Maxbialystock

Pretty funny.

Exactly right. Last night's game had that quality as well even though the Jays were just spoilers. No question we badly needed that win. Peacock has the better ERA, but I like ERod tonight because he is starting to look like a real starter in his last 4 games. I'm guessing Betts is back in RF too. In fact, I see-- Bogie Pedey Beni Betts Moreland HanRam Devers Vazquez JBJ Probably the wrong order, but I see those guys in the lineup against a righty starter. Honestly, people, I made that lineup up without benefit of Station 13 or wherever got the right lineup from.

As one sort of old time (fan since 1949), I like that a lot. I admit my prejudice against Pom and will be happy with whatever Farrell decides. My sense is Farrell with stay with the guys who got the Sox here.

Oh, I like that. Totally wrong of course because Fister is out behind the wood shed getting beat up for failing to do his job. But I like Fister nonetheless.

We just count differently. I assume a pitcher begins to rest his arm the instant the game is over. Assuming the next game is at the same time of day (7 pm and 7 pm), that's 20 hours of rest plus the three days in between.

Cluck, cluck. In this era of climate change, I even remain doubtful about the sky above us (to say nothing of the oceans). I definitely like where we are and agree the Yankees would kill to be where we are. Our number is 2, which means we can win 1 of 4 and they can win 3 of 4 and we still win the AL East. Still, the Astros just swept the Rangers, killing them in all 3 games-- in TX and have won 13 of their last 15. If they can sweep us, they can tie the Guardians if Cleveland only wins 3 of their next 4. And their 4 next starters, even without Verlander, our on our par or better than our 4. Plus these guys are hitting up a storm and lead MLB in runs with 845.

I call that bold talk from a one-eyed fat man.

That's the difference between you and me. A week ago I thought it was a lock. But going into last night's game, Estrada vs. Porcello with Betts and Nunez out, I thought the Yankees would close to 2 games with 4 to go and our 4 all against the Astros, who are playing well and in position to get the homefield advantage over the Guardians. The Yankees go against TB one more time, then the Jays. Even now I worry some because Houston is still hot and our rotation is showing signs of weakness.

Game 1 is Oct 5 and game 4 is October 9, 4 days rest. If we are up 2-1 in games, I probably go with Porcello and use Sale in game 5, October 11, on 6 days rest. If we are down 1-2 in games, I probably go with Sale.

OP question is much too easy. Better for me is, who is your number 2? The WAR and the whole season argue strongly for POM, but ERod has better stuff--by a good margin--and lately (last 4 starts, average 6 innings and 5 ER's given up) has shown better command of those pitches. So, me, I want to see what those two do against the Astros this week. If ERod does great and Pom struggles again, ERod is my #2. Some guys like to go with the hot bat. I like to go with the hot arm. Plus, as some of you probably know, I am not a big Pomeranz fan even though I agree entirely he was a huge bonus for the rotation this year, especially when Price went on the DL (twice?) and Porcello was horrendous. If our rotation is decent, it's mostly because of Sale and Pom. But what worries me about Pom he is a starter with basically two pitches--knuckle curve and fast ball. He's a lefty who faces 75% or more righty bats and still does not have a viable changeup.

Back to Porcello. I hate that he can't seem to keep the ball low and relies too much on his fastball. My solution would be to extend his pregame warm-up for however long it takes for him to demonstrate he has command of all his pitches. If this shortens the number of innings he can pitch, so be it. The Sox only have 5 starters, so I think all 5 are still in the mix for the 4 needed. Sale is in for sure. Pom, Fister, and ERod all have a chance against Houston to prove they should make the cut, with Fister clearly the long shot. If he bombs tomorrow night, I think Porcello is #4. If he has a quality start, Farrell might have a tough decision on #4. Interestingly, I don't think either one would be good as a long reliever. That job belongs to Price anyway. I honestly don't see Pom or ERod dropping out of the rotation at this point. Pom has been decent to good all season. ERod has very good stuff and lately seems to have better command.

Sale's three best consecutive starts this season, all shutouts, were the first three games after the ASG and 9 days of rest. October 5 is 9 days after September 26. That too me is the best plan for Sale at this point, but it also means the Sox will have to win the AL East without him unless Farrell uses him in relief. Pitching Sale on 1-2 days rest is just nonsense to support a cockamammie theory. Aren't you one of those who have bought into the theory that Sale should have been pitching a lot less going back to August 1? If winning on October 1 guarantees the AL East which can't be won before that date, then maybe Sale does pitch on that day.

Right now Betts's WAR is 6.0, 2d best RF in AL, JBJ's 3.0, 7th best CF in AL, and Beni's 2.7, 3d best LF in AL. This year JBJ's OPS's were decent to great in May, June, and August, and awful in April, July, and September. His hitting has been off and on liek that virtually since he came into the Sox system. Sometimes he seems completely incapable of seeing the ball. Sometimes he just can't hit the ball squarely. He leads the team in K's with 122 in 471 at bats, almost exactly 1 in 4. His best OPS's are with runners on and RISP--.838 and .820-- and his worst are with the bases empty or when he leads off an inning--.640 and .697.

Well said. I regularly gripe about Porcello, but I think the coaches and manager have more information and experience to make the right judgment on Porcello. After the first inning and my constant raving about what a bum he was, I pretty much settled down and rooted for him the next 4.2 innings. Too many talksoxer's are more than willing to dump a starter at the first sign of trouble, regardless of the inning or for that matter the score. It's like being at the Coliseum in Rome and seeing those early thumbs down. And it carries over. Cemented in the boo birds minds is the stark reality that Farrell blew it again.

Last night's win was absolutely, positively huge. I had little faith in Pom and said so, but I actually looked forward to the game eagerly because I thought, "whatever else, I'm watching a big game, and the outcome if far from a foregone conclusion." Hell, it was like an early postseason game because a lot was at stake. I was so mad at Porcello after the first innings I couldn't stop commenting on the game thread. The 1 run in the 1st helped, and the three in the 2d said clearly this was not Tuesday night's team. At that point I also began defending Farrell for leaving Porcello in,which proved to be the right decision if only because Porcello is still an option for the postseason rotation. espn's idiotic headline for the game says we won because of Pedey. But in fact it was Bogie who pulled a Betts, first scoring from 1b on a single and then driving in 3 with the dinger. HanRam not too shabby either. Heck, 13 hits and 10 runs has lots of heroes. So tonight another in-season playoff game. As Kimmi says, you gotta like our situation right now. The Astros won't roll over, but I like our chances for at least 1 and maybe 2 wins. So the Yankees pretty much have to win out--no mean feat.

Let it also be noted that this dickhead ump has screwed both pitchers--not much reward for hitting corners.

I'd love to say the Sox have been great scoring 9 without Betts or Nunez, but I really think this is all because the Jays manager left Estrada in too long--15 innings total--in his last two starts. Plus in August he threw over 600 pitches. He looked exhausted out there. You can always tell. I mean, hey, the Sox are hitless wonders without Betts and Nunez. Plus before tonight Estrada owned the Sox, going 17 innings in 3 starts and giving just 2 runs. Clearly out of gas. Still, I'm pretty happy with those 9 runs.

I already did--at length. How about he is a scrofulous, worthless, no account Porcello-type whose grandmother wears combat boots?

To think I badmouthed HanRam on the first page. Boy, do I love being wrong like that.

Wins and losses. If the FO thinks you should have done better, you are gone. If you win the AL East, your job is probably safe for another year. The bs about when to pull a starter is just nuisance value.

That was some pretty nifty baserunning by Bogaerts. Lousy fundamentals, course. Never make third out when it's safer to stay at 3b or something like that. But still, ignorant guys like me enjoy seeing a guy score from 1b on a single.

Sox come roaring back in larger part because Estrada has had to throw 30 pitches in this inning.

I hope you are wrong. Hope.

1. That's why. 2. Now my turn. Why is it instantly the manager's fault when a player screws up? You are focusing on the wrong dude here, especially at the salary Porcello makes.

At this point I have wonder how Porcello warms up and whether anyone like the pitching coach is watching him. He absolutely came out determined to stick to the fastball and to avoid low pitches at any cost--except for the one that bounced in front of the plate of course. Totally unprepared to start his game and certainly not guided by the pitching coach in any useful way.