GAME #157 - TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 - BOSTON RED SOX @ BALTIMORE ORIOLES

[markj]

7:05PM Eastern

Red Sox

Chris Sale (L)

1. Enrique Hernandez (R) CF
2. Hunter Renfroe (R) RF
3. Rafael Devers (L) 3B
4. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS
5. J.D. Martinez (R) DH
6. Kyle Schwarber (L) LF
7. Bobby Dalbec (R) 1B
8. Jose Iglesias (R) 2B
9. Christian Vazquez (R) C

Orioles

Bruce Zimmermann (L)

1. Cedric Mullins (L) CF
2. Ryan Mountcastle (R) 1B
3. Austin Hays (R) RF
4. Trey Mancini (R) DH
5. Pedro Severino (R) C
6. Ryan McKenna (R) LF
7. Pat Valaika (R) SS
8. Jahmai Jones (R) 2B
9. Kelvin Gutierrez (R) 3B

Gametime Temp: 75°F
Chance of Precip: 11%

[Sea Dog 23]

This is an ongoing saga it appears, every game.  The way they are handling Sale, he's good for 5 or 6 innings, then they turn it over to the bullpen.  Again, what in the world could happen there?

Maybe a brighter day ahead, Whitlock is feeling almost up to par, and could see action out of the pen again Wed or THurs.

[longgame]

Then again, Taylor to the DL.  The real problem here is that even with decent starts this bullpen has been in disarray following Barnes' disintegration.  No roles, nobody good at whatever role they get placed in. 

[longgame]

This is interesting:

If the Blue Jays take 2 of 3 from the Yankees and sweep the O’s, the Yankees take 2 of 3 from the Rays, and the Red Sox win 4 of 6 against Baltimore and Washington, there will be a three-way tie for two AL wild card spots.

There's actually a scenario where we could have a 5 way tie with Seattle and Oakland in the mix too.  Could be a lot of play-in games to make it to one playoff game!

[Sea Dog 23]

This is interesting:

If the Blue Jays take 2 of 3 from the Yankees and sweep the O’s, the Yankees take 2 of 3 from the Rays, and the Red Sox win 4 of 6 against Baltimore and Washington, there will be a three-way tie for two AL wild card spots.

There's actually a scenario where we could have a 5 way tie with Seattle and Oakland in the mix too.  Could be a lot of play-in games to make it to one playoff game!

Yes, far away on the west coast, Seattle has been on a roll.  Now the hottest team in the AL, having won 8 of last 10 (I think one of the losses was to Boston?). After the current series with the A's, they finish up with the Angels.  They are only 1 1/2 games behind Boston for the second wild card spot.  One certainty, the Rays would not welcome a coming series with Mariners.  They have not won a game with Mariners all year, either 0-5 or 0-6.

Like Ted says, it could be a tangle of teams after the next 5-6 games.

[longgame]

Quite a pickle when it comes to 2B.  They simply have to play Iglesias as he's the better player, but they also need Arroyo ready for any postseason activity.

[Sea Dog 23]

Sale pitching a good one.  In the 5th, 0 runs, 1 hit, 64 pitches.  But the Sox have provided him only one run on two hits, a Schwarber homer.

[markj]

Sox need to stop relying on an HR as their only goal at every AB. Two solo dingers tonight. Get some base runners and stop swinging for the fences all the time.

[markj]

Sale gives up a 2-run dinger. Game tied. That's what happens when you have base runners.

[markj]

Sale's having himself a hissy fit on the mound.

[markj]

Sox are just pathetic. Raffy with a blown throw to first prolongs the inning, and the O's take advantage. Sox down 4-2. It's like they just want to play out the string and go golfing.

[longgame]

I just keep thinking how we’ll be talking about The Epic Collapse of 2021 for a long time.  Win three games and the worst case is you gain 2 games on one of the teams in the race and 1 on the other. 

As we heard Sunday night repeatedly, the guys are ¨relaxed¨.  I hope they had time to make tee times for next week.  Maybe they need to wake up. 

[markj]

What a sorry performance.

[markj]

On the bright side, if they blow the WC, at least they won't get embarrassed by getting their butts kicked in a one-game playoff.

[SeaBeachFred]

TO ME IT IS THE BEST CHANCE WE HAVE OF GETTING CORA AND HIS HORSE DUNG OVER MANAGING FIRED.  HE NEEDS TO GO.  THIS COLLAPSE MAY DO IT. And this is a collapse that will rank a little below that of 2011.  We have disgraced ourselves and heads must roll.  This is now very shitty team and if Prune Face is not going to open up his friggin wallet he should sell the team and hand it over to someone who will spend the money it takes to get the winning type players that will restore our respect.  And as Isaid the other day we do not deserve to make the playoffs.