Maxbialystock

Box score says 1 earned run, 4 unearned runs for Sale.

Two very different sports. Baseball has an elaborate apprenticeship system which basketball doesn't have or, for that matter, need. The very best basketballers are ready for the NBA after high school, and the only reason why the NBA doesn't draft high school seniors is that in the past now and then they drafted--even as high as the #1 selection--lemons. Thus, these days it's rare when the NBA drafts anyone over age 22, whereas MLB would label a 22 year old on a MLB team (and not just in September) as a phenom. Because MLB no longer wants to underwrite minor league teams to the degree they have in the past, AA and AAA players these days apparently aren't as ready for MLB as they were 5 years ago. Nevertheless, there is absolutely no substitute for a pitcher or a hitter to hone his skills adequately by simply practicin' and practicin'. You gotta play in the real games against good pitchers who want to get you out or good hitters who want to knock you out. Right now Dalbec is getting into games, which will definitely help him, and Duran is not, which is bad for him.

You have tinnitus because I've heard no such thing. Even assuming Kike, when he returns, goes to 2b instead of CF, Cora will continue to use JDM/Schwarber in LF and DH and Dalbec at 1b.

Absolutely nothing. Anyone who would not start Sale when the postseason is at stake is ignorant. The bigger issue right now, Labor Day, is fielding a competitive team. With Pivetta covid'd, the rotation is now 4, which could be worse since Pivetta was the worst of the 5. Nevertheless, one can make a good argument that yesterday's game was winnable with Pivetta starting because Crawford gave up 5 runs in the first 2 innings. The bullpen and the lineup are similarly afflicted, and the Rays are coming to town for 3 big ones. Where is Thomas Paine when we need him?

Finally a game summary I can agree with. Sox were 3 for 18 with RISP and Cleveland was 7 for 18. But it was astounding the Sox came back, that the bullpen went 6 innings giving up the 1 run, etc.

Meh. A slob started and gave up 5 runs. Sox never led.

I believe Cora's intent for this game is not to use his best relievers and to save them for the Rays series. Besides, last night he used Ottavino, who gave up 3 runs to tie the game.

Nope. He can't hit diddly. That was blind stupid luck.

A small point, but a bunch of prospects are getting to play in MLB game today for a team that is in fact in the hunt for the postseason. Does this mean Cora is smart or lucky?

Weird was the word I was looking for.

Crawford is the biggest Sox stinker, and el magnifique just made the score 6-5. Madness.

This game is way, way, way better than I expected. The proof--to me, anyway--is that in this game Schwarber stinks--twice left men on 2d and 3d-- and the Sox are still in it.

Two nice plays for two outs.

Bullpen of nobodies is doing pretty darn well.

I figure it because both times the throws were well off the mark. What is gamecast?

This is Schreiber's 4th freaking inning.

Yep

Score would be 6-5 if the 3d base coach had not twice held Sox runners on 3b who would otherwise have scored.

Renfroe, JDM, Verdugo, and Plawecki take advantage of 3d time facing Plesac, who remains in the game with 2 on and no outs in the 5th--and with 2 runs in.

Great double by Renfroe because the Cleveland CF made a fantastic play on that ball.

It's rare to see the Sox lineup so perfectly in sync as they are today. I mean you have to put a little effort into not driving anyone home when men are on 2d and 3d with 1 or 0 outs. Even Schwarber is in on it! A big K at the perfect moment. I would be dishonest not to point out that Plesac did a great job pitching to Schwarber and keeping his pitches low and mostly below the zone. No Sox pitchers are able to do that.

Looks like the lineup is also taking a break today--they just forgot to tell the rookie Dalbec.

Schreiber's gone 2 while giving up 1 run. Not bad. This game is like giving tryouts to AA or AAA pitchers who want to move up.

I can't speak for the officials of the city of Boston or the commonwealth of Massachusetts. Vaccinations in that area are high and new cases of covid are low, so I can understand why someone who's young, healthy, and vaccinated would go, but I certainly would not. Looking at the map, I wouldn't go to anything indoors in Florida, SC, TEN, GA, AL, MS, LA TX, KY, WV, IN, or WY. Where I live, the stores are all asking people to wear masks.

This is a Cora giveaway game. He did it in the first 2 games at Tampa, and it kind of worked. The Sox won games 3 and 4 with solid pitching and enough hitting. So too the next 2 games vs. the Guardians. Now with Pivetta, Barnes, Sawamura, Bogie, Kike, Arroyo, Santana, Taylor, D Hernandez, et al out for various reasons--and with 4 hard won victories in the past 4 games--this is the logical game not to extend the pitching staff.