7:10PM Eastern
Red Sox
Eduardo Rodriguez (L)
1. Hunter Renfroe (R) RF
2. Kyle Schwarber (L) DH
3. J.D. Martinez (R) LF
4. Rafael Devers (L) 3B
5. Bobby Dalbec (R) 1B
6. Christian Vazquez (R) C
7. Danny Santana (S) CF
8. Jack Lopez (R) 2B
9. Jonathan Arauz (S) SS
Rays
Shane McClanahan (L)
1. Randy Arozarena (R) RF
2. Nelson Cruz (R) DH
3. Wander Franco (S) SS
4. Yandy Diaz (R) 1B
5. Manuel Margot (R) CF
6. Brandon Lowe (L) 2B
7. Mike Zunino (R) C
8. Jordan Luplow (R) LF
9. Taylor Walls (S) 3B
Gametime Temp: 95°F
Chance of Precip: 1%
McClanahan shows up as getting a start every week. He's won 6 of his last 7, HOWEVER last three wins were two over Orioles and one over Twins. A 1.31 WHIP in last 7 games. I'd say he's doable if our batters are into the game.
The 4 INNING E-ROD , now pitching !!! iono iono
The Sox picked up 2B/3B Taylor Motter, DFAd by Rockies. Formerly in Rays, Twins org. He was recently called up from AAA, but was only 3-20 in 13 games for Rockies. There’s a chance he could be added to the Boston roster this weekend with the holes now on the team. Looks like a depth plug in rather than a solution to 2B.
In AAA this year his line was .335/.460/.759 with 24 homers and 13 doubles.
What an unimpressive lineup!
Sitting lefties Verdugo and Duran with a lefty arm for Rays out there. Sounds analytical until you ask Santana of all people, to do righty swings.
Sox with some 1st inning fireworks. I hope it's not like last night where they go most of the rest of the game without scoring.
Wow, do my eyes deceive me? Wifey and I went for a walk and I come back to 4-0 Sox and E-Rod still pitching in the 5th with a sub-60 pitch count? How'd this happen?
The top of the order has done the damage. But in bizarre times as these, the bottom of the order is hitless, but Santana and Arauz have drawn 4 walks between them and scored half the Sox runs. Just as Cora scripted. iono iono
Raffy is losing his cool over nothing. He missed that pitch cleanly. He's gonna be embarrassed when he watches the replays.
Actually I am pleasantly surprised. Lopez's bunt led to run.
Not that I miss him, but what happened to OB tonight?
Richards done good. Got them out of that jam.
Quote from: markj on September 02, 2021, 08:08:56 PM
Not that I miss him, but what happened to OB tonight?
Doing football this weekend.
Quote from: Schloicka on September 02, 2021, 08:28:04 PM
Quote from: markj on September 02, 2021, 08:08:56 PM
Not that I miss him, but what happened to OB tonight?
Doing football this weekend.
American football? Really? For what channel?
Quote from: Schloicka on September 02, 2021, 08:28:04 PM
Quote from: markj on September 02, 2021, 08:08:56 PM
Not that I miss him, but what happened to OB tonight?
Doing football this weekend.
OB should do more football. This new guy is easier to listen to.
Quote from: markj on September 02, 2021, 08:33:40 PM
Quote from: Schloicka on September 02, 2021, 08:28:04 PM
Quote from: markj on September 02, 2021, 08:08:56 PM
Not that I miss him, but what happened to OB tonight?
Doing football this weekend.
American football? Really? For what channel?
Not sure but he does a lot of college football, I know he does a lot of southeastern schools and he may be doing the East Carolina vs App State game tonight.
Quote from: markj on September 02, 2021, 07:34:38 PM
Wow, do my eyes deceive me? Wifey and I went for a walk and I come back to 4-0 Sox and E-Rod still pitching in the 5th with a sub-60 pitch count? How'd this happen?
I was hiking all afternoon and the MLB app wasn’t working well with the car so I just tuned in a little while ago. Pleasant surprise to see them shutting down the Rays and actually producing some runs.
Wow, almost like a real baseball team. Only two pitchers used and they scored some runs. I thought sure they'd get swept this series and here they go and split it and make me look bad.
Red Sox blank the Rays 4 - 0.
GOOD, solid pitching from E-Rod and Richards.
Some timely hits.
Good win.
Split the series with the Rays.
A true moral victory.
10 players on the COVID list.
Dare I say, feeling a bit hopeful . . .
Fantastic win!. They looked like the team in April and May. Everyone played well. ERod and Richards were superb! A shutout! There is life in the "Olde Town Team" yet
Quote from: markj on September 02, 2021, 09:07:49 PM
Wow, almost like a real baseball team. Only two pitchers used and they scored some runs. I thought sure they'd get swept this series and here they go and split it and make me look bad.
Well I didn't take the bet that
would have added one year to my life because I didn't think Rodriguez would do squat AGAIN, BUT HE DID. IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE HOW DIFFERENT RICHARDS IS IN RELIEF. HE DEMANDED TO BE A STARTER BUT IT SEEMS HE MIGHT HAVE FOUND HIMSELF IN THE BULLPEN. WILL HE SEE THE LIGHT OR START BITCHING ABOUT STARTING AGAIN. HE'S BEEN VERY GOOD IN THE PEN AND WE WON A GOOD GAME TONIGHT---SPLIT A SERIES WHERE MANY OF THOUGHT WE WOULD GO 0 FOR 4.
I think that was ERod's game of the year and another steady BP arm to boot. Good sign going into the playoffs (?). The team seems to be held togehter with chewing gum and tape along the infield. Heard they are trying out Dalbec and Devers at SS. Better news for Kike' and Arroyo returning soon.
Quote from: BoSoxFanNY on September 02, 2021, 09:10:00 PM
Red Sox blank the Rays 4 - 0.
GOOD, solid pitching from E-Rod and Richards.
Some timely hits.
Good win.
Split the series with the Rays.
A true moral victory.
10 players on the COVID list.
Dare I say, feeling a bit hopeful . . .
YES & DE-DE , RED SOX WIN , WIN, WIN !!!!!! As DAD would say , "SON, HOW ABOUT OUR RED SOX " !!!! thumb_u thumb_u rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl
There's word that Sale is in the ear of our pitchers to really to start grinding this week.
Quote from: Sea Dog 23 on September 03, 2021, 07:54:43 AM
There's word that Sale is in the ear of our pitchers to really to start grinding this week.
given how the whole staff gathered while he was throwing in the bullpen a couple of weeks ago, I would think his words carry a lot of weight. The team seemed distracted for the past month. Are they moving past it? Time will tell.
Saw an interesting stat this morning. The Yankees had a great August, at one point winning 13 in a row - and they still lost ground to the A's. The same article was also talking about how the A's are just so deep and that they're 25th man is better than any other 25th man and the 20-24 guys are better than anyone else's 20-24 guys.
This might sound ridiculous but I kind of like the team the Sox put out there the last couple games. Sure there was no Kiki Or Xman or Arroyo or whom ever but could it be the Sox sometimes have to many GOOD players that the lineup gets juggled to often to get everyone playing time? Ride with these guys a couple more games and see what happens. Plus I think Sale coming back has helped the pitching staff because of his attitude.
Quote from: Schloicka on September 03, 2021, 08:30:13 AM
This might sound ridiculous but I kind of like the team the Sox put out there the last couple games. Sure there was no Kiki Or Xman or Arroyo or whom ever but could it be the Sox sometimes have to many GOOD players that the lineup gets juggled to often to get everyone playing time? Ride with these guys a couple more games and see what happens. Plus I think Sale coming back has helped the pitching staff because of his attitude.
The thing this team has lacked all year long has been leadership. Despite the media's best efforts to annoiint Bogaerts as that guy, he simply does not have the personality for the job as much as he may try. Sale clearly does. Schwarber however may also emerge as a natural leader. He reminds me of Mike Napoli.
Quote from: Schloicka on September 03, 2021, 08:30:13 AM
This might sound ridiculous but I kind of like the team the Sox put out there the last couple games. Sure there was no Kiki Or Xman or Arroyo or whom ever but could it be the Sox sometimes have to many GOOD players that the lineup gets juggled to often to get everyone playing time? Ride with these guys a couple more games and see what happens. Plus I think Sale coming back has helped the pitching staff because of his attitude.
Agree. The guys that have been brought up are so thankful to be playing in the Big Leagues.
They bring an energy and passion to the game.
I wish all our players good health.
May they come back stronger AND with opening up the rosters in
September - Hope we keep the players that have proved themselves on the field.
Good point on Schwarber. Lack of leadership is an issue. Guys who could have been leaders like JDM or E-Rod are sulkers. Eovaldi is more into himself than anything. Nobody else on the pitching staff would command respect other than Sale. Scwharber reminds me of Varitek in some ways but I like the Napoli comparison. He's going to struggle at 1B but seems to be picking it up pretty well.
I'm not sure I'd want to run with this team as constucted because there are so many holes. Santana is just not a good ballplayer. Arauz may have some potential. Poor Lopez is way overmatched. I liked having Renfro up near the top of the lineup and Schwarber too is an onbase machine. If Bogey, Devers and JDM can click they'd be okay but the offense is built around them and they haven't been big in the clutch.
Quote from: Sea Dog 23 on September 03, 2021, 07:54:43 AM
There's word that Sale is in the ear of our pitchers to really to start grinding this week.
We know all about Sale's competitive spirit and will and desire to win. We saw that in the 2018 WS in LA when he went ballistic in the 7th inning with us behind 4-0 and looking like death warmed over. Well it seemed we came alive after that and got nine runs in those final three frames and went on from there. I hope the pitchers are listening to him because the team now has to pull together. We may still have a chance for a playoff berth.
Quote from: longgame on September 03, 2021, 10:21:06 AM
Good point on Schwarber. Lack of leadership is an issue. Guys who could have been leaders like JDM or E-Rod are sulkers. Eovaldi is more into himself than anything. Nobody else on the pitching staff would command respect other than Sale. Scwharber reminds me of Varitek in some ways but I like the Napoli comparison. He's going to struggle at 1B but seems to be picking it up pretty well.
I'm not sure I'd want to run with this team as constucted because there are so many holes. Santana is just not a good ballplayer. Arauz may have some potential. Poor Lopez is way overmatched. I liked having Renfro up near the top of the lineup and Schwarber too is an onbase machine. If Bogey, Devers and JDM can click they'd be okay but the offense is built around them and they haven't been big in the clutch.
And they are not leaders in any sense of the word and no amount of fake anointing are going to make X or Rafey that. JDM could be one though. He was front and center in 2018 coaching the hitters in the dugout and in the clubhouse but he seems to be disjointed right now. A slugging Martinez might be just what the doctor has ordered for a strong September push. But will he rise to the occasion?
I think JD is more a hitting mentor than a leader. No knock on those guys, it's just not their personality type. I think JD is into him and being a hitter. I can see Verdugo growing into a leader if he can mature and maintain his excitement. Another guy with potential is Hunter Renfroe. He just really seems to have a lot on the ball.
A funny thing happened these last two nights. The happy, care-free youthful glow disappeared from the Rays' faces in the dugout.
Another blow was dealt to analytics baseball this week. Twice, Cora stayed with the hot effective pitcher instead of needlessly removing him worked. I was shocked and happy as a clam when we came back from commercials to see Richards on the hill in the 9th. We lose him for a few games, but that's one guy and one win. One BIG win.
Richards also made tomorrow and the night after easier. Having Ottavino warm up and get close to being ready my have cost us his services for tonight, but I still like the move. Let's Richards know the team has his back and to just pitch.
I'll man up and state that I agreed with Fred, for the record. I had my doubts about erod. I'm probably 0-for-26 this year when predicting his starts. Anyone else reminded of another Southpaw the Sox had that was an enigma at times? #37?
At any rate, I enjoyed seeing this good pitching thing the last couple of days.
He was not a pitcher but the biggest enigma who wore 37 was my favorite player the late Jimmy Piersall.