6/29, New York and Boston in London, 1:10 pm

[Maxbialystock]

I thought I'd start this one because I've been reading Rick Atkinson's latest, The British Are Coming, which is, as always, exhaustively researched and beautifully written. This is the first volume of a trilogyand covers just 1775 through early 1777, but focuses a whole lot on our Boston/Massachusetts/New England predecessors. They not only led the American colonies into war--a full year before the Declaration of Independence was signed--but beat the snot out of the British and forced them out of Boston, never to return--3+ months before the Declaration was signed. Not so the denizens of Manhattan, Long Island, etc. They were clobbered, and the British stayed there until the end of the war.

 

That's a kind of unbalanced and even unfair picture--the British sent three times as many troops and warships to NYC as they had had in Boston--but I like it because Atkinson does make it clear how tough, resourceful, and patriotic (when it wasn't that easy to be so) our forbearers were.

 

MLB is wrong to make the Sox the home team. NYC had way more loyalists than New England, and many of them returned to England after the Americans won. Some of their progeny might even go to the game.

 

Tanaka vs. Porcello, both righties, edge to the Yankees.

[Bellhorn04]

This was all John Henry's idea and that's why the Red Sox are the home team.

[bkzwhitestrican]

You can thank the Sox president for robbing your team of two home games. He thought the income potential outweighed the importance of two home games against your oldest rival.

 

Aside from that I liked your opening statements, they set the stage for a dramatic weekend.

[dgalehouse]

John Henry was wrong to agree to this . The fair thing would be for each team to be the home team for one game . Anyway , the whole thing seems strange to me . Almost like the games don't count . Like exhibition games . Let's see which team adapts better to the situation .

[TylerD]

In the words of Leonardo from the 1984 Mirage Ninja Turtles after they kill Shredder. “Strike hard and fade away..... into the night”

 

In other words. Strike hard. Kick their ass and come back home.

[Maxbialystock]

John Henry was wrong to agree to this . The fair thing would be for each team to be the home team for one game . Anyway , the whole thing seems strange to me . Almost like the games don't count . Like exhibition games . Let's see which team adapts better to the situation .

 

Agree on all.

[jung]

John Henry was wrong to agree to this . The fair thing would be for each team to be the home team for one game . Anyway , the whole thing seems strange to me . Almost like the games don't count . Like exhibition games . Let's see which team adapts better to the situation .

 

Nothing strange about it. Henry was surely paid a pile of cash for this nonsense. I have no idea what MLB is doing here.

 

A Liverpool/Boston marketing angle is hard to imagine being effective for Fenway Group. So this is the MLB trying some s***.

 

Send two scrub teams in March for games that don't count. They would never have known the dif across the pond.

 

Send two scrub teams in March to a part of the world that actually cares about baseball....anything but this.

 

This is asinine especially when you consider that the Sox and Yanks ridiculous first half schedule was probably motivated by having to earn three days off in 5 days AT THE END OF JUNE FOR f*** SAKE just to pull this off.

[fxkatt]

I read that the MLB is giving Boston 6-7 million for these games, which at least doubles the money we pay out in salaries per two games.

 

What truly sucks is that we lose two home Yankee games, the most valuable home games on our schedule. And gives them an advantage in a year when we can't afford to give them one.

[vegasbob]

It doesn't take 20-20 eyesight to question whether the Sox are better off playing 2 "home" games in London vs the unfriendly confines of Feway in 2019. Normally a team bulit for Fenway's oddiites have played their way to a muddling , wait for it, 20-20 record . I am just hoping someone reminds the players that it is not an exhibition and the results will count as they make a run at the #2 WC.

[notin]

I read that the MLB is giving Boston 6-7 million for these games, which at least doubles the money we pay out in salaries per two games.

 

What truly sucks is that we lose two home Yankee games, the most valuable home games on our schedule. And gives them an advantage in a year when we can't afford to give them one.

 

 

Unless the Sox right the ship soon, taking these two “home” games on the road isn’t going to matter...

[notin]

This was all John Henry's idea and that's why the Red Sox are the home team.

 

It does seem like a dumb idea. The Brits - and Europe- must have heard of baseball by now, and want nothing to do with it. I think they hate it because you can almost always tell when a game is going to end. For some reasons, those oOld Land Filks like the endings to their sporting matches to be complete surprises...

[Maxbialystock]

Sox continue (all season, in fact) to keep 13 pitchers on the active roster. 5 starters, including Johnson now, and 8 relievers, including Wright now.

 

The 12 position players include 2 catchers (Leon and Vazquez), 4 outfielders (Beni, JBJ, Betts, JDM), and 6 infielders (Devers, Betts, Nunez, Holt, Hernandez, and Hernandez.

 

Interestingly, the Yankees active roster also shows 13 pitchers and 12 position players, including 2 catchers, 4 outfielders, 5 infielders, and 1 DH.

[Bellhorn04]

It does seem like a dumb idea. The Brits - and Europe- must have heard of baseball by now, and want nothing to do with it. I think they hate it because you can almost always tell when a game is going to end. For some reasons, those oOld Land Filks like the endings to their sporting matches to be complete surprises...

 

Personally I think we're prejudging a bit. The NFL games in London seem to be doing pretty well.

[d-money]

Can they win both games in London? This is a big two game series. It’s amazing that this team is still alive for a second wild card spot or the top wildcard spot.

[Bellhorn04]

Right now everything seems to be going the Yankees way (in spite of all the injuries) so I wouldn't be unhappy with a split.

[d-money]

Right now everything seems to be going the Yankees way (in spite of all the injuries) so I wouldn't be unhappy with a split.

 

A split would be ho hum. This team has to show it can compete and beat these guys.

[Bellhorn04]

A split would be ho hum. This team has to show it can compete and beat these guys.

 

Well, I do like your idea better.

[TylerD]

We’re gonna win. Heard it here first. I’ll miss the first four innings. When I get back we will be up six to nothing

[jung]

1. DJ LeMahieu ® 3B

2. Aaron Judge ® RF

3. Gary Sanchez ® C

4. Luke Voit ® 1B

5. Didi Gregorius (L) SS

6. Edwin Encarnacion ® DH

7. Aaron Hicks (S) CF

8. Gleyber Torres ® 2B

9. Brett Gardner (L) LF

 

 

1. Mookie Betts ® RF

2. Rafael Devers (L) 3B

3. Xander Bogaerts ® SS

4. J.D. Martinez ® DH

5. Andrew Benintendi (L) LF

6. Christian Vazquez ® C

7. Brock Holt (L) 2B

8. Michael Chavis ® 1B

9. Jackie Bradley Jr. (L) CF

 

You knew Rafi had to stay in the 2 hole when Beni came back. Smartest thing Cora has done in weeks. That said, I am not entirely sure why Beni should be 5th in this batting order. Certainly 5th is better than seeing him at 1 or 2 in the order.

Edited June 29, 2019 by jung

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

You can thank the Sox president for robbing your team of two home games. He thought the income potential outweighed the importance of two home games against your oldest rival.

 

Aside from that I liked your opening statements, they set the stage for a dramatic weekend.

 

 

"Give me money, that's all I want. Whole lot of money."

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

We’re gonna win. Heard it here first. I’ll miss the first four innings. When I get back we will be up six to nothing

 

I hope you're right, but if not, eating one's words is still better than what's on the menu at TACO BELL.

Edited June 29, 2019 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[Bellhorn04]

I must say it was a good idea to play this series in a stadium with a roof. I hear it rains a fair amount in England.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

The mute will be on.

[a700hitter]

Rick needs to avoid The Porcellos. That will not be easy— 385’ to dead center field.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

I'm only able to get this game on s***** FOX. For those who have NESN, are they also broadcasting the game?

[Station 13]

I'm only able to get this game on s***** FOX. For those who have NESN, are they also broadcasting the game?

 

Only listed on FOX.

[royplayer]

Only listed on FOX.

 

Blacked out of MLB.com. You would think this is the world series with all the pomp, singing, etc.

[royplayer]

Since when is Aroid considered a sportscaster?

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

The measurements of that field aren't going to do POR any favors.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Blacked out of MLB.com. You would think this is the world series with all the pomp, singing, etc.

 

Pomp and Circumstance in England? Never happen.