The Sox manage to not blow it despite giving it a strong effort.
Well, the Worst Team in Baseball has one of the best pitchers in baseball going out today, Garrett Crochet, our stopper. Unfortunately we’re up against another of the best pitchers in baseball, Jacob Misiorowski.
Crochet couldn’t get out of trouble against Houston on the road, but it’s cold tonight and he’s playing Fenway. I hate to say it but it’s likely to come down to the Sox defense, and that is a miserable thing to be reliant on thus far. Crochet has to go deep after the Sox bullpen has been taken to the limit the last…well, week, really. It’s been bad. Only the Rays have more errors thus far (14 to the Sox’ 11.)
Lineups: Roman leading off and DHing; Duran in the two hole; Contreras sliding to 3rd and Abreu in the cleanup spot, which I really like; Story in 5th again, after show some signs of life there yesterday; Then Marcelo, Rafaela in center, Connor Wong (who seems to be becoming Crochet’s personal catcher) and finally IKF batting 9th and playing third while Durbin catches some breath.
First pitch 6:45…and it’s 42 degrees. EGADS. Wind chill…33!
Crochet strikes out the leadoff guy and gets number two to fly to right, and then immediately IKF in the lineup pays a dividend, as he has a Defensive Gem to stab a line drive, diving to his right and grabbing it before it could skitter down the line. Saved two bases for sure with a plus play. I’m not going to jinx by saying this is already going better than last night.
The Sox haven’t had more than six runs score in a game, and that in a loss, and haven’t scored more than four in any single inning. Despite the inclement weather and extremely difficult pitching opposition, I’m still hoping for like a ten run inning early. The club needs something.
Sweet jeezus Misiorowski is throwing 100 MPH already. I have no idea how he’s going to be able to sustain this over the course of a season. He had only 125 IP combined between AAA and the majors last year. I guess his getting tired in August does us no good right now.
He whiffs Roman, who at least hung in there, but Duran comes out swinging at high balls, likely because he can’t see them, they’re so fast. And strikes out on a 101 MPH fastball. He’s thrown eight fastballs and ALL of them have been over 100. The difference between a 95 MPH fastball and a 100 MPH fastball is 7.4 feet per second; for even an average height pitcher, you have 375 milliseconds to read and respond to that pitch. My AI friend tells me this is an 8% reduction in effective decision time (245 milliseconds vs. 225 milliseconds.) A really fast major league swing takes 150 milliseconds. That’s how narrow the margin is — a tenth of a second from recognition to commitment. Misiorowski finishes off Contreras on five pitches and, surprise, has struck out the side.
Turang and Yelich are not in the lineup tonight — night off against the tough lefty — so Gary Sanchez is leading off this inning in the clean-up spot, and immediately raps out a hit. Not that long ago Sanchez was the infant terrible of the Yankees, hitting over 30 homers for them while catching. Now he’s a journeyman and playing first tonight as a part-timer and right handed pinch hitter. Crochet gets two ground outs and a whiff and is looking quite effective, and we’re moving fast right now.
I love the irony of seeing Bruins fans wearing jerseys in the ballpark: it’s colder at Fenway tonight than it usually is inside a hockey arena. I went to a B’s game at the original Garden back in the 80s, and I swear I’ve never been hotter at an athletic event. It must’ve been in the 80s up in the obstructed view rafters where I was sitting, and there was fog on the ice. I am not complaining, the B’s were used to playing in slush and I paid $2 for those tickets (I mean, literally $2 for walkup obstructed view seats).
Wilyer up there hacking but is called out on the third pitch. Check swing, somewhat marginal call on the inside corner, but the Sox aren’t going to call an ABS challenge this early and frankly I am not sure the umpire or his ABS robot overlord can see the ball any better than the rest of us. It’s not that Misiorowski is averaging over 100 — he hasn’t thrown a fastball yet below that. Story whiffs for five strikeouts in a row. A groundout by Mayer to end the game is a “moral victory” as Dave Fleming puts it, at least we won’t be breaking the consecutive strikeout record just yet. I wouldn’t bet against at 21-K game, although I’m not sure whether MIisiorowski is on a pitch count or not.Misiorowski has a bit of a Nuke LaLouche feel to him, like he’s going to start losing control anytime soon. I have a long story about a game in high school where we faced a kid who could throw over 90 — which was a LOT back then, especially in high school, but the bottom line is we had only the lack of control and guess swings at our disposal.
The Brewers playing small ball already with Hamilton sacrificing over Blake Perkins, who reached on an excuse-me single just over Marcelo’s glove (nearly dead straight away — great positioning by the Sox, just not good enough on that one.) Garrett comes back with a merely 96 MPH fastball (what a duffer) for strike three on the leadoff guy, Lockdridge, and we are an out away of getting out of a scoring opportunity for Milwaukee.
Wild pitch moves the runner to third, as Connor Wong stumbles going after it, and we’re lucky the runner didn’t come around. Not sure what that pitch was but it was in the dirt on the outside. Crochet comes back and gets Conteras swinging and is out of a little trouble once again.
The Sox get a walk, finally, but immediately ground into a double play. Still a no-hitter and Misiorowski has still faced the minimum.
TERRIBLE play by Trevor Story on a dish to second, forcing Marcelo to make a terrible throw to first. Both runners are safe after the review. This is the sign of two middle infielders who need more drilling. Error called on Mayer, two on and one out, but I think Trevor made a mental error by not just throwing to first or taking the play himself. Fortunately the Sox execute a textbook 6-4-3 double play on a bang-bang defensive play, really nice, as a make-good and Crochet is out of the inning. At least the error by Marcelo didn’t prolong the inning.
Crochet’s pitch count 63 after 4.
Misiorowski continues mowing ‘em down, although we get another contact out, he whiffs the next guy to bring his total to 7. His career high, Dave tells me, is 12, but of course he’s had only 70 or so major league innings.
Nice piece of hitting on a 2-2, two out situation by Willson Contreras, on a low curve outside the zone, to punch it to right field for the first Sox hit of the night. Just a little more oomph and it would have been a double to wall. The Sox are at least getting the kid’s pitch count up, as he’s about to close in on 60. And they’ve got him out of the stretch, which seems to take 2 MPH off the fastball.
Wilyer has worked a full count with two outs, so there’s a nice situation. OH DAMN CALLED OUT ON A STRIKE but Wilyer calls an ABS challenge. And loses. But it was a decent ABS challenge. I think Wilyer’s head is just off the ball there. The hitter is always at a disadvantage on ABS calls because he has the worst angle on the ball of the four parties involved (pitcher, catcher, umpire). Inning over, another K.
Eight Ks through for for Miz, but his PC is now 63.
Crochet has a nifty 1-2-3 inning, PC 74, and we’re at the halfway point.
Misiorowski’s fastball is flagging at 97. I’m kidding, of course. 97 is FAST. Just not as fast as 101.
Trevor grounds out; Marcelo really hangs in there fouling off some pitches, but… is called out on strikes. Number 9. Cedanne works a 3-1 count and then turns on a fastball and gets a sharp single to second for the second Sox hit, and brings Connor Wong up. Connor is 5 for 10 on the season coming into this game. Ooh, the Sox catch a break and a muffed curve hits Connor! First and second, two outs, PC up to 82. IKF up at crunch time: but a weak ground out ends it. At least we’ve gotten a runner to scoring position! Also, we can only strike out 18 times in 9 IP now, so no K records are falling tonight.
Crochet gives up a one out hit, but gets the next guy to fly out to Abreu. Odd mound visit from Connor with a 1-1 count; maybe discussing strategy. Works a great count against Sanchez to 3-2 and gets him called. Sanchez challenges…and loses! A bonus, the Brewers are down to one challenge, just like the Sox.
Misiorowski continues mowing ‘em down, although we get another contact out, he whiffs the next guy to bring his total to 7. His career high, Dave tells me, is 12, but of course he’s had only 70 or so major league innings.
Nice piece of hitting on a 2-2, two out situation by Willson Contreras, on a low curve outside the zone, to punch it to right field for the first Sox hit of the night. Just a little more oomph and it would have been a double to wall. The Sox are at least getting the kid’s pitch count up, as he’s about to close in on 60. And they’ve got him out of the stretch, which seems to take 2 MPH off the fastball.
Wilyer has worked a full count with two outs, so there’s a nice situation. OH DAMN CALLED OUT ON A STRIKE but Wilyer calls an ABS challenge. And loses. But it was a decent ABS challenge. I think Wilyer’s head is just off the ball there. The hitter is always at a disadvantage on ABS calls because he has the worst angle on the ball of the four parties involved (pitcher, catcher, umpire). Inning over, another K.
Eight Ks through for for Miz, but his PC is now 63.
Crochet has a nifty 1-2-3 inning, PC 74, and we’re at the halfway point.
Misiorowski’s fastball is flagging at 97. I’m kidding, of course. 97 is FAST. Just not as fast as 101.
Trevor grounds out; Marcelo really hangs in there fouling off some pitches, but… is called out on strikes. Number 9. Cedanne works a 3-1 count and then turns on a fastball and gets a sharp single to second for the second Sox hit, and brings Connor Wong up. Connor is 5 for 10 on the season coming into this game. Ooh, the Sox catch a break and a muffed curve hits Connor! First and second, two outs, PC up to 82. IKF up at crunch time: but a weak ground out ends it. At least we’ve gotten a runner to scoring position! Also, we can only strike out 18 times in 9 IP now, so no K records are falling tonight.
Crochet gives up a one out hit, but gets the next guy to fly out to Abreu. Odd mound visit from Connor with a 1-1 count; maybe discussing strategy. Works a great count against Sanchez to 3-2 and gets him called. Sanchez challenges…and loses! A bonus, the Brewers are down to one challenge, just like the Sox.
Gary Sanchez is number 99. How many number 99s have there been in major league baseball? I know of course Judge, and Alex Verdugo on the Sox….Sanchez the internet tells me switched to 99 in 2023. The only other one I can find is So Taguchi, who had 1369 AB wearing #99. Manny Ramirez wore #99 twice in his post-Sox career but didn’t make it to 500 AB, the arbitrary representation of a single whole season I have chosen for our threshold. There’s a couple of pitchers I can remember — at least Turk Wendell — but it’s more of a pitchers’ number, anyway.
Well, on to the bottom of the sixth, third time through the lineup, and it’s still 0-0.
Mix gets strike three called on Anthony and that’s his 10th K of the game. Roman looking awkward up there.
Duran works to 3-0 on a 91 PC on Miz. Ball 4! Now we are cooking a little, with some wheels out there, and one out, and our big bats coming up…! And…a four pitch walk to Contreras, which brings out the pitching coach to the mound, and Abreu up. They were a little late to get a guy up in the pen. 96 pitches for Misiorowski. Ball one almost hits the bull mascot! The LaLouche comparison is apt, he has just lost it, ten straight balls. Eleven! Not that I would put the take sign on Wilyer…but he has to get the take sign here. Oh, finally, Misiorowski gets a strike. But it’s still three balls. BALL FOUR THE BASES HAVE BEEN WALKED FULL! With that he gets the hook on 101 pitches and three runners on with one out.
Mix gets strike three called on Anthony and that’s his 10th K of the game. Roman looking awkward up there.
Duran works to 3-0 on a 91 PC on Miz. Ball 4! Now we are cooking a little, with some wheels out there, and one out, and our big bats coming up…! And…a four pitch walk to Contreras, which brings out the pitching coach to the mound, and Abreu up. They were a little late to get a guy up in the pen. 96 pitches for Misiorowski. Ball one almost hits the bull mascot! The LaLouche comparison is apt, he has just lost it, ten straight balls. Eleven! Not that I would put the take sign on Wilyer…but he has to get the take sign here. Oh, finally, Misiorowski gets a strike. But it’s still three balls. BALL FOUR THE BASES HAVE BEEN WALKED FULL! With that he gets the hook on 101 pitches and three runners on with one out.
What’s a better radio ad — ‘we give a poop about your poop’ from a plumber or ‘for when you have control problems’ from an adult diaper company after a walk? Number 2 or number 1?
The Brewers bring in DL Hall, a lefty, and another converted starter who had a ton of promise, not unlike Woodford and Ashby. This is how the Brewers keep producing pitching: they make adjustments in how they’re used early in their careers, but always have starter-capable guys out in the pen.
Well, of course it’s Trevor Story, with two more guys in scoring position. OH TREVOR COMES THROUGH! On an 0-2 count he rips a double down the line, scoring two! Sox up 2-0. Ball was up in the zone and Trevor swung through it beautifully. Now we need to put up some crooked(er) numbers….
Durbin pinch hitting for Marcelo, going with the matchups against the lefty. AC on tap for a Genius Point. Durbin hits a tapper at the drawn in infield, but the Sox are moving on contact, and the run comes in, two out and three across. 3-0. RBI for Durbin despite hitting the ball about fifty feet. No genius point for AC but we’ll take it.
Cedanne is up and I will use “due” for him, not quite “overdue”. A knock is another run with Story at third. But he grounds out to short.
Well, we’ll take it. All three of those runs are hung on Misiorowski, who took an outstanding outing and turned it into a mediocre one on 13 pitches. I blame the Milwaukee management here: they should have pulled the plug on a low PC outing at this point in the season and taken their chances with the pen. But, as a Sox fan, I will simply cackle with glee and try to forestall my sense of dread going into the seventh.
IKF moves to second, Durbin stays in the game at third.
Well, of course it’s Trevor Story, with two more guys in scoring position. OH TREVOR COMES THROUGH! On an 0-2 count he rips a double down the line, scoring two! Sox up 2-0. Ball was up in the zone and Trevor swung through it beautifully. Now we need to put up some crooked(er) numbers….
Durbin pinch hitting for Marcelo, going with the matchups against the lefty. AC on tap for a Genius Point. Durbin hits a tapper at the drawn in infield, but the Sox are moving on contact, and the run comes in, two out and three across. 3-0. RBI for Durbin despite hitting the ball about fifty feet. No genius point for AC but we’ll take it.
Cedanne is up and I will use “due” for him, not quite “overdue”. A knock is another run with Story at third. But he grounds out to short.
Well, we’ll take it. All three of those runs are hung on Misiorowski, who took an outstanding outing and turned it into a mediocre one on 13 pitches. I blame the Milwaukee management here: they should have pulled the plug on a low PC outing at this point in the season and taken their chances with the pen. But, as a Sox fan, I will simply cackle with glee and try to forestall my sense of dread going into the seventh.
IKF moves to second, Durbin stays in the game at third.
IKF says he hates the nickname, but broadcaster continue to use it because what alternative do they have? That’s 8 syllables reduced to three. Come up with a monosyllabic nickname, IKF, and we’ll use it. “Icky” is available.
Crochet starts out with 94 pitches but, you know, he earns ten billion dollars a year, we’re going to get our money’s worth out him. Pinch hitter singles right away but Garrett comes back with a strikeout, then Frelick singles to right, and we have first and second with one out and the tying run (ugh) at the plate with Crochet’s pitch count up to 100.
Abreu makes nice plays even when the balls fall in: the ball could easily have skipped by him into the Brunansky corner, but he one-hops it. Subtle is the art of excellent defense. 90% of the game is half mental.
Bottom of the order, Blake Perkins, who is a fifth outfielder hitting .174 up next followed by our old friend David Hamilton. I doubt Crochet will get more than that. He runs the count to 3-2 on Perkins. AND WALKS HIM DAMMIT. Now we’ve got the bases loaded and one out. They have to go to a leveraged reliever. Hamilton is hard to double off. But…Andrew Bailey goes out there for the mound visit, so Crochet will get at least one more batter.
Hamilton has been working on his bunts, as yesterday proved, so…would he do a safety squeeze?
Well never find out because Crochet hits him and it’s just as bad as walking a guy in. Bases loaded, one out, 3-1. Now Zack Kelly comes on and it’s the top of the order, and Turang and Yelich both on the bench. Crochet can actually still lose this game.
Both starters got pushed a little too far this game, and now we’ll find out if the relievers with inherited runners match up as poorly.
Yelich indeed pinch hitting. He’s hitting .395 with 9 RBI in the second week of the season…
Double play ground ball to Durbin, but he bobbles and stumbles, and can only get the runner at second. Run scores, two outs, 3-2 Red Sox. Durbin really has not looked good out there this year. Our whole left side of the infield, outside of IKF’s stints, has been shaky.
OK, huge huge AB here. Tying run on third, go ahead run on first.
Yelich steals without a play, now two runners in scoring position. 2-1 cont on the younger Contreras. Kelly comes outside with a breaking ball and we’re at 2-2. Huge pitch call here…Contreras takes time, nice tactical choice.
And…it’s a ground to second, very nice play by Trevor! We gave up two…but 3-2 feels like a huge victory given the game situation. We go to the bottom of the 7th with a lead, and Slaten and Chapman on tap. Nice two batter outing by Kelly. Another failure to make a shutdown inning though.
Bottom of the 7th, bottom of the order, 8-9-1. Wong and IKF go quietly and Roman strikes out. Dammit I would have to have at least one lead where we didn’t have to agonized about the bullpen.
Bit of a surprise: Whitlock on again after getting the loss yesterday. But presumably he’s rested after the paternity leave and he is technically our best reliever (sorry Chappy).
TV cuts to Zack Kelly and Garrett Crochet sharing some yuks on the bench. The Brotherhood of Pitchers is strong.
Whitlock induces a leadoff groundout to Rengifo and Gary Sanchez is up in the cleanup spot, whom he whiffs. MUST NOT JINX US MUST NOT JINX US. Joey Ortiz up. Groundout to short! Deftly done by Trevor! 1-2-3 in the 8th! Oh boy. Oh god. Please send us some insurance runs.
Duran, Contreras, and Abreu to open the inning, and that’s as good as we can get unless Yoshida pinch hits. Yes, I said it. Yoshida has an .875 OPS and 3 RBI on the year, which is like a quarter of our RBI. I exaggerate. Maybe not.
Abreu makes nice plays even when the balls fall in: the ball could easily have skipped by him into the Brunansky corner, but he one-hops it. Subtle is the art of excellent defense. 90% of the game is half mental.
Bottom of the order, Blake Perkins, who is a fifth outfielder hitting .174 up next followed by our old friend David Hamilton. I doubt Crochet will get more than that. He runs the count to 3-2 on Perkins. AND WALKS HIM DAMMIT. Now we’ve got the bases loaded and one out. They have to go to a leveraged reliever. Hamilton is hard to double off. But…Andrew Bailey goes out there for the mound visit, so Crochet will get at least one more batter.
Hamilton has been working on his bunts, as yesterday proved, so…would he do a safety squeeze?
Well never find out because Crochet hits him and it’s just as bad as walking a guy in. Bases loaded, one out, 3-1. Now Zack Kelly comes on and it’s the top of the order, and Turang and Yelich both on the bench. Crochet can actually still lose this game.
Both starters got pushed a little too far this game, and now we’ll find out if the relievers with inherited runners match up as poorly.
Yelich indeed pinch hitting. He’s hitting .395 with 9 RBI in the second week of the season…
Double play ground ball to Durbin, but he bobbles and stumbles, and can only get the runner at second. Run scores, two outs, 3-2 Red Sox. Durbin really has not looked good out there this year. Our whole left side of the infield, outside of IKF’s stints, has been shaky.
OK, huge huge AB here. Tying run on third, go ahead run on first.
Yelich steals without a play, now two runners in scoring position. 2-1 cont on the younger Contreras. Kelly comes outside with a breaking ball and we’re at 2-2. Huge pitch call here…Contreras takes time, nice tactical choice.
And…it’s a ground to second, very nice play by Trevor! We gave up two…but 3-2 feels like a huge victory given the game situation. We go to the bottom of the 7th with a lead, and Slaten and Chapman on tap. Nice two batter outing by Kelly. Another failure to make a shutdown inning though.
Bottom of the 7th, bottom of the order, 8-9-1. Wong and IKF go quietly and Roman strikes out. Dammit I would have to have at least one lead where we didn’t have to agonized about the bullpen.
Bit of a surprise: Whitlock on again after getting the loss yesterday. But presumably he’s rested after the paternity leave and he is technically our best reliever (sorry Chappy).
TV cuts to Zack Kelly and Garrett Crochet sharing some yuks on the bench. The Brotherhood of Pitchers is strong.
Whitlock induces a leadoff groundout to Rengifo and Gary Sanchez is up in the cleanup spot, whom he whiffs. MUST NOT JINX US MUST NOT JINX US. Joey Ortiz up. Groundout to short! Deftly done by Trevor! 1-2-3 in the 8th! Oh boy. Oh god. Please send us some insurance runs.
Duran, Contreras, and Abreu to open the inning, and that’s as good as we can get unless Yoshida pinch hits. Yes, I said it. Yoshida has an .875 OPS and 3 RBI on the year, which is like a quarter of our RBI. I exaggerate. Maybe not.
I FREAKING LOVE HEARING THE CROWD SING SWEET CAROLINE A CAPELLA.
Jarren gets some wood on the ball but it dies on the centerfield warning track. Contreras draws a walk — the Sox’ fifth on the night — and man does he look great at the plate, even when he’s taking a pitch, like he’s always got an idea up there. I wonder if he has an all-star season (as a first baseman) in him.
Second challenge by the Brewers, and they miss on a ball well high. They are out of challenges! Dumb time to use it up, given they need a run and could use it in the top of the 9th. Count runs to 3-2 with one out and a runner on first…
Gerf, slow grounder, the Brewers get the lead runner, leaving Abreu at first base and two out, and a pitching change for the visitors. Flyout after the reliever comes in and that’s it.
On to the 9th!
Chapman gets the first out on an easy fly ball, and we’re down to the bottom of the order now, with Frelick the number 7 hitter up. But he walks him on four pitches and the tying run is on base. Chapman is terrible at holding runners on so we might as well move Frelick to second.
EXCEPT IT’S A FIRST PITCH SWING AND A DOUBLE PLAY BALL TO TREVOR! WE WIN! WE WIN! WE WIN! 3-2. I am not sure I have ever felt so relieved by a Sox win as I am right now.
TAKEAWAYS: Crochet was back to his game 1 ace form, but he was left out an inning too long. The Sox outlasted an ace in the making who whiffed them ten times, who was left out too long as well. Then they couldn’t get the shutdown inning, but limited the damage and for once at least kept the lead. The defense on the left side has looked shaky but it came up with plays when we needed them. Chapman did what he’s paid for and came up with the save.
Second challenge by the Brewers, and they miss on a ball well high. They are out of challenges! Dumb time to use it up, given they need a run and could use it in the top of the 9th. Count runs to 3-2 with one out and a runner on first…
Gerf, slow grounder, the Brewers get the lead runner, leaving Abreu at first base and two out, and a pitching change for the visitors. Flyout after the reliever comes in and that’s it.
On to the 9th!
Chapman gets the first out on an easy fly ball, and we’re down to the bottom of the order now, with Frelick the number 7 hitter up. But he walks him on four pitches and the tying run is on base. Chapman is terrible at holding runners on so we might as well move Frelick to second.
EXCEPT IT’S A FIRST PITCH SWING AND A DOUBLE PLAY BALL TO TREVOR! WE WIN! WE WIN! WE WIN! 3-2. I am not sure I have ever felt so relieved by a Sox win as I am right now.
TAKEAWAYS: Crochet was back to his game 1 ace form, but he was left out an inning too long. The Sox outlasted an ace in the making who whiffed them ten times, who was left out too long as well. Then they couldn’t get the shutdown inning, but limited the damage and for once at least kept the lead. The defense on the left side has looked shaky but it came up with plays when we needed them. Chapman did what he’s paid for and came up with the save.
