Maxbialystock

Nunez lucky on 2 straight pitches the ump was previously calling strikes. And Nunez breaks the no-can-hit-with-men-in-scoring-position curse!

I'm not even sure he was a fake tag up. He just took a small lead, and the leftfielder made a great throw behind him. Besides, the next batter was going to make an out anyway. RISP disease has hit this team hard this year.

He looks good, and he is also lucky. All fastballs and changeups. No sliders or curves. He has thrown several fast balls right in the middle and not had to pay the price. The dinger was of a cut fastball on the inside corner.

I’m getting it on the mlb channel.

I am far from an expert on front office moves, but have to disagree that DD fell asleep because I too thought Kimbrel was asking for too much, especially after his collapse in the postseason. Losing Kelly to the Dodgers actually turned out well--so far. We lost Kinsler, but really haven't missed him, especially when Chavis was hitting so well. Meanwhile, the entire rotation, including midseason addition Eovaldi, is back, and basically so is that great lineup of 2018. It's just that JDM and Betts are having down years, ditto Beni somewhat. But Devers is way better, so is Bogie, so is Vazquez, and Chavis is a good addition with Pearce and Moreland on the IL. And let's not forget that the Sox already have the highest payroll in MLB, which mostly why Kimbrel ended up in Chicago. I of course defer to kimmi's bitterness over what DD has done to the farm system because that is on DD.

Surprisingly, I don't think you are being unfair. It's actually three--including Beni--of our top five in the batting order who are down from last year, and that just might be what is contributing to RISP disease. Our bullpen is probably affected by the loss of Kimbrel, even though I agreed with DD not wanting to pay what he wanted. The Yankees bullpen, meanwhile, is the envy of MLB and, i think, gives a psychological boost to the lineup as well as the rotation. The last 2 games vs. the Jays notwithstanding, I did and do like that winning streak and taking 2 of 3 at Minnesoata. Plus I did say catching the Yankees is unlikely--too big a margin vs. a team that is playing so well.

Look right above your post. And thanks for the opportunity.

You do know, I hope, he was no dummy and was one of the very, very few truly great baseball players who was also a successful manager. He was AL Manager of the year in 1969 when he managed/coached the expansion Washington Senators (the old Senators were now Twins) to a winning record, 86-76. His problem of course was that he was hugely talented and therefore impatient with lesser folk. So he only lasted 3 seasons. But still . . . As for the shift, Lou Boudreau of the Guardians first used the "Boudreau shift" in 1946--with just one infielder to the left of 2b. Sound familiar? As late as 1957 and 1958 when Williams was 39/ 40, he had OPS's of 1.257 and 1.042--and 1.096 his his last year, 1960. Today everybody uses that shift against almost every player, which means that players today, just like Williams, are pulling the ball because it usually gives them better contact, which is what Williams swing was all about. He benefited of course from great eyesight, great reflexes, and an indefatigable willingness to study, practice, and improve his swing.

Not sure I agree with your P.S., but think it's a terrific insight. I think it's hard to corner the market in great relievers, but can't disagree the Yankees made it smaller. Plus there can be no doubt their bullpen is a real strength as it was last year.

I have said countless times that in the end the manager is responsible for overall wins and losses, especially in terms of the front office's expectations. But, since you asked (actually, a700hitter asked), a couple of points in Cora's favor-- 1. DD, not Cora, made the decision not to re-sign Kimbrel, a decision I agree with, but it has probably had a ripple effect in the bullpen. Same deal for Kelly even though the Dodgers are sorry they stole him. Kelly wasn't great until the postseason in 2018, but he did have some good games in the regular season, including 21 holds and 2 saves. 2. Yes, a truncated pitching regimen for starters in ST got them off to a bad start, but ERod actually pitched the normal (15 innings) amount this year and had no ST in 2018, but his ERA has shot up from 3.82 to 4.71. So much for the "must work hard in ST" theory. Porcello also pitched a decent # innings, 12, this year, and his ERA is up. David Price, on the other hand, pitched just 6.2 innings in ST and his ERA has is slightly better, 3.39 this year vs. 3.58 last year. Only Sale's ERA has shot up after a truncated ST, from 2.11 to 3.59, and I find it hard to believe that's entirely on Cora. I think we are seeing a different Sale this year. I also think lightening his ST load made sense from the standpoint that in the two previous seasons he has great April-July, and lousy August-September. 3. Hitting is down this year mostly because three--Beni, Mookie, JDM--in the top five of the order are having lesser years than in 2018. This, I would argue, contributes to the RISP disease currently running rampant thru the team. 4. Last year was the best in Red Sox history, and Cora was the manager. So to me he gets a pass this year regardless of what happens.

With apologies for straying from the current topic of trades and trade value, I would like to offer my June 22 "realistic view at 2019." I think the 2018 Sox are back, but, as many--not I--said a month ago, they have already dug themselves a hole that will be hard to get out of. That is, this team is definitely good enough to get into the postseason, but not good enough to overtake the Yankees who are playing amazingly well and are now more healthy than not. If the Yankees simply maintain a winning percentage of .640 (their current percentage), they will win 104 games. The Sox would need to play at a .729 clip to get to 104 wins. Of course, baseball being baseball, almost anything can happen. But this Yankees team is a lot like last year's team--great bullpen and good hitting and good enough rotation. So I just don't see them stumbling so the Sox can catch them, but that is what they must do for the Sox to win the AL East. Strangely enough, I'm fine with that reality. I like that the AL East--including Tampa and, sadly, Baltimore--is a tough division. I also like the tough series, even though the Sox thus far have not fared well in them. My strong impression is that that 7 game lead by the Yankees is mostly because they have played well in the tough series, including the last five games/wins vs. the Rays and Astros.

You do realize, I hope, that all three--Kinsler, Pearce, and Eovaldi-- helped the Sox win 108 and then 11 of 14 in the postseason. So my guess is that John Henry was pretty happy with the return on investment, including crossing the barrier. I am not at all a fan of spending the big bucks and believe that, more often than not, they are ill spent. The Yankees and Sox have both been prey to that excess recently, but of course both franchises are still making a good profit.

I think most people agree DD's primary interest in prospects is as trade bait. That said, all three starting Sox outfielders were in fact Sox prospects of at least went thru the Sox minor league system.

This proved to be surprisingly prophetic, especially about Nunez and Devers because, in the end, Devers did get into the game and moreover tied it with a pinch hit single. Nunez remains dog doodoo. However, even though I said the Sox could lose with Sale starting, I did not at all expect him to give up 4 runs (3 earned). He did however go 5 and did very well getting the last two outs with men on 1st and 2d. A broken record, but I continue to believe the rotation overall is overpaid and under-performing and the bullpen is underpaid and over-performing. Thus everyone, even Cora, went completely ape when ERod went 7 innings (giving up 4 runs) in the 3d game at Minnesota.

Game 1 vs Toronto: bullpen again outdoes the rotation. At a fraction of the cost too.

Vazquez can’t catch every game, and Leon is a better defensive catcher. But I don’t think Leon helped much tonight.

Pretty amazing. A heckuva win. Lineup came through. Ditto the bullpen. Not Sale, although we’ve seen him worse.

Now that we've seen 6 glorious innings of Mr. Nunez, can we finally agree he is pathetic? He got a meaningless single, but struck out with 2 men on. And he is worthless at 3B.

Thorton is headed toward a complete games. Our guys can't hit him.

Top of the Sox order--one, two, and three outs your done at the old ball game. Plus the Sox bottom three did the same thing the inning before.

Mookie looks like a rookie at the plate.

Fair is fair. Sale hasn't been good, but he hasn't been awful either. 5 innings, 3 earned runs and 2 errors by the defense. And of course rotten hitting. He looked pretty darn good against the last 2 batters with men on 1st and 2d.

Montreal has bad juju. Going up there has been rotten since 1775/76. The expos were a joke.

I also think the Jays starter has gotten more calls than Sale and don't think that's the problem. The problem is whatever he is throwing is too hittable.

Let's not forget the two errors, one by Beni and one by Nunez. I love game threads because I get to vent when I'm disappointed. And right now, after how well the Sox played the Twins, swept the Orioles, and took the last 2 from the Rangers, I'm mad as hell. Wake up, guys!