Maxbialystock

Orioles walk the bases full, after which Gonzalez miraculously triples to bring all 3 home. But, with no one out, the next batters can't bring Gonzalez home. Rafaela and Duran both K. A thought about starting/playing both Cooper and Smith today. Both stink, but that's the point. Cora plays them so his GM/CBO can see how bad these guys are.

In 2019 the Sox had the highest payroll in MLB and didn't make the playoffs with an 84-78 record. The year before, with basically the same players, they had the best season in Sox history, which was the 4th WS win in the John Henry era (2002-2024 and counting) after the 86 year WS drought. So I think it's fair to say that JH understood the value of paying for talent. But 2019 was the perfect example of how expensive talent, especially pitching, doesn't necessarily deliver. That's being repeated again this year. Top payroll, $307M, belongs to the Mets, who are 22-30. 3d is the Astros, $249M, who are 24-29, and 5th are the Rangers, $233M, who are 25-29. The Sox @ $182 will be 27-27 when this game is over. Meanwhile, worth noting are the Orioles, 26th biggest payroll, $100M, who will be 34-18 after this game, the Guardians 25th biggest payroll, $101M, with a 36-17 record, the Brewers 22d payroll, $107M, with a 30-22 record, and the Royals 20th payroll, $116M, with a 34-20 record. Back to Mookie, whose Dodgers payroll is 7th, $229M. They are currently 33-22, , which would put them behind the Orioles and their 26th payroll, $100M, and also behind the Royals, 34-20, and their 20th payroll, $116M.

Very good point. The Sox are losing, 11-0, because of the home plate ump. I sure hope Cora, the brain trust, and JH take this very serious issue to the Commissioner--who probably hasn't had a good laugh recently.

Meh. 1 stinking run. Today's Sox are useless: lousy pitching, lousy hitting, and lousy fielding.

Actually, they can. Today it's a slaughter because Criswell is off and the Sox simply can't hit with men in scoring position.

7-0 Orioles. That's the usual limit for a starter, but Criswell gets extra punishment today. Plus no one on base with the sac fly.

With the bases loaded, the Sox K twice. With the bases loaded, the Orioles double. It's that simple.

I despise Cooper and Smith, and both are in the lineup today. Meanwhile, with assistance from Grissom, Criswell has loaded the bases with no one out.

Criswell isn't pitching great, but he's OK. The lineup, on the other hand, stinks yet again. I do like moonslav's analysis of who is and who isn't in the Sox lineup today. Whoops, there goes another double for the Orioles. Any bets on whether Mountcastle scores?

Bases loaded with 1 out. Smith K's. Then Rafaela K's on 3 pitches. Les incompetents.

Two singles to start the 4th. Then a horrible bunt--as per usual by the Sox--to get Devers going to 3b. What's that line from Home Alone? "Les incompetents."

Orioles get the leadoff double, move the runner to 3b on grounder to the right side, then bring him home on a fly ball. Professional hitting. Also something the Sox don't do enough of.

I can't watch the game, so did not know it was a possible/likely GIDP grounder.

Second double for the Orioles. None for the Sox although some outs were hard hit.

1-0, Orioles. Criswell needed 22 pitches to survive the 2d inning and giving up 1 run. Hard to believe our best hitter struck out in 3 pitches, none of which, lefty vs lefty, was a curve or slider. Also no pitch more than 92.8 mph.

Orioles get a man on base, then ground out, then get a double to bring man home and put another in scoring position. This is what the Sox do too infrequently.

3 changeups and a sweeper by Criswell to get the ground out (but not a DP).

RISP disease strikes again. Smith--of course, Smith--grounds out with men on 1st and 3d.

Devers, lefty vs lefty, K's in 3 pitches.

Criswell needs just 10 pitches to get 3 outs.

Duran LF Refsnyder RF Wong C Devers 3b Cooper DH Gonzalez SS Grissom 2B Smith 1b Rafaela CF Orioles starter Irvin is a lefty--obviously.

Duran leads off with a K. Orioles swept Sox in April, but 2d and 3d games were close. Orioles are winning for 2d season in a row, but attendance still languishes around 24K in one of the nicest ballparks in MLB.

I don't like Smith or Cooper, and completely agree neither should ever DH. I know nothing about Kavadas. Casas can return 21 June if his recovery stays on track. Meanwhile, I would replace Smith or Cooper with Dalbec, which I realize is very much a minority opinion.

Completely agree with "outlier" unearned runs, which I forgot about. The Sox have in fact improved there. At the same time, however, the earned runs have increased.

According to write-ups on yesterday's dust-up, Martin was the instigator by commenting that the Brewers were cheating or unmanly or something because they bunted twice against him--successfully. If that's true, Martin is an idiot.