Cleveland 4/23, Houck Yeah, It's Tanner Time

[CR67dream]

Coming off the best performance of his career against the league-leading Cleveland 9, Tanner Houck looks to stymie the Guardians once more. It would be greedy to ask him to be that good again, but 6 strong ought to do the trick.

Catch the ball, hit the ball. It's fun when that happens.

The expectation is that we see Devers and O'Neil back in the line-up though it's not yet been confirmed. Let it be so, but if not, no matter.

Who cares who plays for the Sox, or if the Guardians have the best record in baseball and took 3 of 4 at Fenway last week?

Fucking win anyway.

 

[Sandy Leon Trotsky]

No mystery achievement here- how have the Sox, despite mind-numbing injuries (and Giolito is often left out of this discussion!) still not fallen apart? Starting pitching!

Mostly finding an excuse to post the excellent conclusion song of one of Cleveland’s best band first album- masterpiece!!!!

I also spent an overnight holding in a NYC jail with Chrissie Hynde back in ‘99.

View: https://youtu.be/NDvqDTdgIj0?si=sxmCsloy3J9OZbIS

 

[InsideTheParker]

All the Cleveland games start at early times: 6:10, 6:10, and 1:10.
I'm looking forward to them.
Geaux, Sox!

 

[Coachster]

No mystery achievement here- how have the Sox, despite mind-numbing injuries (and Giolito is often left out of this discussion!) still not fallen apart? Starting pitching!

Mostly finding an excuse to post the excellent conclusion song of one of Cleveland’s best band first album- masterpiece!!!!

I also spent an overnight holding in a NYC jail with Chrissie Hynde back in ‘99.

View: https://youtu.be/NDvqDTdgIj0?si=sxmCsloy3J9OZbIS

Do you really think of The Pretenders as a Cleveland band? I love Mystery Achievement, but the only non-Brit on that recording is Chrissie.

 

[absintheofmalaise]

Chrissie is the only constant in the band.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thu8DWsirJo

 

[Sandy Leon Trotsky]

They claim her.

 

[absintheofmalaise]

The Red Sox have gone 26 innings without committing an error.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

The weather isn't going to be particularly good for this series. Rainy and/or cold

 

[Sad Sam Jones]

They claim her.

I've spent my whole life in NE Ohio and Chrissie Hynde is correctly associated with Akron, not Cleveland. She was born, raised and started her career there.

 

[Sandy Leon Trotsky]

I've spent my whole life in NE Ohio and Chrissie Hynde is correctly associated with Akron, not Cleveland. She was born, raised and started her career there.

Sort of like how Aerosmith is a “Boston band” though. But yes.

 

[Al Zarilla]

Some of the sports betting books have Boston favored in tonight's game, some don't. At Cleveland, which has the best record in MLB right now, that's something. They are obviously believers in Houck continuing his mastery. So be it.

 

[LynnRice75]

Series 8: SOX vs GUARDIANS

(Note: After my last poem/song led to a sweep, I thought another one would be a good idea. Too late to turn back now, but I realized that this song has no discernible pattern or real chorus. There's a guitar solo after the first verse! Anyway, the lyrics work if you play the tune and read along. Had I looked at the thread before writing, I would've gone with a Pretenders tune. Oh well. Go Sox)

(To the tune of Don’t Stop Believing by Journey)

Just a Olde Town team
givin’ up on pennant dreams.
Losing Fenway fights, not going anywhere.

Injuries, oh boy!
Torn and dazed, far less adroit,
We took on the Pirates without any prayer.

Didn’t linger in the low-key doom.
We didn’t whine. We’d sweep the broom!
For a while we played alright,
and we won game one then won and won.

Dangers waitin'
up and down the lineup card.
Cora’s searching every night.
He writes in people
tryin’ just to fill positions
and sometimes somehow gets it right.

It’s been hard. We’ve had our fill.
Everybody knows the drill.
Playin' anyone to roll the dice
just one more time.

Some we'll win, some we’ll lose.
Some games Red Sox have the blues.
Hope our win streak never ends
and goes on and on and on and on.

Guardians waitin'
(I’m not sure just what they guard.)
Although we’re hurtin’, we will fight.
Game night, people!
Givin’ up’s not our emotion.
Beat them somehow, ev’ry night.

Next stop is Cleveland.
A series that's worth stealin',
Game night, people.

Let’s stop the grievin’.
Hold on.
Game night, people.

Don’t stop. Keep healin’.
Pitchers keep on dealin’
Game night, people.

 

[Sandy Leon Trotsky]

Series 7: SOX vs GUARDIANS

(Note: After my last poem/song led to a sweep, I thought another one would be a good idea. Too late to turn back now, but I realized that this song has no discernible pattern or real chorus. There's a guitar solo after the first verse! Anyway, the lyrics work if you play the tune and read along. Had I looked at the thread before writing, I would've gone with a Pretenders tune. Oh well. Go Sox)

(To the tune of Don’t Stop Believing by Journey)

Just a Olde Town team
givin’ up on pennant dreams.
Losing Fenway fights, not going anywhere.

Injuries, oh boy!
Torn and dazed, far less adroit,
We took on the Pirates without any prayer.

Didn’t linger in the low-key doom.
We didn’t whine. We’d sweep the broom!
For a while we played alright,
and we won game one then won and won.

Dangers waitin'
up and down the lineup card.
Cora’s searching every night.
He writes in people
tryin’ just to fill positions
and sometimes somehow gets it right.

It’s been hard. We’ve had our fill.
Everybody knows the drill.
Playin' anyone to roll the dice
just one more time.

Some we'll win, some we’ll lose.
Some games Red Sox have the blues.
Hope our win streak never ends
and goes on and on and on and on.

Guardians waitin'
(I’m not sure just what they guard.)
Although we’re hurtin’, we will fight.
Game night, people!
Givin’ up’s not our emotion.
Beat them somehow, ev’ry night.

Next stop is Cleveland.
A series worth stealin',
Game night, people.

Let’s stop the grievin’.
Hold on.
Game night, people.

Don’t stop. Keep healin’.
Pitchers keep on dealin’
Game night, people.

Amazing.... and damn you!!!!! Ear worm....

 

[Cassvt2023]

Series 8: SOX vs GUARDIANS

(Note: After my last poem/song led to a sweep, I thought another one would be a good idea. Too late to turn back now, but I realized that this song has no discernible pattern or real chorus. There's a guitar solo after the first verse! Anyway, the lyrics work if you play the tune and read along. Had I looked at the thread before writing, I would've gone with a Pretenders tune. Oh well. Go Sox)

(To the tune of Don’t Stop Believing by Journey)

Just a Olde Town team
givin’ up on pennant dreams.
Losing Fenway fights, not going anywhere.

Injuries, oh boy!
Torn and dazed, far less adroit,
We took on the Pirates without any prayer.

Didn’t linger in the low-key doom.
We didn’t whine. We’d sweep the broom!
For a while we played alright,
and we won game one then won and won.

Dangers waitin'
up and down the lineup card.
Cora’s searching every night.
He writes in people
tryin’ just to fill positions
and sometimes somehow gets it right.

It’s been hard. We’ve had our fill.
Everybody knows the drill.
Playin' anyone to roll the dice
just one more time.

Some we'll win, some we’ll lose.
Some games Red Sox have the blues.
Hope our win streak never ends
and goes on and on and on and on.

Guardians waitin'
(I’m not sure just what they guard.)
Although we’re hurtin’, we will fight.
Game night, people!
Givin’ up’s not our emotion.
Beat them somehow, ev’ry night.

Next stop is Cleveland.
A series that's worth stealin',
Game night, people.

Let’s stop the grievin’.
Hold on.
Game night, people.

Don’t stop. Keep healin’.
Pitchers keep on dealin’
Game night, people.

You have a gift!

 

[moondog80]

Devers out again, but O'Neill is back (DH, so no Yoshida). Dalbec at 1B and Reyes at 3B is weird after going the other way with it over the weekend.

View: https://twitter.com/ChrisCotillo/status/1782845565165830201?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

No Yoshida again. This is weird

 

[Cassvt2023]

Looks like Cora is prioritizing defense with this lineup. He's leaving Yoshida and McGuire on the bench against a RHP. Apparently not comfortable with Hamilton or Valdez at 3B as well.

 

[SemperFidelisSox]

Stop dinking around and just put Devers on the IL so they can have some actual depth in these games.

 

[moondog80]

No Yoshida again. This is weird

Out of the lineup Wednesday and Thursday. 4 for 7 with a walk, 2B, and HR on Friday and Saturday. Out of the lineup Sunday while Taylor Heineman DHd. Off day yesterday, out of the lineup today with a RHP and righty bats Refsnyder and O'Neill in the lineup. He's either hurt or they've given up on him.

 

[simplicio]

I think the more likely explanation is they don't want to put O'Neill in the field just yet.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

I think the more likely explanation is they don't want to put O'Neill in the field just yet.

Sure. But they could put Yoshida in the OF for a game or two instead of Ref against a righty.

 

[E5 Yaz]

I think the more likely explanation is they don't want to put O'Neill in the field just yet.

How does that account for Sunday?

 

[LogansDad]

Stop dinking around and just put Devers on the IL so they can have some actual depth in these games.

Agreed. Let Devers get to 100% (or reasonably close) without worrying about taking up a roster spot, move one of the injured pitchers to the 60 day IL, and call up Chase Meidroth of Kavadas. They are being way too cute with this.

 

[simplicio]

Sure. But they could put Yoshida in the OF for a game or two instead of Ref against a righty.

I'd rather they keep playing Ref every day until he cools off at least, given that he's been the best player on the team since he came back.

 

[moondog80]

I'd rather they keep playing Ref every day until he cools off at least, given that he's been the best player on the team since he came back.

Small sample aside, I'd buy that in isolation, but there's a pattern with Yoshida's usage, highlighted by not DHing on Sunday in favor of the emergency catcher. Physical or otherwise, something is up.

 

[simplicio]

Yeah I'm not trying to deny he's hurt, that very well could be the case. But until O'Neill can get back in the outfield I want him and Ref both hitting over Masa anyway.

 

[Hendu Candu]

Sure, I mean two games of production vs. a career's worth of mediocrity against RHP would have me throwing Refsnyder out there too. Joining the chorus of "what the hell is up with Yoshida?" Would love to have a Boston reporter, you know, ask about it.

 

[teddywingman]

In Cora's post game on Sunday he quickly dismissed a question about Yoshida's health status.

No Devers doesn't surprise me. This is going to be an all year thing, isn't it?

 

[Hendu Candu]

In Cora's post game on Sunday he quickly dismissed a question about Yoshida's health status.

Yes, but the follow up is "Then why isn't he in the lineup coming off his best game of the year?"

 

[moondog80]

In Cora's post game on Sunday he quickly dismissed a question about Yoshida's health status.

So Tyler Henieman was simply the better option to DH? And they'd rather have a lineup against a RHP with Dalbec at 1B and Refsnyder in the OF and than Yoshida in the OF and Refsnyder at 1B?

If he's not hurt, this would mean he's only going to DH, only against righties. And even then not always. Yay. Signed for 3 more years.

 

[Rovin Romine]

Looks like Cora is prioritizing defense with this lineup. He's leaving Yoshida and McGuire on the bench against a RHP. Apparently not comfortable with Hamilton or Valdez at 3B as well.

Yeah, with Houck, they want defense first to see if he can go deep again on a low pitch count.

O'Neill at DH works as well. They can PH Yoshida and move O'Neill to the field perhaps.

Stop dinking around and just put Devers on the IL so they can have some actual depth in these games.

There's literally nobody to call up. They just put Heineman on the 10 day IL with a hamstring strain. And took O'Neill off the IL.

So putting Devers on anything but the 60 isn't going to help.

 

[simplicio]

There's literally nobody to call up. They just put Heineman on the 10 day IL with a hamstring strain. And took O'Neill off the IL.

I mean it's just funny at this point, right?

Fuck it, win anyway.

View: https://twitter.com/ChrisCotillo/status/1782867542387589574?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet


Not sure I want to postpone though, how many more people will we lose by tomorrow?

 

[simplicio]

So Tyler Henieman was simply the better option to DH? And they'd rather have a lineup against a RHP with Dalbec at 1B and Refsnyder in the OF and than Yoshida in the OF and Refsnyder at 1B?

If he's not hurt, this would mean he's only going to DH, only against righties. And even then not always. Yay. Signed for 3 more years.

View: https://twitter.com/ChrisCotillo/status/1782867420148867526?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

 

[Ale Xander]

Reyes at 3B is kinda weird

As is the 6:10 Tuesday start time

 

[moondog80]

View: https://twitter.com/ChrisCotillo/status/1782867420148867526?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

I sorta get today, but what about Sunday? Why did the emergency catcher DH and not Yoshida? There's a pattern -- Yoshida will never play the OF if we can help it, and probably won't even DH against lefties.

 

[Rovin Romine]

So Tyler Henieman was simply the better option to DH? And they'd rather have a lineup against a RHP with Dalbec at 1B and Refsnyder in the OF and than Yoshida in the OF and Refsnyder at 1B?

If he's not hurt, this would mean he's only going to DH, only against righties. And even then not always. Yay. Signed for 3 more years.

Cora likes random lineups.
Cora likes giving guys days-off.
Yoshida is scuffling.
Yoshida got 4 games off in mid-April last year and then turned it around.

OR

Yoshida is a sunk cost and partial DH against righties from today until September 2027?

 

[Ale Xander]

That’s a lot of battleship if true

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

Cora likes random lineups.
Cora likes giving guys days-off.
Yoshida is scuffling.
Yoshida got 4 games off in mid-April last year and then turned it around.

OR

Yoshida is a sunk cost and partial DH against righties from today until September 2027?

The whole thing is just especially weird given that Yoshida was coming off his best game of the year, which included his third double and second homer. If ever there was a time to see if he was starting to turn it around, it was Sunday.

 

[Rovin Romine]

The whole thing is just especially weird given that Yoshida was coming off his best game of the year, which included his third double and second homer. If ever there was a time to see if he was starting to turn it around, it was Sunday.

Oh, the whole season is especially weird. But yeah, I agree.

 

[Sandy Leon Trotsky]

Maybe he got into some spat with Cora. I know I would.

 

[brandonchristensen]

Getting Devers back in there will be super helpful.

 

[InsideTheParker]

The whole thing is just especially weird given that Yoshida was coming off his best game of the year, which included his third double and second homer. If ever there was a time to see if he was starting to turn it around, it was Sunday.

I sympathize with Cora's position, in general, but he is annoying me at the moment. Unless Yoshida has had an ouchie since the day Heineman came up to DH, this is getting ridiculous.

 

[Rovin Romine]

Maybe he got into some spat with Cora. I know I would.

Or he has some kind of family issue or something that dovetailed with resting him a few days. You never know what's going on in people's lives.

 

[strek1]

I like the earlier start times.

 

[simplicio]

https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2024/04/red-sox-lineup-alex-cora-explains-why-rafael-devers-masataka-yoshida-are-out.html

 

[InsideTheParker]

https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2024/04/red-sox-lineup-alex-cora-explains-why-rafael-devers-masataka-yoshida-are-out.html

Unsatisfactory explanation of Yoshida's absence previous to today.
Tom Caron says game expected to start on time.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

So...both Devers and Yoshida will DH tomorrow?

 

[simplicio]

Unclear, I read that to mean Masa's available off the bench tonight, and maybe we actually see him in the OF tomorrow?

Duran hasn't actually had a day off yet this year.

 

[Sad Sam Jones]

Looks like they'll be playing through rain as long as they can and hoping it's spotty and light enough to get it in. I'm about 75 miles south of Cleveland so not quite the same, but it's overcast here and then supposed to start raining about halfway through game time.

Getting back to Chrissie Hynde… a little trivia. In the early days of her career in Akron, she frequently played downtown in a deteriorating venue that had previously been a bank on the first floor of a hotel – appropriately named The Bank. The building was finally demolished in 1996 as part of a downtown rejuvenation project to bring Cleveland's AA affiliate there from nearby Canton. The concourse inside the main entrance and home plate area of Canal Park, home of the Akron RubberDucks, now sits where Chrissie Hynde, Devo and other Akron legends used to play.

 

[Rovin Romine]

I really don't get Rafaela leading off. I really don't.

Why?