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2021 Season | Series #42 | Indians @ Red Sox | Sep. 3-5

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The seventh inning is a perfect example of how the Indians could win more games next year if they had a left-handed relief pitcher, like an Oliver Perez, for example.

Starting the 7th the Red Sox pinch hit for right-handed Jack Lopez, bringing lefty Travis Shaw to the plate. Their next four hitters were now Shaw (left), Arrauz (switch), Schwarber (left), and Devers (left). Arrauz is 2-for-24 batting right-handed and .250 left.

The situation was perfect for a left-handed reliever, but we don't have one, other than Hentges, who Hale doesn't trust and I don't blame him. If we had a decent LOOGY to use in that situation I'm pretty sure the Sox don't have a five-run inning.

Quantrill walked Shaw and then gave up a double to Arrauz. To be fair, it was just a routine fly ball down the left field line that would have been an out in any other ballpark but Fenway. So now there are runners on second and third with nobody out and Schwarber and Devers coming up. The situation screamed for a lefty but we don't have one, so they brought in Stephan. Schwarber doubled in two runs, which was the back breaker.

To his credit, Stephan then struck out Devers and J.D. Martinez, two of the best hitters in baseball. But after an intentional walk to Verdugo he couldn't put Renfroe away and on the 9th pitch he got too much of the plate. Stephan threw two bad pitches out of 25, but the Red Sox hammered them both.

This off-season the Tribe needs to make it a priority to acquire a lock-down left-handed reliever, or develop Hentges into one. Hentges came on in the 9th and retired Scwarber and Devers, although J.D. Martinez hit a line drive that was caught.
 
Today the Sox start Tanner Houck, age 25, 0-3, 3.63. Houck is a righty who started against the Indians last weekend and went five innings allowing only one hit - a home run to Jose Ramirez in the sixth inning. Then he hit two batters and they both scored when the relief pitcher gave up a two-run single to Wilson Ramos. Houck pitched extremely well. He had a no-hitter through five.

Hopefully the Indians will watch the video and make some adjustments the second time around.

Eli Morgan started that game and he goes again today. He went three innings and gave up two runs, both solo home runs. Devers and Dalbec got him. The start of the game was rain delayed over three hours and Morgan may have had to warm up twice, which explains why he was pulled after the third inning.

Morgan has allowed six runs in his last two starts covering 7.1 innings. Facing the Red Sox in Fenway, where they have an OPS over .800, is going to be a tall order even with Bogaerts and Enrique Hernandez out.

The Indians really need to get Franmil going. They can't win with a cleanup hitter who strikes out almost every at-bat. Franmil has struck out 13 times in his last 23 at-bats.
 
Let's see how Morgan rebounds for this game...
 
sportscoach said:
Let's see how Morgan rebounds for this game...
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First time pitching in Fenway - gotta be intimidating and he'll be starting off with Schwarber, Devers, and J.D. Martinez right out of the gate. Three big power bats, two of them lefties. The first inning will be huge. First challenge is to not let Schwarber lead off the game with a home run like he's done twice against Quantrill in the last week.

Morgan has allowed 15 home runs and 15 walks in 61.2 innings. I would suggest that he consider giving up a few more strategically placed walks in an effort to give up a few less home runs.
 
I like the way the Red Sox put on a full court press against the starting pitcher right out of the gate. They have Schwarber leading off (28 home runs, .971 OPS) followed by Devers (.889 OPS), then Bogaerts and J.D. Martinez. No screwing around with a typical slap hitter with speed in the leadoff position. The pitcher has no chance to ease into the game. Just ask Cal Quantrill.

The Indians have Myles Straw leading off - a .273 hitter with no power. His OBP is .341 which is not bad, but Straw doesn't scare anybody.

If I were Hale I'd have Josie leading off, followed by Amed and Franmil. I want to put opposing pitchers under max pressure right from the first pitch of the game. A lot of times pitchers don't have a good feel for their breaking ball in the first inning and like to start out throwing lots of fastballs. Straw sucks at hitting fastballs. They have been pounding him with fastballs up and getting fly outs.

Make opponents start the game by throwing fastballs to Josie, Amed, and Franmil. I also don't want Franmil leading off the second inning, or any inning for that matter.

Straw does worse against the fastball than any other pitch, according to Fangraphs, followed closely by the slider. He is much better against all the breaking pitches. My observation is he doesn't have the bat speed to square up a good fastball, especially up in the zone. He fouls them off and hopes to draw a walk or get a breaking ball in the center of the zone. Straw is not a bad hitter for a centerfielder but I don't want him leading the team in plate appearances when it could be Jose Ramirez instead.
 
Wham with the Right Hand said:
First time pitching in Fenway - gotta be intimidating and he'll be starting off with Schwarber, Devers, and J.D. Martinez right out of the gate. Three big power bats, two of them lefties. The first inning will be huge. First challenge is to not let Schwarber lead off the game with a home run like he's done twice against Quantrill in the last week.

Morgan has allowed 15 home runs and 15 walks in 61.2 innings. I would suggest that he consider giving up a few more strategically placed walks in an effort to give up a few less home runs.
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Morgan doesn't fear lefties, he has the opposite splits...
 
I want Jose batting with runners on base, which he's done about 45 times more than Straw.

Schwarbers home run was worth one run.

Joses single in the ninth was worth one run.
 
Wham with the Right Hand said:
I like the way the Red Sox put on a full court press against the starting pitcher right out of the gate. They have Schwarber leading off (28 home runs, .971 OPS) followed by Devers (.889 OPS), then Bogaerts and J.D. Martinez. No screwing around with a typical slap hitter with speed in the leadoff position. The pitcher has no chance to ease into the game. Just ask Cal Quantrill.

The Indians have Myles Straw leading off - a .273 hitter with no power. His OBP is .341 which is not bad, but Straw doesn't scare anybody.

If I were Hale I'd have Josie leading off, followed by Amed and Franmil. I want to put opposing pitchers under max pressure right from the first pitch of the game. A lot of times pitchers don't have a good feel for their breaking ball in the first inning and like to start out throwing lots of fastballs. Straw sucks at hitting fastballs. They have been pounding him with fastballs up and getting fly outs.

Make opponents start the game by throwing fastballs to Josie, Amed, and Franmil. I also don't want Franmil leading off the second inning, or any inning for that matter.

Straw does worse against the fastball than any other pitch, according to Fangraphs, followed closely by the slider. He is much better against all the breaking pitches. My observation is he doesn't have the bat speed to square up a good fastball, especially up in the zone. He fouls them off and hopes to draw a walk or get a breaking ball in the center of the zone. Straw is not a bad hitter for a centerfielder but I don't want him leading the team in plate appearances when it could be Jose Ramirez instead.
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The flaw with this approach is you limit Ramirez RBI opportunities (a la Frankie leading off). Also, Straw puts plenty of pressure on pitchers by his threat of stealing. I would not be so quick to minimize his impact on the game. Another reference point: Astros record since trade is 14-13 (August) and 1-1 (September). They have been batting Altuve (hitter in Ramirez vein) in lead off spot in Straw’s absence.
 
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Reyes should bat 7th till he gets going. Maybe sit a few days. Batting him 4th regardless of how he’s doing is a Tito move.
 
Morgan has to stop nibbling.. go right after these guys.. with first base open.. walking verdugo may not have been the best choice.. given that Renfroe has been swinging a hot bat..

Renfroe pops up.. and Morgan is out of it..
 
Morgan with a little better inning against the bottom half / third of the Red Sox lineup.. Coming back towards the top of the order.. perhaps he won't need 30 pitches for his next 3 outs..
 
Damn! Chang almost made a spectacular play!
 
The Sox keep waiting and waiting and waiting for Morgans change up....
 
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