Maxbialystock

Great compilation of stats, mvp78. Thanks. So point one is that the Sox ain't "el foldos" so much as having to endure a tough 2d half schedule. Point two is that the AL East again has the best W-L record in MLB and the Sox still have a bunch of those games to play. Plus of course the three NL division leaders in the next 9 games. Point three, however, is that these Sox are deep in good lineup players. You know that's true when practically the entire Talksox board wants a better hitting backup catcher. Everyone pretty much likes the primary catcher and the other 8 lineup position players. I took a quick peek at the total WAR's for the 2021 Sox lineup players and they are just a tad higher than the ones for the 2025 Sox who have played just 95 games. Point four are the three pretty good starters in Crochet, Bello, and Giolito, who are worlds better than Eovaldi, ERod, and Pivetta in 2021, who also finished the season without a closer. Plus Buehler and Fitts aren't awful. My conclusion from the above is that these Sox have a real shot despite the tough schedule, so stay tuned.

Well reasoned.

I like your version more than mine.

I'm sure Rafaela wakes up in the middle of the night asking himself, "when oh when will I win FredLynn's trust?" So allow me to go to the opposite extreme. He can hit, hit with power, field, catch, and run the bases and kind of reminds me of Willie Mays who was also 5'10" and had the same five tools. Willie was a ton better of course, especially in his first 13 seasons after returning from service in the US Army. On the other hand, Willie couldn't play the infield the way Ceddanne can. Ceddanne is in his 2d full season, so I find it hard to buy that this current run is blind stupid luck. We'll see.

Forget tbd. Not gonna happen by 31 July. When was the last time the Sox had 3 starters as good as Crochet, Bello, and Giglio? They already have 31 quality starts in 49 starts and ERA's of 2.23, 3.14, and 3.36.

I think the Sox already have a good enough rotation, lineup, and even bullpen for the playoffs. So job 1 is to get to get there. The 2011 Sox were pretty good, but couldn't do it after they collapsed in September. This team still has 67 games to play, and a lot can happen.

All good choices.

He is or he isn't recovered. The docs say he is. While it's great to have Bregman back, this winning streak did not need him.

The Fantastic Three might be looking askance at the Emerging One. Next up, @ the Cubs and the @ the Phillies. Both are tough at home. Cubs are good hit, so-so pitch, and the Phillies are the reverse. Dodgers are also good hit, so-so pitch. Those 9 games will be an excellent gauge of where this Sox team is--which will no doubt affect Breslow's decision-making. Sox 1 game behind Yankees.

Agree completely. I also love to see Bello thanking the defense as they came off the field. Plus he tipped his hat to the fans.

Indeed. His WAR to date is now almost double Devers. What we are really seeing--that is only tied indirectly to trading Devers--is the blossoming of a really good lineup and a not too shabby rotation. As moonslav predicted Yoshida/Ref ain't too shabby as the DH. Plus, with 4 outfielders, now and then one of them can DH--or play 2b. Wilson gets the last 2 outs in top of 7th! Sox still up, 4-1.

I loved Devers as the DH, but I also thought trading him made sense. Right now the Sox seem to be knee deep in bats, and most of them can play defense too. Yoshida has yet to make an error.

I like him low. And I absolutely trust Cora lineups.

Absolutely no one on talksox--and probably not in the entire Sox organization--have been patient with/about Story. He has simply been untradeable/undealable.

Good grief!! Rafaela is nuts, and Story almost is. Both can field too.

Story da man!!!

Ok, big double by Anthony!

In this game Wong has 1 more hit than Bregman, Anthony, Yoshida, and Rafaela combined. On the other hand, you gotta like the Sox defense so far. Bello's error could have been costly but Bello bailed him out.

Sox have 4 hits and Wong has 1 of them. I'd call it gutsy pitching with 2 on and 1 out.

Absolutely terrific 5th inning by Bello, who refused to give in to Aranda and got the K in 10 pitches. The Sox hitting, meanwhile, is moribund.

Sox 2 behind Yankees who play the Cubs again today.

True. With Duran, Rafaela, Abreu, and Anthony as outfielders, it would seem inevitable that one will be traded. This is especially true with Yoshida/Ref handling DH. Gonzalez at 1b over Toro, who made that terrific play last night to prevent a Ray from scoring.

Heckuva series. Three 1 run games so far. How should this game be different? Great pitching yesterday by both sides, with Narvaez driving in Anthony--who else?--after his big double and Narvaez with his seeing eye single. Wong catching, Gonzalez at 2b, Rafaela in CF, Bregman at 3b, and Story at SS means Cora is going with 5 righty bats against a righty starter. Wong caught Bello's complete game 5 days ago.

☺️