RED SOX V YANKEES
THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2017, 7 PM AT YANKEE STADIUM
TV: NESN, MLBN, (OUT-OF-MARKET ONLY), YES
BOSTON, (76-57)..........................................................................................NEW YORK, (70-62)
BOSTON:
EDUARDO RODRIGUEZ, LHP, 4-4, 4.19 ERA, 114K
The lefty hasn't been all that impressive since returning from the disabled
list, going 0-2 with a 5.08 ERA in eight starts. Perhaps his luck will change
at Yankee Stadium, where he has thrived in his career, going 2-1 with a 1.38
ERA in four starts.
NEW YORK
CC SABATHIA, LHP, 10-5, 3.8 ERA, 90K
Sabathia has pitched well in two starts since coming off the disabled list,
allowing just three runs in 13 innings. He was drafted and developed by the
Cleveland Indians.
Rival Sox, Yanks open last regular-season set
Brian Hoch
If the Red Sox and the Yankees are to meet after this weekend, it would come under the bright lights of the postseason, as this regular-season series represents the last chance for the storied rivals to gain or make up ground while sharing the same diamond.
Boston and New York will wrap up their season set with a four-game showdown this weekend at Yankee Stadium, beginning with a Thursday evening matchup between left-handers Eduardo Rodriguez and CC Sabathia. The contest will be highlighted as an MLB Network Showcase game.
"I think they're all big any time we play them -- especially right now," Sabathia said. "Chasing them is always a big deal. It's always a big game. We just want to come out and have a good series. It does seem weird that we're not going to play them all of September. I've never been a part of that."
The Red Sox have enjoyed sole possession of first place in the American League East since the end of play on Aug. 1, and they are up by 5 1/2 games after beating the Blue Jays on Wednesday night. New York has control of the first AL Wild Card spot.
"We know this time of year, things are probably magnified a little bit more," said Red Sox manager John Farrell. "We look forward to the intensity of the games because we've been in some real tight ballgames with them. They've been highly competitive. The balance of a game can swing on one particular pitch."
"At this point of the season, you're going to be able to say those are the most important games of the season, because we won't run into them and where we are in the standings," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.
New York has won eight of 15 against Boston this season, though the Sox took four of six from the Yanks during a "rivalry week" in August. The Red Sox outscored the Yankees, 17-12, over three games at Yankee Stadium from Aug. 11-13, then outscored them, 17-11, in three contests at Fenway Park from Aug. 18-20.
"We probably had a chance to win four of the six, and we end up winning two of the six. That's frustrating," Girardi said. "I still think we're playing pretty decent baseball. We need that to continue."
The Yankees had a doubleheader against the Indians on Wednesday afternoon in a stretch that permitted the Yanks to shuffle their rotation to have their four best starters face Boston, with Sabathia pushed back a day.
"Every game now for us is so important," Sabathia said. "This weekend won't be any different. We've just got to go out and try and play well from here on out against whoever we play."
Sabathia has given the Red Sox fits this season, going 3-0 with a 0.90 ERA in three starts against the rivals.
"You know what, you've got to tip your hat to CC," said Farrell. "I'll tell you what, he has evolved over time. He has adjusted based on what Father Time has done. He is a heck of an athlete. He repeats his delivery well. He changes speeds, he manages the lineup extremely well. He never gives in."
THREE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS GAME
• More than 120 pitchers have generated at least 100 batted balls since the All-Star break, and Sabathia leads them all in lowest average exit velocity, at 80.9 mph, according to Statcast. His rate of hard-hit balls allowed (22.6 percent) is fourth lowest during that time.
• Rodriguez was in command of the Yankees the last time he saw them, hurling six scoreless innings of two-hit ball on Aug. 11 in New York. The Yanks rallied for five eighth-inning runs against Boston's bullpen, and Rodriguez is 0-1 with a 6.11 ERA in three starts since then.
• Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez has allowed a combined 53 wild pitches and passed balls, the most in the Major Leagues. Despite that, Girardi has said that he believes Sanchez's defense is improving.
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170830251451886/rival-sox-yanks-open-last-regular-season-set/?game_pk=492094
Red Sox v. Sabathia:
Davis LF,
Nuñez 2B,
Benintendi CF,
Betts RF,
Bogaerts SS,
Devers 3B,
Ramirez 1B,
Young DH,
Vazquez C,
Rodriguez LHP
Bear, just thought I would give you a "shout out/THANK YOU" for all you do....... This/your board is a lot of fun and educational too..... Just wanted to say THANKS..... Go SOX, sweep those YANK$ !! thumb_u rofl
Thanks Bill, I appreciate it. Now I have to
change paragraph under Sabathia. He was drafted by Cleveland.
Quote from: Bear on August 31, 2017, 07:44:28 AM
Thanks Bill, I appreciate it. Now I have to
change paragraph under Sabathia. He was drafted by Cleveland.
Don't change it on my account, as DAD would say.... "SON, if you don't say anything, most people won't pick it up" !! iono rofl
E-Rod needs to get his act together tonight. Sabathia's having some kind of renaissance of sorts this year.
I am hoping for a split of this 4 game series.
Sabathia has pitched well against us this year -
so . . .
Would LOVE to be wrong!
Young in there again. Doesn't Farrell get it yet, Young can't hit worth crap any more and is hitting under 200 against southpaws. He is totally useless and gives away four outs we cannot afford to give That stubborn bastard can still lose the division title for us and Sabathia is the kind of pitcher you need your best hitters in there against him and Young sucks and is not one of them. You would think after what Moreland did last night he'd get a shot at playing against all kinds of pitching. Believe me Farrell can blow this race for us, the very worst manager in the game.
Bases loaded, one out. Xman up. I sense a GIDP coming.
Xman K's without taking a swing. At least the inning is still going.
Sox jump out to an early LOBster lead with 3 in the 1st.
E-rod works his way out of an early jam.
Xman lucks out on what should have been a GIDP. Ends up with an RBI.
E-rod with a cool grab of a line shot and toss to 1st to double off Gardner.
Good thing he doubled off Gardner or it would be 2-1 now instead of tied at 1.
Betts with another blown catch attempt. Probably didn't have a chance on it, but should have played it on a bounce and kept it to a single.
AB gunned down at 2B twice tonight.
Argh. Nunez blows a popup and costs them a run. Really need Pedey back.
Quote from: markj on August 31, 2017, 08:03:09 PM
Argh. Nunez blows a popup and costs them a run. Really need Pedey back.
I think Betts should of called him off but easy to say now.
E-Rod has pitched well tonight. Tough luck inning there.
Quote from: Schloicka on August 31, 2017, 08:04:33 PM
Quote from: markj on August 31, 2017, 08:03:09 PM
Argh. Nunez blows a popup and costs them a run. Really need Pedey back.
I think Betts should of called him off but easy to say now.
Was thinking that as well.
Sox had their best chance in the first inning and blew it.
That's the game unless the Sox can get the better of the Yanks bullpen.
E-rod can't buy an out here.
Quote from: Schloicka on August 31, 2017, 08:13:01 PM
E-Rod has pitched well tonight. Tough luck inning there.
Guess I typed that an inning to early. LOL.
Outs! Get your free outs! Courtesy of the Red Sox. We have outs on the base paths, sure outs that we don't make the plays on, and of course, our specialty, the weak ground ball. We make 37 year old guys look like studs, even when they don't have good stuff.
God this drives me crazy. That bloop hit last inning by Hicks probably would have been grabbed by an actual 1B, Betts should have had the pop up that the scorer called a hit. Then a soft ground ball with a triple clutch before a bad throw. No wonder E-Rod struggled after that.
Ramirez is something like 2 for 20 and Young is 3 for 20 against Sabathia. Are we sure that Moreland and Holt would be any worse?
Nunez is wearing thin on me.
Quote from: markj on August 31, 2017, 08:36:06 PM
Nunez is wearing thin on me.
Nunez is what he is. Never was a great fielder but if you want his bat you get the rest along with it. When Pedroia (if it happens and for how long) comes back put Nunez at DH and let Hanley and Moreland fight it out at 1st base.
Another fine outing by Hembree. slap ::)
Hate to pile on someone who is down, but XB is useless at the plate.
Bases loaded, no outs. Best chance since the 1st inning.
So much for Nunez's bat. Chases way outside the zone for a K.
Walked in a run. Still with bases juiced. Sox could tie it here. If they had clutch hitters.
At least JF yanked XB. Anyone is a better choice.
Oh well. Not in the cards tonight.
Didn't expect to win this game.
DANG IT.
It was a game for a while.
Don't want the Yankees to get back into this AL EAST race.
Yanks have a pretty cushy schedule from here on out, so they could very well climb back into this. Sox need to buckle down and take at least two games of this series.
Quote from: longgame on August 31, 2017, 08:34:08 PM
Outs! Get your free outs! Courtesy of the Red Sox. We have outs on the base paths, sure outs that we don't make the plays on, and of course, our specialty, the weak ground ball. We make 37 year old guys look like studs, even when they don't have good stuff.
God this drives me crazy. That bloop hit last inning by Hicks probably would have been grabbed by an actual 1B, Betts should have had the pop up that the scorer called a hit. Then a soft ground ball with a triple clutch before a bad throw. No wonder E-Rod struggled after that.
Ramirez is something like 2 for 20 and Young is 3 for 20 against Sabathia. Are we sure that Moreland and Holt would be any worse?
You said all there is to say. Tonight Young went hitless again and how many times in a row has that been. Go ahead Farrell. you dumb bastard, keep playing him. Pukegaerts had another 0 for 4. Sound familiar, and Hanley can't hit lefties this year. Does Farrell even see this? And in answer to your question, Moreland would not be any worse than Ramirez or Young. Notice the shit manager actually punched hit for Pukegaerts in the ninth with the bases loaded, two months too late Farrell, you dumb turd. Boy did we stink up the joint tonight; four hits, balls that should have been aught and not caught and now we Betts looking like a clown out in the outfield and pretty pathetic at the plate. These types of games are good reasons why this is a very unlikable team, and one that you can get to hate as they simply cannot sustain any kind of a real streak.
Quote from: markj on August 31, 2017, 09:22:15 PM
Hate to pile on someone who is down, but XB is useless at the plate.
I've said that for the past three months. You aren't surprised, are you. The guy needs to be benched.....fast. He and Young are two turds in a pod and they are killing our team out there.
Quote from: BoSoxFanNY on August 31, 2017, 10:11:22 PM
Didn't expect to win this game.
DANG IT.
It was a game for a while.
Don't want the Yankees to get back into this AL EAST race.
Well as long as Farrell insists on playing that turd Young and that crud Pukegaerts, the Yankees have a good chance to get right back in the race and maybe pass us. Tonight we looked like a team that can get swept and it wouldn't be the first time we got steamrolled in a four game set at Yankee Stadium, and with the worst manager in baseball leading us, the gutter is the limit. Man, I despise that no good bastard.
Just when you think this team can pull out a commanding W like yesterday, you realize it was.....Toronto.
CC was begging the Sox to beat him. And in doing so revealed how mind-numbing this team can be.
List of problems:
1. Bogaerts (what a humiliating descent into nothingness)
2. Betts (BA sinking faster than a cement block in a pond)
3. E-Rod (this guy's toast, sadly. Future lies in the bullpen)
4. Young (off or on. Now mostly off)
5. Rajai Davis (past his prime as a hitter, not a leadoff guy anymore in spite of speed)
6. Benintendi's baserunning (dumb and dumber)
7. Hembree (just filler, mop up)
8. Hanley (Once in a blue moon he'll remind us how much power he has. Once in a blue moon.)
And when Devers is struggling it gets even worse. Nunez and Benintendi are the only reliable hitters on this team. Except the latter can't help himself to free outs on the bases.
I'm surprised we had such a good August considering all the players that had a bad month hitting. Leon .189, Betts .230, Xman .237, Hanley .232, Young .194, Holt .152,
The guys who had OK months were Devers .263 (bad considering his start but probably to be expected), Davis .250, JBJ .254
The 4 that had good months were Vaz .388, Moreland .347, Benintendi .320 and Nunez .297 (he has been sliding lately).
Pedroia only had 4 at bats in which he was 0-4.
With 8 guys hitting around .250 or less I don't see how the Sox are in first. Better hope the overall pitching stays strong.
Quote from: Schloicka on September 01, 2017, 02:50:01 AM
I'm surprised we had such a good August considering all the players that had a bad month hitting. Leon .189, Betts .230, Xman .237, Hanley .232, Young .194, Holt .152,
The guys who had OK months were Devers .263 (bad considering his start but probably to be expected), Davis .250, JBJ .254
The 4 that had good months were Vaz .388, Moreland .347, Benintendi .320 and Nunez .297 (he has been sliding lately).
Pedroia only had 4 at bats in which he was 0-4.
With 8 guys hitting around .250 or less I don't see how the Sox are in first. Better hope the overall pitching stays strong.
This is essentially how I'm feeling. It's exasperating....
Sabathia threw this sound byte out to the press:
Yankees lefty CC Sabathia took exception with Boston's Eduardo Nunez bunting against him in the first inning, calling it "kind of weak" and saying, "It just shows what they got over there."I know he's just firing up the barbs but, on a literal level, I can't say I disagree with him. The lineup is "weak."
As DAD would say, "SON, 4 hits, REALLY"?? BTW, E-ROD is a HEART BREAKER, AKA STIFF !! thumb_d iono slap rofl
Quote from: ipot on September 01, 2017, 02:27:32 AM
Just when you think this team can pull out a commanding W like yesterday, you realize it was.....Toronto.
CC was begging the Sox to beat him. And in doing so revealed how mind-numbing this team can be.
List of problems:
1. Bogaerts (what a humiliating descent into nothingness)
2. Betts (BA sinking faster than a cement block in a pond)
3. E-Rod (this guy's toast, sadly. Future lies in the bullpen)
4. Young (off or on. Now mostly off)
5. Rajai Davis (past his prime as a hitter, not a leadoff guy anymore in spite of speed)
6. Benintendi's baserunning (dumb and dumber)
7. Hembree (just filler, mop up)
8. Hanley (Once in a blue moon he'll remind us how much power he has. Once in a blue moon.)
And when Devers is struggling it gets even worse. Nunez and Benintendi are the only reliable hitters on this team. Except the latter can't help himself to free outs on the bases.
Well said. There are games like this where they just look totally overmatched. The real key is that good pitching exposes the weakness of this lineup. Toronto had good starters too, but the Yankees (and Indians, Astros, name your contender here) also have a reasonable bullpen that we can't expect to beat coming from behind every time.
When are the SOX going to come clean on the extent of Boggey's wrist injury ???
The laughable part of the Sox lineup is Xman had 9 RBI in August (and he's looked at as crappy) and Betts who plays a power position in right field had only 12 RBI in August. That's not very good for someone who people said should be hitting in a RBI position in the lineup. Basically Betts stinks just as much as any one else.
Quote from: Schloicka on September 01, 2017, 12:14:39 PM
The laughable part of the Sox lineup is Xman had 9 RBI in August (and he's looked at as crappy) and Betts who plays a power position in right field had only 12 RBI in August. That's not very good for someone who people said should be hitting in a RBI position in the lineup. Basically Betts stinks just as much as any one else.
Sad as it is to hear you say that, you're right. Betts look like crap warmed over at the plate and when he isn't hitting and fielding he brings nothing to the table. He is not a leader, he has no charisma, and he shuns the spotlight like a live grenade. He is having a crappy year and we should face that sad fact, but I save my biggest barbs for Bogaerts. That guy really stinks and should be benched.
Betts has forgotten to how to swing the bat. He is taking way too many pitches. I have long thought that Betts and others have gotten seduced by their past ability to hit with two strikes. They have carried this working the count to the extreme. Now they find themselves letting too many good pitches early in the count go by.
As for Bogaerts his mechanics are all messed up. When he isn't chopping at the ball he is flinging the bat at it. If he jackknifes his body at one more pitch that is over the plate I'll scream. Both he and Betts have lost their ability to distinguish breaking balls.
Another thing that kills me with these guys are called third strikes on pretty good pitches, a lot of times on pitchers' counts, where you have to be ready to defend a third strike. Several guys watched hittable balls right over the plate for strike 3.
Agreed. Whatever happened to protecting the plate with two strikes.
Quote from: elktonnick on September 01, 2017, 03:39:03 PM
Agreed. Whatever happened to protecting the plate with two strikes.
Of course watching last night it was incredible. After 2 innings it was clear that anything that was starting over the plate wasn't finishing anywhere close to the plate, but our guys bit and hit hard. If the ball started high and hung up in the strike zone, they'd look at it.