8/8 MiLB Gameday: Pawsox face some afternoon Wang

Jed Zeppelin · Aug 8, 2014

Mookie 3-4 with 2 2b and a walk. Swihart with his first AAA bomb.

mabrowndog · Aug 8, 2014

Looking at Ranaudo's line today (6.1 IP, 4 ER, 10 H, 1 BB, 6 K) one might voice concerns over his apparently being smacked around. I'm not so sure about that.

He was staked to a 7-0 lead before he'd even taken the mound in the 3rd inning. He threw 79 of 99 pitches for strikes, so he was clearly pounding the zone. There were just five swings of the bat that led directly to the 4 runs off him: A leadoff double & 2-run HR in the 4th; and a single, triple & sac fly in the 5th. I could be wrong, but to me it all says "pitching to contact".

I know "pitching to the scoreboard" is an oft-ridiculed concept on this board, but the big lead may well have played into his approach today. Charlotte has been the most productive offensive team in the IL this year with 4.9 R/G (3 teams tied for 2nd with 4.7), and they've hit nearly 50% more HRs (152) than the league runner-up (Toledo with 104). You have to throw strikes and trust your defense to convert BIP into outs to beat a team like that, especially once you're ahead significantly. If you try to expand the zone you risk walking a bunch of hitters, blowing up your pitch count and yielding huge innings. Better to take a few lumps for the sake of efficiency.

Ranaudo didn't get bailed out by any GIDPs today, though Charlotte did run into an out in the 1st inning with men on 2nd & 3rd. He also left a 2nd & 3rd mess with 1 out in the 7th for John Ely to clean up (mission accomplished).

mabrowndog · Aug 8, 2014

A 3-for-4 day with a walk & 2 runs for Carlos Rivero. He's been streaky all year, and he's on a hot one now. After hitting just .163/.182/.233/.414 with 15 K in 44 PA from June 30 through July 11, he's at .394/.425/.576/1.000 in 73 PA over 17 games since then.

mabrowndog · Aug 8, 2014

Eduardo Rodriguez is off to another nice outing. He allowed a double to his first batter, but has held Richmond hitless since then. A 2-out walk in the 1st, an HBP in the 3rd, and another 2-out walk in the 4th, and that's been it for baserunners. Half of his 12 outs have been Ks, 5 of them swinging, and he's thrown 43 of 64 pitches for strikes.

Still scoreless, and Portland has left the bases loaded twice (2nd & 4th).

EDIT - And right after I post, a solo shot by Almanzar in the t-5th puts the Sea Dogs up 1-0.

mabrowndog · Aug 8, 2014

Cole Sturgeon & Sam Travis were the first college bats of the 2014 draft to be promoted from Lowell, but Jordan Betts has been quietly putting together a solid debut for the Spinners. The 18th-rounder out of Duke homered in his first pro game, and has gone yard 7 times since -- including a solo shot tonight to tie up State College 3-3 in the 3rd. His 8 HR currently rank 4th in the NYPL, well behind uber-stud Rowan Wick (14), Jiandido Tromp & Hunter Lockwood (12 apiece).

Betts has added a single, boosting his season line to .287/348/.527/.875.

mabrowndog · Aug 8, 2014

After single-single-forceout-walk loaded the bases in the b-5th, Rodriguez escaped with his 7th K of the night and 6th swinging. Still 1-0, Portland.

EDIT - He rings up 2 more in 1-2-3 b-6th, giving him 9 total, 7 on whiffs. At the century mark for pitches now, 66 for strikes. Probably done for the night.

Stan Papi Was Framed · Aug 8, 2014

mabrowndog said:
After single-single-forceout-walk loaded the bases in the b-5th, Rodriguez escaped with his 7th K of the night and 6th swinging. Still 1-0, Portland.

EDIT - He rings up 2 more in 1-2-3 b-6th, giving him 9 total, 7 on whiffs. At the century mark for pitches now, 66 for strikes. Probably done for the night.

another nice outing--impressive strikeout numbers

mabrowndog · Aug 8, 2014

In the words (and scowling gestures) of McKayla Maroney, I am not impressed with Wilfredo Boscan.

Rodriguez won't get the win tonight, and it'll take a valiant effort for the Sea Dogs to get one after Boscan coughed up 4 in the 7th including a 3-run bomb by Mario Lisson. An Almanzar E-5 hurt, but not nearly as much as the two base hits and the moon shot that cleared the bases.

Boscan's line over his last 3 outings (including the frame he's worked so far tonight): 11.2 IP, 13 ER, 17 H, 2 BB & 11 K for a 10.02 ERA.

mabrowndog · Aug 8, 2014

Cuzittt said:
Spinners walk off again, 4-3.

That comeback really saved their bacon after running into three outs tonight trying to take extra bases, including twice at the plate:

* 2nd - Flores CS 2B w. Meyers up to end the inning.

* 4th - After doubling, Procyshen thrown out at home trying to score on a Monge single to CF.

* 7th - After singling & stealing 2B, Hudson thrown at at home after a Flores single to RF.

Both outs at home were direct throws from the OF with no relays.

mabrowndog · Aug 8, 2014

Three more singles and another run off Boscan in the b-8th. Seriously, fuck him.

8/8 MiLB Gameday: Pawsox face some afternoon Wang

Bouncing with Anger

Member

Ask me about total zone...or paint

Ask me about total zone...or paint

Ask me about total zone...or paint

Ask me about total zone...or paint

Ask me about total zone...or paint

Bouncing with Anger

Bouncing with Anger

Member

Bouncing with Anger

Bouncing with Anger

Bouncing with Anger

Bouncing with Anger

Bouncing with Anger

Ask me about total zone...or paint

Ask me about total zone...or paint

Bouncing with Anger

Ask me about total zone...or paint