World Series Game 2 Live Blog

7:56	Dave Cameron: I think James Taylor just sang the wrong song…

7:56	Comment From Sgt. Pepper WHY DOES AMERICA NEED SO MANY SONGS

7:57	Comment From AJT BECAUSE AMERICA

7:57	Comment From DCinSTL Because… ‘Merica!

7:57	Comment From Helladecimal I love American. Mass obesity has its charms

7:59	Dave Cameron: For those wondering, no Sullivan tonight, but Zimmerman might swing by later to keep our Jeff quota going.

8:00	Comment From jesse Today you mention that pitching to the score was baloney in the comments section of your blowout article; yet last night you made comments about the pitch selection based on the score – while I realize the goal is the same score neutral, aren’t those two ideas contradictory?

8:00	Dave Cameron: Last night I was mocking Tim McCarver’s stupid comments about pitching to the score.

8:01	Dave Cameron: And, look, even if you think pitchers might back off some and just groove fastballs in the regular season, if you think they’re doing that in the WORLD SERIES, you’re insane.

8:02	Comment From Matt Dave, have you ever bet on baseball?

8:02	Dave Cameron: Nope.

8:03	Comment From Yeezus Hey Dave, don’t let your Cardinals fandom cloud your judgment. Your article today seemed to make an excuse for how badly the Cardinals got beat

8:03	Dave Cameron: That’s me, well known Cardinals fan.

8:03	Dave Cameron: Here’s a tip for you: announcers/writers/people aren’t biased against you just because they wrote something you don’t agree with.

8:04	Comment From Joe Dave, what do you make of the Red Sox walking just once yesterday? I roll my eyes at the idea of pitching to the score, but at a certain point of a blowout, do you think some hitters become less selective?

8:04	Dave Cameron: Adam Wainwright has good control.

8:05	Comment From Sgt. Pepper Is Beltran playing?

8:05	Dave Cameron: Starting. They didn’t promise he will play the whole game.

8:05	Comment From Hams Did Carson watch Game 1?

8:06	Dave Cameron: He seemed to be aware of what happened when we talked about it on the podcast today, so either yes, or he read a really thorough recap.

8:06	Comment From Meano Eno I heard that Carson hates the playoffs. Is this true?

8:07	Dave Cameron: Hate is a strong word. They aren’t his favorite thing.

8:07	Comment From Hams Podcast was great, that’s why I was wondering. Used to live overseas and watching stuff in the middle of the night is rough.

8:07	Dave Cameron: I’m sure he didn’t watch it live. We didn’t record that podcast until 5 pm eastern his time.

8:07	Comment From DaveFleming Any thoughts on Gomes over Nava?

8:07	Dave Cameron: Can never know if Nava is dealing with an injury or something, but if he’s healthy, it’s the wrong call.

8:08	Comment From Meano Eno Nava seemed healthy when he pinch hit last night

8:08	Dave Cameron: Agreed

8:08	Dave Cameron: That lack of punctuation was in honor of Jeff.

8:09	Dave Cameron: The Red Sox “key to the game” is to “feel the momentum”.

8:09	Comment From Tony What is your least favorite thing about baseball?

8:09	Dave Cameron: Tim McCarver?

8:09	Dave Cameron: Might be recency bias at play.

8:10	Dave Cameron: Second night in a row Drew makes a rushed throw for out #1 of the game.

8:10	Comment From Meano Eno Does Drew thing Carpenter is faster than he is? Seems to be rushing things?

8:12	Dave Cameron: Wasn’t even that close to swinging, crowd boos no strike call anyway.

8:12	Dave Cameron: Gomes Effect.

8:12	Comment From Guest Why does he dive for everything…?

8:12	Dave Cameron: He has no range.

8:13	Comment From semperty Does he ever realize that it’s probably going to drop in anyway?

8:13	Dave Cameron: Helps his grittiness factor.

8:14	Dave Cameron: Too close to take, eh Tim?

8:14	Dave Cameron: That’s like a foot high.

8:14	Comment From Brian why doesnt fenway have a batter’s eye area like pretty much every other stadium?

8:14	Dave Cameron: It does – it’s the really tall wall.

8:15	Comment From Mike Y. All the momentum to the Sox after that Gomes putout.

8:15	Dave Cameron: It only matters if they feel it.

8:17	Comment From Meano Eno theres a wolf at the fence in my backyard. what do i do????

8:17	Dave Cameron: Rent a tiger.

8:18	Comment From AJT Shoot it. You’re American, you should have a gun or two, right?

8:18	Dave Cameron: There’s a fox in our neighborhood, and our neighbors have been sending around emails about it. I’m shocked one of them hasn’t gunned it down yet.

8:19	Comment From Tyler what does the fox say?

8:19	Comment From Ben I was going to make a joke about finding out what the fox says, but I thought better of it

8:19	Comment From A(s)ferny but foxes keep rodent populations in check

8:19	Comment From semperty What’s it say?

8:19	Comment From Meano Eno You have a neighborhood email chain?

8:19	Dave Cameron: Yep.

8:19	Comment From Steff Are foxes dangerous for dog and cats?

8:20	Dave Cameron: Theoretically, yes.

8:20	Comment From Sgt. Pepper FoxGraphs

8:20	Dave Cameron: Oh good, Texarkana talk!

8:21	Comment From Rich Dogs and cats who get eaten by foxes just don’t want it enough

8:21	Dave Cameron: Wacha is living up in the zone.

8:21	Dave Cameron: After Buck spent all pregame talking about his downward plane.

8:22	Dave Cameron: Nasty change-up.

8:23	Comment From semperty Matheny talked about bringing Wainwright back to potentially start game 4 on short rest. If you’re in that situation, what’s the series have to be at for you to do that: 3-0 or down 2-1?

8:23	Dave Cameron: I probably wouldn’t do it either way.

8:23	Comment From Tom In that situation, Dave would throw a bullpen game and go matchup heavy.

8:23	Dave Cameron: Yep.

8:24	Dave Cameron: Wacha is really good .

8:24	Comment From Shrewd Cat If Waino on normal rest for Game 5- can use him for relief in Game 7 if necessary?

8:25	Dave Cameron: Yes. You’re better off with full rest Wainwright/relief in Game 7 on throw day than two short rest starts.

8:25	Comment From semperty Do you think it’s possible to win a WS where your starter never goes more than 2 or 3 innings (i.e. TB in game 4 of the ALDS)?

8:25	Dave Cameron: Yep, and we’ll see a team do it in the next 10-20 years.

8:26	Comment From Brian but why not throw him on short rest to tie the series? live for today, not tomorrow

8:26	Dave Cameron: No, live to win four games or it doesn’t matter what day you lose on.

8:27	Dave Cameron: They’re advertising that they’re going to run an ad?

8:27	Dave Cameron: Tune in on Sunday, so you can see this ad we’re promoting now.

8:28	Dave Cameron: Lackey is living up at the neck.

8:28	Dave Cameron: And they’re swinging.

8:29	Comment From John Line drive on the scorecard!

8:29	Dave Cameron: Or a fliner, more likely.

8:30	Comment From James Glad we got that family interview. Always exciting, Fox.

8:30	Dave Cameron: Lackey is really living up in the zone.

8:31	Comment From Scruffy, the janitor What do John Lackey’s parent’s think about his performance?

8:31	Comment From Sgt. Pepper It’s always the parents of rookies too. It’s like parents just stop caring after the first season.

8:32	Comment From chuckb Cards already have 4 swinging strikes on high fsstballs.

8:32	Dave Cameron: Five, now.

8:33	Dave Cameron: Nasty curveball.

8:33	Comment From RF If you’re the FOX stat guy, how angry to you get when they come to ask you to find out the pitchers with the most days between world series starts?

8:33	Comment From Aussie Mariner Is there a win probability chart up for today’s game? All I see is yesterday’s.

8:33	Dave Cameron: http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2013-10-24&team=Red%20Sox&dh=0&season=2013

8:34	Comment From Guest Is the transcript from yesterday’s chat somewhere? It seems to have disappeared.

8:34	Dave Cameron: These things are too long, so they break the transcript tool.

8:35	Comment From semperty Why do all the Red Sox infielders act like they’ve got Billy Hamilton running to first? The Cardinals are slow – walk the ball to first before they get there.

8:37	Dave Cameron: I feel like The Desolation of Smaug should be what Greenpeace calls themselves.

8:39	Comment From Jonah Keri Is on the Phone Odds Papi makes the HOF?

8:40	Dave Cameron: 90%. He does all the things voters love.

8:40	Comment From Ruki I can’t see Ortiz getting in unless Edgar does.

8:40	Dave Cameron: Ortiz has dingers and postseason clutch narrative.

8:41	Comment From Jake Ortiz plays(ed) in the bigger market, too

8:41	Dave Cameron: Boston got Jim Rice into the Hall of Fame based on nothing more than “fear”.

8:42	Comment From Meano Eno JONNY GOMES IS A WINNER WITHOUT THE NUMBERS

8:42	Comment From grog Winners!

8:42	Comment From Mr. Wrestling IV Jonny Gomes #winner

8:42	Comment From AJT Gomes is a winner without the numbers to back it up.

8:42	Comment From Brian (jonny gomes has INTANGIBLES)

8:42	Comment From RF Winner = choosing good teams apparently

8:43	Comment From Meano Eno Nava only has tangibles

8:44	Comment From Brian has wacha thrown the curve yet?

8:44	Dave Cameron: I haven’t seen one.

8:45	Dave Cameron: Wacha living up in the zone with his fastball too. Seems to be the gameplan for both pitchers today. Wonder if the cold gives pitchers more incentive to go upstairs?

8:46	Comment From Nick whats the most pitches wacha has thrown this year? at 36 already

8:46	Dave Cameron: 112.

8:46	Comment From semperty Apparently fastballs down are better than fastballs up (for the hitter)? I was always told don’t leave anything up…

8:46	Dave Cameron: Up gets more swings and misses, but also more dingers.

8:47	Comment From semperty I’m guessing the faster you throw the safer it is to live up there?

8:47	Dave Cameron: It’s more about location than velo, but velo helps too.

8:48

Comment From Crusty
Dave, I asked this question during Paul’s chat, but how could so many teams “miss” on Wacha? With all the money and time spent on scouting, how does a guy with Wacha’s obvious talent and makeup become that undervalued? He was only in the Cardinals system for a year, so it cannot be that much about player development.

8:48	Dave Cameron: Scouts love breaking balls.

8:49	Comment From RF I suspect, but have no evidence, that changeup-heavy pitchers tend to overperform their first time through the league.

8:49	Dave Cameron: I think changeup heavy pitchers tend to overperform period. Or, said differently, they’re underrated.

8:51	Dave Cameron: Pretty great slider to a lefty.

8:51	Dave Cameron: Don’t see that too often.

8:52	Comment From Brian a plus changeup and a plus fastball has to be one of the best combos for any pitcher

8:52	Dave Cameron: Yeah, if you have a good two-seam that eats up righties, better off with great change than great breaking ball.

8:53	Comment From Sgt. Pepper Are changeups underrated because people don’t realize that its very hard to hit a pitch that’s 10 mph slower than you expect, even if it moves very little?

8:53	Dave Cameron: Change-ups are underrated because people think they don’t move much. The good ones move like crazy.

8:54	Dave Cameron: Lackey’s slider is really good tonight.

8:56	Comment From Gila Monster Cole Hamels change = love.

8:56	Comment From semperty Rob Neyer just pointed out that Carp was signed for $1,000….that’s incredible.

8:56	Dave Cameron: He was a college senior. They have no leverage.

8:57	Comment From Gads Pedro’s change up was absurd.

8:57	Dave Cameron: Maybe the best pitch I’ve ever seen. Rivera’s cutter only competition, probably.

8:58	Dave Cameron: If Hall of Famers are made, not born, the new market inefficiency will be finding the HOFer factory.

8:58	Dave Cameron: That change-up is so good.

8:58	Comment From Aussie Mariner Wacha curve sighting

8:59	Dave Cameron: Wacha came inside. Rare.

8:59	Comment From Brian what is wacha’s floor? 2/3 even if the breaking pitch never gets to a ‘plus’ pitch?

9:00	Dave Cameron: He’s James Shields without the breaking ball. If he adds a plus slider, he’d be, I don’t know, the best pitcher in baseball or something.

9:00	Comment From John Another filthy changeup.

9:00	Comment From chuckb Filthy change!

9:01	Comment From John and a get me over curve.

9:01	Dave Cameron: Curves are often taken for called strikes.

9:02

Comment From Guest
I mean, what can you even do as a hitter if a pitcher can consistently hit his spots in and out, up and down with 93-97, and has a change with the movement/deception of Wacha’s? If he doesn’t make you swing and miss, it’s likely he’s put the ball in a great spot and you’re fouling it away, popping it up, or weakly grounding out. Unfair.

9:02	Dave Cameron: Don’t miss it when they leave one hanging.

9:03	Comment From Floyd Yadi vs Jacoby??????

9:03	Dave Cameron: Too early.

9:03	Comment From semperty 3 hits tonight in 3 innings and all three of them have been bloops.

9:04	Comment From semperty Medium depth fly ball every crowd on earth goes crazy

9:04	Comment From Brian if both bullpens start at the 6th inning, which bullpen has the advantage?

9:04	Dave Cameron: STL.

9:07	Dave Cameron: High fastball, imagine that.

9:07	Dave Cameron: And that high fastball is going for a triple.

9:07	Dave Cameron: Matt Holliday, still very good.

9:08	Jeff Zimmerman: Guess, I logged in to get the offense going.

9:08	Comment From Frank Ellsbury misplayed that. Should know the bounce.

9:08	Dave Cameron: Not much you can do though.

9:08	Dave Cameron: Hi Jeff.

9:08	Comment From Sgt. Pepper 100% grit

9:09	Jeff Zimmerman: Hi Dave, I finally got me kids put to sleep.

9:09	Dave Cameron: “the most creative…”

9:09	Dave Cameron: Yes, diving is genius!

9:09	Comment From Evan I have some of Pedroia’s original works of art.

9:09	Jeff Zimmerman: I am listening to the radio feed instead of Buck and McCarver, it seems to save brain cells.

9:09	Comment From Creative 2B I might try fielding in short right to a pull heavy lefty!

9:10	Comment From Somebody He’s like da Vinci

9:10	Comment From Jake Is the radio laggy for you as well, Jeff?

9:10	Comment From Guest smart play by Pedi, as hard as it must have been to concede a run with Wacha pitching

9:10	Jeff Zimmerman: A bit, but well worth it.

9:10	Comment From Tyler wasnt creative enough to get the runner out at home!

9:12	Comment From David A great base running team that’s league average in BsR

9:12	Dave Cameron: Given the speed of their players, though, that’s kind of impressive.

9:13	Comment From Frank Do we know if Craig can play first in STL?

9:13	Dave Cameron: Unlikely.

9:13	Dave Cameron: Adams is good enough that there’s no need to force it.

9:14	Jeff Zimmerman: Craig is back too early, he probably won’t play 1B in StL, but we will see.

9:14	Dave Cameron: Pedroia’s collapse to get out of Drew’s way was very… pronounced.

9:14	Comment From DCinSTL Would you say it was… creative?

9:14	Comment From Guest I think you mean creative, Dave

9:14	Comment From Erik It was a creative collapse

9:15	Comment From Sgt. Pepper It was a work of art

9:15	Comment From Guest needed to get more dirt on his uni

9:15	Comment From Floyd wow, people type fast

9:15	Comment From Scruffy, the janitor I like how the guy with the RBI bounce-out “produced” the run instead of the guy with the triple.

9:16	Comment From Mike Y. anybody, and I mean anybody, can hit a triple with no one on and no pressure. It takes a real player to drive that run in with a meek groundout.

9:16	Dave Cameron: I like these Ford “And” commercials.

9:16	Dave Cameron: The sour chicken gets me every time.

9:17	Comment From Hank While he obviously plays hard, is there a player who engages in more “false hustle” than Pedroia?

9:17	Dave Cameron: Miguel Olivo.

9:17	Comment From Casey I wonder if that guy ever gets teased for being in a commercial and saying “I Wonder WHat These Nuts Are For”

9:17	Comment From Sgt. Pepper Pedrioa making masterpieces in the batters box with his shoes

9:18	Comment From Tyler dirty uni mention!

9:18	Comment From Weezy F Too many Viagra ads

9:18	Comment From Guest Win expectancy?

9:18	Dave Cameron: http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2013-10-24&team=Red%20Sox&dh=0&season=2013

9:18	Dave Cameron: Pedroia crushed that.

9:19	Jeff Zimmerman: Pedroia didn’t fall for decoy.

9:19	Comment From Sgt. Pepper Pedrioa moving to a more abstract expressionist phase with that double

9:19	Comment From Scruffy, the janitor What would that little deke have accomplished? there was no one on base.

9:20	Comment From Fillie Fanatic I’m kind of digging this hit speed tidbits.

9:20	Comment From Frank Now hopefully we can get two consecutive right side groundballs to produce a run

9:20	Comment From RF Wacha losing his command?

9:20	Dave Cameron: Or pitching around a big scary dude.

9:21	Jeff Zimmerman: Ortiz was the league leader in IBB, people pitched around all year.

9:21	Comment From Floyd no harm in setting up the double play for napoli i guess

9:21	Comment From Scruffy, the janitor Michael Walka

9:21	Comment From Big Pugg Michael Walk-a

9:21	Dave Cameron: No creativity there, guys.

9:22	Dave Cameron: And that’s why you pitch around Ortiz.

9:22	Jeff Zimmerman: Look at the big brain on Floyd.

9:22	Comment From Floyd called it

9:23	Dave Cameron: Wacha is just very good.

9:25	Comment From Meano Eno Jonny Gomes is 5 – 30

9:25	Comment From Brian Still don’t know why Gomes is in this game

9:25	Comment From chuckb Wacha > Miller next year?

9:25	Dave Cameron: Yes.

9:25	Comment From Dusty Baker Miller is dead.Everyone > Miller.

9:26	Comment From Kyle Wacha > Cole??

9:26	Dave Cameron: Maybe.

9:26	Jeff Zimmerman: Good question, poll time.

9:29	Comment From David Why does steamer have Wacha down for twice as many innings as Cole next year?

9:29	Dave Cameron: Ignore the playing time projections right now. They’re based on the depth charts, and STL/BOS only teams still playing.

9:29	Comment From Nick off the base?

9:30	Dave Cameron: Looked like it from that last replay.

9:30	Jeff Zimmerman: Time for the deadly 3rd time through the lineup

9:31	Dave Cameron: Pretty nice inning for Stephen Drew.

9:32	Comment From Meano Eno Why all the Pearl Jam?

9:32	Dave Cameron: Because they’re not lighting mups.

9:32	Jeff Zimmerman: Agree

9:32	Comment From RF Man, was Drew this good defensively before his injury? Never realized how great he is at SS.

9:32	Dave Cameron: He’s been underrated for a while.

9:33

Comment From Meano Eno
“A partnership with Fox Sports will include extensive use of 48 Pearl Jam songs across the promotional and music beds for this month’s World Series coverage, set to air Oct. 23-31 on Fox, and feature the group’s music throughout November as Artist of the Month across all Fox Sports properties”

9:33	Dave Cameron: That sounds annoying.

9:34	Jeff Zimmerman: Very

9:34	Comment From Guest Very,Very

9:34	Comment From Brian i LOVE pearl jam AND baseball win win for me

9:34	Comment From Scruffy, the janitor Boston fans would have liked Drew so much better if his name was Drew Stephens instead.

9:35	Jeff Zimmerman: The Red Sox best scoring chance will be the next couple of innings.

9:35	Dave Cameron: Truth.

9:36	Jeff Zimmerman: The 5th pitch was called a strike quite a bit this game.

9:37	Comment From Meano Eno uggggggggggggggggggggh bunt

9:37	Comment From Mr. Wrestling IV As bad as Drew has been, a bunt might be advisable

9:38	Dave Cameron: You don’t want to make decisions based on stuff like that.

9:38	Comment From Mr. Wrestling IV You don’t want to take hitter quality into in game decisions?

9:39	Dave Cameron: Hitter quality isn’t decided on a week or two worth of PAs.

9:39	Comment From semperty I would consider a .776 OPS quality….

9:40	Comment From Grand Admiral Braun How does Bogaerts project defensively at SS?

9:40	Dave Cameron: Good enough.

9:40	Jeff Zimmerman: The scout on Gameday is a little faster than me, but Wacha’s speed is down at least 3 mph, maybe more.

9:41	Dave Cameron: Wacha’s change is maybe already top 10 in baseball.

9:41	Dave Cameron: At least among starters.

9:41	Comment From Erik Who would you say has the best?

9:41	Dave Cameron: Strasburg, maybe.

9:42	Comment From Brian jeff, any real data on throwing “too hard” as in straightening out the FB?

9:43	Jeff Zimmerman: All depends on spin on the pitch. The harder the pitch, less chance for gravity to affect it, so it will be straighter.

9:44	Comment From Tom Next inning will be Boston’s best chance most likely. Victorino, Pedroia, Ortiz 3rd PA’s against a ‘tiring’ Wacha.

9:44	Comment From Nick Wacha could make Votto pop up?

9:44	Comment From George Sorry if this has already been addressed, but is there any major league pitcher that consistently throws his offspeed pitches from a different arm slot? McCarver seems to make a big deal out of it.

9:45	Dave Cameron: Bronson Arroyo changes arm angles all the time.

9:45	Jeff Zimmerman: Bruce Chen is another if you consider him a MLB pitcher.

9:45	Comment From Evan I do not.

9:46	Comment From Fillie Fanatic Seems like changing arm angles would be bad for you. Both health wise and results wise.

9:46	Comment From Brian seems to me changing arm angles would help to alleviate wear and tear from the same ligaments/tendons

9:46	Jeff Zimmerman: Disagreements.

9:47	Dave Cameron: Changing arm angles will either hurt you or help you stay healthy. This has been brought to you by FanGraphs MD.

9:47	Comment From AJT We should all just admit we know little.

9:47	Comment From Fillie Fanatic At least we’ve eliminated the possibility that it has no effect at all.

9:47	Comment From Carlos Danger Was that some Bruce Chen blasphemy?

9:47	Comment From Whirling darvish Hey I’m a Twins fan so I consider Chen a #1 SP

9:48	Dave Cameron: Lackey’s breaking ball has been awesome.

9:49	Comment From Guest E5

9:49	Dave Cameron: Will be ruled a hit, but should have made that.

9:49	Jeff Zimmerman: Radio is blaming the shift.

9:51	Dave Cameron: Okay, that Chromebook commercial was the worst thing ever.

9:51	Comment From Sgt. Pepper 75% of the Canadian commercials are about hockey. Stereotypes are real people.

9:52	Comment From Floyd 75% of American commercials are about movies, cars and erection pills.

9:52	Comment From Guest What are the other 25%?

9:53	Comment From chuckb Umm…beer says hello.

9:53	Comment From Tony M Don’t forget the beer and car insurance.

9:53	Dave Cameron: Curveball alert.

9:53	Dave Cameron: Not a very good one, but got a strike.

9:53	Dave Cameron: Two straight curves!

9:53	Dave Cameron: Second one was better.

9:54	Dave Cameron: “Dana Demuth was right there” as if that would help him avoid an obviously bad call.

9:55	Dave Cameron: Surprised that STL doesn’t have anyone up in the pen.

9:55	Dave Cameron: This could get ugly in a hurry.

9:56	Jeff Zimmerman: Wacha picking up the velocity, but keeping the ball up.

9:56	Comment From XIII I’d get Maness personally.

9:57	Dave Cameron: Ripped.

9:57	Dave Cameron: Managers will eventually stop asking their starters to get these outs.

9:58	Comment From George 2-1 change. Big leagues.

9:58	Dave Cameron: Third time through the order…

9:59	Comment From Carlos Danger BOOM

9:59	Jeff Zimmerman: with a pitcher over 100 pitches

9:59	Comment From semperty Unfortunately not even that home run will teach Matheny to pull his starters on time…

9:59	Comment From Ben What a rally killer by Ortiz

9:59	Comment From Gads Belt high fastball…

9:59	Comment From Bob That was a pretty poor pitch. Ouch!