Maxbialystock

Me too. As for last night, he clearly forgot just 1 out because that was not a tough catch in left center. I think JBJ did that twice last year. Far, far more heinous was Sanchez not running out that grounder for the final out last night.

Note about tonight's game. Weather reports all say continued rain. Plus flash flood warnings of course. If this means Pom misses a start, I for one will be heartbroken. This guy has it all and is all business when he goes out to the mound.

Interesting. I mostly agree with the four "weaknesses," but also think that fixing them--use our current players for 2b and 3b and acquire a reliever and a 5th starter--will only help in the regular season. I don't think the Sox have a lock on the AL East, but you gotta like a 6 game lead with 60 games to go, especially without ERod or Wright. In other words, what's the point of trading away a prospect or paying a lot for a rental who won't help in the postseason? If DD can do something like he did for Pearce, I'm all for it. But otherwise, I remain a skeptic of big trade or move right now.

Impressive, I agree. Four games without ERod or Wright. The big three--Sale, Porcello, Price--came thru, and so did Johnson the backup. I do not, however, expect to be impressed by Pomeranz tonight.

Nicely done.

I just watched the replays of first the double play, which took a long time because the ball was flipped to a fielder who then had to run to 2b, tag it, run past it, and then throw to 1b, second how Sanchez basically sauntered to 1b until the end when he sped up a little at the end but still was able to blow a bubble after being out at 1b. Game-ending GIDP.

Very impressed with Porcello. Orioles lineup not great, but still a solid start.

I think this game just might be playable. The clouds and rain today so far just come and go.

I just want to see a good start from Porcello. Oh, and a game. My NOAA map for the DC area, including Baltimore, looks pretty stormy. Looks like we have entered the monsoon season in a region that tends to be dry in July. Plenty of rain last weekend. Me, I like rain a lot because I lived in Tabuk for 4.5 years. I also like trees. But I would like to see these games played.

How long is the rain delay?

Does it matter? He pitches for the Tigers and they have the Sox number right now. 1 run in 18 innings.

Very good but definitely ugly win.

The only thing I was sure of in that at bat was that he would make an out if he didn't get a walk. He's been like that all this season in big moments--but not last year.

The manager? Really? Just about every position player has been out for one reason or another, and the rotation more than the lineup. In fact, ERod, Wright, and Pom (this is actually good in my opinion) are all on the DL right now. Our bullpen has lately been downright scary--to Sox fans, not opposing hitters. And you're going to single out the manager as the one guy who can fix all that by judicious choices on who pitches and when? I'm not saying Cora is perfect. I was furious when he left Wright in to give up 10 runs, but the Sox won that game. I was mostly OK with leaving Price in when he gave up I think 8 runs, and we lost that game. But overall I think he has made some pretty good decisions all season long and despite those injuries and the slumps and the inconsistencies among the pitchers. If we don't measure up against the Yankee is the remaining games, I think it will mostly be because of the pitching and especially the rotation. Last 3 at Yankee Stadium, Sale was terrific and Price and I think ERod stunk. That's also what killed us in the last two ALDS's.

I like any baseball movie and certainly Amy Adams and usually Clint, but I thought the central idea was a stretch. Remember, her father put her with a family when she was like 6, so presumably most of her baseball knowledge came from those early years. Now, suddenly, at age 30 and after going to college and law school and becoming a very good litigator, she has great insights and instincts about baseball prospects? I believe at the end of the movie Clint's character says she's ready to be a GM right now. Also, Clint can hear a guy's swing and can tell he has trouble with the curve?

I do think results of a decision should count, but in this case I thought he should have left Porcello in even though he gave up 8 runs and the Sox lost. I also thought he was dead wrong to leave Wright in to give up 10 runs in a game the Sox won.

Actually, a very good flick. He seems to take a minimalist approach to directing, but he is very, very good at it. And most of the time he does that while also acting in those movies. He's OK and sometimes good as an actor.

So do I. Mookie actually has a pretty good arm and great range in right field. My guess is it's a better fit than 2b.

There was a time in his life when he was the ultimate cool guy, especially after The Wild Ones in which he rode a motorcyle and led a gang.

I was there for your "once upon a time" and agree they did play hard and did try to win just to show they could. It was in an ASG that Carl Hubbell struck out Murderer's Row and later when Ted Williams hit a key home run and ecstatically ran around the bases. But I'm not so sure they aren't still playing at a pretty high level. Granted, the aces who start no longer go 3 innings: last night Scherzer went 2 and Sale 1. But you better believe they were trying to get guys out and going with good stuff. Thus did Chris Sale throw 101 mph for the first time since 2010. And you cannot convince me that hitters weren't trying to hit. Far from it. That leaves defense and baserunning. I believe they are eager to make great defensive plays, but might be just a tad cautious about running into walls or the baseline stands to make a grab, which is fine with me. As for baserunning, they do slide when it's called for, etc. but maybe don't risk a steal as much. My point is it is still very good baseball.

Frances McDormand is an interesting choice for the one cool woman. Terrific actress. Versatile (Mississippi Burning, Fargo, Laurel Canyon, Three Billboards in someplace, Missouri--plus comedies), married to one of the Coen brothers. But I'm guessing splendidsplinter was thinking of how she out-Clint'd Clint in Fargo by nailing the kidnappers by herself (she's a cop) while very pregnant (including morning sickness).

Here's what I don't get about those who hate the ASG. I'm watching it right now and everyone out there is really trying. The NFL Pro Bowl and especially the NBA All-Star game are pretty much shams because nobody wants to play hard or rough. The NBA All-Star game is very much an exhibition, much like the Harlem Globetrotters with virtually no defense. It helps that a big part of baseball is the contest between pitcher and batter.

Definitely true.

We can all complain about some particular player or aspect of the team--which is not perfect--but it's pretty darn hard not to be thrilled with the pre-ASG record. Were the Sox to stay at .694 for the whole season, they would win 112 games. Those also-ran Yankees 4 1/2 games back? If they stay at .653, they will win 105-106 games. Astros at .646 would win 104-105 games. So all three teams are having great seasons. The question is, which ones can keep it up?