Maxbialystock

I gotta admit I prefer the WEEI guys because they do talk about the game. The TV guys like to interview people, talk about their golf games, whatever. Francona, age 62, is on medical leave for the rest of this season.

Perhaps. But he needs the rest and it would have been lefty vs. lefty against a guy who pitches smart and with command.

No! My gosh! He could have gone for a trifecta!

Gotta say that when Duran and Dalbec hit against the same lefty pitcher in the same game, Duran looks a whole lot more comfortable and hits the ball harder than Dalbec.

WEEI guys say Santiago, the Mariners pitcher nailed for sticky stuff, was suspended for 10 days for that. Now he's getting 80 more days for testing positive for ped's. Guy must have loved his chemistry classes in H.S.

Sure look like a long 9 innings ahead. Time flies only when you're having fun.

WEEI guys say the Sox will likely face lefties in all 3 games at the Trop. I'm wrong about Ryu's fast ball. It's 92/93, which he used to strike Cordero out (of course).

Cutter down the middle, swing and miss by Cordero.

Sure glad Plawecki didn't start this game. Vazquez is looking so, so good. Obvious why ERod likes him behind the plate, and Vazquez's hitting is extra.

What Ryu has is command. And that's what ERod struggles with, especially early in a game.

WEEI guys are talking about how Cora was worried before this game against Ryu that his guys would swing at balls outside the zone. And such has been the case. He throws that 88/89 mph fastball and the Sox just cannot hit it. Lucky hit for Verdugo.

ERod is maybe coming alive, but after giving up 4 runs on 6 hard hit balls in 2 innings. If memory serves, his first inning has been his weakest.

Changeup right down the middle, but fouled off--lucky.

Apparently the book for ERod on Guerrero is high and outside. Slider works like a charm.

Jays hitting ERod hard. Not much command. Either a ball or right down the middle. That changeup was up in the zone and did not break down.

Absolutely. In fact, sending him to Worcester allows Houck to pitch once between now and his next start--the doubleheader in Toronto. Meanwhile, however, losing Houck allows Cora to keep Wong to back up both Vazquez and Plawecki, whom he wants to use more.

While I completely agree acquiring a good starter would be best, a reminder-- The Sox can lose/demote/bullpen two starters and still have Sale, Eovaldi, Pivetta, Houck, and one of ERod/Perez/Richards. The Sox have played .600 ball so far this season while relying heavily on Eovaldi, Pivetta, ERod, Perez, and Richards. Why? Because of good hitting, a good bullpen, and a good manager.

Plawecki caught ERod once, April 14, when ERod went 6 innings, giving up 2 runs. I actually think you have a good idea if only because both Plawecki and Vazquez caught games yesterday and Plawecki is by far the fresher and right now is hitting better.

Doubtful. This month, with Vazquez catching, ERod had three good games: 5.2 innings and 0 runs vs. NYY; 6 innings and 0 runs vs. the A's; 6 innings and 2 ER's vs the NYY.

Agree with a caveat. These days every good team must have a good bullpen if only because stats say that the third time through the lineup can be dicey.

I think you are right. Wow.

Iortiz, Agree Duran is fast and was spectacular last night. He is the only Sox player who could have scored on that liner to the corner and slight misplay last night. They had one replay that showed him running all the way around the bases and it was stunning. However, the numbers say that his top speed is only very slightly better than Dalbec's, and Dalbec was out by a bunch. Dalbec was trying to score from 2b on a grounder that the SS fielded cleanly. Duran, age 24, reminds me of another 24 year old, Dave Sime, who ran the 100M for the USA in the 1960 Rome Olympics and won the silver medal, losing in a photo finish. He also played collegiate baseball at Duke University and was later an ophthalmologist and became an expert in intraocular lens transplants. Duran is 6'2" and Sime was 6'3". I was overseas (between terms at college) in the summer of 1960 and couldn't watch the Olympics on TV, but I did get Sports Illustrated, which back then was a great magazine for both pictures and writing (Frank Deford was on the staff). Their coverage of the Rome Olympics was obviously unforgettable.

Another tough match-up for the Sox. Ryu shut out the Sox for 7 innings in May, but gave up 4 in 5 innings in April. ERod remains a mystery. His ERA in 4 starts this month is 2.55, which is definitely a hopeful sign. But 6 days ago the migraine struck and took him out in the 2d with 2 on and no outs, after which the bullpen--against the so-so Yankees lineup--performed magnificently for a 6-2 win. His ERA for the season is 5.23. Sox are 2.5 ahead of the Rays, 8.5 on the Yankees, and 10.5 on the Jays--and tied with Houston for the best record in the AL. That miracle--remembering what we expected before the season--is all the more amazing given that Houston, Tampa, Toronto, and Chicago (White Sox) all have higher run differentials than the Sox. How is that possible? The Sox are good coming from behind and in close games, and that's because of good hitting (2d most runs in AL), a good bullpen, and a good manager. The rotation shows up for work--4 have 20 starts and ERod 19--but is inconsistent. Richards and ERod's ERA's are over 5, Pivetta's is 4.51, and Perez's 4.18. Only Eovaldi's 3.49 is better than the overall team ERA of 4.04. Thus is Houck now the no-baloney 6th starter with an excellent ERA of 2.45, but no wins--he can't get to 5 innings. Yankees (with or without Joey Gallo) and Rays go at it again at 1:10 today in the Trop.

Ditto Mrs. Max

Thunder got us two huge wins. First game today was mission impossible. Tonight's win was key because ERod is on the mound tomorrow--against Ryu (9-5, ERA 3.44). I found it fascinating that Duran hit a lot better against a lefty than Dalbec did.