Dominikk85

Well cease was missing sliders by 3 feet. He threw a few good ones too but he was missing so many that it is understandable that grandal didn't want to fall back 3-0. Calling games is not just theory, sometimes a pitcher doesn't have the feel for a pitch and then you have to go with plan B even if it can mean that you get nuked.

His slider is good when he can locate it. The FB is not good, he tried to do the modern high FB thing but it doesn't have the lift of for example Giolitos FB and gets hit hard at the top of the zone.

Yeah the start wasn't great but it is super early. Remember last year when the team started 1-4 and then went on to win 35 games (94 win pace) despite having Ricky and a very bad last week? Yes the team has some holes but once moncada, Abreu, Anderson, grandal and hopefully Vaughn start to hit this is going to be a good offense even if Robert struggles a bit. Also the pen has been very bad giving up runs every game and this should change too as this is a talented group. Yes, the backend of the rotation and the bench are suspect but it was last year too when they were quite successful. I'm very optimistic this is going to be a 90+ win team.

That game is double A quality of play by both teams. No command pitchers, terrible defense and bad at bats.

Tight zone

Ohtani now all over the place

Who is playing center then though?

He is the only interesting thing happening in this game so far, his teammates aren't doing that much either.

Ohtani command not great either but stuff is very good

Both sides though, last two innings cease gave up a lot of crushed balls at people in the outfield. But an out is an out

Cease slider is good, he just needs to locate it

Yeah, I think it is mental, he never was a super fine command pitcher but yanking sliders wide 3 feet is in the head. Fortunately just two runs, Sox can make that up but cease needs to stabilize

Cease got away with a meatball there.

Robert is true. Abreu would hurt a lot but you could put Vaughn in there. For short there is just no good replacement on the roster or in the system. For CF that is of course true too.

Ohtani has a bit of trouble with his breaking ball grip, a few got away

Hope it is not so bad. Sox can replace anyone except for Giolito and Anderson.

Well the next month there is no Milb anyway so it makes no difference for his playing time. So why send him down when there is no minor league until may? I also don't think he will only play once a week, I think he will play around 4-5 times a week and if he starts hitting probably more.

How? Don't see a delete button

Double

I'm not at all worried about Vaughn long term and even short term but I don't quite understand why he was brought up on opening day. He murdered the first two weeks of spring but the last two weeks when pitchers noticed that the better pitch him away he was just OK and didn't do that much damage and strikeouts increased too. That is no knock on him, he barely has any high minors experience and only had simulated at bats last year but the way yermin and collins had been hitting they could have easily taken that extra year of control. I think he will adjust this year already and be OK but I'm not sure if he is already dominant enough to absolutely need him in the lineup. Maybe if yermin keeps hitting and he has not turned it around by end of April send him down a month to triple A to get the extra year. I still think he will be OK and get his first hit soon but I think currently his power is mostly on the inside of the plate and he is a bit challenged away. In college and the minors he could just wait for his pitch but in mlb pitchers can throw away consistently and I think until he improves that he is more of a. 275 with 20 Homers guy who occasionally destroys a mistake. But if he improves on driving the outside pitch too he can be really dangerous and be a 30+ Homer hitter.

What are you smoking, that was a great at bat, took several balls below the zone and then ripped a line drive at someone.

I understand the argument but how often does a catcher have to be taken out of a game due to injury reasons? 2 times a year, maybe 3? I wouldn't care about losing the DH for a couple innings of 2 or 3 games a year if that much, that risk imo doesn't warrant carrying a third catcher.

Heaney has pretty good strikeout to Walk ratios (last year 21st in K-bb%), he just gives up nukes. Even this game he struck out 4 in 3 innings which is good but giving up a granny doesn't help.

Yeah a switch hitter doesn't have to be equally good off both sides as most lefty hitters hit terrible against LHP. He just has to be OK against lefties.

Come on people, way too early to write off the offense after 2 innings. Heaney is a good strikeout pitcher but he is susceptible to the long ball and the Sox will get to him. Congrats to yermin on his first hit.