Swihart remains a solid option.