ALDS (BOS/HOU) series discussion thread (GM1@4:08PM, GM2@2:05PM)

soxhop411

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I believe we have done this in the past for the patriots (a generic series thread to go along with the GDT's)
Im pissed at these game times.... Being on the west coast means im going to miss both game 1 and game 2 since I will be at work.....
grrrrr.

 
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Ale Xander

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Shows how much TV loves the Yankmes, Cleveland gets a later start time than Houston.
 

BoSoxFink

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God I hope the yankees lose the one game playoff and this backfires on the networks. They only did it this way for New York and they’ll be pissed if it’s cleveland and Minnesota in that time slot
 

TFisNEXT

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God I hope the yankees lose the one game playoff and this backfires on the networks. They only did it this way for New York and they’ll be pissed if it’s cleveland and Minnesota in that time slot
They'll deserve every bit of shit (and money lost) they get for it too.
 

NJ_Sox_Fan

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I've never been happier to be unemployed

I wish they'd announce Sunday's game time already so I could make travel plans
 

RedOctober3829

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Here's both teams at a glance. Benches and bullpens subject to change obviously as these are educated guesses.

Projected Starters
Boston
Chris Sale: 17-8 2.90 ERA(2.45 FIP/157 ERA+)
Drew Pomeranz: 17-6 3.32 ERA(3.83 FIP/138 ERA+)
Eduardo Rodriguez: 6-7 4.19 ERA(3.97 FIP/109 ERA+)
Rick Porcello 11-17 4.65 ERA(4.60 FIP/98 ERA+)

Houston
Justin Verlander w/Houston: 5-0 1.06 ERA
(Overall: 15-8 3.36 ERA(3.84 FIP/132 ERA+)
Dallas Keuchel: 14-5 2.90 ERA(3.79 FIP/136 ERA+)
Brad Peacock: 13-2 3.00 ERA(21 starts/34 app)(3.06 FIP/132 FIP)
Charlie Morton: 14-7 3.62 ERA(3.46 FIP/109 ERA+)

Projected Game 1 Starters
Boston
SS Xander Bogaerts .273/.343/.403/.746 OPS 10 HR 60 RBI 95 OPS+
2B Dustin Pedroia .293/..369/.392/.760 OPS 7 HR 62 RBI 100 OPS+
LF Andrew Benintendi .271/.352/.424/.776 OPS 20 HR 90 RBI 103 OPS+
RF Mookie Betts .264/..344/.459/.803 OPS 24 HR 102 RBI 108 OPS+
DH Hanley Ramirez .242/.320/.429/.750 OPS 23 HR 62 RBI 94 OPS+
1B Mitch Moreland .246/.326/..443/.769 OPS 22 HR 79 RBI 99 OPS+
3B Rafael Devers .284/.339/.482/.821 OPS 10 HR 28 RBI 112 OPS+
C Christian Vazquez .291/.331/.406/.738 OPS 5 HR 32 RBI 92 OPS+
CF Jackie Bradley Jr. .246/.324/.405/.729 OPS 17 HR 63 RBI 90 OPS+

Houston
CF George Springer .283/.367/.522/.889 OPS 34 HR 85 RBI 145 OPS+
RF Josh Reddick .314/.367/.484/.847 OPS 13 HR 82 RBI 134 OPS+
2B Jose Altuve .347/.411/.549/.961 OPS 24 HR 81 RBI 166 OPS+
SS Carlos Correa .315/.391/.550/.941 OPS 24 HR 84 RBI 159 OPS
LF Marwin Gonzalez .303/.375/.530/.905 OPS 23 HR 90 RBI 149 OPS+
3B Alex Bregman .285/.353/.477/.830 OPS 19 HR 71 RBI 129 OPS+
1B Yuri Gurriel .297/.330/..481/.811 OPS 18 HR 74 RBI 123 OPS+
C Brian McCann .241/.323/.436/.759 OPS 18 HR 62 RBI 110 OPS+
DH Evan Gattis .263/.311/.457/.767 OPS 12 HR 55 RBI 111 OPS+

Projected Benches
Boston
C Sandy Leon
INF Eduardo Nunez
INF Deven Marrero
UT Brock Holt
OF Rajai Davis

Houston
C Juan Centeno
OF Derek Fisher
OF Cameron Maybin
DH/OF Carlos Beltran

Projected Bullpens
Boston
RH Craig Kimbrel
RH Addison Reed
LH David Price
RH Carson Smith
RH Joe Kelly
RH Brandon Workman
RH Matt Barnes

Houston
RH Ken Giles
RH Chris Devenski
RH Joe Musgrove
RH Will Harris
RH Luke Gregerson
LH Francisco Liriano
RH Lance McCullers
LH Tony Sipp
 
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NJ_Sox_Fan

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If you start Nunez, who do you sit? Do you sit Hanley and DH either Devers or Nunez?
I’d sit Hanley. Maybe even Pedroia, though I’d much rather have his glove in there, but they’ve both been awful in September with an OPS around .600
 

Ale Xander

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Here's both teams at a glance. Benches and bullpens subject to change obviously as these are educated guesses.

Projected Starters
Boston
Chris Sale: 17-8 2.90 ERA(2.45 FIP/157 ERA+)
Drew Pomeranz: 17-6 3.32 ERA(3.83 FIP/138 ERA+)
Eduardo Rodriguez: 6-7 4.19 ERA(3.97 FIP/109 ERA+)
Rick Porcello 11-17 4.65 ERA(4.60 FIP/98 ERA+)

Houston
Justin Verlander w/Houston: 5-0 1.06 ERA
(Overall: 15-8 3.36 ERA(3.84 FIP/132 ERA+)
Dallas Keuchel: 14-5 2.90 ERA(3.79 FIP/136 ERA+)
Brad Peacock: 13-2 3.00 ERA(21 starts/34 app)(3.06 FIP/132 FIP)
Charlie Morton: 14-7 3.62 ERA(3.46 FIP/109 ERA+)

Projected Game 1 Starters
Boston
SS Xander Bogaerts .273/.343/.403/.746 OPS 10 HR 60 RBI 95 OPS+
2B Dustin Pedroia .293/..369/.392/.760 OPS 7 HR 62 RBI 100 OPS+
LF Andrew Benintendi .271/.352/.424/.776 OPS 20 HR 90 RBI 103 OPS+
RF Mookie Betts .264/..344/.459/.803 OPS 24 HR 102 RBI 108 OPS+
DH Hanley Ramirez .242/.320/.429/.750 OPS 23 HR 62 RBI 94 OPS+
1B Mitch Moreland .246/.326/..443/.769 OPS 22 HR 79 RBI 99 OPS+
3B Rafael Devers .284/.339/.482/.821 OPS 18 HR 56 RBI 112 OPS+
C Christian Vazquez .291/.331/.406/.738 OPS 5 HR 32 RBI 92 OPS+
CF Jackie Bradley Jr. .246/.324/.405/.729 OPS 17 HR 63 RBI 90 OPS+

Houston
CF George Springer .283/.367/.522/.889 OPS 34 HR 85 RBI 145 OPS+
RF Josh Reddick .314/.367/.484/.847 OPS 13 HR 82 RBI 134 OPS+
2B Jose Altuve .347/.411/.549/.961 OPS 24 HR 81 RBI 166 OPS+
SS Carlos Correa .315/.391/.550/.941 OPS 24 HR 84 RBI 159 OPS
LF Marwin Gonzalez .303/.375/.530/.905 OPS 23 HR 90 RBI 149 OPS+
3B Alex Bregman .285/.353/.477/.830 OPS 19 HR 71 RBI 129 OPS+
1B Yuri Gurriel .297/.330/..481/.811 OPS 18 HR 74 RBI 123 OPS+
C Brian McCann .241/.323/.436/.759 OPS 18 HR 62 RBI 110 OPS+
DH Evan Gattis .263/.311/.457/.767 OPS 12 HR 55 RBI 111 OPS+

Projected Benches
Boston
C Sandy Leon
INF Eduardo Nunez
INF Deven Marrero
UT Brock Holt
OF Rajai Davis

Houston
C Juan Centeno
OF Derek Fisher
OF Cameron Maybin
DH/OF Carlos Beltran

Projected Bullpens
Boston
RH Craig Kimbrel
RH Addison Reed
LH David Price
RH Carson Smith
RH Joe Kelly
RH Brandon Workman
RH Matt Barnes

Houston
RH Ken Giles
RH Chris Devenski
RH Joe Musgrove
RH Will Harris
RH Luke Gregerson
LH Francisco Liriano
RH Lance McCullers
LH Tony Sipp
The OPS difference is staggering. Devers, in 2 months, is the only projected starter to have a higher OPS+ than the worst ps Astro. And the Astros have an advantage at starter, especially 2+.
 

Ale Xander

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Hopefully Angel Hernandez doesn't penalize Pedroia for an old association with Kinsler.
 

InsideTheParker

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I am so pissed that I didn't see this thread last night, as I just made a doc appt. on Friday during Game One.
If I hadn't had to wait ages to get somebody on the phone, I would change it. It never occurred to me that the division winners would play in the afternoon. I forgot how much TV loves the NY market.
 

Al Zarilla

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I am so pissed that I didn't see this thread last night, as I just made a doc appt. on Friday during Game One.
If I hadn't had to wait ages to get somebody on the phone, I would change it. It never occurred to me that the division winners would play in the afternoon. I forgot how much TV loves the NY market.
What kind of health care do you have? Don't need to answer, but my doctor's office answers the phone within short minutes.
 

RedOctober3829

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For Sunday, I wonder if it makes a difference that the Browns are playing at 1:00 and the Texans are on Sunday Night Football. Would they play the same market's games at the same time? I wonder if Sox/Astros Game 3 would be a 1 pm start and Indians series at 4:30.
 

Rusty13

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Looks like Game 1 will be on MLBN. Will there be no free local feed offer for Game one for those in New England area that don't have MLBN? I didn't think that channel had expanded enough on most cable packages.
 

Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat

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For Sunday, I wonder if it makes a difference that the Browns are playing at 1:00 and the Texans are on Sunday Night Football. Would they play the same market's games at the same time? I wonder if Sox/Astros Game 3 would be a 1 pm start and Indians series at 4:30.
With only 2 games on Sunday, do they really want to go up against the big part of the NFL schedule at 1:00? I can't remember what they've done in the past, but something like 4:00/7:30 would seem to make more sense.
 

BaseballJones

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Looks like Game 1 will be on MLBN. Will there be no free local feed offer for Game one for those in New England area that don't have MLBN? I didn't think that channel had expanded enough on most cable packages.
This was my question. Are we really not going to be able to watch a playoff game unless we pay for a mlbtv subscription?
 

RedOctober3829

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With only 2 games on Sunday, do they really want to go up against the big part of the NFL schedule at 1:00? I can't remember what they've done in the past, but something like 4:00/7:30 would seem to make more sense.
So Sox/Astros at 4 and Indians/Yankees at 8? FOX has Green Bay/Dallas exclusively in their 4:25 window so yes it does make sense to go from that game and direct people to Indians/Yankees on FS1 right after.
 

InsideTheParker

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What kind of health care do you have? Don't need to answer, but my doctor's office answers the phone within short minutes.
This was extremely unusual, waiting on hold to make a flu shot appointment. Since I posted, I remember that I have mlb.tv on my phone, which I rarely use. Is it obvious that I'll be able to see it there, or is there an additional charge for the postseason? There's always XM radio in the car and DVR at home. I should get home for most of it.
 

RedOctober3829

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This was extremely unusual, waiting on hold to make a flu shot appointment. Since I posted, I remember that I have mlb.tv on my phone, which I rarely use. Is it obvious that I'll be able to see it there, or is there an additional charge for the postseason? There's always XM radio in the car and DVR at home. I should get home for most of it.
Unfortunately, the MLB.tv subscription does not carry over for the postseason. You have to pay $24.99 for the postseason subscription. It's awful.
 

Ale Xander

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This was extremely unusual, waiting on hold to make a flu shot appointment. Since I posted, I remember that I have mlb.tv on my phone, which I rarely use. Is it obvious that I'll be able to see it there, or is there an additional charge for the postseason? There's always XM radio in the car and DVR at home. I should get home for most of it.
You should be able to get flu shot at a CVS minute clinic.
https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/services/vaccinations-and-injections/N-d8Z3a3joZd5?WT.ac=MC-Home-Center1-Link3-Immunizations
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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For Sunday, I wonder if it makes a difference that the Browns are playing at 1:00 and the Texans are on Sunday Night Football. Would they play the same market's games at the same time? I wonder if Sox/Astros Game 3 would be a 1 pm start and Indians series at 4:30.
Can't imagine local games would be taken into account unless there was a conflict within the city, such as the stadiums sharing a parking lot or something to that effect. Since the series will be in Boston and the Bronx (or Minneapolis), the Browns and Texans games shouldn't matter.

But the broader desire to not to go head-to-head with the bulk of NFL games (the 1pm schedule) makes sense, so I'd expect a 4pm/8pm kind of set-up.

Thursday is setting up to be a big day in Boston with the Sox playing late afternoon, the Bruins opening their season at 7 and the Pats playing at 8.
 

E5 Yaz

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Scott Lauber ESPN Staff Writer
Dan Bellino will be the plate umpire for G1 of Red Sox-Astros. He had the plate when Chris Sale faced Justin Verlander on April 10 in Detroit. For what it's worth, Sale went 7.2 innings, allowed two runs and struck out 10; Verlander went 7 innings and allowed one unearned run. Tigers won, 2-1.
 

NJ_Sox_Fan

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What would they do in the event the weather is an issue Sunday? Looks pretty crappy, albeit still a week away.
 

The Talented Allen Ripley

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Looks like Game 1 will be on MLBN. Will there be no free local feed offer for Game one for those in New England area that don't have MLBN? I didn't think that channel had expanded enough on most cable packages.
This was my question. Are we really not going to be able to watch a playoff game unless we pay for a mlbtv subscription?
Last year the MLB Network was free during the first week of the playoffs, which was when they were airing live games themselves. I would hope that's the case this year.

Edit: This Cleveland TV station's site confirms that MLB Network will be free the first week of this year's playoffs.

MLB network reached out to Cleveland 19 to inform us they will be giving a free preview of the channel Oct. 4-11 for the following cable providers so fans can see the Tribe in the ALDS.
 
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InsideTheParker

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I have mlbn, but may not be at home. If anyone hears/knows that mlb will make mlb.tv free for the first week, then please post that info here. TIA.
 

RedOctober3829

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Interesting stat that may play into the Red Sox aggressiveness on the basepaths.

“The Astros are not a team with many weaknesses, but their inability in holding runners glares like the Texas sun. Opponents were successful on 102 of 116 attempts stealing against Houston. The Astros may carry Juan Centeno specifically to throw out runners; he’s thrown out just 13 percent in his career. Houston’s four highest-leverage relievers combined to allow 26 steals on 29 attempts.”

http://www.providencejournal.com/sports/20171002/alds-x-factors-rajai-davis-primed-to-exploit-houstons-biggest-weakness
 

brandonchristensen

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Man those line up comparisons are insane. All but two of their guys have a higher OPS than our top guy
 

richgedman'sghost

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I have mlbn, but may not be at home. If anyone hears/knows that mlb will make mlb.tv free for the first week, then please post that info here. TIA.
You do know you can go to Walgreens or CVS for a flu shot. It's not liver transplant or open heart surgery .
 

Sox and Rocks

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Can someone explain why the schedule lists MLBN OR FS1 for the American League games? Has the specific network not been chosen yet?

This matters for those of you asking about streaming since The Fox Go app should provide streaming to the games televised on FS1 if you have it in your cable package
 

NJ_Sox_Fan

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Interesting stat that may play into the Red Sox aggressiveness on the basepaths.

“The Astros are not a team with many weaknesses, but their inability in holding runners glares like the Texas sun. Opponents were successful on 102 of 116 attempts stealing against Houston. The Astros may carry Juan Centeno specifically to throw out runners; he’s thrown out just 13 percent in his career. Houston’s four highest-leverage relievers combined to allow 26 steals on 29 attempts.”

http://www.providencejournal.com/sports/20171002/alds-x-factors-rajai-davis-primed-to-exploit-houstons-biggest-weakness
They were dead last in baseball at 12 or 13% at throwing out base stealers. Sox were second at around 38% I believe. They absolutely should try to exploit this, since they are missing the offensive firepower Houston has.
 

jaytftwofive

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Why not put Joe Kelly in the rotation instead of Porcello or Rodriquez? He was a 10 game winner for the Cards and I think 10 wins for us in 2015? He's healthy now and we need 2 right handed starters. I might put Fister in because he seems to have turned it around. I think Kelly's worth a shot.
 

Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat

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Why not put Joe Kelly in the rotation instead of Porcello or Rodriquez? He was a 10 game winner for the Cards and I think 10 wins for us in 2015? He's healthy now and we need 2 right handed starters. I might put Fister in because he seems to have turned it around. I think Kelly's worth a shot.
You can't be serious. Or if you are, good lord, you shouldn't be