Maxbialystock

Why is Manfred the bad guy in all this? The pitchers have been breaking a longstanding MLB rule with impunity and with the result that batting averages are the lowest in 50 years. Even though those computerized defensive formations have been a contributing factor, pitchers have in fact been cheating, and the Commissioner took action. We're just 3 days into actual implementation, but so far what I've seen is good pitchers adjusting and lousy ones like Garrett Richards moaning and groaning about the unfairness of it all. And last night's game, Sox @ Rays, is a perfect example. Richards stunk. No other pitcher in that game--and there were 9 of them--seemed to be in shock as Richards clearly was. Andriese, it's true, gave up that 3 run dinger, but it was simply a bad pitch--a fat slider that didn't break much--to a good hitter. But even Andriese went 2 innings and managed to strike out 5 guys. Hill, the Rays starter, went 5, giving up 1 run, and their bullpen went 4, giving up another. And the Sox' Workman, Rios, and Taylor pitched 4.1 innings while giving up 0 runs. All MLB pitchers are adjusting to the new implementation of a very old MLB rule. Some are adjusting better than others. Kershaw, who was checked 3 or 4 times by the ump in his well-pitched game vs. the Phillies, apparently adjusted so well that it drove Joe Girardi completely nuts. The ump finally had to toss him.

Right. My bad. I saw $14M somewhere--I think--and now can't find it.

Actually, the shock treatment is already upon us--the Commish's dictum that foreign substances, long banned by the MLB rule book, will no longer be tolerated and violators will be suspended for 10 days. Pitchers all over MLB are going ape and claim this horrible rule will cause them to "involuntarily" throw at hitters heads because, well, it's impossible to throw a baseball accurately without recourse to various ointments, nostrums, etc. Garrett Richards is one of the more extreme examples of the Commish's "shock treatment," but in shock he very definitely is. And, in case you haven't noticed, Barnes devastating knuckle curve has lost a little magic and his ERA--2.57 in April and 2.70 in May--is 4.26 in June. I am by no means opposed to bringing back Sale, bringing up Houck, whatever. But first the entire Red Sox organization needs to address the simple fact that most or all of their pitchers have been cheating and now have to relearn their very remunerative trade.

You live in Houston. A couple hundred miles to your NW is an Army post, the home of the 1st Cavalry Division. They still have horses for ceremonial purposes. Fort Hood also has several Army chapels, and in them on occasion there might be a mention or two of a place called Calvary.

Game was already out of reach. Guys ain't hittin'.

Th-Th-That-that's all, folks!

Too soon to be sure about Dalbec. Santana is another story. I think he is intentionally playing poorly.

WEEI guys cannot contain themselves in their praise of every aspect of Wander Franco.

Dalbec leads the Sox in K's and is 8th in at bats.

Dalbec 2 K's tonight so far and 4 K's last night.

Camera in CF gives us a great closeup of the pitcher's grip on the ball during a pitch. Rios's splitter was clear as a bell.

Workman and Rios, 3.1 innings, 0 runs and 0 hits.

Ump caught that foul tip that hit him. He's got ten times the heart of cheater Richards.

How is it possible for the Sox pitchers to keep walking a non-hitter like Phillips? Plus he can steal 2b.

Meh. Simple fact is that tonight Hill has his number. He owns Devers.

First 5 guys in the Sox batting order have each faced Hill 3 times and clearly can't figure him out.

Rios throwing great splitters to good effect. Nice adjustment. Too bad cheater Richards can't adjust. He went 1.2 innings and gave up 4 earned runs. Workman and Rios, neither one an ace reliever, have gone 2.1 innings and given up 0 runs. Plus Workman saved cheater Richards from more damage in the bottom of the 2d.

I might add that I like the fact that this rule enforcement was not done in the offseason, which would only have allowed guys like Richards to figure out a different way to cheat.

Just about everybody else is adjusting with varying degrees of success. If Richards can't adjust, that's good for MLB because obviously he has been cheating heavily. Too bad for the Sox of course, but no worse than acquiring Sandoval, HanRam, et al.

What a contrast. Workman is still trying to prove himself with the Sox and tonight has thrown a zillion knuckle curves. He has given up 2 walks, no hits, and no runs in 1.1 innings. Workman is pitcher. Richards is a crybaby. Hill for the Rays is also a pitcher.

Funny thing about Richards. Everybody else is throwing breaking balls, but he can't/won't and prefers to blame his problem on that meanie, the Commissioner of MLB.

WEEI announcers are talking about how obvious it is that Garrett Richards has been cheating for years and is now unmasked while being paid $14M/year.

The spin rate stat is the culprit. The WEEI guys can quote Richards' spin rate--before and now--as well as other Sox pitchers like Eovaldi and ERod who don't have high spin rates.

WEEI keep saying Richards has been cheating for years. Poor baby. Poor Richards.

Richards screwed twice on calls, but he made that bed by having such rotten control.