There’s a joke from the short-lived, much-loved Andy Richter Controls the Universe TV show that goes, “just threaten them with drowning. It’s the death they fear the most.” I think about it every time I’m faced with the prospect of watching a Red Sox game.
Not only are their games interminably long, they’re also needlessly boring. It’s a product of good relief pitching and long at bats. The Giants will catch a break tonight by not having to face either Mookie Betts or J.D. Martinez, two of the better at bat-havers in baseball.
LF — Andrew Benintendi
SS — Xander Bogaerts
3B — Rafael Devers
DH — Christian Vazquez
RF — Brock Holt
1B — Mitch Moreland
CF — Jackie Bradley Jr.
2B — Marco Hernandez
C — Sandy Leon
SP — Jhoulys Chacin
Chacin was cut by the Brewers on August 26 so that he could sign on with a potential playoff team. This was the thinking behind Scooter Gennett being cut, but nobody signed him. Anyway, Chacin had a 5.79 ERA in 19 starts with the Brewers but a 0.00 ERA in two starts with Boston (5.2 IP). He’s been an opener.
So, much like last night, we’re going to see a lot of pitching changes.
RF — Mike Yastrzemski
1B — Brandon Belt
CF — Kevin Pillar
LF — Alex Dickerson
DH — Stephen Vogt
SS — Brandon Crawford
3B — Cristhian Adames
2B — Mauricio Dubon
C — Aramis Garcia
SP — Jeff Samardzija
Cristhian Adames has 344 career PA and a .559 OPS. Here’s hoping he can at least play solid defense at third base. Meanwhile, welcome back Alex Dickerson!