I would hope that Pomeranz would only be used as a starter in the sense that Wade Miley "started" NLCS Game 5.
World Series 2018--Red Sox vs. Dodgers
- Thread starter DJnVa
- Start date
They probably have some space age way of accessing video from 2017 and comparing it to 2018.
One thing that I love about sports is that you can go back 100 years and the crowd reactions are pretty close to identical to what they would be today (ok, there was a bit more fedora-waving and a bit less high-fiving, but you get what I mean).
Why would your scouting efforts, which are finite, waste time on prepping for a starter that you figure has no chance to start? With Pomeranz added at the very last minute - I'd assume the Dodger organization took a look at what he might do against a LHH in relief. So now, they need to re-allocate resources and briefings on the chance that he actually may start Game 4.
Could the Dodgers do the same to the Red Sox? Nope.
Could the Dodgers do the same to the Red Sox? Nope.
I just wanted to come back one more time to this thread to say..... Christian Vazquez' at bat in the 5th inning was absolutely huge. I know Mookie and Beni and Pearce and JD are going to get most of the credit (Beni's at bat was especially deserving), but Vazquez came up with the Sox down by one, and the guys before him had just made two outs on three pitches. Ryu looked like he was absolutely cruising.
To get a single there, after falling behind 0-2, it was just massive.
To get a single there, after falling behind 0-2, it was just massive.
I think that Game 3 will be the worst starting pitcher matchup for the Sox. Not only will Porcello face the Dodgers good (i.e. LHB) lineup, but I worry that his sinker is a bad matchup for their uppercutting swing paths.
All of which makes the Game 4 plan even more interesting. I think something whackadoodle like a ERo/Pom tandem start or even an ERo/Pom tandem preceded by an Eovaldi opener inning is in play. The first tell will be who comes in if things go sideways for Porcello in Game 3.
All of which makes the Game 4 plan even more interesting. I think something whackadoodle like a ERo/Pom tandem start or even an ERo/Pom tandem preceded by an Eovaldi opener inning is in play. The first tell will be who comes in if things go sideways for Porcello in Game 3.
I obviously know what you mean, but your calling it a "tandem" start brought to mind EdRo and Pom both standing near the mound at the same time, switching off each pitch. Sure, you'd have to sacrifice a fielder to do it, but that would certainly confuse the Dodgers hitters!
This isn't sending someone on a bus to Peoria or poring over microfilm in the library. Major League teams have ample resources and a few computers hanging around to be able to come up with adequate scouting on all 25 players on the active roster of their WS opponent.
I would not put it past Cora to try that. The other guy could field the position a la coach-pitch little league.
Agree, he's had a few key PAs this month.
The numbers aren't really there, but I'm hoping "Christian Vazquez, Postseason Hero" could boost some intangible value and help grease the wheels for a trade.
I keep hearing/reading that he's not a sinkerballer so much anymore, having adjusted to that very trend.
In scouting Walker Buehler's 2018 performance for Game 3, one thing jumped out at me: He was a much more effective pitcher with Grandal behind the plate than Barnes.
Barnes - 6 games, 30.2 IP, 4.99 ERA, .751 OPS against
Grandal - 18 games, 106.2 IP, 1.94 ERA, .495 OPS against
Will be very interested to see who Roberts picks tomorrow night.
Barnes - 6 games, 30.2 IP, 4.99 ERA, .751 OPS against
Grandal - 18 games, 106.2 IP, 1.94 ERA, .495 OPS against
Will be very interested to see who Roberts picks tomorrow night.
Depends how big a sample you look at--for the year overall he was still sinker-heavy, but he did move more toward the four-seam as the year went on.
Because maybe the scouting time, while finite, still gives them ample time to do so? A team in this position should be mapping out all possibilities or they aren’t doing their job in 2018. Forget about the sudden shift in Evo’s usage. What if Game 3 goes 17 innings and burned through the Sox bullpen? The last pitcher on the roster is no longer off the table.
If this were true then every first baseman receiving a pickoff throw from a pitcher could drop to one knee and block the base runner from reaching back to the bag with his hand.
I keep thinking what it would feel like to root for the team that spent the first two WS games with Bellinger, Muncy, Pederson, and Grandal's bats on the bench because of who the other team is pitching. In favor of Dozier, Barnes, Freese, and Hernandez (give or take, they are versatile).
I do get sitting one or two of them--but I think if Roberts is going to spot you those bats just because the SP is a lefty, start Rodriguez Game 4 and have Eovaldi piggyback. Their defense definitely suffers in the all-RHH configuration, too, and Roberts seems to burn his bench too quick when things change up.
Roberts having a real iffy series. Madson has, throughout his career, been gettable. Using him over, say, Baez in the biggest spots in those two games (especially yesterday when he'd complained about the cold during Game 1 and it was colder in Game 2) was big. Madson is the exact type of middle reliever the Sox have eaten alive all year.
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But, it is true.
The rules are written to define what obstruction is--and it's blocking the progress of a runner without the ball.
https://baseballrulesacademy.com/may-fielder-block-base/
On the pickoff you're talking about, the 1B can't block first base until the pitcher moves to throw to him, which would mean he's moving , while attempting to catch the throw, and trying to tag someone. He can't do it.
Totally massive. Ryu had just gotten two outs on three pitches and got ahead 0-2 on our worst hitter, the #9 spot in the order. He was absolutely starting to cruise. Huge take on the inside fastball that was close, and then staying in his strength--that short swing shooting the pitch to RF--and that tiny opportunity goes from a strike away from suffering a ~8 pitch shutdown inning to scoring three out of nowhere in a real back-break set of circumstances.
The HR in the Toilet; he's had a great postseason just staying in his strengths and not trying to do too much. Leon too, honestly, just less dramatic for him.
edit--Vaz's was the first ball it seemed Puig was too deep on that inning. I think Mookie catches Vaz and JD's hits that inning.
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Exactly what I thought too. I'll admit it seemed like it could eat up PAs for Mookie and/ or Beni with runs unlikely and I wanted them starting things off in the following inning.
It may prove to be the Millar walk vs Fruitbat of the 2018 WS. Everyone will remember the Pearce bases-loaded walk and the JDM 2-run nail in the coffin, but Vazquez's effort was the rarer (and arguably harder) feat.
No biggie. 70% of the earth is covered by water, the rest is covered by Bradley, Betts and Benintendi.
Cora will pull Porcello at the first sign the game may be getting out of hand, and bring in Pomeranz.
Pom, of course, will go four innings and completely stifle the Dodgers while the boys go to work on Buehler and the bullpen. Because Cora.
Edrod has a reverse platoon split. In fact his lifetime OPS against left handed hitters is about the same as the third in the majors Cleveland Indians team 2018 OPS: .763 vs .766. I don’t know, someone on MLBN or Fox was saying like splits, schmitz, doesn’t matter. Who was that?
Edrod against lefties this year only is better, with no significant split. His K/BB is much better vs lefties, 2018 or lifetime. Stats, shmatz, we’ll see what Cora does.
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I hate to say it because Dave Roberts is such an immense figure in Red Sox history, but he has really had a bad first two games. His adherence to the All RHB lineup at the expense of a better player sitting on the bench, questionable bullpen usage, pulling or sticking with a pitcher too long/not long enough - All lead to the conclusion that Roberts has been badly out managed to this point.
All that having been said, the Series is only half over. A win for L.A. on Friday, in a game they have to be favoured in, changes the equation completely. But if the Sox win, well jeez, I can’t imagine any team coming back from a 3-0 deficit in a best of 7 series in baseball. Has that ever been done before?
SSS but this seems almost inconceivable given the extremely low level of offensive production from the Red Sox catchers throughout most of the regular season. Pretty cool that they are contributing here on the biggest stage.
The Red Sox have thoroughly outplayed all three of NYY, HOU, and LAD (so far) in all aspects of the game. Hitting, fielding, pitching, running and coaching.
Roberts does seem to be overly dogmatic with his lineups and I believe to the detriment of run production. In short, however, I don’t think he is doing anything else I find overly questionable and I also don’t think having different hitters for games 1 and 2 would have changed the outcomes.
Edit: but I’d much rather have AC.
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This Dodgers team is very hard to have any type of respect for. Game 1 they lost because of the bullpen being so close to the fans. Game 2 because it was so chilly out (it was north of 40). I'm curious what excuse is going to come up after tomorrows game. Just man up and say the Sox won 16 more games than us this year that's why they're up 2-0. This shouldn't be coming back to Boston.
Just to be anti-cocky, it's perfect that the Red Sox won the first two games. Going to LA tied 1-1, with no DH and a broken up outfield would have been nerve wracking. The way I look at it, the Dodgers could now take 2 of 3 at home and still be in a position of having to sweep the Red Sox back at Fenway.
Can't take the Dodgers lightly, but it's a little more relaxing going in like this. David Price deserves a boatload of thanks.
Can't take the Dodgers lightly, but it's a little more relaxing going in like this. David Price deserves a boatload of thanks.
Save Machado I'm finding it incredibly easy. Lots of really good, versatile, likable players that play hard and play smart.
Not perfectly threading the needle in postgame comments to some dink on the internet's satisfaction after tough World Series losses doesn't really move the needle for me.
Meh, the Honeycutt whining went well beyond answers to questions etc. It was totally lame for dinks and non-dinks alike.
I don’t have a lot of hate for these guys, however. Machado would be a perfect MFY villain.
Still, whining is whining and a bad look, whoever the audience is.
I'm with you, it's a pretty bland-bordering-on-likeable team. When the series was starting I must've seen a half dozen headlines about how "Puig and Machado" were embracing being villains, why they had been so villainous, etc. Machado sucks, but I've always loved to see Puig sauntering around and clearly having fun out there, and when people complain about him or Joey Bats flipping bats after hitting dingers it always came off as the ultimate in old-fogeyness. I really don't see what's to dislike about Puig, nevermind the likes of Kershaw. Rich Hill? C'mon, he's one of our boys, there ain't a bigger Red Sox fan playing in the league who isn't on our roster. I think you really have to bend over backwards to muster hate towards anyone but Machado.
Yeah, and I mean, at minimum you'd have to respect them, right? That's the only reason I responded to that post, I get frothing one's self up and making yourself "hate" the other team, talking shit, yada yada.
To me, there's being a dickhead on the field (Machado) and there is pure joy (Puig). I don't understand how anyone could watch Puig play and not understand that it is pure, athletic joy.
Obsessing over a couple lines from the damn pitching coach--yeesh. Who cares.
Indeed, he has. Here's a Porcello quote from an article on the Athletic:
“When I first got to the big leagues, I didn’t have a breaking ball,” Porcello told Laurila. “I didn’t really utilize a four-seam fastball. I was pretty much sinker-changeup. At that particular time, that combination worked fairly well against the hitters, and the approaches of the offenses, that I was facing.
“Had things stayed the same, I would be heavier sinker-ball than I am now. That’s because I could be. I’ve had to make adjustments. Pitching to contact, sinkers at the bottom of the zone… that isn’t getting as good results as it once did. Especially against left-handed hitters. I’ve had to evolve with the approaches of individual hitters’ swing paths. I’ve had to try to create different angles for certain guys.”
The antidote is more feet-first slides. Attitudes will change after the first half dozen infielders are carted off bleeding like Al Nipper when he tried to cover home knees-first in '86.
I love that we have reduced the time when a player goes from "postseason hero" to "trade bait" to a negative number.
It also feels a lot like 1988 and 1990 in reverse, in terms of the games themselves. I had season tickets back then and went to the playoff games against Oakland where the Sox kept it close for a while, but all along you could feel the pressure building, and eventually it burst and the A's pulled away. They were lopsided games in a lopsided matchup that masqueraded as a good competitive contest for maybe five innings each day.
Just watched that at bat again. He got a very favorable call. Ryu was walking off the field on the 3rd pitch. That ump was awful. It worked out for us that time. Vaz is not a great hitter but when has that right field stroke going he is so much more effective that Sandy.
Those last two sentences give me hope that Pocello and LeVangie will use the intelligence gained by the Sox advanced scouts and will have a plan for the Dodgers hitters.
