Maxbialystock

That's basically the way I saw last night during the game. I see three big problems with Kelly. The obvious one is command of his pitches, and lately it's just the two--fast ball and knuckle curve. Another seems to be the sheer hitability of his fast ball, which comes in at 97 to 100 mph and sometimes more. If the 100 mph fast ball is in the strike zone, opposing hitters are smacking it. It is possible he is telegraphing his pitches, but I'm sure--since this has been going on awhile--that the pitching coach, et al, are checking that thoroughly. Finally there's the confidence issue because I think his is shot. Kimmi quoted Price as saying his season turned around when he started throwing a cut fastball, but apparently this version had/has a little more bite to it. Maybe that would help Kelly. But right now it's very hard to see Kelly making the postseason roster.

Beni LF Kinsler 2B Moreland 1B JDM RF Bogey SS Swihart DH Nunez 3B Vazquez C JBJ CF ERod vs. righty Gaviglio Basically, no Betts. Plus JDM in RF and Swihart DH. Like we're back in April and May with Cora trying, some how, some way, to get at bats for Swihart without actually letting him play a position. Hmmmm.

Four of our kids live in Greensboro. My wife and I are in Fairfax County, VA. My NOAA map says we will both get a soaking, but NC a lot more than VA. this could change, of course.

True. Too bad, because he is a great story.

The 1912 team won 106 of 154, so I think this team needs to win 111 games to tie 1912. But, honestly, at this point I'm just delighted with the whole season and focused now on the postseason. Thus Price last night was huge. Wright last night and a couple games or so ago, also huge. Kelly still worrisome. Devers worrisome (but Cora has options). Catcher hitting worrisome (but Swihart helps there). Barnes worrisome, but not Poyner or Brasier or Kimbrel. . Sale definitely worrisome. Will that shoulder hold up or not? injuries to any of several guys, but especially to JDM, Betts, Bogey, or Beni--would be worrisome.

Sox have played 146 games. JDM has 137, Beni 135, JBJ 130, Mookie 126, and Bogie 124. Nunez 122, Moreland 114, and Devers 107. 46 MLB players have more games than JDM. Leon has caught the most games with 82--of the 12 "qualified" MLB catchers, the average games played is about 105 to 110 and the minimum 98. We all know Cora has given guys breathers all season long. In fact, most have complained whenever so and so isn't in the lineup--"doesn't Cora want to win any games?" I'm fine with whatever additional rest Cora wants to give, but I do not think this team is tired.

Stunning numbers--not just that they are revealing, but that you found them. I did kind of have the impression he needs time--pitches--to get the knuckler working right. Don't forget your other comment that pitchers who follow Wright benefit because the hitters' timing will often be off. You could almost make a case for Wright pitching the first two innings or practically any other innings. The big caveat is that it has to be working--it must move and not be way out of the zone.

I find it very credible because to me Price is way more comfortable throwing variations on his fast ball. I think he basically has abandoned the slider and curve but will still throw a changeup. I like lots of movement, but Price makes a strong case for his way.

Well that's two of you who think I was serious. I tried to say something so outlandish that no one could believe I meant it. I thought this was a dead giveaway: "And it's so simple. Just bring in the right guy at the right time." We have seen Brasier, Kimbrel, and just about everyone be the wrong guy in a given game. What saved Farrell's job in I think the 2016 season was the bullpen suddenly got very, very effective in September.

I don't know how to use those little faces, so have to depend on people being able to discern when I'm saying something so insane it has to be ironic/facetious. Cora should by now made believers of all us, but I still read sarcastic comments in game threads about how and when he uses the bullpen.

I like Cora a lot, but Francona has been successful with two very different teams. Besides, who cares? We fans are lucky Henry brought in Francona in 2004, only kept Valentine a year, 2012, got three division titles and one WS out of Farrell, 2013-2017, let him go, and brought in Cora.

Wright pitches the 8th in a 1-0 game. He also pitched the 7th and 8th in a 6-5 win last Sunday. And mvp78 doesn't want Wright on the postseason roster.

Meh. Swihart has been on the active roster from day 1. Keeping him there is not some bold step into the unknown. He is a pretty decent catcher, but can also switch hit, run, play 3b/1b and the outfield.

To me the only reason to carry three catchers in the postseason is to be able to pinch hit for one of them.

Catching too much plate--what a great phrase. I tend to think of that as sinful, but also believe it depends on the situation. Sometimes you can absolutely get away with it if you have the batter guessing. Last night, Tuesday, against the Jays I saw a fascinating. sequence. 8th inning, man on base, 2 out, Vazquez catching, and Kelly brought in to get the last out. Righty at bat. It takes Kelly 8 pitches and a 3-2 count before he gets the K. He throws several heaters and at least a couple knuckle curves. Finally, he throws an 88 mph slider low in the zone which Grichuk absolutely hammers--foul line drive into the left field stands. So what does Vazquez call for? A knuckle curve, with a little more break, in almost exactly the same spot--swinging strike three. I swear that pitching is as much art and artifice as it is muscle and coordination and hitting charts, etc.

Actually, that's not true. All you have to do is read the game threads to discover that Cora continues to make the same old dumb rookie manager mistakes. Including last night's game. It is a falsity to think that a good bullpen makes a good manager. It's actually the reverse. A skillful manager can take any bullpen and make them effective. And it's so simple. Just bring in the right guy at the right time. Cora hasn't figured that out yet.

Can there be any doubt that the John Henry era has been transformational?

Not very good, I agree.

By the way, where the heck is the turkey tedballgame, who is supposed to get a new thread started ASAP. I already know tonight's lineup, for crying out loud.

Not so fast. Yes, I'm in on Leon, but I also very much enjoy discussing him, including with those who aren't so sure. Goodness knows he looks pudgy, and his hitting lately sucks. His caught stealing % is only .267. He has 11 passed balls. But his DWAR is .8, well above average, and I don't think the DWAR reflects the confidence I believe the pitchers have in him. The Germans have a word, fingerspitzengefuhl, which means finger tip feeling or great situational awareness and intuitive flair. I think Leon has that when calling pitches. But also, as we saw Sunday night, the ability to see what must happen to make a play work.

About right. I still believe in Devers and do think he is working on his defense. This year is definitely a disappointment compared to last year, but he is 21, so I cut him some slack. Moonslav's point is that the Sox can wait at least thru 2019 before making a move. This year, his rookie year, he came out of spring training as the starting thirdbaseman, which basically meant that Cora played him a lot. I think by the all star break Devers had played in the most games. But as of today he has played 106 games, fewer than Nunez and Moreland, 121 and 113 games, both of whom have been almost in the platoon category, and he has done so because of injuries. Here's a little stunner. Last year in 58 games Devers WAR was 1.3, not too shabby. This year in 106 games it's -.4. So all the complainers have a sound basis for being that way. But that's why his age, 21, is important. When Devers came up last year and now and then this year, he has exhibited a big grin and a lot of joy in being a major leaguer. That's good. But what's that Tom Hanks line about baseball when Geena Davis complained it just got to be too hard? "The hard is what makes it great! If it were easy, everyone would do it." My guess is that Devers this year is learning about the hard part.

To me it's not just the numbers--and thank you for those--it's what I see. To me Poyner is fearless out there and so far unlikely to make a bad pitch or big mistake. Small sample, yes, but it's over the entire season because he made the 25 man roster back in April. I just don't like Pom and never will. Oldtime overall sees the postseason about the way most of us do--4 starters and 7 relievers with the former pretty clear and the latter pretty murky except for Kimbrel and Brasier and Wright.

True. Altuve was safe on the replay, but it was a close play and the umpire was in great position. I think we benefitted from some push back by the MLB guys in NY who don't like managers constantly asking for replays--nor do we fans. Bogey just made a bad throw, but you gotta love what Leon did. That plus the way he handles pitchers is why I want him to be the primary catcher in the playoffs. I'm more and more convinced that catcher is the most important defensive position on the team. I was impressed with his calls in this game but also Friday night with Price because Price got away with a ton of fastballs and cut fastballs, mixed in with just a few changeups and I don't believe any sliders or curves. But his location was good, and Leon took that into account.

I say again, that punk kid Thunder has it dead right. This was a great game. I missed the first hour because I was at an organizational meeting, but, once home, I was riveted even though I truly hate Sunday night baseball. The games can go to midnight and I gotta get up and go to work Monday and I'm a creaky 78 year old. But last night I had to make an exception because so much happened--a million little stories. As much as I liked the 3 run dinger by JDM and the gamewinning rbi by Moreland, my biggie is Porcello pitching 5 solid innings when we really needed them to help get us that 5-1 lead. He got tagged with 2 more in the 6th, but a lot of the blame should go to Hembree and Johnson, the relievers. With the game tied, Cora brought in Wright, who pitched the 7th and 8th even though Sandy has trouble with that knuckler. But it worked, big time, plus in the 7th Sandy made a great tag on Altuve to save a run when Bogey's throw home was way high. I think Sandy had a great game despite going hitless (again).

Good to repeat your basis for "quiet" hero because there is absolutely nothing quiet about the guy. He loves being a major leaguer, especially with a contender like the Sox, and it shows in the way he plays.