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Maxbialystock

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Everything posted by Maxbialystock

  1. Maxbialystock
    No question this is a real game, even for the Sox. The hitting has been there, but Sale didn't have his best stuff. Now it's pen vs pen. Four Sox runs driven by 4 different guys--Dugo, Casas, Story (with 2 hits!), and Abreu.
  2. Maxbialystock
    You and SPLENDIDSPLINTER seem to agree: there are still games that count.
  3. Maxbialystock
    Now he's 0 for 4.
  4. Maxbialystock
    His 4 seamer is almost 2 pitches, slower at 91-92 mph and faster at 95-96 mph.
  5. Maxbialystock
    He has thrown a very few changeups, but has kept them well outside the strike zone.
  6. Maxbialystock
    That Sale gets anyone out is the amazing thing. He has only 2 pitches tonight, which makes things a whole lot easier for the Astros hitters.
  7. Maxbialystock
    Devers, 0 for 3, has left a lot of guys on base.
  8. Maxbialystock
    He's only throwing 2 pitches, the 4 seamer and the slider. He's thrown very few changeups or cutters.
  9. Maxbialystock
    Why?
  10. Maxbialystock
    I don't see it, mostly because I think you and others overstate the errors situation. The Sox lost last night because Verlander had an excellent game--6 IP, 9 K's, 0 runs--and Houck was just OK. We lost both games to the Astros because their hitting and pitching were both better than ours. The errors, I agree, were/are infuriating, but not game deciders. Tonight I believe that, as was the case Monday and Tuesday night, hitting and pitching will be the difference. I think Sale vs. Urquiddy gives the Sox a big edge. However, I have my doubts about the Sox hitting, especially the lefty bats--specifically, Dugo, Yoshida, Duran (on the DL), and Casas--who should be given the Sox an edge against righty starters. Back to the errors, including the mental ones. They may in fact reflect the current mindset of the whole team, including their manager.
  11. Maxbialystock
    In other words, you aren't a fan of the Red Sox. I had two uncles--one from each side of the family--who were both definitely fans and both lived their entire lives in Massachusetts and died about 20 or so year ago. One was usually pretty happy because he was a diehard Yankees fan and enjoyed 26 (or so) of their 27 WS titles. The other, who lived to 90, was there for the entire 86 years of the curse and was a lot like you. He died before John Henry's Sox won their first WS in 2004. You, however, have been around long enough to see all 4 of the WS wins under John Henry, unquestionably the most successful Sox owner in history. And you are proud to be a skeptic and critic? How is that possible for a real fan?
  12. Maxbialystock
    Excellent point and one which I overlooked.
  13. Maxbialystock
    By the "eye test" you of course mean something you saw on the boob tube and not in person, (where the eye test is suspect). I do agree that some things are best realized on replays via the internet or TV. The box score for last night, for example, only captures part of what happened. That said, just the primary stat, the score, pretty much captures what happened. The Astros won easily. And the box score does tell us Verlander went 6 IP while getting 9 K's and giving up 0 runs. In other words, we don't need your freaking "eye test" to know Verlander dominated the Sox and was the deciding factor in the game. The errors, the weak hitting by the Sox, the mental errors, etc, were infuriating but not the reason why the Sox lost.
  14. Maxbialystock
    Not sure how "for sale" applies given the lateness of this season. If you mean postseason, then I of course I agree there will be transactions, but I think the Sox will buy more and sell less.
  15. Maxbialystock
    What a crock. His DWAR is -0.3, which means that he will cost the Sox 1/3 of a one win more than the average MLB thirdbaseman. The Sox have always gone for bats first and gloves/arms a distant second, including at SS and CF. And that's why Devers took over at 3b for the Sox in 2018 despite a DWAR of -0.9. His overall WAR's have been 1.3 (2017, 58 games), 0.0 (2018), 5.3, 0.4 (2020), 3.5, 4.4, and 3.0. That means that overall he has been a net plus at 3b, more so than many of predecessors. Remember the 2013 WS champs Sox? Middlebrooks at 3d base had a WAR of -0.1. Youk, WAR of 4.3 in 2007, was the Sox last productive thirdbaseman (on a Sox WS team), and they moved him to 1B.
  16. Maxbialystock
    Agree. In fact, I think the Sox have always recruited and bought or traded for bats first, then arms (pitchers), and rarely for gloves and/or baserunning skills. I think that approach has dominated the farm system as well. Consider exhibits A and B, Casas and Duran, who this year have the enthusiastic support of talksoxers and other Sox fans. Why? Because both have OPS's over .800 (.829and .828). Who cares about their freaking defense and that Duran's DWAR is -0.4 (worse than Devers' -0.3) and Casas's -1.0?
  17. Maxbialystock
    I think moonslav does just fine speaking for himself. As for the WC discussion, why the heck not? 36 games to go, which should be enough games to get back into the hunt. His dilemma--and mine--is that the Astros are one of the Sox competitors for the wild card and in these first two games they have looked overwhelmingly better in every aspect of those two games--hitting, pitching, defense, and baserunning. I hasten to add, however, this should not be surprising because the Astros are one of the best teams in MLB year after year and in the past two seasons were in the WS, losing to Atlanta in 2021 and beating the Phillies last year. In 2019 they lost to the Nats in the WS and in 2018 they lost to the best Sox team ever in the ALCS.
  18. Maxbialystock
    Oh, stop it. Just stop it. You are bombarding us with sensible observations and I for one am getting sick and tired of it. I'm tired of it because I prefer to be an irrational over-reactor. I've liked Cora a ton for 5 years, but now I want him fired because, now that Story, Sale, Houck, and Whitlock are back, the Sox look worse than before, not better--especially against the Astros. I don't think Bloom has been all that good, but until now have defended him because I know JH put some restrictions on him. I think Henry expected Bloom to get the Sox doing things the "Rays way," which is to be really smart about acquiring and developing players, especially pitchers. And of course it should only take a year or two to achieve that.
  19. Maxbialystock
    Very good point. I was one of the 2/3's, which means the Sox exceeded my expectations, and here I am griping to beat the band. I'm mad at the weak hitting and weak pitching--especially against the Astros, who seem to be good at both--and irritated by the defense and baserunning. Plus Dugo last night going ape--from the dugout, yet--over the balls and strikes--and Duran foolishly climbing a wall at Yankee Stadium when the ball was clearly out of his reach. He's now on the 10 day IL.
  20. Maxbialystock
    Don't forget that on some days I'm definitely an over-reactor. I don't think the defense is the crux of why the Sox are where they are. I think hitting--actually, runs scored and rbi's--and pitching are the crux. I say that because the Astros appear to have both hitting and pitching, especially in the measly two games we just watched. I honestly felt that the return of Sale, Houck, and Whitlock would make a big difference in pitching, but it sure doesn't look that way in this series in Houston although Houck last night definitely pitched better than Paxton The Not So Great the night before.
  21. Maxbialystock
    Simple. As I've already explained, if you can't hit for the Sox, you can't play for them. If any on those 60 freaking SS's can hit at an OPS .877 clip in the majors, maybe he could replace Devers at 3b.
  22. Maxbialystock
    I think this is a silly discussion about finding a third baseman because historically, especially during the JH era, the Sox have always preferred hitters over fielders at just about every position. Devers is far from a disaster at 3b if DWAR (-0.3) means anything at all. Devers' DWAR in 2018 was -0.9, but he started every freaking game in the postseason because he could hit and because he is not a disaster at 3b. Same goes for Bogey, an adequate fielder, but an excellent hitter. Casas's DWAR right now is -0.9 but we all love him because his OPS is over .800. Story in just 8 games has a solid DWAR of +0.3, and some of us hate him because he hasn't starting hitting yet. His OPS is .518. He is not, repeat, not winning freaking games for the Sox with his defense.
  23. Maxbialystock
    Garza is just as bad and also on the roster.
  24. Maxbialystock
    This team looks so bad I do think it's possible both Cora and Bloom will be gone after the season ends.
  25. Maxbialystock
    Worst looking outfielder I can remember seeing for the Sox. First an error on the throw home--10 feet over Wong's glove--now two fumbles on a routine double into the corner.
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