Maxbialystock

Excellent point, notin. The postseason just got down to 10 teams and it's already been a wild ride. Rockies and Cubs both lost yesterday and are still in it.

Absolutely true. But including the A's in the discussion is just too hard for me. Your team I know.

Starters starting is what every MLB manager but one is doing today, so you are certainly on firm ground advocating that. As I said, I'm about 99% sure that's Cora will do if for no other reason than that Dombrowski has already declared that Sale will start the first game. I'm willing to gamble--hypothetically, of course--because: 1. I think Cash will be voted AL manager of the year because of what he has done and one the most important was regularly starting a reliever who would go 1 or 2 innings. It works. 2. I'm worried about Sale because his postseason ERA is 8.38 and because of the DL time this year followed by so-so starts, especially the last two against the Guardians and Orioles. 3. Wright has started this year and 2 years ago, and he is also comfortable relieving. Better, his knuckler looks awfully good this year and, better still, it appears to make it easier for whichever pitcher relieves him because he upsets the hitters timing. 4. The Sox rotation as a whole has been ruinous in the playoffs the last two years--no other word for it.

That's correct, moonslav. I started a thread on Wright that proposed starting him in games 1, 3, and 5 of the ALDS--basically, when the Rays have done this season. I think his knuckler would be ideal for setting up those 3 starters (Sale, Porcello, and Sale). As it is these days, Sox starters rarely go 7 innings and often go just 5, so it's not a question of not needing a big contribution from the bullpen.

Great question. Exactly the right one. Faith and trust are not words I use when discussing baseball. I just look at the numbers and in this case they scare me. Before the DL stay of 2 weeks, Sale was just about a shoo-in for Cy Young. Since he came back, he has struggled and for sure hasn't gone beyond 5 innings. Last two times out, he got scored on. The Yankees love to hit against lefties, especially lefties who might not have their best stuff. Remember last October when Sale also did not have his best stuff? I am not saying Sale can't do the job on Friday, but me, I'd like a little insurance because of the past month and a half and especially his last outing when the gave up 3 and could not throw more than 92 mph and sometimes threw 88 or 89 mph. Still, you have used the operative word--faith (or trust will do)--because I suspect that our rookie manager will decide as you have that faith or trust are far more important than niggling statistics and a small sampling at that. Oh, as moonslav pointed out, walks are probably not an issue with Sale. But giving up runs appears to be. To me, anyway.

I think you posted this before on another thread. I liked it then and still like it except for one little problem. It assumes Sale, Price, and Porcello will be gangbusters against the very potent Yankees lineup. Against the A's, maybe, but I don't see the Yankees rolling over.

I started the "Wright Conundrum" thread because I think Wright can be very effective starting and going for 2 innings. I now think that's more important because I think Sale's "hard stuff" ain't so hard these days--a real concern. Show them the knuckler early, not late. I think it is like 99% that Chris Sale starts Friday. What's missing from the discussion about bringing in Wright is exactly when that will happen because I think Cora will have a tough time deciding to pull him early, which is when I'm afraid the damage will be done. As others have said, it Sale works the corners too assiduously and walks a couple, he is then vulnerable to a bases clearing home run, especially if it's the Yankees, who love lefty starters and just set the MLB record for dingers. I'm not saying I'm right. Far from it. I'm just saying I'm worried.

I prefer Sale coming in after Wright.

Four of our kids live in Greensboro and had no problems. But it is inland.

Silver slugger award after 5 innings has to go to Kinsler for finally hitting two pitches really hard. Both foul, of course, but the Sox hardest hit balls tonight. Then, realizing his mistake, he did the right thing and struck out looking against a fat fast ball near the middle of the zone but a tad below center. Happ threw 8 or 9 pitches, all but one fastballs. No sweat.

You're right of course. Cora is going with non-roster guys on the mound tonight. But, very frankly, I'm not so sure Sale will do much better than Johnson because he sure didn't look so hot vs. the Orioles. Plus the Sox lineup is very likely to go against Happ in the ALDS--assuming NYY gets there--and our lineup can't seem to touch him even when he throws 80% fast balls.

Didn't Cora challenge a call during this debacle? Really?

Men on 1st and 3d after a walk and a grounder to RF, no one out. 3, 4, and 5 hitters come to bat, shrug, and make three very easy outs for Happ who continues to throw like 80% fast balls.

You cannot tell me Bogey tried at all on that at bat. Two fat fastballs, very hittable, strikes. The swing and miss at the change followed by a shrug--no big deal. I just struck on 3 pitches. What, me worry?

2 men on, fast ball right down the middle, and JDM barely fouls it off. The foul pops to Judge for out 1.

What us? I'm a fan watching a game played by highly paid professionals. That means something to me. And imagine how the fans at the game feel. What we are seeing tonight is very unprofessional by the Red Sox, who clearly could give a s***.

And I'm watching on the boob tube. I can change channels, turn the sucker off, whatever. But somewhere north of 35,000 fans are paying a lot of money tonight to be even more miserable. That really stinks.

What a miserable game.

Johnson's done OK when he is hitting corners, but not when he throws three straight smack dab in the middle--well, close to it. Of course, if Happ had done that, our guys would have struck out or hit weak grounders or something. He has their number big time.

Someone suggested Sale's last outing should be seen as rope a dope. Maybe tonight the entire team is doing it. Weak, weak hitting first time thru the lineup.

I can't believe how bad our lineup looks tonight. I could understand it if Happ was throwing good stuff, but he absolutely is not. 80% 92 mph fastballs, all 4 seamers.

What the heck has Happ got? He just threw three straight 92 mph fastballs to Nunez, one near the middle, and got 2 strikes. Overall. he threw five fastballs and 1 slider and got a ground out on a ball well above the zone.

Just tuned in when Judge got ball four. Johnson looks pretty decent, but the Yankees love lefties. Meanwhile Happ has faced our top 6 hitters, three of whom K'd and none of whom got on base.

Actually, I like that.

Happ, lefty vs. Johnson, lefty Big advantage to Yankees. Happ>>>>Johnson plus the Yankees hammer lefties whereas our guys roll over and play dead. 10 days ago Happ went 6 and gave up 1 unearned run vs. the Sox, but Eovaldi was even better, giving up 0 runs in 6. Then Workman and Brasier did their magic act and the Yankees took it 3-2. The Yankees still have an incentive to win this one I think, whereas our guys lately seem to have no incentive. Still, not too shabby-- Betts CF Beni LF JDM RF Bogey SS Pearce 1B Devers 3b Nunez DH Kinsler 2B Swihart C 7 righty bats and Beni and Devers