Navafan29

Trying to study for my final exam... then I hear the best inning of the year from the other room and have to start watching this game. Unbelievable.

There is nobody I am rooting to succeed now more than Wright. Such a great story how someone can be an average guy and master a pitch that nobody else in the world is currently mastering (except for that Dickey guy). The biggest goal right now should be to stay ahead of Toronto in the standings, since they were projected by everyone to finish 1st. We are currently 3 games ahead of them. I'm not going to worry about Baltimore unless they get a few games ahead of us.

Yess to expansion! Although the divisions are nice and even with 5 teams apiece, so it seems unprofessional to make them uneven again. If we added two teams, I'd like to add enough other teams to even up the divisions. We should add 1 team to all 6 divisions. If MLB ever puts the DH in both leagues (which I would oppose) then it would open the door for more rearrangement of divisions in theory, which would make adding more teams easier. With the DH in both leagues, the classification of "AL" and "NL" becomes meaningless, since they would both have the same rules and both be all around geographically. In sports, teams are sorted into divisions, where teams with similar geographical location are put in the same division. There'd be no point in the current division layouts with the DH in both leagues, because the leagues are not "East VS West" or "North VS South". The AL and NL both have eastern, western, southern, and northern teams. The thing that keeps the closest teams from being in the same division is the designated hitter rule. With the DH in both leagues, the divisions would have to be completely rearranged, or they'd make no sense. You'd have to change "AL East" to a "Northeast" division consisting of something like the Blue Jays, Red Sox, Yankees, Mets, and Phillies. Then there'd be some Southeasty division consisting of perhaps the Rays, Marlins, Braves, Rangers, and Astros. You get the idea. Creating a new division while adding 5 new teams would be possible with a division allocation type like this, which requires 1 less new team than adding 1 to each current division. Can't create a new division with the AL and NL the way they are, cause it would unbalance the leagues. I don't want the DH in both leagues, so I would hope that we just add 1 new team to each division, even if that's kind of a long shot. The disadvantage of more teams is that it's already hard enough to win the WS, and with more teams, the odds get even slimmer. I would like to see the first round of the playoffs increased to a 7 game series if there were more teams than there currently are, to add more fairness, and make the playoffs before the final four feel like less of a jip.

I actually think that this is the least harmful way we could lose. I'm not even mad, because we didn't lose due to lack of skill; we can blame it on the umpires. 13 hits, and a technically quality start by Porcello means that our hitting and pitching was good this game. We didn't lose because of a lack of skill. Losing because of a terrible low strike call (should have been a ball to tie the game) on an excellent AB by Ortiz that capped off a good inspiring rally in the 9th... that's going to inspire the team for next game. They can blame it on the umpires, which takes the pressure off. This is not the kind of loss that starts losing streaks. I am almost certain that the Red Sox will win tomorrow. I know we lost today, but I think that this game was good for the sport of baseball. There hasn't been quite enough regular season drama in baseball since replay and soft rules got injected into the game. A manager ejection in a game between two rivals once in a while definitely helps with that.

The story this game is telling is a game where the Red Sox fail to win due to missed opportunities. Not much is more awesome than defying such a narrative, and winning anyways because you're good and you feel like winning. Let's do that and get the awesome win tonight. Defy reality.

I would not be surprised if we lead the league in hitting into double plays with the bases loaded. I'm not too mad that we failed to score last inning though, because then it would have been a somewhat lucky way to take the lead, which doesn't look as cool. I want to take the lead with Vasquez's awesome double and then an awesome follow up hit.

Sure we got a little fortunate in the two wins, but we just beat the Legendary For Some Reason White Sox in a series!! Who needs the wild card game? Let's win the division! If a couple more extra pieces fall into place, I can easily see the Red Sox winning the World Series this year!

Holy cow. Good Buchholz is back from the dead. It was almost storybook how he was pitching with his career on the line, then immediately gave up a HR, but settled in somehow and pitched a great game. I think the reason why Buchholz is sometimes great and sometimes awful is because he always tries to make perfect painting pitches, no matter how good his control is on a given day. When his aim is shaky, he doesn't try to pitch more to the middle of the zone to compensate and prevent walks. He still tries to paint the corners. So when he's off a bit, he misses and walks guys, which makes him look terrible. When he's on, he's still trying to paint, and does so, looking amazing. Buchholz was fantastic against not just any team tonight, but the hottest team in the AL. He seems to pitch better when there's something to be excited about. I can totally see Buchholz being too shaky for us and getting traded as a result, and then pitching a no-hitter against the Red Sox in some playoff race game that costs us the season... Ortiz's score reversal HR was one of his best moments so far this year. Wouldn't it be crazy if we won the series against the White Sox by losing the game Wright pitches but winning with Buchholz and Owens??

Seriously??? What, did they just jump cut over it? I have to see this... I hate how you can get fired in America for what you say on social media. I didn't see Schilling's controversial post. Maybe it was insensitive, maybe it wasn't, but you shouldn't fire someone for saying what they want to their friends and followers on social media. It's unrelated to their job. We shouldn't have to live in fear of making a social misstep when we aren't at work. Similarly, school teachers should be able to act unprofessional when they go out in public (e.g. the grocery store).

Second best game of the year so far! First place!! I love how we kept coming back immediately after falling behind. I'm gonna try not to take this offense for granted... We are very fortunate that Price didn't give up another HR to Arod in the 7th, when Farrell let Price stay in for some reason. Price gave Arod a couple fastballs he could have killed. Get ready for WEEI making fun of the ESPN announcers tomorrow.

...Unbelievable. In the 7th, with 2 outs, I didn't think JBJ had enough plate discipline to beat Tanaka in a long AB, so I told him to swing at the first pitch, thinking that Tanaka might throw an easier pitch for a first pitch strike. JBJ swings at the first pitch and hits it off the wall! That hit was definitely the best moment of the year so far. If JBJ doesn't get that hit, the odds would just get slimmer and slimmer. You don't want to have to come back against Betances, one of the best pitchers in the world, who was warming up while JBJ was batting. Then, speaking of that elite pitcher Betances, Ortiz actually gets a freaking home run off him, again off the first pitch, saving this game from going to the 17th inning, where it was probably headed. Both Ortiz's and JBJ's clutch hits were on a first pitch and hit to the opposite field. I noticed that Betances was throwing some pitches 98, rivaling Kimbrel's speed, but showing more control than Kimbrel. Then, trying not to be outdone, Kimbrel comes in and throws a pitch 99 MPH (which I haven't seen from him this year) to outdo Betances and remain the fastest pitcher at the ballpark. And don't forget Owens! He actually pitched well, which was the least thing I was expecting. The HR he gave up to Arod was up and away in the zone, so it wasn't badly located (though Arod seems better than most guys in that location). Owens easily could have only allowed 1 run, though he also could have allowed 3. Holt was also a big part of this win. He threw out a guy from the outfield, poked a clutch single through the infield in the 7th, and hustled from first base to score on JBJ's hit!

Red Sox Win! Blue Jays and Orioles lose!! What an offense! I almost feel weary of the Braves' terrible record going back to Fenway; it's like they've lost so much, they can't possibly lose more. Hopefully we can squeeze too more losses out of them (sounds harsh). Give Light a pat on the back. He came into the game extremely nervous, throwing many pitches in a row way outside because he was afraid of the hitter, but manages to calm himself down and get the outs. He can throw at least 97, and could be like a much less reliable version of Kimbrell, with some potential.

To the last hitter of the 1st inning, Price threw a first pitch changeup away for strike 1. This was a great first pitch, since the previous batter saw nearly all fastballs. But then on the 2nd pitch, Price threw the very obvious opposite and hittable pitch of a fastball inside. We're lucky he didn't crush it with the bases loaded. Anyways, I'm psyched we scored 4 runs!!! I hate how the Braves play the same ringtone-length theme song over and over every single game, and have been doing it for who knows how many years.... I would get so freaking tired of that theme "song" if I was a player/staff/fan of the Braves. I actually think that something like that could make players unmotivated to play there, and also hurt team morale a bit.

Finally we win one of the weird games! We were like 0-7 in weird games this year. This could be that win that pushes us towards being a winning team. There's no way the Red Sox will fail tomorrow to get above .500 again, unless they somehow fail to do it again. Time to get real. Time to win 3 out of 4 in Atlanta!! I think we're only 2.5 GB now!

The commercials during the break reminded me that Hawkeye from that new Captain America movie looks a little like Jake Peavy.

Three words to sum up the season so far: too damn early. Early in every game, we seem to have a lead, but it's too early for it to be comfortable. It's also too early in the season to tell our fate. Farrell barely managed to keep his job in that 3rd inning lol.

Meanwhile, Smyly of the Rays just destroyed the Yankees.

"and that one's hit high and deep!" *camera points way up like it's a home run*... *Holt couldn't care less and it falls short of the wall right into his glove*

Holy cow, 3 runs. And holy cow, the ESPN strike zone actually adjusts for the batter's height and therefore isn't horribly inaccurate (though it is very annoying being forced to see it animated in front of the live picture).

NESN hyped up the potential Betts cycle way too much. It's more exciting if it's only implied that someone may get the cycle, so that it feels like a surprise if it actually happens. Anyways, awesome game. Let's actually get above .500 tomorrow and storm towards 1st place!

Travis keeps taking teams to Shaw's.

What is wrong with the Astros' attendance? The team was supposed to be great this year, and they are far from out of it. Normally scoring 2 runs in the first inning would have every Red Sox fan on their feet, but after last game, every fan now has their arms crossed with squinted eyes.

Finding ways to lose games...

Incredible game. It will be the best game of the year so far by far if we win. The Red Sox have been falling short of comebacks, and it's got to be getting to them. If we can complete this comeback... oh man. I really like having two color commentators. It adds a lot of life to the game.

Are you kidding me?? Went down by 1 early, now up 5-1?? Red Sox on pace to win this game 45 to 9. But that's unrealistic, because Price will settle down, as he always does. 45 to 3 is more reasonable.