|
Post by mgoetze on Apr 12, 2015 11:24:23 GMT -5
The Nationals rotation is far superior to the Jays though. What does that have to do with judging the quality of our rotation?
|
|
|
Post by FenwayFanatic on Apr 12, 2015 12:16:14 GMT -5
He was talking about "when the sox get a chance to play a team with playoff aspirations."
Of which the nationals are a much safer bet.
|
|
|
Post by mgoetze on Apr 12, 2015 13:09:30 GMT -5
He was talking about "when the sox get a chance to play a team with playoff aspirations." Of which the nationals are a much safer bet. You'll have to follow the trail of quotes just a liiiittle bit further... This is the most important thing to keep in mind. Let's see how our pitchers fare against teams like the Blue Jays before getting all ecstatic. I wonder when we'll get a chance to watch the Sox play a team w playoff aspirations? Hmm, what about that National team coming to town for the home opener. Do they count?
|
|
|
Post by FenwayFanatic on Apr 12, 2015 14:12:02 GMT -5
My mistake.
|
|
|
Post by brianthetaoist on Apr 12, 2015 15:34:39 GMT -5
This is sort of an interesting game for such an early contest ... mostly because there are so many questions around these pitchers and each is important to his team. A very good Buchholz makes the Red Sox a legit AL playoff contender, while a healthy and effective Tanaka makes the Yankees not terrible, but each has major question marks.
Will be interesting to see if Good Clay shows up again and if Tanaka looks healthy.
|
|
|
Post by mgoetze on Apr 12, 2015 16:11:10 GMT -5
Scott Lauber @scottlauber · 1h1 hour ago #RedSox at NYY: Betts CF, Pedroia 2B, Ortiz DH, Ramirez LF, Sandoval 3B, Napoli 1B, Victorino RF, Bogaerts SS, Hanigan C, Buchholz. Wonder how much longer Bogaerts has to keep hitting to move up ahead of Victorino. (To be fair though, if Victorino is going to be stealing bases, it's better to have him in front of a singles hitter like Bogaerts than in front of a walker like Hanigan.)
|
|
|
Post by grandsalami on Apr 12, 2015 16:26:51 GMT -5
Ben Badler @benbadler · 2h 2 hours ago
Huh. So the rumors last week were true about Jenrry Mejia testing positive for steroids. Some very nervous players out there right now.
hmmmmmm
|
|
|
Post by charliezink16 on Apr 12, 2015 16:29:21 GMT -5
I'm feeling a big HR night, 3+ off of Tanaka. His numbers aren't as good against RHB's (.702 RH-OPS vs. .630 LH-OPS). Not only that but his FB%, HR/9, and FB/HR are all significantly higher against righties. Not the biggest sample size, but this combined with iffy stuff on opening day give me a good vibe.
|
|
|
Post by brianthetaoist on Apr 12, 2015 16:31:16 GMT -5
Napoli hits an opposite field HR today.
|
|
|
Post by charliezink16 on Apr 12, 2015 16:31:28 GMT -5
Ben Badler @benbadler · 2h 2 hours ago Huh. So the rumors last week were true about Jenrry Mejia testing positive for steroids. Some very nervous players out there right now. hmmmmmm On BA's season preview I recall Badler himself responding to "The Biggest Storyline of 2015 will be?" with this:
|
|
|
Post by thelavarnwayguy on Apr 12, 2015 16:35:31 GMT -5
It seems like we are weakest at catcher this year and it may be that Koji never comes back strong. Nothing is a crisis but those appear to be the two weakest links to me. It would be nice to have a stud #1 but I'd be fine with just acquiring a secure closer.
|
|
|
Post by thelavarnwayguy on Apr 12, 2015 16:37:51 GMT -5
If we pound on Tanaka tonight, after the last 2 games of beating the Yanks, people are going to start jumping out of skyscrapers in The Bronx. Tanaka is their only hope at this point, other than Arod, who looks to be back to a level similar to his steroid level of performance. Not saying Arod is going to hit 40 HR but 25 wouldn't surprise me a bit.
|
|
|
Post by Guidas on Apr 12, 2015 16:38:48 GMT -5
Ben Badler @benbadler · 2h 2 hours ago Huh. So the rumors last week were true about Jenrry Mejia testing positive for steroids. Some very nervous players out there right now. hmmmmmm On BA's season preview I recall Badler himself responding to "The Biggest Storyline of 2015 will be?" with this: And if you read the piece about steroids on Nate Silver's FiveThirtyEight a couple weeks ago (I posted it in one of the threads), you'll know why - beyond the potential financial rewards. Short version: gains in strength/endurance from a single cycle can last for years.
|
|
|
Post by brianthetaoist on Apr 12, 2015 16:39:05 GMT -5
Ben Badler @benbadler · 2h 2 hours ago Huh. So the rumors last week were true about Jenrry Mejia testing positive for steroids. Some very nervous players out there right now. hmmmmmm On BA's season preview I recall Badler himself responding to "The Biggest Storyline of 2015 will be?" with this: The cynic in me has wondered if the lowering strike zone was in part to make it appear that MLB had "cleaned up" the steroid problem in the game ... of course, no one seems to have the same thoughts about the extraordinary number of guys throwing 95+ these days as they did with the power display in the late-90s/early-00s.
|
|
|
Post by jmei on Apr 12, 2015 17:07:17 GMT -5
I'm feeling a big HR night, 3+ off of Tanaka. His numbers aren't as good against RHB's (.702 RH-OPS vs. .630 LH-OPS). Not only that but his FB%, HR/9, and FB/HR are all significantly higher against righties. Not the biggest sample size, but this combined with iffy stuff on opening day give me a good vibe. Makes sense that Tanaka and his splitter have reverse splits.
|
|
|
Post by sarasoxer on Apr 12, 2015 17:59:33 GMT -5
Yeah, I have the feeling it's the Yanks' turn to win. Can Buch be any better (or as good) as he was the first game and can Tanaka be as vulnerable? I suspect regression to the mean...whatever that will be.
I am very concerned with our relief core. As constituted it does not 'strike' me as lock-down or any better than average (gut feeling). Somewhere along the line we will probably have to make some changes there.
|
|
|
Post by jmei on Apr 12, 2015 18:45:42 GMT -5
I moved some tangents to the throwdown subforum. Let's keep this one on-topic.
|
|
|
Post by thelavarnwayguy on Apr 12, 2015 18:58:35 GMT -5
If the Sox aren't on the mlb.com feed tonight and I'm stuck watching a Padres game I'm going to go ballistic. Isn't it time to allow people to get all the games they pay for at least?
Blacked out again. This is ridiculous.
|
|
ianrs
Veteran
Posts: 2,443
|
Post by ianrs on Apr 12, 2015 19:00:30 GMT -5
There is so so much speculation and questioning after the first few games, including a crazy long game. All I care about honestly is 4-1 and the depth that we have shown as our strength. I mean seriously, the Yankees have Garrett Jones out there muffing fly balls while Rusney and Jackie are on ice for us in AAA.
I'm really excited for what should be a great game tonight.
|
|
|
Post by thelavarnwayguy on Apr 12, 2015 19:04:32 GMT -5
The Yanks seem to have a lot of guys who have critical flaws in their game and even their studs aren't sure things any more. If Tanaka tanks they look like a 75 win team to me, while the Sox look like a 91-93 win team.
|
|
|
Post by mgoetze on Apr 12, 2015 19:16:29 GMT -5
Blacked out again. This is ridiculous. Only in the USA fortunately. (I'm glad I'm not affected by them but yeah, those blackouts are ridiculous.)
|
|
|
Post by mgoetze on Apr 12, 2015 19:20:00 GMT -5
I understand Gardner likes to bunt but Panda's positioning on that play was kinda ridiculous.
|
|
|
Post by rangoon82 on Apr 12, 2015 19:20:38 GMT -5
Post deleted
|
|
|
Post by Guidas on Apr 12, 2015 19:21:31 GMT -5
Temple's Law holds once again.
Lead off walks always score.
|
|
ianrs
Veteran
Posts: 2,443
|
Post by ianrs on Apr 12, 2015 19:23:31 GMT -5
Clay looking very shaky to start this game...would be nice not to destroy the bullpen before the Nationals series.
Edit: The defense is not doing him any favors (Panda, Napoli).
|
|