Red Sox vs. Indians ALDS Game 3 Gameday Thread

So, you'd rather go with Porcello on 3 days rest and then Buchholz, rather than Buchholz and then a rested Porcello?

Never understand that kind of thinking. Basically you want to reduce the chances of winning the two games in a row we need to win so you can increase (maybe) the chances of winning one.

6:08 starting time on Monday.

I dont understand people clamoring to throw Porcello and Price out there on short rest... because they pitched so well in the first 2 games?

Honestly I think the rainout is the best thing that could have happened to the Red Sox. It stalls out the Indians number 1.

Yes Bauer on short rest is a very shaky proposition for Cleveland, but Porcello, with 225 innings or so under his belt, with short rest for Game 4 isn't a great thing either. It's good that Porcello gets his rest. As far as Bauer goes, he still pitches in a hostile environment and if his control isn't as good as last time, he could be in for problems. Porcello gets to pitch at Fenway where he has pitched his best ball and he's fully rested.

Of course they'd have to get past Game 3, which is a tossup, and of course Price inspires little confidence for Game 5, particularly against a rested and certainly healthy enough Kluber, but one step at a time.

This rain out could be very fortuitous. It's certainly better than playing when it's crappy weather and runs are at a premium. The Sox offense needs to break out and in better weather and Fenway that's more likely to happen.

At this point, that's the straws I grasp at. Just hope Buchholz doesn't put the Red Sox in a hole early on tomorrow.

There is not going to be a series to win if they don't win Game 3. So I want the Red Sox to increase their chances of winning Game 3, even if it means somehow lessening their chances in Game 4. Worry about Game 4 later. In my opinion, Porcello gives the Red Sox a better chance in Game 3. Obviously, you feel differently, and it looks like Farrell does as well. So we'll agree to disagree, as they say.

The goal is not to play a game 4. The goal is to win the series.

The classic example of this decision faced Jimy Williams in 1998 when he had the option of pitching first Pete Schourek on 5 days rest and then Pedro Martinez on 4, or Pedro on 3 days and then Schourek on 6. It's incredibly clear in that case that your odds of winning both games are hugely better if you stick with the regular rotation, since pitchers are at their best on 4 and 5 days rest and can really struggle on 3 or 6.

Yet there were many -- most notably, Dan Shaughnessy -- who insisted that the Sox had to start Pedro in game 4 because "you have to win game 4 for there to be a game 5" and Pedro, even on 3 days rest, would be better than Schourek on 4. Even though both of those things are true, doing it that way would be plainly idiotic. A failure to see that shows an inability to reason that I frankly find terrifying. It's not so clear this time, but the same principles apply; the "other perspective" you speak of is technically known as "incorrect."

Jimy Williams, of course, did it correctly, and got to the 8th leading 1-0. And then he took out Derek Lowe, who had just emerged as a great setup man and had gotten five outs, the last four with total domination, and brought in Tom Gordon for just his 3rd 2-inning save of the year. Which he blew.

Very well said. To take the best shot at winning the whole series means weighing what gives the best chance to win each game, not just to throw everything you have at one game and hope for luck afterward.

So, do you think it would be a good idea to start Porcello with a short leash, and piece together the game with a couple innings each from Buch, ERod, Price, and Pomeranz? I mean that would probably give them the best chance of winning this game, right?

Price threw three of innings of relief in Game 4 of the ALCS last year against the Royals after starting Game 2 and being scheduled to start Game 6. So...yes, to answer your question. I absolutely think the Red Sox will turn to David Price tomorrow if need be. Same for ERod and Pomeranz. Again, and I can't state this enough, the Red Sox do not have the luxury of looking ahead to games 4 and 5. That's what happens when you're facing a win-or-go-home situation. 

You have been captured by Evangelical terrorists. They tell you that you must pass tests in Creation Science, Global Warming Denial, and Signs of the Imminent Apocalypse on successive days, in that order. If you fail any one of the tests, they will execute you immediately.

They have given you three binders that contain all the information you might be tested on. You have a single day to study them. The tell you frankly that it will be difficult but by no means impossible to master all of the material in sufficient depth to pass all three tests.

What do you do?

A) Study all three subjects equally.

B) Devote most of your time to Creation Science and kind of skim the other two, because if you don't pass Creation Science, you don't even get to take the others.