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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 29, 2022 3:10:49 GMT -5
Dan Shaughnessy @dan_Shaughnessy · 5h Most richly-deserved loss ever. Anti-vax Sox closer is back in Boston enjoying personal freedom, while Sox pen blows 5-4 lead in the 9th. Pen never got an out in the ninth. Sox are 2-7 vs. Jays, 7-16 vs. AL East. But everybody evidently ok with Tanner Houck quitting on team.
And Sox would play short-handed to indulge anti-vaxxers. While Sox bosses just stand back and let it all be.
Let's be clear: Houck chose to abandon his teammates. His personal freedom is more important.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 29, 2022 3:14:27 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK John Schreiber has transformed himself into a shutdown reliever in high-leverage situations By Alex Speier Globe Staff,Updated June 28, 2022, 8:47 p.m.
TORONTO — For the Red Sox, the emergence of John Schreiber as a shutdown late-innings reliever has been an extraordinary development.
Teammate Rich Hill suggested that the righthander warrants All-Star consideration for his dominance in high-leverage situations en route to a 0.79 ERA and 27-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 22 2/3 innings. Garrett Whitlock has taken to calling the righthander “Dr. Nasty.”
But for the Red Sox, Schreiber’s emergence has not been without consequence. Specifically, the typically unassuming righthander transforms into a maniacal force when on the mound and, when delivering key outs with the game in the balance, as he enters the dugout at the conclusion of an inning.
Schreiber, who pitched a scoreless seventh in the Red Sox’ 6-5 loss to the Blue Jays on Tuesday night, has taken to diving into the dugout with the most enthusiastic succession of high-fives since Koji Uehara burst onto the scene in 2013. His technique?
“Unconscious and firm,” he said.
At one point, his post-inning celebrations proved nearly injurious.
“I made the mistake one time of high-fiving him righthanded. I thought I broke my hand,” said Whitlock. “I was just like, ‘Alright, I’m high-fiving him lefthanded from here on out.’”
Schreiber chuckled at the characterizations, and acknowledged that his competitive demeanor is very different from who he is in the hours preceding games. Related: Red Sox bullpen can’t hold on to lead, Blue Jays win on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s walkoff single
“As a reliever, you’ve just got to be able to flip a switch and almost become a different person. I feel like that’s what I kind of do,” said Schreiber. “Whenever I can get a big out or get out of a big situation, I’m just really excited. Adrenaline just takes over.”
For the Red Sox, that transformation has occurred to considerable effect. Sea you again?
The Red Sox optioned righthander Connor Seabold back to Triple A Worcester, one day after he allowed seven runs over 4 2/3 innings against the Jays. But the righthander made a favorable impression while recording seven strikeouts and getting 21 swings-and-misses, most of those coming on his low-90s fastball and a vicious changeup that Seabold said he employed heavily out of necessity on a day when his slider was flat.
“I got a text message from David Price at 1 a.m. yesterday. He was like, ‘That kid is good.’ I was like, ‘Oh, thank you for watching,’” relayed manager Alex Cora. “There were a lot of positives from [Monday]. We want to make sure he understands that.”
The Sox may do just that in the most meaningful way possible this weekend. The team will need a fifth starter on Sunday against the Cubs following Rich Hill to the mound on Friday and Josh Winckowski on Saturday. (The team wants to give Michael Wacha, Tuesday night’s starter in Toronto, an extra day of rest before he starts on the July 4 against the Rays at Fenway.) Seabold is staying with the team on its taxi squad, and Cora said he is a strong possibility for Sunday’s start.
According to team sources, WooSox righthander Brayan Bello is not a consideration for Sunday’s game. Paxton getting antsy
Lefthander James Paxton is getting antsy in his rehab from Tommy John surgery.
“I haven’t felt like much of a baseball player for a while,” he said.
Paxton, who underwent the procedure in April 2021 and was nearing live batting practice sessions in May before he experienced elbow soreness that slowed his progress, has gotten up to 30-pitch bullpen sessions. He’s thrown only fastballs, but could add changeups as soon as Wednesday, with his breaking ball on the horizon. He hopes that either the week before or week after the All-Star break, he’ll be ready to throw live batting practice and start getting feedback from hitters.
Barring a setback, that timetable could put him in line for a rehab assignment in July and a potential return to the big leagues in mid-August. Paxton has talked with Chris Sale — who returned from his 2020 Tommy John surgery last August and contributed down the stretch — about the opportunity to return at that stage of the season and make an impact on the team’s playoff hopes.
“He just talked about what a grind it is mentally and physically, but once you do get back, how good you feel,” said Paxton. “I’m looking forward to feeling that and getting out there at my 100 percent.” Whitlock working his way back
Righthander Whitlock (hip), who is scheduled to throw a bullpen session and go through fielding drills on Friday in Chicago, likely will need a rehab assignment before he can return to the rotation, Cora said … Righthander Nate Eovaldi is likely to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday, which would mark the first time that he’s worked off a mound since landing on the injured list with lower back soreness on June 10 … Lefthander Josh Taylor is scheduled to pitch in back-to-back games for Double A Portland on Tuesday and Wednesday, a key test as he moves closer to potential activation … The Red Sox added righthander Silvino Bracho to the roster. Bracho, 29, had a 3.16 ERA and 36-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio in Worcester as a multi-innings reliever. “I’m super excited,” said Bracho, who made 92 career big league appearances with the Diamondbacks over parts of five seasons. Bracho said that he’s worked to increase the break on his slider this year to strong effect. “I’ve seen a lot [of progress]. I’ve created more sweep on it, and that’s why there’s more swing-and-miss,” said Bracho … On Monday, Rafael Devers hit a chopper that bounced off second base and kicked into shallow left-center for a double. When he arrived at second, Devers appeared to give the bag an affectionate pat. Was that indeed the case? “Yes!” he pronounced on Tuesday afternoon. “It gave me a hit!” … The Red Sox expect to use all their lefthanded hitters on Wednesday against Jays starter Alek Manoah, including switch-hitting infielder Yolmer Sánchez. Sánchez, who was added to the roster in Toronto with outfielder Jarren Duran on the restricted list, hit .244/.391/.410 against righties with Worcester.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 29, 2022 3:15:38 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 5h Research continues for Red Sox in 6-5 loss.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 29, 2022 3:17:28 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 5h The Blue Jays have runners on first and second with none out in the ninth. Danish is done. Hansel Robles gets the call to close out a 5-4 lead. The absence of Houck is glaring here, but of course, it's also a bit of a puzzle why Cora wanted Danish but not Schreiber for >1 inning.
Guerrero singles to left. All four Blue Jays batters of the ninth inning reach (3 singles and a walk) against two Red Sox relievers -- Danish and Robles -- as the Blue Jays walk off with a 6-5 win.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 29, 2022 3:43:25 GMT -5
Red Sox @ Blue Jays 29 June 2022 7pm @ Rogers Center
Pivetta 8-5/3.25
Manoah 9-2/2.05
Boston Red Sox vs.Toronto Blue Jays Wednesday, June 29, 2022 at 7:07pm EDT Written by Mark Ruelle
The Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays wrap up their 3-game series on Wednesday night in Toronto. The two teams are battling for position behind the front-running Yankees in the highly competitive AL East Division. On the mound on Wednesday will be red-hot righty Nick Pivetta (8-5, 3.25) of the Red Sox squaring off against Blue Jays righty Alek Manoah (9-2, 2.05). First pitch is scheduled for 707pm EST.
BoSox Booming The Boston Red Sox started slowly this season, at one point in dead last in the AL East. In their last 30 games prior to Tuesday night, the Red Sox have gone 21-9 and have shot up the standings in the AL East. The team is 7-0-1 in its last eight series, last losing a series at the end of May to the Orioles. The Sox had a seven-game winning streak ended on Monday night in a 7-2 loss to the Jays. On Tuesday night, the Sox sent one of this year's surprise stories, starter Michael Wacha, to the hill to get to their winning ways. Wacha allowed 4 runs in the first three innings but that would be all. The Red Sox rallied to take a 5-4 lead before the bullpen, without closer Tanner Houck, coughed up the lead in the 9th for a 6-5 loss.
The Red Sox have been one of the best teams through the month of June and have done so while piecing together a pitching staff beset by injuries. The Sox are currently without starting pitchers Nathan Eovaldi and Garrett Whitlock and have been without starters Chris Sale and James Paxton all season. In addition, the bullpen is currently without Matt Barnes (shoulder), Josh Taylor (back) and Tanner Houck (restricted list). Despite all this, the team has a 3.25 ERA in the last 30 games and has a WHIP of 1.19. On the mound on Wednesday will be Nick Pivetta. Pivetta leads the team in wins, quality starts, strikeouts, innings pitched and WAR. He is 4-1 in the month of June with a 2.12 ERA.
Jays Regrouping The Blue Jays were a popular pick to win the AL East this season after bolstering their roster in the offseason and the expected maturity of the team's young stars. After a hot start, the Jays have struggled with consistency for much of the season. In the month of June, the Jays are just 13-12 and have slipped into a dogfight with the Rays and Red Sox for positioning behind the Yankees. On Monday night, the Jays ended a two-game losing streak with a 7-2 win over Boston that included three Jays' home runs. On Tuesday night, the Jays jumped out to a 4-1 lead before falling behind 5-4 entering the 9th. RBI singles by Bo Bichette and Vlad Guerrero Jr. made it a walk-off win, however, 6-5.
With the win on Monday, the Jays moved over .500 for the month of June as they try to get back into contention in the AL East. If the season were to end today, the first four teams in the AL East would all make the playoffs. Still, the Jays realize that all these head-to-head matchups will knock at least one of the four teams out of playoff contention. The Blue Jays pitching has not been stellar in the month of June. They have a 4.67 ERA and have allowed 239 hits in 232 innings. The Jays have just one save this month as well. On the mound on Wednesday will be the Jays most consistent starter, Alek Manoah. Like Pivetta, Manoah is atop a large number of pitching categories for the Jays. He leads the team in wins, ERA, quality starts, innings and WAR. In the month of June, Manoah is 4-1 with a 2.56 ERA.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 29, 2022 6:55:14 GMT -5
Welcome to the most uncomfortable loss of the Red Sox' season
By Rob Bradford WEEI 93.7 6 hours ago
TORONTO - This was the blueprint of bad for the Red Sox.
Sure, Alex Cora's team has had plenty of late-inning gut-punches this season, particularly before their early May turnaround. But nothing stung quite so perfectly like this loss to the Blue Jays Tuesday night at Rogers Centre.
Fight back in a manner non-existent earlier in the season - this time via a game-tying, two-run homer in the seventh and Christian Vazquez's go-ahead RBI single an inning later.
And then find three relievers - Ryan Brasier, John Schreiber and Tyler Danish - who can hold off the Jays long enough to enter the ninth with a one-run lead.
But then came the rug yank from right underneath the Red Sox' feet. The best-case scenario became the exact nightmare it appeared the Sox were going to be able to avoid.
Heading into the ninth with no closer thanks to Tanner Houck's vaccination status, and not too long after, a bunch of questions about having no closer due thanks to Tanner Houck's vaccination status.
"I mean, we go with the 26 that are here. And we tried to get 27 outs and we didn’t do it," said Cora when asked his thoughts postgame about being short-handed.
"We’re down a guy, but that means everyone else has to step up. Like I said, that opportunity lied on me and I didn’t come through," said Danish, who surrendered back-to-back baserunners after a clean eighth inning.
"I can’t comment on that. I don’t control that part," said Hansel Robles, who replaced Danish and immediately surrendered the game-tying and game-winning hits, the walk-off coming off the bat of Vlad Guerrero Jr.
"I mean, he's a stud pitcher, but we knew what we were going into coming here. This is what it is," added Red Sox starter Michael Wacha after giving up four runs over five innings.
While Monday's loss was being viewed as somewhat of an aberration considering the Red Sox' seemingly unstoppable June momentum, this one left a mark.
It was thought they had figured things out, both in regards to how to utilize the relievers on the roster, and in terms of leaving Canada without the Houck storyline resurfacing.
But what they were left with is a reminder that the bullpen is still short a high-leverage righty arm (this time necessitating Cora rolling the dice with Danish for a second inning), a clearly manager clearly frustrated his team was able to navigate around an imperfect situation, and more lingering doubts about exactly how the Red Sox matchup with the iron of the American League East.
These Red Sox are now 2-7 against the Blue Jays and 7-16 vs. clubs from the American League East.
All those steps forward leading into the trip to Toronto have suddenly been countered with two significant steps back.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 29, 2022 6:56:47 GMT -5
Blue Jays aim for sweep of visiting Red Sox FLM
The Toronto Blue Jays will seek to complete a three-game sweep of the visiting Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night and continue domination of their American League East rival.
The Jays rallied with two runs in the bottom of the ninth to clinch the series with a 6-5 victory on Tuesday. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drove in the winning run with a single.
It was the second career walk-off hit for Guerrero. His first came June 15 against the Baltimore Orioles.
Guerrero said he assured manager Charlie Montoyo that things were going to work out in the ninth inning on Tuesday.
"I told Charlie before my at-bat -- the game is over," Guerrero said. "Charlie sometimes gets kind of nervous, but he told me, 'Well, I trust you guys. If you say so, OK, that's fine.' Boston, they were ahead of us in the division and you're trying to win those games, win the series, trying to go ahead in the division. I was just fired up."
Toronto is 7-2 against Boston this season and 14-14 overall against American League East rivals. Boston is 7-16 against the AL East.
The Red Sox are 19-6 in June and entered the series in Toronto on a seven-game winning streak. They have lost two games in a row for the first time since May 30-31.
The Blue Jays will send out right-hander Alek Manoah (9-2, 2.05 ERA) for the series finale. The Red Sox will start Nick Pivetta (8-5, 3.25).
Manoah pitched seven scoreless innings to earn the win against the Red So on April 28. He allowed three hits and one walk while striking out seven. He is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in three career starts against Boston.
Pivetta is 0-1 with a 7.27 ERA in two starts against Toronto this season. He is 1-3 with a 6.04 ERA in nine career starts against the Blue Jays.
The Red Sox entered the series short two players -- outfielder Jarren Duran and right-hander Tanner Houck -- because they are not vaccinated for COVID-19 and cannot enter Canada.
The absence of Houck, who has evolved into the closer, was particularly damaging on Tuesday. Tyler Danish, who had pitched a perfect eighth, came out for the ninth and allowed a single and a walk. Hansel Robles, pitching for the third straight game, replaced Danish and allowed the tying and winning hits.
"We go with the 26 players that are here," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "We tried to get 27 outs and didn't do it."
Cora did not use left-hander Matt Strahm in the game and gave no explanation.
"That's the way I managed the game," he said. "I'm the manager here, and I decided to go with (Danish) for two outs."
Trevor Story hit his 12th home run of the season for Boston, a solo shot. Rob Refsnyder hit his second homer of the season, a two-run blast in the seventh that tied the game at 4-4. The Red Sox, who fought back from a 4-1 deficit, took a 5-4 lead in the eighth on a single by Christian Vazquez.
The Red Sox promoted right-hander Silvino Bracho from Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday. Right-hander Connor Seabold was optioned to Worcester. Seabold allowed seven runs in 4 2/3 innings Monday in the 7-2 loss to Toronto to open the series.
--Field Level Media
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Post by Kimmi on Jun 29, 2022 9:33:54 GMT -5
Why Connor Seabold’s second Boston Red Sox start (which included 21 whiffs) was better than the ugly stat line suggestsUpdated: Jun. 28, 2022, 12:59 a.m. | Published: Jun. 28, 2022, 12:44 a.m. By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com TORONTO -- Connor Seabold’s second career major league start was a fascinating one. The results -- seven runs on nine hits (including three home runs) in a 7-2 loss to the Blue Jays -- were discouraging. But the underlying numbers showed why the Red Sox think Seabold might have a future in the big leagues” I need to become more familiar with CSW. Feels like an important stat. I've been seeing this stat used more and more often. It is both a pretty good descriptive stat as well as a pretty good predictive stat after a large enough sample.
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Post by Kimmi on Jun 29, 2022 9:39:36 GMT -5
Dan Shaughnessy @dan_Shaughnessy · 5h Most richly-deserved loss ever. Anti-vax Sox closer is back in Boston enjoying personal freedom, while Sox pen blows 5-4 lead in the 9th. Pen never got an out in the ninth. Sox are 2-7 vs. Jays, 7-16 vs. AL East. But everybody evidently ok with Tanner Houck quitting on team.
And Sox would play short-handed to indulge anti-vaxxers. While Sox bosses just stand back and let it all be.
Let's be clear: Houck chose to abandon his teammates. His personal freedom is more important. Last night's loss was crushing, to say the least. This is the exact situation that I was hoping we could avoid, because I knew there would be many tweets like this.
I still don't blame Houck. I wish he were vaccinated, but I'm not going to hold it against him that he's not.
I am a huge Bloom fan, but if anything, this is a testament to the lack of bullpen depth if the Sox cannot survive a series without their closer. Yes, I understand that in this case it was avoidable, but that's beside the point.
I am just irked that we can't beat the Blue Jays.
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Post by Kimmi on Jun 29, 2022 9:42:06 GMT -5
Red Sox @ Blue Jays 29 June 2022 7pm @ Rogers Center
Pivetta 8-5/3.25
Manoah 9-2/2.05
The Sox were likely to lose a series at one point or another. Sadly, it came at a very inopportune time.
Also sadly, I'm just not feeling good about tonight's game.
Please prove me wrong, Red Sox.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 29, 2022 13:37:30 GMT -5
Game 76: Red Sox at Blue Jays lineups and notesBy Andrew Mahoney Globe Staff,Updated June 29, 2022, 10:14 a.m. The Red Sox have lost two games in a row for the first time since May 30-31 after they were unable to hold on to a 5-4 lead in the ninth and lost to Toronto, 6-5, Tuesday night. With the loss, the Sox fell back to third place behind the Blue Jays in the American League East. They are now 2-7 against Toronto and 7-16 within the division. The two teams will conclude the series Wednesday night. Nick Pivetta will be on the mound as the Red Sox look to avoid a sweep. Here is a preview. Lineups RED SOX (42-33): 1. Rob Refsnyder (R) RF 2. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 3. J.D. Martinez (R) DH 4. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS 5. Alex Verdugo (L) LF 6. Christian Vazquez (R) C 7. Franchy Cordero (L) 1B 8. Yolmer Sanchez (S) 2B 9. Jackie Bradley Jr. (L) CF Pitching: RHP Nick Pivetta (8-5, 3.25 ERA) BLUE JAYS (42-32):1. George Springer (R) CF 2. Bo Bichette (R) SS 3. Vladimir Guerrero (R) DH 4. Alejandro Kirk (R) C 5. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (R) LF 6. Raimel Tapia (L) RF 7. Matt Chapman (R) 3B 8. Santiago Espinal (R) 2B 9. Cavan Biggio (L) 1B Pitching: RHP Alek Manoah (9-2, 2.05 ERA) Time: 7:07 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Red Sox vs. Manoah: Christian Arroyo 1-5, Xander Bogaerts 0-3, Jackie Bradley Jr. 0-3, Franchy Cordero 0-2, Bobby Dalbec 0-5, Rafael Devers 1-6, J.D. Martinez 0-6, Trevor Story 0-2, Alex Verdugo 4-8, Christian Vázquez 0-5 Blue Jays vs. Pivetta: Bo Bichette 8-19, Cavan Biggio 5-12, Matt Chapman 2-8, Zack Collins 1-4, Santiago Espinal 1-7, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 4-16, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. 3-13, Teoscar Hernández 1-15, Alejandro Kirk 1-3, George Springer 6-12, Raimel Tapia 1-4, Bradley Zimmer 0-1 Stat of the day: Rob Refsnyder is hitting .368 with a 1.068 OPS and is the first Red Sox to reach base in his first 13 games with the team since 2003. Notes: Pivetta is 0-1 with a 7.27 ERA in two starts against Toronto this season, and 1-3 with a 6.04 ERA in nine career starts against the Blue Jays. … Manoah pitched seven scoreless innings to earn the win against the Red Sox on April 28. He allowed three hits and one walk while striking out seven. He is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in three career starts against Boston. Song of the Day: Peter Gabriel - Shock The Monkeywww.youtube.com/watch?v=CnVf1ZoCJSo
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 29, 2022 14:19:25 GMT -5
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne · 40m "What a bad interview. I was horrible." -- Alex Cora, on WEEI, assessing his performance with the media after Tuesday's loss in Toronto.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 29, 2022 16:38:18 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 16m Cora says when the Sox return to Toronto in September, “I’ll bet you $1 it will be different” with vaccination status of roster
Cora says the conversations with the roster have remained ongoing this year and strongly, strongly implied that some of the players not available this time around will be able to play in September (and, if needed, the playoffs) in Canada.
Cora said decision about whether Whitlock returns as a starter or reliever will be based on what will be best for his health.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 29, 2022 16:39:41 GMT -5
Not the word I used to describe it
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne · 2h Interesting that Story, who hit a homer last night, is out of the lineup.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Jun 29, 2022 20:06:57 GMT -5
Dan Shaughnessy @dan_Shaughnessy · 5h Most richly-deserved loss ever. Anti-vax Sox closer is back in Boston enjoying personal freedom, while Sox pen blows 5-4 lead in the 9th. Pen never got an out in the ninth. Sox are 2-7 vs. Jays, 7-16 vs. AL East. But everybody evidently ok with Tanner Houck quitting on team.
And Sox would play short-handed to indulge anti-vaxxers. While Sox bosses just stand back and let it all be.
Let's be clear: Houck chose to abandon his teammates. His personal freedom is more important. Last night's loss was crushing, to say the least. This is the exact situation that I was hoping we could avoid, because I knew there would be many tweets like this.
I still don't blame Houck. I wish he were vaccinated, but I'm not going to hold it against him that he's not.
I am a huge Bloom fan, but if anything, this is a testament to the lack of bullpen depth if the Sox cannot survive a series without their closer. Yes, I understand that in this case it was avoidable, but that's beside the point.
I am just irked that we can't beat the Blue Jays.There was never going to be an easy answer, but I was hoping to see Schreiber in the 9th. I can't argue against using him against Vlad, Hernandez & Gurriel, but I also don't like out 9th inning options.
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