SoxSport

Who says the choice has to be Bradley or Ells? Victorino is 32 or 33. Bradley is a potential 5 tool player. He has power as he showed today. Another HR over the bullpen. This isn't a choice between Bradley and Ellsbury. Patience. He's a 20 yr old kid.

Dempster pitched an inning in relief tonite. With his experience closing, he could be a savior in the bullpen.

I see they are playing Middlebrooks at 1B tonite. I'm not sold on him to replace Napoli, who they figure will be overpriced on the open market. MBrooks still has some plate discipline issues.

They can win it all if they get by Oakland. But they will need home field advantage to beat them. Right now, it's a tossup.

You're absolutely right. Nobody knows what goes on upstairs. The media isn't telling--even if they know. You have to judge for yourself what people do and what they say in public. And disregard media opinion, some of which is agenda ridden.

Ben is getting a lot of media waves, but he was also the GM last year and contributed to the fiasco. Henry bailed him out with the Dodger deal. Plus a few FO additions, including re-hiring James. He has a ton of money to work with, and used it up pre-season signing almost anybody who would take 3 years or less. And it's worked out. You got to give him credit for getting pieces that fit--for the most part. This is now a $170 million team that plays like it should. Farrell and the coaches made the real difference vs the previous year. He deserves MOY to this point. And you can't underestimate the coaches--Nieves and the two guys he brought with him from Toronto--especially the bench coach. Further, he had the support of the whole organization--everybody working in sync. That was not the case last year. In my view, the execs that deserve the most credit are the ones that do it with little or no money. That would be Billy Beane, the no-name Pirate GM, the KC and TB GMs, and even Dan Duquette of the Os. Anybody can buy FAs with an open wallet. These guys do it with smarts and a farm system. The media has yet to make that distinction.

That hung slider Lackey threw was a reminder of the infamous Mike Torrez.

2.5 games ahead of As and 3 games ahead of Tigers for home field. Can't afford to piss away games anymore.

Farrell has not been faring well in close games lately. He had opportunities to win this game with some smarts.

You can't keep giving the other team an opportunity in extra innings. Sooner or later you lose. Their losses lately have been games like this.

You can see why they aren't good in these close games. They wait for the big hit instead of forcing runs. Perfect squeeze situation for Drew.

should have squeezed the rabbit in from 3B. Farrell is no Maddon.

If the As get home field, they will be tough to beat. They win those one run games. The tigers are in trouble--Miggy not hitting and Verlander not in form. Dempster? Any pitcher with a 1.5 whip is a liability. Reminds me of Wakefield in his last years.

Disturbing Dempster is still starting with home field on the line. He can't hold a lead, as he showed tonite. I wouldn't underestimate the importance of best record and home field advantage. It could be the difference on getting to the WS--they hit much better in Fenway.

nope. no reason to change anything.

They've been successful using their depth with platooning. I think they recognize that, and won't change next year. There is a question about 3B and SS, and about Bradley in the OF. Middlebrooks isn't out of the woods yet. He's 0 for about the last 18 after a hot run.

I think they might stick with the current chemistry, unless Napoli gets blown away with a multi year offer. If they get deep into the playoffs, he and others will probably want to come back anyways.

Looks like Ells might be back next week. Bone fracture apparently is not load bearing.

You have to hope they move Dempster to the bullpen. The one guy who can blow you out early and needs 5 relievers.

Time to put the nails in the Yankee coffin, and shut those Yankee lovers up at MLB channel. Right Brian Kenny?

Farrell didn't take this game very seriously from his choice of relievers. They still need to get best AL record for home field advantage. That will be important.

not the kind of leverage situation for DeLaRosa.

Carp's turn. Different guy every game. Remember '67 Impossible Dream season? Pretty much the same, except Yaz was unreal.

Workman overworked. His numbers are showing it. Needed a LHP against Loney. Another one of those bleeders the Rays excel at. You can't stop hitting in these games.

Dempster goes 100 pitches a start, makes 30 starts. At $13 million, that's $4K per pitch. Good pitches or bad pitches. Not a bad living.