Maxbialystock

Maybe, maybe not--and I am referring to past years. Look at 2013 and winning the WS. We had the best hitting and scoring in the AL, but in the ALCS against Detroit we lost game 1, 1-0, and won game 3, 1-0. Lester was great in game 1 and Lackey even better in game 3. But we could easily have lost both but for that 7th inning dinger by Napoli (off Verlander) in game 3. This year, no question we seem to struggle against good pitching. What gives me some hope is that on August 12 we beat the Yankees Severino 10-5, on August 20 the Yankees' Gray 5-1, on August 22 the Guardians Carrasco 9-1, and on August 23 the Guardians Kluber (yes, that Kluber) 6-1. Maybe August is ancient history and should be totally discounted. But maybe not.

I think the Guardians aren't just hot--which they certainly are right now. They also have the best overall defense in MLB--including pitching and fielding--and not only the best in the AL, but the best by a sizable margin. Pitching and defense are more reliable--in my opinion--gauges of postseason success than good hitting. Thus I think we have a better chance of beating the Astros in the ALDS than the Guardians. And it's possible we just might be the only ones with a real shot against the Guardians in the ALCS. Yes, Kluber is probably better than Sale, but Sale ain't no slouch and, despite recent outings vs. the Guardians, he is first and foremost a competitor who has been working hard on throwing more breaking balls and keeping they low in the zone--with just enough of those fastballs. I'm thinking he will rise to the occasion. We beat their #2 Carrasco last time out--badly, 9-1--and our guy was none other than the great Fister. After those two, we still have the possibility (only that) of Price and, if not him, Pom or ERod. Both throw way too many pitches, but lately ERod seems to be getting better and has now had 2 straight quality starts, both going 6 and giving up 1 run. Pom has had his moments too and actually has the second best pitching WAR on the Sox and the 12th best in the AL. All that said, one reality endures. Even great pitching can't win if you don't score any runs. In the ALCS of 2013, Detroit beat us 1-0 in game one despite Lester's sterling performance. Lackey beat Verlander 1-0 in game 3 because he threw a shutout (with bullpen help), but we still needed that dinger in the 7th by Mike Napoli. That 2013 team had easily the best offense--run scoring--in the AL, but nevertheless won the WS mostly because of great pitching. This year our hitting and run scoring are suspect.

No team scoring and winning a lot has ever been accused of lacking fire. No team with weak hitting and a losing record has been declared to be full of fire.

Aggressive baserunning = tangible evidence of fire. Leading MLB in dingers = a bunch of good swings but no tangible evidence of desire.

Back to up 4.

Pedey, Betts, and Bogey with 3 hits each. Whoever said Oakland can revive any team is right. Thanks, A's, especially your pitching.

Two good starts in a row by ERod--both quality, both 6 innings and 1 run. Painful, but effective. HanRam also contributed--on a night when the Sox are up 11-1, someone needed to move this game closer to completion. Those 4 outs were very helpful.

Boy is she right. I could almost live with those things except they insist on putting them on camera as it to say, "I hope you didn't tune in to watch baseball players, the crowd, etc."

Yankees tied 1-1 after five, and we are in the middle of the 4th.

I agree. I think he was safe, but I'm satisfied the play was close enough that calling out was not a blunder. Besides, I'm anti-technology.

Over on mlb tv they are asking Kluber about the clubhouse atmosphere, which is a really nasty, low question when the poor Guardians are on a 19 game hitting strike. this is sports journalism at its grittiest. But Kluber handled well and said he didn't know because, you know, all clubhouses are the same whether you are winning or losing.

Ok, that's 62 pitches in 3 innings, a lot, and ERod is headed toward 5 innings, but I like what he is doing now--hitting spots, mixing his pitches, and avoiding fat fastballs down the middle. He did that last time too and went 6.

would that be great or what (says the guy he complained about his first AB)?

Farrell went with 7 righty bats tonight--which just might be working. No Beni. No Moreland. No Leon.

I have told moonslav repeatedly I basically don't care who bats cleanup, but I just might make an exception in HanRam's case. He just swung and missed at changeup that was up and very hittable and the same place as a previous changeup. what a putz.

I hope you are right because Betts is great at those. But I have also seen him accept a wave off on the same play, which would then get dropped. Certainly on that one Travis acted like he thought he would catch it.

Bad play, Devers. Very bad. Yea, it is written never make the 3d out or 1st out at 3b or risk it. They play was much too close and much therefore be classified as boneheaded. I mean, I loved it because I don't care about that stupid rule.

Very nice. First Travis (on an 0-2) count gets a double off a fat fastball (pitcher mistake), then Bogaerts does the same thing to bring him home, then Devers singles to get men on 1st and 2d with no one out. Neat.

Mass confusion on that popup catchable by both Travis and Pedey, but Betts had to make the grab.

Another first pitch meatball from ERod, hammered, but foul.

Hard to be sure. Other teams do that to us regularly and our guys just stare at that first pitch strike. Plus ERod just walked a guy, so maybe he just signaled, "fast ball for a strike."

Betts was just not thinking. The low pitch was intended to get a grounder, which he supplied. Definitely should have been more patient.

What the heck is Betts doing with men on 1st and 2d, no one out, and swinging at 2-0 pitch low in the zone?

ERod, maybe requested by Vazquez, threw a first pitch fastball right down the middle to Lowrie, who hammered it. Not good pitching.

My bad. I thought I wrote something that was so insane no one would doubt I was being facetious. If anything, Sale's fire and desire now and then get him into trouble. Forget his pitching. I love the way he gets to 1b on any grounders to the right and generally defends his position.