Maxbialystock

I could be wrong, but I think that changeup affects their decision-making vs. fastballs.

I'm sure the MLBPA supports all unvaccinated players. Protecting their "choice" is probably in the latest agreement.

I'm not impressed with Hill, but am also OK with Cora's decision-making. I'm looking at mlb.com pitch by pitch, and it says Hill just threw a changeup for that third out ground out. Is that right? If it is, what was he waiting for? Ditto Vazquez.

For a reliever, maybe/probably, but not for a starter.

Bundy, on the other hand, has 3 pitches--slow fastball just like Hill's, curve just like Hill's, and that changeup. Plus maybe a cut fastball. Two pitches are simply not enough.

Like I said. Two pitches ain't enough.

Superstition and downright ignorance. See the new thread on the injury list by mvp78. Apparently, a bunch of Sox players won't make the trip to Toronto because they don't quite believe in vaccinations.

I love pitching to contact--just not real good contact.

Amazing. 250 years ago Americans, including George Washington, were happy to be vaccinated against smallpox.

Doesn't look as though two pitches, a big curve and an 88 mph fast ball, are going to be enough.

Agree.

Apparently, mental telepathy works.

GAME STARTS AT 11:10 AM Listen, my children, and you shall hear Of the midnight rid of Paul Revere On the eighteenth of April in Seventy-Five: Hardly a man is now alive Who remembers that famous day and year. Righty Bundy vs. lefty Hill with 3 changes from yesterday's lineup-- Enrique CF Raffie 3B Bogey SS JDM DH Verdugo LF Arroyo 2B Shaw 1B Vazquez C JBJ RF

Except for the Orioles the AL East is a traffic jam--just like last year. Boston, thanks to today, has the biggest run differential, +7. Twins are the bigger deal because the Sox play them tomorrow with Bundy (5 shutout innings 5 days ago vs. Seattle) going against our 42 year old lefty, Hill.

Today was a pretty good pitching duel until the Sox broke it open in the 8th.

mlb.com says tomorrow's games starts at 11:10 am

After Brasier got those bases loaded with the score at 2-1 in the 7th, this is a welcome bottom of the 8th. I thought Cora was nuts to leave Brasier in, but he got the K.

Fifteen pitch K could prove costly. If so, I blame Plawecki and/or Cora.

Dalbec ain't hitting much, but he's gotten pretty good at catching those short throws to 1b. Funny thing, but there's not stat for those grabs. Indeed, if he mishandles one, the error is on the thrower.

Against righty Ober, same Sox lineup today except Plawecki is catching Wacha (whom Vazquez caught last time)-- Enrique Raffie Bogey JDM Verdugo Story Dalbec JBJ Plawecki

Terrific, in fact. Just 10 hits in the game, 8 BB's, and 10 K's--and four glorious DP's, including the K + throw to 2b by Vazquez.

Fear and loathing? I would rather say that a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds. Part of the beauty of sports is the ever present threat and reality of inconsistency. Crash Davis: just one more hit a week is the difference between batting .250 and .300. Yesterday Houck threw strikes just 56% of the time--with 4 K's and 3 BB's--but he still managed to go 5.2 shutout innings.

Actually, baseball did more to attack racism than the Congress, the Senate and House, and the Supreme Court when the Dodgers integrated in 1947, one year before President Truman integrated the armed services. Indeed, one could well argue that one led to the other and that MLB and baseball writ large have done a better job of integrating and mitigating racism then has the government and/or the armed services. Violence and racism were/are endemic to American society. And one could fairly say that arguing with umpires was therapeutic for managers, players, and fans alike. Those arguments were time-consuming, but sixty and more years ago they still played games quickly (compared to today).

Good question. And my answer is still the same. The umpires are not an impediment, a problem to be solved. They have always been part of the game, the humans who do the essential job of helping to determine the outcomes of games by rendering quick decisions on balls, strikes, out, safe, foul, fair, obstruction or not, HBP or not, balk or not, etc, etc. I agree with moonslav that the home plate umpires direct view of the strike zone is imperfect, but I would still rather have an imperfect human call balls and strikes than a computer hooked up to cameras. Computers--and I well aware I am using one right now to type this--have already initiated dramatic change in how the game is played. By determining hitters tendencies, they cause three infielders to routinely be put to the right or left of 2d base. Indeed, those new configurations sometimes prevent infielders from being able to make a double play. Bunts and stolen bases are being computerized away, but swinging for the fences is definitely in. Meanwhile, games still last longer and longer because dawdling by pitcher and batter remains sacrosanct. Why not use the almighty computer to fix that?

GAMES STARTS AT 1:35 Ober vs. Wacha, both righties. Ober started a week ago vs. Seattle, going 5 innings, giving up 4 runs for the win. The Twins scored 10 runs. Last year was Ober's rookie season. Six days ago Wacha went 4.1 innings, giving up 1 run with 3 BB's, 4 K's, and 72 pitches. Sox lost 3-1. Happy Easter Sunday.