Maxbialystock

Eduardo Rodriguez vs. Logan Allen Both lefties. Amazingly enough, edge to ERod, but both bullpens are likely to be tested. Allen has started 7 games and pitched 22.2 innings, ERod 24 games and 119.2 innings. ERod stunk vs. the Rangers 6 days ago, going 3.2 and giving up 5 runs, but he was fine in his previous 3 starts: 6 innings and 0 runs vs. Orioles, 5.1 innings and 2 runs vs. the Rays and 5 innings and 0 runs vs. the Tigers. Cleveland is 7-3 in their last 10, .500 for the season, better (but not by a lot) at home than on the road, and 9 games back of the White Sox. Sox hitting just might be coming around, and I suspect some of that is due to the presence of Schwarber. Last night he was walked 4 times so that the Twins could get to JDM, who was 0 for 5. Dalbec just might start at 1b tonight. Bogie rested yesterday, so I assume he'll be back tonight. With Dalbec at 1b and Arroyo at 2b, Kike could go back to CF, Verdugo to LF, and Renfroe to RF--probably the best Sox defensive outfield. If that happens, just maybe Schwarber DH's and JDM gets a rest. Last night 33,760 fans made it to the Fens on a Thursday with the Sox playing a weak sister, the Twins. Sale probably had something to do with that number, and they were rewarded with that incredible, amazing immaculate inning (9 pitches, 9 strikes, 3 K's, inning over).

Shwarber was walked 4 times to get to JDM, who went 0 for 5.

Attendance 33,746 on a Thursday night vs last place Twins and with delta version lurking. Not too shabby. Some Sox fans remain hopeful and supportive.

Whitlock has only thrown 20 pitches.

JDM is turning into a one man wrecking crew. He just did the one thing that could derail a big rally. Fortunately, it wasn't a triple play and Devers jacked one out and the score up to 10-2.

Dalbec! Dalbec!

You seriously didn't think Whitlock could get anyone out?

Whitlock! Whitlock! Best reliever the Sox have. Now let's get some more runs so Cora can pull him out.

As expected, Whitlock for Sale in the 6th inning. I'm guessing he goes at least 1.2--depending on how the game develops of course.

3d time thru the Rangers order and they are fouling off Sale's best pitches. Thus the walk and HBP--and the almost deep fly to CF.

Left that slider up and too close to the middle of the plate--plus it broke in on a lefty hitter. Sale has terrific command, but he ain't poifect. That slider needed to be perfect to work. Worth noting: Sale never shakes off his pitcher, so Vazquez was the one calling for a slider to break into a lefty hitter.

The Sox have guys--Robles comes to mind after last night--who can throw in the high 90's and still get hit hard. What makes Sales' fastball work is where he throws it and how he mixes it in with his slider and changeup.

Amazing first 3 innings--Sale dazzling and Dalbec with a huge 3 run dinger--and a reason for thinking that maybe the Sox were sort of, kind of, turning a corner last night. Houck not so hot, but not that bad as a starter, then a great 5 innings by the bullpen, and finally a terrific comeback by the hitters to tie it with a run in the 7th, another in the 8th, and the great 2 run dinger by Schwarber in the 9th. Plus the 2 runs, 1 earned, in the 10th after Robles had given the game away.

Like you said, seeing is believing. Bogie out tonight, so Kike goes to SS and Arroyo to 2b, Dalbec to 1b, and Duran to CF--plus he is the 4th lefty bat against righty starter Gant.

Gant vs. Sale Advantage to Sale, of course, but the real question is the bullpen. Sale's won twice, but pitched just 5 innings both times, so the bullpen needs to do what they did last night--go 5 innings while giving up 0 runs. I'm thinking Whitlock might get 2 or 3 of those innings. Richards has also been decent from the pen--8 innings, 1 run. Sawamura and Taylor both pitched the last 2 games, so they might not be available. If Schwarber starts at 1B, the Sox will have an awfully good lineup, assuming Kike goes back to CF and Arroyo returns to 2d base. Sox up 1.5 on the A's for the 2d wild card slot, but are steadily losing ground to the streaking Yankees (11 straight) and implacable Rays, 8-2 in their last 10 and hands down the best team in the AL. Need this as a confidence booster. Then three at Cleveland (playing .500 ball) followed by four at Tampa.

Me too, but what's wrong with both if Schwarber can handle 1B? I just hate giving JDM $$$$ to play elsewhere. Indeed, the real issue just might be whether JDM has in fact declined enough to justify letting him go.

Could be right. I think closer is over-rated--thus my example of Kimbrel in the 2018 postseason--but Barnes has had a bunch of terrific outings this season, and his teammates all watched him do it.

FWIW, I wish Cora had sent Richards out. Robles is the closer and already has one Sox save, but Richards has looked awfully good in the bullpen. This season for the Sox seems to be moving into what seems a "wild and crazy" phase, so sending in Richards can't be any wilder than sending Schwarber to 1B. In the movie 12 O'Clock High, the Gregory Peck character takes over a bomber wing (that bombs Germany and thereby loses planes and pilots) that needs to get better. One technique he uses is to put his worst (albeit experienced) pilot in charge of the "leper colony," which is crewmen who have screwed up. And they still have to go on bombing runs and after awhile prove themselves. Richards and Perez have joined what just might be a leper colony consisting of what--12 relievers so far?--who all want to show they can get guys out. A big caveat to that last paragraph. There still are some pretty good pitchers in the Sox bullpen: Ottavino, Whitlock (who's been better than Barnes all season long), Sawamura, Taylor, Hernandez (due back in September), and probably Richards too. Valdez has been good this year.

His first game--at DH--was August 13. His first game in LF was 10 days later and 3 days ago. I'd say they have proceeded with all possible speed.

So I take it that in this argument you are officially punting?

Can't disagree. Reportedly, he's been working hard in practice, and he is a former catcher, but seeing is believing. On the other hand, why not try this? Dalbec and even old pro Shaw have looked lousy at 1b, so how much worse could Schwarber be? Moreover, if this works, the Sox don't have to go hunting for a first baseman next year. And this year they get to send Kike back to CF to anchor that outfield as only he can do--plus Arroyo goes back to 2b and the Sox have a heckuva lineup.

Last night to me was the opposite of seeing a team punt. Houck was so-so, giving up 4 runs, 3 earned, but not for lack of trying. Then the bullpen, which lately has stunk--see the night before--pitched 5 innings, giving up 0 runs. Just like they did earlier this season. And the lineup came back to tie the game in the bottom of the 9th, 4-4. Then and only then did Robles roll over and play dead, giving up a 2 run dinger, then getting 2 outs, then giving up a 3 run dinger for 5 run Texas lead. However, in the bottom of the 10th Dalbec singled to lead off. If Vazquez gets a single instead of a GIDP, that dinger by Kike makes the game interesting.

I disagree. If Schwarber can handle first base tonight, the Sox are going to have an excellent lineup and improved outfield defense: Kike, CF (OPS .813) ; Schwarber, 1B (1.100); Bogaerts, SS (.881); Devers, 3B (.897); JDM, DH (.868); Renfroe, RF (.817), Verdugo, LF (.791), Arroyo, 2B (.787), and Vazquez, C (.650). I also don't see any of the starters slacking off, ditto the bullpen. That does not mean they will all pitch great, only that they aren't punting. If anything, I see players putting a lot of pressure on themselves.

This is neat. The starters own the 1st inning and clearly need to do a better job there. My impression is that most, if not all, Sox starters very much prefer fastballs in the 1st inning, no doubt thinking it's either an extension of their pregame warmup or an opportunity to establish their authority. The 6th OPS might be high because that's when the Sox starters are sure to be going through the opposing lineup for the dreaded 3d time. The low 9th OPS might be because of Barnes and Cora's belief that only your best reliever should get the 9th in a close game.

I'm with you and have always thought those first 8 innings were bunch of horsehockey. It's the 9th and only the 9th where the game is won or lost.