Maxbialystock

Swiharts Ghost must be the bitterest and stupidest naysayer ever on talksox.

What's the this "we" stuff paleface? You're no Sox fan, not by a long shot. Arroyo's two-run dinger sure took the wind out of your bs.

Bogey gets his back to back days off anyway. Once again, five lefty bats against opposing righty Quantrill Duran CF Devers 3B JDM DH Verdugo LF Story 2B Cordero 1B Vazquez C JBJ RF Arroyo SS

That is not true. Masks, distancing, and vaccinations all prevented COVID and deaths from COVID. Those are verities that are irrefutable. They did not of course prevent all COVID nor all deaths. Some of those were no doubt unavoidable, but unquestionably some others were the direct result of people not masking or distancing or not getting vaccinated. Whatever science you are citing is false science. I'm equally sure that what you call lockdowns affected the economy. They also affected children kept away from school. But vaccinations and masks did not.

You talkin' to me? Well, I'm the only one who's here.

Even more fun after yesterday's break. I like your point about the unpredictability of this series because this has been an especially unpredictable season with, no doubt, many more surprises to come. Nice ballpark, too. Cleveland's a good team with a good manager, but I am encouraged by the recent series vs. the Cardinals, also a Division leader, against whom the Sox took 2 of 3, with the two wins being close games and the loss a slaughter. Sox still missing Whitlock, Eovaldi, Kike, Taylor, Sale, et al. Arroyo, a spare part, should be available tonight. I am grateful for the discussion on Jose Ramirez, definitely (I now realize) a player to watch.

Practically everything a President does is political. That's what we pay them (and vote for them) for. While I was outraged at that particular decision about meat plant workers, even then I understand that every leader/politician during this pandemic has had to weigh fighting the disease in accordance with the best science available vs. the effects on the economy, jobs, etc. My personal preference has been to err on the side of the best available science: masks and social distancing everywhere all the time, massive inoculations once they were available. I'm a huge Koufax fan in every way. And I agree completely with your characterization of Chaim Bloom. Today we know a lot more and have partly succeeded in combatting the pandemic. So, while I disagree with Houck's determination that vaccinations are bad, I don't disagree that he is primarily affecting himself and not the rest of us. As for hurting the team, to me that's all on the MLBPA, who have been ever vigilant and successful in enabling players to do almost everything their way. I agree with whoever said that, with respect to missed games by Houck, Sale, Duran, whoever, the best outcome is that Cora keeps those absences from affecting/infecting the team as a whole. I think he can pull that off. I mean he practically invented giving guys days off. We are lucky to have Chaim and Alex, Bloom and Cora.

Francona is an interesting guy. Very good amateur player, first round pick, but less great as a pro--then clearly terrific as a coach and manager, especially at Boston and Cleveland. Definite health issues, especially related to the heart going back to at least 2002--causing him to miss most of 2020 and the last two months of last season. He's been hospitalized from chest pains and clogged arteries, had a pulmonary embolism, blood clots, circulation issues, catheter ablation (for irregular heartbeat), and blood clotting again in 2020. He's 63. He and his wife apparently raised four terrific kids: 2 daughters graduated from UNC, 1 son from Pennsylvania (Ivy League) and the other from the US Naval Academy. He and his wife were married for 30 years and then divorced circa 2012, after he spent most of the 2011 season (when the Sox fired him) living in a hotel. Last year he received criticism for defending one of his coaches (Callaway) who was subsequently banned from MLB for lewd behavior (harassment) which occurred over 5 years and with 3 teams. Francona apparently defended Callaway to the irate husband of one of the women Callaway harassed. Just as you say, Francona, now the longest-serving MLB manager with the same ball club, is a very good manager who has kept the Guardians/Guardians competitive despite low payrolls.

Cleveland sure got their money's worth out of him. Indeed, he just signed for 7 years and $142M--pretty small potatoes--and for that same reason small news value. Trout, Betts, Harper, et al, get the press/commentary/coverage because of the money and maybe because of being in bigger cities. Aaron Judge gets plenty of coverage because he's a Yankee. Funny thing, and I could be wrong, but I think Mookie Betts is getting a lot more coverage as a Dodger than he got back in Boston, where he had better years than he's had @ LA. Big city, huge contract.

Truly, one game at a time. As Forest says, every game is like a box of chocolates.

They've averaged 5 runs/game in June, which is what the Yankees (best offense in MLB) have averaged for the season. Against the Cardinals, they averaged 4.7 runs. On the West Coast trip they averaged 6 runs per game against the 11th best ERA (Mariners), the 12th best ERA (Angels), and the 24th best ERA (A's).

Yes, he is expected back before the ASG, but his progress has been slower than expected (return June 24). If he is back before the ASG, he can do a lot of good against a tough schedule through Aug 3.

With Eovaldi and Whitlock out, the rotation is a tad worrisome, but overall the Sox have the 6th best ERA in MLB--slightly better than Cleveland's. Winckowski helped. Team OPS is 7th (.733) to Cleveland's 18th (.704). Nice to see Duran and Refsnyder getting some hits. Same goes for Vazquez. Story is 2d in dingers and 1st in RBI's, so that .724 OPS is a tad better than it looks. The point is, and moonslav said this like a month ago, the hitting is picking up.

Very nice win, even against the Tigers. 5 games behind the Astros for the second best record in the AL. Next stop, Cleveland, Pivetta vs. Quantrill, Winckowski vs. Bieber, and Hill vs. Civale. Cleveland has played 3 fewer games than every other MLB team. Francona is now the longest tenured MLB manager (with the same team).

But he didn't look so bad on that last pitch, 96mph. Neat shot of his brother.

The book says Jeter Downs can't hit heat.

Yup.

Three outs! Cora has no fear, and Wacha comes thru. This is officially a quality start.

I strenuously disagree with Vazquez calling for like 7 outside pitches in a row before finally calling for the inside fastball that K'd him.

Trouble. I'm telling you there's trouble right here in Charles River city.

I'm a charter member of the whine and jeesh club. But, yes, I love the double and the 4 run lead.

Neat interview with Jeter Downs brother.

Yup. Plus, frankly, I think that gold necklace is much too small. He needs a much bigger one so, you know, we'll all be impressed. Baseball is all about style points.

JDM OPS with RISP: .690. No surprise.

Lopat and Sain and pray for rain. Refsnyder and Duran, goodbye Jackie and Hernan.