Red Sox-Astros ALDS Game 1 Live Blog
| 3:58 |
: Hi everyone!
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| 3:58 |
: I have never heard of Clay Walker.
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| 3:59 |
: we cant watch the game?
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| 4:00 |
: Sorry if you can’t watch the game. Hopefully everyone can find a way, through legals means or otherwise.
|
| 4:00 |
:
Who wins today?
Red Sox (27.3% | 50 votes)
Astros (72.6% | 133 votes)
Total Votes: 183
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| 4:00 |
:
Who are you *rooting* for?
Red Sox (24.0% | 46 votes)
Astros (53.9% | 103 votes)
Both (3.1% | 6 votes)
Neither (18.8% | 36 votes)
Total Votes: 191
|
| 4:01 |
: No starter has made it through 4 so far this post-season, because of results more than strategy. Will it be the same today?
|
| 4:01 |
: I’d be surprised if it continued with Sale and Verlander, though certainly Bauer is a candidate for an early departure.
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| 4:01 |
: I’ve got class at 6:10, so if this game can finish in 2 hours, I would appreciate it.
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| 4:02 |
: A) Great handle. B) LOLOL.
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| 4:03 |
: What is this intro? Don’t worry about your parent Danny, go look at the magical World Series trophy and fake baseball game.
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| 4:03 |
: MLB Network is a child predator, basically?
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| 4:03 |
: Counterpoint: I can’t get to a TV until 6ish, so a 4 hour game would be great.
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| 4:03 |
: Haha.
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| 4:03 |
: So what’s the plan for this chat? Will you be giving regular play by play updates of big plays for us desk jockeys? Or should I bust out a scoreboard and keep checking that?
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| 4:04 |
: My strategy is honestly just to try and keep up with the queue. Whatever you guys want to talk about it, I will. I generally don’t do play by play, but more reactions to big plays.
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| 4:04 |
: Kid’s already a lost cause, he’s got his ears tucked into his hat.
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| 4:04 |
: See paul, it was all a dream.
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| 4:04 |
: That was …….. something.
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| 4:04 |
: Jim Kaat Combover Alert!
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| 4:04 |
: Let it go, Jim. Bald is beautiful.
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| 4:05 |
: remember when dick tracy predicted smart watches?
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| 4:05 |
: I do, actually, since I’m so old I saw “Dick Tracy” in the movie theater. Everyone was excited because Madonna was in it.
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| 4:05 |
: Jim Kaat needs to get rid of those sideburns.
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| 4:05 |
: Damn, Jim Kaat looks like the cryptkeeper.
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| 4:05 |
: I do like Bobby. Just not as a baseball caster.
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| 4:07 |
: Tommy, that’s mostly my opinion. I think Costas is adept at playing to the strengths of his broadcast partner(s). And right now, his partner is a very old man who has some good insights but are generally filtered through a “back in my day” view.
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| 4:07 |
: In other words, I think if you paired Bob Costas with Jeff Sullivan, he’d happily talk sabermetrics, and we’d learn that ole Bob actually knows a thing or two about them. But that’s not who he’s paired with.
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| 4:08 |
: I wanna watch the game but I’m on the west coast and it’s only 1pm!!!!!!!!! cough cough boss I think I’ve got the black lung!
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| 4:08 |
: Pennant Fever is a real diagnosis.
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| 4:08 |
: Did you know the Red Sox starting line up versus Verlander is a career 26-122 (.213) with 0 HR?
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| 4:08 |
: Did you know that’s totally irrelevant? (Also I don’t think that’s true.)
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| 4:08 |
: I highly recommend reading Cistulli’s piece on Sale before the game.
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| 4:08 |
: Any time Cistulli writes something, you should read it.
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| 4:08 |
: Prediction: 6-1 Houston
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| 4:09 |
: I think this series (and playoffs) could really mark the changing of the guard for Boston. The fans are ready for coming out party of Betts, Benintendi, Devers etc. If they win it all, what are the odds Pedroia calls it a career, rides off into the sunset?
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| 4:09 |
: 0.0%
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| 4:09 |
: Pedroia isn’t going to walk away, he’ll have to be dragged away, kicking and screaming.
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| 4:09 |
: How much do most teams trust process in the face of bad publicity? For example, if unconventional choices like tandem starters and bullpenning don’t pan out this postseason, and you’ve got all the bad press that comes with it, do you think that chills creativity for a while? Or do you think most teams trust their numbers enough that P.R. doesn’t move the needle on strategy.
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| 4:10 |
: I think the latter. We’re past the point where the press — positive or negative — holds enough sway to affect decision-making.
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| 4:10 |
: Why can’t MLB Network just give us the straight-on view?
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| 4:11 |
: I am a Red Sox season ticket holder. I’m just hoping to get to see two games from my seats this postseason.
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| 4:11 |
: Those are my expectations.
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| 4:11 |
: Can’t really understand why Fister is tabbed to start Game 3.
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| 4:11 |
: No one can.
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| 4:11 |
: With the Twins and the Rockies eliminated, are there any underdogs left in the playoffs to root for?
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| 4:11 |
: Nationals?
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| 4:11 |
: Dbacks?
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| 4:12 |
: Paul, do you like Xander as a leadoff hitter? He seems way more comfortable there than in the middle of the order.
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| 4:12 |
: Oh WHAT A SHOCK NUNEZ IS STILL INJURED.
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| 4:13 |
: UN-BE-LIEVABLE.
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| 4:13 |
: This was so completely predictable.
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| 4:13 |
: Instead of leaving him off of the roster and giving him some more time to get ready for the ALCS, now he’s out until the World Series, if that.
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| 4:14 |
: Good thing they have hanely
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| 4:14 |
: How is he cleared to play if he can’t even make it down the line?
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| 4:14 |
: Because John Farrell told him to rub some dirt on it.
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| 4:15 |
: What did he hurt? I’m tracking on gameday at work!
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| 4:15 |
: His knee.
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| 4:15 |
: It’s been hurt since Sept. 9.
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| 4:15 |
: He tried to play last Monday, but his knee buckled on a swing in the third inning.
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| 4:15 |
: It was crystal clear then that he needed way more rehab time.
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| 4:16 |
: But he either talked his way back in the lineup, or Farrell shoehorned him in.
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| 4:16 |
: Either way, he’s now out for this series and the ALCS.
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| 4:16 |
: Unless they’re too stubborn to replace him and want to play with 24 guys.
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| 4:16 |
: He hobbled after one step today, in case you’re not watching.
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| 4:16 |
: One. Step.
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| 4:16 |
: John Farrell gonna find a way to play Holt now.
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| 4:17 |
: Luckily Nunez was DH today, so you can play Hanley. But yes, I’m sure Holt will get some PT.
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| 4:18 |
: As I wrote two days ago, Holt is basically the worst Red Sox 2B in their playoff history. https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-red-sox/2017/10/03/who-should-be-…
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| 4:18 |
: Did you guys see Arizona may have gotten busted for someone wearing a watch similar to what happened with Boston earlier vs the Yankees? What’s interesting to me is that Arizona actually took advantage of that compared to the Yankees in their games……
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| 4:18 |
: I didn’t. That’s funny.
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| 4:18 |
: How do you spend $200mm on payroll and trade away virtually all of your best prospects and still have to start Doug Fister in a playoff game?
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| 4:18 |
: That’s a great question.
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| 4:18 |
: So now Young will be added to the roster and be in the lineup tomorrow batting 2nd because Farrell
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| 4:18 |
: Maybe they’ll put Sam Travis on the roster.
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| 4:19 |
: Nunez is probably only going to miss three games, so there’s that. #Astroswillsweep
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| 4:19 |
: Did he not try to run even once before the game? If you can’t make it even one step without limping, that’s ugly
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| 4:19 |
: Yeah, well, apparently he was fine during workout day, because the media was there for that. But this was an event that was easily predictable.
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| 4:19 |
: A playoff game 1 at 3local time is kinda ridiculous
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| 4:20 |
: There have been several folks arguing against a bullpen strategy because it increases your chance of hitting a reliever who’s “off” that day. I don’t think reliever outcomes are distributed like that, but I can’t prove it. Does this argument have any merit?
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| 4:21 |
: I’m not sure if it does or not, but it’s certainly an argument that makes sense intuitively. The more pitchers you use, the more likely that one will be off. Just not sure if it bears out statistically.
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| 4:21 |
: “Any time Cistulli writes?” Even the poetry? This is madness.
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| 4:21 |
: Even the poetry.
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| 4:21 |
: DH’s so far this postseason. Ellsbury, Grossman, Nunez…. Gattis is not a bad choice
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| 4:21 |
: And yet people defend the DH.
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| 4:21 |
: Can they take someone off the roster in the middle of the series?
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| 4:22 |
: Yes, but the penalty is that player is now out for the current series AND the following series. Hence why Nunez would only be available for the World Series.
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| 4:22 |
: Professional at bat there from Benny ended with an ugly strikeout on a would-be walk
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| 4:22 |
: At least he worked a good at-bat. That was fun.
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| 4:23 |
: Are injuries the only way to modify your playoff round roster once set?
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| 4:23 |
: I believe so, yes.
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| 4:23 |
: If Big Papi was able to be added to the ALDS roster and just showed up with no tune up or practice, would he still be the best hitter in the lineup?
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| 4:23 |
: I sincerely doubt it.
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| 4:24 |
: That was a filthy pitch from Sale.
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| 4:24 |
: Watching the MLB Network broadcast. They don’t have much to say…
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| 4:24 |
: About Nunez? What’s there to say? You can’t be definitive yet, and they still have to call this game. They’ll wait for a medical update.
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| 4:24 |
: I am very surprised that the MLB Network doesnt have a strike zone on the screen.
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| 4:25 |
: Yeah, me too. Just on replays so far.
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| 4:25 |
: I can’t believe Angel Hernandez is umpiring this series
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| 4:25 |
: Really? He just sued MLB for lack of playoff assignments.
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| 4:25 |
: One day one of my comments will make it on the chat 🙁
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| 4:25 |
: Hi Sebastian, Z.
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| 4:25 |
: Carlos Beltran has been low key kind of bad for about 3 years other than a good 2 month stretch last year.
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| 4:26 |
: Don’t say mean things about Carlos Beltran.
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| 4:26 |
: Well that was quite the home run from Bregman.
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| 4:26 |
: man what a bomb
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| 4:26 |
: There goes the no hitter
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| 4:26 |
: So maybe September Sale is still pitching today
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| 4:26 |
: Boy, Sale sure has been giving up a lot of dingers lately.
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| 4:26 |
: Put that one on a tee
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| 4:26 |
: Watching on mlbtv and there’s a delay, so nobody say anything until 30 seconds after something happens. (just kidding)
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| 4:27 |
: would the red sox prefer a 30 pitch inning with 0 runs scored or a 1 run inning w/ 10 pitches for sale.
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| 4:27 |
: Looks like they’re not going to get either.
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| 4:27 |
: But I’d guess the latter, for the sake of argument.
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| 4:28 |
: One more hard-hit ball — homer or otherwise — and you need to get someone up in the ‘pen.
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| 4:28 |
: Who is first man out of the pen for the Sox today?
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| 4:28 |
: My guess would be Eduardo Rodriguez or Austin Maddox.
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| 4:29 |
: do you think Chris’ beard is itchy?
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| 4:29 |
: Judging from my personal experience, I’d say his beard is just edging into itchy territory.
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| 4:29 |
: Is it possible that for the playoffs MLB unjuiced the pitchers?
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| 4:29 |
: Gimme some pitching what’s going on this year?
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| 4:30 |
: Why is Chris Sale now bad?
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| 4:30 |
: Red Sox fans thawing out the green beer they have frozen from St Pat’s right about now
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| 4:30 |
: Just what the Bosox needed, another pitcher who pitches “worse” in the playoffs
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| 4:30 |
: No!!!! Why Sale? Why???
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| 4:30 |
: (i don’t mean steroids, I just mean opposite of juicing the ball)
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| 4:30 |
: What’s the award given to the first starter to last 4 innings in a game?
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| 4:30 |
: Verlander is now my guess!
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| 4:30 |
: What am I missing here, I can’t watch?
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| 4:30 |
: Back-to-back dongs by Bregman and Altuve.
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| 4:31 |
: I think you have to let Sale settle down, I think once he does he can give you several innings.
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| 4:31 |
: He might, but I’d probably have someone getting loose just in case.
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| 4:31 |
: Would pitchers be a better come postseason with a month off midseason?
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| 4:31 |
: I doubt it.
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| 4:31 |
: Just remarkable about Sale’s struggles here late. 11 homers now in his last 29.1 innings pitched.
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| 4:31 |
: The Astros lineup is very good.
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| 4:32 |
: That was another hard hit ball, warm someone up?
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| 4:32 |
: Yeah, I would have someone stretching, at the very least.
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| 4:32 |
: “another well hit ball!” *caught in shallow left*
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| 4:32 |
: Yeah, they got fooled by the sound on that one.
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| 4:33 |
: is “dong” your preferred homer slang?
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| 4:33 |
: I like to mix it up.
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| 4:34 |
: 3 consecutive 100+ mph hits? That’s not good for sale.
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| 4:34 |
: No. No it isn’t.
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| 4:34 |
: can i watch this game just with a mlbtv subscription or do i need a cable subscription to one of the listed providers? I only have the former and I cant figure it out
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| 4:34 |
: I think you have to buy a separate MLB.tv package for the postseason?
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| 4:35 |
: hate the redsox but cheering for sale
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| 4:35 |
: White Sox fan?
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| 4:35 |
: Remember, kids, this isn’t a WC game. Burning up the pen will hurt. Your SP needs to last a little longer.
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| 4:35 |
: Bringing in Rodriguez or Maddox for 3-4 innings would work if Sale keeps getting lit up. Then you can piece it together from there. Kelly can go 2.
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| 4:35 |
: Gotta be ready for the rest of the series though, can’t sell out to try and win this game and not be ready to win tomorrow. If Sale can give length, don’t you have to let him go?
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| 4:36 |
: I think they’re starting Doug Fister in Game 3, and as such can’t really afford to get swept in Houston, because they’re definitely losing Game 3.
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| 4:36 |
: Of course, I doubt Farrell sees it the same way, since he’s the one who chose to start Fister.
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| 4:36 |
: Any fangraphs people at the game today?
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| 4:37 |
: I don’t think so?
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| 4:37 |
: Do beards eventually get un-itchy? Like I cant even look at Archie bradley without scrathcin my face?
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| 4:38 |
: I’ve never reached such a point with my own beard, but I haven’t grown it to Bradley length before. I always get impatient and shave it. Also, I’m not a professional athlete, so I can’t quite pull off looking like a unabomber.
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| 4:38 |
: When he describes the hard exterior but intensity within, is Bob Costas describing Sale or M+Ms?
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| 4:38 |
: Maybe he means Twix?
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| 4:39 |
: Damnit, now I want a peanut butter Twix. This is all your fault, Hannah!
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| 4:39 |
: Amazing that he had a pitchers count in both the Bregman AB and the Altuve AB and chose to go up in the zone on both. I’m guessing he just missed his location on both? Either that or he was going right at them way too early
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| 4:39 |
: I don’t remember if he missed the glove or not.
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| 4:39 |
: Oh wow, that was a high strike call.
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| 4:39 |
: I have no faith in the Red Sox offense to do anything this game.
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| 4:40 |
: Huh, I guess not. But it was outside.
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| 4:40 |
: Mookie Betts rhymes with Bernie Goetz
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| 4:40 |
: Thank you, Hannah.
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| 4:40 |
: I’m using my regular mlb.tv subscription I bought in April and I’m fine. Im also in Canada
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| 4:40 |
: Yeah I think international has different rules.
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| 4:41 |
: How’s your morale, Paul?
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| 4:41 |
: Oh, I’m fine. I predicted Astros in 4.
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| 4:41 |
: I’m fine with the Sox going down in flames if it means Farrell gets fired.
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| 4:41 |
: You can get a Sling.tv subscription for $25, allows you to stream FS1 and TBS. The MLB postseason package only gives you static camera angles for TBS games.
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| 4:42 |
: Hey MLBTV guy: buying the postseason package gets you “alternative camera angles”, tragically you need cable for the real thing. Signed, fellow sad person who does not have cable and will be spending most of this month in bars spending his October pay on beer
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| 4:42 |
: I mean, isn’t Sale better than E-Rod? Don’t we have to give him another inning or two?
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| 4:42 |
: He is, but how many more runs do you want to give him? 2? 2 more would be my max. Not sure the Sox offense has 5 runs it today.
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| 4:43 |
: I have a dense beard and it’s never itchy
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| 4:43 |
: Everyone is different, obviously.
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| 4:43 |
: Can we talk about how bad and dumb the separate subscription for MLB.TV postseason is? Paid for the regular season? Too bad. Most of the games are blacked out? Too bad, you still gotta pay. The one time of year you might convert new fans easily with exciting/high stakes games, and they’re blowing it!
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| 4:43 |
: It’d be nice if they could improve the postseason product, but I think mostly their hands are tied by their broadcast partners.
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| 4:43 |
: Why is the fister game a loss? Last I checked he was +2.5mph and pitching much closer to previous levels than the last two years.
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| 4:44 |
: He gave up like 19 runs in 10 innings in his last 4 starts. The league figured him back out.
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| 4:44 |
: Dustin Pedroia has never clued in to the fact that Dustin Pedroia is very very slow now.
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| 4:45 |
: That’s bang-bang.
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| 4:45 |
: That run might not count.
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| 4:45 |
: I assume there’s only a chat for this game today?
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| 4:46 |
: Yup, I’m the only sucker who volunteered.
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| 4:46 |
: playstation vue has a free 5 day trial that includes MLBN for those looking for legal means of watching. Sling does not.
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| 4:46 |
: Thanks Tucker!
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| 4:46 |
: “I’m fine with the Sox going down in flames if it means Farrell gets fired.” Consensus opinion of all Sox fans I know (and I agree).
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| 4:46 |
: Who’s doing the color commentary on this? He seems terrible
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| 4:46 |
: Jim Kaat. He was very, very smart when I was a kid.
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| 4:46 |
: Pedroia usually doesn’t make a stupid play like that.
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| 4:47 |
: Pedroia has been doing this on the bases for the better part of two seasons. He still thinks he’s fast.
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| 4:47 |
: no run
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| 4:47 |
: He scores
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| 4:47 |
: Run scored.
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| 4:47 |
: They won’t overturn that
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| 4:47 |
: Wow,..
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| 4:47 |
: Even if they reverse it, that’s a pretty bad play by Pedroia there, no?
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| 4:47 |
: Yes, it was.
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| 4:47 |
: Stay at second.
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| 4:47 |
: Run counts.
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| 4:48 |
: Sawchik will be at the game, right?
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| 4:48 |
: Oh, will he? I haven’t talked to Travis all week.
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| 4:48 |
: Pedroia is such a bad base runner this year.
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| 4:48 |
: Last year too.
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| 4:49 |
: 10th worst baserunner past two years.
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| 4:49 |
: 15th if you remove PA filters
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| 4:50 |
: It’s funny how badly Red Sox fans wanted Ferrell from Toronto
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| 4:51 |
: I didn’t.
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| 4:51 |
: If you look up my Twitter archives, I was against it from day one.
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| 4:51 |
: But Paul, this is Farrell’s dream job. That’s for us Blue Jays fans.
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| 4:51 |
: Kaat seems good so far! You guys are rough.
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| 4:51 |
: He’s ok. I like Jim, he’s just past his prime as a broadcaster.
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| 4:51 |
: Would you rather have Jessica Mendoza doing color commentary?
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| 4:52 |
: I’d love to get to listen to Mendoza unencumbered by Aaron Boone’s monotone stupidity.
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| 4:52 |
: If Pedroia and Altuve leg-wrestle, who wins?
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| 4:52 |
: My money’s on Altuve.
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| 4:52 |
: given how much of MLB’s revenue is tied up in local TV deals and ticket sales, it does seem kind of short-sighted for them to not use the playoffs as a loss-leader to promote the game. Postseason deals supposedly generate like $25M/team/year which is a lot, but if a more open alternative only generated half as much revenue wouldn’t the promotion be worth it?
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| 4:52 |
: But why lose money if you don’t have to?
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| 4:53 |
: I hear you though.
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| 4:53 |
: Isn’t Farrell’s job in part to take his star player aside and tell him nicely that he needs to change his approach? Preferably before the postseason?
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| 4:53 |
: Yes. It absolutely is.
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| 4:53 |
: Isn’t this Buster Posey commercial like 3 years old?
|
| 4:53 |
: Yes, but it’s still hilarious.
|
| 4:53 |
: Is his glove still good? I haven’t checked that. Feel like defense and base running declines fast
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| 4:54 |
: His glove is still good, and he led the team in OBP. He’s still a good player, when healthy. He just is slow now.
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| 4:54 |
: I’m using a free 7 day trial for DirecTV Now to stream MLB Network. Hopefully it’ll get me through the Division Series. Sling Blue for FS1/TBS rest of the way. So far, minimal delay in the DirecTV Now app on my Roku.
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| 4:54 |
: From Tim Britton: Pedroia took the extra base 16% of the time this year and made seven outs on the bases; those are the same numbers Ortiz had last year.
|
| 4:54 |
: Yeah, not good.
|
| 4:54 |
: Where can we find the breakdown of a player’s BsR?
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| 4:55 |
: Whether he can run or not, it was still an incredibly dumb play.
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| 4:55 |
: Agreed. That’s the one thing you’re told never to do, is make the third out going to third base.
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| 4:55 |
: BsR components are here. http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=8370&position=2B#advance…
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| 4:55 |
: If Danny Ainge ran the Red Sox he would have traded Pedroia 3 years ago and kept Betts at 2b
|
| 4:55 |
: Hard to argue with that.
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| 4:56 |
: I was promised a pitchers duel
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| 4:56 |
: This isn’t not not a pitcher’s duel. Still a low-scoring, one-run game.
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| 4:56 |
: Sox radio reiterating your point, that Pedroia still thinks he’s fast but he’s now the opposite of fast.
|
| 4:56 |
: And if those guys are willing to be critical, it should be painfully obvious to anyone with a pulse. The real question is does John Farrell have a pulse?
|
| 4:57 |
: Stay tuned.
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| 4:57 |
: He is past his prime, that is for sure, but it isn’t he is Aaron Boone or something
|
| 4:57 |
: Absolutely.
|
| 4:57 |
: Kaat is fine, but I’d rather have a replay than Kaat’s corner where he says Sale needs to throw better pitches…
|
| 4:57 |
: Right, they’re both fine. They’re just not the best.
|
| 4:57 |
: Any love for Dan Shulman? He’s my favorite
|
| 4:58 |
: He’s a pro, but I prefer people who just do baseball. He does everything.
|
| 4:58 |
: If you’re an MLB.tv subscriber, you can access the game through the At Bat app with paid TV provider credentials, if MLB Network is part of that TV package.
|
| 4:58 |
: Some day I would still like to see a chat with You, Dave, Jeff & Travis with our interactions
|
| 4:58 |
: Sometimes we have multiple people on the live blogs.
|
| 4:58 |
: I’m in the US
|
| 4:58 |
: Three division titles in five years and a WS Championship is good enough for this Red Sox fan. Farrell did a very good job with the bullpen which is the only reason the Sox are playing today. 15-3 in extra innings.
|
| 4:59 |
: Right. The results have been there. But the process is usually dubious. Managers don’t have that much of an affect, so even his bad decisions haven’t hurt that much.
|
| 4:59 |
: See, it’s so hard to go to straightaway center here.
|
| 4:59 |
: Yeah, 409 is deep.
|
| 5:00 |
: Except that Pedroia is to the Red Sox what Jeter was to the Yankees. The heart and soul times ten.
|
| 5:00 |
: I can’t say that I agree. And obviously the Yankees have been just fine since Jeter retired. That stuff is all very overrated.
|
| 5:00 |
: Who’s the announcer that sounds like Jesse “The Body” Ventura? What are his credentials? Was he ever Intercontinental Champion?
|
| 5:01 |
: Jim Kaat would have been a very adroit Intercontinental Champion.
|
| 5:01 |
: Do you have a favorite broadcaster? Al Leiter has always been my favortie
|
| 5:01 |
: Don Orsillo
|
| 5:01 |
: How about a “Kaat’s in the cradle” segment where Kaat expresses pro athlete regrets for not being there for his kids growing up?
|
| 5:01 |
: That’d be AWESOME.
|
| 5:02 |
: Well there we go. That was a nice recovery after the Reddick hit.
|
| 5:02 |
: I think we need a new poll
|
| 5:02 |
: OK.
|
| 5:02 |
: Pedroia – Hall of Famer or Hall of Very Good? (Assume he has 2-3 OK but not great years going forward)
|
| 5:03 |
: I think injuries are going to play a huge role, but he’s got the awards/rings/soft stuff part of the resume covered cold.
|
| 5:05 |
:
Who do you expect to win the World Series?
Astros (9.0% | 14 votes)
Red Sox (1.2% | 2 votes)
Yankees (6.4% | 10 votes)
Indians (42.8% | 66 votes)
Dodgers (21.4% | 33 votes)
Diamondbacks (3.8% | 6 votes)
Nationals (9.7% | 15 votes)
Cubs (5.1% | 8 votes)
Total Votes: 154
|
| 5:05 |
: might have a better case than ortiz
|
| 5:05 |
: Not positionally he doesn’t.
|
| 5:06 |
: But the MVP will go a long way.
|
| 5:06 |
: Is it possible the Sox are “starting” Fister in game 3 because they plan on going to Price in inning 2 or 3 anyway?
|
| 5:06 |
: Definitely possible. We’ll see.
|
| 5:06 |
: Farrell usually can be counted on to leave his starter in for 2-3 more batters than he should.
|
| 5:06 |
: No big farrell fan, but seems a bit pessimistic to think his firing is the thing to hope for this postseason. Worse teams have won the ws and I just can’t see the point of rooting for a team and then being that down on them when they get to the playoffs, but maybe I’m trying too hard to see it through rose-colored glasses
|
| 5:07 |
: Oh I’m not ROOTING for them to get destroyed, but it’d be a great silver lining.
|
| 5:07 |
: Hall of Fame! I have watched almost every game for 11 years and he is so much more than the numbers and the numbers are good enough.
|
| 5:07 |
: He’s a HOFer no doubt in my mind
|
| 5:07 |
: as a red sox fan who do you root for in the other ALDS series? The Yankees would be an easier opponent but that would mean rooting for the Yankees
|
| 5:07 |
: Rooting for Cleveland, and Francona.
|
| 5:08 |
: I want to see a segment called Schroedinger’s Kaat, where Jim Kaat calls dingers from a sealed box.
|
| 5:08 |
: YES
|
| 5:08 |
: You think they pull a fast one? “start” Fister for 1 batter, then put in their “real” starter?
|
| 5:08 |
: No.
|
| 5:09 |
: My favorite Fangraphs WAR graph is the one showing Dustin Pedroia and Robinson Cano with essentially the same WAR through age 33. I think the Hall really depends how healthy Pedroia stays over the next three seasons.
|
| 5:09 |
: Agreed, and I’d bet on Cano staying healthier.
|
| 5:09 |
: Follow up, SHOULD they pull a fast one?
|
| 5:09 |
: No that’d be stupid.
|
| 5:10 |
: Play-off Han-ley (clap, clap, clap clap clap)
|
| 5:10 |
: I really enjoy HanRam.
|
| 5:11 |
: What current pitcher would make the best broadcaster, a la Kaat?
|
| 5:11 |
: Chris Archer was pretty good last year.
|
| 5:12 |
: A perfectly executed JV curveball shown by a centered camera angel is a thing of beauty
|
| 5:12 |
: 52 pitches through 3 is a good result for the Sox, at least.
|
| 5:13 |
: the dodgers have to be the least believed in 104 win team of all time.
|
| 5:13 |
: That’ll happen in a year where there’s 2 other 100-win teams.
|
| 5:13 |
: Stroman for Broadcaster?
|
| 5:13 |
: Can’t say I’ve ever heard Stroman speak. If you think he’d be good, OK.
|
| 5:14 |
: i want to see votto and greinke as broadcasters
|
| 5:14 |
: Votto, sure. Greinke, … maybe.
|
| 5:14 |
: this game has been good
|
| 5:14 |
: Yeah, so far , so good.
|
| 5:14 |
: Also that’ll happen in a year when they have probably one of (the?) longest losing streaks ever for a 100+ win team
|
| 5:14 |
: And one of the other 100-win teams has a mammoth win streak, and the other 100-win team has to deal with a hurricane, making them sympathetic favorites.
|
| 5:15 |
: Adam Jones is going to end up broadcasting at some point
|
| 5:15 |
: That’d be great, but wasn’t the original question about pitchers?
|
| 5:15 |
: Officially a Re-Aggravated knee injury for Nunez
|
| 5:15 |
: Yeah, I heard that. I mean, we’ll see after the game.
|
| 5:16 |
: Id be surprised if he plays again this season.
|
| 5:17 |
: Granderson was born to broadcast. I’d listen to that dude read me the phone book.
|
| 5:17 |
: Hello from miserable England, are you doing a live blog for the Indians Yankees as well? 10.15pm here at the moment.
|
| 5:17 |
: No, just this one. Sorry.
|
| 5:18 |
: A-Rod and Pete Rose are divine doing the post game commentary
|
| 5:18 |
: I thought they replaced Rose with Ortiz?
|
| 5:18 |
: Alex Bregman trying to take Sale out of the game by any means necessary
|
| 5:19 |
: What is the schedule for blogging tomorrow?
|
| 5:19 |
: I have not heard as of yet.
|
| 5:20 |
: Montgomery, probably.
|
| 5:21 |
: But I assume Benintendi or Haniger or Chapman will get more votes than Montgomery, since the NY writers have to vote for his teammate.
|
| 5:21 |
: AL ROY after Judge? Is it Jordan Montgomery? Hanniger? Chapman play enough games? Is Benintendi even top 3 by production and not reputation?
|
| 5:21 |
: Oops, I answered that question before I posted it. Whoops.
|
| 5:21 |
: I was going to mow the lawn but these blogs are so compelling that they are destroying my schedule.
|
| 5:22 |
: I appreciate that, but go mow your lawn. You don’t want to have to do it tomorrow when there’s 4 games on!
|
| 5:22 |
: I still can’t get used to the Astros being in the American League.
|
| 5:23 |
: I know. I’m OK with it now because of the natural Texas rivalry.
|
| 5:23 |
: Still don’t like constant Interleague play though.
|
| 5:23 |
: Hopefully when they expand to 32 teams they’ll do away with everyday interleague.
|
| 5:23 |
: Should I stop following the chat and finish my script due at 11:59 ET?
|
| 5:23 |
: Yeah, probably. I’m not trying to cost you jobs/grades here, people!
|
| 5:24 |
: You forgot to say “presented by Doosan” after ALDS
|
| 5:24 |
: Doosan Bears 4lyfe
|
| 5:25 |
: Mookie can really scoot, you guys.
|
| 5:25 |
: i need a haircut.
|
| 5:25 |
: also need an oil change
|
| 5:25 |
: prob could use a tire rotation
|
| 5:25 |
: I don’t recommend doing any of those errands. Those are annoying.
|
| 5:25 |
: You should stay.
|
| 5:26 |
: Paul did you see Len recite your top 5 NL CY picks -it was on ABC’s Cubs Nightly. As a Cubs fan, it made me crab my pants. Len called you a legend btw.
|
| 5:26 |
: He recited MY top 5 NL Cy picks?
|
| 5:26 |
: I definitely didn’t see that.
|
| 5:26 |
: why not a fan of constant interleague play? I happen to love how MLB is structured right now
|
| 5:27 |
: Just a curmudgeon I guess. I don’t really like interleague play at all.
|
| 5:27 |
: Tire rotations don’t help- its a gimmick
|
| 5:27 |
: Just ask Wally Kogen.
|
| 5:27 |
: Ruh roh, something brewing here…
|
| 5:27 |
: how long till NL adopts DH?
|
| 5:28 |
: Hopefully not until I’m dead.
|
| 5:28 |
: Pedroia’s not having the best game. Can’t swing at a 2-0 pitch at your eyes, brah.
|
| 5:28 |
: Should I put the outdoor Halloween decorations my wife has been asking about or should I watch baseball and try to hold off until Saturday on the decorating?
|
| 5:29 |
: Hold off til Saturday.
|
| 5:29 |
: I’ve become very anti-decoration.
|
| 5:29 |
: I dream of no interleague play and a balanced schedule.
|
| 5:29 |
: bought some motor oil on amazon same day delivery
|
| 5:29 |
: and i will pray on the tires
|
| 5:29 |
: ok put a hat on
|
| 5:29 |
: Skittlebabies, you did it!!!!
|
| 5:29 |
: it’s funny to go from elimination games to these (slightly) longer series… my emotions have the same level of intensity, even though my brain knows this isn’t win-or-go-home. Playing tricks with my mind!
|
| 5:29 |
: Great song.
|
| 5:30 |
:
|
| 5:30 |
: Red Sox #2 in mlb for infield pop-ups.
|
| 5:30 |
: That’s not a stat you want to be No. 2 in.
|
| 5:30 |
: Well I’m not going anywhere. Thanks work
|
| 5:30 |
: Boo.
|
| 5:30 |
: You, as a Sox fan, would never have gotten a chance to enjoy the Glory and Magic that was David Ortiz
|
| 5:31 |
: Go look at Ortiz’s UZR. He’d have been just fine as a first baseman.
|
| 5:31 |
: Heaven forbid fans in AL parks get to see Kershaw pick in person….. Interleague is great for fans
|
| 5:31 |
: It’s great for fans approximately 10% of the time. The other 90% you see teams you’d never care about.
|
| 5:31 |
: That is three swings at balls over his head by Devers.
|
| 5:31 |
: Apparently Verlander can just throw every pitch 6 inches above the zone and that’ll work out fine
|
| 5:32 |
: “Muttering to himself ” Pedroia is getting senile.
|
| 5:32 |
: Wow that play was bananas.
|
| 5:32 |
: Mookie scored standing up on a play to shallow right field.
|
| 5:32 |
: Did Mookie leave early?
|
| 5:33 |
: Radical idea: get rid of leagues, just have three or four geographic divisions, top 8 teams advance to playoffs.
|
| 5:33 |
: I’m also fine with this, as long as the teams play a more balanced schedule.
|
| 5:33 |
: This is probably a dumb question but McCann puts down a 4 and it is a fastball up. A 1 is a slider, is that normal?
|
| 5:33 |
: That stuff can change depending on the day/inning/runners/etc.
|
| 5:34 |
: Wouldn’t read into that too much.
|
| 5:34 |
: Also, DH vs Not DH is one of the Big Three arguments between my wife and I (she is staunchly in opposed to the DH). The other two are Peter Gabriel (yay) vs Phil Collins (boo) and whether or not to go for the double or nothing video bonus clue on Cash Cab (why would you risk all that money when you already won it?!?!?)
|
| 5:34 |
: Your wife is right about Phil Collins. Sorry.
|
| 5:35 |
: And the DH.
|
| 5:35 |
: Looks like you married up!
|
| 5:35 |
: Better idea: get rid of leagues and divisions altogether, fully balanced schedule, top 8 teams make the postseason in a standard tournament bracket (have a play-in game for the last slot if you must)
|
| 5:35 |
: Well, how do you balance the schedule if you get rid of divisions and leagues?
|
| 5:35 |
: your wife is always right
|
| 5:35 |
: Peter Gabriel vs Phil Collins? Is seppuku an alternate option?
|
| 5:36 |
: I won’t hear such disrespect of Phil Collins!!!!
|
| 5:36 |
: Peter Gabriel is way better. Come on. Super’s Ready, man.
|
| 5:36 |
: Alright, we’re putting this to a poll.
|
| 5:37 |
:
Who is/was better?
Phil Collins (26.6% | 41 votes)
Peter Gabriel (27.9% | 43 votes)
Can’t decide – tough one! (1.9% | 3 votes)
Can’t decide – I’m too young to know either person (19.4% | 30 votes)
This is a bad poll. (24.0% | 37 votes)
Total Votes: 154
|
| 5:39 |
: I wish I could vote twice so I could choose the last two options.
|
| 5:39 |
: I’m 20 and always assumed I’m one of the younger guys in the FG audience. Are there really that many people who don’t know who these guys are?
|
| 5:39 |
: I would suspect a fair percentage of 20-year-olds don’t know either.
|
| 5:39 |
: Thanks Paul, the only thing your poll has accomplished is making me feel old
|
| 5:40 |
: Yeah I am 19 and don’t know either
|
| 5:40 |
: It would be a good poll if you put a head on it. Could turn it into a…SLEDGEHAMMER!
|
| 5:40 |
: Obviously Gabriel
|
| 5:40 |
: Peter Gabriel’s piano playing and singing on Robbie Robertson’s forgotten 1987 classic “Broken Arrow” — can’t top it
|
| 5:40 |
: No wonder youre a red sox fan
|
| 5:40 |
: Deananna is not messing around. Look, it’s not my fault the Yankees never gave you a real shot at playing time, Dean Anna.
|
| 5:40 |
: Well this just improved my afternoon considerably.
|
| 5:40 |
: tough crowd for this poll! Unfortunate…
|
| 5:40 |
: I’m 35, and I only have a vague idea of either person.
|
| 5:40 |
: 24 year old checking in, don’t know either
|
| 5:41 |
: I am 75. Are there any out there older than me?
|
| 5:41 |
: I feel you probably are going to take the cake.
|
| 5:41 |
: Drums > Piano. Phil Collins FTW
|
| 5:41 |
: I’m 19 and only know Phil Collins because of Tarzan
|
| 5:41 |
: Hahahaha.
|
| 5:41 |
: He did have a good Disney run.
|
| 5:41 |
: This Correa guy looks legit.
|
| 5:42 |
: I don’t know, jury’s still out, haha.
|
| 5:42 |
: I’m 45 and Peter Gabriel crushes Phil Collins like a grape at a winemaking festival.
|
| 5:42 |
: I will never forgive Phil Collins for stealing the oscar from South Park.
|
| 5:43 |
: I have to leave for class now. The Red Sox and Astros failed me.
|
| 5:43 |
: Sorry, Hank!
|
| 5:44 |
: Had a music theory professor who loved Peter Gabriel and used his songs as examples of songwriting concepts in class. Not as big a fan as he was, but vs. Phil Collins, this ain’t hard. Obviously Gabriel.
|
| 5:44 |
: 28, the only thing I know is the best drum solo ever. BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM-DUM-SMACK…tickatickaticka.
|
| 5:44 |
: They are both waiting room music.
|
| 5:44 |
: I’m 16 and don’t understand what’s going on
|
| 5:44 |
: Robin Williams performed the South Park song at the Oscars; it was glorious
|
| 5:44 |
: So. We disagree on Peter Gabriel, the DH, and interleague play…. Should I even ask about beer?
|
| 5:44 |
: I like beer.
|
| 5:44 |
: I like Evan Gattis’ method for not falling off the bag – belly flop onto it!
|
| 5:45 |
: American Psycho told me Phil Collins is amazing
|
| 5:45 |
: He is.
|
| 5:45 |
: He’s also an easy lover.
|
| 5:45 |
: Learned what curmudgeon means today thanks Paul.
|
| 5:45 |
: YES!
|
| 5:45 |
: I don’t think Bradley caught that.
|
| 5:45 |
: He didn’t.
|
| 5:46 |
: Is there still a game going on?
|
| 5:46 |
: There is, Pim.
|
| 5:46 |
: We all know there is only one true way to solve this Phil Collins Peter Gabriel debate; a good old fashioned “Celebrity Deathmatch”
|
| 5:46 |
: For someone who gave up 2 HRs to first 3 hitters, Sale is looking ok…
|
| 5:46 |
: What are your favorite breweries?
|
| 5:47 |
: Uh. Jack’s Abby/
|
| 5:47 |
: ?
|
| 5:47 |
: Can’t think of breweries right now.
|
| 5:47 |
: Earlier this year nobody hit that pitch. This is still not the Chris Sale I became very comfortable pitching the first 5 months of the season.
|
| 5:47 |
: I’m only listening on the radio, but it sure seems like a miracle that Sale has only allowed two runs so far.
|
| 5:47 |
: Yeah, he’s both settled down and is still shaky, if that makes any sense. It might not.
|
| 5:48 |
: Haha love Costas defending his delayed call
|
| 5:48 |
: Both solo acts weren’t great. Genesis was great.
|
| 5:48 |
: Should have added that option.
|
| 5:48 |
: On the overturn, Gattis will probably be at 2nd. Do you think he should be at 3rd after review?
|
| 5:48 |
: No.
|
| 5:48 |
: Not a catch, right?
|
| 5:48 |
: Right.
|
| 5:49 |
: Does anyone else wish Huston was still named the Colt 45s? Then Billy Dee Williams could be their mascot.
|
| 5:49 |
: Anyone ever see the movie Money Talks? Chris Tucker had a great Colt 45 line in that movie.
|
| 5:50 |
: Bifurcation another word i learned from a baseball writer Jeff Passan.
|
| 5:50 |
: If JBJ dekes the catch, Gattis doesn’t run, totally fair; but if the ump is part of the deke, that seems unfair.
|
| 5:50 |
: I don’t think he deked it. He came up pretty undecided.
|
| 5:50 |
: Tree House and Trillium are both great breweries. Although I’ve been happy with Medusa as well.
|
| 5:50 |
: Noted!
|
| 5:50 |
: I just buy what’s at my liquor store. I don’t have time to be seeking out breweries.
|
| 5:51 |
: My fiance is walking down the aisle to a Gabriel arrangement of a song, so I have to lean Gabriel.
|
| 5:51 |
: Peter Gabriel is Big Time
|
| 5:51 |
: Three games so far and all have taken over 1:40 get through 4 innings.
|
| 5:51 |
: Gattis doesn’t score on that flyout anyways.
|
| 5:51 |
: Agreed.
|
| 5:51 |
: If I see that si cover once more I’m gonna stab a yankee.
|
| 5:51 |
: Tell us how you really feel, Mongo.
|
| 5:51 |
: Clearly the people are reeling from the lack of Eno chat today
|
| 5:51 |
: Sorry ya’ll.
|
| 5:51 |
: If you love Jack’s Abby, and haven’t yet been to their new brewpub, it’s definitely worth a trip, huge selection, excellent pizza.
|
| 5:52 |
: I have heard that.
|
| 5:52 |
: Well, Sale blew up again. There was an argument for taking him out after the Gattis double. Certainly he needs to come out now.
|
| 5:53 |
: <— do not wish Houston were called the Colt 45s, we’d be inundated with constant hot takes about gun culture on ESPN. Remember the Washington Bullets
|
| 5:53 |
: That was the reason the name was changed, in fact.
|
| 5:53 |
: Also, I liked the name Bullets. Bullet has other connotations that left wiggle room, I felt.
|
| 5:53 |
: Dont you live near like, Sibling Revelry and Fat Heads?
|
| 5:54 |
: Do I?
|
| 5:54 |
: I feel like this is the worst good pitchers duel I’ve ever seen
|
| 5:54 |
: Let met get this out there:Paul > Eno
|
| 5:54 |
: Nah, Eno is way better than me.
|
| 5:54 |
: He’d know the answers to all these beer comments, for instance.
|
| 5:54 |
: How real is this Marwin Gonzalez?
|
| 5:54 |
: Real enough.
|
| 5:54 |
: don’t listen to the haters, Paul, always love your chats 🙂
|
| 5:54 |
: Appreciate it.
|
| 5:55 |
: Disagree with not giving Gattis 3rd. But *shrug*
|
| 5:55 |
: Ultimately, it didn’t matter.
|
| 5:55 |
: Time to get Sale. ERod or Maddox
|
| 5:55 |
: I’d go Eduardo. I don’t think Maddox even belonged on the roster.
|
| 5:55 |
: Not sure why Maddox got the spot over Barnes, Hembree or Workman.
|
| 5:55 |
: If I come late to the chat and want to scroll to the top is the only way to do this continually pull down the scroll bar? Tedious.
|
| 5:56 |
: Yeah, sorry. This interface is still way better than our old chat interface.
|
| 5:56 |
: What are the chances we see a complete game from a starter this postseason?
|
| 5:56 |
: 4% ?
|
| 5:56 |
: Can’t let him face Springer-Bregman- Altuve again
|
| 5:56 |
: Agreed.
|
| 5:57 |
: That’s Travis, those places are in Cleveland
|
| 5:57 |
: Oh.
|
| 5:57 |
: If you don’t pull sale now you’re down 2-1 going into game 4.
|
| 5:57 |
: How optimistic, thinking that if the Sox lose this game they get to a Game 4.
|
| 5:57 |
: Hanley 2-for-2.
|
| 5:58 |
: That ball was up in the air a long time. I was a little surprised neither Betts or Bradley had a play on it
|
| 5:58 |
: 409 is a long way.
|
| 5:58 |
: You do not live near those breweries, confused you with a different chatter. My mistake.
|
| 5:58 |
: No problemo.
|
| 5:59 |
: if they rule no catch gattis gets thrown out at third inning ends on fly ball
|
| 5:59 |
: That was my rationale, that Bradley would have gunned him down.
|
| 5:59 |
: Over/under 4 hours for game time?
|
| 5:59 |
: Let’s be optimistic and say under.
|
| 5:59 |
: I agree. I thought Workman would make it. Workman > Barnes > Maddox > Hembree, IMO
|
| 5:59 |
: Hembree is better than Maddox.
|
| 6:00 |
: Maddox had a .45 gmLI, pitching against Sept. rosters.
|
| 6:00 |
: There’s no evidence that he’s a good pitcher.
|
| 6:00 |
: His shiny ERA was supported by like a 4.80 xFIP.
|
| 6:00 |
: Who’s your bet to throw the first quality start of the postseason?
|
| 6:00 |
: I mean, Verlander is only an inning away…
|
| 6:01 |
: X-Boogie still dealing with hand problems?
|
| 6:01 |
: No, he was on fire at the end of September. I think he’s back to normal now.
|
| 6:01 |
: Smart managing by Ferrell: start Nunez to get Hanley riled up; then have him fake the injury so HanRam gets in with chip on shoulder. Strategy!
|
| 6:01 |
: Strategery!
|
| 6:01 |
: From the limited sample size thus far, it appears that the playoffs might not follow the repressed run environment outlined in Jeff Sullivan’s Tuesday article.
|
| 6:01 |
: Nobody up in the bullpen. Sale coming back for the 5th. Yuck.
|
| 6:02 |
: Always count on Farrell to try to squeeze an extra inning out of his starting pitcher. Always.
|
| 6:02 |
: Hanley was almost named Hamlet!?!?!?! Whoa
|
| 6:02 |
: Yeah that I’d never heard before.
|
| 6:02 |
: Do you miss Tal’s Hill?
|
| 6:02 |
: YES!
|
| 6:02 |
: Considering Farrell’s past decision-making processes, he probably only looked at ERA.
|
| 6:02 |
: Oh, absolutely.
|
| 6:02 |
: There’s no question.
|
| 6:03 |
: I didnt think Collins would do so well in the poll, take a look at it now.
|
| 6:03 |
: Well played, Jim.
|
| 6:03 |
: when i have trouble sleeping, i remember tommy lasorda is still alive and pass right out
|
| 6:03 |
: Haha.
|
| 6:03 |
: He’s one of the bigger jerks I’ve ever seen in person.
|
| 6:04 |
: A catcher wouldn’t start a day game after a night game, but what about here, a day game after a day game?
|
| 6:04 |
: Shouldn’t be an issue.
|
| 6:04 |
: Especially since they just had 3 days off.
|
| 6:05 |
: Should Sale still be on the mound?
|
| 6:05 |
: I say no.
|
| 6:06 |
: So predictable.
|
| 6:07 |
: Do you think there is any truth to Sale running out of gas? He was throwing harder and more pitches than he has before and had a bad September
|
| 6:07 |
: Maybe not running out of gas per se, but he hasn’t looked right.
|
| 6:08 |
: Can Springer be a hall of famer?
|
| 6:08 |
: Sure why not?
|
| 6:08 |
: ALTUVE DOUBLE DINGER
|
| 6:08 |
: The ole double donger
|
| 6:08 |
: why did i just see a replay of altuve’s HR in the 1st?
|
| 6:08 |
: That was pretty close to being the exact same hit. Was kind of eery.
|
| 6:08 |
: When do the writers vote for the end of the year awards? Is that already done?
|
| 6:08 |
: Yes.
|
| 6:08 |
: Ballots have to be turned in before the postseason starts.
|
| 6:09 |
: Two innings in a row now that Chris Sale’s given up a rocket, then got a routing groundout the pitch after.
|
| 6:09 |
: Is Altuve the most underrated player in MLB even considering he wins MVP?
|
| 6:09 |
: I don’t think he’s underrated anymore, no.
|
| 6:10 |
: I think Sale has another inning in him.
|
| 6:10 |
: Won’t be surprised.
|
| 6:10 |
: Its not like the Boston bullpen is some lock down unit. They’re probably not getting more than 5 out of Pom tomorrow. Sale is still probably the best option through the 5th at 89 pitches. I say send him out there for the 6th and pull him if someone gets on.
|
| 6:10 |
: The Boston bullpen has been pretty great this year.
|
| 6:10 |
: Esp with Sale there.
|
| 6:10 |
: If anything, Marwin Gonzalez may be the most (or one of the most) underrated players in MLB.
|
| 6:11 |
: Yes, that is more of a thing, for sure.
|
| 6:11 |
: Hey, if you can’t get your money’s worth for Moncada in quality, go for volume
|
| 6:11 |
: That cuts deep, Oddball.
|
| 6:12 |
: Did you just in a roundabout way give Joe Kelly a compliment? You’ve changed Paul.
|
| 6:13 |
: Kelly has been good as a reliever.
|
| 6:13 |
: But you could have easily gone Sale for 5th-6th, then Smith-Reed-Kimbrel for 7-8-9.
|
| 6:13 |
: Not sure why that wasn’t the call.
|
| 6:13 |
: It absolutely should have been.
|
| 6:13 |
: $20 says Sale goes back out
|
| 6:14 |
: I bet he does. Because NOW Farrell can say he was saving the bullpen for when he really needed them.
|
| 6:14 |
: I just discovered the emojis feature in this live blog. I feel like I can finally express myself completely.
|
| 6:14 |
: Now you’re expressing in full capabilities.
|
| 6:14 |
:
|
| 6:15 |
: They have a bunch of guys with 3ish ERA’s 7-8ish k/9 and then Kimbrel. The Astros will have a field day if those guys are covering 8inn in 2 games. Also when was the last time Kimbrel pitched in the 8th?
|
| 6:15 |
: Third-best FIP- as a unit this year.
|
| 6:16 |
: 4th-best xFIP-
|
| 6:16 |
: 5th best K%
|
| 6:16 |
: 6th best K%-BB%
|
| 6:16 |
: this is a very good bullpen
|
| 6:16 |
: Just because they’re not household names or guys we fawn over doesn’t mean they haven’t been very good.
|
| 6:16 |
: Do you remember when we invented languages to get away from symbols to represent every unique concept?
|
| 6:17 |
: .I don’t, I wasn’t alive back then.
|
| 6:17 |
: Dustin Pedroia: moving like a tortoise, full of rigor mortis
|
| 6:17 |
: Xander Bogaerts is prob the one who medidates like a Buddhist.
|
| 6:17 |
: Good logic by Farrell, punting game 1 but saving the bullpen for the next game. Good thing the percentage to win the series does not change drastically when losing game 1!
|
| 6:17 |
: Good thing!
|
| 6:17 |
: Apparently, that last HR was Altuve’s hardest-hit ball all year.
|
| 6:17 |
: I believe it.
|
| 6:17 |
: Based on the comments in this thread, is the Red Sox bullpen underrated?
|
| 6:18 |
: It must be.
|
| 6:18 |
: Pedroia is a shell of his former self. Are these just injuries building up or is he falling fast down the aging curve (I realize these two are not mutually exclusive)?
|
| 6:18 |
: He’s hurt right now.
|
| 6:18 |
: His splits since he came off the DL are staggering.
|
| 6:18 |
: I broke those down here – https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-red-sox/2017/10/03/who-should-be-…
|
| 6:19 |
: Phil Collins was popular back then I hear
|
| 6:19 |
: Touche.
|
| 6:19 |
: Chris Sale said he was going to pitch until his arm falls off. Farrell just making dreams reality.
|
| 6:19 |
: How does it work if there’s an injury during a playoff series? Can a team replace the injured player?
|
| 6:19 |
: Yes but they lose that player for the next series.
|
| 6:19 |
: “And I’ve got mad hits like I was Rod Carew”
|
| 6:19 |
: Is there any concrete explanation for the Red Sox power outage this season?
|
| 6:20 |
: They don’t have any real home run hitters in the lineup, and the Green Monster and Triangle dampen the effects of the juiced ball?
|
| 6:20 |
: Is Verlander a HOFer to you? The Hall has a blockade against modern pitchers, it seems
|
| 6:20 |
: He’ll probably get there, ya.
|
| 6:21 |
: (•_•)
<) )? JOSE / \ \(•_•) ( (> ALTUVE / \ (•_•) |
| 6:21 |
: Is there a way to find out which teams have the most 1-2-3 innings as batters?
|
| 6:21 |
: Not that I’m aware of, no.
|
| 6:22 |
: Get Sale off there.
|
| 6:22 |
: With Sale back out there if the Red Sox get a swept can I at least count on Farrell getting fired?
|
| 6:22 |
: I hope so.
|
| 6:23 |
: I’m all for “saving the bullpen” or whatever.. but Sale is near 100. It’s not like he’s been taking it easy in September.. WHAT THE HECK???
|
| 6:23 |
: It’s just a bad decision. There’s no justification for it.
|
| 6:23 |
: There’s no need to “save” the bullpen, since they haven’t pitched in three days.
|
| 6:23 |
: There’s no justification for this whatsoever.
|
| 6:23 |
: Farrell whiffed, and he whiffed badly.
|
| 6:24 |
: And now there’s two runners and no one out, and this game is close to slipping away.
|
| 6:24 |
: All because Farrell is stubborn.
|
| 6:24 |
: Can we all have a moment of silence for the Red Sox bullpen since they all apparently died before the game?
|
| 6:24 |
: RIP
|
| 6:24 |
: The John Farrell special: Let the starter put the game out of reach, then bring in a reliever.
|
| 6:24 |
: Farellis throwing this game away.
|
| 6:24 |
: Good info Paul, the unit just doesn’t impress/scare me like some other teams reliever corps. They are better on paper then they look though. How many batters too many now?
|
| 6:25 |
: Who would you want to replace Farrell? Would Cora be an option?
|
| 6:25 |
: That’d be marvelous.
|
| 6:25 |
: 6-of-9 hits XBH
|
| 6:25 |
: And so many other hard hit balls.
|
| 6:25 |
: Like Reddick’s single
|
| 6:26 |
: I thought Sale was joking when he said he would pitch until his arm falls off, but now I am not sure
|
| 6:26 |
| 6:26 |
: Wait, now he gets the hook?
|
| 6:26 |
: You don’t think the hall is going to get snooty with current pitchers about win benchmarks?
|
| 6:27 |
: No, people like me will be voting by then.
|
| 6:27 |
: For those who do not know Phil Collins, Ask Alexa to play “Illegal Alien” by Genesis. You will get an education.
|
| 6:28 |
: This bullpen management does not give me comfort about a potential Fister start
|
| 6:28 |
: Nor should it.
|
| 6:28 |
: I mean, in a vacuum this bullpen management is dumb, but is it somewhat justified if he bullpens 2 & 3 *hard* (yes, bullpenning is now a verb)?
|
| 6:28 |
: Yeah, but he’s not going to.
|
| 6:28 |
: As an Astros fan, I both do and don’t want to see Cora go…I want him to succeed wherever he goes, but preferably to the NL
|
| 6:28 |
: The Mets job would be perfect for that.
|
| 6:29 |
: Farrell has not been a good manager. The World Series team only needed not Bobby Valentine to manage. He then had two last place finishes and two playoff appearances that, again, any manager should have made.
|
| 6:29 |
: Cora is the man that some team should take a chance on. He played smart and does a great job every time I see him on MLB-TV.
|
| 6:29 |
: Astros radio broadcast just name dropped fangraphs when referencing Kelly’s fastball speed. Is mass appeal coming?
|
| 6:29 |
: That’d be sweet.
|
| 6:31 |
: is part of sox struggle today lack of home run ability? last in AL in homers, and so far postseason is home run central
|
| 6:31 |
: That’s certainly part of it.
|
| 6:31 |
: TBS even made reference to DRS in a graphic last night. People are learning!!!
|
| 6:31 |
: Does their performance so far reinforce any feelings about this Astros offense?
|
| 6:31 |
: Absolutely, they have a great offense.
|
| 6:32 |
: It’s why Farrell shouldn’t have been messing around. He’s simply too slow for a real game.
|
| 6:32 |
: He did this in the 2013 World Series too, but Lester bailed him out of his bad decision.
|
| 6:34 |
: In a situation like this would you rather the out at home or a double play?
|
| 6:34 |
: Out at home.
|
| 6:34 |
: Can’t afford to give up more runs.
|
| 6:34 |
: Nunez keeps getting hurt. Why does Farrell keep trusting his guys when they say they are healthy?
|
| 6:35 |
: shrug emoji
|
| 6:35 |
: When your 8-hole hitter has a .907 OPS your offense is doing alright
|
| 6:35 |
: Sabremetrics tends to downplay the importance of managers but in the postseason, having a bad one can really screw you up
|
| 6:35 |
: Yup!
|
| 6:35 |
: hey remember when Joe Kelly was terrible?
|
| 6:35 |
: Vividly
|
| 6:36 |
: Not there though. Talk about pulling the string.
|
| 6:36 |
: Any theories on why starting pitchers have struggled so in the post season so far? Small sample size but Verlander’s start is the only one of 6 that wasn’t bad and seems like this happened in 2015 as well.
|
| 6:36 |
: Because they’re only facing good teams now and it’s been 3 games?
|
| 6:36 |
: What is your preference, DRS or UZR?
|
| 6:36 |
: UZR, because it’s automated.
|
| 6:36 |
: But I use both.
|
| 6:37 |
: That changeup was disgusting
|
| 6:37 |
: I think that at-bat took 5 minutes. Am I exaggerating?
|
| 6:37 |
: Nope. I got up, got seconds, and started eating them all during that at-bat. Oh, AND plugged in my laptop.
|
| 6:37 |
: How in the world did he throw a full count, bases loaded changeup? I don’t get it, and it was awesome.
|
| 6:37 |
: Pedro-esque, if only for that one pitch.
|
| 6:38 |
: They are hard to trust when one says Arenado is fair and the other says what the eyes see, that he is great.
|
| 6:38 |
: Don’t disagree. It’s hard to process sometimes, even when they agree with each other.
|
| 6:38 |
: Brian McCann has had a really nice career up to this point.
|
| 6:38 |
: Indeed he has.
|
| 6:39 |
: That’ll do it.
|
| 6:39 |
: Can Dombrowski fire Farrell in the middle of a game?
|
| 6:39 |
: Sure he can! He won’t, but he can.
|
| 6:40 |
: 99 at the eyes no problem I’ll get on top
|
| 6:40 |
: Yeah that was a good piece of hitting. Tip your cap there.
|
| 6:40 |
: Whats your opinion on attempts to quantify manager significance? Automated versus human report versus impossible
|
| 6:40 |
: I think it’s very tough.
|
| 6:41 |
: I think that even in situations like this, it’s a small sample size.
|
| 6:41 |
: It’s hard to prove anything conclusively, but I don’t think we NEED to prove those things conclusively.
|
| 6:42 |
: Do you think that not getting a double play should count as an error?
|
| 6:42 |
: Yeah, that was tailor made.
|
| 6:42 |
: Bobbled ball makes zilch difference
|
| 6:42 |
: Mongo disagrees.
|
| 6:42 |
: Should they just ride Kelly out this game and save their other pitchers?
|
| 6:43 |
: Might as well let Maddox get some playoff experience, even if it is low leverage.
|
| 6:43 |
: Is there anything quantifiable about playoff success? Why do some players just seem to play better in these moments than others?
|
| 6:43 |
: In the aggregate, across all games, yeah. But not really for individual teams/players.
|
| 6:43 |
: The Altuve homerun last inning. At least 2 runs this inning. So far 3 runs on Farrell. Brutal.
|
| 6:43 |
: Yup. All the runs after the 4th are definitively on Farrell.
|
| 6:44 |
: I could have handled that hop.
|
| 6:44 |
: That was just trying to do too much I think.
|
| 6:44 |
: i think it’s silly that bogaerts doesn’t get the error there because “you can’t assume a DP”
|
| 6:44 |
: Yes I’ve always hated that rule.
|
| 6:44 |
: Sale’s final line: 5 IP, 9 H, 7 ER, 3 HR. Ouch.
|
| 6:44 |
: Ouch and a half.
|
| 6:44 |
: This is one of the most interesting attempts to quantify manager significance that I have seen: https://www.101sports.com/2017/09/28/matheny-stands-stares-nothing-wac…
|
| 6:45 |
: Miklasz is a good writer.
|
| 6:45 |
: A manager has never been fired during the playoffs, right? That’d be a sight to see.
|
| 6:45 |
: I don’t think so? Baseball has a long history, so I’d hesitate on being definitive there.
|
| 6:45 |
: Why are games on MLB Network not on MLB.TV?
|
| 6:46 |
: Because they can make more ad revenue from MLBN, and would very much like you to sign up for it.
|
| 6:46 |
: I hate to say this but the Yankees > Redsox
|
| 6:46 |
: I don’t think there’s any question.
|
| 6:46 |
: Not in my mind, anyway.
|
| 6:46 |
: I apologize I provided the wrong link earlier https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2017/9/21/16341902/mike-matheny-is-too-sl…
|
| 6:47 |
: Come on Morbo, get it together.
|
| 6:47 |
: By the way, I realize that this gametime is bad for you guys, but at least let me have it, usually I get a start around 2 AM local time in Czech Republic and have to stay up all night, this is 10 PM and it’s awesome!
|
| 6:47 |
: Glad it worked out, Miky. Tomorrow will be even better!
|
| 6:48 |
: I genuinely think that the only reason Dombrowski didn’t fire Farrell and hire his own man was the fact that Farrell had cancer at the time.
|
| 6:48 |
: Except that was the perfect time to do it. You issue a simple statement saying that “in order to let John fight his battle, we’re transitioning him to a front office role, and will do what we need to do to support him.”
|
| 6:49 |
: No one ever questions that statement.
|
| 6:49 |
: I’m watching on mlb.tv … all the way from Budapest, Hungary
|
| 6:49 |
: Are the Red Sox the weakest team in the playoffs?
|
| 6:49 |
: There’s a better case for that than the other way around, certainly.
|
| 6:49 |
: The Dbacks did start Descalso and Mathis last night though…
|
| 6:50 |
: I joined the game late, why is everyone mad at Farrell? Left Sale in too long?
|
| 6:50 |
: Two innings too long.
|
| 6:50 |
: In all my years I have never seen a manager as universally disliked by his home team fans and press as Matheny.
|
| 6:50 |
: To boot, he’s also not a nice guy, from what I’ve been told.
|
| 6:51 |
: What’s the chat traffic like is it the same as it was during the first inning?
|
| 6:51 |
: Actually, yes. You guys are alright.
|
| 6:51 |
: At least this game shouldn’t go 4 hours tho?
|
| 6:51 |
: Silver lining!
|
| 6:52 |
: The Dbacks also aren’t gonna trot Doug Fister out in a playoff game
|
| 6:52 |
: Fair point.
|
| 6:52 |
: For $25, you can get most playoff games on MLB.tv
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/subscriptions/index.jsp?product=US&c_id=mlb&aff… |
| 6:52 |
: And they scored 11 runs. Baseball!
|
| 6:52 |
: Yeah, like I said, I’m open to the argument that the Red Sox are the worst remaining playoff team.
|
| 6:52 |
: “Why is everyone mad at Farrell?” Aren’t most people usually mad a Farrell?
|
| 6:52 |
: People with brains, yes.
|
| 6:52 |
: Now Farrell is going to start Sale in game 4 right?
|
| 6:53 |
: Oh yeah, let’s start him on three days rest after he got lit up. That’ll fix everything.
|
| 6:53 |
: Would you let any SP try to throw a complete game in the modern postseason? It seems like everything says those days are gone.
|
| 6:53 |
: If a guy is in line to pitch a Maddux? Sure.
|
| 6:53 |
: It is really cool to interact with baseball fans from all over the country, and world apparently.
|
| 6:53 |
: I love it.
|
| 6:55 |
: Didn’t the Nats lose a playoff game trying to let Zimmerman get a CG?
|
| 6:55 |
: I dunno, who am I, Google?
|
| 6:56 |
: At least Farrell is running out Maddox to eat up garbage time.
|
| 6:56 |
: I grew up watching the Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz, Braves and now their postseason futility makes more sense now.
|
| 6:56 |
: Who is your choice for AL MVP and who do you think will get it?
|
| 6:56 |
: Judge, and Judge.
|
| 6:56 |
: What would your lineup for the Sox look like? (1-9)
|
| 6:56 |
: Right this second?
|
| 6:58 |
: Bogaerts SS, Betts RF, Benintendi LF, Devers 3B, Ramirez DH, Pedroia 2B, Moreland 1B, Bradley CF, Vazquez C,
|
| 6:58 |
: Have MVP ballots already been turned in?
|
| 6:58 |
: Yes.
|
| 6:58 |
: The Astros are making the 2017 Red Sox look like the 2012, 2014, and 2015 Red Sox.
|
| 6:58 |
: Jose Altuve just pulled a Reggie Jackson in the Astros’ first playoff game after the hurricane. Good for Houston
|
| 6:58 |
: Altuve weighs around 1 leg of Sandy Leon.
|
| 6:58 |
: Incredible Collins/Gabriel poll. Top notch stuff
|
| 6:58 |
: Altuve? Al-three-ve!
|
| 6:59 |
: Jose Altuve is really good at hitting a baseball with a baseball bat
|
| 6:59 |
: Altuve is not terrible at baseball.
|
| 6:59 |
: Have the Astros consumed all of their runs during this game or do they still have some more left?
|
| 6:59 |
: They still have more left.
|
| 6:59 |
: triple dong!
|
| 6:59 |
: The red sox lack of power makes them a real boring team. It took 714 PA for Betts to lead the team with 24 HRs.
|
| 6:59 |
: Eduardo Nunez is the best hitter on the Sox this year with a 112 wRC+ and he hasn’t even been in Boston all season. Mookie is the best full season regular at 108 wRC+. This is not a good offense
|
| 7:00 |
: It feels like Bogaerts hasn’t really turned into what Sox fans expected. Do you see him getting significantly better in the future? If not, what would you do with him?
|
| 7:00 |
: Yeah, he played through a hand/wrist injury, which affected his hitting this year.
|
| 7:00 |
: Paul, is there a way to search the archives of the FanGraphs blogs? When did Jeff write about the historically great Indians pitching staff?
|
| 7:00 |
: Each author has an archive on the right side of the article view.
|
| 7:00 |
: There are also categories you can go back through.
|
| 7:01 |
: Thoughts on Bauer over Kluber/Carrasco?
|
| 7:01 |
: I get the logic of 2 and 5/1 ALCS for Kluber, but I would have gone Carrasco in Gm 1.
|
| 7:01 |
: How is Francisco Lindor on the MVP candidates graphic right now when he isn’t even the best player on his own team?
|
| 7:01 |
: Because he’s great and everyone loves him and neither he nor Ramirez has a legit shot at MVP?
|
| 7:01 |
: Is there a reason why HOU just pinch-ran for Gattis in a 6 run game? Fisher got thrown out already, whoops
|
| 7:02 |
: Because pour it on. Be emphatic. I love it.
|
| 7:02 |
: Red Sox position players were only 1.2 WAR better than the Braves this year.
|
| 7:02 |
: Is it just me, or did it look like there was no way, on that HR replay, Altuve would catch up with that pitch…..Batspeeeed
|
| 7:02 |
: Really? Stealing when leading by 6? When does Old School drill a batter for breaking unwritten rules?
|
| 7:02 |
: Next year.
|
| 7:02 |
: Not going to happen in the playoffs.
|
| 7:02 |
: can we just say that unwritten rules don’t matter in the playoffs? Fisher wasn’t trying to show anyone up
|
| 7:03 |
: On the subject of Bogaerts, his swing looks awful. He looks like he tries to inside-out everything he swings at. Like he intentionally keeps the barrel behind his hands for as long as possible instead of throwing the barrel at the ball to drive it. Right handed slapper-esque
|
| 7:03 |
: Yes, well, I think trying to swing through hand/wrist pain probably altered his swing a little, but yes, he does try to inside/out too many pitches.
|
| 7:04 |
: Sorry I’m late, I was eating dinner, but let the record show that the closed captioning’s best attempt at “Sultan of Swat” was “Assault of What.”
|
| 7:04 |
: Who do you think will start for the Astros after Keuchel? Morton Game 3, Peacock with McCullers Game 4?
|
| 7:04 |
: I had read that they are going to tandem start Games 3 and 4.
|
| 7:04 |
: I don’t think it matters much how the tandem shakes out, both of the “starting pitchers” will be better than Fister.
|
| 7:05 |
: The Red Sox offense is bad, but they are largely stuck with it hoping for internal improvement
|
| 7:05 |
: Pretty much.
|
| 7:05 |
: At least they only have one more year of Hanley, and can get rid of Moreland.
|
| 7:05 |
: Maddox’s current 9.00 playoff ERA is supported by a 16.00 FIP, even when his actual stats are horrible he’s outperforming his peripherals
|
| 7:05 |
: Hah, I chuckled.
|
| 7:06 |
: Why didn’t the Sox DL Bogaerts to deal with a wrist injury? I know it takes a while to heal. It seems better to have him be healthy and productive for half a year instead of bad for most of the year.
|
| 7:06 |
: Same reason they didn’t DL Moreland when he hurt/broke his foot. John Farrell said to rub some dirt on it.
|
| 7:07 |
: Slash they don’t have any other options, because Dombrowski doesn’t believe in acquiring depth.
|
| 7:07 |
: Whose final line is better, Sale’s from G1 or Fister’s from G3? I’d guess Fister, just because even Farrell won’t let him get shelled for 7 ER before taking him out
|
| 7:07 |
: Fister, probably. Hard to have a worse line than Sale today.
|
| 7:08 |
: Late to the chat, but I want to say that Peter Gabriel is the GOAT. Collins ain’t bad though.
|
| 7:08 |
: Verlander has started the last two playoff games in which a player hit 3 home runs.
|
| 7:08 |
: Now that’s funny.
|
| 7:08 |
: does Farrell make those decisions? seems like it would come from FO + medical
|
| 7:08 |
: Manager has plenty of say.
|
| 7:08 |
: Seriously, y’all red sox fans griping about injuries should come hang out with us in #metstwitter sometime. Y’all don’t even know half the meaning of Rub Dirt On It.
|
| 7:08 |
: I realize that.
|
| 7:09 |
: Oh wow, did not think Springer was getting to that.
|
| 7:09 |
: Are you not a fan of Dombrowski as a GM, then?
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| 7:09 |
: Not really, no.
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| 7:09 |
: Anyone could have made the Kimbrel and Sale trades, and he’s failed at most everything else.
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| 7:10 |
: It’s 5:00! This chat has been great but distracting, and man, doing this and my air traffic control work at the same time is a challenge!
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| 7:10 |
: Um, please don’t let planes crash because of a FG chat.
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| 7:10 |
: Has there been a poll about what wins: immovable object (pitching staff of Indians) or irresistible force (Astros lineup)?
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| 7:10 |
: No, there will be plenty of time for that.
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| 7:11 |
: Sometimes when I go back and read the things I write, I feel like I come across like a salty, 65 year-old baseball lifer. I just turned 25. Am I cynical, Paul?
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| 7:11 |
: You might be. I try not to be, but sometimes you just have a cynical day.
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| 7:11 |
: Out of all the playoff teams, I would rank the Red Sox as the least SABR. Do you agree?
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| 7:11 |
: Yup.
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| 7:12 |
: Not even close, really.
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| 7:12 |
: Which is pretty amazing. Certainly wouldn’t have predicted that at this time a decade ago.
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| 7:12 |
: Altuve’s on pace for a postseason wRC+ of 898
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| 7:12 |
: Dombrowski is totally trading for Miggy this offseason. Calling it now.
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| 7:13 |
: Rick Porcello is now warming up in the bullpen.
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| 7:13 |
: Well that’s a waste.
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| 7:13 |
: The great thing about today is right after this terrible loss the Patriots have a must win game with no defense and no Gronkowski
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| 7:13 |
: Pretty sure I’m not going to be very devoted to that game.
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| 7:13 |
: I listened to Dombrowski talk at Saberseminar in ’16. That guy can charm the pants off of a room with his charisma and the way he talks. He could probably sell snow to an eskimo
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| 7:14 |
: Yes, they all seem like that in that room though, because we are a willing audience.
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| 7:14 |
: Curt Schilling was just as charming.
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| 7:14 |
: nice play by springer there
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| 7:14 |
: Two nice plays.
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| 7:14 |
: are you suggesting curt lacks charm?!
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| 7:14 |
: I’m saying he is charming when he wants to be. And he used to want to be charming all the time.
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| 7:15 |
: Maybe a little 2-out bingo here?
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| 7:15 |
: How surprising is it that Springer has achieved this level of success in his career, given his draft profile?
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| 7:16 |
: I mean, he was the 11th pick in the draft.
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| 7:16 |
: He could charm the hood off a redneck.
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| 7:16 |
: Oh, that’s funny.
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| 7:17 |
: Yes, he was the 11th pick in the draft. So the Astros aren’t surprised. But wasn’t Springer one of the first to make the “strike out 35% of the time and still be a productive player” stick?
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| 7:18 |
: Oh that kind of profile.
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| 7:18 |
: Maybe? Ask someone with a better memory, ha.
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| 7:18 |
: Hey remember when the Astros blew a big lead in the 8th inning at home a couple years ago in the ALDS?
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| 7:18 |
: I do, but it wasn’t to be.
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| 7:18 |
: Should I update resume this winter?
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| 7:19 |
: Well, technically speaking, a resume is your best marketing document and you should be updating it all the time whether you are looking for a job or not.
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| 7:19 |
: Having said that, no, Bobby, don’t bother.
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| 7:19 |
: I always expected more from the hype surrounding Springer. He was spoken of as a 30-30-.280 guy, and he hasn’t hit that yet.
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| 7:19 |
: I mean, that’s a pretty high bar.
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| 7:20 |
: But he got 2 of those 3 this year.
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| 7:20 |
: Do managers have to fill out job applications?
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| 7:20 |
: I hope so.
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| 7:20 |
: Hope Altuve gets another at-bat… Quadruple dong?
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| 7:20 |
: That would have been great.
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| 7:20 |
: Or, would BE great.
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| 7:21 |
: Yukes.
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| 7:21 |
: Yikes!
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| 7:21 |
: Ray of sunshine for the Sox? Correa and Springer are terrible. Right?
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| 7:21 |
: I actually think that is the most frightening thing. They scored 8 runs with nothing from Correa and Springer.
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| 7:22 |
: Ricky P coming in for a garbage inning! yummmm
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| 7:22 |
: Does Farrell really like Fister over Ricky P?
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| 7:22 |
: He does.
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| 7:23 |
: Ok fire Farrell now. Porcello, here? Now?
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| 7:23 |
: I guess if Porcello wanted an inning to stay sharp?
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| 7:23 |
: That’s the only rationale I can come up with.
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| 7:23 |
: The Red Sox have $50 million tied up in two relievers right now.
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| 7:23 |
: “James Lee Kaat, nicknamed “Kitty”, is a former American Major League Baseball pitcher”
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| 7:23 |
: He sure is.
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| 7:24 |
: Kitty Kaat is intimidating.
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| 7:24 |
: His fastball will scratch your eyes out.
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| 7:25 |
: I think Springer has been overshadowed with Altuve, Correa et. al. I’d take Springer on my team, that’s for sure (RIP Giants)
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| 7:25 |
: I remember Jim Kaat pitching the penultimate game of the 1967 season. Ah yes, I remember it well. Yaz’s 3-run shot off Jim Merritt in the 7th. The ensuing 50 years have, with a few slips, been very enjoyable for a Red Sox fan.
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| 7:25 |
: Why not throw Porcello here? Tomorrow’s Pomerantz and their best bullpen arms. Game 4 is Sale.
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| 7:26 |
: If pitching now jeopardized Porcello’s ability to start Game 4, then it was a bad decision.
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| 7:26 |
: If it didn’t, then fine.
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| 7:26 |
: I don’t have the answer to that.
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| 7:26 |
: Paul are you blogging the Yankees-Indians? Or who is?
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| 7:26 |
: I am not, and no one is, sadly.
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| 7:27 |
: And somehow, this game might end as NYY-CLE starts.
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| 7:27 |
: I assumed there would be a lot of overlap.
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| 7:27 |
: This is a terrible decision. I don’t get using Porcello here
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| 7:27 |
: Would you rather Porcello start game 4 or Sale on short rest?
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| 7:27 |
: Porcello.
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| 7:27 |
: I don’t see any way that the Red Sox now win the next two and have a chance to win the series in Game 4. I think you’re going to Game 5 if the Sox are to win, so you save Sale for Game 5.
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| 7:28 |
: You have no faith in Sale, wow.
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| 7:28 |
: I have faith in him. I’d just not want to have him go on three days unless it could *win* a series. Not to *save* a series.
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| 7:28 |
: There is no value to burning Porcello right now. They should throw Barnes or Christian Vasquez here. This game is toast.
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| 7:28 |
: Barnes isn’t even on the roster, so that’d be tough.
|
| 7:29 |
: alright, now I root for 6 from the Sox so that Altuve can hit the walk-off dong
|
| 7:29 |
: Ha.
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| 7:29 |
: Pitching Porcello now leaves 1 less good option behind Fister if ERod is needed tomorrow after Pomeranz’ 86mph fastball meets this Astros lineup.
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| 7:29 |
: If I’m the Red Sox manager, there’s no way I put in Porcello in a series clinching game, or an elimination game.
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| 7:29 |
: No, A., Paul has more faith in Sale and wants him as the end-all.
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| 7:29 |
: What if the Sox are down 2-1 going into game 4? Porcello still? I don’t have faith in him after the last two seasons (FIP-wise)
|
| 7:30 |
: Yeah. Still Porcello.
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| 7:30 |
: But again, it’d be Porcello + bullpen. You go super aggressive.
|
| 7:30 |
: And then hope Sale on full rest can give you 7 in Game 5.
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| 7:30 |
: The Sox window is closing. The Yanks will win the division by 10+ games next year.
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| 7:30 |
: That might be overstating things a little, but directionally, this is correct.
|
| 7:31 |
: Musgrove is prolly their 5th best reliever and he’s been lights out in this role
|
| 7:31 |
: PSA: The Red Sox bullpen is not the Yankees’ bullpen. Are you really comfortable throwing Maddox/Kelly/Price/whoever for a bunch of innings? Kimbrel can’t go more than 2/game
|
| 7:32 |
: I like how you lumped Price into the same group as Austin Maddox. Good work.
|
| 7:32 |
: Question: were both the Yankees and Red Sox better teams in 2018 if they didn’t trade a boat load of prospects for Gray and Sale?
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| 7:32 |
: Yankees no. Red Sox….still no. 2019 would be the better year to ponder.
|
| 7:33 |
: I like that this chat’s comments have turned into Red Sox hot take hour 🙂
|
| 7:33 |
: I doubt everyone likes this.
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| 7:33 |
: As a Giants fan, these hot takes distract me for our inevitable swamp
|
| 7:34 |
: Oh my Gawd, (/wrings hands) how dare they pitch Musgrove in relief? Who is going to start game 9?
|
| 7:35 |
: Watching Pedey now feels like watching Youk in ’11, he isn’t near bad yet but you can tell the injuries have taken a toll and the end is coming soon
|
| 7:35 |
: That’s a depressing comp, but I can’t refute it in any way.
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| 7:35 |
: Paul, before the game is over I would like thank you personally for moderating this chat, and doing so single-handedly for 3 1/2 hours. It is deeply appreciated.
|
| 7:36 |
: No problem. This game time was perfect. Got me out of cooking dinner AND doing bed time. Plus you guys are all awesome. WIN. WIN. WIN.
|
| 7:37 |
: Alright everyone, I’m off. Thanks so much for hanging out with me for what ended up being an anti-climactic game. I’ll do this again at some point, maybe the ALCS? Not sure. Either way, enjoy the Christmas in October that tomorrow is!
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Paul Swydan used to be the managing editor of The Hardball Times, a writer and editor for FanGraphs and a writer for Boston.com and The Boston Globe. Now, he owns The Silver Unicorn Bookstore, an independent bookstore in Acton, Mass. Follow him on Twitter @Swydan. Follow the store @SilUnicornActon.