Yes, we will be a playoff team this year

[oldtimer]

There once was a poster named House

 

Who wanted all fires doused

 

Our pen spread the fire

 

No closers for hire

 

So no way to rise from the mire.

 

A group of boys named the Sox

Were thought to be playoff locks

But to all their chagrin

Starting pitchers didn't win

So the season became a small pox

[moonslav59]

Pretty good . In a limerick, the last line should rhyme with the first two.

 

I didn't want to call you a louse!

 

[dgalehouse]

I didn't want to call you a louse!

 

 

I do appreciate that.

[notin]

I didn't want to call you a louse!

 

 

You could have wished they bring back Tom House. Or sign Brian Shouse...

[Bellhorn04]

A group of boys named the Sox

Were thought to be playoff locks

But to all their chagrin

Starting pitchers didn't win

So the season became a small pox

 

Not bad oldtimer.

[Bellhorn04]

The best I can say for our chances is that all the nails haven't been driven into the coffin yet.

 

I wish I could do an entertaining graphic representation of the coffin and remaining nails, but I lack those skills.

[SoxnCycles]

The best I can say for our chances is that all the nails haven't been driven into the coffin yet.

 

I wish I could do an entertaining graphic representation of the coffin and remaining nails, but I lack those skills.

 

Stranger things have happened in baseball, but it's not happening with the state of this pitching staff.

[Bellhorn04]

Stranger things have happened in baseball, but it's not happening with the state of this pitching staff.

 

Yes, the state of the rotation is the most obvious reason why it's impossible.

 

The strange thing is, our last 3 losses have been mainly the fault of the offense.

[moonslav59]

I do appreciate that.

 

I guess I could have said our closer has been a louse.

[SoxnCycles]

Yes, the state of the rotation is the most obvious reason why it's impossible.

 

The strange thing is, our last 3 losses have been mainly the fault of the offense.

 

After Sunday's game, maybe an argument can be made that fighting out of a early hole is getting old.

[notin]

Yes, the state of the rotation is the most obvious reason why it's impossible.

 

The strange thing is, our last 3 losses have been mainly the fault of the offense.

 

You can't expect them to put up gaudy numbers every day. Even the 1927 Yankees lost 2-1 games. The problem with this Sox staff is they can't win those 2-1 games every now and then...

[notin]

After Sunday's game, maybe an argument can be made that fighting out of a early hole is getting old.

 

 

Starting Brian Johnson has turned into handing the other team an early 3-0 lead...

[dgalehouse]

Can't really criticize the offense . But one thing that seems to be missing is what they used to call " five o'clock lightning " . That was back when day baseball was prevalent , and it referred to the late inning rallies that would turn the game around . When losing late ,these Sox tend to go gently into the night . I don't know what the numbers on this are , but it seems that way to me .

[moonslav59]

Can't really criticize the offense . But one thing that seems to be missing is what they used to call " five o'clock lightning " . That was back when day baseball was prevalent , and it referred to the late inning rallies that would turn the game around . When losing late ,these Sox tend to go gently into the night . I don't know what the numbers on this are , but it seems that way to me .

 

We also seem to be bunching our runs into fewer games than recent years... just like the old days.

[moonslav59]

Starting Brian Johnson has turned into handing the other team an early 3-0 lead...

 

Johnson's last starts in reverse order:

 

IP ER

3.0 3

3.2 3

2.2 0

2.2 3

3.0 3

5.0 0

3.0 1____2019

3.0 2 2018

1.1 4

4.1 1

4.1 3

5.2 3

7.0 5

5.0 4

5.2 0

5.0 0

4.2 2

4.2 2

4.0 1 (Nice 5 game stretch way back when)

[Bellhorn04]

Johnson's last starts in reverse order:

 

IP ER

3.0 3

3.2 3

2.2 0

2.2 3

3.0 3

5.0 0

3.0 1____2019

 

With boatloads of baserunners. He's been fortunate not to give up more runs in those games.

[Slasher9]

The best I can say for our chances is that all the nails haven't been driven into the coffin yet.

 

I wish I could do an entertaining graphic representation of the coffin and remaining nails, but I lack those skills.

 

[moonslav59]

With boatloads of baserunners. He's been fortunate not to give up more runs in those games.

 

Yup.

 

I'm not high on Johnson, but if we reset next year, we might want to keep as many guys like him around, in hopes that one or two might have a decent season and keep us from being a last place team (although last place brings nice draft picks).

[d-money]

If we don’t get in at least play spoilers! Make sure the stros get the top seed. Beat the skankees.

[notin]

Yup.

 

I'm not high on Johnson, but if we reset next year, we might want to keep as many guys like him around, in hopes that one or two might have a decent season and keep us from being a last place team (although last place brings nice draft picks).

 

I'd rather keep Betts for that reason. Having pitchers like Johnson is how you finish last, not how you prevent it...

[Bellhorn04]

I'd rather keep Betts for that reason. Having pitchers like Johnson is how you finish last, not how you prevent it...

 

Well, we did have Johnson last year. The 2018 version was much more useful, of course.

[harmony]

If we don’t get in at least play spoilers! Make sure the stros get the top seed. Beat the skankees.

The Seattle Mariners did not help Monday night, going 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position in a one-run loss to the Yankees.

[kenmeister]

Well, we did have Johnson last year. The 2018 version was much more useful, of course.

 

Part of me thinks that Cora has too quick of a hook on Johnson. The other part of me thinks that even if that's the case, if we aren't replacing Cora, then give Cora a pitcher he'll have more faith to leave in longer.

 

It's a real bummer that Wright was never able to return to the rotation.

[Bellhorn04]

Part of me thinks that Cora has too quick of a hook on Johnson. The other part of me thinks that even if that's the case, if we aren't replacing Cora, then give Cora a pitcher he'll have more faith to leave in longer.

 

Johnson has a 2.07 WHIP. The fact we're still using him to start games just shows how desperate we are.

[kenmeister]

Johnson has a 2.07 WHIP. The fact we're still using him to start games just shows how desperate we are.

 

Hopefully Price will return soon...

[moonslav59]

I'd rather keep Betts for that reason. Having pitchers like Johnson is how you finish last, not how you prevent it...

 

I've been throwing in Johnson on almost every trade suggestion I've made for years and years.

 

Who can we get for JBJ, Hembree, Johnson, Velazquez and Travis?

 

[moonslav59]

Hopefully Price will return soon...

 

I'd rather just shut him down and hope it helps him prepare and stay healthy for 2020.

[FredLynn]

Hopefully Price will return soon...

 

Hopefully they will rest Price for the remainder of the year.

[jad]

Yup.

 

I'm not high on Johnson, but if we reset next year, we might want to keep as many guys like him around, in hopes that one or two might have a decent season and keep us from being a last place team (although last place brings nice draft picks).

 

I'm not entirely sure how the draft works, but I believe choosing first rather than last, nets you precisely 1 extra player. You get that player, and after that, you are last in the queue. So that does not amount to boatloads of players: it amounts to one. In the NBA, this might be a game-changer, but not in MLB.

[Bellhorn04]

I'm not entirely sure how the draft works, but I believe choosing first rather than last, nets you precisely 1 extra player. You get that player, and after that, you are last in the queue. So that does not amount to boatloads of players: it amounts to one. In the NBA, this might be a game-changer, but not in MLB.

 

The last-place team gets the first pick in each round (setting aside the sandwich rounds after the first round).

The first-place team gets the last pick in each round.

 

So the last place team gets picks 1, 31, 61 etc.

First place team gets picks 30, 60, 90 etc.