|
Post by rjp313jr on Oct 19, 2018 8:47:28 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by soxfansince67 on Oct 19, 2018 9:07:28 GMT -5
We are about to go to Texas to visit our daughter in Abilene for a week - first night there is first game of the World Series - I may be watching much of the series from an airbnb! I think I was at Cape Cod visiting family for 2004, Rhode Island visiting my dad for 2007, Lowell visiting my wife's family for 2013 - now I will be able to add Texas. Weird!
|
|
|
Post by patford on Oct 19, 2018 9:11:41 GMT -5
I think about that often. Everything went right for that team. Even Jarrod Saltalamacchia was good. I think it also might speak to the impact that Cora has had on the club. If Farrell was a good manager for the 2013 team, it's hard to imagine that particular leadership style translating to this group. Strategically Cora sticking with Kimbrel is exactly what Farrell would do. The difference I see is the 2013 team had enough effervescent personalities (Ortiz being #1) that Farrell's tight as a drum anxiety didn't infect the whole team.
|
|
|
Post by jbuttah on Oct 19, 2018 9:35:14 GMT -5
Still feel like this kid. Like an extra Christmas morning. So happy that your skin tingles.
|
|
|
Post by jbuttah on Oct 19, 2018 9:35:56 GMT -5
Jen McCaffrey Verified account @jcmccaffrey Cora says they realized recently that Kimbrel was tipping his pitches. Kimbrel says he got a text from Cora’s close friend Eric Gagne last night who noticed something and wanted to pass it along to Kimbrel and LeVangie for them to work on. We finally got something from Gagne! That pretty much proves this team's got karma on its side.
|
|
|
Post by patford on Oct 19, 2018 9:42:06 GMT -5
The Sox just essentially swept the Astros, without Chris Sale.
|
|
|
Post by jbuttah on Oct 19, 2018 9:51:56 GMT -5
I think it also might speak to the impact that Cora has had on the club. If Farrell was a good manager for the 2013 team, it's hard to imagine that particular leadership style translating to this group. Strategically Cora sticking with Kimbrel is exactly what Farrell would do. The difference I see is the 2013 team had enough effervescent personalities (Ortiz being #1) that Farrell's tight as a drum anxiety didn't infect the whole team. I used to know a guy in college who just seemed to have lady luck on his side. Just little things but they all added up to make his life a bit easier. Things like being among the first in a lottery to choose his classes, being among the first to choose his room assignment, actually winning a lottery ticket that paid like $500/mo for a year, etc. Cora reminds me alot of him, but he also reminds me of the saying, "luck favors the prepared." He seems like a manager who creates a sense of accountability in a loose, relaxed way that allows the team to come from behind, to win on the road, to overcome past obstacles. And maybe I don't give DD enough credit for bringing in players who fit and complement that environment. Gotta resign Betts. I think with his abilities and personality, he's the definite heir to Ortiz's throne.
|
|
|
Post by redsox04071318champs on Oct 19, 2018 10:08:22 GMT -5
Two tidbits about the Astros series. The Sox clinched on their home turf which more than avenges their clinching the division series at Fenway. Party twice at the Toilet, check. Party in Houston, check!
And strangely enough this wasn't the first time the Red Sox have won two post-season games in the same calendar day of October 18th, the Red Sox' lucky day and Alex Cora's birthday.
The 2004 Red Sox started the comeback that changed their history when the clock struck midnight as Oct 17th became Oct 18th (literally as Kevin Millar after fouling off strike 1 just before midnight and took Ball 2 after midnight and eventually Ball 3 and 4) and at 1:23 in the morning Big Papi hit the game winning 2 run HR off of Quantrill in the 12th inning and later that same day Ortiz finished off the baseball Boston Marathon by singling home the winning run in the 14th inning of Game 5 of the ALCS at 10:59pm.
|
|
|
Post by jimed14 on Oct 19, 2018 10:11:08 GMT -5
Two tidbits about the Astros series. The Sox clinched on their home turf which more than avenges their clinching the division series at Fenway. Party twice at the Toilet, check. Party in Houston, check! And strangely enough this wasn't the first time the Red Sox have won two post-season games in the same calendar day of October 18th, the Red Sox' lucky day and Alex Cora's birthday. The 2004 Red Sox started the comeback that changed their history when the clock struck midnight as Oct 17th became Oct 18th (literally as Kevin Millar after fouling off strike 1 just before midnight and took Ball 2 after midnight and eventually Ball 3 and 4) and at 1:23 in the morning Big Papi hit the game winning 2 run HR off of Quantrill in the 12th inning and later that same day Ortiz finished off the baseball Boston Marathon by singling home the winning run in the 14th inning of Game 5 of the ALCS at 10:59pm. I know that this team seems like it was running on fumes at the end of this series, but man, that 2004 team was seriously running on fumes. I still have no idea how it happened. They had to pitch so many pitches and so many innings.
|
|
|
Post by redsox04071318champs on Oct 19, 2018 11:00:04 GMT -5
Two tidbits about the Astros series. The Sox clinched on their home turf which more than avenges their clinching the division series at Fenway. Party twice at the Toilet, check. Party in Houston, check! And strangely enough this wasn't the first time the Red Sox have won two post-season games in the same calendar day of October 18th, the Red Sox' lucky day and Alex Cora's birthday. The 2004 Red Sox started the comeback that changed their history when the clock struck midnight as Oct 17th became Oct 18th (literally as Kevin Millar after fouling off strike 1 just before midnight and took Ball 2 after midnight and eventually Ball 3 and 4) and at 1:23 in the morning Big Papi hit the game winning 2 run HR off of Quantrill in the 12th inning and later that same day Ortiz finished off the baseball Boston Marathon by singling home the winning run in the 14th inning of Game 5 of the ALCS at 10:59pm. I know that this team seems like it was running on fumes at the end of this series, but man, that 2004 team was seriously running on fumes. I still have no idea how it happened. They had to pitch so many pitches and so many innings. They were totally on fumes in 2004, playing 4 games (long, long games) in 4 days and then just having a couple of days off before the World Series. This year the World Series actually has the same dates as it did in 2004. It starts on Oct 23rd and stretches to Oct 31st (game 4 is Oct 27th just like it was in 2004). The only difference is the days of the week. That Series went Saturday to the following Sunday (although it only made it to Wed, Oct 27, 2004). This year the Serise starts on a Tuesday and stretches possibly to the Wednesday that's 8 days later. This year's team has an advantage the 04 team doesn't have, which is 4 days off. It allows the Sox to totally reset their pitching which is a blessing. I was counting days. With Eovaldi pitching last night, he'd have 7 days of rest heading to Game 3 of the Series while Price gets his normal 4 days of rest this time around when he pitches Game 2. We know Sale is rested - just hope he's not rusted. And Porcello has 8 days before he starts, but realistically 4 days off before he might be used out of the pen. And while this is happening, perhaps Steven Wright is beginning to feel better where he can contribute. Factor that in with Barnes and Brasier getting much needed rest, that could be huge. The only guy I don't think the rest does a ton of good for is Kimbrel, who actually has better numbers on his 2nd day in a row to pitch rather than when he's rested. The health of Chris Sale and possibly Wright could be impactful. Hope to see last night's version of Price and hopefully Kimbrel is straightened out, and hopefully Betts catches fire at the plate. As far as concerns go, I wonder how the Sox adjust to no DH - does JBJ sit? The Dodgers have a ton of quality lefties and some a lot of quality starting pitching. I think they go with Kershaw for Game 1, Ryu for Game 2, Buehler for Game 3, and Hill for Game 4 and their lineup is quite scary. Between Muncy and Kemp they'll have no problems finding a capable DH at Fenway. The Dodgers, I think , are a lot better than their 92-71 record suggests. Their lineup and bench are deep. Good offensive numbers and they play in a big ballpark. At this point I'm hoping the Brewers somehow take the final two games but I just can't see Miley being effective again. I think the Dodgers knock him around and win in 6. I'd rather the Brewers win because I think they're a lot more beatable, given that their starters aren't very good and their pen is probably spent. I think the Sox are going to be heavily favored (and probably should be), but even though the Dodgers don't have the 100 win cache the Yankees and Astros have, I don't think they're some lucky team that snuck in - they're legit.
|
|
|
Post by adiospaydro2005 on Oct 19, 2018 11:11:55 GMT -5
Not sure that Kimbrell tipping pitches is impacting his inability to throw strikes. The Red Sox need to limit him to one inning per outing and hopefully have enough of a cushion in the event he continues to be relatively ineffective.
The long break between the ALCS and the World Series hopefully helps Sale to get his stuff back. Same goes for Porcello who did not pitch very well in Game 4.
|
|
|
Post by patford on Oct 19, 2018 11:16:02 GMT -5
Not sure that Kimbrell tipping pitches is impacting his inability to throw strikes. The Red Sox need to limit him to one inning per outing and hopefully have enough of a cushion in the event he continues to be relatively ineffective. The long break between the ALCS and the World Series hopefully helps Sale to get his stuff back. Same goes for Porcello who did not pitch very well in Game 4. Kimbrel is tipping pitches alright. You know the pitch is going to be a ball before he throws it.
|
|
|
Post by James Dunne on Oct 19, 2018 11:20:38 GMT -5
Not sure that Kimbrell tipping pitches is impacting his inability to throw strikes. The Red Sox need to limit him to one inning per outing and hopefully have enough of a cushion in the event he continues to be relatively ineffective. The long break between the ALCS and the World Series hopefully helps Sale to get his stuff back. Same goes for Porcello who did not pitch very well in Game 4. Definitely would have allowed people to lay off his breaking ball and then sit fastball when they know it's coming though. Kimbrel's command, especially of his secondaries, has never really been great. It's more that he throws so hard and with such sharp movement that he can get people out on swings out of the zone even if he misses location.
|
|
|
Post by patford on Oct 19, 2018 11:23:21 GMT -5
Someone asked how the Sox adjust to no DH in the NL park. To me the solution is obvious. Martinez in RF and Mookie at 2B. This has been floated before and some felt Mookie could not be counted on for solid play at 2B. My guess is he would be better than an average 2B and it wouldn't surprise me at all if he was gold glove caliber. Keeping in mind that Martinez isn't going to sit. So he is going to be in LF or RF. I'll take my chances with Mookie at 2B and sitting Kinsler.
|
|
|
Post by James Dunne on Oct 19, 2018 11:25:47 GMT -5
Just have Mookie pitch all of the NL games.
|
|
|
Post by patford on Oct 19, 2018 11:28:18 GMT -5
Just have Mookie pitch all of the NL games. It's said he has an awesome submarine ball he throws for strikes.
|
|
|
Post by FenwayFanatic on Oct 19, 2018 11:29:24 GMT -5
Someone asked how the Sox adjust to no DH in the NL park. To me the solution is obvious. Martinez in RF and Mookie at 2B. This has been floated before and some felt Mookie could not be counted on for solid play at 2B. My guess is he would be better than an average 2B and it wouldn't surprise me at all if he was gold glove caliber. Keeping in mind that Martinez isn't going to sit. So he is going to be in LF or RF. I'll take my chances with Mookie at 2B and sitting Kinsler. That lineup would be unreal.
|
|
|
Post by trajanacc on Oct 19, 2018 11:33:23 GMT -5
Advance odds on the World Series are Sox -130 vs Dodgers and -210 vs. the Brewers. So yeah we probably want the Brewers.
|
|
|
Post by bluechip on Oct 19, 2018 11:33:48 GMT -5
Someone asked how the Sox adjust to no DH in the NL park. To me the solution is obvious. Martinez in RF and Mookie at 2B. This has been floated before and some felt Mookie could not be counted on for solid play at 2B. My guess is he would be better than an average 2B and it wouldn't surprise me at all if he was gold glove caliber. Keeping in mind that Martinez isn't going to sit. So he is going to be in LF or RF. I'll take my chances with Mookie at 2B and sitting Kinsler. I don’t see it. I see JBJ likely sitting in for games in the NL park. If they really want Mookie at second at anything more than an emergency, you think they’d have given a couple games there at the end of September.
|
|
|
Post by jimed14 on Oct 19, 2018 11:36:22 GMT -5
There's no way that Mookie would be an instant above average 2B with the one ground ball he has gotten in game action. He looked a little awkward making the one play.
|
|
|
Post by James Dunne on Oct 19, 2018 11:37:37 GMT -5
There's no way that Mookie would be an instant above average 2B with the one ground ball he has gotten in game action. He looked a little awkward making the one play. For what it's worth, I don't think it's a good idea, but I wouldn't write off the idea of Mookie being a league average anything. Second baseman, catcher, lefty one-out guy, astronaut.
|
|
nomar
Veteran
Posts: 10,907
|
Post by nomar on Oct 19, 2018 11:40:00 GMT -5
Sabermetrics actually show that Armstrong was a replacement level astronaut.
|
|
|
Post by geostorm on Oct 19, 2018 11:41:09 GMT -5
|
|
ericmvan
Veteran
Supposed to be working on something more important
Posts: 8,941
|
Post by ericmvan on Oct 19, 2018 11:41:51 GMT -5
Winning 3 in a row in Houston is almost impossible. This team is just special. I did call it after game 3: That was when it was 3-2. I believe in this team and am waiting for people to join me. I'm wishing now I'd posted what my gut told me, which was Sox in 5. I could still be completely wrong, of course. Very interesting decision re game 5 starter. If Sale pitches game 5 on 4 days rest, he's in line to pitch WS game 1 also on 4 days. If you start E-Rod in game 5 and give him Sale extra days, which seems like a good idea if he has any residual weakness from his stomach flu, then he's pitching game 3 of the WS on 5 days. But if you win both games 4 and 5, you have Sale on tons of rest for WS game 1.
|
|
|
Post by iakovos11 on Oct 19, 2018 12:08:05 GMT -5
You either make your own effing luck or you overcome the bad luck - or you lose. That's what the Sox did in '04 (likely '07, although not much comes to mind) and in 2013 (although it seems like lady luck was on our side, they certainly overcame many obstacles). Patriots have been doing just this for 15 years.
|
|