caulfield12

Great start, key out always the first of the inning in a closing situation (Quotes Hawk/Stone Pony)

Josh Hamilton just added another $10-20 million to his next contract negotiation.

Cabrera, Santana and Duncan. Wouldn't be surprised to see Hafner pop up, either.

Morel, off to Charlotte with thee after this one. He's reached the point of no return with his slump.

I don't think this message board can take 2 blown saves in a single game. Let's go Addison, please lock down the closer's job.

They thought we were going for the suicide squeeze there? Hmmmm...

QUOTE (greg775 @ May 8, 2012 -> 08:56 PM) Rios back on track again finding the gap. He was all over that pitch. I thought you gave up last inning when the inevitable walk-off transpired.

Wow, twice in one season Rios saves the Sox. At least he's not completely useless.

Pujols 0/3, .192, 1 LOB. AJ pops up. Can Rios come up with his second huge "momentum-shifting" hit of the season after the HR off Nathan?

Indians going for the one inning knockout blow with Chris Perez in the game. They smell a little blood in the water and want to take us out now.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 8, 2012 -> 07:46 PM) Balta has me on "Morel radar" where he responds to any and all Morel comments I make It's starting to approach the Brian Anderson days. Well, progess! We didn't just completely fold. Wasn't pretty, though.

Konerko or AJ dinger our only chance seemingly. Sipp should come in for AJ. Don't think they want to burn Joe Smith or Pestano on just one hitter. We'll see. Assuming that we use Reed as closer and not Reed or Santiago, lol.

Of course, now he gives up a hit on a slider. Sigh.

6/7 pitches the same speed there. That's not going to work as a strategy for much longer.

Now Santiago's velocity is down 2-3 MPH on the fastball. Seems like he is aiming now and not throwing free and easy. Now comes trouble with Kotchmann and Hannahan. That was the one easy out in the sequence.

Santiago over Nathan Jones? Is Ventura insane? Seriously, you go with the guy who has the best stuff and who hasn't give up 5 homers in about 10 IP.

QUOTE (Baron @ May 8, 2012 -> 07:33 PM) I dont see Texas being able to keep him. With their new media/tv deal down there, ANYTHING is possible for the Rangers, seemingly. I wouldn't be surprised if they kept him somehow. The only big concern they have right now seems to be Nelson Cruz's hangover from missing that play which would have ended the Series. He's struggling big-time out of the gate.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ May 8, 2012 -> 07:30 PM) Which is why reed should have been in the game yesterday. I am not sure why other teams will over use their pen yet all we hear is how overworked the sox pen is. If Stewart and Jones are not going to be used send them down. Sox pen had the fewest or second fewest innings in the AL coming into the DHer yesterday. That Quintana effort might have bumped us out of 1st, not sure.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 8, 2012 -> 07:29 PM) Then you let him start the inning if you're willing to have him pitch 2 innings. Trying to get the CG shutout for Danks screwed Ventura there. He should have left well enough alone and not pushed him and taken him out of the game with only good thoughts to rest upon. Now he doesn't even have a Win to show for that effort. Danks already had mid 90's in terms of pitch count, did we really want to put him in the 115-125 range to get a CG with how shaky he's been this season?

Hagadone, this guy has very good stuff, he toyed with us last time we faced him.

Chris Sale just threw 26 max effort pitches there that inning. Lovely idea. Maybe they are intentionally trying to blow out his elbow and just get TJ over with sooner rather than later.

Zach Stewart for next inning when the game's tied? LOL Not that it matters what I think, but they might as well use Jones in the bottom of the 9th if the game is still a game (meaning the Indians haven't already scored again here).

Well, this wasn't predictable! Four fastballs in a row to Santana, 93-96 MPH, the fourth was one center cut and right in the middle of his happy hitting zone.

93-94-95 with the fastball. That's not going to work in high leverage late inning situations. I don't think I can stand to watch. If Sale blows this one, you're going to have even more of a closer controversy with Addison Reed saying "what the hell do I have to do to get a chance?" "What haven't I proven?"

And Sale's only at 95 or 96. That high 90's fastball is missing.