Maxbialystock

We may have been robbed, but the Sox in fact got better without Devers.

Actually, there were 3 pitches right on the margin of becoming strikes and not a foot outside. He's definitely struggling at the plate, so no need to exaggerate.

Impossible to dampen the first inning of this game. Besides, a loss by Houston affects whether they get a bye in the first round.

Good grief. A Sox pitcher with a good changeup. Will wonders never cease?

😃

This is a typically stupid, dumb, asinine lineup by Cora. Heck, he's got a seriously injured guy--who's also too old to play anyway, batting cleanup. Bregman's batting 2d in a slump. There, just like a told you. Duran, batting 5th, struck out. Why is he in the lineup!!!?????

When is Cora ever going to get smart about his leadoff batter?

Thanks to you, I always check those scores before coming onto talksox. Perhaps. My version is that letting Devers and his .905 OPS go was tricky, especially with Bregman on the IL. I think Devers was the ideal DH even though overpriced. However, Devers was also in vocal and public disagreement with how he was being asked to DH and then to play 1B. More than that, the Sox were changing right before our eyes because during Devers final week the Sox had a terrific, needed 6 game winning streak that was all about the Sox pitching. On top of that, Breslow wanted to bring up that top talent from Worcester. Bregman was a great fit with them even from the bench, and Devers was not. Right around the time Bregman returned, the Sox went on an 8 game winning streak which also benefitted from the pitching. Right now, I think it's fair to say that Devers bat is missed, but not what came with the bat. As for the deal, let's not forget that Breslow was peddling a very pricey DH with another 10 years left on his big contract--and the Giants didn't blink. They took every cent of it. Whew. The players were incidental. A

Indeed.

Pitching is clearly Breslow's thing. Despite the degree from Yale, he was a no baloney MLB pitcher for 10 years. However, he also brought in Bregman and Narvaez and signed Anthony up for 8 years and $130M.

Nobody's perfect. 😁 Breslow also brought in Bregman, Crochet, Chapman, Narvaez, and, oh, yes, Giolito too. Despite all the injuries and especially to Anthony and Abreu, this is the best Sox team since 2021.

I am absolutely not against anyone, young or not, who can fill in as the 4th starter or just be a good arm for 3 or so innings. I like Tolle, but would love to see anyone good enough.

Gonzalez OPS in 83 games is .829 and currently 3d best on the active roster (Ref and Anthony are out).

Thanks for the heads up. May has given the Sox 2 quality starts, but has also been inconsistent.

Call me shallow too. I remember the play that led to the IL. Ref made an all-out effort to catch that liner down the right field line and in fact had it in his glove before it came out. He has the 3d highest OPS on the Sox, .843.

What nonsense. The Sox have used 12 freaking starters (Crochet, Bello, Giolito, Buehler, Dobbins, Fitts, Houck Newcomb, May, Tolle, Criswell, and Crawford) this season if you include Crawford who missed the entire season after starting 33 games last season. Despite all that, Crochet, Bello, and Giolito are the three best Sox starters--as a group--in a long time. May was a wild card from a trade and actually has two quality starts for the Sox. Tolle was stunningly good in MILB and had one good start before getting hit hard by Arizona 4 days ago. The Sox have the 2d most quality starts in MLB. Most teams don't need a 4th starter in the postseason.

Thanks everyone for the excellent discussion. To me 5 years at $175M is absurd even though I agree his effect on his teammates is valuable. In 10 years in MLB he has been on the All-Star team 3 times, has one Gold Glove, and had by far his best season in 2019, 6 years ago. Right now he's easily the highest paid player on the team with the 6th highest WAR on the team. Crochet, Chapman, Duran, Story, and Rafaela all have higher WAR's--primarily, I hasten to add, because they stayed healthy. And then there's The Kid, Anthony, whose WAR in 71 games is 3.1 compared to Bregman's 3.3 in 99 games. Anthony's 10 years younger and just signed for $130M for 8 years. One could almost argue that Anthony's contract, including whatever bonuses he earns, makes a sweet contract for Bregman possible. FWIW, I think the real strength of the 2025 Sox is the pitching staff, and I doubt that Bregman has much wisdom to pass along to them--and they're half the team. I think Mayer would be a pretty decent replacement for Bregman.

5 clean IP and 77 pitches by Crochet.

Nice grab by Sogard.

Why does NESN keep showing Sogard in RF? Are they saying he's great or that Abreu is missed or what? Nice play to hold that to a double. Have they shown any shots of Sacramento--where this game is being played?

Fred, where in the heck are you? As for me, I do not think this game is over by any means. I love 5-0, Morales gone, and Crochet on the mound. But the A's still have 15 outs in which to score some runs.

Coming into this game Morales had given up--wait for it--5 runs in 28.1 IP.

Agree. However, #2 Bregman just smacked the dickens out of the ball to drive Duran home. 😁

Shut the heck up, Max. Whatever the Sox hitters are doing, it's working.

Was that freaking Narvaez with the dinger? Way to go!!!