2022 Season Series #31 | Guardians at Red Sox | July 26-29, 2022

[daddywags]

DFA him. Give more guys a shot to showcase their bat at the major league level over the next few months.

I loved Franmil but I think his days are numbered.

That's fine with me.

 

[sportscoach]

When OGonz gets back do you think we can send Reyes to the minors if we don't find a good trade?

I want him to rework/improve his batters eye. EE struggled until he was able to take his walks...

 

[daddywags]

When OGonz gets back do you think we can send Reyes to the minors if we don't find a good trade?

I want him to rework/improve his batters eye. EE struggled until he was able to take his walks...

Does he have an option?

nvm - he has 2 options left, apparently.

 

[sportscoach]

Does he have an option?

nvm - he has 2 options left, apparently.

If we cannot find any trade partners, I would be for sending him down and working him out with modified swing and getting more 1B/OF play. If his agent doesn't like it then Reyes can just sit out and not get paid. Not to be mean, but he isnt producing so they cannot sit there and just keep him in the lineup at the big league club.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

One hanging curveball on an 0-2 count to Bogaerts cost us a win. Belt high, middle of the plate on an 0-2 count.

I was disappointed the G's couldn't get more than one run against their rookie, but the kid was very good. He was throwing 95 at the top of the zone and getting swings and misses.

Reyes might be the worst player in the majors right now when you factor in his batting line, his lack of speed on the bases (on those rare occasions when he gets on), and his lack of defensive ability.

Tough break in the 7th when we get two on with nobody out and Kwan rips a hard ground ball right at their first baseman for a double play.

I can't believe Gimenez tried to bunt with Naylor on second base and nobody out in the 2nd inning. He popped out to the pitcher. Gimenez is a .300 hitting All-Star who could get Naylor to third just by pulling the ball against a right-handed pitcher. And Crawford has had problems against left-handed hitters.

Really disappointing to go 2-2 against a team that is in last place, had lost 13 of their last 16, and was missing their best hitter (Devers) and their RBI leader (Story).

McKenzie pitched well overall but when you're facing their best hitter with a one-run lead, two men on base, and an 0-2 count, you don't hang a curveball at the belt in the center of the dish.

 

[sportscoach]

One hanging curveball on an 0-2 count to Bogaerts cost us a win. Belt high, middle of the plate on an 0-2 count.

I was disappointed the G's couldn't get more than one run against their rookie, but the kid was very good. He was throwing 95 at the top of the zone and getting swings and misses.

Reyes might be the worst player in the majors right now when you factor in his batting line, his lack of speed on the bases (on those rare occasions when he gets on), and his lack of defensive ability.

Tough break in the 7th when we get two on with nobody out and Kwan rips a hard ground ball right at their first baseman for a double play.

I can't believe Gimenez tried to bunt with Naylor on second base and nobody out in the 2nd inning. He popped out to the pitcher. Gimenez is a .300 hitting All-Star who could get Naylor to third just by pulling the ball against a right-handed pitcher. And Crawford has had problems against left-handed hitters.

Really disappointing to go 2-2 against a team that is in last place, had lost 13 of their last 16, and was missing their best hitter (Devers) and their RBI leader (Story).

McKenzie pitched well overall but when you're facing their best hitter with a one-run lead, two men on base, and an 0-2 count, you don't hang a curveball at the belt in the center of the dish.

The bunt Gimenez did was to catch the opposing defense off guard. It's something Lofton, Vazquez etc would do to keep defenses honest.

The problem is Gimenez doesn't have the bunting skills of guys like that... on paper it's not a horrible idea if you are a very good bunter. I don't know anyone who is anymore.

 

[Criznit]

The bunt Gimenez did was to catch the opposing defense off guard. It's something Lofton, Vazquez etc would do to keep defenses honest.

The problem is Gimenez doesn't have the bunting skills of guys like that... on paper it's not a horrible idea if you are a very good bunter. I don't know anyone who is anymore.

On the Guardians, Kwan and Clement are excellent bunters on paper.

I liked the bunt call.

 

[sportscoach]

On the Guardians, Kwan and Clement are excellent bunters on paper.

I liked the bunt call.

Compare their bunting skills to one's a decadeish ago... they aren't that great...

 

[Criznit]

Compare their bunting skills to one's a decadeish ago... they aren't that great...

Can't really do that as bunting ain't what it used to be.

Sources - Clement's pre-draft bunt grade and Kwan discussing how important it was for him to learn how to bunt effectively in college.

 

[sportscoach]

Can't really do that as bunting ain't what it used to be.

Sources - Clement's pre-draft bunt grade and Kwan discussing how important it was for him to learn how to bunt effectively in college.

That's kind of my point, the skill isn't there, so the move that Gimenez did in theory actually was good, but I am not sure if he has the skill to pull it off personally...

 

[Meatwad]

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Not to beat a dead horse but in the 6th inning the game was on the line with the G's up 1-0, two men on for the Sox, and Bogaerts at the plate with one out. It was the heart of the batting order facing McKenzie for the third time. J.D. Martinez was on deck and he did not have a hit the entire series coming off a back injury that caused him to miss several games. This game was coming down to Bogaerts' at-bat.

At those times pitchers need to understand that this at-bat may very well decide the game and find a way to bear down and get the out. Tristan got ahead of Bogie 0-2. At that point you want to get him to swing at something off the plate or at least on the edge and you have four pitches to work with. Instead, Tristan hung a curve ball at the belt and Bogie hit it 412 feet.

You can't make a mistake like that to their best hitter with two on and a one-run lead. You have to understand the importance of the at-bat and make sure you pitch intelligently and get the out, or at least don't allow a crushing home run.

McKenzie also got ahead of Verdugo (the previous batter) by pitching him down, then threw him a belt-high slider on a 1-2 count. Verdugo drilled a single to center. Two straight hitters McKenzie got two strikes pitching down in the zone and then gave them high breaking balls. I just don't get it.

 

[DCTribefan]

Not to beat a dead horse but in the 6th inning the game was on the line with the G's up 1-0, two men on for the Sox, and Bogaerts at the plate with one out. It was the heart of the batting order facing McKenzie for the third time. J.D. Martinez was on deck and he did not have a hit the entire series coming off a back injury that caused him to miss several games. This game was coming down to Bogaerts' at-bat.

At those times pitchers need to understand that this at-bat may very well decide the game and find a way to bear down and get the out. Tristan got ahead of Bogie 0-2. At that point you want to get him to swing at something off the plate or at least on the edge and you have four pitches to work with. Instead, Tristan hung a curve ball at the belt and Bogie hit it 412 feet.

You can't make a mistake like that to their best hitter with two on and a one-run lead. You have to understand the importance of the at-bat and make sure you pitch intelligently and get the out, or at least don't allow a crushing home run.

McKenzie also got ahead of Verdugo (the previous batter) by pitching him down, then threw him a belt-high slider on a 1-2 count. Verdugo drilled a single to center. Two straight hitters McKenzie got two strikes pitching down in the zone and then gave them high breaking balls. I just don't get it.

Maybe it’s not so straight forward as throwing a pitch exactly where you want. Missing your spots can and usually do lead to bad outcomes.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Maybe it’s not so straight forward as throwing a pitch exactly where you want. Missing your spots can and usually do lead to bad outcomes.

Agreed, but sometimes it's OK to miss your spot (against the #9 hitter with two out and nobody on with a three-run lead) and sometimes you have to realize this is the game, right here, right now, and I really have to focus and make my pitch.