Maxbialystock

Actually, this whole over and under .500 thing makes little mathematical or predictive sense. In order, here are the winning percentages in the AL: 1. Yankees 74% 2. Astros 63% 3. Red Sox 57% 4. Jays 56% 5. Twins 55% 6. Rays 54% 7. Guards 53% 8. Rangers 49% 9. Angels 47% 10. White Sox 47% 11. Mariners 47% 12. Orioles 46% 13. Tigers 39% 14. Royals 37% 15. Athletics 33% If you take away the Yankees at the top and the A's at the bottom, in between are 13 teams who win on average between 6 of 10 games and 4 of 10 games. Each of the 13 has a decent chance of taking a series against the other 12 teams, as well as the A's. What makes it tough for the Sox, Jays, Rays, and O's is that each of them has to play the freaking Yankees 19 times. The AL East Division is far and away the best Division in MLB and skews things against the other 4 teams--the ones not from NYC. Thus it is all the more amazing that the Sox, Jays, and Rays all have winning records and the Orioles are tougher than they have been. In terms of positioning for the end of the season, the Twins, Guardians, and Astros--all teams with winning records-- have big advantages over the Sox, Jays, and Rays, also teams with winning records, simply because they don't play the Yankees as often. I might add that it's also daunting that the Sox, Jays, and Rays all play each other 19 times--and this year even the Orioles (@46%) aren't pushovers. They've taken 3 of 5 from the Sox so far. While I agree the road ahead is tough, I do not agree that the AL is knee deep in "bottom feeders." Also, to date the Sox have taken 2 of 3 from the Astros, split with the Braves (58% winning %), taken 6/7 from the Mariners (47%), taken 2 of 3 from the Cardinals (55%), and swept the Guardians (53%). Also this. Too many Talksoxers appear to believe that the Jays completely and utterly dominate the woebegone Sox. This was true in the early part of the season. But in this just concluded series in Toronto, I contend that the Sox win the series, despite having to start Seabold in game 1, if Houck had taken his freaking vaccination--and Alex Cora emphatically agrees with me, not the rest of you. Be cautious about disagreeing with me. Last night I was the only one on the game thread who said--before the 10th inning--the Sox would win.

That's what makes you moonslav. Relentlessly upbeat.

Completely agree and thank goodness for it. "Anything can happen" is what makes us fans.

Strangely enough, I disagree. If Sale is in any way competent starting, I see Whitlock, Houck, and Schreiber (the best of the three) taking care of business in the last two innings. Houck doesn't have great stuff, but he is fearless. Whitlock has excellent stuff, but is still young (2d season). And this year Schreiber is unfreakingreal.

Fantastic. I would do the same for any win. I think Schreiber should close. No one on this team is remotely as good for one inning. Two nights in a row he shut down the Jays best hitters. But I'm fine with whatever Cora decides.

Hey, please don't. I already said that after the Sox got the 3 run lead. I just wanted the Sox to win, and I certainly don't think I'm right about much. I just like to comment, argue, whatever.

Sox win!!!

Well, he's definitely second in rbi's.

If the Sox win, the bet is definitely off. I don't believe in bets and just want the Sox to win one. An unreal game and it ain't over yet. If the Sox lose, I'll start the thread--serves me right.

Wow. Our big three got to the plate 15 freaking times and got 1 hit, 1 walk, 1 HBP, and a GIDP. And, if the Sox lose, it will be blamed on Cora. Fortunately, Verdugo has an unbelievably hot bat. Let's see if 3 runs can hold up.

Great pitch!!! Justice prevails.

Strahm just got screwed. Maybe the home plate ump is afraid of Guerrero.

And he hit the ball hard twice tonight. But his fWAR for the season is -0.5.

Story is 1 for 17 in his last 4 games and struck out 3 times last night.

I'm not blind to the Sox situation, but I have fallen prey to the optimism of moonslav. In the particular case of tonight's game, I fully expected Manoah to dominate the Sox as he did in April. So I was delighted and still am that the Sox came back and even took the lead. And they did so with their three best hitters rolling over and playing dead.

Of course I don't think you want the Sox to lose. But your words sure sound like it. You seek confirmation that the Sox stink.

How about this? Loser starts a new thread entitled "I was wrong and _______ was right." And the first post is: "From now on I will always agree with _________."

Actually, we probably don't need to bet. If the Sox win, I'll be happy and you'll be pissed off. If the Sox lose, you'll be delighted, and I'll be mad.

Probably. I just remember BDC and how they blamed every single loss on Francona, the guy with two WS wins, one of which broke the 86 year curse. Talksox is a lot better than BDC, but many still find blaming the manager irresistible. But my real point is that I like the way Cora manages and do think he played a significant role in the 2018 season. Plus I loved last year, especially the postseason. The Sox won 6 of 11 games, beat the Yankees in the wild card, beat the 100 win Rays 3 games to 1 in the ALCS, and took 2 from the Astros without getting a single save.

I actually think the Sox will win this game. What slur?

You bet. Tons of heart.

I probably am a coward--just ask my wife.

Boy is this ever an uphill fight. Our three best hitters--by a big margin--have 1 very weak single and four K's in 12 freaking at bats. But never fear. The boo birds will find some way to blame Cora if the Sox lose. Brasier back out again tonight. In his last 8 innings (7 games), he has given up 1 run.

No, not Vladimir. If you will go back to last night, you will realize that the bullpen threw three really good innings, and tonight, thanks to Pivetta going the extra (6th) inning, that's all they have to do. Schreiber is way better than the carping critics on talksox give him credit for. He is fearless, and has good stuff, and he has good command. Houck and Whitlock don't even come close. So, no, Vladdy wasn't going to do anything and in fact looked pretty bad. So now 7 innings gone, and six outs to go.

I do agree Franchy is a little rough at 1b, but that's because he has very little experience. However, I have defended him, not because I think he's great, but because I honestly believe his fielding has not hurt, at least not egregiously. To me first base is a good place to put someone who can hit, but ain't the world's greatest fielder.