Maxbialystock

You dare to disagree with the only one on the game thread last night who predicted the Sox would win before the 10th inning and even bet on the outcome? Houck wasn't a sure thing, but he does have six straight saves and a June ERA of 1.54. You really don't think he would have been better than Danish (with a 6.48 ERA in June and no saves this season or any other) pitching the 9th inning Tuesday night?

The winner!!!!!!

I think you mean lefties. mlb.com says Taylor, who was our best last year vs. lefty hitters, is due back in July. He just pitched twice for AA Portland and could return soon.

Very good point. I clean forgot that Houck, Whitlock, and Schreiber are all lefties.

Listen up for another dictum from Chairman Max-- Knock off the whining about the bullpen because, without making a single trade or acquisition, the Sox already have the ingredients for a good one. When Whitlock returns, which should be soon, he will join the bullpen. Whitlock, Schreiber, who has been unbelievably good this season and who shut down the the heart of the Jays order twice in this recent series, and Mr. Unvaccinated will take care of all 8th and 9th inning situations in winnable games. That's the sore spot everyone complains about, and those three can make it a strength. Now and then, they could even handle the 7th inning as well. I think any of them could close. My personal preference would be Schreiber, but Houck now has six straight saves and no blown saves and should keep the job. Besides, there's bound to be a game or two when he needs to rest. Until Sale and Eovaldi return, the above will put some pressure on the rotation, currently Pivetta, Wacha, Hill, Winckowski (who has indeed buckled down), and A Player To Be Named Later. Not great, but not terrible. As for the rest of the bullpen, I'm no expert, but think Davis, Strahm, Danish, Brasier, Valdez, and even Sawamura would suffice--although I like that new guy Plawecki For you doubting thomases, consider this: if Houck had been available vs. the Jays, the Sox win the series. Adding Whitlock will seal the deal.

Actually, I think the Sox problem is that they are in the toughest Division in MLB. Consider: 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%). On the other hand, to date they have losing records against all four of the other AL East teams.

Hmmmm. You and moonslav are in cahoots again, so I'm forced to admit defense can be important.

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.