6/28 @ Cleveland

[Old Red]

There's not much question that Houck's decision put this one in the loss column.

 

This kind of stuff you might have gotten away with against the bottom feeders that the Sox pretty much played against the past month, but not against teams like the Jays, and Yankees.

[mvp 78]

There's not much question that Houck's decision put this one in the loss column.

 

Everyone could see something like this coming a mile away. At some point, the Sox would lose a close game in TOR. People that support Houck's decision just blame Bloom. People that think Houck should just get the vaccination because he's spent his whole life getting vaccinated without having a problem with it before just blame Houck.

 

1. Houck should stop being a baby and get vaccinated as it's part of his job.

2. Bloom isn't good at building a bullpen.

 

Both things can be true at once.

[a700hitter]

There's not much question that Houck's decision put this one in the loss column.

i would say the ridiculous policy of the Canadian government had more to do with it.

[JDavis76]

i would say the ridiculous policy of the Canadian government had more to do with it.

 

Agreed

[Maxbialystock]

i would say the ridiculous policy of the Canadian government had more to do with it.

 

Absolutely true. Nothing dumber than wanting people to get vaccinated against COVID. In fact, enlightened people now realize that all vaccinations aren't just dumb, they are dangerous and should be avoided.

[a700hitter]

Absolutely true. Nothing dumber than wanting people to get vaccinated against COVID. In fact, enlightened people now realize that all vaccinations aren't just dumb, they are dangerous and should be avoided.

That was jerky.

[JDavis76]

Absolutely true. Nothing dumber than wanting people to get vaccinated against COVID. In fact, enlightened people now realize that all vaccinations aren't just dumb, they are dangerous and should be avoided.

 

Well, it's really not a vaccination, more of a treatment. It doesn't prevent you from getting it, it doesn't prevent you from spreading it and how many other vaccinations do you know of that you need to get a booster shot every 6 months or so?

[Maxbialystock]

Well, it's really not a vaccination, more of a treatment. It doesn't prevent you from getting it, it doesn't prevent you from spreading it and how many other vaccinations do you know of that you need to get a booster shot every 6 months or so?

 

Astutely argued.

 

One wonders why we spent billions and billions of dollars developing and testing those shots, manufacturing them, and going all out to administer them to as many people as possible--when they don't really help much.

 

This goes way beyond any ponzi scheme because every freaking government in the world is in on this malicious scam.

 

And, I suppose, Dr Fauci, who got the ball rolling in January 2020 to develop a vaccination in record time, was just another medical charlatan, full of sound and fury, but signifying nothing.

[JDavis76]

Astutely argued.

 

One wonders why we spent billions and billions of dollars developing and testing those shots, manufacturing them, and going all out to administer them to as many people as possible--when they don't really help much.

 

This goes way beyond any ponzi scheme because every freaking government in the world is in on this malicious scam.

 

And, I suppose, Dr Fauci, who got the ball rolling in January 2020 to develop a vaccination in record time, was just another medical charlatan, full of sound and fury, but signifying nothing.

 

I missed the part where I stated that they don't help much....... There are many treatments that are very effective for many different illnesses.

Edited June 29, 2022 by JDavis76

[Maxbialystock]

I missed the part where I stated that they don't help much....... There are many treatments that are very effective for many different illnesses.

 

Reread what you wrote. You call it a treatment that doesn't keep you from getting COVID or from spreading it. And don't forget you are defending someone who believes COVID vaccinations are bad for you. What other conclusion is possible besides "they don't help much?"

 

So let me ask this simple question. Do you believe COVID vaccinations save lives--yes or no?

Edited June 29, 2022 by Maxbialystock

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Reread what you wrote. You call it a treatment that doesn't keep you from getting COVID or from spreading it. And don't forget you are defending someone who believes COVID vaccinations are bad for you. What other conclusion is possible besides "they don't help much?"

 

So let me ask this simple question. Do you believe COVID vaccinations save lives --yes or no?

 

Here on talksox, no one's interested in saving lives... just games in Toronto!

[Bellhorn04]

I had two jabs, eventually got COVID but the symptoms were not as severe as cases of flu I've had. And that seems to have been the general experience of others I know who got vaxed and then got COVID.

[JDavis76]

Reread what you wrote. You call it a treatment that doesn't keep you from getting COVID or from spreading it. And don't forget you are defending someone who believes COVID vaccinations are bad for you. What other conclusion is possible besides "they don't help much?"

 

So let me ask this simple question. Do you believe COVID vaccinations save lives--yes or no?

 

Well, it doesn't prevent you from getting it or transmitting it, but it can help some people avoid serious complications. So, yes, in those cases it helped save lives.

[JDavis76]

I had two jabs, eventually got COVID but the symptoms were not as severe as cases of flu I've had. And that seems to have been the general experience of others I know who got vaxed and then got COVID.

 

I'm not vaxxed, I don't wear a mask, I don't social distance and am out in the crowds every weekend and have been since my area was re-opened. Never even had the sniffles and have never tested positive for the virus.

[Maxbialystock]

This kind of stuff you might have gotten away with against the bottom feeders that the Sox pretty much played against the past month, but not against teams like the Jays, and Yankees.

 

Forget the past month and just look at the last 2 weeks--during which the Sox took 2 of 3 from the Cardinals (who were then leading the NL Central Division) and 3 of 3 from Cleveland, who were then leading the AL Central Division.

 

About those bottom feeders. The very worst team in MLB, the A's, wins 1 out of every 3 games, but the Sox took 5 of 6. Detroit wins 4 of 10, but the Sox swept 3 of 3. The Angels win 5 of 10 (46.8%), and the Sox took 3 of 4. Seattle, almost as good at 46.1%, lost 2 of 3 to the Sox.

 

What I will agree with is that the Sox so far have struggled against all four of the other AL East Division teams. Not just the Yankees, Rays, and Jays, but also the Orioles, who have taken 4 of 7 games so far. And, as you imply, this could well doom the Sox, but I'm not yet ready to go there.

 

As for the Jays, let's not forget that playing in Toronto has removed our newly crowned closer, Houck, who has the Sox 5 most recent saves. Plus Duran, for whatever that's worth. And Sale, if he ever returns.

 

Indeed, this morning I read a comment that it's quite possible the Sox could play the Jays in the postseason at Toronto--without Houck, Sale, Duran, whoever.

Edited June 29, 2022 by Maxbialystock

[Maxbialystock]

Everyone could see something like this coming a mile away. At some point, the Sox would lose a close game in TOR. People that support Houck's decision just blame Bloom. People that think Houck should just get the vaccination because he's spent his whole life getting vaccinated without having a problem with it before just blame Houck.

 

1. Houck should stop being a baby and get vaccinated as it's part of his job.

2. Bloom isn't good at building a bullpen.

 

Both things can be true at once.

 

Sensible. I'm on Bloom's side, of course, because some pretty good arms are currently on the IL: Whitlock, Eovaldi, Sale, Taylor, and Darwinzon Hernandez.

[vegasbob]

Astutely argued.

 

One wonders why we spent billions and billions of dollars developing and testing those shots, manufacturing them, and going all out to administer them to as many people as possible--when they don't really help much.

 

This goes way beyond any ponzi scheme because every freaking government in the world is in on this malicious scam.

 

And, I suppose, Dr Fauci, who got the ball rolling in January 2020 to develop a vaccination in record time, was just another medical charlatan, full of sound and fury, but signifying nothing.

 

Your final sentence is absolutely true. Apart from that, Robles, who I also detest, did induce two ground balls that might have been played into outs, if not a DP. In any event I called BS on him the day he was signed having seen his failures with the Angels previously.

[Maxbialystock]

Your final sentence is absolutely true. Apart from that, Robles, who I also detest, did induce two ground balls that might have been played into outs, if not a DP. In any event I called BS on him the day he was signed having seen his failures with the Angels previously.

 

If you go look at the bullpen thread, you'll see I defended every move Cora made last night, including bringing in Robles and mentioning those two ground balls.

[bkzwhitestrican]

I think the loss can be blamed on whoever named this game thread.

[JDavis76]

If you go look at the bullpen thread, you'll see I defended every move Cora made last night, including bringing in Robles and mentioning those two ground balls.

 

Yes, it was very moonslop-esque.

[Maxbialystock]

I think the loss can be blamed on whoever named this game thread.

 

Sad but absolutely true--and it's getting to be almost a habit. What a dunce.

[Maxbialystock]

Yes, it was very moonslop-esque.

 

Not really. Moonslav bombards us with data and bullet points. I compose lengthy treatises, never using one sentence when ten will do almost as well. Nevertheless, I did actually get into the details of the pitching last night, which no one else has done--because those are where the devil lurks.

[JDavis76]

Not really. Moonslav bombards us with data and bullet points. I compose lengthy treatises, never using one sentence when ten will do almost as well. Nevertheless, I did actually get into the details of the pitching last night, which no one else has done--because those are where the devil lurks.

 

One thing that I may disagree with in your mini dissertation was giving cora credit for sticking with wacha after the terrible first inning. He really didn't have much of a choice, especially with being a little short handed in the pen with houck refusing to bow to canada's ridiculous rules.

[Maxbialystock]

One thing that I may disagree with in your mini dissertation was giving cora credit for sticking with wacha after the terrible first inning. He really didn't have much of a choice, especially with being a little short handed in the pen with houck refusing to bow to canada's ridiculous rules.

 

Agree--for exactly the reasons you state.

 

Also, since you brought up the topic of Wacha, I'm pretty sure Cora was hoping he could go 6 innings, which would have lightened the load for Brasier, Schreiber, and Danish. But after 5 innings Wacha had 90 pitches, including I think 12 in one at bat vs. Springer (who I think K'd), to say nothing of the three BB's, which not only put Jays on base, but cost Wacha pitches.

 

Another thing that hurt Wacha and other Sox pitchers was the Jays ability to punch/poke/hit the ball away from those computer-driven shifts. They seemed to do that a lot better than the Sox.

Edited June 29, 2022 by Maxbialystock

[JDavis76]

Agree--for exactly the reasons you state.

 

Also, since you brought up the topic of Wacha, I'm pretty sure Cora was hoping he could go 6 innings, which would have lightened the load for Brasier, Schreiber, and Danish. But after 5 innings Wacha had 90 pitches, including I think 12 in one at bat vs. Springer (who I think K'd), to say nothing of the three BB's, which not only put Jays on base, but cost Wacha pitches.

 

Another thing that hurt Wacha and other Sox pitchers was the Jays ability to punch/poke/hit the ball away from those computer-driven shifts. They seemed to do that a lot better than the Sox.

 

It's rather amazing that this many years into the shift being used that more teams haven't tried to take advantage and hit the ball the other way.

[Bellhorn04]

It's rather amazing that this many years into the shift being used that more teams haven't tried to take advantage and hit the ball the other way.

 

I've read several possible explanations.

 

1) It's much harder than it looks to go the other way, especially with so many pitchers throwing in the high 90's.

2) Hitters are afraid of messing up their swings.

3) Instead of going the other way hitters are going with launch angle, which has led to more homers and more K's.

[JDavis76]

I've read several possible explanations.

 

1) It's much harder than it looks to go the other way, especially with so many pitchers throwing in the high 90's.

2) Hitters are afraid of messing up their swings.

3) Instead of going the other way hitters are going with launch angle, which has led to more homers and more K's.

 

#1 I can understand.

[Maxbialystock]

#1 I can understand.

 

To be honest, I think it's 2 and 3 because to me high 90's fastballs lead to slightly late swings that drive the ball to the opposite field, but I could be wrong.

[JDavis76]

To be honest, I think it's 2 and 3 because to me high 90's fastballs lead to slightly late swings that drive the ball to the opposite field, but I could be wrong.

 

That really depends on pitch location and whether the batter is righty or lefty. It's harder to go the other way on a 97mph fast ball up and in.

[Maxbialystock]

That really depends on pitch location and whether the batter is righty or lefty. It's harder to go the other way on a 97mph fast ball up and in.

 

You could be right, but I have also been astounded to see Sox hitters go opposite field on inside pitches and--even more so--pull outside pitches.