CaliSoxFanViaSWside

For all those who complain about adding washed up wets and who also complained about picking up McCann you're point about him is well taken. Hahn could've went with a veteran catcher and most of the FA catchers who were going to be cheap 1 year acquisitions were anywhere from 30-36 years old. I made the point when we acquired him that at least he was the youngest catcher of the group and often catchers develop hitting skills late which made him a much better choice than the vets. It didn't guarantee that he would have a good season but he was close to the best choice. He is solid defensively and the Sox definitely needed that and so far the hitting has been stellar. He's likely to regress to career norms but he might put up a career year also.

Yeah I really thought it would be a bigger story . It was actually the last game highlight the MLB network showed on their nightly show ( MLB Tonight ) recapping all the games. I was "Really 20 K's is dead last in the highlight reel ?"

You're going to have a long wait. Every year half the team would be DFA'd and all the coaches and all FO people gone if we go by "premature, un-researched, off-the-cuff. thoughtless" remarks.

I was because I'm objective . I think the rest of these that I put in the multi-quote are all letting pessimism into their views (yes u too Lip) not to mention trying to fudge the predictions by waiting til after the 0-2 start.

I can keep saying it and do you know why ? I have not once seen you mention how strong an outfielders arm might be. A strong throw from lets say straightaway left field is a relatively easy throw to make. How long do you think a good throw takes from the warning track to 2nd base ? A few seconds 2? 2.5 ?. 3 ? How long does it takes for Tim to tag up starting from 1st with no momentum to reach 2nd base . Perhaps it is the same amount of time. Perhaps it is greater or less time. The last thing you risk in that situation is a DP which prevents the tying run from scoring. Primary goal . Tie the game. Secondary goal, get Timmy into scoring position. It's simply risk aversion. Do not risk the primary goal for a secondary goal. If you can show me stats that indicate every single throw will not beat Andersons time to 2nd base starting from a dead stop then I will concede .

Sorry Ray I have a hard time blaming Abreu when he did the best possible thing in that situation which is hitting a 3 run HR that in most situation puts your team up by 2 runs. Yes some of the blame lies with Abreu because you're right he shouldn't be passing up the base runner. But he deserves the least amount of blame . There are reasons why in that situation the Tim should go halfway which I have outlined many times and won't bother to rehash. However I have asked an outside source to read the thread and give me his opinion. His family runs an instruction baseball clinic online and I have asked him to read the thread and give me his opinion. I don't know if he will or not. I just have a hard time accepting some of the other arguments that that ignore the possibility that the ball might remain in the field of play and not be caught because he thinks it's either a HR or going to be caught completely ignoring the very real chance that high flies balls are not always caught at the wall . We see highlights of that kind of thing happening every night . It is not as simple as you say it is. In that situation 1st and foremost the tying run needs to score from 3rd is also Baseball 101.

SO let's also look at this from the 3 possible outcomes if Tim goes halfway 1. Its a HR. Tim goes halfway and there's no problem. it's 3 run HR and the Sox lead 12-10 .A good thing 2. The one you ignored. The ball is not caught. Tim goes halfway to 2nd. and makes it to third or even scores depending on how quickly the OF recovers the ball. The tying run scores from 3rd . Tim possibly scores from 1st. Maybe he is thrown out at home but at least the score is tied with the possible outcome being at 3rd or scoring pretty good by going halfway. 3. The ball is caught. Moncada jogs home with the tying run. Tim goes back to 1st base. The game is now tied with a speedy runner who can steal on 1st. also a good thing. Now lets look at the outcomes if Tim tried to tag. up. 1. It's a HR but Abreu doesn't see Tim because he is watching the ball and looking to touch 1st base . Abreu loses a HR . The Sox lose a run and an out and have a 1 run lead instead of 2. Oh look the Tigers scored 1 run to tie it up in the top of the 8th and it's anybody's game now. Not a great thing. In fact it's a terrible thing. You make the point of making fun of me because I present you with the fact that it happened before but it happened to us that day. And it's tragically comically bad and couldv'e been prevented by Timmy going halfway. 2. The one you ignored.The ball is not caught . Tim is at 1st so the fielder recovers the ball quickly and he only makes it to 2nd base. The tying run scores from 3rd now 2 outs. The OF doesn't catch it. He falls against the wall the ball bounces away and Timmy makes it to 3rd base . Definitely not as good a result as the same situation with Timmy going halfway. An extra 45+ft. is a lot better advantage when running the bases on a ball not caught. 3. The ball is caught. Timmy tags up and is thrown out at 2nd base before Moncada scores from 3rd. The worst possible outcome. Double play inning over no runs scored, still down a run. It's also possible Timmy could be thrown out but Moncada scores. Also possible Moncada scores and Timmy is safe at 2nd and in scoring position. Now tell me which of the the 2 groups of three would you prefer? I didn't guess at anything. All I did was list possible outcomes. Seems like an easy choice . The 1st group of 3 is the better option. It contains the best possible outcome. The 2nd group contains the worst possible outcome The 1st group the tying run always scores. The 2nd group the tying run might not score. The 1st group the Sox still lead when the Tigers score 1 run in the 8th. The 2nd group that 1 run either ties or puts the Tigers ahead.

I can't believe I actually have to explain this to you two again. I will make it as simple as I can for you. The primary goal is to win the game. I think we can agree on that. 1st and 3rd 1 out bottom of the 7th inning down by 1 run. What is the primary goal is that situation ? To score the the tying run of course. You cannot win the game unless you first tie it. Anything that jeopardizes tying the game is not a judgement call. I don't care how fast Tim is. I don't care how high the ball was hit and if you think there's some 99% chance it either going out or being caught. How many times do you have to see an outfielder mis-time his jump , or have some part of his body like his back or shoulder hit the wall preventing him from reaching an apex on that jump? How many times do you have to see a ball go in and out of a glove when a fielder hits the wall to understand that not making the catch is a very real possibility. Would we like to see Tim tag on on a caught ball and get the potential go ahead run into scoring position.? Yes we do but not at the expense of the tying run. If that tying run does not score you might not ever get the chance to win the game, Go half way like the situation dictates and since there is a much better than 1 % chance that the ball is not caught that potential go ahead run gets to 2nd easily or 3rd or even home . Tagging up is a judgement call negated by the fact that it risks the tying run from scoring. Have we seen that happen also . Yes we have. You are making a judgement call saying that ball was either being caught or a HR . The fact that you used hyberbole to try to strengthen you argument is a huge flaw when you ignore the fact that there is an in between choice that the ball could be over the fence, a fielder gets his glove on it but doesn't catch it. That is not your call to make. All I did was present facts. I did not make anything up. The situation the inning, the outs, the score the fact that the ball will be a HR, caught or not caught are all facts. You make up your own facts. That ball is either going out or being caught is not a fact it is your guess. Timmy being too fast to be doubled up and preventing the tying run from scoring is a guess not a fact. So my facts take precedent over your guesses. Tie the game 1st then worry about winning it. You cannot win what you 1st can not tie. Sure lets just throw all those years of baseball knowledge away that says in that situation you go halfway. Let's glorify the individual doing his thing based on your guesswork and risk that tying run from scoring. Yea that makes sense. Abreu did the best thing he could possibly do in that situation. He hit a 3 run HR to put his team up by 2 runs. How can you possibly blame him ?? So again learn baseball and think . Don't guess.

Not solid ? They are indisputable. As a runner those are your choices. You don't say oh it's hit high so it's either going to be caught or go out. If it's that close to going out that means an OF might have to jump to catch it near the top of the wall. That is not 99% guarantee that he catches it . Far from it in fact. You stick by yours . I stick by mine and agree to disagree. 3 reasons not to tag up in a 1 out men on 1st and 3rd situation is about as solid as you get. The situation and 150+ years of time tested baseball knowledge warrants it not how high the ball is hit and some mythical 99% chance you made up.

Actually nothing is risk free. What's more important the runner scoring the tying run from 3rd or Tim risking a DP? There's your answer. With no outs sure go ahead I suppose though you risk losing the extra bases if its not caught and also risk the HR hitter passing you if it goes out. This is the 3rd time it's happened since 2016 and each time it was because the runner stayed or went back to tag up.

Oh I know Abreu took the blame but Stone's a pitcher . What does he know about base running? I think those 3 reasons I gave are pretty solid and indisputable why you don't tag up in that particular situation.

Sox pitchers with 18 K's with 3 outs still to go.

Yes it does because you still have the other 2 reasons not to do it. Why even take the chance that you get thrown out with a runner on 3rd who will score easily ?

That will work !

Let's light up Framer, It's the 7th inning so time to score runs.

I'm just glad RR didn't put Engel in yet. Too early for him . Might still need Rondon's bat.

#Tigers

Rey might be getting a bit tired. Get the last ou and call it a day. Let the BP give up the lead.

Not sure if thats right. The HR he hit the other day was up and away. Like most hitters once behind in the count they are vulnerable to down and away breaking pitches.

Time to rack up some hits Sox . Don't wait til the BP gives up some runs to come alive.

RR ejected .Any reason ? Arguing balls and strikes maybe ?

Rey pumping up the volume on the 4 seamer when he gets behind in the count. 4 seamer anywhere from 92.8 to 97.5

Seems as though Rey Rey got his K pitches working.

I thought it was superstition since the last one worked so well .

I was wondering if that would happen. It was hinted at in Spring Training but I don't remember him being in the OF for any ST games.