8/28 Astros @ SOX 7:10PM ET

[Maxbialystock]

No one else on this team or on any recent Sox team makes the 3d out grab that Casas just made for the 3d out in the 5th. The play by Urias was magnificent of course, but Casas has an unbelievable reach and he's not half bad on bounced throws. But moonslav will never give Casas an ounce of credit for anything he does on defense.

 

The defense just saved a freaking run--made possible, I grant, by Wong's passed ball.

 

I think the incessant caterwauling about the defense is unbalanced. The defense is good enough. Sale (who I think is a good defender, rare for a pitcher) committed the only Sox error, which cost nothing in runs, but he also gave up 2 BB's, 7 hits, including a dinger and 2 doubles, and one wild pitch.

 

The Sox win when their hitting and pitching are good. In that regard, I think Sale was not all that bad in giving up 3 runs in 4.2 innings against the Astros. He didn't have his best command, but did throw 92 freaking pitches.

[Maxbialystock]

Did I forget to mention that rotten, stinking, worthless Yoshida is 2 for 2 and scored 2 of our 4 runs? Those should not count, of course, because the Sox are paying him to play great D.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Interesting that Duvall(7 mil for one year) was paid less than either Kike or Kluber(the Special K guys).

[Randy Red Sox]

dying to hear your thoughts on that immortal Trevor Story

Did I forget to mention that rotten, stinking, worthless Yoshida is 2 for 2 and scored 2 of our 4 runs? Those should not count, of course, because the Sox are paying him to play great D.

[vegasbob]

An umpire with a poor sense of the strike zone and gross inconsistency forces batters to chase pitches, especially after 2 strikes. The idiots influence the game outcome well beyond their already significant roles

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

dying to hear your thoughts on that immortal Trevor Story

 

At this point the SOX FO paid a ton of money for a very good defensive SS.

[Old Red]

Did I forget to mention that rotten, stinking, worthless Yoshida is 2 for 2 and scored 2 of our 4 runs? Those should not count, of course, because the Sox are paying him to play great D.

 

Let’s not get carried away with Yoshida’s two hits. One was a gift, because the pitcher couldn’t pick up a ball he’d already fumbled.

[Jasonbay44]

Let’s not get carried away with Yoshida’s two hits. One was a gift, because the pitcher couldn’t pick up a ball he’d already fumbled.

 

So what you are saying is bad defense contributed to the hit and didn't impact the Astros fielding%?? Wow!

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

An umpire with a poor sense of the strike zone and gross inconsistency forces batters to chase pitches, especially after 2 strikes. The idiots influence the game outcome well beyond their already significant roles

 

It was more important to the powers that be to shorten the game than to deal with the major problem of inept chUMPS.

[vegasbob]

Dealing with Duvall this off season, as with Verdugo ( arb$$ or trade), and Story ( IMO), and now I throw Sale into the mix , will be interesting to follow. The easy out is to go to arb with Dugo, do nothing with Sale and Story, and make Duvall a lowball offer.

[Old Red]

Dealing with Duvall this off season, as with Verdugo ( arb$$ or trade), and Story ( IMO), and now I throw Sale into the mix , will be interesting to follow. The easy out is to go to arb with Dugo, do nothing with Sale and Story, and make Duvall a lowball offer.

 

Duvall won’t take a 1 year next year.

[Randy Red Sox]

Another BBB pickup P from Chaim Bloom currently on display

[vegasbob]

The Sox will pay a price for trying to steal an inning with Barraclough

[Jasonbay44]

Dealing with Duvall this off season, as with Verdugo ( arb$$ or trade), and Story ( IMO), and now I throw Sale into the mix , will be interesting to follow. The easy out is to go to arb with Dugo, do nothing with Sale and Story, and make Duvall a lowball offer.

 

Since they already extended Refsnyder, paid Yoshida a lot and with the emergence of Duran and Verdugo still playing good. Its hard to see Duvall staying.

[Maxbialystock]

Interesting that Duvall(7 mil for one year) was paid less than either Kike or Kluber(the Special K guys).

 

Don't mention his name, please. I beat up on him incessantly when he came back from the injury and basically said the first 8 games in April were just luck. Right now his OPS is .920!!!

[Old Red]

So what you are saying is bad defense contributed to the hit and didn't impact the Astros fielding%?? Wow!

 

It works both ways, and made the pitcher throw a lot more pitches too.

[Maxbialystock]

Since they already extended Refsnyder, paid Yoshida a lot and with the emergence of Duran and Verdugo still playing good. Its hard to see Duvall staying.

 

You could be right. I like Verdugo, but the experts on talksox--and they do know a ton more than I do--say the smart move is to trade him this off season while he still has a year of "control" left.

[vegasbob]

Get this f***ing horseshit Barraclough out of there right now. WTF is this team about ??

[notin]

So glad we got Barraclaugh instead of a real relief pitcher…

[Old Red]

It’s pretty bad when the Claw Man is first out of the pen in an important game, or even on the team at all. Where’s the Bra Man when you need him?

[wyo-sox]

Shaping up to be a fun exciting game!

[Jasonbay44]

Barraclough really sucks

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Didn't see that coming. If the slim chance that Cora doesn't return as SOX manager next season, I'll be as distraught as Max was when VAZ was traded.

[Maxbialystock]

The Sox will pay a price for trying to steal an inning with Barraclough

 

One of the best predictions on talksox this entire season--sadly.

[vegasbob]

It’s pretty bad when the Claw Man is first out of the pen in an important game, or even on the team at all. Where’s the Bra Man when you need him?

 

Going to the playoffs with the Dodgers who made him an effective reliever.

[notin]

Since they already extended Refsnyder, paid Yoshida a lot and with the emergence of Duran and Verdugo still playing good. Its hard to see Duvall staying.

 

I’m hoping they clear this logjam by moving an outfielder for a pitcher. If so, I could see Duvall sticking around as a right-handed option in the OF…

[a700hitter]

Barraclough really sucks

That was quite the pickup, and they just could have suggested a cutter to Brasier.

[wyo-sox]

..... just got significantly less exciting and fun.

[Randy Red Sox]

time to head back to BBB Bin Chaim. you struck out on this guy. PS Cora--don't warm another guy up either --stay in your siesta

The Sox will pay a price for trying to steal an inning with Barraclough

[vegasbob]

Truly ridiculous to give this game up and get a little more buried. It starts with Sale being marginal and bringing in the star of the WooSox bullpen to hold the fort . The mismanagement of this team from FO on down is beyond words