Royals (Falter) vs Red Sox (Bello): 8/4/25, 7:10pm

[moonslav59]

+2.5 on Yanks

-2.5 on Jays

Whodathunk this?

[FredLynn]

27 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I never said say only good things. I even pointed out that I was negative, too.

My post was a general comment about monolithic forums. They’re boring 

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

6 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Sox winning and Yankems losing. Enjoy these two things while they last.

Boone takes another gut punch. Believe his managing position is on shaky ground.

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, FredLynn said:

My post was a general comment about monolithic forums. They’re boring 

True, but I don't see excitement in criticizing a pitcher who is struggling but getting the job done. It seemed overboard, to me.

Then, some poster kept insisting on repeating a false claim made by some clown announcer about out Batting Average leader in 2025.

The last straw was the troll saying we should DFA Alcala. I mean the nerve of these so-called fans!

[moonslav59]

2 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Boone takes another gut punch. Believe his managing position is on shaky ground.

For years, I have said Boone has been the best Sox manager since Tito.

[FredLynn]

5 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

True, but I don't see excitement in criticizing a pitcher who is struggling but getting the job done. It seemed overboard, to me.

Then, some poster kept insisting on repeating a false claim made by some clown announcer about out Batting Average leader in 2025.

The last straw was the troll saying we should DFA Alcala. I mean the nerve of these so-called fans!

It’s still better than an echo chamber. You just can’t take Internet forums too seriously 

[moonslav59]

Just now, FredLynn said:

It’s still better than an echo chamber. You just can’t take Internet forums too seriously 

You should hear how often I literally laugh, out loud.

My wife often asks me what about. Sometimes, I say, "Oh, it's just Fred being Fred."

🤪

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Every team in the AL East is under .500 on the road.

[moonslav59]

2 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

It’s still better than an echo chamber. 

There is not a single poster here that I have not had long debates with, and even the ones I think share most of my views, don't often enough to keep things lively. 

I get how many get emotional during games. They say things in the heat of the moment, that deep down they know is not really true.admiring

I, for one, loved how Bello got through this game, despite how own error and other struggles. I think it helps build character.

I'm also admiring how Rafaela is holding tough. He went through years of coaching in the Sox system trying to get him to have better plate discipline and knowledge of the K zone. It seemed like he was getting nowhere, fast. He's still not walking much, but he has improved some, there. He seems to be just hitting the ball more than missing, even if the ball is not in the K zone or where he most likes it. Not all batters are good at hitting pitches all over the plate. He seems to be getting better at that. Maybe it's just luck, and he'll regress back where you think his level is, but maybe not. I'm believing he's for real.

On Alcala, I'd have DFA'd him, last week.

[Duran Is The Man]

Sandy Alcantara hammered again today -this time by the Astros. glad we didn't trade for this guy.

[FredLynn]

19 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

You should hear how often I literally laugh, out loud.

My wife often asks me what about. Sometimes, I say, "Oh, it's just Fred being Fred."

🤪

Glad you appreciate the humor!

Perhaps if some others here saw it that way they wouldn’t get so stressed out.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

13 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Every team in the AL East is under .500 on the road.

Of the 30 teams in MLB only 7 have winning records on the road. 3 in the AL and 4 in the NL.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

7 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

Glad you appreciate the humor!

Perhaps if some others here saw it that way they wouldn’t get so stressed out.

What humor? You're about as funny as a hemorrhoid.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Had to post this. Tony Mazz is actually dumber than he looks.

[FredLynn]

1 hour ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

What humor? You're about as funny as a hemorrhoid.

So glad you’re enjoying what I write here!

[Hitch]

6 hours ago, FredLynn said:

Whatever makes you think I hate this team?

It's a real conundrum, Fred. 😂

[Hitch]

In truth, I really didn't see this coming. It's a joy to watch. I'm still hesitant to trust it, but boy is it fun to watch us right now.

[moonslav59]

The AL has no dominant team. All have some serious weak areas and a few minor ones.

While 4-5 of the top 7 teams made a serious deadline move, or two, they failed to fix all their issues. We have issues, too. We are not going to win every game, going forward. We will probably hit a rough patch, where some revert back to "fire Cora" and "fire Brez" chants, but I think this team is in it for the long haul. They seem to have grit, but more than anything else, the competition is just not all that good.

The Yanks have gone two full months of significantly sub .500 ball.

HOU had one winning month.

DET seems to be the most consistent team, but they have not risen above the rest.

TOR is starting to show its weaknesses.

SEA made some bold deadline trades, but for once, their pitching looks suspect, due in part to several injuries.

TEX has too many weak areas on offense. I can't see them doing what MVP thinks they might do: get hot.

While I had hoped we'd have done better then adding M & M, I do think the moves should help, where needed most. My biggest worry is the 4 & 5 slot in the rotation, and minor areas like a 1B platoon and needing to play Rafaela at 2B, now.

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

Bello hung a lot of pitchers in the heart of the plate but got away with it because the Royals suck.  But really happy for him and his line again looked fantastic.  

Story is playing great, I would be happy to be wrong on him but let's wait and see.  I love how they run the bases. I could never understood how a team with so many average or below average hitters throughout the lineup is putting up so many runs. Clearly the extra bases they get and pressure this puts on the defense plays a large role.  I love their 3rd base coach and his aggressiveness.  

[Maxbialystock]

9 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

+2.5 on Yanks

-2.5 on Jays

Whodathunk this?

Certainly not me, and I think I've been the most upbeat going back to the departure of Devers.

The article today on Ref reminds us of how everyone contributes (even Connor Wong).  

And that  game-saving throw by Abreu last night reminds us the Sox defense is way better than those errors.  

Speaking of which, there is a lot of chatter about how dumb Cora and Breslow were to bring up Hamilton instead of Grissom. Hamilton has a great DWAR at 2b, is fast on the basepaths (including as a pinchrunner),  and can also play SS. 

If you read soxprospects on Grissom, you learn he is a lousy fielder, slow on the basepaths, and a so-so hitter (a righty).  The Sox already start 7 righty bats against lefty starters.  

And that leads back to your point.  Mayer's last game was July 23.  Since then, with lousy old Hamilton in for Mayer, the Sox are 8-2.  He is the right fit.  

 

[mvp 78]

9 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

+2.5 on Yanks

-2.5 on Jays

Whodathunk this?

We thought it before the season started. Then the wheels came off. Then they put the wheels on. Baseball be crazy sometimes. 

[Maxbialystock]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

The AL has no dominant team. All have some serious weak areas and a few minor ones.

While 4-5 of the top 7 teams made a serious deadline move, or two, they failed to fix all their issues. We have issues, too. We are not going to win every game, going forward. We will probably hit a rough patch, where some revert back to "fire Cora" and "fire Brez" chants, but I think this team is in it for the long haul. They seem to have grit, but more than anything else, the competition is just not all that good.

The Yanks have gone two full months of significantly sub .500 ball.

HOU had one winning month.

DET seems to be the most consistent team, but they have not risen above the rest.

TOR is starting to show its weaknesses.

SEA made some bold deadline trades, but for once, their pitching looks suspect, due in part to several injuries.

TEX has too many weak areas on offense. I can't see them doing what MVP thinks they might do: get hot.

While I had hoped we'd have done better then adding M & M, I do think the moves should help, where needed most. My biggest worry is the 4 & 5 slot in the rotation, and minor areas like a 1B platoon and needing to play Rafaela at 2B, now.

A very good synopsis of the other teams.

Right now, to be honest, I don't see the Sox weaknesses.    Hitting/scoring, pitching, defense, and baserunning are all good.;  Two of our hotshot rookies are gone, and the Sox don't miss them.  Wong stinks at the plate, but is an excellent backup catcher. 

I think Breslow (and Cora) have done a great job assembling this team and managing them.

Of course they will hit rough spots. 

And an injury to any one of Crochet, Chapman, Bello, Giolito, Bregman, Story, Rafaela, Duran, Anthony or Narvaez could do some real damage.  

[Maxbialystock]

11 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

We thought it before the season started. Then the wheels came off. Then they put the wheels on. Baseball be crazy sometimes. 

Oh, that's good--and pithy.  

[notin]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

The AL has no dominant team. All have some serious weak areas and a few minor ones.

While 4-5 of the top 7 teams made a serious deadline move, or two, they failed to fix all their issues. We have issues, too. We are not going to win every game, going forward. We will probably hit a rough patch, where some revert back to "fire Cora" and "fire Brez" chants, but I think this team is in it for the long haul. They seem to have grit, but more than anything else, the competition is just not all that good.

The Yanks have gone two full months of significantly sub .500 ball.

HOU had one winning month.

DET seems to be the most consistent team, but they have not risen above the rest.

TOR is starting to show its weaknesses.

SEA made some bold deadline trades, but for once, their pitching looks suspect, due in part to several injuries.

TEX has too many weak areas on offense. I can't see them doing what MVP thinks they might do: get hot.

While I had hoped we'd have done better then adding M & M, I do think the moves should help, where needed most. My biggest worry is the 4 & 5 slot in the rotation, and minor areas like a 1B platoon and needing to play Rafaela at 2B, now.

Detroit has been all over the place recently.  They’re 6-2 in their last 8, but that comes off a 1-12 stretch in the previous 13…

[notin]

1 hour ago, Maxbialystock said:

Oh, that's good--and pithy.  

Good and Pithy was one of the worst candy ideas of all time…

[mvp 78]

27 minutes ago, notin said:

Good and Pithy was one of the worst candy ideas of all time…

I drank Moxie growing up, so Good and Pithy was fine. The only candy I never liked was bit o' honey. Give me a package of circus peanuts over those things. 

[Duran Is The Man]

35 minutes ago, notin said:

Detroit has been all over the place recently.  They’re 6-2 in their last 8, but that comes off a 1-12 stretch in the previous 13…

since June 3rd, the Sox have the best record in the AL and second best in MLB behind the Brewers, who went from 6 games back of the first place Cubs to 3 up. Red Sox have gone from 10 games back of first place Yankems to 3 games back of Toronto.  kudos to Cora and Brez.

AL

BOS 34-17

TOR 35-19

HOU 30-23

TEX 30-23

SEA 28-26

BAL 28-26

LAA 27-26

DET 26-26

ATH 26-26

CLE 25-28

KC 24-28

CHW 23-28

TBR 24-30

NYY 23-31 (LOL)

MIN 19-33

 

NL

MIL 35-15

MIA 32-20

CIN 29-22

LAD 28-24

PHI 27-25

CHI 27-25

PIT 27-25

SDP 27-27

NYM 25-27

ARZ 25-28

STL 24-30

SFG 23-29

ATL 20-32

COL 19-32

WSN 16-35

 

 

 

[Bellhorn04]

3 hours ago, Yaz Fan Since 67 said:

I love their 3rd base coach and his aggressiveness.  

A compliment for a third base coach!  You don't see those too often. 😊

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

A compliment for a third base coach!  You don't see those too often. 😊

Send Em in Wendell Kim! 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

3 hours ago, Maxbialystock said:

A very good synopsis of the other teams.

Right now, to be honest, I don't see the Sox weaknesses. 

It's drafting too many shortstops.

We need to draft more third basemen, so they can convert to first basemen.

Happens all the time in the majors (well, almost)...