Maxbialystock

I agree, but I also think this lineup misses Bregman a lot more than Devers, and Bregman is due back soon. But even that won't help if the pitching doesn't get better.

Actually, the Sox plummeted to 30-35 with Raffy but no Bregman. They came back to 38-36 with a terrific 6 game winning streak which depended heavily on brilliant pitching. Devers contributed nothing to those wins. Wait, wait, I got that wrong. Devers helped by not playing 3b. In the Sox 6 game winning streak the Sox gave up 8 freaking runs! Since the winning streak they have given up 38 runs in 7 games. Raffy's OPS has dropped 100 pts since June 24.

The "oh do we miss Raffy" whining is getting tiresome. We do miss him, but we miss Bregman even more. Without Bregman following him the lineup, Raffy's OPS has dropped 100 points. Meanwhile, our pitching is killing us. Crochet was brilliant in 7 shutout innings last night, but then Weissert gave up a game-tying dinger and then Wilson gave up a game-winning 2 run dinger. That loss was almost exactly like the one Monday night when the Sox started the game by scoring 3 runs in the top of the 1st, only to have Buehler give up 5 runs in the bottom of the 1st. The Sox nevertheless tied the game in the 6th, only to have Whitlock give up 4 more runs in the 8th. The Sox have 13 pitchers on the roster and just 3 can be relied upon--Crochet, Chapman, and Bello.

Who's actually saying that? Very few. I thought Devers was terrific as the DH and having a career year and didn't miss a game. So of course he's a loss. However, the Sox were paying him $30M to be DH and paying Yoshida $18 when he can only be the DH. That's a lot of money for a DH. We also know Raffy did not want to move to 1b. In addition, I think Devers was on his way out the day Bregman was announced as our 3d baseman, a position Raffy had played for 8 years and been promised he could keep play there. And let's not forget that the Sox are also without Bregman, who followed Raffy in the lineup and made him better. Since Bregman went on the IL, Raffy's OPS has dropped 100 points.

Giant's are 3 and 4 since Devers' arrival. Sox are 3-5 without him--all 8 games on this west coast trip. Sox are also missing Bregman.

Devers OPS has dropped 100 pts since Bregman went on the IL. And that's our problem in the 2 spot now--no Bregman batting 3d.

Sox payroll is currently $192M, ranked 13th in MLB. It was the highest in MLB during DD's time in Boston. Of that $192M, $73M is on the IL, plus other payees are also not on the active roster. The active roster payroll is $105M, 19th in MLB. You could be right about Devers and 40-40, but that's only because the pitching stinks. When it's good, the Sox can be very good. Who do you plan on selling? Bello? Bregman? Crochet? Anthony? Mayer? Campbell? Narvaez? Rafaela? Abreu?

The Sox payroll, $192M, is ranked 13th in MLB, and $73M of that is on the IL. So the Sox active payroll is $105M, ranked 19th. In 2019 the Sox Payroll was the highest in MLB. So I think it is unarguable that Breslow is being asked to do more with less. On the other hand, when badly missed Bregman returns (early July), the Sox lineup will be a very decent Bregman 3b, Story SS, Mayer 2b, Gonzalez 1b, Narvaez C, Anthony LF, Rafaela CF, Abreu RF, and Ref/Yoshida at DH. That lineup will have good hitting and good defense if they can stay healthy. I am assuming that rookies Mayer and especially Anthony will improve at the plate. The big problem is the pitching. Right now Crochet and Bello (yes, Bello) are the only reliable starters although Giolito has gone 18 innings in his last 3 starts while giving up 5 ER. Buehler looks awful, and Dobbins and others are on the IL. The bullpen has turned back into pumpkins. Given all of the above and despite some bad moves, I like what Breslow is doing. He just needs more time and money on the pitching. I also like those 3 rookies--Campbell, Mayer, and Anthony--courtesy of the CB regime. I think he also gets credit for Bello and Abreu.

Still trying to change the subject when I caught you in an ill informed wisecrack about Mayer. Mayer just got his 3d hit, and has scored or driven in both Sox runs in this game. Braves score 0 runs in 7 IP off Crochet and 3 runs in 3 innings off the bullpen. The hitting sure wasn't great tonight, but there can be absolutely no question the bullpen blew the game. Last night the Sox scored 5 runs and lost by 4 because the starter and bullpen both stunk Against the 3d best pitching staff in MLB, the Giants, they scored 14 runs in 3 games. Not too shabby. But they lost 2 of 3 games because of the pitching staff. And they did that without Bregman or Devers. You can't expect to lose those two and be as good as you were before. When Bregman returns (early July0, the Sox will have the ingredients for a good lineup. Time will tell. Meanwhile, I'm happy to root for the Sox who are playing now, even the pitchers. Crochet was terrific tonight. About your "see the ball, hit the ball." Ted Williams had a different thought when he said there is no harder skill in any sport than trying to hit a round ball with a round bat squarely.

Trying to change the subject? Won't work. You actually said that Mayer in this game demonstrated he does not know how to hit despite having a triple and a single.

First game thread I've seen in a long time in which no one wants the Sox to win.

You're seriously critiquing the guy who has 2 of the Sox 3 hits and 4 of the Sox 6 total bases, who's also a rookie with under 40 freaking games?

Mayer at 2b tonight so Eaton's righty bat can get into the lineup.

I like him better at 3b or SS, but am fine with 2b. He's at 2b so Cora can get Eaton's hot bat into the lineup which has 6 righty bats against lefty Anderson. Gonzalez in for Toro at 1b. Hamilton not at 2b, so basically Eaton replaces Hamilton, which makes all kinds of sense. Lefty bats Anthony, Mayer, Duran, Abreu, and Hamilton pretty much stink against lefties. I'm guessing Anthony and Mayer are in the lineup to continue their development and as a hedge for when lA brings in a righty or two. Eaton, Ref, Gonzalez and Narvaez have OPS's over .900 vs. lefties. Rafaeala and Story's are .772 and .726.

Everyone whines about the defense, but last night the Angels scored 9 earned--repeat, earned--runs with just 6 hits. Our pitching staff gave up 11 walks, 2 HBP's and probably a WP or 2. Pitching is the problem despite that great run of 6 wins with Giolito, Buehler, Dobbins, Bello, Crochet, and Giolito again having excellent starts plus good bullpen support. That run ended just 8 days ago. Now Dobbins is on the IL, Buehler was awful last night, and the bullpen is struggling.

Me too.

Story was great at 2b when Bogey was here. But I'm fine with him at SS and Mayer at 2b.

Makes sense.

Well said and supported by sound statistics. But I'm a tad more optimistic. For starters, I really like the additions of Bregman, Crochet, Chapman, and Narvaez. When Bregman returns and replaces Hamilton in the lineup, the Sox hitting and defense will improve. I like Mayer and Anthony and think their hitting will improve this season. Rafaela (.918) and Story (.825) both have OPS's over .800 in June. So I think a lineup of Anthony LF, Rafaela CF, Abreu RF, Bregman 3b, Mayer SS, Story 2b, Toro/Gonzalez/whoever 1b, and Yoshida/Ref/Duran at DH would be good on offense and defense. The problem is pitching. Breslow done good bringing in Crochet and Chapman, but you need 11 more pitchers of some competency, and all those arms on the IL are part of the problem. On the plus side it was just 10 days ago when the Sox got 6 straight excellent starts from Giolito, Buehler, Crochet, Dobbins, Bello, and Giolito again. Same goes for the bullpen who were also excellent on that run. So I'm not at all ready to throw in the towel, and I hope the FO isn't either.

It's the pitching. Last night the Sox staff gave up 9 earned runs. The Angels only had 6 hits, but were helped by 11 BB's and 2 HBP's by Sox pitchers. Buehler gave up 5 ER's and Whitlock 4. The signature inning was the 1st when the Sox hitters provided Buehler with 3 runs, after which he gave back 5 to the Angels. After the Sox tied it in the 6th at 5-5, Whitlock gave up 4 runs to finish off the Sox. All this talk about baserunning and errors masks the real problem, pitching. Last night, Wong and Hamilton, batting 8th and 9th, went 2 for 7 with 1 rbi.

It's westcoastitis, which we have seen before

And the NESN guys never even noticed. Thanks very much.

Whitlock at 34 pitches showing a ton of heart.

Good points.

That hurt. No outs and a man on 3b.