Boxscore Breakdown #43: Nap time – Red Sox 8, Angels 3

Lesson #1: The Angels should never pitch to Mike Napoli
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Lesson #2: Never means NEVER
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Seriously, just walk him. Napoli lives to torture the Angels. It is all he does. He wouldn’t have a career if not for his 1.163 OPS against the Halos. He didn’t just do it with the bat in this game either. He made two impressive plays at first base that saved multiple runs. Basically, if Mike Napoli simply didn’t exist, the Angels win this game handily. Instead, they suffer a loss.

SPOILER ALERT: Tomorrow’s Boxscore Breakdown is basically going to be the exact same content.

Red Sox 8, Angels 3

Run Expectancy Rundown
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1Ex3JaiR_B3guhNYU_GXhrCmmC8b-wZbG4wwssp-Q6Sw/pubchart” query=”oid=1976391661&format=interactive” width=”623″ height=”389″ /] As per usual, the top half of the order did a respectable job. As per usual, the bottom half of the order didn’t do squat. Matt Joyce was the sole exception there, but even he didn’t actually produce all that much. He just didn’t make outs.

[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1Ex3JaiR_B3guhNYU_GXhrCmmC8b-wZbG4wwssp-Q6Sw/pubchart” query=”oid=1154832181&format=interactive” width=”620″ height=”341″ /] As entertaining as it was to watch David Ortiz lose his cool, the Napoli display of power and contempt was a lot harder to stomach. It didn’t feel like it watching the game, but just about every Boston hitter ended up chipping in a little bit.

Starting Pitcher Scores
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1Ex3JaiR_B3guhNYU_GXhrCmmC8b-wZbG4wwssp-Q6Sw/pubchart” query=”oid=161400381&format=interactive” width=”584″ height=”293″ /] C.J. Wilson wasn’t terrible, but he wasn’t all that good either. He was really fighting his command and mechanics all game long. Scioscia probably deserves some blame for trying to milk an extra inning out of him instead of quitting while he was ahead. Steven Wright looked terrible in the first inning, but something clicked afterwards and the Angels never got anything going against him again.

Bullpen Battle
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1Ex3JaiR_B3guhNYU_GXhrCmmC8b-wZbG4wwssp-Q6Sw/pubchart” query=”oid=1141913419&format=interactive” width=”620″ height=”315″ /] This is a game where a lot of folks will gripe about the Angels middle relief, but they really weren’t that bad. Vinnie Pestano got victimized by a dropped flyball by Kole Calhoun and Fernando Salas got victimized by a seeing eye grounder. Granted, Salas melted down a bit in the next inning, but their initial issues in the seventh were really more the product of lousy luck. The Boston bullpen wasn’t much better and would’ve been in big trouble if their lead hadn’t been as big thanks to the aforementioned luck.

Game Flow
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1Ex3JaiR_B3guhNYU_GXhrCmmC8b-wZbG4wwssp-Q6Sw/pubchart” query=”oid=41272350&format=interactive” width=”619″ height=”315″ /] That one inning man. The Angels were holding on so tight, but it just got away from them in that inning.

Halo A-Hole

All you had to do was pitch around Napoli, but NOOOOOOO, you just had to try and sneak one by him. Well, ya didn’t.