Maxbialystock

This new lineup is really cooking. What was Farrell thinking?

`No takers on Bradley, which is good, because he s*** his pants too.

Ramirez craps out, no surprise. Bradley, anyone? Anyone?

Now that was a great at bat by Mookie. Now a walk to load the bases with Hanram, JBJ, and Shaw coming to bat. Any bests on how many these guys can drive in?

Actually, I'm impressed. Yes, he's slow as molasses. But he has three different pitches, good control, and more grit by far that the lineup. First Betts and Ortiz came up with the bases loaded and produced one lousy run. Then Benintendi (the anointed one) and Pedroia did the same thing.

why not? We've already squandered one bases loaded with one out.

True. But this time the new lineup has given him the big lead. Did you notice Betts with the GIDP (only the Yankees screwed it up and a run scored) against a minor league reliever?

Pomeranz has to be thankful for all the run support.

Love the new lineup. Nothing better than Betts up with the bases loaded. Now the Sox have the big lead.

I certainly missed it. No longer nimble.

I'm pretty sure I was one of the people who thought and said bosoxmal was nuts. But I have to admit that the lineup that worked so well April-July (well, late July if not all of it) hasn't worked so well in August. More to the point, we lost a bunch of 1 and 2 run games when a change might have helped. We still don't know the new one--Pedroia, Bogaerts, and Betts--will work, but no harm in trying at this juncture. Good call by bosoxmal.

My version of the NOAA weather map says most of the wet stuff misses Boston to the south.,

Actually, Beckett had one great year in Boston, 2007, when we won the WS and he was like 2d in the Cy Young voting. Lackey also had a very good year in 2013, after Tommy John, when the Sox again won the WS and Lackey shut out the Tigers in I think game 3 of the ALCS--against Verlander. I do agree, however, that Boston is a tough fan base.

Super idea, but I was wondering whether he could be converted into a thirdbaseman or firstbaseman. I mean, the bullpen is already full up with great arms. Isn't it already rated the 2d best bullpen in MLB? Surely we can put Kimbrel to better use than closer, which could be handled by at least 3 or 4 other guys we have. Meanwhile, Shaw isn't hitting the lefties too well, and HanRam could be our next DH.

I went to bed when after Kimbrel threw a few pitches, knowing the Sox had this one in the bag, and I'm glad I did. I know agree with the premise that Farrell probably needs to use his bullpen more, but the reality is it's hard to be sure which among them can be trusted. Indeed, the Cubs had a pretty good bullpen--and a good rotation--before they acquired the big guy from the Yankees, so it's pretty clear Joe Maddon believes you can't have too many good arms in the bullpen because you need to use them in just about every dam game.

Ortiz has definitely be struggling for about a dozen games. f***ing error by Shaw almost caused an unearned run. Porcello got lucky when that liner by Ellsbury was catchable. Helluva game by Pedroia, exactly when we needed one.

I have to give Bradley a lot of credit on that out. Ball took a bad bounce, but he pursued and then threw very quickly and accurately to barely get the runner.

Ortiz has definitely be struggling for about a dozen games. f***ing error by Shaw almost caused an unearned run. Porcello got lucky when that liner by Ellsbury was catchable. Helluva game by Pedroia, exactly when we needed one.

that was one great at bat by Pedroia. Sheer determination--and skill. Holt would never have an at bat like that, in an important situation, in a hundred years. Ditto HanRam. Ditto Shaw, Leon, JBJ. Ortiz might have an at bat like that, but lately not so much. Those other guys are a bunch of pussies.

This is getting to be routine. Sox stink at the plate, regardless of how good or bad the opposing pitcher is. Other teams manages a run here and a run there against any Sox pitcher. Sox are mastering the art of losing--simply, regularly, carelessly (defense stinks too).

Holt loves good pitching. He can stand and watch it for hours. Three straight strikes in basically the same spot, and the bat stays right on that shoulder.

Great hustle by JBJ. He got all the way to first on that double. Clown. And what was he doing standing right next to the CF wall if he had no play? He looks like a rookie out there.

Slow start, but good top of the first for Porcello.

Betts, Pedroia, Ortiz, HanRam, JBJ, Shaw, Holt (SS), Leon, Benintendi. Including Leon, that's 6 lefty bats against a righty starter. Hard for me to root against the Yankees and ARod both because I think ARod helped bring the Yankees down. The first contract, finishing off the $250M for 10 years that started in TX, wasn't all that bad, but did mean moving him to 3B to keep Jeter at SS. But the second contract for another 10 years at $27.5M/year was insane. Then the whole business of the PED's. Then letting Cano go to Seattle followed by another insane contract with Ellsbury. The Sox had the curse of the Bambino, but maybe the Yankees have the curse of the Roderigo, who didn't do much for Seattle or Texas either. A very talented baseball player who succumbed to temptation and his own selfish nature. Clemens went the same way, but after he left Boston. If money corrupts, lots and lots of money corrupts absolutely--especially athletes. At the other extreme was the great Dodger righfielder Carl Furillo, who worked in the offseason and after retirement installed elevators in the World Trade Center among other jobs.

You mean I gotta tell the truth on here?