TWiB Notes -- April 15-21

[Frayed Knot]

Briefly last night, the Yanx were up 8-0 on the Sox right about the same time that the Mets were down 10-0.

That's a Tuesday that's so depressing it should be an honorary Monday





-- The reason for the blowout in the Bronx was Chris Sale coughing up 4 earned on 7 hits over 5 innings, which puts his season line to date at an ugly: 0-4; 8.50 ERA and 1.56 WHIP

This follows his 2018 Red Sox season where he went 12-4; 2.11; 0.86 WHIP

All this also comes on the heels of the five-year $145 million extension he signed three weeks ago, the one that doesn't even kick in until next year (2020-2024).

Yeah four starts is a small sample size, but for a skinny guy (6' 6" / 180) who just turned 30 (week after the extension) and has a history of fading late in seasons,

this is not what Sawx fans want to see.



And how weird is it that a Yanx/Sawx game comes in at just 2:23?

Not only is that shorter than every single NYM game this season but it's 45 minutes (or more) shorter than all but our opening day tilt







-- Christian Yelich vs StL in 2019: 6 games; 28 PA; 11-for-21 plus 7 BBs (3 K) and those 11 hits consist of 2 singles, 1 double and 8 HRs; 524/643/1714//2357

And just think Cards fans, only 13 more games to go.

And youse guys want to complain about the piddling shit that Freddie does to us. Hah! That ain't nuthin'

[Frayed Knot]

- The BoSox travel to Tampa (St Pete actually) for a weekend series starting tonight where they'll face a Rays team that's already eight games ahead of them!

Obviously this is an important series for the 6-13 Sox who are trying to reverse their early season slide.

But one could argue that this also represents the first ever BIG series involving Tampa Bay and the month of April!

The 14-5 Rays currently hold leads of 5.5 games (over the Yanx), 6.5 (Balt), 6.5 (Tor) and 8.0 (Bos)





- a couple days ago, Cincy's Joey Votto did something he had never before done in the nearly 7,000 PA he's had in his ML career to date ... He popped out to 1st

Votto doesn't pop out a lot anyway; I think 88 in total was the number I read which translates into not much over 1% of his overall trips to the plate or closer to 2% if you just want to separate out his balls put into play.

But even with that, it's quite a statistical anomaly to have had NONE of those--fair or foul (this one was foul)--wind up in the mitt of the opposing 1st baseman.

And maybe the more interesting part of this to me was the idea that someone (or maybe even numerous someones) knew of this quirk and have been obsessively following Cincy box scores all this time just waiting for

this to finally happen, and then of course were then all set to pounce on the news as soon as it did.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Check out the fan interference on the alleged 3 run homer at MFY Stadium.



Reviewing it now

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

OUT!

[Edgy MD]

While Chelsea is on the case, can we retroactively declare 1996 Jeter out?

[Edgy MD]

David Wright couldn't stand being out of the game, so he was granted the chance to inhabit Freddie Galvis' body just for this weekend.

[Frayed Knot]

-- Christian Yelich hits HRs #s 12 & 13 Saturday in a 5-0 Milwaukee win over the Dodgers

He's currently on pace to hit 96 this season





-- So what's the answer to the age old question of how many Indian pitchers does it take to totally fuck up a big 9th inning lead? Apparently 'Four' is your answer.

The Braves, having already dropped the opener of their DH in Cleveland (rained out Friday night), found themselves down 7-0 after 2 innings in the night cap.

Still down 7-3 entering the 9th, they then scored five times after two were out and got out of there with a split.

Single , Line-out, Walk, Walk, K, 2-RBI Single, Walk, , RBI Walk , 2-RBI Double, Walk, Fly Out

Really Cleveland pitchers, five runs on Three hits and FIVE WALKS? Geez, at least make them earn it!

But least the Cleveland bats then made a fight of it in the bottom of the 9th: K, K, K vs the renown shut-down closer A. J. Minter

[MFS62]

Gio Gonzales just fired Scott Boras:

Just sayin'.

Later

[Edgy MD]

Oakland turns a jaw-dropping DP, as Ramón Laureano flies over the fence to snag a should-be homerun to center-left-center off the bat of Teoscar Hernandez.



Not satisfied with staggering everybody with what he can do with his wheels and his left arm. Laureano positions himself to show off his right one.



Baserunner Justin Smoak chose not to tag, but he seems to have forgotten that he's not fast, and he went a step or three past the alternative half-way option that they teach you. Laureano sets himself good and fires the ball a staggering ditance, pretty much the same length as it was just hit, but totally Céspedeses it — stunning people as much with the massive power of his arm as with how incredibly off his aim is.



Smoak, forgetting for a second time that he is not a fast man, breaks for second, But catcher Nick Hundley, showing the ol' Jerry Grote hustle in backing up first, makes a great effort to keep Laureno's Howitzer blast from going into the dugout, gets up and fires to second, to nail Smoaky.



Bam! The old 8-2-6. The best friend a pitcher never knew he had.

[Frayed Knot]

aka: your routine 8-2-6 DP



That announcer at the very beginning, in case you didn't recognize him as a former ballplayer or even as a fully-formed human being, was ex-Oakland hurler Dallas Braden

[Edgy MD]

Say what you want about receding glaciers, but it allowed us to find and thaw out Dallas Braden.