dustcover

Being away from home, I tried to watch the game on my laptop by streaming the game on TBS through my Comcast account. The streaming of the game kept going down for minutes at a time with an apologetic notice on the screen that difficulties were occuring with the stream. I don't know whether this was a problem with Xfinity (Comcast) or with TBS. Did anyone else encounter this problem?

I just don't get it! After Barnes came in to relieve Brasier in the seventh inning with two outs and struck out the one batter he faced, why did Cora not send him out for the eighth and save Kimbrel for the ninth?

In real time while watching the game, I thought immediately OMG what a catch, indeed a very remarkable one at that. But when they went to replays I hopefully thought that maybe not. But clearly after viewing the slow-motion replay closeup of Kemp's glove against the wall, there seemed to be no doubt that the call of a catch was validated. Any naysayers?

I’m still reeling and reveling over last night’s win for the Sox. But I can’t help but think about some of the disastrous ninth inning collapses experienced in years long gone by, exemplified by the ‘86 World Series game 6 and the ‘78 AL East tiebreaker. So it got me to thinking about some of those ‘jinxed’ occurrences and what might have happened if Nunez’s throw had been just a wee bit wider, or if Pearce had not made that great stretch and catch. The ball could well have ended up down the right field line. Obviously, Hechavarria, pinch running for Voit, on second with two outs would have easily scored the tying run. But would Walker, on first, off with the crack of the bat, been able to score the winning run all the way from first, (a la Enos Slaughter’s mad dash in ’46) or would he have been held up at third? Just something to think about as we all wait impatiently for the ALCS to start.

Nothing infuriates me more than the pen being called on, and the reliever walks the lead off hitter in the late innings of a close game.

iortiz hits the nail on the head. Top of the 5th, 1-0 game, no outs and JBJ leads off. SS, 2B, & 1B on the right side of the infield and 3rd baseman is playing closer to 2B than 3B on the left side of the infield. Left handed hitting JBJ is up against a very good veteran left handed pitcher, Happ. The left side of the infield is so green and so wide open it is sinful that there was no bunt attempt for a base hit to get things started. With JBJ's speed anything on the ground toward 3B is almost an automatic hit. But noooooo, strikeout on three pitches.

I too have been disappointed in the year Devers has had, notwithstanding the trips to the DL. As for Vasquez, I'm cutting him some slack due to his missing so much time on the DL recovering from a broken finger. Had he not been injured, I believe he would have rounded into shape and at least reached last season's stats. And not to be too critical, and I acknowledge that I may well be putting a target on my back, but if we are talking 'meeting expectations', I'm just a little disappointed in Beni, as he hasn't reached the expectations I had for him. I was looking forward to a consistent .300 BA, 25 HR, & 100 RBI season.

"If Swi can be at least serviceable at 1st & 3rd," not to mention his 'serviceable' availability to play RF as he did today. Swihart starting in RF and batting 2nd may have gone a not so illustrious 1-5 but his one hit was a key 2 RBI double that got the scoring started in the 6-run 8th inning. Just one of the numerous highlights of a dramatic come-from-behind win.

WOW! Outstanding post. Thank you Harmony for https://www.baseball-reference.com/p...ear=Career&t=b In spite of what Jackie's stats reveal when batting 6th in the lineup, I am still inclined to to bat him 9th. He just seems more comfortable and from the 9 hole seems to take advantage of the whole field by hitting balls up the middle as well as to the opposite field. And there's no denying he has the strength to drive the ball to the opposite field. And as previously noted by other members, hitting in front of Mookie, Beni, and J.D. has viable residual benefits.

Good info, thank you. I'd still like to see him remain in the 9 slot!

A few weeks back I added my thoughts to a thread on JBJ. "Since JBJ first arrived his full season BA is 2014-.198, 2015-.249, 2016-.267, 2017-.245, and thus far 2018-.201. His 6-year BA is .236 During which time he has batted in various spots in the batting order. I contend that he has always hit for higher average when batting 9th versus any other spot in the batting order. Can anyone provide stats for BA when he is batting 9th. Personally, I would cement him into the 9 spot going forward." What Jackie has done over the past few weeks in the #9 spot further supports my contention. However, I don't know how to dig up the actual stats to validate my supposition. Can someone come up with his BA when hitting from the different slots in the lineup?

As hot as Nunez has been at the plate of late, and his flawless defense at 3B, and we all have seen him when he goes on one of his hot streaks, should he remain the everyday 3B starter upon the imminent return of Devers from the DL ? Or should Devers be inserted in the starting lineup and Nunez relegated to the utility role off the bench?

Even the greatest baseball-promoter of all time, Bill Veeck, would scoff at these uni's!

Providing more clean rest rooms at Fenway would make it MORE fun for the whole family!

I've always been a bleacher bum, but that's just me. Back in 1959 bleacher tickets were about 75 cents, but the between innings conversations with Pete Daley, Sammy White's backup, were priceless.

I've seen enough, burn those 'softball-league' uniforms.

From what I'm seeing of late of the tandem of Leon and Swihart I would not be against trading Vazquez if the return was more than just adequate. Leon, unquestionably is a good defensive catcher and seemingly calls a good game and instills confidence in the pitchers. Not an offensive threat, but has on occasion chipped in with some timely hits. Swihart is an offensive threat and I've been impressed with his considerable improvement behind the plate. Add in his versatility with more than capable backup skills at 1B, LF, 3B and 2B, which makes him more than just a backup catcher.

Since JBJ first arrived his full season BA is 2014-.198, 2015-.249, 2016-.267, 2017-.245, and thus far 2018-.2018. His 6-year BA is .236 During which time he has batted in various spots in the batting order. I contend that he has always hit for higher average when batting 9th versus any other spot in the batting order. Can anyone provide stats for BA when he is batting 9th. Personally, I would cement him into the 9 spot going forward.

Having watched Teddy Ballgame through his entire career, I submit that his career .482 career OBP was buoyed significantly by the large number of 'intentional' as well as unintentional walks that he got. Over his 19-year career, Williams had 2012 BB's or an average of 143 each year. Betts, thus far has a seasonal average of 67 BB's, and Benintendi's per season average BB's is 76.

In last night's game, tied up at 4, with 2 outs in the 10th, Leon gets a bloop hit. Mookie up to bat. Boone intentionally walks Mookie. Cora sends in Renda to pinch run for Leon at 2nd. At which time, one of the commentators questions whether Boone might intentionally walk Benintendi thus loading the bases, in order to get to JBJ who earlier went in to pinch run for Pearce the DH. If Boone had walked Benintendi, could Cora then have pulled a double switch by sending Swihart up to pinch hit for JBJ and if the move failed to produce the winning run, could Swihart remain in as the catcher replacing Leon, and Renda remaining in as the DH?

Two observations IMO: Given Price's history with the Yankees, after going 6 shutout innings with a pitch count in the mid-90's, giving up only a handful of hits, and the Sox leading 1-0 at home, you thank him for his effort, pat him on the back, and congratulate him for doing his job and tell him to take a seat. PERIOD! Then you call on your bullpen to do their job, Hembree for the 7th, Barnes for the 8th, and Kimbel for the 9th with Brazier and Thornburg as back ups. My 2nd observation is really a question. In last night's game, tied up at 4, with 2 outs in the 10th, Leon gets a bloop hit. Mookie up to bat. Boone intentionally walks Mookie. Cora sends in Renda to pinch run for Leon at 2nd. At which time, one of the commentators questions whether Boone might intentionally walk Benintendi thus loading the bases, in order to get to JBJ who earlier went in to pinch run for Pearce the DH. If this had taken place, could Cora then have pulled a double switch by sending Swihart up to pinch hit for JBJ and if the move failed to produce the winning run, could Swihart remain in as the catcher replacing Leon, and Renda remaining in as the DH?

Your off base with your observation. When Lou Boudreau initiated the first shift which became known as the 'Williams shift', Williams made it quite clear to anyone who would listen, sportswriters, teammates, and fans alike, that he was not going to change his style or manner of hitting. Time after time the situation would scream for a hit to the opposite field, but Teddy was stubborn to say the very least, and he was determined to do it his way and be damned with what anyone else thought. It was definitely not a case of him being unable to adjust, it was simply his refusal to willingly adjust.

Absolutely! You hit the nail on the head. Your starter gives you 6 shutout innings, pitch count in the 90's in a 1-run game at home, you go to the bullpen to open the seventh inning. No two ways about it!

What's the latest on Carson Smith? Did he have surgery on his shoulder? Is he out for the season or is there any chance that he returns this season?

All excellent observations,Roy. A man after my own heart, thoughtful, concise, and intelligent. Please don't take that the wrong way!