jacksonianmarch

They added an infielder to deal with Lemahieu. DJ has been playing most of the year with a sports hernia. It’s felt most while hitting, hence why he hasn’t been able to hit well this year. And another reason why last night was so critical. If Boone brings in Luetge and he gets that final out and the yanks win, they can literally rest everyone. With Seattle losing, yanks are guaranteed to play beyond game 162. If we won last night we’d have clinched a WC spot. I don’t think the yanks should go all out for WC1 vs WC2. I think it’s best to clinch and rest up.

They just optioned Abreu after one game, yet he was the one who was specifically brought in with runners on in the 9th when other options were there. Wow

Luetge was warming up and was ready. That guy has been nails for us all year. Why, oh why do you bring in a kid fresh off a demotion to AAA in a big spot in one of the biggest games of the year? I’m dumbfounded

You don’t bring in the underachieving rook in that situation

He’s so bad. He’s been managing like we’ve locked up a PO spot already

And of course we score two runs and lose by one. There will be a silver lining if we don’t make the POs and that’s the fact Boone won’t be around. I hate him

What would have been awesome is if we didn’t throw a rookie with a 5+ ERA into a situation he wasn’t equipped for. f***ing Boone. I hate you

This f***ing douchebag knows we haven’t clinched yet, right?

Abreu down 1 with two runners on? What are you doing Boone?

Richards was a gamble. JD resurgent from a down year at his age isn’t “sub norm”, it’s actually a plus. You wanna know what the biggest win for the Sox is? Tell me, who was lost for the year, didn’t recover from an injury, didn’t have a horrible year who was counted on to be a stalwart? I’m waiting….. The Sox had incredibly good health. Sale came back like he never missed a beat. ERod came back from heart inflammation and made it through the whole year (and his peripherals are dynamite). Schwarber was supposed to miss the month of august and he came back in 2 weeks. Nobody that was expected to be a main focus of the team had an off year. Even guys who started our s*****, like Dalbec, rebounded and have put together good seasons. The fact is, this Sox team, as constructed, should have had more tumult. Should have lost a pitcher to injury. Should have seen a position player miss time. Should have had a prime player have a down year. But they didnt.

I ultimately hope Boone doesn’t fall into the trap with Kluber thinking he’s still the horse of 5 years ago. Kluber has become a 3-4 inning guy. A guy you don’t let teams see three times and maybe not even twice. Heck, I’d rather use an opener to pile through the top of an order then throw him in against the 5th hitter in a lineup and have him face 14 batters and pull him for the third at bat for the lead off hitter. He is very useful, but Boone keeps pushing him into a role he no longer can fill. With Sevy back, King dealing, and the trade additions rolling, this pen is full of multi inning options. Heck, this team could have a pen game and shut someone out. It is on Boone to realize this and be real quick to pull a starter, even if it’s really early. Cortes is a similar guy to Kluber at this juncture, just a lefty version. Won’t blow you away, multitude of pitches and arm angles and someone who won’t get past 5. It’s time to lean on the beast that got you there and act more like the Rays rather than stubbornly push against the path they’ve cleared

With the way this season has gone for the Yankees, nothing will surprise me. They could lose the next 3 and a play in for the POs or they could ride their deep pen and suddenly resurgent lineup to the World Series. It’s been the strangest year for the Sox Yankee rivalry. This wasn’t supposed to be close. Yanks were the pick to click for the WS. Sox were still building. Prior to the Yanks opened a can in Fenway, it had been utterly frustrating as a Yankee fan and I’m sure entirely surprising as a Sox fan

It was reported a couple weeks back that Lemahieu has been dealing with a hip issue all season. Yesterday it was bad enough for him to have to come out of the game. Honestly, a diminished Lemahieu isn’t a great add to this team. Wade has been really solid for us and plays a good SS while adding a major speed element to the club. It moves Urshela back to his best position as well. And since Torres was moved off SS, he’s started hitting again. My bet is we hear about a labral tear or sports hernia in Lemahieu and he gets operated on in the off season. Hopefully it allows him to return to being a force with the stick

Of course he doesn’t pull Kluber and he gives up a run. Thankfully the Yanks brought their bats. Huge series in Toronto. Major props coming back last night even though they lost. Pitching is on point, pen is dominant and hitting is finding the seats again. They’re finally clicking at the right time. Now just need to take a couple from a Tampa team that’s gonna be resting people

I’ve said it from day 1, this Sox team isn’t that good. They have played over their skis all year and it’s finally catching up with them in heart breaking fashion. But the fact that the Sox are still sitting in a PO spot with 3 games left is a testament to Cora’s leadership. That being said, I think this off-season will be a massive shakeup. Bloom comes from the analytics side and bad defense is just not tolerated and the Sox defense is just atrocious. I think Bogey gets traded, Devers moves to 1b, Dalbec backs up 1b and 3b while taking some reps at DH and the brass secretly hope JD opts out. OF starts with Kike in CF and CF alone. Vaz has his option declined and the Sox sign a defense first catcher with a good game calling reputation. You’ll see a lot of movement to ultimately build a team that can sustain a winning culture and not a flash in the pan, should be 4th place team.

Pull Kluber now!!!

Loved the fight the offense showed. Cole was wild in the zone early and couldn't seem to lock it down until the 4th inning. The 5th run he allowed was a cheapie. Ray has unlocked his potential this year. Really intriguing to see how Boone manages this game. Based on history, Boone will probably manage it like a s*** for brains, but my hope is he is managing for his job tonight. Kluber should be on a watch for the second turn of the lineup onward. Since he came off the IL, he seems to be pretty solid thru 3.

The one thing I do not like about this rule is the single elimination part of it. If you go 162 and earn a playoff spot, you should be guaranteed more than one game. This is why I think the season should end on a Sunday, Game 1 WC on Monday at WC2 home and then Games 2 and 3 in a DHer on Tuesday at WC 1 home.

You'd rather fight for the top spot than guarantee yourself a spot period? Makes little sense. If I was a sox fan, I would root hard for the Yanks tonight then hope they get swept by TB.

13 up 13 down

Not really true. He scuffled a bit after the ban and then ran off a ridiculously dominant run. Once he pulled his hammy, he’s been mortal

And Cole struggling off the rip

Yanks are 90-67

Ah, sorry. Didn’t realize they had an off day. That’s even worse for the Sox. The Halos have packed it in. The A’s still have a mathematical shot at the POs

Big win last night. Sounds like Loaisiga will be activated when Taillon goes back on the injured list. That will leave a bunch of really intriguing long relief options for this team. We will almost be copying the Rays blue print although they don’t have starters like Cole and Montgomery. Kluber is trending towards being another starter with Cortes being up there too. But the long relief options are awesome. King has been great as a reliever this year Peralta has been lights out as a Yankee Holmes has been even better as a Yankee Severino hasn’t allowed a run since he came back Green has been his usual reliable self Loaisiga has been lights out all year Luetge has been a revelation all year The versatility of these relievers and their ability to provide depth will be enormous for the Yanks should they clinch a playoff spot or make a deep PO run. For now, though, they need to focus on the Jays to make it there