World Series 2018--Red Sox vs. Dodgers

DJnVa

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On PTI, they go to Bob Costas for inside info on Sox plans. It's clear Costas has no real knowledge of Sox outside of superficial stuff. But this is who ESPN presents as an expert.
 

NJ_Sox_Fan

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Wonder who pulls the Judge/Bregman and attempts to troll the Sox this series that leads to their being swept away?
 

Southpaw67

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sea to shining sea
I don't care who sings the anthem; I just want a kick-ass game.
I'm sitting here ready in my 2004 World Series sweatshirt.
WOOOOOO!!!!
 

SemperFidelisSox

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- I don’t know what we can expect from Sale going forward. Can he make his Game 5 start on normal rest?

- E Rodriquez vs Bellinger is a matchup we will see more of in this series. E-Rod won Round 1,

- Brasier was not good against their left handed hitters.

- Still winning despite Mookie not hitting.
 

mwonow

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Did anyone else think that this felt kind of like 2004 - where after a tense battle to get out of the AL, the Sox played kind of sloppy, but won going away 'cause they're noticeably better than the other team?

I'd take 4-0 and love it. Though nothing is ever going to be better than
 

Adrian's Dome

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Did anyone else think that this felt kind of like 2004 - where after a tense battle to get out of the AL, the Sox played kind of sloppy, but won going away 'cause they're noticeably better than the other team?

I'd take 4-0 and love it. Though nothing is ever going to be better than
I've been all aboard the positivity train and I think majority of this site had been needlessly pessimistic about this squad's chances entering the playoffs, but having said that...let's not get ahead of ourselves, this series is far from over. It's baseball and anything can happen.
 

keninten

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- I don’t know what we can expect from Sale going forward. Can he make his Game 5 start on normal rest?

- E Rodriquez vs Bellinger is a matchup we will see more of in this series. E-Rod won Round 1,

- Brasier was not good against their left handed hitters.

- Still winning despite Mookie not hitting.
Nope, sweep.
 

shepard50

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- I don’t know what we can expect from Sale going forward. Can he make his Game 5 start on normal rest?

- E Rodriquez vs Bellinger is a matchup we will see more of in this series. E-Rod won Round 1,

- Brasier was not good against their left handed hitters.

- Still winning despite Mookie not hitting.
I would expect Sale to pitch game 4 on Sunday. No?
 

steveluck7

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On the post game, Merloni was saying that since Eovaldi pitched last night, we’d likely see Porcello in game 3. I look at it differently. Eovaldi last night pretty much guarantees him for game 3 and tonight’s 8th inning will probably be Porcello to line him up for game 4. I found it odd that none of the guys on set could see that simple pattern
 

sheamonu

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Yes - Sale certainly didn’t look as sharp as we’re used to but he did strike out a good few hitters and I thought he showed decent velocity at times. My greatest solace is that if I’m a Dodgers fan doing this same analysis on Kershaw - there’s no silver lining there. He was hit hard by everyone- top to bottom. Their staff is still formidable- but it’s damaged. If one of the Red Sox starters goes lights out in the next two games a path to winning 3 of 4 looks really difficult. If they lose G2 - well, they’re not the ‘86 Mets. We’re sure as hell not the ‘86 Sox.
 
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joe dokes

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On the post game, Merloni was saying that since Eovaldi pitched last night, we’d likely see Porcello in game 3. I look at it differently. Eovaldi last night pretty much guarantees him for game 3 and tonight’s 8th inning will probably be Porcello to line him up for game 4. I found it odd that none of the guys on set could see that simple pattern
I'm surprised Lumer can tie his shoes.
Your take makes more sense.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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Yes - Sale certainly didn’t look as sharp as we’re used to but he did strike out a good few hitters and I thought he showed decent velocity at times. My greatest solace is that if I’m a Dodgers fan doing this same analysis on Kershaw - there’s no silver lining there. He was hit hard by everyone- top to bottom. Their staff is still formidable- but it’s damaged. If one of the Red Sox starters goes lights out in the next two games a path to winning 3 of 4 looks really difficult. Lose G2 and they’re not the ‘86 Mets. We’re sure as hell not the ‘86 Sox.
Barring any more stomach ailments, there should be zero issues for Sale in starting game 5 on normal rest. I think Sale's performance last night was what to expect from a guy going on extra rest (so a little rust) and coming back from an illness that messed up his routine for a few days. Pitchers are creatures of habit. Give him a normal between-starts routine and I think he more resembles the dominant Sale we've grown accustomed to.

Also, it shouldn't be forgotten that the Dodgers, like the Astros before them and the Yankees before them, are damn good hitting teams. They can hit good pitching and make any ace look ordinary at times. The Red Sox did it to Kershaw and chased him after 4. Should the Dodgers be concerned about handing him the ball on Sunday?
 

lexrageorge

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I'm not convinced Sale was nearly as bad as the game threads indicate. According to the stat cast, he threw his fastball around 94-95 most of the night, and he was badly squeezed while facing his last batter. It wasn't vintage Sale, but it also wasn't ALCS-Game 1 Sale either.

His next start will be Game 5, but I wouldn't rule out a relief appearance in Game 3 or 4 either.
 

Saints Rest

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Reading thru some recaps of last night and I realized that all five of the first five runs were due, in large part, to the Red Sox speed, hustle, and smarts on the base paths.
1. Betts SB puts him in scoring position for Beni’s single.
2. Beni takes second on Puigs throw, again putting him in scoring position.
3. Pearce hustles to first to avoid the DP; Pearce runs hard and smartly on JD’s double to score from first.
4,5. Bogey’s speed/hustle keeps the Sox out of an inning-ending DP, allowing two more runs to later score.
 

Saints Rest

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I didn't think Sale looked bad at all. His velocity was up from last series and his slider was sharp. The Dodgers had a great approach, going the other way, being very patient at the plate.
And I think both pitchers, but Sale especially, was hurt by the tight strike zone, especially not getting much low.
 

JimD

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Did anyone else think that this felt kind of like 2004 - where after a tense battle to get out of the AL, the Sox played kind of sloppy, but won going away 'cause they're noticeably better than the other team?
Fortunately the sloppiness was kept to a minimum - JDM getting caught by Kershaw and 10D not hustling when the LA LF misplayed his hit. Also crap luck on JBJ's hard hit ball through Kershaw's legs ended up going right to Macahdo and resulting in a DP. This game could have been put away early by the Sox.
 

NJ_Sox_Fan

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Sale looked fine to me, for a guy who hasn't pitched in a while, was recently hospitalized, and really hadn't pitched much since August.

Thinking he'd go 7 and throw 120 pitches is nuts. Velocity was fine all night ... 94-96.

Betts needs to be more aggressive IMO ... he's let a lot of grooved pitches go by. He's still getting on base and playing tremendous D, so no real complaints.
 

tims4wins

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I thought Sale was ok. His stuff was decent, his fastball command was awful. That said, and I said this last series, I'd be tempted to put him in the pen the rest of the series.

Also, I made the same comparison to 2004 to my dad - very similar game 1 - somewhat sloppy but the Sox pulled it out.
 

Harry Hooper

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Bradford has more on Pomeranz's week:

"When I threw (Monday) I was trying to imitate (Clayton) Kershaw for our hitters. That’s all I was doing," Pomeranz told WEEI.com. "I was throwing cutters and kind of doing what he does. I was just asking our guys what they wanted to see and I threw whatever they wanted just to give them a look because I didn’t think I was pitching. It was a lot of fun, actually. It was fun trying to throw like him, slowing my curveball down. I was just trying to do whatever I could to help. I wasn’t going to play so I might as well do something and try and help the guys stay fresh."
 

ricopetro6

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On the post game, Merloni was saying that since Eovaldi pitched last night, we’d likely see Porcello in game 3. I look at it differently. Eovaldi last night pretty much guarantees him for game 3 and tonight’s 8th inning will probably be Porcello to line him up for game 4. I found it odd that none of the guys on set could see that simple pattern
it better be Eovaldi for game 3 because that means he would pitch game 7 if needed. He has been a stud in the play offs and not having him on the mound to pitch a game 7 because he pitched the 8th inning with a 4 run lead last night would be criminal.
 

Devizier

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I'm not convinced Sale was nearly as bad as the game threads indicate. According to the stat cast, he threw his fastball around 94-95 most of the night, and he was badly squeezed while facing his last batter. It wasn't vintage Sale, but it also wasn't ALCS-Game 1 Sale either.
Yeah, the peanut gallery was off to me. Sale was wild but his stuff looked good. Major concern for me was his lack of breaking pitches. Don't know if that was strategic or not.
 

mostman

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Los Angeles media is beating up on Kershaw saying he’s a bum in the postseason
That’s kind of silly. He’s been good this year. Game 1 against the Braves he was dominant and he also shut down the Brewers in game 5. He pitched the scoreless relief inning in game 7, although that was an easy assignment.

He got knocked around in both game 1 of the NLCS and last night. So while I wouldn’t call him lights out, he hasn’t been a “bum”.
 

ricopetro6

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On the post game, Merloni was saying that since Eovaldi pitched last night, we’d likely see Porcello in game 3. I look at it differently. Eovaldi last night pretty much guarantees him for game 3 and tonight’s 8th inning will probably be Porcello to line him up for game 4. I found it odd that none of the guys on set could see that simple pattern
With the way Kelly looked last night, not sure they need Porcello to pitch in the pen...just need Price to go 5 then Kelly-Barnes-Brasier-Kimbrel.