Maxbialystock

Meanwhile Pivetta is doing his best to give away a run with a walk and WP to advance the runner. What's the comment from the movie Home Alone? Les incompetents.

Could there be anything more pathetic than this Sox lineup scoring 1 run in 3 innings against a starter with an ERA over 7?

Indeed.

You can indeed have an intense interior and calm exterior. That's why oxymorons are used.

Against a lefty, Dalbec rides the bench and Schwarber plays 1b. The only explanation I can think of for this is that Dalbec, who is almost certainly a better fielder than Schwarber, nevertheless is in a slump and Cora can't afford to wait until he finds his swing. This also keeps the good outfield of Verdugo, Kike, and Renfroe.

Steady, big guy. The real significance of Plawecki catching first Eovaldi and now Plawecki on consecutive nights is a strong indicator that nonbelievers in CERA do not include Alex Cora in their ranks. While I kind of agree CERA as a number can be hard to prove, to me it is absurd to assume that all catchers are equal in their ability to guide a pitcher to a successful start. Cora has clearly decided that, with so much on the line last night and tonight, he's going with the smarter catcher despite the fact that Vazquez has the better arm.

It is an oxymoron, a marvelous figure of speech intended to get your attention by cramming together words in opposition to each other. Sports psychologists preach calm intensity.

Nice paragraph. I personally like bunts even since reading a short story from 70 years ago entitled, "Lay It Down, Ziggy." It was about a sideshow act by an incredible bunter named Ziggy, who could bunt with incredible precision and even put spin on the ball causing it to bounce unexpectedly. One day a baseball scout spotted him, and he was sent straight to a club, where he excelled as a pinch-bunter (he had no other skills). Late in the season, his team is in the hunt for the postseason and going against a really good pitcher named Sloppy Jones because his uniform was a very loose fit. The opposing manager brought his infield and outfield way in to ensure any bunt would be quickly fielded for an out. Ziggy, before batting at a crucial point late in the game, does a quick survey of the field in front of him and the positioning of the players, including of course Sloppy Jones. On the first pitch, he bunts the ball near Sloppy Jones, who quickly moves to field the ball, which, however, takes a weird bounce and ends up inside Sloppy's shirt. Two runners come home to win the game before Sloppy and his teammates can find the ball. Bunting is a skill the few players have for the simple reason that having that skill don't pay the rent. Better to strike out half the time and hit maybe a dinger every 3d or 4th game. Also, bunting looks easy because you don't have to swing the bat, but in fact is not easy. With every team now using bold shifts for most hitters, bunting should be making a come back, but of course it isn't.

Helpful, thanks. I forgot the Sox play their final 6 in a row, so must go back to a 5 man rotation. For Saturday, I would definitely start Houck, the most recent starter from the bullpen who also, however, seems to be losing his command. As for Sunday, assuming the Sox are still competitive for the home field for the wild card game, I would definitely start Sale. Too soon for Eovaldi plus I want him for the wild card game. If Sunday is for a wild card slot period, it will in any case be all hands on deck, and we have seen Eovaldi relieve before (2018 WS vs the Dodgers).

Agree on both key points. The kicker, of course, is that now, with two wild cards in each League, the wild card winners are screwed because they have to play a wild card game before playing in the division series. And let's not forget that these days the postseason lasts forever, a lesson MLB had to learn from the NFL, the NBA, the NHL, etc.

I couldn't watch the game because of MLB's absurd blackout restrictions, but have noted with glee that once again Plawecki--and not Vazquez--caught Eovaldi in a pretty good start. That said, I also note with slightly muted glee that Cora brought in Vazquez to catch the 8th and 9th innings for the simple reason that overall he has been best with the bullpen. Dalbec batted 6th and stunk and in the 8th was pinch hit for by Schwarber, who K'd. Verdugo, the rotten hitter against lefty starters, started in LF instead of Schwarber and had 2 hits and 2 rbi's. I would love to congratulate Eovaldi for pitching brilliantly--6 innings, no runs, 7 K's--but must first take cognizance that this was the pitiful Orioles lineup. However, night before last, Chris Sale also went up against the pitiful Orioles lineup and give up 3 runs in 5.1 innings. Is it also worth noting that DD obtained both of them? We have all watched both pitchers this season. My opinion, which probably isn't worth much, is that Chris Sale is more professional and has better command, but Eovaldi simply has better stuff. Is it worth noting that DD acquired both pitchers?

You mean the splendid spitter (or so the press dubbed him after an on field episode)? A lot, of course, because in fact for his day he was paid a lot. He had some not so good qualities as a person, but he was a heckuva hitter--and smart enough not only to manage, but to win the AL Manager of the Year award.

Two singles by 8th and 9th batters, so time for Kike or Renfroe to GIDP. Like I said.

And I think the Sox very simply are choking.

Schwarber is a good bat, even against lefties. But, because the Sox pitching has been so awful lately, I think Cora wants as good a defense as possible backing up his best starter.

How did JDM K on three straight 92 mph fastballs? Now Plawecki does it, except one of them was a slider.

Back on my old hobby horse. Eovaldi is pitching well for the 5th time this month with Plawecki catching. The one time this month Vazquez caught Eovaldi was a disaster.

It's the only Sox run in a very important game.

Pretty good numbers, 4 AB’s vs chances for a good left fielder to make a difference. Thanks. I don’t care as much as you about the defense, but right now the Sox pitching scares me.

Cora isn’t. The team, especially the bullpen, is playing scared. And win one for the Gipper doesnt work in MLB.

This is the best defensive lineup he can field. The Sox are leaking runs all over the AL East. It’s mostly the pitching, but the defense has been soft too. Plus the only good bat not in the lineup is Schwarber, a lefty bat vs a lefty Orioles starter.

For one thing, Plawecki is catching.

I think it is beyond question the Sox are playing tight. Forget recency. They are scared, especially the bullpen, but I suspect the defense as well.

Agree.

You read my mind.