8/29 @ Cleveland

[Maxbialystock]

Houck vs. Morgan.

Game is at 1:10 pm

Both righties, ERA edge to Houck, 3.43 to 5.98. Houck averages about 4 innings per start, so once again the bullpen will be needed big time.

Best fix is for the lineup to hammer Morgan, et al, and make it easy on the pitching staff.

As for bullpen, Ottavino and Sawamura are likely unavailable. Barnes and Robles are rested. I think Richards, Whitlock, Taylor, and Davis can be available. What makes today harder is that tomorrow begins a 4 game series at Tampa, a team that is sure to test our pitching and hitting.

Renfroe should be back today, so I think Cora will choose between Dalbec at 1b with Schwarber in LF vs. Duran in CF and Schwarber at 1B. Arauz keeps 2b because Arroyo and Kike are both out. Vazquez has caught 5 straight games, so Plawecki should be catching Houck today. His OBP of .361 suggests he could even lead off.

[TylerD]

Let’s get the sweep!!!

[moonslav59]

Houck vs. Morgan.

Game is at 1:10 pm

Both righties, ERA edge to Houck, 3.43 to 5.98. Houck averages about 4 innings per start, so once again the bullpen will be needed big time.

Best fix is for the lineup to hammer Morgan, et al, and make it easy on the pitching staff.

As for bullpen, Ottavino and Sawamura are likely unavailable. Barnes and Robles are rested. I think Richards, Whitlock, Taylor, and Davis can be available. What makes today harder is that tomorrow begins a 4 game series at Tampa, a team that is sure to test our pitching and hitting.

Renfroe should be back today, so I think Cora will choose between Dalbec at 1b with Schwarber in LF vs. Duran in CF and Schwarber at 1B. Arauz keeps 2b because Arroyo and Kike are both out. Vazquez has caught 5 straight games, so Plawecki should be catching Houck today. His OBP of .361 suggests he could even lead off.

Plawecki has a .258 OPS over his last 7 games. That time frame coincides with the time some of us, myself included, we saying he should play more. Some, not me, wanted him to be the starting catcher over Vaz.

I would sit Dalbec vs the RHP and give Duran another game. I'm not sure I'd lead Duran off, though. Maybe something like this:

1. Verdugo LF
2. Schwarber 1B
3. JD DH
4. Devers 3B
5. Bogey SS
6. Renfroe RF
7. Plawecki C
8. Arauz 2B
9. Duran CF

[moonslav59]

1. Schwarber LF
2. Devers 3B (what a mighty 1-2!)
3. JD DH
4. Bogey SS
5. Verdugo RF
6. Plawecki C
7. Dalbec 1B
8. Duran CF
9. Arauz 2B

[Maxbialystock]

1. Schwarber LF
2. Devers 3B (what a mighty 1-2!)
3. JD DH
4. Bogey SS
5. Verdugo RF
6. Plawecki C
7. Dalbec 1B
8. Duran CF
9. Arauz 2B

Makes sense. Dalbec, Duran, and Arauz--newbies to the rear.

[Maxbialystock]

Are they going to play this game?

[Jasonbay44]

I’m confused at what’s even happening. According to Christian Vazquez Snapchat they’ve been in a “rain delay” for over an hour but it hasn’t rained…

[moonslav59]

It was sunny with blue skies, at game time.

[Maxbialystock]

It was sunny with blue skies, at game time.

That's also what nesn is reporting. Didn't we do this once already with the Yankees?

[Maxbialystock]

Don't forget it's the home team, not MLB and not the umpires, who decides when the game will start.

[Jasonbay44]

It was sunny with blue skies, at game time.

Based on pictures and videos I’ve seen on Snapchat, it looks to still be the case. I don’t get why stuff like this is allowed

[Maxbialystock]

NESN says the pitchers had already warmed up when the delay was announced.

[Maxbialystock]

Based on pictures and videos I’ve seen on Snapchat, it looks to still be the case. I don’t get why stuff like this is allowed

The Cleveland team makes the call, not the umps. Once the game starts, the umps take over on further delays, postponement, whatever.

[moonslav59]

Based on pictures and videos I’ve seen on Snapchat, it looks to still be the case. I don’t get why stuff like this is allowed

It's like that Yankee fiasco that was around the time the tide turned.

[Jasonbay44]

The Cleveland team makes the call, not the umps. Once the game starts, the umps take over on further delays, postponement, whatever.

I get that. I just don’t get why the Indians would be allowed to delay a start when it’s not even raining.