Maxbialystock

I don't like Cooper, and that last at bat by Dalbec convinced me he has to go back or be DFA'd or whatever.

John Henry has said we Sox fans have unrealistic expectations. Right now I'm pretty bitter about these Sox--just like everyone else on Talksox. But it might be worth noting that in the so-called golden era of David Dombrowski when the Sox had the highest payroll in MLB, the Sox were were killed in the ALDS's in 2016 and 2017. Then they had that insanely great season in 2018, but then, with basically the same players, who were really pricey, they didn't even make the postseason in 2019. In comes Chaim Bloom with restrictions on what he could do/spend. Forget 2020, a non-season. In 2021, the Sox had a better season than 3 of 4 teams DD had: they made it to the ALCS before losing to the Astros, 4 games to 2. Meanwhile, of course, the Sox budget was paying Price big bucks to play for the Dodgers and big bucks for Sale, who wasn't playing at all. Then came 2022 and 2023, which were bad, but not as bad as 2014 and 2015, which is why DD was hired. And, lo, this season we have the Sox 5th CBO under John Henry and the 6th manager (two of whom were single year models). So, given all those hirings and firings, I'd say John Henry is at least as impatient and demanding as the Sox fanbase.

That was also a smart at bat because he was looking for the right pitch to hit. Except the first pitch, which was very hittable. I haven't seen him do anything in RF. So question is, is he actually playing RF?

Back on AVAILABILITY. Here's what caused these Sox players to be out for the season or on the IL-- Story dove for a grounder, which a SS should never do. Abreu came down the dugout steps-- definitely risky behavior. Giolito threw a baseball during spring training--a big no-no. Whitlock pitched 18.1 innings in 4 starts, which was way too many for a MLB pitcher and bordered on abusive. I'm surprised Cora still has a job. Casas swung at a pitch. What was he thinking? When he returns, hopefully this month, let's hope he has been working on his bunting. O'Neill left the safety of the dugout and actually went out onto the playing field and played baseball. Also risky behavior. Sale is actually healthy and having a good season--for the Braves, but with the Sox paying his salary of $17M. However, in return for Sale, the Sox got Grissom, who is on the IL. Yoshida was I think HBP--on his thumb. I believe the treatment has been to rest his thumb, now going on 40 games. Martin is out for anxiety, which I think is real and a definite hazard for a relief pitcher.

Shout out to SPLENDIDSPLINTER for the 2 wins and especially the one over the Braves (in the dreaded Fenway Park). He also said up front last night was the White Sox best chance for a win.

Again on the AVAILABILITY topic. I looked at the top WAR's (position players in MLB), and the top ten have all played in 60 or more games. Yes, WAR does in fact favor games played, but back in 2018 Mookie's WAR was sky high, 10.9, despite playing the fewest games, 136, in the top ten in WAR's. Right now Duran's WAR of 3.2 is 8th best in MLB and best on the Sox in part because he has played in 64 games, most on the Sox. Duran also has the highest DWAR, +1.1, on the Sox. Since the 2019 season, the Sox have been hurt by unavailability issues, except in 2021: Devers 156 games, JDM 148, Dugo 146, Renfroe 144, Bogey 144, Vazquez 136, Kike (WAR +4.9) 134, Dalbec (OPS .792) 133. That year, 2021, was also when Eovaldi had 32 starts, Pivetta 31, and ERod 31.

I liked the availability stat too--until I looked at previous seasons. For example, the Sox best team ever, 2018, had these Games played/At Bats-- JDM 150/569 Beni 148/579 JBJ 144/474 Mookie 136/520 Bogey 136/513 Nunez 127/480 (Note: less Nunez was actually better because his WAR was -1.1) Moreland 124/404 Devers 121/450 Holt 109/321 Leon 89/265

I think our new CBO screwed up, shelling out $38.5M for Giolito when he could have kept Sale. That bad elbow, however, probably made it possible for Houck to emerge as the Sox ace.

A brief revisit to this year's Sox prospects--not players, but their chance at the postseason. 31-31, .500 with 100 games to go doesn't look that great. It looks even worse when you see know the Sox lead MLB in errors, their lineup continues to struggle driving in runs, massive injuries, both short and long term--including Abreu who fell down the freaking steps into the dugout--and a pitching staff, while still the best part of this team, that lately has been leaking runs. In short, no way, jose. However, two hopeful stats/signs: 1) Sox are just 2.5 games back of the Twins for the 3d wild card; 2) Sox have a +26 run differential, which is the 4th best in the AL.

Funny how we correctly see baseball and golf as simply sports--and sports which pay well. But there can be no doubt about the pressure and the fact that some people handle it better than others.

Up next, 4 @ White Sox.

Right on. Another freaking shut out. Oh, wait. The Braves were shut out and the Sox scored 9 runs. ???????????

Ruth was great, no question, but for big chunks of his tenure with the Yankees their lineup was known as "murderer's row." They spent whatever was needed to stay competitive and in the process drove both the Dodgers and the Giants out of town--even though I hasten to say both have prospered on the West Coast. Thus have the Yankees won 27 WS's. Where I think players like Ruth and Ted Williams and just maybe Bryce Harper of the Phillies have their greatest value is putting butts in seats--attendance.

While we're on the topic of Mookie, I'd like to point out that the vaunted Dodgers have stunk in the postseason with him--that is, in 2021, 2022, and 2023. And I simply don't count the 2020 season at all because of covid. The woebegone Sox, on the other hand, made it to the ALCS in 2021 before losing to the Astros, 4 games to 2. I think Mookie is terrific and a sure HOF'er. This year he's even stepped in at SS. Amazing. But guess what? He's just one player on defense and in the lineup--and he doesn't pitch. On the other hand, and I agree this is a big factor, the Dodgers attendance is the best in MLB and has been the best for a very long time. This year they are drawing 47K to the Phillies 40K (which is fantastic for the Phillies), to the Padres 39K, and to the Yankees 39K. And the Sox woebegone 32K.

Seriously? In 2019, the year Mookie was traded to the Dodgers along with David Price, the Sox already had the biggest payroll in MLB. To keep Mookie away from the Dodgers, who I believe were fully prepared to outbid the Sox, That biggest payroll in MLB was going to get a lot bigger because the Sox also needed to fix their rotation given the collapse of their two aces, Price and Sale.

That last line is what I was getting it. Cora is a proponent of the "dud liberation movement."

Heels beat LSU tonight in extra innings in Chapel Hill and go on to the Super Regional.

Yes and no. I think Cora deliberately plays as many position players as possible to reveal their worth or lack thereof.

I go back to 1949, but cannot claim to have followed the game as closely as you. I basically checked the Red Sox box scores for what Ted Williams had done. I did listen to almost all the games in 1953 and 1954. Speaking of Ted, he missed 3 WW II seasons and 1+ Korean War season, and was still an All-Star 19 times. So I think you could have a point about injuries. For sure with respect to pitchers.

He seems pretty happy in LA--not just the money, but the team and the front office. I wouldn't want to live in LA, but I'm not sure I'd like to live in Boston either. I believe the Dodgers were determined to get Mookie, and their timing could not have been better. In 2019, the year of decision for Mookie, the Sox already had the biggest payroll in MLB, and signing Mookie long-term was going to increase that a bunch. Then there was the problem of the two aces, Price and Sale, who were coming up deuces and were owed a whole lot of money.

Sensible, as always. You've drifted away from Grissom, but there really isn't much more to say about him or the trade. I think the Braves badly outfoxed us, but agree it's still early. Meanwhile, as your periodic statistical laydowns show us, the Sox have issues with defense, timely hitting, and, more recently, pitching.

I'm not sure your caveat, "not the broken down guys," is reasonable. Thus $22M on Story, $18M on Giolito, and $17M on Sale--all of them on the Sox payroll and none of them playing for the Sox--is not that unusual. My view is much simpler. Players with big salaries are always a gamble because those big bucks are always guaranteed, sometimes for 10 or more seasons. As I've said too many times, the Sox had the biggest payroll in MLB in 2019, and it wasn't going to be nearly enough to keep Mookie from going to the Dodgers and to replace Price and Sale while also paying their salaries.

Cora's big mistake was bringing Bello out to pitch the 7th. He gave up runs in the 5th and 6th, showing he was losing it.

He did hit it solid, but you have a point. Plus he hit it to RF which is much deeper than LF.

WTF vegasbob! Cora makes absolutely the right call--see moonslav's data on Abreu vs lefties--and you blast him.