Maxbialystock

Yes, I do look at a pitchers won-loss record, but yes, you are right.

All due respect to bosoxmal, but "last days of Pompei" is a silly analogy because the people of that city barely knew what hit them. The volcanic eruption caught them completely by surprise. The injuries to Moreland and Holt and others turned out to be more positive than not because we got to see Chavis, Hernandez again, etc. What makes things tricky for Cora right now is that he has to keep 13 pitcher, 8 relievers, which means he only gets 3 spare lineup players--a second catcher and two extra infielders/outfielders. However, what Cora normally likes to do is field lefty bats vs. righty starters and vice versa. Plus, if Leon is catching, he likes to get Chavez into the lineup as DH, 1B, or even 2B or 3B. Right now the least versatile guy among the 12 lineup players is Moreland who can only play 1B and also seems slower than usual. However, he still has that .852 OPS and pretty good against righty pitchers, which the Sox see more often than lefties. So, while I agree Moreland could be expendable/tradeable, I can also see reasons for keeping him. After two hitless games since returning, last night he had a double and a single.

Tanaka didn't have good command, with which he can be very tough. He threw 87 pitches, so I don't see the "burned him down to ash," but do see it as a logical move to save the bullpen. As it turned out, Tarpley was almost as bad, but my guess is Boone isn't worried about saving Tarpley. Maybe not Romine either. Fun for Sox fans, but hardly a Sox-Yankees classic. The next three are likely to be closely contested and/or the Yankees lineup will gore a Sox starter.

Finally, something sensible. I have my doubts about Cashner, but completely agree, "no more."

Fool's gold.

A gritty performance for which of course he won no plaudits. Not on a talksox game thread, no sir.

I got this mostly right, except the part about forgetting London because clearly Tanaka hasn't. Good call by tylerD to start the thread on a positive note.

I know from nothing about seams and pitchers, but the pitches I've seen this year seem to break as much as in previous years--except maybe for Wright's knuckler.

Moreland scores from 2b on a double!

Hey, he stuck around all the way to 11-2 and not without some pain.

My picture of it says it was right on the corner.

Tanaka is a different pitcher when his control is off.

That was a terrible call--and completely unnecessary. Just ask the 1b ump. I invariably defend umps, especially home plate umps, but this guy is likely to get an adverse report from the chief umpire.

Hard to believe.

Judge needs to stay away from that wall in an 8-2 game--or anytime.

That was inside, but I love it when umps have a big strike zone. 7 straight outs by Porcello,who has given up 2 in 4 innings--against the Yankees, yet-- but on talksox he'll always be a bum.

I love that call because I hate the way batters just step out of the batter's box any old time they please. My rule would be that in fact a batter can step out of box as often as he wants, but there would be no timeout short of an injury.

You betcha. I probably need retract my complaint about his not catching that liner. He has smacked two hard doubles, one to right and one to left.

Perhaps. And perhaps he was compensating for tossing Holt earlier.

I think I might want to retract that Holt is dumb comment. He griped about a good strike, but the strategy of getting the ump to stop giving Tanaka those low strikes--which Tanaka absolutely needs in order to get guys out--might just have worked.

Moreland barely got from 1st to 3d on a stand up double by JBJ. Same exact thing happened in the 1st.

No, I'm not. But tonight I'm pissed that no one but no one but me wants Porcello to do well. I'm serious when I ask, whatever happened to rooting for your own team and that includes Porcello?

Right on! Porcello just stinking up with those 7 runs in the 1st. Oh, wait.

Sheer stupidity by HOlt. Now he's out.

Porcello is actually trying not to throw gopher balls and has thrown a lot of strikes. Plus, all things considered, that was a gutsy 2d inning and very smooth 3d. In a big game vs. the so-called arch rivals. But is anyone besides me pulling for him? Nope. Funny thing is, I'm usually very critical of Porcello, but tonight I thought he looked pretty darn good in the 1st. Plus, foolish me, I'm pulling for the Sox to win this game.