Blue Jays (Gausman) vs Red Sox (Suarez): 7/26/26, 1:35pm

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

So let's see. In the Sox last 8 series they have won 7. Of those 7 series wins 5 were sweeps. 4 of those series wins were against AL East teams.

[vegasbob]

I think they ask a lot of Watson, but he has been dealing 

[FredLynn]

Chapman barely started throwing 

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

, .. 

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Since the last Yankems series the Sox are 13-4 at home. They were 9-0 on the road.

[JoeBrady]

Nice game.  Getting the good Suarez back is important.  Duran kind of continues to hit.  Strong move to PH Joes for Yoshida.  Once again, a nice job by the BP, without having to waste Chapman and Whitlock.

[moonslav59]

Great win all around. Nice that they could  break Suarez back in slowly. Decent offense.

Keep the mojo going.

[moonslav59]

Rafaela almost had 2 hits. That lineout nearly lost us the game!

He's reverting back to bum city.

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

So let's see. In the Sox last 8 series they have won 7. Of those 7 series wins 5 were sweeps. 4 of those series wins were against AL East teams.

Those two losses to WSH (8-1 and 10-2) seem like a year ago.

What a difference just one month can make. This should be a lesson to all of about counting a team out in mid June, even if there are 6 teams between that team and the last WC slot.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

5 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Those two losses to WSH (8-1 and 10-2) seem like a year ago.

What a difference just one month can make. This should be a lesson to all of about counting a team out in mid June, even if there are 6 teams between that team and the last WC slot.

Starting with the Yankems series, the Sox are 12-2 against AL East teams.

[moonslav59]

3 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Starting with the Yankems series, the Sox are 12-2 against AL East teams.

We may have been a big help turning BAL and TOR into sellers.

[FredLynn]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Rafaela almost had 2 hits. That lineout nearly lost us the game!

He's reverting back to bum city.

I couldn’t agree more. He should have aimed his line drive a couple of feet shorter 

[FredLynn]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Those two losses to WSH (8-1 and 10-2) seem like a year ago.

What a difference just one month can make. This should be a lesson to all of about counting a team out in mid June, even if there are 6 teams between that team and the last WC slot.

When we were 14 games underwater EVERYONE was counting them out. At least everyone who is being honest about it.

[vegasbob]

Yankees losing to Phillies 11-4 top 7.

Bellinger on IL, getting rough Aaron

[JoeBrady]

8 minutes ago, vegasbob said:

Yankees losing to Phillies 11-4 top 7.

Bellinger on IL, getting rough Aaron

Down to 4.5 games.  They'll get better when they get healthier, but it is nice closing the gap.  We've also now caught TB in the Py W/L.

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, JoeBrady said:

Down to 4.5 games.  They'll get better when they get healthier, but it is nice closing the gap.  We've also now caught TB in the Py W/L.

The sky seems like the limit, these days.

-1.0 GB from CWS

-4.5 NYY (4 in loss column)

-7.5 TBR (7 in loss column)

2nd in AL in run differential (tied w CWS +46)

4 games up in the loss column for last WC slot.  In just one month, that included the ASB, we went from about last place in the AL to 4 games up in the loss column on the WC3 slot!

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

Another nice performance by the Red Sox.  Roger was dealing last night, that 3-2 curveball was a thing of beauty.  We survived Weissert, Slatten and Watson with little damage.

Tyronn Guerrera is one of the great stories of the season and we don't talk about him enough IMO.  From where he was to this is simply amazing.  

One thing that has driven me crazy for years is MLB player's inability to lay down a bunt.  Not only is our manager calling a lot of bunts, and we saw how they worked out again last night, but the players are actually laying down effective bunts.  This make me happy and this is a big change..

Not sure why they don't send Duran when there is 2 outs.  With the #9 hitter that sounded like the right time rather than relying on your worst hitting hitting one in the gap or counting on 2 more hits.  Is it that Tracy didn't want to take the risk of having his 9 hitter leading off the next inning?  I also never understood why they wait 4-5 pitched before sending a runner.  In those 4-5 pitches an out can occur, why do they wait?  

[JoeBrady]

1 hour ago, Yaz Fan Since 67 said:

Not sure why they don't send Duran when there is 2 outs.

I've heard the of the #9 hitter leading off issue from 50 years back.  I never bought it, but it is not new.  I'd say the biggest part is that you don't steal simply because you want to.  You have to have the right lead, which probably doesn't occur that often.  It's hard enough for stealing to be profitable.  If you force a runner to go, you likely fall below the 75% threshold that is needed.

[Nick]

17 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Those two losses to WSH (8-1 and 10-2) seem like a year ago.

What a difference just one month can make. This should be a lesson to all of about counting a team out in mid June, even if there are 6 teams between that team and the last WC slot.

With good starting pitching, everything is possible.

4 game lead in the loss column for the last wildcard spot is HUGE.

[moonslav59]

2 minutes ago, Nick said:

With good starting pitching, everything is possible.

Indeed.

Pitching and defense can win as many games as offense.

[mvp 78]

19 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Indeed.

Pitching and defense can win as many games as offense.

Can't win games 0-0. 

Bruins fans should remember this from the Claude Julien years. You do need a little bit of offense. Without offense, this team was in the dumps. 

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

59 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

I've heard the of the #9 hitter leading off issue from 50 years back.  I never bought it, but it is not new.  I'd say the biggest part is that you don't steal simply because you want to.  You have to have the right lead, which probably doesn't occur that often.  It's hard enough for stealing to be profitable.  If you force a runner to go, you likely fall below the 75% threshold that is needed.

Duran is 15 for 17 in steals this season, I'm sure he's at least that for his career so he is clearly proficient at getting a lead and a good jump.   With 2 outs and a man on first that sounds like the perfect time to steal a base.  And the percentages strongly suggest it would work.  To my other point if they are going to send him why wait 5 pitches?  

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Can't win games 0-0. 

Bruins fans should remember this from the Claude Julien years. You do need a little bit of offense. Without offense, this team was in the dumps. 

Yes, that's why I said "as much as offense."

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, Yaz Fan Since 67 said:

Duran is 15 for 17 in steals this season, I'm sure he's at least that for his career so he is clearly proficient at getting a lead and a good jump.   With 2 outs and a man on first that sounds like the perfect time to steal a base.  And the percentages strongly suggest it would work.  To my other point if they are going to send him why wait 5 pitches?  

There have been several times this year when I wondered why Duran is not attempting a SB.