Red Sox (Bello) vs Twins (Matthews): 7/30/25, 1:10pm

[Brandon Glick]

With a day off tomorrow, this could be the last look at the current version of the Red Sox's roster. Hug watch is on.

[vegasbob]

All W's count but the opportunity today to take this series and break even over the past 12 post A-S break games is fairly urgent.  

The Yankees can be taken and passed in the standings, but we need to keep building separation from the Mariners.

The TDL looms tomorrow but don't hold your breath yet.  Bres is still thinking about derivatives

[Maxbialystock]

43 minutes ago, Brandon Glick said:

With a day off tomorrow, this could be the last look at the current version of the Red Sox's roster. Hug watch is on.

Like that last line.

No Bregman today, also no Narvaez.  First 3 Sox batters are Anthony, Toro (at 3b), and Duran.  

[mvp 78]

 

[Brandon Glick]

4 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

Like that last line.

No Bregman today, also no Narvaez.  First 3 Sox batters are Anthony, Toro (at 3b), and Duran.  

Thankfully Bregman's absence is confirmed a planned rest day for a day game after a night game. I don't expect any deals during the game; I imagine post-5pm (EST), the dam will break around the league.

[mvp 78]

Kind of babying Breggie, but he has an 848 OPS since coming back from injury. If that's what it takes to keep him healthy, Sox need to do it. 

[vegasbob]

Win with this lineup and consider it luck or skill ?

[mvp 78]

Uneventful 1st. 

[FredLynn]

Nice defensive play all around cutting down the run.

[mvp 78]

Just now, vegasbob said:

Win with this lineup and consider it luck or skill ?

Does anyone here have a real scouting report on Zebby? 

[mvp 78]

Twins Daily (our sister site) seems to like Zebby. They full on seem to think the Twins are cooked and a few of them want a full on fire sale and expect/want them to lose today. 

[mvp 78]

Wish Rafaela was just aggressive on pitches he could do damage on, rather than sliders away. 

[mvp 78]

Story's 816 OPS since June 1 will climb even higher. 

[FredLynn]

Bello gives it up on an 0-2 count. Inexcusable.

[Maxbialystock]

2 hours ago, Brandon Glick said:

Thankfully Bregman's absence is confirmed a planned rest day for a day game after a night game. I don't expect any deals during the game; I imagine post-5pm (EST), the dam will break around the league.

Well, I sure hope so.  The Sox need to unload that worthless Duran and pick up the 12th best pitcher on the Padres staff.  Or maybe the Sox should desist in this Cease talk.  

 

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

Bello gives it up on an 0-2 count. Inexcusable.

It was a sweeper outside the zone. It's not like he left it middle/middle. 

[mvp 78]

Wong with his second (?) XBH of the year. 

[mvp 78]

If Wong is hitting doubles, Sox should be winning this game easily. Twins must be tanking. 

[Maxbialystock]

6 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

Bello gives it up on an 0-2 count. Inexcusable.

The pitch was well outside the strike zone.  

[mvp 78]

Toro has a lengthy AB and gets an RBI. Duran walks up and proceeds to hit into a DP on the first pitch. 🫡

[Maxbialystock]

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

Wong with his second (?) XBH of the year. 

He's one of the most intelligent hitters on the team.  That fly was perfectly placed.  

 

15 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Wish Rafaela was just aggressive on pitches he could do damage on, rather than sliders away. 

He doesn't see those pitches well.  JDM had the exact same problem.  

[mvp 78]

Both Rafaela and Duran swung at first pitches away. Not pitches in their wheelhouse. Just aggressive to be aggressive. Frustrating. 

[illinoisredsox]

Bello not sharp today.  Pen is going to be taxed even if he keeps it close.

Edit - pitch count not as high as I thought it was.  45 through 3 innings isn’t awful.  Middlebrooks had a good point, some of those pitches are moving too much.

[Maxbialystock]

Rafaela has made two terrific plays at 2b today,  Both of them prevented runs.  

[illinoisredsox]

I’ve never seen that before.

[Maxbialystock]

17 minutes ago, illinoisredsox said:

Bello not sharp today.  Pen is going to be taxed even if he keeps it close.

He looks OK to me.  

[Maxbialystock]

24 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Both Rafaela and Duran swung at first pitches away. Not pitches in their wheelhouse. Just aggressive to be aggressive. Frustrating. 

Rafaela has hit the ball hard in 2 at bats.  

[Maxbialystock]

Wong 2 for 2 today.  An artist with the bat.  I think it's that charcoal under his eyes that gives him the edge.  

[Maxbialystock]

Is Mayer unreal or is he unreal?  

[Maxbialystock]

Time for Duran to stop screwing around.