Maxbialystock

who are the announcers?

Meh. I don't begrudge them the money because I agree they are really entertainers at the core--and some are more professional than others.

No Pedroia--I thought he was ready. Ramirez drops to 5th, good. This lineup so far is not producing the way most of us expected, but it's early.

This whole subject of toughness in baseball is a joke to me. You want tough? Go see the soldiers, men and women, who lost limbs or are simply dealing with PTSD--as are their nearest and dearest--before you talk to me about MLB players being tough. There was a day--especially World War I and World War II (and somewhat in the Korean and Vietnam Wars)--when MLB players actually went to war, but those days are long gone with the all-volunteer (and very capable) armed services we have today. There is a story, I think a true one, about Ted Williams playing in a game right after World War II, during which he served but only as an instructor pilot. It was maybe 1946. The opposing pitcher was a decorated veteran, maybe with a purple heart, who had seen combat. Anyway, Williams hammered one right up the middle and knocked that pitcher down. After getting to first and calling timeout, he joined the group of people standing around the fallen pitcher because he felt terrible about what had happened. But the pitcher just looked up at him and said, "for chrissake, Williams, can't you just pull the ball?" What was it Ernie Banks said? "Let's play two." He understood so well what Lou Gehrig meant when he said he was the "luckiest man on the face of the earth." Why? Because he got to play baseball--most years, 154 games (he was the original iron man)--at the highest level and in great ball parks and was paid to do it. These guys are getting paid a ton of money to play a game many of us simply played for enjoyment (I had one year of Babe Ruth League, 1955, and still remember specific games and plays). They don't need to be tough, just talented.

Gotta like those killer Bs. But that's just 4. We need 8 pretty good guys in that lineup to make up for Ortiz. Moreland's fine, Sandoval is definitely not fine. Pedroia should be fine. Catcher should be fine. Ramirez should be too, but isn't. Isn't that the same refrain from 2 years ago, right after we acquired Pablo and Hanley? This year they need to come thru.

Great additions to this thread by a700hitter, mvp78, spudboy, and cp176. Time to talk about the Yankees series. Where oh where is Kimmi? Hello!

I'm sorry, but I just don't see the value of "toughness" when applied to MLB, which is not a contact sport. I think it was Gene Conley, who played for the Celtics and pitched for the Red Sox, who was asked how difficult it was to transition between the two sports. He said it was not easy because it took him at least six weeks after the NBA season to get out of shape so he could play baseball. He was joking of course. To me the one bonafide tough guy on this team is Pedroia, and I'm not so sure that's a valuable quality because sometimes he insists on playing when maybe he shouldn't. On the other hand, I kind of admire all the lineup players who go out there and stand in the field waiting for the pitcher and hitter to go thru their little dance on almost every pitch. That's roughly 90 minutes per game of mostly standing around, but with a requirement on each and every pitch to be ready to spring into action because "getting a jump on the ball" is so important to a fielder.

MLB did not penalize Machado, who made the slide that presumably triggered the retaliation by Barnes. Most sports news commentators (if not all) have agreed with the MLB decision. What Barnes did was clearly intentional--he meant to hit Machado (but missed him). Machado did make a hard slide into 2B, but it was clearly intended to beat the throw from Bogaerts and almost did. When it happened, Machado gave every indication that the spiking was unintended--and that's exactly the way Pedroia saw it and said so. Pedroia's toughness in my opinion is beyond question. if he thinks the spiking was no big deal, that's what it was. Farrell and Barnes were wrong to retaliate.

Agree Beni is pretty key, but I also think we need a deep lineup.

Completely agree. Plus that win was thanks to Kimmi. Betts' 3 run dinger was incidental. But of course I hope he does it a lot more.

Actually, I think they do have to be good in both areas. In 2013 the Sox had very good hitting, but in the playoffs the team ERA was 2.

You're right.

Looks like I agree with Pedroia and the senile guy who is my age, 76.

In the John Henry era the Sox have won the WS three times--in 2004, 2007, and 2013. In 2004 and 2013 the Sox led MLB in runs scored. In 2007 they were 3d in the AL in scoring, but led the AL in ERA. Does anyone seriously believe this team will lead the AL in ERA this year? I love the addition of Sale, who clearly is an ace. I think Porcello will be decent and maybe Pomeranz and ERod. But Wright looks too inconsistent and Price's ERA last year was 5.

Top 5???? That's a bit of a fall from 2016 when the Sox led MLB in runs scored and led the AL by over 100 runs. If that's your standard, I guess we have nothing to argue about. Too bad because I enjoy it--you know a lot more than I.

I'm quite sure Machado was trying to miss the bag because it was intended to be a late slide, which means he would arrive at 2B a lot sooner and with a lot more momentum than usual. I think his intent was simply to overslide 2B as he in fact did. I do not think he wanted to get Pedroia, however, and he certainly acted as though he did not--and that's the way Pedroia took it. He was looking for speed to 2B to beat the throw and not to nail Pedroia. As for Barnes, I have no problem agreeing it was simply a terrible pitch, but, however, with serious intent to hit Machado. FWIW, my initial interpretation of that slide was the same as yours and I in fact compared it to something Ty Cobb would have done--come in with spikes high. Two things changed my mind. First, Machado's actions after the slide when he grabbed Pedroia who was going down. This suggested that spiking was not his intent. Second, Pedroia's reaction, which was that it was part of the game and not malicious.

Betts has played 15 of 18 games.

Meh. The only key MIA has been JBJ. Plus, let's face it, you can't assume everyone on a team will be healthy all the time and in no need of bereavement or other leave. Yesterday's 3-dinger win was instructive--for me, anyway. Our biggest shortage so far is home runs--even with those three the Sox are still dead last of 30 MLB teams in hitting them. To me that's a serious power outage that can't easily be explained away by JBJ's absence. By Ortiz's absence, maybe, but not JBJ's. I'm not saying this team can't bounce back because of course they can. But at the same time, I think what we have seen so far suggests that a repeat of last year is less likely than before the season started.

Thanks to Kimmi for ending the two game losing streak.

Going after Machado's head was stupid, also clearly intentional. Machado's slide was all about beating the throw to 2b, which he almost did and is why Pedroia said it was no big deal after the game. To me the Sox, especially Farrell and Barnes, look foolish.

Really stupid to go at Machado's head. Makes the Sox look like bush league, especially since it was clearly intentional. The spiking was not intentional, which was obvious to anyone watching the innumerable replays. Machado was simply trying to beat the throw to 2b and he almost did. That's why Pedroia said right after the game he did not think that slide was a big deal. I'm with Pedroia on this one.

Second that. Abad sucks.

More like it!

Great run to 3b by Bogie.

Bogie starts it with one of his patented weak singles to right.