Maxbialystock

Thanks. I was on the road when that play occurred.

By now everyone should know I defend Cora relentlessly. However, watching Crochet today convinces me that Cora let him pitch too long--into the 9th inning--5 days ago. At the time, I was delighted, but now I have the gift of 50-50 hindsight. I missed the wild pitch. Was it catchable by Wong?

He hit the ball. Campbell didn't just strike out. He was completely by 3 pitches in the middle of the strike zone.. Despite his good start (eons ago) Campbell is the one guy on this teamwho can't field and can't hit. Yes, he can play CF, but not nearly as well as Rafaela.

Well, we just disagree. I would love to see the hitting improve above 6th in runs scored and agree it will be harder without Devers. But the Sox are going nowhere without pitching--and in the that 6 game winning streak the Sox lineup was without Bregman and Abreu plus the key hits were by players not named Devers. If the pitching turns around and resembles something like what we just saw, the Sox are in the postseason with or without great hitting. Bregman was our best hitter, but the real point is that both of them in lineup helped a lot. Thus were the Sox 26-26 when Bregman went down. Thus too they are back over .500 because of great pitching and without Bregman and Abreu and, for one game, Devers. A lot of truth in those pitcher injuries. No wonder every MLB has 13 even though just one is on the mound at any given time.

Agree completely on the other 32 wins. By all means give Devers some credit for them. He put up some great numbers this season, potentially his best ever at the plate. Plus as DH he never missed a game. But I must repeat myself. To me the 6 straight wins were a huge turnaround. When Bregman was hurt on May 23, the Sox were 26-26. By June 6--with Devers and without Bregman--they were 30-35 and the season was looking pretty grim. Then, suddenly, the Sox win 6 in a row because of stupendously good pitching. Breslow and Abreu were on the IL, and, as I said, in those 6 games Devers was not a factor. The Sox are currently 6th in MLB in runs scored and 20th in team ERA. We will miss Devers, but our biggest problem is pitching. Plus Abreu is due back this week and Bregman in early July (we hope). Plus those rookies could come around. Plus Story and Rafaela have OPS's in the 800's this month. Hope is not a method, but it's nice to have some.

Point made.

To clarify. I agree the rookies weren't so hot over the 6 games. But Mayer, by himself, won 1 of them with the two dingers--plus of course great pitching by the Sox. And Anthony had that absolutely crucial 2 run double to win another--plus of course more great pitching. In the other 4 wins other Sox hitters made a difference. But in my opinion Raffy was simply not needed in those 6 games. If I have a bias, it's that the Sox are going nowhere this season without better pitching. We can only hope that Raffy's departure will make another Crochet possible. The Giants are the opposite. They have the pitching but not enough hitting. And, by the way, I thought Devers was valuable as the DH and regularly recited his rbi total and his OPS. I didn't want him moved to 1b because Toro/Gonzalez were fine there. Devers played in every single game this season. But right now I think Breslow wanted him gone from the beginning of spring training. He lied to Raffy repeatedly and jerked him around about 3b, DH, and 1b.

Agree Buehler was a bust. Ditto Giolito. Ditto giving away Sale. And others. But Devers did not carry our lineup, which in fact is impossible for any one player to do. I think he was pretty dadgum good, but he was even better when Bregman followed him in the lineup. In the Sox best run of the season, just ended, Raffy had nothing to do with those 6 wins. The pitching did all the heavy lifting and Raffy, the world's greatest rbi man, drove in exactly 1 run in those 6 games. I rooted like crazy for Raffy and almost daily recited where he was in almost leading (he did for a day or two) MLB in rbi's. Plus he had the best OPS of his career. So, yes, he's a loss. But right now the Sox are also without Bregman and Abreu. And 3 of our 4 rookies have OPS's of .691, .673, and .388. It is a reasonable assumption those will improve. Story and Rafaela both have OPS's over .800 in June. Heck, maybe Yoshida can even get his OPS over .800. Meanwhile, the Giants have by far the greater need--they are ranked 15th in runs scored. And their team ERA is ranked 3d. And we're the opposite. We need another Crochet or two. Replacing Raffy should never be Job 1 for Breslow.

You exaggerate Devers value to the Sox. For most of his tenure, the Sox have been unable to make it to the postseason. In the fantastic, incredible 2018 run Devers WAR was 0.0. The big guns were Betts, JDM Bogey, and Beni. The Sox made the 2021 postseason, and Devers was one of 6 pretty good bats. The others were JDM, Bogey, Dugo, Renfroe, and Kike. Devers was on the 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024 teams which did not make the postseason. And this. The Sox almost always have pretty good hitting. Their problems have been with the pitching. Despite the recent spate of weak hitting/scoring, the Sox are still ranked 6th in MLB in runs scored--which is where they have been for almost all of this season. And the Sox team ERA is currently ranked 20th.

Vlad plays 1b, Soto RF. When signed, Raffy played 3b. No disagreement, however, that the salaries are insane. Mookie was/is a bargain for the Dodgers.

I think he's sincere because he had no hesitation complaining about losing 3b and about losing DH. Plus his agent or someone must have told him it's the right thing to say and do. $330M for a DH makes no sense, which was Breslow's point. Excellent point about Nomar, but he had a different makeup.

Pretty good, especially last paragraph. Where I blame Breslow is not being straight with Devers about 3b. Apparently he lied repeatedly and told Raffy it was his. I also think replacing Casas with Devers this season was unnecessary. No question the trade was necessary and it's time to move on.

Excellent points. I'm a little less optimistic this season because I'm not sure the recent brilliant run--6 games, 6 wins--by the rotation is sustainable. I also suspect the lineup will struggle until both Abreu and Bregman return. Longer term, I agree the Sox are on the right track. Beyond question Breslow screwed over Devers by lying to him and then going public when Raffy said he wouldn't play 1b. The trade was necessary because Devers and Breslow were both displeased--plus dumping that $330M contract for a DH also makes sense. Devers has just said he's willing to play anywhere for the Giants, which to me confirms that Breslow mishandled Raffy and disregarded what Cora thought (leave him at DH this season).

So far Devers has driven in 1/2 as many runs as the Sox have scored in 14 innings. Nice play by Mayer.

Really?

Not possible, but it should be.

Rookie Mayer gets the first hit, a very solid line drive to RF. All season long the Sox have hit lefties better than righties. It does not help that Bregman and Abreu are on the IL. Devers drove home one of 2 Giant runs so far. With a double.

Well, at least the Mariners like them.

I disagree. He doesn't need the money. He does like to show a profit, and it helps to have good players to sell the product. Crochet is the priciest Sox pitcher since Sale was signed in, what, 2019? Bregman's getting $40M.

I wrote too soon.

Anthony got over there nicely on the hit down the line.

Buehler is getting freaking $20M from the Sox this year?

Meanwhile Woo is hitting his spots--not all the time--and has a good mix of pitches. Thus a no-hitter after 4 IP.

Not sure I agree. He was awful in the 2d inning, but not too shabby in the 3d and gave up no runs in the 1st or 3d innings. His stuff looked a lot better in the 3d inning. It's a good bet we lose this one because of those 5 runs, but I'm not ready to write him off.

No control and everything hittable.