Maxbialystock

Well, I deserve that because I completely forgot about Minnesota, no doubt because I became fixated on the three Division leaders.

They sure do--but with the understanding that in 5 games the Sox have faced some awfully good starters.

Last night the Sox win with platooning--and a great start by Buehler--if Narvaez doesn't have that passed ball, which was run #2 for the Phillies. At the end of 9 innings, the score should have been Sox 2, Phillies 1--against the best righty starter in MLB.

True.

Ain't it the truth.

It's 9 games, not 12, and nobody said they would define the season. Nor should they have when all 9 games are against NL Division leaders, and the first six on the road where the Cubs and Phillies both win 2/3 of their games. In all 5 games the Cubs and Phillies have had excellent starters. Last night and tonight the Phillies started pitchers with ERA's under 2.5. That's like back to back Crochets. And the Sox would have won the first one (last night) if Narvaez, an otherwise excellent catcher, had not had that passed ball. The Sox have played 5 of the 9 games and are 1-4. If you mean 12, you really mean 13, including the 4 games vs the Rays, who in fact have a winning record so far this season. The Sox won all 4 of those games. What these 9 games could do is inform Breslow about when moves he wants to make o/a 31 July.

He didn't have all that great a track record, so a great sign by the Phillies.

No doubt. When you're as good as he is, your pitching speaks for you.

1. Both games the Sox started righties. Phillies started a righty and then a lefty, both with ERA's under 2.5. 2. Philly scored exactly 5 ER in 2 games, well below their season average runs per game and they did it against the Sox 4 and 5 starters. 3. You really don't know what the heck you are writing about.

Yep

Almost all comments and questions are allowed on talksox. Indeed, the rarity this season is anything positive. I seem to be the exception. I do agree that managers are hired to be fired, but I also appreciate the complexity of what Cora has had to deal with this season--his expected rotation hit hard by injuries, missing his two best hitters, Bregman and Devers out each out for half of the season, starting 4 rookies, one of whom couldn't handle 2b and is back at Worcester, a less than reliable bullpen, plus right now he has 4 pretty good outfielders and just 3 positions to put them in. As for cult, they have a name--it's John Henry, who has fired 5 managers, 2 of them after watching them for 1 season each. He fired Farrell after he won the 2013 and immediately after he managed the Sox to AL East Division titles in 2016 and 2017. But he rehired Cora after he was thrown out of MLB for one year because of the sign stealing by the Astros. JH also makes the final decisions on how much to spend on players, which has an effect on the quality of the players. For DD, JH spent like a drunken sailor. For CB and now Breslow, not so much. This year's Sox payroll is 12th.

Cora does like to keep Anthony near the top of the order, but tonight, lefty vs lefty, he looks awful. Both Sox hits so far are by righty bats. Unfortunately, Narvaez's righty bat has turned to wiffle.

"Symmetry and expectations" are meaningless. Baseball is quintessentially a team sport played by individuals. Thus the central part of very game is pitcher vs batter. Last night's lineup worked pretty well against the best righty starter in MLB, but tonight's starter for Philly is a very good lefty, ERA 2.44, who is really hitting the corners. So Cora is loading up with righty bats (7) and leading off with Ref instead of Duran. Why is that such a conundrum for you? Ref, 2d time up, hits a dinger, which no doubt disappoints you.

Exactly what I think of course. Plus all 4 Philly runs have been earned. Tonight is still another example of the Sox being completely outclassed on the mound. Last night was a terrific surprise because Buehler was great and the Sox should have won but for Narvaez's passed ball.

All what weaknesses? Tonight Fitts doesn't have it--obviously as the 5th starter--and Sanchez definitely does. Same goes for the first 3 games @ Cubs. They had much better pitching in games 1 and 2 and the Sox did in game 3. I've asked this before and received no response: can you name another MLB team that played 9 straight games against all 3 NL division leaders, including 6 on the road? I don't just mean this year, I mean any year. Narvaez hurt last night with the PB, which cost the game. But he is the best defensive catcher in MLB or so the stats say.

Agree. Cora should have started Chapman or Whitlock.

As I stated above, that was one very weird catcher interference call because neither the batter nor the baserunner was interfered with. Narvaez still has the best DWAR among MLB catchers. Both Philly runs were earned because the guy on 3b did in fact steal home and the batter given 1b did not score. The essential nature of this game so far is that the Phillies can hit Fitts and the Sox can't hit Sanchez. That's exactly what we thought would happen last night, but it didn't.

That was one weird catcher interference. In no way did Narvaez interfere with the batter or with the runner coming from 3b--the plate was wide open for him. If he was running from the backstop to home plate, definitely interference. Gonzalez seems to be reverting to norm--rapidly. The Phillies starter so far has shown uncanny command.

I'm sure of that.

Bregman has slowed down dramatically on the base paths.

I don't see them as you do. I see a pretty good defense thanks to Bregman/Mayer at 3b, Story at SS, Abreu/Anthony in RF, Rafaela in CF, Narvaez catching, and even Duran in LF. If Mayer could hit better, he is already a good defensive second baseman. The Sox now have 3 pretty good starters, including a stud, Crochet. Plus Buehler, maybe. A good closer backed by an up and down bullpen as we saw last night. Sox team eRA is ranked The Sox are ranked 5th in MLB in runs scored and team OPS and 10th in team ERA. They just won 10 in a row and are in the middle of playing all three NL division leaders, including two series away from Fenway. They have done that despite losing Bregman for 1/2 this season so far and Devers since June 16th. They have started four rookies--Campbell, Narvaez, Mayer, and Anthony. Last night they almost beat the best righty starter in MLB and would have done so, 2-1, if Narvaez, a highly rated defensive catcher, had not had a passed ball.

I'm fine with confirming catcher interference. But I also think the Sox were dead dead dead after the Phillies had the bases loaded in the 10th with no one out, largely because of a BB and a WP by reliever Hicks. Buehler had a heckuva game--1 ER in 7 IP.

That's mostly on JH and and CB.

Ken Pomeroy uses "luck" statistically when he evaluates Div I mens basketball teams. I think his criterion is winning/losing games by 3 pts or less.