Maxbialystock

The Sox won more games than they lost with Kike in the lineup. I think he got the starting SS job because two years ago his OPS was .786 (but just .629 last year) and Cora, like other Sox managers, wants good bats more than good gloves. Kike's DWAR with the Sox this season, by the way, was +0.3. His overall WAR, however, was -0.7, mostly because his OPS was .599. Cora did recognize that both Reyes and Chang were more reliable SS's--primarily because Kike's throws from the SS position were erratic--but both have been on the IL this year and Kike has not. I completely agree that Kike is better at 2b than SS, which is why that's where he played after Chang returned and where he is playing with the Dodgers. I also agree it's good that he's gone now that both Chang and Reyes are back--plus Turner has shown some flair at 2b--but at the same time insist that the Dodgers would never have taken him back if he was the complete loser you paint him to be. You usually make a lot of sense, but your characterizations of both Kike and Cora are just wrong.

One problem Bloom (and other teams' executives) has/have right now is that 22 teams can legitimately claim to have a shot at a wild card or better. That means 22 buyers and 8 sellers, which is a lousy ratio if you are a buyer. Way, way too much competition. I've made a big deal (and been shot down) about the fact that starting August 4 the Sox play 48 games with just 2 days off, which will definitely be a strain on the pitching as currently configured. The Sox have 3 starters, Pivetta pitching long after someone else (preferably lefty Bernardino) starts and goes an inning or two, and a bullpen game. I don't think that will work for those 48 games. I am also not optimistic about the returning arms. Kluber will never start again for the Sox. Houck and Whitlock are both more likely to return in September than in August, plus both have ERA's over 5. Sale could be back in a week or two (apparently the shoulder has healed), which is great, but we can't be sure that he can stay healthy and/or pitch the way he did for roughly 8 starts this season. Given all of the above, I do not envy Bloom's situation. It's a bad time to buy, but there is also in my view a compelling need for another starter.

Good points. A quick look at the current standings says that 22 of 30 MLB teams can legitimately claim to have a good shot at a wild card (or a division title of course). At 56-48 Miami is definitely in the hunt for a wild card. If the above is anywhere near factual, there are currently 22 buyers in MLB and 8 sellers. So just maybe right now is a great time to sell and not so great to buy.

Indeed.

What a game!!! What a streak!!! What a team, but especially Casas, Turner, Crawford, Jansen, Refsnyder, Duvall, Bernardino, and Winck!!!

Devers doing his level best to take the heat off of Dugo. He has looked like crap at the plate tonight.

Bloom had nothing to do with it. Cora's the one who had him bat for Duran.

What is it with our relievers who can't seem to throw a pitch low in the zone? Martin was just begging for that dinger. I think he asked the batter where he wanted that fastball placed.

Words to conjure with. I think you've captured the whole season to date.

Single by Wong, sac bunt by Chang, pinch hitter by Cora, and rbi (with RISP) single by Refsnyder. Top of the 8th almost as impressive as the great comeback in the bottom of the 7th, especially by Turner with that glove flip to get the out. Thank goodness Winck got his command back, after which he was just nasty.

Yep.

He definitely did that. But they were close enough to call.

Wow, what a recovery!!! Way to go, Winck!!! Definitely clutch pitching.

Sox need me to be their pitching coach. As soon as Winck threw some pitches down in the zone, he got guys out. Terrific play by Turner!!!

His command sucks. Not one single pitch low in the zone. So everything in the strike zone is very hittable.

I know it was never Candlestick because I looked it up. But it reminds me of Candlestick, which I thought was one of the best names ever for a ballpark.

Webb is their best pitcher, so right now I'm delighted to get the first run. Crawford has looked pretty sharp.

90 down here in Greensboro, but humid and uncomfortable.

Hold it right there, dipstick. Did you miss that line drive single by Duran? Too bad he got nailed on the steal. On that slide it sure looked like a damp infield, which definitely slowed down both the slide and the run to 2b. All it takes is a little extra hosing before the umps show up.

I give Crawford absolutely zippo style points. Fortunately, what counts is what the ball does when it gets to the plate, and tonight Crawford looks really sharp--the breaking balls especially. Great ball park even though I liked the name Candlestick a whole lot more.

Temp is 62 degrees at Oracle Park.

I have been down on Duvall for literally months, so I sure hope I get to eat those words. That was a terrific double, much like his dinger in the last game. Casas seems to have the only lefty Sox bat in the game. Duran, Yoshida, Devers, and Dugo looked completely hapless against righty Webb.

Good thing Casas batted 6th because he had a man on 2d when he hit the double. If he had batted 1st, 2d, or 3d, it would have been wasted.

Duran and especially Yoshida both looked like crap in their first at bats--against mostly 92-93 fastballs.