Maxbialystock

Price is getting $30M a year, so words can never hurt him--at least not on TalkSox. I do agree he is looking awfully good this year. In fact, he is a big reason the Sox have been so successful so far. And thank goodness it was just a tingle that went away. Porcello up tonight, and he too is vastly better than last year. Just in time. ERod is better too. And Wright right now is astounding--which moonslav kept saying he would be. And something else. I think this team has a toughness I didn't see last year. Forget all those early streaks. I mean the first two games at Yankee Stadium when the Sox were faltering--inevitably--and the Yankees looked like the biggest bully on the block. The Sox lost both games but could have won both and did win the third. They have also been winning games with Mookie on the bench and with Mookie and JDM on the bench. The above is why these days I absolutely refuse to question a Cora lineup because I think whatever he is doing is working with these guys. He stayed with JBJ when I was ready to shoot him. He's stayed with both catchers. He dumped Hanley. He kept Holt and has used him. Now Holt looks like Nunez 2017 and everyone is on his bandwagon and ready to dump Nunez 2018--except Cora. No doubt at DD's insistence, he has even found ways to get Swihart--whose OPS is headed toward the mendoza line--out there. He even caught a game. I think the defense is about average. Terrific outfield with JBJ in CF of course. And I do not see JDM as a disaster out there. Devers keeps getting better at 3b--as predicted by me because I know all (actually, not much), Bogaerts works his buns off at SS and wants to stay there, Moreland above average at 1B, and no-range Nunez at 2B. I frankly think the defensive catching is pretty good overall and fall back on moonslav's infamous CERA for making that claim. And boy oh boy do I love a 2-1 win over a hot team 3 time zones away.

Sox have problems vs. lefty starters, but it's hard not to have faith in them right now. A very nice win last night. Porcello needs to have good command tonight to win, but he is so much better this year than last. Possible Holt will replace Nunez at 2b because this year he hits lefties a lot better. I still see Beni in LF, Devers at 3b, and Moreland at 1B and I don't remember whether Porcello has a preference for who catches him. I certainly won't complain about a split, but right now I'd like to see 3-1--thanks to Price last night.

How's this? "Nunez is worthless and needs to be benched or we need a new manager. Winning is no excuse for clear managerial incompetence." You're OK identifying trees now and then (but now always), but you have a real problem seeing that forest. I would have been fine with Holt in the lineup last night, but I also trust Cora's judgment more than mine and yours.

Had to go to bed after the first 2-3 innings, but must say I don't how anyone could complain about any aspect of last night's game. Hernandez still has a bewildering array of breaking stuff and excellent control. 2-1 was just a super win over him and especially nice with the defense and the rbi's by Bogie and Devers. Four straight road wins and still neck and neck with the Yankees--and 3 more wins than the rest of MLB--what's not to like?

Good to see the regulars. I hope we stay somewhat positive. I think the consensus is that it’s a tough series, which helps.

Early start for a game thread is an unmitigated good. On this date in 1775 the 2d continental congress created the Continental Army and ordered three states (MD, VA, and PA) to muster 10 companies (total, not each) of infantry and have them march to Boston to join the Army already there, some 22,000 strong. However, it did take another six years for the Continental Army and GW to finally defeat Cornwallis at Yorktown and win the darn thing, but still the lesson is--when it's a tough job, send those New England guys to get it done. The Houston series worried me and I said I would be happy with a split. Same deal here. I do really think our guys are tough and said so right after they lost the first two in Yankee Stadium because they had a shot at winning both against a team that was going like a freight train. Now pretty close to our best lineup is healthy, and we will start four pretty good guys--Price, Porcello, ERod, and Wright. I hope Cora doesn't have to use Kimbrel because it's so important that he get plenty of rest and Cora has a tendency to be, well, abusive. And toward one the the best closers in the history of MLB who is worth so much more than that $13M/year the Sox are doling out. This evening I will attend the annual Congressional Baseball Game which started in 1909. Time for a little ecumenism (as hard as that will be for me). I plan to leave early but do sincerely like the idea of this game which these days is also a charity event.

Pretty good. Maybe the best I've read on why 7,8, and 9 need to be better. The upside of Mookie leading off is that, even with all those games missed, he is just behind Trout for most runs scored in MLB--54 to 56.

Target hit. I'm a member of the sweep it under the rug mob. Thus to me it makes a difference that we did not need Kimbrel yesterday. Of course, I still would have argued in support of Cora using Kimbrel Tues night because I really have faith in the guy. He is clearly different from Farrell and whatever he is doing, including in game decisions, seems to work. Rest days. Replacing starters earlier. Keeping Hanley Ramirez in the lineup and in fact high in the lineup right before recommending his DFA. His handling of Swihart as part of his overall effort to use all 13 lineup players. His handling of JBJ. Ditto the two catchers. I especially like the latter because I think CERA is real if hard to pin down statistically and that both of them are good for the staff. What especially impresses me is that Vazquez is as good with Wright as Mirabelli was with Wakefield in his prime. It also impresses me that the Sox after 69 games (42.6% of the season) and DL stints by both Bogie and Mookie when they were red hot, the Sox have won 3 more games than anyone else in MLB and are simply not backing down to the Yankees or Astros. And now it's the Mariners for 4 in Seattle. So me, I try to hold off the bitching because I'm really rooting for these guys who are collectively way better than I expected. And I definitely think Cora is part of the better.

Slasher9 streaking. Price and Wright could get it to 5.

Pax. If you are ok with last night, you can have Kelly/Cora in game 1.

Yes, he is certainly one of the best. That curve and fastball are lethal weapons and ideal for a closer. And you are also right that Kimbrel’s salary is market value for top closers with tenure.

Good game thread. Could not watch the game at office. Well done, Sale and Betts and JDM and others. Agree Mariners will be tough. A split would be nice. Lineup healthy again, 5 good starters, good bullpen. Jet lag an issue maybe.

Meh. He gets 40% in large part because he only faces those guys once in a game. Oh, and he gets paid $210K/inning to do that. Last year Sale got paid $58K/inning to face hitters multiple times. Kimbrel is a darn good closer and I'm glad we have him. But his WAR ain't that much better than 3 other relievers on the same thing, and it frosts me that there are more and more restrictions on when and how Kimbrel can be used. No 2 inning saves. No one on base when he goes in. Preferably no 4 run leads. In fact, preferably only save opportunities of 1 inning. For $13M/year?

You and I simply disagree on what constitutes a mistake. I think almost all in game decisions are judgment calls and a trust his judgment and knowledge and information available more than yours or that of anyone on talksox. When Kelly screwed up in game 1 of the season, I blamed that on Kelly, not Cora. Ditto last night--Kimbrel should have gotten 3 outs on maybe 15 pitches because the Sox are paying him $210K/inning (based on 124 innings and $26M in 2016/17). Plus, of course, we now know for a fact we did not need him today.

They matter, but not nearly as much as wins and losses. The Sox have 3 more wins than any other team in MLB. So me, I give this manager the benefit of the doubt on practically any decision he makes. Plus he has more information and more MLB experience than everyone on talksox combined. On pitching moves he can even check with both his pitching coach and his bench coach, both of whom also have more information and experience than any of us. I harbor a special resentment toward Kimbrel because more and more he looks to me like a prima donna. Nobody on base when he goes in. No 2 inning saves. No 4 run leads (and therefore no save). Rested. This would make more sense if the Sox weren't paying him $210K/inning and if Kelly, Velazquez, and Barnes weren't almost as good according to WAR ratings.

Pardon me, but I find the continued discussion about using Kimbrel last night (when the Sox were up 4) just plain laughable for these reasons: 1. We've now seen the follow-on game which the Sox won without Kimbrel, who should now be available. 2. Absolutely no one (except me) blames Kimbrel for what happened last night when he stunk. Nope. The fault was all on the manager for misuing this precious, precious asset who is only to be used for very specific situations--9th inning, save situation, nobody on base, hasn't pitched recently, won't be needed in the next game, etc. 3. Cora is a rookie manager, which means everyone on talksox knows this team, this pitcher, and how the game should be played and especially managed better than poor Alex. If he would just read talksox, he would wise up fast. 4. The results of the actual next game--a 5-1 win and sweep over the Orioles--are irrelevant because results don't matter. What matters is our expert opinion which is better than Cora's. 5. Kimbrel's Salary, $13M, is the 4th highest on the team and greater than the rest of bullpen combined, which is interesting because his WAR is 1.2, and Velazquez's is 1.3, Barnes is 1.1, and Kelly's is 1.0. And all those guys are willing to do windows when asked. Anybody else notice the other night that Kelly was sent out to get one out with the bases loaded? Is there any doubt in your mind that Kimbrel will never, ever be asked to do that? 6. Kimbel is not overworked. Johnson, Velazquez, Barnes, Kelly, and Hembree have all pitched more innings. Kimbrel has pitched in 30 games, Kelly 30, Barnes 29, and Hembree 29.

If you mean Beni, the critics of his baserunning are wrong.

JBJ isn't all the fast on the basepaths, but most think his baserunning is pretty good. Last year at least once he forgot the number of outs.

His lifetime OPS is under .700. I happen to be prejudiced in favor of hitters. I do like his versatility and understand that's why he is on the roster, but I don't see him as a regular.

Whoops. Wrong about the no-hitter. Still, he's a pain thru 2 innings.

Meh. This year I like him. Last year not so much. He is definitely versatile and literally can play 7 positions decently.

That rookie pitcher is moving his pitches around the zone and mixing his pitches and not walking anyone. No-hitter well into the 2d inning.

So much for a hot start against a rookie pitcher. Good thing Sale started with a good 1st.

Orioles attendance definitely hurt by the rebirth of a Washington team which is now competitive and outdrawing the Orioles. I used to go to Camden even thought it's over an hour's drive, parking is a pain, and getting home is maybe midnight. Camden Yards is an excellent ballpark. Not so Angelos the owner.

Given me a living, breathing ump over replays any time. Baseball is a game, not a scientific experiment, and it's played by humans. I agree umps miss calls, but am fine with that. Let the managers go back to throwing tantrums now and then. Ditto players.