Maxbialystock

I love it. I don't agree, but I love it. Let's try two samples, one tiny, one season long. The tiny one is that two games ago the Twins walked Shwarber 4 times to get to JDM, who was 0 for 5. That to me was compelling. The larger one is this season, all 5 months of it. JDM was the same old JDM in April: OPS 1.l75, 9 HR's, 25 rbi's. In the four months since then--count 'em, 4 long months--JDM has been the new JDM whose highest monthly OPS has been .806. And this month it's been .704. So, me, I'm thinking the new JDM is in fact an OPS .800 guy, which is actually not all that bad. What to you think?

Rizzo's glove!!!!!??????? The Yankees go 21-4 and the Sox go 11-13 in August because the Yankees had Rizzo's glove and the Sox didn't? Give me a break, and "the industry" can go pound sand.

Since they got Rizzo and the Sox got Shwarber, the Yankees have gone 21-4 and currently have a 13 game winning streak. The Sox, meanwhile, have gone 11-13. So I'm not so sure the Yankees are clueless in the Bronx. That said, like everyone else, I'm delighted Shwarber has contributed so well even though he missed the first 2 weeks. I'm also satisfied that Bloom knows what he is doing and no doubt complying with some ground rules laid down by John Henry. With Shwarber at 1b, the Sox could have a really good lineup with Arroyo back at 2b and Kike back in CF and JDM--provided he rediscovers his lost swing--at DH. Alternatively--and this is kind of neat--Cora now has the alternative of sliding Dalbec, whose August OPS is 1.183 with 5 dingers and 19 rbi's, back into the 1B slot and installing Shwarber at DH. As others have already said, JDM's one good month in 2021 was April, OPS 1.175. Since then his best OPS has been .801. In August it's been .703 with 3 dingers and 13 rbi's. Night before last, the Twins walked Shwarber 4 times to get to JDM, who was 0 for 5. All that said, the Sox real problem, season long, has been pitching, which as moonlav and others have shown, is undercut by the weak Sox defense. Mostly, it's been the rotation, so Cora finally replaced Richards and Perez with Sale and Houck, which has definitely helped. However, Barnes, he of the new and lucrative contract extension, has recently sabotaged the bullpen and is now just one of 9 relievers hoping to contribute. In the last 3 games, however, the bullpen--Robles execrable 10th vs. the Twins notwithstanding--has shown signs of bouncing back. Richards--surprise, surprise--has been excellent in relief. Whitlock remains our best reliever by far. Ottavino, Sawamura, Taylor, and others have also been good. Barnes might even prove to be effective, just not as a closer or as an occasional closer.

Agree. But I would have been fine if Richards had gone back out. I like the idea of having more than one closer. An even more radical idea is that I think Barnes could close again this year.

He struck out 2 guys and got the 3d out on a harmless groundout. He had to be doing something right. I think he walked the leadoff guy because he was a tad nervous.

Agree completely. I think we started that two games ago when Shwarber tied it 4-4 in the 9th with a 2 run dinger--after the bullpen had pitched 5 scoreless innings-- and even though Robles gave up 5 runs in the top of the 10th. Even then, however, the Sox scored 2 in the 10th and would have had more if Vazquez doesn't hit into that double play. Shwarber has been a good shot in the arm and tonight he played freaking 1b! Dalbec got another hit tonight. So I think the hitting will be OK if guys can stay off the CL (covid list). And Cora and Bloom have reassembled a pitching staff that just might be good enough. Four of the five starters--but not Houck--have the potential to go 5 or 6 good innings. And the bullpen shambles, as you kind of predicted, is somehow getting back to getting guys out. Richards right now is pretty solid--1 run in 10 innings as a reliever--as are Whitlock and maybe Ottavino. Then there are Sawamura, Taylor, and, wait for it, some guy named Barnes who I think can come back if not as the closer. Plus others like Valdez and DHernandez when the get off the IL.

Let me be honest and say I've always had doubts about ERod. I never liked his preference for throwing fastballs most of the time. I think someone told him (or he told himself) to look calm not matter what, and I have interpreted that as not caring. Wrong. This year we've seen him have big ups and downs, but my overall impression is that he has shown real grit, especially lately. Plus he is definitely mixing up his pitches and using the fastball less. His stuff and control aren't as good as Sale's, but he is pitching the same way--mixing 3 (actually 4 including the cutter) pitches and throwing to spots rather than the middle of the strike zone. Tonight I think he pitched a big game, especially given that the Sox were behind from the get go. This is also his 4th good start in his last 5 games.

Agree with moonslav--great one!

That leadoff walk was awful, but after that Ottavino was masterful even though he's lousy at holding runners on.

I misread what you said and agree overall the bullpen has stunk it up for several games, with Barnes being the biggest culprit by far. Therefore I am astounded that in the last three games it has been very good except for that disastrous 9th inning--shades of Barnes--by Robles, which cost us that game which also included a tying 2 run dinger by Shwarber in the 9th.

Ball game!!!! This absolutely was one of those incredible comeback wins that can give a team real confidence.

That was an incredibly gutsy slider for the 2d K. Gutsy call by Vazquez and great pitch by Ottavino.

Ottavino walks the leadoff batter because he can't control that slider.

I'm going with tedballgame--Richards.

I'll be honest. I think he has earned this. It was like 1 or 2 games ago when we argued about whether Richards could be "trusted," I think everyone agreed, "not yet." Well, tonight Cora has decide it is in fact "yet." And Richards looked great. I hope he pitches the 9th.

My goodness gracious!!! Richards pitching the 8th with a 1 run lead. Cora is definitely rolling the dice tonight. OK!! 1 up, 1 K.

I thought the word was magnificent, which he also was not.

That was not clowning, but rather a brilliant deception plan. It's a unique signal from the Sox 3d base coach, which fortunately our guys are good at executing: "make bad bunt attempts". The actual signal is kicking himself.

Madness, madness!! I said before last night's game that the night before that, when the Sox lost, I thought I saw signs of improved attitude. Certainly the bullpen was great until Robles pitched the 9th. If this lead holds up, lucky pierre--also known as ERod--gets another win, only this time it will be richly deserved.

I'll be honest and admit I am clueless about what "a good approach at the plate" means. To me a good approach at the plate is not dropping to the ground and holding my head when the pitcher throws the ball.

2 on, no one out!!!

BB for Vazquez, just what dr moonslav ordered.

What hole? The problem isn't with the pitching but with the hitters. My guess is that the flight to Cleveland last night was late and possibly bumpy. Whatever the cause, last night's juggernaut--all of whom are in the lineup tonight--are a bunch of wimps tonight. I think the cause is that good Guardians pitching, especially by Allen. ERod's 7 innings and 3 runs is in fact a quality start which Sale did not have last night.

Great play by ERod!! I have repeatedly excoriated him for piss-poor defense, but he has made two fine plays tonight. Yes, he was lucky to grab that grounder, but, unlike most pitchers, he turned around and made an accurate throw quickly to 2b to start the double play. Too bad about the dinger, a changeup up in the zone. The only explanation I have for seeing ERod out there for the 7th is that Cora does not believe the Sox will score any more runs.

Wow. All the excuses in the world for horrible hitting, but total condemnation for good pitching by ERod.