SoxProspects News
|
|
|
|
Legal
Forum Ground Rules
The views expressed by the members of this Forum do not necessarily reflect the views of SoxProspects, LLC.
© 2003-2024 SoxProspects, LLC
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Home | Search | My Profile | Messages | Members | Help |
Welcome Guest. Please Login or Register.
Red Sox vs. Astros 2018 ALCS Gameday Thread
|
Post by soxfansince67 on Oct 18, 2018 23:40:51 GMT -5
Think about who is coming out of this series on a high note
Devers, Bogaerts, Kinsler, Moreland, Pearce, Vazquez, Benentendi, Bradley, JDM, Mookie (with the glove) Price, Eovaldi, Barnes, Brasier, Kimbrel - Sale will be back (and hopefully healthy).
That is most of our roster....we will be hitting the World Series on a high note and in largely good shape, that's for sure. We know Mookie will catch fire. Holt has more hits in his bat. Porcello is due for a good start.
I love our chances, no matter which of the two NL teams we play.
Looking at the roster - will Cora go with 12 pitchers? Does Workman and Hembree stay - is Wright (supposedly now OK) added? Maybe Velazquez or Johnson for some length? If 12 pitchers, which bench player goes...Swihart seems the lone candidate (unless Nunez is hurt_
|
|
|
Post by jbuttah on Oct 18, 2018 23:42:55 GMT -5
Had to go out tonight. Just finished watching the game. The great thing about the playoffs so far is that everyone has contributed (well except for Swihart!) in a meaningful way. Even Kinsler who looked totally washed up had 2 games with multiple hits. Nunez had some key hits. Brockstar got that import HBP. Leon with all the blocked balls, and on and on and on.
The craziest part of this game though was the fact that there were almost duplicates of 2 key plays from earlier in the series. The Betts catch that looked almost exactly the same as the one yesterday, maybe a foot or so more in front of the fence, and the non-catch by Kemp on a ball that was off the wall that fell straight into his glove.
This team, this team...
|
|
|
Post by jbuttah on Oct 18, 2018 23:44:38 GMT -5
AJ Hinch is classy in his post-game. Very complimentary of the Red Sox. Yeah, coming away impressed with his frankness and class. The anti-Showalter.
|
|
|
Post by fenwaythehardway on Oct 18, 2018 23:45:27 GMT -5
It’s crazy to think of what a different team that was. 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.
|
|
|
Post by geostorm on Oct 18, 2018 23:46:06 GMT -5
Can you imagine if Price is a strength for the rest of the playoffs? They're saying he felt something click mechanically when he was in the bullpen. Yes...this...and how many years are you going to be in the WS, with the two SPs you acquired to be 1-2 in your rotation, finished the regular season with "only" about 2500 and 2700 pitches (hopefully, stomach issue aside)...yes, I AM imagining a DP pitching like that, twice, and semi-vintage "Sale Day", twice, next Series, though I'm hoping Sox only need to use em, once each!
|
|
|
Post by manfred on Oct 18, 2018 23:46:53 GMT -5
I am a proud Gamecock, man. JBJ has won Outstanding Player in the CWS, and now ALCS MVP. That is clutch. Guy is a legend.
|
|
danr
Veteran
Posts: 1,871
|
Post by danr on Oct 18, 2018 23:47:15 GMT -5
Cora is one of the best managers I have ever seen. Most managers would have had Eovaldi come out in the 9th. He had been dominant. However, Kimbrel needed to finish the game to be worth a damn in the WS. It was a gutsy move and Cora would have been eviscerated if Kimbrel had blown the game. Cora was going for the prize and took the risk. That is real leadership, something we currently are not used to seeing. Nothing can top 2004 for me because I have been a Sox fan since the 1950s, but this is the best team the Sox have had in my lifetime, maybe the best ever.
|
|
|
Post by telson13 on Oct 18, 2018 23:49:40 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by wildsox on Oct 18, 2018 23:58:38 GMT -5
So the Astros never won another game after the cheater got removed. I wonder if there is anything to it.
|
|
|
Post by geostorm on Oct 18, 2018 23:59:31 GMT -5
This may have been posted somewhere here, already...nice take - www.fangraphs.com/blogs/david-prices-playoff-problem-might-be-a-cutter-problem/"That said, maybe scrapping the cutter in favor of greater changeup usage could work. Price’s change garnered a 19% whiff rate this year against right-handed batters — more than twice what any of his other pitches recorded against the same hand — despite posting a slightly negative run value. Price has actually underutilized the change this postseason — which could be a product of specific matchups, sure — but it appears as though it might have some use as an alternative to the cutter. The changeup has the added benefit of changing hitters’ eye levels without being as contact-prone as the sinker; mixing fastballs up and down in the zone with a low changeup seems, to this amateur pitching coach, like a solid plan. If anything, Price can’t really be any worse in the playoffs."
|
|
orion09
Veteran
Posts: 1,307
Member is Online
|
Post by orion09 on Oct 18, 2018 23:59:54 GMT -5
Absolutely savage.
|
|
dd
Veteran
Posts: 979
|
Post by dd on Oct 19, 2018 0:00:10 GMT -5
This is an outfield about which we can regale our grandchildren with stories some day. OTOH some of us can start regaling later today!
|
|
|
Post by bluechip on Oct 19, 2018 0:04:50 GMT -5
The epic pub crawl by Napoli after the 2013 WS is an all time great Red Sox moment. It’s crazy to think of what a different team that was. JD Martinez went on Sportscenter and started it by talking about how drunk he felt and that he needed to get food in his stomach. The 2013 guys would have called JD a lightweight while pounding beers. But then again, the 2004 players would have scoffed at the 2013 players while taking shots.
|
|
|
Post by incandenza on Oct 19, 2018 0:07:22 GMT -5
I so, so wish I could send this comment back in time to late May. And speaking of guys I feel great for, I second (and third and fourth...) that sentiment about Price. I have a real soft spot for guys who get vilified by the media for essentially being bad at playing the arbitrary games the media makes all athletes play. (This is blasphemous, but A-Rod actually started growing on me for this reason, and I genuinely sort of like him as an announcer; relatedly, I have and shall always despise Jeter with a burning passion.) With Price it's especially so cuz all his teammates seem to love him. Meanwhile, I'm almost scared at how confident I feel about the World Series. Seems like a bad sign. Can someone talk me into at least a little bit of anxiety? Ancientsoxfogey? Anyone?
|
|
|
Post by marrcus on Oct 19, 2018 0:12:37 GMT -5
Varitek just spoke very confidently about RS WS chances. Only thing that can beat them "is themselves." After getting sweeps in NY/Hou I can see where he would make a statement like that.
Team wasn't intimidated in either series: it won't be against the NL winner. I'd rather go to LA but I give MB credit for 90mil payroll success.
|
|
|
Post by dridiot on Oct 19, 2018 0:22:50 GMT -5
Mad respect for AJ Hinch. He's got a great team and they'll be in the World Series soon enough.
|
|
kevfc89
Veteran
Posts: 5,822
Member is Online
|
Post by kevfc89 on Oct 19, 2018 0:30:19 GMT -5
I feel great for Devers too. He had a very up and down season after being relied upon to be our regular third baseman at age 21. And we entered the postseason with the team not trusting him to man third base as the starter.
Yet all he's done is come up with production about every time Cora has started him this postseason. He's gonna be very very good I think, once he gets more experience and continues to refine his game.
|
|
|
Post by soxjim on Oct 19, 2018 0:33:17 GMT -5
After the game I wanted to read this thread for this game. I got to say I loved it. Thanks to all. And I gotta love the moment that many realized Kimbrel was coming in. Hilarious. I was similar as to why but as I'm watching I've acknowledged that Cora knows what he's doing. After 108 wins and beating the Yanks in 4- it was so hilarious to read after the fact Cora getting ripped etc.
It was just funny. I'm wondering if COra will continue to get ripped. Anyways this season this team leading up to this series is the greatest Red Sox team I've seen in my lifetime. And it rivals the 2 super teams I've seen in my lifetime the 1976 Reds and the 1998 Yanks. OFC if they don't win -- they won't be. But this team is just so outrageously great.
And I am so damn happy for Price and JBJ. What a performance. Amazing. On three days rest vs the Astros. Are you kidding? What a freaking season! And JBJ - wow he did it with his bat and has been doing it for a quite a while now. Classy guy- didn't whine - just worked to get better -he deserves the best!
|
|
|
Post by wildsox on Oct 19, 2018 0:47:11 GMT -5
Haha. Post-Game Kimbrel apologized to all New Englanders for causing Heart Attacks the last few games. Says he’ll try and keep it clean next round.
|
|
|
Post by marrcus on Oct 19, 2018 0:52:17 GMT -5
It was just funny.
Yeah, and that was with a 3run lead. But nobody has suggested yet that Cora would have done the same thing if the lead had been One.
Personally I think that would have been nuts. So he brought his closer in with the confidence that even if he kept his streak going of letting a run in, the last four outings, it wouldn't be a blown save.
RS got great P tonight.Happy Kimbrel had a margin for error.
|
|
|
Post by GyIantosca on Oct 19, 2018 0:54:03 GMT -5
Wow this team is epic. Just add Cora the best offseason move. J.D. Martinez another key move.
I telling you Devers is a young in the making Ortiz. The big moment doesn’t bother that kid. Bring on the Dodgers.
|
|
|
Post by Oregon Norm on Oct 19, 2018 1:17:12 GMT -5
Maybe too much rest really is his issue Ok maybe Cora knows what he’s doing. I wondered about the rest thing. He seems to have a sweet spot between working too little and going too many pitches in any given appearance. But maybe a bigger factor is Pedro. After game four he was adamant that Kimbrel wasn't picking up the target soon enough. He repeated that a few times on the air and he might just have repeated it directly to Kimbrel himself. This team has some nuts. They walk into another team's ballpark and take over the joint like it's theirs. Was in town tonight for a film so I get to sit back and enjoy vintage Price! One more thing. I disagree that the Astros have more talent. The Sox are loaded and the core hasn't even peaked yet. Should be the Dodgers and if so it will be fantastic to have Dave Roberts back in Fenway. That guy is also a helluva manager, so don't underestimate LA. Onward...
|
|
redsox04071318champs
Veteran
Always hoping to make my handle even longer...
Posts: 16,481
Member is Online
|
Post by redsox04071318champs on Oct 19, 2018 1:45:12 GMT -5
Ok maybe Cora knows what he’s doing. I wondered about the rest thing. He seems to have a sweet spot between working too little and going too many pitches in any given appearance. But maybe a bigger factor is Pedro. After game four he was adamant that Kimbrel wasn't picking up the target soon enough. He repeated that a few times on the air and he might just have repeated it directly to Kimbrel himself. This team has some nuts. They walk into another team's ballpark and take over the joint like it's theirs. Was in town tonight for a film so I get to sit back and enjoy vintage Price! One more thing. I disagree that the Astros have more talent. The Sox are loaded and the core hasn't even peaked yet. Should be the Dodgers and if so it will be fantastic to have Dave Roberts back in Fenway. That guy is also a helluva manager, so don't underestimate LA. Onward...
|
|
redsox04071318champs
Veteran
Always hoping to make my handle even longer...
Posts: 16,481
Member is Online
|
Post by redsox04071318champs on Oct 19, 2018 2:00:16 GMT -5
I'm proud of our guys. They went out and beat a team that was theoretically better (based on the pythag numbers) than them and was the defending World Champs loaded with swag.
Hard to believe, but because it's 2018, the law of averages picked a great time to go to work for the Red Sox. David Price gets his first post-season win as a starter and he dominated. Verlander had pitched 24 scoreless innings in elimination games, didn't get the K call on JDM who then belts the next pitch way out, and then the kid Devers comes through with a Houston HR cheapie in the Crawford boxes, and then Kimbrel finally has a scoreless outing - I actually didn't have to run and hide - I could watch, but I was ready to bolt if he walked another batter.
Kimbrel looked better, but he had his obligatory 4 pitch walk and the long scary fly out to the wall, which in this case Benintendi flagged down for the clinching out. I hope the tipping issue helps him resolve his issues although I don't see what it really does to not make him throw the ball in the LH batters' box.
And in some poetic justice, how cool was it that Nate Eovaldi came out of the pen and blew Bregman away with a 102 MPH fastball? Instagram that Alex.
As it was I think the Sox put out an instagram photo of their celebration as they answered back what Bregman posted.
Not only are the Sox winning the war on the field, but they're even winning the war of words, too, getting delicious revenge at all turns.
The best thing about this victory and wrapping up the Series so surprisingly quickly (how cool is it to take both games at the Toilet and then take all 3 in Houston?) is that it gets their pitching organized again.
Barnes and Brasier get well needed rest. Porcello gets badly needed rest. Maybe it gives the Sox more time to work on what Kimbrel needs to do to sharpen his control. Sale gets a few more days to recover and now he can do a proper bullpen. Price and Eovaldi get their proper rest to be lined up for Games 2 and 3. Maybe Steven Wright can join the pen, and the Sox can finally lengthen the pen if Wright can pitch like he did in September.
Now I worry about who hits the bench when there's no DH. And I'll worry about the Dodgers, who I think are a tough matchup for the Sox. Hitting in Dodgers Stadium is no picnic, and the Dodgers have a deep lineup and have no problem rolling out a quality DH, and they have a strong pitching staff.
I almost kind of hope the Brewers find a way to extend it to 7 games and perhaps even win as their starters don't scare anybody and their pen must be spent.
I do anticipate LA will win Game 6 - can't see Miley continuing to be effective.
LA is a hungry team who has been waiting for the year they finally break through and they were so close last year, so even though the Sox should be favored in the Series, the Dodgers are a tough team. Just glad the Sox have at least a day to closely follow the Dodgers/Brewers and rest up. Well earned rest!
|
|
ericmvan
Veteran
Supposed to be working on something more important
Posts: 9,014
|
Post by ericmvan on Oct 19, 2018 4:17:27 GMT -5
Some thoughts ...
1a) I missed Pedro identifying Kimbrel's mechanical flaw because I keep on forgetting to set up the post-game separately from the game on my DVR. Nevertheless, I was 100% certain that Cora felt that a mechanical problem had been identified and fixed, or else he wouldn't have used him.
1b) In a weird way, the four-pitch walk to Gurriel was a good sign. Kimbrel lost his mechanics and was missing the zone by a mile. He collected himself and found the mechanics again; his next four pitches were called strikes, and two pitches later the game was over. That makes me more confident that he can sustain correct mechanics than if he hadn't lost them and corrected them.
2) People forget that CV is a mini-JBJ: capable of long stretches where he's helpless and decent ones where he's actually quite a good hitter for his position. While .227 / .261 / .409 is on the surface unimpressive, he's looked rather better than that, and CV getting into one of his good streaks renders the pinch-hit-for-the-catcher-twice strategy unnecessary. You can wait till the late innings and do it once.
3) People were correctly psyched about Steven Wright as a post-season relief force. We didn't have him and you saw what happened anyway.
4) Looking forward to Rafi wreaking some more Deverstation on opposing pitchers. He apparently needs 3 more RBI to break the record for post-season RBIs by a player 21 or younger.
5) Really looking forward to reading Shaughnessy on Price's performance. Probably in Saturday's paper, though.
|
|
|