Maxbialystock

True. He did compliment the team and the win. We all contribute on impulse and not always wisely.

It was.

Yep.

Once again you have captured the mood of the senate. Tonight was a huge win, your third straight.

Thanks for those brilliant statements of the obvious. That reminds me. Earlier in this game thread you excoriated Cora--as you invariably do in every game--for starting Schreiber. You clearly had forgotten that right now the Sox have 3 starters--Bello, Paxton, and Crawford. Four others are on the IL--Sale, Whitlock, Houck, and Kluber. But by your commentary you appear to think that Cora's efforts to work around the lack of starting pitching is evidence that he's just stupid and doesn't know how to manage. But don't take my word for it. Ask the other contributors to talksox what they think of your insights.

Of course they are sustainable!!! Do you seriously think Pivetta is going to start and go 9 freaking innings? In this case, the reliever is simply the starter for 1 or 2 innings, depending. But the bullpen workload is the same. By not starting Pivetta--who was a disaster earlier this year as a starter--Cora had made him way, way more effective. He is also second on the team in innings pitched. Two days ago against the Mets the Sox did have a bullpen game and won 6-1.

Ahem. Cora announced about a month ago that Pivetta was/is staying in the bullpen. If you will check Pivetta's game log, you will see that decision was dead solid perfect. He got killed as a starter, but now is borderline invincible--simply by not starting but then pitching starter innings. Don't mess with success.

I could be wrong, but I do believe this is the worst home plate ump we've seen this season.

Sure was.

You are so ignorant you should be ashamed of yourself.

I know, I know. Worst reliever in Sox history with that stinking ERA of 2.12.

We are the the first freaking inning so a starter is irrelevant at this point. Schreiber should have been able to get through 1 inning without selling the farm.

Sox down 1-0, bases still full with 1 out. Schreiber could give this game away in the 1st.

Meanwhile, Schreiber is digging himself a hole. Not that the Sox game is of any importance. But, to those interested, the Braves have the bases full on a single, an HBP, and a BB. One out. Mound visit.

NOAA map says not too long.

Agree trading Kike to Dodgers was good for us. Very versatile guy who can fill in at 2b or SS so Mookie doesn't have to, but not that valuable for us this year. 2021 was another story. Like others on talksox have been for other games, I'm being screwed tonight by the insane blackout restrictions. Greensboro, NC is nowhere near Atlanta, but blackout it is, even though the only alternative for me is to drive to freaking Atlanta for the game, which ain't going to happen. You would think they could figure out an alternative where they make less money (than by my physical attendance), but do get to charge me something extra to watch the game on mlb.com and funnel that money to the Braves.

That’s what I think.

Lengthy but helpful discussion on Paxton if only because several have chimed in. The choices are keep him to the end of this season when he becomes a free agent, or trade him o/a July 31 in return, one assumes, for prospects and the future. To be honest, I think you can argue both sides. For keeping him. The Sox have a real shot at the postseason because they are 6 games above .500 with Schreiber back for tonight's game and Story due back probably in early August. If he can still hit--and that does remain to be seen--Story can make a real difference because then the Sox will potentially have four good bats in the infield--Devers, Story, Turner (yes, Turner), and Casas--as well as three in the outfield (three of Yoshida, Duran, Duvall, Dugo, and Refsnyder) and at DH. If the Sox did not already have Paxton, he would be exactly the guy they should go after o/a July 31. Why? Because they are starting pitching poor, and Paxton is a real difference-maker, exactly what is needed. On the other hand, for somewhat similar reasons, there are bound to be other teams who are just as desperate for a good starter for the last two months of the season. So the question is, what are they willing to give up in the way of prospects? Bloom would be dumb not to at least listen to any offers being made. But in the end I agree with those who say to keep Paxton. I don't see a World Series this year, but I do see a wild card--and, after that, who knows? Moonslav has already argued Bloom should go after two decent starters so that the Sox rotation would include them plus Paxton, Bello, and Sale. Then the bullpen would be outrageously deep with four long relievers (Whitlock, Houck, Pivetta, and Crawford) and four good short men (Jansen, Martin, Winck, and Bernardi). I don't think Bloom will get those two starters, but the point is made. The one real risk I can see to keeping Paxton is that he gets injured and/or Story can't hit (or gets re-injured), etc. But where is there a MLB team that doesn't incur the same risks?

Meh. The 2019 team had basically the same players as the 2018 team, which was the best Sox team ever: Sale, Price, ERod, Porcello, Eovaldi, Mookie, Bogey, JDM, Devers, Beni, JBJ, Vazquez, Leon, Holt, Moreland, et al. But no Kimbrel. To me 2020 was a nonseason. And 2021 wasn't half bad: 92 wins, wild card win over the Yankees, ALDS over the 100 win Rays, and getting a 2-1 lead in games before losing 3 straight in the ALCS to Houston. 2022 sucked big time.

Starts tomorrow in Worcester. As understand it, he injured himself simply swinging the bat. If so, one wonders how he compensates for that in the future. Hit from the right side? Choke up on the bat? Swing very slowly and carefully?

Homer's OK. We should all quote the Iliad and Odyssey because they remind us each season is a battle and a journey. Cora could do a lot with Giolito and Stroman--excellent laydown of the three pieces of the pitching staff with them--but I agree you are dreaming I do like Whitlock and Houck joining a bullpen that already has Jansen, Martin, Schreiber, Winckowski, Bernardino, and Murphy. But I'm inclined to think the rotation will be Bello, Paxton, Crawford, Pivetta (preceded by a bullpen starter), and Sale.

He's OK grabbing throws to 1B, just not so hot at grounders.

I honestly prefer Turner because he is way more versatile than JDM and allows Cora to improve his lineup by moving Turner around from DH to 1B to 2B to 3B--as needed.

Depends on what really constitutes "selling." It it's Paxton, that's definitely a "sell." If it's Kike, it's just common sense. Duvall would be somewhere in between. He's struggled since he returned, but he is still a righty bat with power and some defensive skill. With the rise of Duran, the Sox have had four good bats--Yoshida, Duvall, Duran, and Dugo--and just 3 OF positions. Plus Refsnyder, another righty bat. If Yoshida DH's so that Cora can put Dugo, Duvall, and Duran in the OF, then Turner, another reliable righty bat, has to play 1b or 2b. If 1b, then Casas can't play.

Everything this season has seemed "huge" simply because the Sox have been right around .500 in a season when .500 (actually, a little above) keeps you in the hunt for a wild card.