My burn is the insane money these guys get paid to throw a baseball. You can either do it well, or go work at Home Depot.
Boneheaded contracts continue to foster players, who have a great year, then think the're superman...enter the player's representative, who closes a whopping deal, then, along comes the kryptonite and they still rake in insane salaries for bush league performance...the game is rife with these bozos.
I have always held the position that a player, according to his years in the game, performance, etc, etc...gets an annual amount of money...THEN, with ample mileposts to reach, and if done so, along comes the mile long Brink's truck to the bank of his wishes.
Here are a few of the more brilliant contracts currently being paid by the Red Sox this year...try not to throw up...some go on and on and on until paid...like El Sapo Gordo. The Fat Lizard.
HanRam...$15 million
Fatty (I'm such a loooozer) Sandoval...f-o-r-t-y s-i-x million He is laughing his aXX off.
Manny, yes, Manny Ramirez...$2.08 million and Manny last wore #24 when? Odd that Price now wears it!!
Pedroia...love ya Peety, BUT...16 million. That 8 year, $110m contract would have found you at 37 yrs old...who plays well at that age?? What if the knee says no mas? Cha Ching for Peety.
Rusney Castillo...11 million
ok, I'm done.
Oops, one more...Holt makes a paltry $2.23m this year. In comparison, he's the deal of the century!!
Sadly, I watched a different team yesterday...totally inept play, especially by Nunez at 3rd. How can a pro ballplayer not have the exchange from glove to hand down to a fine science in such a game??...easy double play toasted. Pitching was horrible, Sale just wasn't Sale. Can't say much for the home plate rookie umpire...first post season assignment, if I understood correctly. His blatantly bad call for strike 3 vs ball 4, which would have walked in run #3, against Benny was shocking!! Clearly, the ball was low and outside by 6 inches or more. No wonder Cora went bat s#it.
And, I must add...where were the bats??? I know it was Verlander, but come on, you won 108 games and faced tough pitching along the way. I'm trying to forget that fiasco during JD's at bat.
Now, instead of one up (as we expected), we are one down and here comes #24...aka Mr $31million per season David "if I'm in the mood to pitch" Price. Of course, DUMBrowski will be sitting in his little cat bird seat, so nattliy attired in his finest Joseph Aboud suit, with his little intense pouty puss, and sidekick, looking over his finest signing stud, as Mr NOtober will probably send the Red Sox into a deep spiral of 0-2.
Should Mr. Mood Man choke, I hope the boos are so raucous as to cause a tremor in Fenway that has he and his signee heading for some distant cabin in the White Mountains to hide. Maybe on top of Mount Washington for the Winter.
The Astros outplayed, outhit, outpitched and outplayed the Red Sox.
Congrats Houston, you played like champions... my team did not.
Sadly, I watched a different team yesterday...totally inept play, especially by Nunez at 3rd.
Yes, when you give a team like Houston 5 outs in an inning, which is what that error did, it's hard to win.
Houston is going to be a hard nut for the Sox to crack. Last July the Red Sox were the best team in baseball, but things run in cycles, and right now the Sox pitchers in on a down cycle with injuries and tired arms. Houston apears to be on the up cycle both with pitching and hitting.
Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
So glad I had to be away from home but able to listen to the game on the radio. I would have really hated having to watch Kimberly pitch the ninth. Gutsy game. Devers should not ride the pine again this year, Cora should be clear on that now! Surprising to win with Price starting the game, glad for it. Go get some in Houston!
Price has been so bad, he has even lowered expectations of fans. "didn't get shelled" and "a little shaky" equated to an ERA of 7.71. Even on the 2018 Orioles, that's sucking.
Playoffs generally demand a starter who commands his pitches. We haven't seen that yet for the Sox this series.
The biggest problem for the Red Sox migth well be the closer. I don't know what's wrong with him, but if Craig Kimbrel can't do any better than the last few outings, they will seriously need to think about using someone else. This guy is beyound shakey. He's looking like firestarter with matches and gasoline.
Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
The Astros are a slight favorite...if you look at the number crunchers. Something like 57-43 Astros...not sure how that number gets created, but I don't put much weight on those who don't actually play the game.
Anybody think the Brewers would win 4-0 last night in LA...that Machado would pull a bush league slide into 2nd and get called out on review, or that LA would have the bases loaded in the 9th and the next 2 guys strike out...game over? Point is, anything can and will happen...numbers mean almost nothing to me, as they are only based on some nebulous statistic. Oh yeah, the childish slamming of the bat into the bat rack in the dugout is always a good play, particularly if pieces of wood go flying and injure your teammates.
Bregman has created an instagram post showing Eovaldi giving up a few homers...a little psychological warfare. I wonder if Cora will walk Bregman given the particular situation.
Kimbrel's past performances are a big concern...he just has no command of his pitches...though he gets the job done, he is shaky at best and not reliable when you see him come in. Hopefully the bats come alive and the Sox have enough of a cushion to withstand the Kimbrel appearance. If the game(s) are close and we rely on Kimbrel, I doubt the results will be positive.
@bronco2078 said:
since I cut the cord I can only watch the games if I'm out of the house. I will have to miss tonight oh well
You can still search Google for the baseball ap. Once installed, you can "watch" the game on your phone...of at least keep up with the score.
BTW, I have Directv, so far, no complaints, other than when a heavy rain comes, then you can usuall revert to a non-HD pic, that is IF the rain isn't crazy heavy. If you live where the snow flies, beware snow buildup on your dish, it will toast your reception...a broom usually does the trick. Living in GA, only had to do this once.
The odds makers, who favored the Astros to win game 3, have now determined the Astros are even more favored to win game 4. What am I missing?
If their crystal balls were so good, how do these number crunchers explain the 8-2 win by the Red Sox? I'm sure their statistical analysis, and unending past performances by players (what else would they have or use??), spits out a number, or numbers that tell them it's Astros time. I happen to disagree for several reasons...Porcello being the prime one.
Once upon a time, I was a very heavy blackjack player in Vegas... Bellagio, Paris, Wynn, Tresaure Island and my "home base" The Mirage. For those familiar with the term, I was RFB. Met a lot of card counters who spun my head with ongoing percentiles, best counting methods and just edge this, edge that. Play here, don't play there...we always avoided each other in casinos, lest we in some bizarre way alert the "eye" that the counters had arrived. I found a lot of this to be nonsense and just played the game to the best of my ability and generally did pretty good overall. Yes, I had my losses. If you have a six figure+ bank and are devoted to card counting...yes, you certainly have a serious edge. Most of the people I meet were recreational players.
Many of my friends would go on and on about games in Reno, Vegas, Wendover, Foxwoods and every nook and cranny in between. Tedious stuff!! I just played the game for what it was to me and enjoyed myself, whereas my counterparts often looked like there was a heart transplant at stake. I was always respectful of the floor personnel and dealers...in turn, I established nice relationships with those who rated me and provided additional comps. For those who care...I take $2k to a casino...I play on a $25 or $50 table, mostly shoes so I get the advantage of surrender. My goal is double my money, if I do, I walk...immediately. I have found myself leaving once a $1k win is reached. I have the extra $1k as a psychological linus blanket. Many have looked at me like I was crazy when I colored up and walked. I must say, I do love playing a $10 table with "rookies"...surrendering really raises eyebrows, as many don't understand the play. I also play a rock solid basic strategy game.
So much for that.
Point is...the game is gonna be what the game is gonna be. No amount of data is gonna change the outcome by about midnight Eastern tonight. I say enjoy the moment and go with it, much like in my blackjack days. Both teams are outstanding, just a few breaks here and there and that'll decide the outcome, not some statistical mumbo jumbo.
If the Sox are fortunate enough to win, they will undoubtedly win at least one of the remaining three games. Enjoy the moment...might be another GS to witness.
@Barndog said:
how do E Coast or even Central zone folks stay awake for these games? I'm AK time and the game is going late by my standards.
Plus, watching Kimberly makes me want to vomit
i'm on the east coast and thankfully this game finally ends. We got double the Kimbrel stress tonight with him pitching the 8th & 9th.
Just one more to go.
This was the first time I wanted to see Price come into the game in the 9th inning this year.
Kimbrel is toast !
Price will now get to see if he is toast too today.
I don't know how you guys stay up to watch these games on the east coast but also don't know how you could possibly have turned the game and went to sleep without knowing the results.
At least todays game will be 1/2 hour earlier.
One of, if not THEE most exciting playoff games you will ever see. From the Altuve non-homer on, it was a nail biter. The throw by Betts, the catch(??) by Reddick and the catch by Benny were simply incredible. If Benny misses the catch, the Astros win...the catch of his career, no question. How appropriate that Bregman...instagram poster of Eovaldi's home runs...makes the last out, and he went 0-4. BTW, the Reddick catch, on replay, shows the ball hit the ground...you can Google it to see. I guess not a reviewable play.
Kimbrel brought me to the edge of my seat on every pitch. As anticipated, he almost blew it...AGAIN. He is shaky at best and may well play a negative role in the WS, if the Sox make it. I doubt the Sox resign him when he becomes a FA. He has lost command of his pitches, all of them.
Only gotta win one out of three...Verlander tonight vs Price. Hopefully the Sox stay focused and continue to play on.
Once again, the odds makers and all their statistical mumbo jumbo come up short, by a good margin.
I don't think the umpires would have been able to see convincing evidence to overturn Reddick's catch. It would have been reviewable, just like the catch by Kemp the day before.
I guess we should cut Kimbrel a little slack as it was his 4th game in a row to pitch and 2 innings at that which he has not ever done before but I am still glad he is a free agent this year as he always makes me very anxious when he pitches.
Houstonian here who is a tepid fan during the reg season, but morphs into a full-blown homer once the playoffs roll around. I tip my cap to the Sox and then some; it didn't take me long at all to realize how they reached 108. Goes without saying that rolling into H-town and taking the first two is not at all what anyone here expected. Finish this thing off tonight and the entire city will be in a comatose state.
Couple of ancillary thoughts.
Is scheduling these games so they'll end at a decent hour considered to be chimera? How do you East Coasters do it? Last night I was fully immersed over here in CST land, but even I couldn't make it until the final out. Suffice to say I was rather agitated when I read about the high drama at the end.
And what exactly is Kimbrel doing on the mound prior to a pitch? Is that some sort of pterodactyl intimidation tactic?
@pitboss said:
I guess we should cut Kimbrel a little slack as it was his 4th game in a row to pitch and 2 innings at that which he has not ever done before but I am still glad he is a free agent this year as he always makes me very anxious when he pitches.
LOL
No slack. In game two: one inning, one run (two hits). In game 4: first inning he pitched: Single (thanks to Mookie Betts, resulted in an out), then a HBP, then a double, then a groundout scores a run. The ninth inning was the first "clean" inning (defined only as zero runs scored!) I can recall him pitching in forever. Yeah, he did walk the bases loaded. So he pitched just in two of the four games, had ample rest in between, and he still sports a 6.00 ERA, thanks to Mookie Betts and Andrew Benintendi. 35 pitches will keep him on the bench today, even if a closer is "needed."
Quite sure some team will pay him too much next year, but likely not a team that has any memory of his performance during the last four or five weeks.
Hopefully it will not be the Red Sox. I'm sure we can find a closer somewhere to fill that gap. The Sox do need to put in a qualifying offer so they can get something back for him though.
@galaxy27 said:
Houstonian here who is a tepid fan during the reg season, but morphs into a full-blown homer once the playoffs roll around. I tip my cap to the Sox and then some; it didn't take me long at all to realize how they reached 108. Goes without saying that rolling into H-town and taking the first two is not at all what anyone here expected. Finish this thing off tonight and the entire city will be in a comatose state.
Couple of ancillary thoughts.
Is scheduling these games so they'll end at a decent hour considered to be chimera? How do you East Coasters do it? Last night I was fully immersed over here in CST land, but even I couldn't make it until the final out. Suffice to say I was rather agitated when I read about the high drama at the end.
And what exactly is Kimbrel doing on the mound prior to a pitch? Is that some sort of pterodactyl intimidation tactic?
Refreshing to see an opposing fan say decent things. Sportsmanship!! Yankees fans take notice.
As for me, I live between Atlanta and Augusta, GA...Eastern time zone, and I stayed up till the Benintendi spectacular catch. I think it was all said and done some time after 1AM here...and then some of the interviews. Being retired, it's no big deal to me...wouldn't have missed a pitch. Just thankful the start wasn't West Coast time...I admit it's a bit of a challenge to hang in with Angels and Mariner's games. No doubt a lot of very weary Red Sox Nation fans who drank a lot of Dunkin' Donuts coffee this morning. They were tired, but thrilled for the win.
As for Kimbrel's wing thing with his right arm. As I recall the explanation not long ago by him...at some point in his pitching career, he found that posture to be the most comfortable for him...odd as it looks. Of course it generates untold mockery by the opposing first 10 rows or so behind home plate fans, to which he's become immune.
I give ZERO slack to Kimbrel's performance. He was a heartattack in just about every game he came in, against the Yankees he damn near gave away the door prize more than once. IMO, if he doesn't find his command of his pitches, he shouldn't be a closer, more like a mid-level reliever. The manager goes to his closer to shut the door, not walk people, hit people, allow homeruns and tighten the game. I used to give him more latitude, thinking it was just a bad outing or two, but last night did it for me...if Benintendi doesn't catch the ball, it goes to the wall and 3 runs score with a walk off. Kimbrel should owe Benny Ruth's Chris steaks for lilfe!.
Houston has a great team, no doubt. I suspect with Verlander up tonight the expectation of the Houstonians will be an easy win...may not be so. The Red Sox CRUSHED the Yankees in the Bronx...I doubt Judge will be blaring NY, NY on his little boy boom box near the Red Sox dressing room anytime in the future. Much like uber-ego Bregman who put the Eovaldi instagram out with the 3 homers. It's just bush league crap to me...do your talking between the lines...odd, isn't it, that Bregman went 0-4...and Benny caught the closing out from Mr. 3rd Base. Try some humble stuff Bregman.
Obviously things have swung seriously in favor of the Red Sox. I can't imagine them losing 3 in a row...maybe tonight, but going back to Boston brings a certain magic to the moment. Stats and odds prognosticators have done very poorly. Anything can and probably will happen in the next 1, 2 or 3 games.
Can you imagine how Cora must feel, and if he wins it against his old team?? If the game is close tonight, expect to see starters trying to hammer it down.
BTW Galaxy...if your travels ever take you to Boston during baseball season, you MUST go to a Red Sox game...you'll know why when you see the place. Make sure you get left field seats if it's a day game, the sun will cook you in the bleachers or anywhere along the right field area.
Are any other Red Sox fans tied of listening to the two Astros “homer” announcers that TBS has hired for this series? I’m sick of them. They are constantly complaining about the call they didn’t get before the Martinez home run. These two guys can’t even pretend that they are evenhanded as they should be for a national broadcast.
They have been like this for the whole series. It’s always, “Boston and the Astros.”
Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
Comments
If he has another stinker of a game Sunday he should be booed off the field !
Yes, Kimbrel is a FA after this year.
My burn is the insane money these guys get paid to throw a baseball. You can either do it well, or go work at Home Depot.
Boneheaded contracts continue to foster players, who have a great year, then think the're superman...enter the player's representative, who closes a whopping deal, then, along comes the kryptonite and they still rake in insane salaries for bush league performance...the game is rife with these bozos.
I have always held the position that a player, according to his years in the game, performance, etc, etc...gets an annual amount of money...THEN, with ample mileposts to reach, and if done so, along comes the mile long Brink's truck to the bank of his wishes.
Here are a few of the more brilliant contracts currently being paid by the Red Sox this year...try not to throw up...some go on and on and on until paid...like El Sapo Gordo. The Fat Lizard.
HanRam...$15 million
Fatty (I'm such a loooozer) Sandoval...f-o-r-t-y s-i-x million He is laughing his aXX off.
Manny, yes, Manny Ramirez...$2.08 million and Manny last wore #24 when? Odd that Price now wears it!!
Pedroia...love ya Peety, BUT...16 million. That 8 year, $110m contract would have found you at 37 yrs old...who plays well at that age?? What if the knee says no mas? Cha Ching for Peety.
Rusney Castillo...11 million
ok, I'm done.
Oops, one more...Holt makes a paltry $2.23m this year. In comparison, he's the deal of the century!!
short series if they keep that sheit up.
Get ready my friends, here he comes! Bring your megaphones.
Uhhhk I was hoping Sale would get it done. Not a good start to this series
Sadly, I watched a different team yesterday...totally inept play, especially by Nunez at 3rd. How can a pro ballplayer not have the exchange from glove to hand down to a fine science in such a game??...easy double play toasted. Pitching was horrible, Sale just wasn't Sale. Can't say much for the home plate rookie umpire...first post season assignment, if I understood correctly. His blatantly bad call for strike 3 vs ball 4, which would have walked in run #3, against Benny was shocking!! Clearly, the ball was low and outside by 6 inches or more. No wonder Cora went bat s#it.
And, I must add...where were the bats??? I know it was Verlander, but come on, you won 108 games and faced tough pitching along the way. I'm trying to forget that fiasco during JD's at bat.
Now, instead of one up (as we expected), we are one down and here comes #24...aka Mr $31million per season David "if I'm in the mood to pitch" Price. Of course, DUMBrowski will be sitting in his little cat bird seat, so nattliy attired in his finest Joseph Aboud suit, with his little intense pouty puss, and sidekick, looking over his finest signing stud, as Mr NOtober will probably send the Red Sox into a deep spiral of 0-2.
Should Mr. Mood Man choke, I hope the boos are so raucous as to cause a tremor in Fenway that has he and his signee heading for some distant cabin in the White Mountains to hide. Maybe on top of Mount Washington for the Winter.
The Astros outplayed, outhit, outpitched and outplayed the Red Sox.
Congrats Houston, you played like champions... my team did not.
Yes, when you give a team like Houston 5 outs in an inning, which is what that error did, it's hard to win.
Houston is going to be a hard nut for the Sox to crack. Last July the Red Sox were the best team in baseball, but things run in cycles, and right now the Sox pitchers in on a down cycle with injuries and tired arms. Houston apears to be on the up cycle both with pitching and hitting.
So glad I had to be away from home but able to listen to the game on the radio. I would have really hated having to watch Kimberly pitch the ninth. Gutsy game. Devers should not ride the pine again this year, Cora should be clear on that now! Surprising to win with Price starting the game, glad for it. Go get some in Houston!
Big Win! Especially shocked that Price was pitching and he didn’t get shelled. This is going to be insanely tough but they CAN DO IT! GO SOX!!!
A win, but barely. Kimbrel continues to give everybody a heart attack.
Devers was outstanding and should remain at 3rd, now and always. He is a far better player at the position than Nunez, and he can hit for power.
Kinsler needs to sit...where was Holt??? I think Holt adds a dimension that circles Kinsler.
JBJ saves the day with a 3-run double...and Betts was just a gem working the bases.
Price got a little shaky, but did ok. How good was Porcello??
The team looked like a championship team...with the exception of the closer.
Now best of 5.
GO RED SOX
Oh yeah....GREAT, GREAT WIN by the Brady-Gronk connection late to set up the winning FG.
Price has been so bad, he has even lowered expectations of fans. "didn't get shelled" and "a little shaky" equated to an ERA of 7.71. Even on the 2018 Orioles, that's sucking.
Playoffs generally demand a starter who commands his pitches. We haven't seen that yet for the Sox this series.
JB Jr. Good for the kid. We are fans of him. Hope he/Sox do well the rest of the way.
The biggest problem for the Red Sox migth well be the closer. I don't know what's wrong with him, but if Craig Kimbrel can't do any better than the last few outings, they will seriously need to think about using someone else. This guy is beyound shakey. He's looking like firestarter with matches and gasoline.
good way to put it @BillJones
been down on Kimberly for way longer than the last few outings. He's been not fun to watch for months
Odd start today at 5:09 Eastern time.
The Astros are a slight favorite...if you look at the number crunchers. Something like 57-43 Astros...not sure how that number gets created, but I don't put much weight on those who don't actually play the game.
Anybody think the Brewers would win 4-0 last night in LA...that Machado would pull a bush league slide into 2nd and get called out on review, or that LA would have the bases loaded in the 9th and the next 2 guys strike out...game over? Point is, anything can and will happen...numbers mean almost nothing to me, as they are only based on some nebulous statistic. Oh yeah, the childish slamming of the bat into the bat rack in the dugout is always a good play, particularly if pieces of wood go flying and injure your teammates.
Bregman has created an instagram post showing Eovaldi giving up a few homers...a little psychological warfare. I wonder if Cora will walk Bregman given the particular situation.
Kimbrel's past performances are a big concern...he just has no command of his pitches...though he gets the job done, he is shaky at best and not reliable when you see him come in. Hopefully the bats come alive and the Sox have enough of a cushion to withstand the Kimbrel appearance. If the game(s) are close and we rely on Kimbrel, I doubt the results will be positive.
GO RED SOX
Alex Bregman decided to go the Aaron Judge route,let's see if the Sox handle it like they did with NY last week.
https://weei.radio.com/blogs/lucy-burdge/alex-bregman-taunts-red-sox-nathan-eovaldi-instagram-video
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
since I cut the cord I can only watch the games if I'm out of the house. I will have to miss tonight oh well
You can still search Google for the baseball ap. Once installed, you can "watch" the game on your phone...of at least keep up with the score.
BTW, I have Directv, so far, no complaints, other than when a heavy rain comes, then you can usuall revert to a non-HD pic, that is IF the rain isn't crazy heavy. If you live where the snow flies, beware snow buildup on your dish, it will toast your reception...a broom usually does the trick. Living in GA, only had to do this once.
I can give you a site to watch the games online if you want.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
Kinsler and Nunez tonight...why doesn't Holt get in...Devers is dialed in. Cora knows much more than me, hope he's right.
As always GO SOX!!!
Jackie Bradley Jr with the Grand Slam!
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
Congratulations to J.B.Jr. Glad to see him produce at the plate. Great timing doing it in the playoffs.
Huge win to take back home field advantage!
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
Like I said GO SOX!!!
Great win, and great GS by JBJ.
Nice to be up 2-1 and see no Kimbrel.
Ortiz loved that Slam.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
Someone needs to ask Alex Bregman what he thought of Nathan Eovaldi's performance tonight,picking up the win while allowing just 6 hits & 2 runs.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
Great win for sure. Hope they can resign Eovaldi !
HOUSTON, WE HAVE LIFTOFF!!
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
The odds makers, who favored the Astros to win game 3, have now determined the Astros are even more favored to win game 4. What am I missing?
If their crystal balls were so good, how do these number crunchers explain the 8-2 win by the Red Sox? I'm sure their statistical analysis, and unending past performances by players (what else would they have or use??), spits out a number, or numbers that tell them it's Astros time. I happen to disagree for several reasons...Porcello being the prime one.
Once upon a time, I was a very heavy blackjack player in Vegas... Bellagio, Paris, Wynn, Tresaure Island and my "home base" The Mirage. For those familiar with the term, I was RFB. Met a lot of card counters who spun my head with ongoing percentiles, best counting methods and just edge this, edge that. Play here, don't play there...we always avoided each other in casinos, lest we in some bizarre way alert the "eye" that the counters had arrived. I found a lot of this to be nonsense and just played the game to the best of my ability and generally did pretty good overall. Yes, I had my losses. If you have a six figure+ bank and are devoted to card counting...yes, you certainly have a serious edge. Most of the people I meet were recreational players.
Many of my friends would go on and on about games in Reno, Vegas, Wendover, Foxwoods and every nook and cranny in between. Tedious stuff!! I just played the game for what it was to me and enjoyed myself, whereas my counterparts often looked like there was a heart transplant at stake. I was always respectful of the floor personnel and dealers...in turn, I established nice relationships with those who rated me and provided additional comps. For those who care...I take $2k to a casino...I play on a $25 or $50 table, mostly shoes so I get the advantage of surrender. My goal is double my money, if I do, I walk...immediately. I have found myself leaving once a $1k win is reached. I have the extra $1k as a psychological linus blanket. Many have looked at me like I was crazy when I colored up and walked. I must say, I do love playing a $10 table with "rookies"...surrendering really raises eyebrows, as many don't understand the play. I also play a rock solid basic strategy game.
So much for that.
Point is...the game is gonna be what the game is gonna be. No amount of data is gonna change the outcome by about midnight Eastern tonight. I say enjoy the moment and go with it, much like in my blackjack days. Both teams are outstanding, just a few breaks here and there and that'll decide the outcome, not some statistical mumbo jumbo.
If the Sox are fortunate enough to win, they will undoubtedly win at least one of the remaining three games. Enjoy the moment...might be another GS to witness.
GO RED SOX
Nice caption--"Houston, we have a problem" is also a suitable choice.
how do E Coast or even Central zone folks stay awake for these games? I'm AK time and the game is going late by my standards.
Plus, watching Kimberly makes me want to vomit
i'm on the east coast and thankfully this game finally ends. We got double the Kimbrel stress tonight with him pitching the 8th & 9th.
Just one more to go.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
the greatest thing about Kimberly pitching two innings is that in no shape or form will we have to see him tomorrow
Some amazing outfield play by Reddick and Benintendi!
Huge WIN again!! GO SOX!!!
If the Sox win one out of the next three and win this series (and I am pretty confident they will barring a major collapse/disaster):
JBJ is my ALCS MVP
Kimberly is my ALCS LVP/MVC
I will leave it up to you guys to figure out what the L in LVP and the C in MVC stand for
Hint: the C in MVC DOES NOT stand for closer
This was the first time I wanted to see Price come into the game in the 9th inning this year.
Kimbrel is toast !
Price will now get to see if he is toast too today.
I don't know how you guys stay up to watch these games on the east coast but also don't know how you could possibly have turned the game and went to sleep without knowing the results.
At least todays game will be 1/2 hour earlier.
One of, if not THEE most exciting playoff games you will ever see. From the Altuve non-homer on, it was a nail biter. The throw by Betts, the catch(??) by Reddick and the catch by Benny were simply incredible. If Benny misses the catch, the Astros win...the catch of his career, no question. How appropriate that Bregman...instagram poster of Eovaldi's home runs...makes the last out, and he went 0-4.
BTW, the Reddick catch, on replay, shows the ball hit the ground...you can Google it to see. I guess not a reviewable play.
Kimbrel brought me to the edge of my seat on every pitch. As anticipated, he almost blew it...AGAIN. He is shaky at best and may well play a negative role in the WS, if the Sox make it. I doubt the Sox resign him when he becomes a FA. He has lost command of his pitches, all of them.
Only gotta win one out of three...Verlander tonight vs Price. Hopefully the Sox stay focused and continue to play on.
Once again, the odds makers and all their statistical mumbo jumbo come up short, by a good margin.
GO RED SOX
I don't think the umpires would have been able to see convincing evidence to overturn Reddick's catch. It would have been reviewable, just like the catch by Kemp the day before.
I guess we should cut Kimbrel a little slack as it was his 4th game in a row to pitch and 2 innings at that which he has not ever done before but I am still glad he is a free agent this year as he always makes me very anxious when he pitches.
Houstonian here who is a tepid fan during the reg season, but morphs into a full-blown homer once the playoffs roll around. I tip my cap to the Sox and then some; it didn't take me long at all to realize how they reached 108. Goes without saying that rolling into H-town and taking the first two is not at all what anyone here expected. Finish this thing off tonight and the entire city will be in a comatose state.
Couple of ancillary thoughts.
Is scheduling these games so they'll end at a decent hour considered to be chimera? How do you East Coasters do it? Last night I was fully immersed over here in CST land, but even I couldn't make it until the final out. Suffice to say I was rather agitated when I read about the high drama at the end.
And what exactly is Kimbrel doing on the mound prior to a pitch? Is that some sort of pterodactyl intimidation tactic?
LOL
No slack. In game two: one inning, one run (two hits). In game 4: first inning he pitched: Single (thanks to Mookie Betts, resulted in an out), then a HBP, then a double, then a groundout scores a run. The ninth inning was the first "clean" inning (defined only as zero runs scored!) I can recall him pitching in forever. Yeah, he did walk the bases loaded. So he pitched just in two of the four games, had ample rest in between, and he still sports a 6.00 ERA, thanks to Mookie Betts and Andrew Benintendi. 35 pitches will keep him on the bench today, even if a closer is "needed."
Quite sure some team will pay him too much next year, but likely not a team that has any memory of his performance during the last four or five weeks.
Hopefully it will not be the Red Sox. I'm sure we can find a closer somewhere to fill that gap. The Sox do need to put in a qualifying offer so they can get something back for him though.
Refreshing to see an opposing fan say decent things. Sportsmanship!! Yankees fans take notice.
As for me, I live between Atlanta and Augusta, GA...Eastern time zone, and I stayed up till the Benintendi spectacular catch. I think it was all said and done some time after 1AM here...and then some of the interviews. Being retired, it's no big deal to me...wouldn't have missed a pitch. Just thankful the start wasn't West Coast time...I admit it's a bit of a challenge to hang in with Angels and Mariner's games. No doubt a lot of very weary Red Sox Nation fans who drank a lot of Dunkin' Donuts coffee this morning. They were tired, but thrilled for the win.
As for Kimbrel's wing thing with his right arm. As I recall the explanation not long ago by him...at some point in his pitching career, he found that posture to be the most comfortable for him...odd as it looks. Of course it generates untold mockery by the opposing first 10 rows or so behind home plate fans, to which he's become immune.
I give ZERO slack to Kimbrel's performance. He was a heartattack in just about every game he came in, against the Yankees he damn near gave away the door prize more than once. IMO, if he doesn't find his command of his pitches, he shouldn't be a closer, more like a mid-level reliever. The manager goes to his closer to shut the door, not walk people, hit people, allow homeruns and tighten the game. I used to give him more latitude, thinking it was just a bad outing or two, but last night did it for me...if Benintendi doesn't catch the ball, it goes to the wall and 3 runs score with a walk off. Kimbrel should owe Benny Ruth's Chris steaks for lilfe!.
Houston has a great team, no doubt. I suspect with Verlander up tonight the expectation of the Houstonians will be an easy win...may not be so. The Red Sox CRUSHED the Yankees in the Bronx...I doubt Judge will be blaring NY, NY on his little boy boom box near the Red Sox dressing room anytime in the future. Much like uber-ego Bregman who put the Eovaldi instagram out with the 3 homers. It's just bush league crap to me...do your talking between the lines...odd, isn't it, that Bregman went 0-4...and Benny caught the closing out from Mr. 3rd Base. Try some humble stuff Bregman.
Obviously things have swung seriously in favor of the Red Sox. I can't imagine them losing 3 in a row...maybe tonight, but going back to Boston brings a certain magic to the moment. Stats and odds prognosticators have done very poorly. Anything can and probably will happen in the next 1, 2 or 3 games.
Can you imagine how Cora must feel, and if he wins it against his old team?? If the game is close tonight, expect to see starters trying to hammer it down.
BTW Galaxy...if your travels ever take you to Boston during baseball season, you MUST go to a Red Sox game...you'll know why when you see the place. Make sure you get left field seats if it's a day game, the sun will cook you in the bleachers or anywhere along the right field area.
GO RED SOX
Martinez going deep!!
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
Are any other Red Sox fans tied of listening to the two Astros “homer” announcers that TBS has hired for this series? I’m sick of them. They are constantly complaining about the call they didn’t get before the Martinez home run. These two guys can’t even pretend that they are evenhanded as they should be for a national broadcast.
They have been like this for the whole series. It’s always, “Boston and the Astros.”
Devers with a 3 run bomb!!
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486