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Maxbialystock

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Everything posted by Maxbialystock

  1. Maxbialystock
    Ahem. You need to understand the math of MLB. So let's start with .500, which you characterize as basically mediocre. Further, let's assume that a mediocre team team with 81 wins gets into the playoffs and plays a team that won 97 games with a winning percentage of .600 and finished a huge 16 games ahead of the mediocre team. Mathematically--that is, ignoring matchups, etc--the woebegone .500 team has almost as good a chance of winning a 1 game playoff, a 5 game playoff, or a 7 game playoff series as the .600 team. The simple fact is that, because a MLB season lasts a freaking 162 games (6 games a week for six months), we look at standings and games behind and all that stuff and don't realize that the winning percentages are actually pretty close.
  2. Maxbialystock
    All good comments, but especially being 2 games above .500 despite all those injuries and especially a decimated rotation. About the latter, let's not forget that Kluber and Pivetta were basically pulled out of the rotation because they were terrible. Pivetta has since them been very good as a long reliever. Kluber was a terrible reliever and was simply put on the IL in order to make room for a better arm. By my count the Sox began the season with 8 starters: Paxton (who was on the IL), Sale, Bello (who was in the minors), Kluber, Houck, Whitlock, Crawford, and Pivetta. Right now 3 are healthy, 3 are injured, 1 is a good reliever, and 1 is the twilight zone/IL. The injuries have also hurt the lineup: Story, Duvall, Chang, Reyes, et al. Duvall has been back for 20 games and has yet to recapture his incredible hitting in the first 8 games. However, the Sox now have a pretty good outfield--Dugo, Duran, Yoshida, and Refsnyder--without him. But the infield really misses Story (presumably) and Chang. Both are expected back this month.
  3. Maxbialystock
    I assume you're joking because the expanded WC are all about $$. Butts in seats and TV ratings.
  4. Maxbialystock
    I don't think we "have" to do that, especially with just one starter available. Plus the A's have won 4 of their last 6 games. But it sure would be neat to go into the ASG break at 48-43 and the knowledge that several good players will get off the IL before (Chang) or not long after the ASG break (Schreiber, Story, Houck, Whitlock). Sale not until August, but it could be early August.
  5. Maxbialystock
    A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds.
  6. Maxbialystock
    I'm here and I saw. But you and I see things very differently. My assumption is that Cora has good reasons for every move he makes. In the case of Garza, as has been the case with other marginal Sox players this season, Cora believes in what I call the "dud liberation movement." When he can do so, Cora believes in playing everyone--most of them so they can show what they can do and contribute. And the rest to show what they can't do and thereby be liberated from the Sox roster.
  7. Maxbialystock
    Pretty good. All but Reyes.
  8. Maxbialystock
    With all the guys--Story, Sale, Chang, Whitlock, Houck, Schreiber, et al--on the IL, you could be right. I mean the Sox are about to play three vs. lowly Oakland, but have just one starter to send out, Paxton. But most of those guys should be back before August, and even Sale could be back by early August. Meanwhile, without any of them the Sox took 2 of 3 against Texas.
  9. Maxbialystock
    He definitely helped, but knowledgeable talksoxers know it was the thread starter who turned this team around. Back to back wins over Texas.
  10. Maxbialystock
    You are the most upbeat of all of us and why I'm climbing aboard once again. As I wrote elsewhere, we should be seeing the likes of Story, Chang, Whitlock, Houck, and Schreiber back by August--and just maybe Sale in August. We just need to get through July.
  11. Maxbialystock
    Also excellent. And I had forgotten Carl.
  12. Maxbialystock
    Don't do that. Just stop it. If ever there was a season and a month in which to relish each and every win, this season is it. That said, against the A's Cora has Paxton and two pitchers to be named later. My goodness was Winck great tonight!
  13. Maxbialystock
    Yep.
  14. Maxbialystock
    That absolutely worthless SS Kike makes a neat play and throw to end the game. Did I forget to mention that, coming into this game, his DWAR as a SS was/is +0.1? Yep--and it's the same as Bogey's. But nowhere near Wander Franco's 1.6.
  15. Maxbialystock
    Good point. And shame on me for picking on him. He's wearing our uniform.
  16. Maxbialystock
    First of all, his team was leading until the bottom of the 7th when the dam burst, so of course he was "managing." Second, his team leads MLB in runs scored. Third, his team has a lower ERA than the Sox. Fourth, his starter in this game was his ace and Cora's starter lasted 4 innings. Fifth, if his team does win this game, it sure won't be because of his managing.
  17. Maxbialystock
    Pretty big blunder all right. With Duran in and Casas watching, the Sox would have had a chance of winning tonight. Past time to get a new manager.
  18. Maxbialystock
    Agree with both of you. Winck was THE MAN tonight.
  19. Maxbialystock
    Given the two starters and how Crawford only lasted 4 innings while giving up 3 runs, I do think Cora has outmanaged whoever is managing the Astros.
  20. Maxbialystock
    I admit it. That was also my first thought.
  21. Maxbialystock
    Great hit by Duvall on a hanging slider and great call by the 3B coach. Time for Casas to do something useful. Unbelievable, a hanging curve in the middle of the strike zone and he almost missed it. Now--still lefty bat vs righty pitcher--he swings at a bad pitch. On the other hand, despite his erratic swings, he gets the freaking BB! Bases loaded with 1 out and Kike coming to bat. If only he could bunt.
  22. Maxbialystock
    On the other hand, I agree with the questioning of not starting Duran, who is hot and who has the best OPS on the Sox against righties.
  23. Maxbialystock
    Oh, stuff it. Seriously. Kike ended up there because Cora used Duran and then Refsnyder--two pinch hitters--to bat for Hamilton. And, in case you missed it, it worked like a charm. But he's out of infielders, so he sent Arroyo to 2b, where he promptly made an excellent play on that grounder with the Sox infield in tight, followed by the easier grounder to Kike for the 3d out. Plus Cora sent in Winck with men on 2d and 3d and no one out. Winck was fanfreakingtastic, but Cora was the guy who inserted him at just the right time. Cora also pulled Crawford at the right time. Back to Kike at SS. As I said on another post, Hamilton, today's starter, was the 6th freaking SS for the Sox this season. Story has yet to play, but he was first choice. Then Chang, Reyes, Kike, Arroyo for a game or two, and now Hamilton--actually Kike. So it's completely unfair to claim Cora had a ton of choices when Kike had the job.
  24. Maxbialystock
    Casas draws a walk!! Of course it took six straight pitches, all well outside the strike zone, to get there because he swung at two of them.
  25. Maxbialystock
    Hamilton had all the time in the world and slightly shorter throw to 1b, and he still threw it in the dirt. Plus his OPS is .472. He is, what, the 6th SS for the Sox this season after Story, who hasn't played an inning, Chang, Kike, Reyes, and I believe Arroyo.
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