6/14 Yankems @ SOX 6:30PM ET

[vegasbob]

Sure hope the Sox can bring these two home before Devers comes to bat.

I have 2 theories about him which anyone can feel free to shoot down. The first is that opposing pitchers focus better and throw better stuff when men are on base and Devers is at the plate. The other is that he loves, absolutely loves to swing at breaking balls because he knows he's pretty good at it. At the same time, he does not like to swing at heat, especially good heat--but almost any heat will do. So the way to pitch to him is throw heat for strikes and curves outside (especially below) the zone.

I think you have assessed Devers pretty well. With all the analytics available, opposing teams should know how to pitch to his weaknesses. Throw in that he is a free swinger and you get Raffy. A threat but not consistent.

[d-money]

This team can’t play spoilers. They’re that terrible.

[vegasbob]

Cue the theme music from Jaws. Bello is a fuckwit

[Maxbialystock]

I haven't seen Bello shake off many pitches, which tells me that someone wants him throwing his world-famous sinker a lot. The Yankees sure like that sinker. I'll bet Bello does too. So everybody's happy.

And a sinker got the GIDP!


And an egregious Bello error gave the Yankees run #3.

[Maxbialystock]

Gil is an idiot. I told him throw heat for strikes. Devers is so happy he can't see straight.

[vegasbob]

The key hit missing so far tonight, but now it's time, 2 on , no outs !

[Maxbialystock]

Sox have 3 hits and 0 runs. Yankees have 4 hits and 3 runs.

Sox now have 2 on and no one out. Any guesses on what happens next?

[Maxbialystock]

Nice play by the Yankees, especially Judge, to keep Wong from scoring from 1b.

[vegasbob]

All Smith had to do was a flyball.

Valdez continues to amaze at bat. But Smith and Rafaela chase as only they can to kill the rally

[Maxbialystock]

Our absolute fav firstbaseman strikes out as ignominiously as it's possible to do. Sad but true, he's still a better choice than Dalbec.

[Maxbialystock]

There's global warming, which is serious and upon us. And there is Gil heat, which is worse.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Our absolute fav firstbaseman strikes out as ignominiously as it's possible to do. Sad but true, he's still a better choice than Dalbec.

Smith and Dalbec are 'spitooning' at 1st base.

[vegasbob]

Duran is a little shy, maybe rightfully, of the Monster . Another ball that was just missed off the bat of Verdugo. Bello may not make it through 5 full if he can't settle down.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

That should get Bello's ERA to about 5. Getting starters from the SOX farm is as difficult as trying to grow tomatoes in the desert.

[vegasbob]

Game slip sliding away , and so am I as we go out on a Friday night.

My guess is that Bello's extension was not well timed. He and Rafaela needed to complete the year and show something more than either has.