The ALDS roster includes only 10 pitchers. The extra player a third catcher, Kevin Cash, not Brandon Moss.
Tim Wakefield was left off the roster; Jon Lester replaces him.
The bench: Hinske, Cora, Ellsbury, Kielty, Mirabelli and Cash.
The seven-man pen: Papelbon, Okajima, Timlin, Gagne, Delcarmen, Lester and Lopez.
Francona discusses the Wakefield decision here.
In the MVP post, zenslinger asked:
ReplyDeleteAnd what's with the third catcher? Wouldn't Moss be of more bench utility than Cash?
Maybe they are worried that Mirabelli will pull something and they'll need Cash as backup for the backup.
Though with Wakefield out, why do they need Mirabelli at all? He's useless dead weight. So's Cash, pretty much (... and Hinske).
Hmmmm. Great bench we got there.
In a five-game series (tops), Moss and Cash won't see much, if any, action anyway. Unless a game goes 20 innings.
A SoSHer quotes from the PC:
ReplyDelete"Tito ... Terry"
"Please call me Terry"
"Sorry"
"It's better than asshole I guess"
and remarks: "Good ole live TV."
:>)
Yeah. I don't feel bad about our bench, though, apart from Dougie. Keilty's shown his experience and worth vs. lefties, especially when he had just joined the team, and Hinske's had his moments. Cora's solid. Ellsbury's the shit. What's not to like?
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I can go so far as to predict Slugo for MVP, but one of our downtrodden -- Lugo, Drew, or Gagne -- will come through.
How about this?
ReplyDeleteLBJ runs for Tek in the 7th or 8th, then Belli goes into catch. If the game goes into extras, you can still PH for the Stud and have Cash at C.
I might have preferred Corey or Lips over Belli or Cash, but I'm not going to pull my hair out.
I do wanna see Tito in Playoff Manager Mode as he promised, however.
I forgot that Lester and Ellsbury are taking the places of Donnelly and Clement on the eligible roster, so Corey would not be eligible if both of those guys went.
ReplyDeleteAnd I like Lester over Corey. Hopefully, in a short 1-2 inning stint, his control will be fine.
I don't know if I can go so far as to predict Slugo for MVP, but one of our downtrodden -- Lugo, Drew, or Gagne -- will come through.
ReplyDeleteNo awards in the DS, but I'm hoping Drew and Dimmer shut up the idiots.
I'm sticking with Slügö for ALCS MVP!
And I like Lester over Corey. Hopefully, in a short 1-2 inning stint, his control will be fine.
ReplyDeleteI think Lester could be a long man, if necessary. Coupled with Timlin, Lopez, Delcarmen, they could combine to get through a long game if necessary.
Francona on three catchers:
"In the five-game series, I think we're comfortable going 10 pitchers as long as there was health," Terry Francona said. "So we try to maximize everybody on thre roster by having the third catcher. We want [Jacoby] Ellsbury to be able to impact the game, if needed, and that can mean running for a number of different people.
"Now we have a catcher that we're comfortable with. We actually have two catchers we're comfortable with, but they have a little bit different skill set, so hopefully we can use both and just maximize the strengths of our players."
Playoff Manager Mode = what, exactly?
ReplyDeletethe suspense is killing me...
ReplyDeletePlayoff Manager Mode = what, exactly?
ReplyDeleteSoSHers reported that he explicitly said that he will manage different in the playoffs and will have a much shorter hook on pitchers. He was aggressive in 2004 and I look forward to seeing it again this week (and beyond).
Boston Herald's apparently saying ocoC is expecting to be traded on the offseason in favor of LBJ.
ReplyDeleteBoston Herald's apparently saying ocoC is expecting to be traded on the offseason in favor of LBJ.
ReplyDeleteNot unexpected.
Former Herald writer Howard Bryant has a stupendous feature on Slappy here.
ReplyDeleteStupendous? It seemed a little overblown to me. But I didn't read it carefully.
ReplyDeleteWay better and more insightful than most features. Nicely written as well.
ReplyDeletedoes anyone think that the indians have a chance in hell?
ReplyDeletei dont.
does anyone think that the indians have a chance in hell?
ReplyDeleteI do. Their Pitching > MFY Hitting.
Cleveland in 5 (maybe even 4).
Yes, I think Cleveland can beat the Yankees. That requires at least one good game from Sabathia, though.
ReplyDeleteAnd if the Yankees do get past the Indians, they'll be facing one of their two mortal enemies.
The 3 catchers is stupid.i am not sure if Tito has pinch ran for Varitek all season why would he now....You would have thought they would need a long guy like Tavarez or Snyder....
ReplyDeleteI do. Their Pitching > MFY Hitting
ReplyDeleteThe problem will be if they have to bring C.C. and Carmona back three days rest. What the Indians need to do is win the first two games. That then allows them the luxury of the full 4 days rest of C.C..
Should be an interesting series though.
As for Lowell and the MVP, I think that most of that is driven by the fact that when Manny and David were not producing RBI's at their usual rate, Lowell stepped up and led the team. Writers and Fans tend to get wrapped up in the RBI figures without giving any consideration to the fact that runs scored and RBI's are a function of the team.
Personally I thouth the Mas's grades in most cases where ridiculous. How can you give Coco a D. Plus if you are giving Drew, Lugo, Gagne and Coco below average grades there is no way you can give Theo a B+.
i'd be suprised, VERY suprised if the indians win that series. the yanks lineup is too good.
ReplyDelete