Maxbialystock

Great gets--no question about it--on Aug 1, 2004 when the Sox dumped Nomar whose defense and ability to just stay in the lineup were severely hampered by his achilles injury. The Sox had plenty of good bats that year and could not afford a weak-fielding, nonavailable SS. Nomar went downhill after he left Boston. Before 2004 he had seasonal WAR's of 6.6, 7.1, 6.6, 7.4, 6.8, and 6.1. Afterward, his highest was 2.5. Another complication in 2004 was that Nomar was in the last year of his contract and was pissed that in the previous offseason the Sox made a big plays for ARod, who ended up going to the Yankees. Funny thing about the redoubtable Cabrera is that he was gone after the 2004 season ended. Ditto Mientkiewicz.

Lest people think I dislike good defense, I complained loud and long when the Sox traded away Iglesias--the very same guy who yesterday made that brilliant backhand flip to start a DP, which no one else on this team is/was capable of doing--was traded away in 2013 in order to get Jake Peavy. And, like everyone else on talksox, I went nuts last week (Sep 8) when Renfroe beat the Rays with that incredible throw to prevent a guaranteed triple in the top of the 9th vs. the Rays. This was after he hit the gamewinning 2 run dinger in the bottom of the 8th and earlier nailed a Rays runner trying to stretch a single into a double.

Problem, shmoblem. No one, including me, is arguing the defense is good or even adequate this year. It might even be the worst Sox defense in 120 years. What your whining continues to ignore is that defense is not, repeat not, the sum of this team--not this year and not historically. Please take a quick look at the Sox won-lost record and you will be astounded to discover they have a winning record and in fact are very much in the hunt for the wild card game and exceeding our expectations from way back in April. Why is this so? Well, one reason is that those low-down, rotten, terrible fielders also come to bat now and then, and this team actually hits the ball pretty well and even scores some runs. Moreover, despite the porous defense that doesn't catch much or throw very well, the Sox rotation and bullpen now and then keep opposing teams from scoring as many runs in a given game as the Sox score. During the John Henry era, the most successful in Sox history, the FO has gone out of its way to acquire hitters over fielders.

Statistically, 4-2 is the right expectation. The Sox have won 56% of their games this year and the Orioles 32%. Head to head, the Sox have won 9 and lost 4 vs. the Orioles.

Right now I honestly think Eovaldi is our ace. In his last 7 starts--against Seattle, Tampa twice, Cleveland twice, Texas, and the Yankees--he has gone 42.2 innings while giving up 9 earned runs for an ERA of 1.92. The one fly in the ointment is that in his most recent outing vs. the Jays and at Toronto, Aug 6, Eovaldi pitched 4.2 innings while giving up 7 runs. 2 months earlier vs. the Jays at Fenway, he pitched shut out ball for 6.2 innings.

He's too busy chewing on that giant wad of tobacco.

That ball was in a tough place--right in his freaking glove.

A day game, so I understand why this is a short game thread. That said, it's been a heckuva game so far and, indeed, a heckuva season. I am not discounting the weak defense, but am saying these Sox have done enough good things to merit our approval. Plus I do think Cora has an uncanny touch with who to play and when.

Well, they certainly have the won-lost record to justify that title.

Bogaerts thought that was going to be a slider. Good pitching.

He was the starting SS with the Angels when they released him. I also like his approach at the plate. So, not only do I think the Sox should keep him, I think he keeps that job. No one else, not Kike and certainly not Arroyo, has done as well.

Looks like all three of us thought that was spectacular. So of course it was. I just saw the replay. It was better than spectacular.

Agree. We haven't seen that kind of flip to start a DP this season.

Between 2 stints with the Sox, Iglesias played for 4 other teams--Tigers, Reds, Orioles, and Angels.

Tough break. Verdugo hit that really hard, but straight at the leftfielder.

Certainly that applies to the Angels, who released him.

In comes the great one for Seattle--Sewald. How great? 2 games ago he came in and gave up back to back dingers to Bogey and Devers.

Steal by Dalbec!

Agree. His defense and his hitting. Of course, in the improvement category, he doesn't have much competition. Most Sox lineup players seem to have gotten worse.

Two cutters in the absolute middle of the plate--fouled off. Still, Dalbec did get a walk.

A couple of pretty good pitches by Richards, but the calls went to the hitter. No matter. That curve looks pretty good.

That's also a good description of your mental acuity and knowledge of the game.

Not so horrible a call. Bogey was hoping for a walk because he knows he can't hit this guy. Besides, a leadoff walks wasn't going to help much if you happened to watch Devers and then JDM K. Gonzalez has demonstrated a decent mix of pitches and excellent command, which is why he is getting the calls. He's a pitcher. Houck is a thrower.

On the other hand, Houck just tore thru the Seattle 5, 6, and 7 hitters like they were helpless--and while sticking to fastballs and sliders. Command does affect the outcome of pitches thrown, and Houck seems to have hit the corners well in the 4th.

All 3 runs against Houck are earned. That was a stupid, unnecessary throw by Renfroe. I also didn't like that Devers made no attempt to stop that ball.