Around the MLB 2018

[JN]

Intriguing move by Francona. The total opposite of the spectrum to Buck's use of Britton. He brings in one of his 2 big bullets, Andrew Miller in the fifth with a 4-3 lead in the fifth, to try to keep the pressure on Boston in the middle of the game.

Can a top reliever be used in different roles during a season / series, where the use makes sense in each game. It's never been really tried, but logically it makes sense. But I wonder if a reliver can keep that mindset.


EDIT - Brock Holt starts it off with a double.

[Noobslife]

Intriguing move by Francona. The total opposite of the spectrum to Buck's use of Britton. He brings in one of his 2 big bullets, Andrew Miller in the fifth with a 4-3 lead in the fifth, to try to keep the pressure on Boston in the middle of the game.

Can a top reliever be used in different roles during a season / series, where the use makes sense in each game. It's never been really tried, but logically it makes sense. But I wonder if a reliver can keep that mindset.


EDIT - Brock Holt starts it off with a double.

Isnt' it too soon? I mean...I know this guy is an "utility reliever", but still it's JUST 5th inning.

[GooniesNeverDie]

Boston's offence is so good. love the approach and discipline of their hitters.

[BigLeagueChew]

Intriguing move by Francona. The total opposite of the spectrum to Buck's use of Britton. He brings in one of his 2 big bullets, Andrew Miller in the fifth with a 4-3 lead in the fifth, to try to keep the pressure on Boston in the middle of the game.

Can a top reliever be used in different roles during a season / series, where the use makes sense in each game. It's never been really tried, but logically it makes sense. But I wonder if a reliver can keep that mindset.


EDIT - Brock Holt starts it off with a double.

Isnt' it too soon? I mean...I know this guy is an "utility reliever", but still it's JUST 5th inning.

Their 'closer' is actually Cody Allen but it's nice to have a pitcher like this that can give you multiple innings in high leverage situations.

[JN]

Intriguing move by Francona. The total opposite of the spectrum to Buck's use of Britton. He brings in one of his 2 big bullets, Andrew Miller in the fifth with a 4-3 lead in the fifth, to try to keep the pressure on Boston in the middle of the game.

Can a top reliever be used in different roles during a season / series, where the use makes sense in each game. It's never been really tried, but logically it makes sense. But I wonder if a reliver can keep that mindset.


EDIT - Brock Holt starts it off with a double.

Isnt' it too soon? I mean...I know this guy is an "utility reliever", but still it's JUST 5th inning.

Probably, although Cleveland has a heck of a bullpen beyond Allen/Miller, so I guess Francona sees the 5th and 6th as the most crucial, and then Allen in the 9th I guess.

Don't know if I agree with it, but it is interesting to see an out of the box move. The pitchers have to get 27 outs anyway no matter how you order to them. He gets Miller in for the 2/3/4 hitters.

[BigLeagueChew]

Pomeranz

[RaptorNews]

Man I so badly want the Sox to get knocked out

[Schad]

Pomeranz

Weekly reminder that Drew Pomeranz was traded for Scrabble and the scattered remains of Yonder Alonso's career in the offseason...and Dombrowski gave up a top prospect a mere 17 starts later.

[JN]

Giving that outside corner quite generously to Miller.

[BigLeagueChew]

Pomeranz

Weekly reminder that Drew Pomeranz was traded for Scrabble and the scattered remains of Yonder Alonso's career in the offseason...and Dombrowski gave up a top prospect a mere 17 starts later.

His numbers have predictably spiked since moving to the AL East but alot to pay for a playoff middle reliever if that's what they intended. Or Farrell doesn't trust him over Bucholz but he just used him in a close ball game.

[Schad]

Pomeranz

Weekly reminder that Drew Pomeranz was traded for Scrabble and the scattered remains of Yonder Alonso's career in the offseason...and Dombrowski gave up a top prospect a mere 17 starts later.

His numbers have predictably spiked since moving to the AL East but alot to pay for a playoff middle reliever if that's what they intended. Or Farrell doesn't trust him over Bucholz but he just used him in a close ball game.

They dropped him into relief in the final game of the season against us...they're rolling with Buchholz in Game 3, apparently.

[Noobslife]

Another home run. This game could tie in any moment!

[vaff87]

Where's Yoan Moncada? Is he on the playoff roster?

[RalphWiggum]

Pomeranz

Weekly reminder that Drew Pomeranz was traded for Scrabble and the scattered remains of Yonder Alonso's career in the offseason...and Dombrowski gave up a top prospect a mere 17 starts later.

For Boston if he ends up being the difference nobody cares. They have the cash to cover up trading blue chip prospects for slightly above average players. They almost definitely could've held out for a better player but for a team like them this year it's tough to argue that it was a bad deal. When they made that deal a couple extra wins could easily be the difference between the playoffs and watching from home.

In hindsight it was a bad deal.

[Schad]

For Boston if he ends up being the difference nobody cares. They have the cash to cover up trading blue chip prospects for slightly above average players. They almost definitely could've held out for a better player but for a team like them this year it's tough to argue that it was a bad deal. When they made that deal a couple extra wins could easily be the difference between the playoffs and watching from home.

In hindsight it was a bad deal.

Having cash doesn't really cover for trading blue chip prospects for merely okay players. Had they chosen that route prior to Dombrowski, they would not be here.

[BigLeagueChew]

Where's Yoan Moncada? Is he on the playoff roster?

Doesn't appear to be on it.

Pitchers (11): Matt Barnes , Clay Buchholz , Joe Kelly , Craig Kimbrel , David Price , Drew Pomeranz , Rick Porcello , Eduardo Rodriguez , Robbie Ross Jr., Koji Uehara , Brad Ziegler
Catchers (2): Sandy Leon , Christian Vazquez
Infielders (7): Xander Bogaerts , Marco Hernandez , Aaron Hill , Brock Holt , Dustin Pedroia , Hanley Ramirez , Travis Shaw
Outfielders (4): Jackie Bradley Jr., Andrew Benintendi , Mookie Betts , Chris Young
Designated Hitters (1): David Ortiz

Also no Tazawa, Hanigan or Hembree

[vaff87]

Where's Yoan Moncada? Is he on the playoff roster?

Doesn't appear to be on it.

Pitchers (11): Matt Barnes , Clay Buchholz , Joe Kelly , Craig Kimbrel , David Price , Drew Pomeranz , Rick Porcello , Eduardo Rodriguez , Robbie Ross Jr., Koji Uehara , Brad Ziegler
Catchers (2): Sandy Leon , Christian Vazquez
Infielders (7): Xander Bogaerts , Marco Hernandez , Aaron Hill , Brock Holt , Dustin Pedroia , Hanley Ramirez , Travis Shaw
Outfielders (4): Jackie Bradley Jr., Andrew Benintendi , Mookie Betts , Chris Young
Designated Hitters (1): David Ortiz

All we heard about was how that guy was going to change everything when he was called up. The Red Sox went on a ridiculous run, but him and his 12 strike outs in 20 plate appearances certainly didn't contribute. He has ridiculous speed though, so he still could have been a guy to keep as a pinch runner, I guess.

[JN]

Francona must be thinking that he will push Kluber long in game 2.

[Noobslife]

Hmm...was that the right call?

[Schad]

Shapirobowl moves a step closer.