Maxbialystock

Today, Sunday, Aug 8, the big three look like themselves again. Against Ryu, who has been a pain in the past. 7 runs so far in the top of the 4th. Helped by a bad tag by the Jays catcher.

Very close call, but I think the right one--safe.

Fastball right down the middle, and Richards gets a tailor made GIDP grounder.

Devers double-clutching on the throw for an egregious error.

Very poor at bat by JDM. Must move the runner on 3b with no one out.

Suddenly the Jays outfield seems to making a bunch of bad throws--which, however, the Sox have not been able to capitalize on.

Cleaning inning for Richards!! Right after he throws is first curve of the day (on his 26th pitch), a fastball for a slow ground ball to SS.

Richards gets lucky. Two fastballs in the same place, but a great stop by Arauz.

Horrible at bat by Renfroe. Still, 3 big runs, enough to allow Cora to axe Richards if he continues to be worthless in the 2d inning.

I think it was a sacrifice bunt gone bad.

A good bunt by Arauz, and Duran gets a sac fly and rbi.

It is pretty obvious the Sox lack what used to be called the fundamentals. Like bunting.

Hitting comes alive! Suddenly Ryu looks like Richards or like Eovaldi Friday night in the 5th inning.

Gone is that big curve he used to throw a lot. Now it's fastball, changeup, and slider, but not much command.

Yep. This is vintage Richards. Mr. Hittable.

Richards with his fav, a fastball down the middle for a clean single to left. But then the changeup worked well to get Guerrero.

Interesting that Duran, batting lefty, is in for Verdugo, who also bats lefty--and going against Ryu, a lefty starter.

Hernandez CF Renfroe RF Bogaerts SS Devers 3B JDM DH Plawecki C Dalbec 1B Arauz 2B Duran LF

Idiomatic French at that. Huge win last night. While I'd love another big run by mvp 78, I'll be delighted with just one win today.

Great line, of course. In the 1930's, give or take, it was, "Washington, first in war, first in peace, and last in the American League." Valdez has been amazing, and today will be on 3 days rest after going 2.2 innings, 38 pitches, and 0 runs of course--vs. the Tigers.

Interesting look, thanks. However, right now the only strong suit I see for the Sox is the bullpen. Rotation (Pivetta and Houck) looked great yesterday, but the hitting, baserunning, and defense continue to look shabby. And don't forget Garrett Richards starts today. That said, starting Thursday the rotation will likely be Sale, Eovaldi, Pivetta, Houck, and ERod, so there might be hope for the rotation. We'll see. Meanwhile, however, the lineup is hurting bad. JDM was great in April, but has been well below his lifetime .883 OPS in May (.801), June (.788), July (.806) , and especially August (.561). Bogaerts' August OPS is .524, and it was .730 in July. JDM could be showing his age, and Bogaerts the effects of that wrist injury. And I am convinced Devers .603 OPS for August is the result of trying to make up for the shortfalls from JDM and Bogie. If there is slightly good news, it could be that JDM, who is struggling badly at the plate, is on the IL for awhile. However, Schwarber is lost in Yonkers or somewhere else where the Sox don't have any games scheduled. Ditto Arroyo. So Cora's lineup card these days ain't exactly filled with good hitters: Kike, Verdugo, and Renfroe are about it until the big three return to form and/or Schwarber and Arroyo can get out of Yonkers.

Actually, there's a pretty decent rotation once Richards and Perez are gone: Sale, Eovaldi, Pivetta, Houck, and ERod. All 5 have shown they can pitch well without doctoring up the ball, and there is no way one starter, even Sale at is best, can fix a rotation. Plus the Sox are going to continue to need an excellent bullpen with 8 arms and possibly 9.

Schwaber will join the team when he is ready, and with a hammie that can be day to day. Obviously, he is needed, but Bloom got him cheap precisely because he wasn't available right away. Arroyo's injury is different, but also hard to predict when he can return. JDM and Duran both added to COVID IL, but test results not back yet. Sale doesn't need more than 5 days and is pretty sure to start Thursday. He said he could have started yesterday.

Exactly my reaction, but your has a lot more substance/teeth.

I do apologize, but in fact I like the 7 innings per game double-header rule. I also like the extra-inning rule with both teams starting with a man on 2b and no outs. In game 1, the Sox had almost their best game pitched this year in that Pivetta went up against a lineup that literally destroyed Eovaldi the night before. A magnificent start, but with absolutely no support from the hitters nor, as it turned out, from Barnes, who lost the game on his first pitch, a fastball down the middle. The game 2 win was also appropriate: excellent pitching on both sides although the Jays pitching was assisted by some of the worst baserunning in recent Sox history. Arauz, miraculously error-free at SS, drove in the winning extra-inning run in the 8th, and Ottavino was superb in getting the save in the bottom of the 8th. Today game 4 at 1:07, and there is some hope that the Sox will have the requisite energy to play well. Unfortunately, our starter is Garrett Richards, which means the bullpen will be needed early and for a 9 inning game. However, the bullpen was used less yesterday--1 pitch in game 1 and 4.1 innings in the game 2 win--than would have been likely in a regular double-header, especially with one game going extra innings. Plus tomorrow is a rest day.