Maxbialystock

Could be. He leads in appearances, 11 (or 12) and an equal number of innings.

And nice play by the Sox, for a change.

What a treat to see Vazquez back at Fenway--playing for the other team. Some players are a tad bitter toward their former team (s), but in this series it's clear he bears no ill will and in fact wants to help

Terrific rally, but I'm more impressed with Tanner Houck, another guy I wrote off last year or the year before. I had him pegged as a decent long reliever. Fourth start, and he has yet to have a bad one.

Maeda, 0-2, ERA 4.09 is a righty, so 5 lefty bats. Houck has started 3 games, all with Wong catching.

He fumbled and drew an error on an easy grounder. And he demanded a pop fly, waving everyone else off, and didn't even get a glove on it. He was not the problem last night, Kluber was. So letting him play to see how he handled himself at Fenway didn't cost anything.

2-1, ERA 6.06, WAR -0.2 for the Padres. 16.1 IP's. Kluber is 0-4, ERA 8.50, WAR -0.4, 18 IP's.

Agree. I think CERA is relevant, but A Red Sox fan named Hugh has a point. Last night was on Kluber, not McGuire. And Sale's great outing the night before was the result of his practice sessions, not Wong. Of course, the instant analysis guys might not be serious and really are being sarcastic. Also, there have definitely been instances in the past when a given pitcher insisted on a particular catcher.

Agree. Also, my claim of 55 years of pain is kind of phony because from 1940 (when I as born in Boston) to 1999 I lived all over the States and overseas and rarely saw a Sox game on TV. I did listen to Curt Gowdy call games on the radio, 1953-54, which sealed my fandom. And uncle of mine lived through all 86 years of the curse--in the Boston suburbs--and rarely missed a game on radio or TV. He suffered, but he kept watching/listening.

Nicely said, Jad.

As I said a few pages back, the Sox have eight pitchers--Crawford, Kluber, Sale, Winckowski, Pivetta, Houck, Whitlock, and Bello--with either significant innings or starter potential or both. Winckowski hasn't started, but he's pitched 14 innings and several times gone 3 innings. Bello only has 2.2 lousy innings (5 ER's), but has shown starter potential. The other six have all started at least two games. My point now is that it would make sense to move Kluber, who so far has 4 losses and an ERA of 8.50, to the bullpen or to "6th starter," either or which would limit his starts. Cora would still have six viable starters (assuming Bello is viable): Crawford, Pivetta, Houck, Sale, Whitlock, and Bello. No other Sox pitcher (besides Kluber) has more than one loss. Too bad Kluber is being paid $10M, but last year the Sox paid Sale even more than that and for fewer innings (and less damage to the Sox). The real point is that a starter can lose a game before the hitters have a chance to hit or the bullpen has a chance to save a game. And the Sox have six other starters plus Paxton trying to make his way back.

Right now I'm OK with McGuire catching against righty starters and Wong against lefties. I'm also fine if Cora changes that because he thinks Wong might be needed for a specific pitcher--like possibly Sale. While I like the theory of CERA, I don't McGuire was the problem tonight. kluber throw an 88 mph four seamer and doesn't have any particularly good breaking stuff. His command stinks. I'm not positive, but I think his changeup is effective, so of course he rarely throws that. The problem with using Wong more is that McGuire right now has one of the team's best bats. Going into tonight's game, Wong and McGuire had exactly the same WAR, +0.3.

Tomorrow Houck vs. Maeda. Pretty evenly matched--for a change. Maeda is a righty, so expect the lefty bats.

Rizzo just took a HBP, by which I mean he did not step back, but turned around so it would hit him in the back. Loaded the bases, and a sac fly got the win for the Yankees. Sox players rarely take an HBP and prefer to throw themselves down, up, back, or wherever to avoid a deadly HBP.

Bottom of the 9th, 2-2, 2 outs, and the Yankees just stole 2b. Yanks are pinch-hitting for Franchy Cordero. Haven't I heard that name before? The hitter's name is Isiah Kiner-Falefa who was born in Hawaii and just K'd. Wikipedia says he is of Samoan, Hawaiian, Japanese, and Caucasian descent.

We definitely need Kimmi. I do remember those days. On the other hand, I'm hugely grateful I lived long enough for all of the John Henry era. Put it this way. If you've experienced 55 years of the 86 year curse, what we are "enduring" now is a walk in the park.

I pretty much wrote him off, but he got another chance and is making the most of it. These Sox definitely have openings and opportunities for someone who can actually hit the freaking ball. With two out and two on, Trout just struck out on a checked swing and a very outside pitch. Game tied 2-2.

The Sox want SS's who can hit. When they accidentally get one who is mostly a great defensive SS, they dump him ASAP. You can look it up.

He played 2d base in the minors before the Sox moved him to the OF to get him to Boston sooner. Goodness knows he has the arm to play SS. On the other hand, he does have six freaking gold gloves playing right field.

3d period, I assume at Boston Garden, and the Bruins are down by 2.

Never was a hockey fan--and that is definitely not hockey's fault although I do have trouble seeing the puck. My real problem is I never played--or skated, really (except on roller skates). Plus right now I can watch the Yankees and Angels. And guess what, I know some of those players. Is Bobby Orr playing tonight? Bobby Hull? Maurice Richard? Great Gretsky? If not, see ya later.

Excellent last line.

Valdez just lined out with men on base in the 9th. Plus he has 2 singles. Maybe he deserves another shot despite his defense.

Not what I said at all. I mostly agreed with everyone who suggested DFAing him. But now I'm glad he wasn't. He has had some good outings this season. On the other hand, the idiotic Twins reliever just walked Casas, so the bases are loaded with no one out. If the Sox score four, I will join the mob who want to ride Brasier out of town on a rail.

Kluber will prove to be? He hasn't already shown he's a fraud? As for Tapia, I would just say the lineup all season has been a patchwork quilt, but they have scored runs.