Kimmi

LOL I know you're being serious, and I'm sure that this is true, but this literally made me LOL.

And I hate to tell you, but until umpires (and score keepers) are done away with completely, there will always be judgment calls. On virtually every play.

Too many variables for humans. Not too many variables for computers. It's my preference. I don't understand why people are so combative against the opinion of not wanting the game automated. That's like telling someone they're wrong for preferring cats over dogs.

No, I understand the impatience with Buchholz, which is independent of the opinion that picking up his option was a no brainer. I'm talking about "in general". Young is a fine example.

If all we care about is 'getting it right', then we may as well not even have managers or third base coaches. I know the technology doesn't exist yet, but let's replace the third base coach with a robot that will always know precisely whether to wave the runner home or not. Let's replace the manager with a computer that will always know exactly what pitch to call, when to remove a pitcher, etc. Heck, let's replace the players with robots while we're at it. To heck with the errors and the mental mistakes that they make. Wouldn't it be more exciting to watch robots play every game to perfection? Might as well just play a simulated season on MLB The Show. I know that's stating the extreme, but the point is, I enjoy the human element that the umpires bring to the game. I am willing to forego perfection in calling balls and strikes to keep that aspect of the game. I like that pitch framing is a skill. I like that sometimes a pitch is so good that the umpire is fooled. I like when a pitcher will continue to throw a pitch an inch off the plate because he knows he's going to get that call, and the batter has to adjust. I like to see a player like Youkilis still fuming in the dugout 3 innings later for being called out on a strike that he disagreed with. Again, it's a matter of preference. One that does not make one illogical, FTR.

Agreed. At some point, the axe indeed has to fall. In Buchholz' case, he had ample time and opportunity to get it together. In general though, I think that fans are far too impatient when it comes to letting players ride through their struggles.

On the topic of baserunning and how good or bad the Sox have been, there are stats for that. For overall baserunning skills, BsR, the Sox rank 7th in MLB at 5.4 runs above average. The Sox do very well in stealing bases, as mentioned in other posts. They are ranked first with 4.9 runs above average. They also do well in staying out of double plays, ranking 4th with 2.2 runs above average. However, in terms of UBR, Ultimate Base Running, the Sox are below average, ranking 23rd with -1.7 runs above average. This stat measures things like advancing to 3rd from 2nd on a ball hit to the shortstop, going 1st to 3rd on a single, and scoring on a sac fly, among other things. So overall, their aggressiveness on the basepaths has helped them. However, take away the stolen bases and they haven't done as well with their aggressiveness as some think. These stats are available for individual players also, if you want to see how well a particular player is running the bases. Sometimes it is obvious. Other times, not so much. Fangraphs is a wonderful site, as MVP78 will attest to.

I thought that Farrell made a couple of head scratcher moves early on, among them pinch hitting Young for Shaw. It wasn't so much playing Young, but rather taking Shaw out of the game. I disagreed with the move at the time, but I do try to give the manager the benefit of the doubt. He is much more qualified than I am. I have always agreed with the idea that while a move may seem bad in the moment, the long term benefits are more important. In other words, the old cliche' about managing a marathon, not a sprint, ring true. When a player knows that a manager has his back, it usually goes a long way in terms of confidence and production. That aspect of managing is more important than the tactical in game decisions.

Interesting story about Golson, whom I have never heard of. West coast 10:00 start times stink. But it's all good. Golson mojo will get it done! The Sox got this!

Leon is known as a defensive catcher, so he should be able to handle the job. That said, a knuckleball is a completely different animal. My bet is that he will be the one catching Wright though. It's 'funny' how we went from having catching as a position of strength to being thin at that position in the blink of an eye.

Yeah, I don't remember his exact numbers either, but I believe his ERA is 2.38 (or thereabout) over the last 4 starts. Not a large sample, but he's certainly worth a look with the way the other guys have been pitching.

I always prefer a team with strong pitching and weak/mediocre hitting to one with strong hitting and weak/mediocre pitching. That said, a rotation of Wright, Price, Porcello, ERod, and whoever should be good enough to keep this team in most of the games with the way this offense can hit. And they have, for the most part. As Dojji said in another thread, it's really only been one bad turn in through the rotation.

Elias pitched a complete game for the Pawsox last night, and in his last 4 outings, he has pitched fairly well. It looks like he is trying to claim that 5th spot.

Pitch/FX has been helping umpires do their jobs better for the past 10 years, and yes, they have gotten better. Let the technology help the umpires improve by letting them see where there errors are, after the game. They will continue to improve. Get rid of the bad umpires. You will see the percentage of correct calls improve even more. I am a lot of things, but illogical is not one of them. Just stop with that crap.

What's wrong with bowling?

I don't think anyone "wants" him to retire. What we are saying is that we would rather see Papi retire this season and go out on top, like he deserves, rather than try to hold on too long. There's a difference. How sad is it to watch a once great player trying to continue to play when clearly his time is up? If he did come back next season, and that inevitable drastic decline hits him, it would be really tough for him, management, and the fans to see him struggle everyday, then eventually either moved down in the order, benched, phantom DL'd, or even worse, DFA'd because he is hurting the team. That is not something that I want to see Papi suffer through in his last year of an otherwise great career. I would much rather see him being awesome and having a lot of fun like he is this season. Go out on top, on his terms. Now, I realize that he might be very good next year. But I also realize that it is unlikely he will be as good as he is this year, and it is also quite likely that he will not be very good. It's hard to know, even though he's not showing any signs of drop off right now. I'm guessing the FO has approached him or will before the season ends about playing another year. The decision will ultimately be his. I'm sure everyone here would welcome him back with open arms if he decides to return.

UN out of the house, but UN mojo still in the house. We got this! Go Sox!!!

Yes, we definitely needed that. Great job by the pen last night and great win!

Swihart is getting an MRI today - no other update on his injury. Hanigan is also getting some tests done on his neck. Castillo and Leon were both pulled from their game in Pawtucket last night so we can assume that they will both be joining the Sox today.

I can't root for the Yankees to win. I just can't. I don't like the Os much either, but I am pulling for them in this series. That said, having the Yanks win last night was not a bad thing.

This will likely end up being a blessing in disguise for the Yanks. Teixeira was playing below replacement level, with a -0.9 WAR. It won't be that difficult to find an "improvement". The season ending injury to your 1B prospect, whose name escapes me, is really hurting right now.

There's really no sense in going back and forth about it. We're not going to change each other's minds. That said, there is nothing illogical or 'failthought' about my preference to keep human umps. I'm sure the day will come when there is a automated strike zone, and I will have to accept it. It doesn't mean I have to like it.

He makes the most sense, IMO. I think other GMs value him pretty highly.

You can't seriously be comparing the "grind" of your softball schedule to the grind of an MLB schedule. I would venture to say that it is you that doesn't understand the meaning of the word "grind".

If Swihart can be part of a package to bring back a solid starter, then I'd do that in a heartbeat. I love the guy and would hate to see him go, but I'd rather part with him than part with Betts, Bogaerts, or Bradley. I agree that his value to another team as a catcher could make him worth more to us as a trade chip than as our left fielder.