Maxbialystock

I belong to the school that says a panic button is irrelevant this year because DD should stick with what he has, which is pretty close to the team that won everything last year. I love when moonslav trots out stats that argue the Sox aren't really doing that badly, but me, I'm worried because I don't think our rotation is all that good, which then puts pressure on the bullpen and the lineup.

Minor, a lefty, is 3-2, ERA 2.08, in his last 8 starts. Cora still going with four lefty bats, however--Beni and Devers, of course, but JBJ has been heating up, and Leon's OPS is over .650 plus he and Sale were great together last time. I see this as a tough win.

Fearless prediction.

I think his isn't the only head case. I think the whole team right now lacks confidence--and this all started with the horrible starts at the beginning of the season that put the Sox in a hole. Now when the starter gives up early runs, the lineup is saying, "oh, no, not again," instead of, "no sweat, we got this." When the Sox lose this year, it's a much bigger deal than when they lost last year.

It sure has. I think he has a good array of pitches (especially his changeup), but lacks command--and could use a curve ball.

All due respect, but you and I are watching different games. What I see is a lineup that can hit so-so pitching and can't hit good pitching and a rotation that has basically two good starters--Sale and Price. In this last series vs the Rays, their 3 good starters went 8 innings (Chironos) with 0 runs, 7.2 innings (Yarborough) with 1 earned run, and 6 innings (Snell) with 1 earned run. Price started on Saturday and won because he pitched well. Not so Erod, Porcello, and Smith. None of the above has anything to do with resting lineup players--which I am fine with and, more importantly, hardly see it as the grave mistake you do. And, FWIW, the Sox have played 66 games to date; our three best players(with no injuries) are Betts, Devers, and Bogaerts, and they have played 65, 64, and 63 games. JDM has played 56 because of his back, Beni 58 for various reasons, Moreland 47 (time on IL), etc. Speaking of injuries, the Yankees have had far more to their best lineup players and it hasn't bothered them. I happen to think the hitting is fine, but not against excellent pitching, which, by the way, the Sox don't have. It's that simple and absolutely not about rearranging the deck chairs.

Price sure looks good. Lineup not so good.

It's a gorgeous afternoon for baseball, and Fenway looks packed. I wonder if any of the fans have picked up on the foul odor coming from the lineup/dugout. Fenway doesn't have very good sight lines, but it one of the most photogenic ballparks anywhere, especially when filled with fans. But the Sox themselves are just a bad show.

The three run dinger is on Leon. Otherwise the score would be 1 all. Smith is a try out, not a regular member of the rotation, so I cut him a little slack. But the lineup is filled with veterans--except Chavis--who so far stink just like they did last night.

Pay attention. Smith has a good curve which Léon did not call for in a 6 pitch at bat by a right batter who homered. Leon also struck out foolishly with 2 men on.

This score is mostly on Leon for rotten pitch calling which led to the 3 run dinger.

Leon is calling stupidly. No curve balls to the guy who homered. It’s probably smiths best pitch.

since the lineup has demonstrated absolutely no interest in hitting tonight, I would not pull Porcello or use good relievers with any thought of winning.

celtics hey day is long gone. silly to watch them at all.

i swear it looks like nobody scouted this pitcher.

bad pitch call by leon on that single for 2 rbi's. the high fastballs were working. slider in the middle of the zone was not the pitch to call for.

what's the plot line from "trouble with the curve?" Eastwood arranges for a new prospect's parents to come visit him because he's homesick. let's take up a collection for this pathetic lineup's mommies to come see them.

lineup so far is pathetic.

sox lineup looks they have all graduated from obedience school. chironos throws downward breaking balls in the center of the strike zone and the infield gobbles out those weak grounders. pathetic.

What's great about tonight's game is that it's especially meaningful and we're only in early June. The Rays are playing great ball and are several games ahead of the Sox, but the Sox aren't out of it by any means even though we have some cause for concern. The Patriots play 16 regular season games, and I'm sure all 16 are meaningful. But the Sox are barely 1/3 into the season and have played 62 games, just about all of which were meaningful.

One thing he figured out: start the game thread early and with it mojo.

Rays and Twins (4 +3 games) are both having good years, and the Rangers (4 games) are above .500, so this is a pretty good test. I think the Sox split with the Rays, take 1 of 3 at Minnesota, take 3 of 4 from the Rangers and 2 of 3 at Baltimore. That's 8-6, which probably won't make up much ground with the Yankees, but also shouldn't give up too much. The lineup, despite all our complaints, isn't that bad and is 4th in MLB in runs and 5th in OPS. The rotation is pretty good with two--Sale and Price--capable of being very good to great. The big question, especially with all these back to back games including a doubleheader tomorrow, is the bullpen. On another thread (or page on this thread) I said Barnes, Walden, Workman, Brasier, and Hembree--maybe our five best--are being paid a total of $5.5M. The Yankees pay their four best relievers about $40M, and the Cubs just handed Kimbrel a $42M contract for 3 years.

Sale last night and no game Monday are why Cora did not hesitate to pull Walden in the 2d inning. He went 1.1 innings and gave up 2. If Barnes excels, the bullpen will have gone 7.2 innings and given up 2.

That slider worked pretty well. All three near the middle of the zone, and the best Mookie could do was a lazy fly ball.

A walk to JBJ to bring up Betts with 2 on?????? Managers should be allowed to bring a pistol to the mound and a couple of stretcher bearers.