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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2011 3:25:56 GMT -5
[shadow=red,left,300]Portland Beavers (13-20) @ Boston Red Sox (17-16)[/shadow]
POR: Ricky Nolasco (1-5, 6.93 ERA) BOS: Carlos Torres (2-3, 4.67 ERA)
After a torrid start, the Red Sox have lost 15 of 22 and are sitting only a game above .500 in the treacherous AL East. Their latest defeat, an 8-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox which included a Brock Kjeldgaard grand slam, places Boston three games behind the Yankees.
It's easy to see where the Red Sox have faltered this season, with their starting staff posted an ERA well over five. Boston has struggled to get quality starts this year and as a result, they've had trouble keeping runs off the board.
Carlos Torres is part of that underwhelming staff, though his 4.67 ERA is one of the team's better marks. He gave up 10 hits and five runs in a loss to Tampa Bay his last time out, but he usually hits the strike zone and doesn't beat himself. In fact, he's allowed more than two walks only once this season.
The team's offense has also cooled off. After posting seven runs or more six times in the team's first two weeks, they've done it only once since then. Boston is in the strange position of being third in average and fifth in OPS---but only eleventh in runs as the team hasn't hit with runners in scoring position. Newcomer Miguel Cabrera has been the prime reason why Boston has struggled in the clutch. He's only hitting .173 with runners in scoring position, and hitting only .190 with a .286 slugging mark in close and late situations.
Fortunately for Boston, they'll have an opponent on their hands that is struggling to win games. Portland sits at 13-20, eight games out in the AL West. The team is last in the AL in batting, and though their pitching has been okay, Ricky Nolasco deserves none of the credit. Nolasco is 1-5 with an ERA near seven for the Beavers. With Nolasco owed three more seasons at $36 million, Portland doesn't have many good options with what to do with him should he continue to falter.
The Beavers' other former Yankee, Alex Rodriguez, has turned things around in May with a .273 average after a frigid .177 April. If the Beavers want to get any offense at all, they'll need Rodriguez to get hot and stay hot.
Questions for the GM's.
For John Templon, How much rope do you give Nolasco in this start if he doesn't pitch well, and furthermore, how much rope do you give him this season?
Justin Morneau has done very little hitting to start the season. What do you think the cause of that is?
Carlos Torres doesn't issue many walks. Will you put in more free swingers to your lineup to take advantage of that?
For Derek Bobola, your pitching has been poor to start the year. What do you do with Carlos Torres if he has another poor outing?
Miguel Cabrera has really struggled in pressure situations. Why do you think that is?
While Wang-wei Lin has given you some solid swings, he isn't hitting for the power that is almost required of a first baseman or DH. Do you continue to employ his singles-hitting style or do you look for other options to supply the pop your team lacks?
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Post by AstrosGM_Shane on Sept 4, 2011 3:27:52 GMT -5
Portland wins by 8 runs is my prediction!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2011 3:30:46 GMT -5
Portland wins by 8 runs is my prediction! 8-0 or 14-6?
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Post by AstrosGM_Shane on Sept 4, 2011 3:38:56 GMT -5
11-3 A-Rod has a killer game.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2011 9:11:56 GMT -5
For John Templon, How much rope do you give Nolasco in this start if he doesn't pitch well, and furthermore, how much rope do you give him this season? Well, this seems as good a time as any to announce that waiver wire pickup Manny Parra will actually be starting the game for Portland. We picked him up from Arizona last sim and think that he'll do better in Portland. Nolasco is being moved into middle relief and will try and make it work there for a little while after struggling mightily early in the season.
Justin Morneau has done very little hitting to start the season. What do you think the cause of that is? The funny thing is that at the last game of the week we were talking about how Morneau had been hitting so well. Unfortunately he's slumped lately and it's really impacted the offense. I've been trying to play the hot hand between him and Ryne White and so you'll see White higher in the lineup during this game and Morneau might get the week off.
Our offense though has been struggling a lot lately and there is an easy thing to point to: the injury to Curtis Granderson. Losing him screwed up our entire timing on offense and we just haven't been able to find the right fit in the lineup moving forward. In a few weeks when he comes back hopefully we can put a better product on the field.
Carlos Torres doesn't issue many walks. Will you put in more free swingers to your lineup to take advantage of that? We'll tell our hitters to continue to be patient because our 111 walks are the reason we're 15th in OBP instead of 16th, because our .240 batting average is the worst in the league by 6 points and behind leader Chicago but 61 points. Obviously I know what makes a good hitter and we'll find them but right now I'd say I have two or three hitters who I actually feel confident in when they're at the plate. (That's my Lane Kiffin moment!)
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Post by Derek _ Red Sox on Sept 4, 2011 22:53:00 GMT -5
For Derek Bobola, your pitching has been poor to start the year. What do you do with Carlos Torres if he has another poor outing?
Torres has been a solid contributor to the back end of our rotation over the last few seasons. I don't want to call Carlos out and threaten any kind of demotion as its out entire rotation who needs to get in order.
I believe we have one of our deepest teams yet so I'm not going to read too much into a bad stretch of games.
Miguel Cabrera has really struggled in pressure situations. Why do you think that is?
I think Miggy is still adapting to his new surroundings and we fully expect him to pick things up a bit. Despite a great first 10 games where things were clicking, we have been equally as bad since them. We always pride ourself on our offense and if we are going to turn it around it starts with Miggy.
While Wang-wei Lin has given you some solid swings, he isn't hitting for the power that is almost required of a first baseman or DH. Do you continue to employ his singles-hitting style or do you look for other options to supply the pop your team lacks?
Wang is suffering from a bit of a power outage. Wang is safe for the time being but if he continues to struggle then he could be moved around in the order a bit.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 5, 2011 8:03:12 GMT -5
Postgame Wrap:
Red Sox 5 - Beavers 4
Brian Wilson hadn't recorded a save requiring more than three outs all season long. However, with the Red Sox scuffling, and with their bullpen forced to piece together 8.2 innings after Carlos Torres was knocked out in the first, Wilson was called upon to get the final five outs in a one-run game against the Beavers.
He delivered admirably.
After walking the first batter he faced in the eighth, Wilson retired the next five Beavers in order to record his ninth save of the season for a Red Sox team desperate for wins.
Carlos Torres labored through the first three hitters of the game, favoring his shoulder the entire time. Finally, the Red Sox training staff shut him down and pulled him after recording only one out. The diagnosis is inflammation, which will take months to heal, probably ending Torres' season.
With Torres down, Boston's bullpen pieced together a strong outing. Jensen Lewis and Matt Daley bridged the gap to the fifth, not allowing a run in the process. Junichi Tazawa allowed a run in two innings, and Jonathan Niese struggled in the seventh, allowing a double to Lars Anderson and a single to Chris Snyder to start the inning---both men scored to give Portland a 4-3 lead.
Boston was game for a comeback. Though Wang-wei Lin hasn't produced the pop he was expected to, he's still hit at a reasonable clip. His two out double off Manny Parra brought home two runs and was a more than reasonable way to give Boston the lead. Niese got the first out in the eighth before Wilson's heroics.
Manny Parra deserved better luck for Portland. He gave up three runs in the fourth after a leadoff error by Alex Rodriguez allowed B.J. Upton to reach base. Upton scored on a one-out single by Wladimir Balentien before Alfonso Toledo and Hanley Ramirez brought home runs with two-out hits.
Questions for the GM's.
For John Templon, Alex Rodriguez committed a bad error in the field, and stranded two important runners in the seventh inning with a weak fly out. However, he also had a clean RBI single early in the game. Asses A-Rod's performance.
Manny Parra made his first start of the year as a Beaver. How do you think he looked?
Wang-wei Lin hadn't hit for much power this season. Is that a reason why Parra threw such a hittable 1-2 pitch that Lin clocked for a double?
For Derek Bobola, talk about how your pen was able to pull out a win despite your starter going down early.
What was more a factor in the five out save. Torres going down early or your team's desperation for a win?
Lin had been maligned for his lack of power, but he sure came through with a huge double. How does that clutch at bat change your assessment of him?
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Post by Derek _ Red Sox on Sept 5, 2011 8:36:59 GMT -5
For Derek Bobola, talk about how your pen was able to pull out a win despite your starter going down early.
We really needed a win to get set in the right direction and I think everyone on our team has sensed that so the bullpen deserves a lot of credit for coming through during adversity and helping pull out a W.
I have a lot of faith in this bullpen, like I do with the entire team, and I'm hoping this was a sign to come.
What was more a factor in the five out save. Torres going down early or your team's desperation for a win?
We definitely needed a win tonight, not because of the standings but because I think our guys are beginning to press a little too much. Things are tough right now but its not like this season is lost, we are still very early in and anything can happen in this game.
The reason Wilson got the 5-out save tonight was because the way we had to go to our pen early and it brought some guys out of position.
Lin had been maligned for his lack of power, but he sure came through with a huge double. How does that clutch at bat change your assessment of him?
It was a great at-bat for Wang, but I'll say this, no matter what Wang always plays hard (pun intended). I was happy that Wang delivered and didn't up short as that could always be a difficult moment for anybody when your in a funk (pun intended again).
As far as my assessment of him, one at bat won't change my feelings towards him. I think he is a very good young player who will have his ups and downs like everyone but in the end I think we will see more good days than bad. The power is there but most of the time its the last thing to come around so we will continue to be patient and I think it will pay off in the end.
** ON A SIDE NOTE **
What a tough week again for our team. We lost 2 of 3 to Portland after a nice team effort to take game 1, and then losing 2 of 3 to the Yankees, both in extra innings, hurt us but we were able to take the final game to salvage something.
The American League is tough this year and we could be fighting for a Division title or Wild-Card spot all season and I don't think it will be like years past where it was a Boston/Tampa, Boston/Seattle race for both spots.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 5, 2011 9:38:36 GMT -5
For John Templon, Alex Rodriguez committed a bad error in the field, and stranded two important runners in the seventh inning with a weak fly out. However, he also had a clean RBI single early in the game. Asses A-Rod's performance. I think it's pretty obvious at this point that A-Rod shouldn't be playing the field at third base, but he's the best option we've got at the hot corner at the moment, especially if we want to continue putting two first basemen in the lineup. You've got to take the good (hit hitting most of the time) with the bad (his fielding most of the time) with a player, even a great one, this advanced in age. Manny Parra made his first start of the year as a Beaver. How do you think he looked? Parra came out and delivered a strong opening performance as a Beaver. He gave up just two earned runs and if A-Rod makes that play we're probably talking about a win in his first start. I was really pleased to see that type of performance. Unfortunately he was only able to throw three innings in his next start before going down with an injury. Wang-wei Lin hadn't hit for much power this season. Is that a reason why Parra threw such a hittable 1-2 pitch that Lin clocked for a double? Parra is the type of guy that's going to challenge hitters and hope to keep the ball on the ground when they hit it. That's why we went and got him, we like that attitude in our staff. Sometimes the guy makes the most of a pitch. Lin is a hitter that's struggled a bit this season in the power department, but everyone knows he can be pretty dangerous. And finally... 4-2 week!!!! Won both my series last week against Boston and Oakland. Definitely the best week in Beavers history and somehow I'm in 4th in the AL West.
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