Maxbialystock

Koji used 2 pitches, fastball (which peaked at about 88 mph) and splitter.

Sox are ranked 13th in runs scored. That's the killer that keeps them from winning more. In this 3 game series vs. Milwaukee, they scored 2, 3, and 2 runs. They would have been swept had Houck and the bullpen not been fantastic yesterday. In the 4 game winning streak before the Milwaukee series, they scored 11, 5, 5, and 8 runs, which I took as a positive sign. But in the 15 games before that--when the Sox were 4-11--the Sox scored 1, 2, 1, 9, 2, 0, 1, 4, 3, 3, 5, 3, 5, 6, and 2 runs. The current Sox lineup of Duran, Abreu, Wong, Devers, O'Neill, McGuire, Refsnyder, Gonzalez, Rafaela, Smith/Cooper, Hamilton, and Grissom--13 players--has just 2 players, Devers and O'Neill, who have played 2 full seasons before this season. The other 11 players are either on their first or second full season or have always been bit players. I cite Smith/Cooper in particular as nothing but refuse from other teams, DFA-types. On the other hand, like everyone else, I like Duran, Abreu, Wong, Rafaela, McGuire, and now even Hamilton, whose respective WAR's are +2.8, +2.0, +1.1, 0, +.6, and +.6. I also like Devers, +1.1, and almost like O'Neill +0.7. Plus let's not forget that Devers, O'Neill, Refsnyder, and Grissom--who are all playing pretty regularly right now--all spent time on the IL this season. So my take is that the hitting is still a problem that defeats the terrific pitching, but that the hitting could well get better with time and experience.

Just so we're straight on what spending big entails-- Biggest payroll, $308M, is the Mets, who are 21-30. 3d biggest, $249M, is the Astros, 23-29. 5th biggest, $233M, is the Rangers, 24-29. 9th biggest, $226M, is the Jays, 23-38. 11th biggest, $182M, is the sox, 27-26. 26th biggest, $100M, is the Orioles, 32-18. 25th biggest, $101M, is the Guardians, 35-17. 22d biggest, $108M, is the Brewers, 30-22. 20th biggest, $115M, is the Royals, 34-19.

I flip flop more than moonslav or anyone I can think of. The simple fact is that this team is a $54M miracle. Of the $182M payroll, $16M is going to closer Jansen, $17M to Braves starter Chris Sale, $22.5M to Story who's out for the season because he risked life and limb diving for a grounder, $18M for Giolito who is out for the season because he unwisely threw pitches in spring training, $18.6M for Yoshida whose thumb hurts and who can't hit anyway, $7M for Turner who plays for the Jays, and $29M for Rafael Devers. So that $54M pays for the entire Sox pitching staff, including the entire rotation, less $16M for Jansen--and for the entire Sox lineup less Devers. How they are still over .500 is astounding.

He had more than 1 pitch, but it sure seemed like 1 pitch. Good call.

Huge credit to 5 players: Houck for the great start; Martin for the 8th and firing up the Sox when he talked back to the idiot 1b coach for the Brewers; Rafaela for the leadoff double and then the score in the top of the 8th; and Jansen for the 1 pitch save. Excellent win and a fun game to watch even though the Sox were completely and utterly out-bunted.

Credit where it's due. Jansen is the only closer I've ever seen who can get guys out with the same pitch, pitch after pitch after pitch. Terrific win, even if the hitting still stinks. Dump Cooper. I mean, look at him. He is way, way too white. He can't even get a tan.

Why is Cooper on this team? He had that big error awhile back. Now he swings at a ball that almost hits him and then hits a grounder tailor made for a GIDP.

Now Adreu comes through. Keep them coming, guys, because I don't trust Jansen with a 1 run lead.

Jansen warming up. Mr "I only have one pitch, but it's plenty."

Rafaela and Duran, double and single, simple as that! Do we owe that to the Brewers 1b coach?

Looks like the Brewers are getting the ball/strike calls today. To be honest, the Sox hitters don't deserve any calls. They can't hit. They can't bunt. But their fielding is fine today.

Brewers have just 1 run in 7 innings with McGuire catching. They hammered Crawford and Pivetta with Wong catching.

Definitely.

What was that all about?

I'm not sure it matters who the Brewers have on the mound. The Sox hitting stinks, simple as that.

Back to back excellent bunts by the Brewers. Sox can't bunt worth spit. That's on Cora.

Top two in the Sox order, both lefty bats facing a righty pitcher, can't bring home Grissom on 3b or Rafaela on 2b. This is the fundamental problem with the 2024 Sox. Weak hitting when opportunities arise.

Duran folds/K's like a cheap tent. 2 outs with men on 2d and 3d.

Rafaela steals 2b without a throw.

Good reversal. Close call, so, hard to blame the ump. Rafaels singles to And in comes a righty to face Duran. Advantage Sox.

Grissom, yes, Grissom leads off the 5th with a sweet single. Followed by Hamilton's stupid and terrible bunt on a pitch well outside the strike zone. Bunts can still be effective, as team after team playing against the Sox have demonstrated. But you actually have to practice bunting, which clearly the Sox don't believe in.

He's heard of it, but his antennae are busted.

Ahem. Hamilton's OPS is .750. Rafaela still leads the Sox in rbi's.

That's two SB attempts in 3 innings. Cora needs to gamble some because the hitting is moribund.