CaliSoxFanViaSWside

3 of the 1st 5 LHH, should get an early idea of how effective Dunning is going to be. Once through the lineup is all I want from Dunning with 1 run allowed. Then turn it over to a LHP probably Crochet to get us through or close to 5. The rest is up to Heuer, Foster, Bummer , Marshall and Colome.

That's especially tricky when you have a guy like Tim moving up in the box to try to catch pitches before they break or sink too much or get them while they are still higher since curves sliders and sinkers from a good pitcher all have late break downward.

I was advocating a trade heavily at the deadline to get a starting pitcher mostly and a reliever since at that time Bummer was injured. I'm not upset they didn't do it because of the nature of this season. The off season though will be different. Too many here take it for granted that playoffs are automatic for the next 3 years but as much as I want to believe that I can't .That's why I wanted to take advantage of actually being in the playoffs this year. I thought maybe with one more starting pitcher we could win it all. Each season is it's own animal. If next season ends up being a short season then it's terrible for the rebuild since we are already having doubts about how much Jerry will allow Hahn to spend and for all minor league players across the country. There has to be a minor league season next year. Add in those expenses and Jerry could be pinching pennies like we have never seen if there's still no fans allowed in stadiums.

Either way if things go sour you are 2nd guessed.

Stepping into the box for creating a strike zone doesn't work if sensors are doing that. There's a difference between when you walk into the box and your batting stance. Ricky Henderson hit from a crouch and got a lot of walks because of it. His strike zone would have been much larger if it was based on the actual height of his knees and upper body . It's also difficult to gauge if lets say the hitter stays at the back of the batters box a pitch with sink might be at the knees as it hits the front of the plate but below the knees by the time it reaches the batter. Many times those types of pitches are strikes but catchers end up catching them really low and they look like easy Ball calls to us at home. Every player may have to be brought in and told to take his normal batting stance and make sure its not much different than it is on film and then measure the height of his lowest and highest points on his body that are considered strikes. Players will definitely try to cheat an auto ump by trying to make their strike zone smaller that's why players need to be measured ahead of time and double checked against how they normally bat. That box on the TV during games we see now isn't all that accurate. I've seen plenty of batters where the top of that box is below the waist of the hitter especially on Madrigal. I doubt that the lowest and highest point are adjusted much during the game but it should be just for a more accurate assessment of balls and strikes for the announcers and fans who rely way too heavily on it. I think the width is ok since that cannot change since its based on the width of the plate but the height of the lowest and highest strikes should change from batter to batter.

Of course if we can get Eloy at DH I'll take that and sit Leury for Mazara but at this point Eloy playing looks grim.

I like these guys. They have the most epic Christmas song ever however they are a Boston band but for mood it's good.

Well if they start Fiers Mazara pretty much now has to be in there for either EE at DH or Leury in RF. If you want as many LHH as possible you leave Leury in RF again and DH Mazara.

Actually his last outing of the season was 1.2 innings, no hits, no walks, 1 K against the Cubs so there is one for this season.

Playing the Yankees is a dream scenario ! That means we win game 3 and beat Houston too. Then we're 1 step away from being in the World Series. I'll take that "nightmare scenario" every time.

I'm glad you brought these things up. This is no easy decision. Can the Sox really start Crochet ? He's supposed to have nerves of steel but a guy starting who hasn't started but 1 college game in the last year ? In order to win It might be necessary to have at least one guy go 3-4 innings . That will have to be one of the starters. Cease was used today so that kinda leaves Dunning. If you plan to use a bunch of guys 1 or 2 innings that's asking a lot of different guys to be on their game or you risk running out of quality guys too early. You can't just pull guys at the 1st sign of trouble. I know it's win or go home so game 3 is priority one but at some point this post season Dunning and Cease will have to start a game. If Cordero isn't used tomorrow then are you afraid to also use Fry or Rodon ? Do you use Foster, Heuer, Bummer, Crochet and try to get 2 innings out of each one leaving Marshall in reserve if one of the 1st 4 has to be pulled early ? What if 2 get pulled early ? This is not that easy of a call to make. The offense showing up early will be a big factor. If you start Foster is it then alternate LH/RH after that or do you try to sneak in Fry or Rodon to piggyback on Crochet depending on how many runs the Sox score or try to save Crochet/Bummer for late innings ?

In order to win It might be necessary to have at least one guy go 3-4 innings . That will have to be one of the starters. Cease was used today so that kinda leaves Dunning. If you plan to use a bunch of guys 1 or 2 innings that's asking a lot of different guys to be on their game or you risk running out of quality guys too early. You can't just pull guys at the 1st sign of trouble. I know it's win or go home so game 3 is priority one but at some point this post season Dunning and Cease will have to start a game. If Cordero isn't used tomorrow then are you afraid to also use Fry or Rodon ? Do you use Foster, Heuer, Bummer, Crochet and try to get 2 innings out of each one leaving Marshall in reserve if one of the 1st 4 has to be pulled early ? What if 2 get pulled early ? This is not that easy of a call to make. The offense showing up early will be a big factor. If you start Foster is it then alternate LH/RH after that or do you try to sneak in Fry or Rodon to piggyback on Crochet depending on how many runs the Sox score ?

I believe it's important to start the game with a RH or LH so then the A's counter with their lineup against the opener. Then after the opener pitch a guy who throws with the opposite hand for as long as he can go. Hopefully you grab the lead early and you force the A's into changing their lineup and use their bench to try to get back in the game in the middle innings and lessening their options for the later innings.

Barring anything unexpected it has to be Dunning.

What is wrong with you???

Goose -fra -brahhhh.....

None .

This was the one I wanted to see in here. It was on my MLB app on my TV. Good one !

So of he getss a hit in the 1st inning you run for him and put the other guy in anyway so you waste a bench piece pinch running for him then another by putting EE at DH for the rest of the game. Not good , no one would do that if it happened in the 1st inning.

Nope PH usually means 1 AB .DH means hitting possibly 4 times and running bases every time you get on base. See the differene for a guy who can't run well ?

No Eloy no Mazara vs a righty even over EE or Leury. There you have it. Nomore Mazara. It's official.

I know your point, I just disagree. Moncada, McCann and Madrigal also went 0 fer yesterday. That doesnt mean they were wrong moves. The only way to get unrusty is get your hacks in and Leury did that and needs more. Howevet if Mazara plays and does well Ill be happy. How has Mazara done against Bassitt in the past ?

I don't like it. He had his shot. Im very intuitive about these things.

Leury is faster than Mazara.

Im pretty sure he means alternate being the home team while in Oakland.