Maxbialystock

Reread the very first page, which is filled with gloom and doom and predictions of errors, etc. 2d page has just 2. 3d page gets into the baserunning and third base coach issue, which continues onto page 4. Nowhere does anyone say the Sox are now 10-9, that the beat a team with a winning record, and that the Sox pitching still has the lowest ERA in MLB. mvp 78 did, however, tell us the Sox are 2d in MLB in dingers--a huge surprise for me.

At the time--and I'm rarely right on these points--I thought the Sox had little chance of signing Mookie long term because I believed the Dodgers would spend what it took to get him. In his last 5 seasons (2015-2019) with the Sox, Mookie's WAR's were 6.0, 9.6, 6.4, 10.9, and 6.8. In his first four seasons--making top dollar--with the Dodgers his WAR's have been 3.4, 4.2, 6.4, and 8.4. Nevertheless, I agree with the consensus on talksox--that Mookie, not Raffie, was the one to keep. But the 2019 season, when the Sox had the biggest payroll in MLB and couldn't even make the postseason, convinced JH that spending big was not spending smart. Since then, the Sox have spent less and spent dumb.

Indeed. With 4 more they passed the 2d place Dodgers. Going in to this game, the Sox were 17th in runs scored, so they might pass a 2 or 3 in the category.

Yes, but that will lead to miniscule game threads. Talksoxers hate wins. It's much more fun to find fault, which in fact have abounded this season. But the Sox are now 11-10 despite the absences of Story, Devers, O'Neill, Pivetta, Whitlock, et al. And the Sox pitching continues to have the lowest ERA in MLB.

Missed most of this game--dinner guests--but it did seem to me that both teams' hitters were more than happy to take strike three if the pitch wasn't near the middle of the zone. No way, no how would I have predicted an 8-0 win (which hasn't happened yet). 12 hits, 4 freaking dingers. Go figure. In 5 starts Bello has gone 5, 5, 5.1, 5.1, and 6 innings and given up 2, 4, 1, 2, and 0 ER's. Tonight he needed a lot of pitches to get through the first 3 innings, but sure finished strong.

One weird game thread that reeks with dislike, distrust, dismay, and disdain for the Sox, who are actually leading the Pirates 8-0 after 8 innings. Go figure.

Can't have it both ways. You persist--as do we all--in saying Dalbec needs to go back to Worcester if not DFA. Now you're outraged that he might have been hurt.

As do I. But I did start out by saying the lineup so far stinks, and Devers is beyond question one of the stinkees.

It's a nice round number. Here's some phony-baloney analysis to justify $10M for Devers. The Sox have played 20 games, which is 1/8 of a season. Devers' total WAR so far is +0.1. Multiply that by 8 and he will contribute +0.8 WAR compared to an average of +4.1 in his 4 best seasons. So he's earning about .8/4.1 = 1/5 of his salary. He's paid $30M this year and is earning $6M. Of course, Devers could straighten up, fly right, and earn his pay this year. But right now he seems injury-prone with shoulder, knee, and goodness knows what else. The reality of course is that that the Sox are now paying Devers for the good seasons he had before he signed that big contract. That's also true of Mookie and a zillion others.

Sox are 10-10 with a run differential of +5 (9 of the 15 AL teams have negative run differentials) because of 1/2 the time, the pitchers. The other half, 13 assorted hitters and positions players, stink. The Sox defense is ranked 30th in MLB and the offense/hitting is ranked 22d in OPS and 18th in runs scored. The payroll, $180M, is ranked 11th. $26M of that is spent on Sale, Turner, and others who have moved on to other teams. $62M is going to players on the IL (Story, Giolito, Pivetta, O'Neill, Whitlock, Hendricks, etc) . $65M goes to Devers, Yoshida, and Jansen--all of whom are clearly overpaid this season. That leaves $27M to pay for the pitchers and lineup players who are actually contributing to wins and losses. However, Pivetta, Whitlock, and especially O'Neill have all definitely contributed and are expected back. So add their $17M in collective salaries back onto the $27M for $44M total. Also add back $10M each for Devers, Yoshida, and Jansen--about what each is actually worth this year--for a final total of $74M Given that $74M salary valuation of the 2024 Sox, 10-10 is pretty darn good. Given the actual payroll of $180M, something's rotten in the state of Denmark.

I lived in Kansas 3 times, a total of 5 years, but only went to a few Royals games the last 3, 1986-89. Lovely ballpark, which can get hot in July and August. Bo Jackson was playing for the Royals.

Of course it's early, but 20 games is still 20 real games, well worth discussing and disagreeing about. Especially, the Sox pitching, which has been stunningly good while everything else--hitting, defense, baserunning, etc--has been pretty awful.

Sox payroll this year is $180M, 11th in MLB. Cleveland's is $101M, 26th in MLB.

I take it you moved to Pittsburgh.

Thanks, Yogi.

Much better game than I expected. 60th anniversary today--thanks to an exceptionally tolerant wife.

Especially Wright.

Sox are likely to lose still another game today because of their rotten defense. Funny thing is, hitting is much harder, but the Sox in fact scored 3 earned runs (the 4th was on a flagrant balk), enough to win. And pitching is pretty hard too, but, with Bernardino starting, the Sox pitching has given up 2 ER in 9 full innings. Reyes, Hamilton, Valdez, and Casas have to be the worst Sox infield in at least 50 years.

Jansen warming up. He might just as well mail it in because all he has is that 91-92 mph cutter, which Cleveland feasted on.

He really has.

Red alert, red alert!!! Two Cleveland players, an infielder and an outfielder, collided on a ball both could catch, and the ball was dropped. As we all know, this is never, ever supposed to happen. In fact, that's why Rafael Devers has been condemned right here on talksox--for backing into O'Neill, who reportedly said he had the ball that Devers in fact caught.

Not that it's a big deal, but a Cleveland runner was obviously safe on a play at 1b, but Cora challenged it anyway. He must of course rely on his technology guy somewhere behind the scenes, but he needs to rip that guy or replace him. I have said repeatedly I agree Rafaela should stay in CF. But right now I'm thinking he goes to SS when O'Neill returns. Yes, he is better in CF, but the Sox infield is vying for the worst infield in the history of MLB. Today Hamilton at SS had Valdez waiting at 2b for a quick flip and then the throw to 1b for the DP, but insisted on running to 2b, which allowed the runner to beat his throw.

Sox score 3 more--2 on Duran's triple and one on the most obvious balk I've seen in a long time. 5-4, Cleveland, whose 5 runs include 3 unearned ones. Abreu made an awfully good grab of a Cleveland shot down the line.

Sox pitching has given up 2 earned runs. The defense remains awful, but only the awfullest in MLB--and maybe awfuller than that.

The presumption last year was the Yoshida was new to MLB pitching--like any rookie. This year he's starting with a full season under his belt.