moonslav59

Well said. Lefties who know how to pitch in Fenway are better than righties. You could just see the Dodger batters trying to hit homers to LF, and Sox pitchers throw it where they can't do it.

...and the DO suck!

This team has been great and deep all year. We run well, field well, hit well and pitch well. We didn't win 108 games by mistake. Yes, guys like Vaz and Kinsler are highlighting what a great team we have this year. Before it was Nunez, Devers, JBJ and everyone else given a chance to contribute,

Me, too, and I felt the same way about Kelly. It is a good lesson to learn. Good managers and GMs put faith in the players and not just what they have done recently.

We're doing better against the best pitchers and teams in MLB than we did against regular season foes!

Like when? 3 years ago?

If he sucked, we coulda kept him!

Probably so his arm doesn't fall off, and we can use him later this series.

Why sign anyone this winter? Just let DD make a few in-season deals again. (Pearce was a huge get, too. Kinsler filled a need as well.)

Damn !!! Almost fell in there.

Make Machado lead off the 9th,

Although Moreland was 4 for 10 after his long rest, I'd prefer Pearce vs a RHP over Moreland vs a lefty.

...or, just leave Pearce in.

Price is reborn. The 2017 Vaz has returned. Kinsler has joined the big hit parade. 2 out thunder is the playoff MVP. Kelly is like the Kelly we saw earlier this year. Devers is flawless tonight in the field. JBJ going to LF. Like I said, gotta like it!

Thanks. Had to take the dog to the vet, and just caught up on delay.

Don't be so sure. We've used starters from the pen on their natural throwing day and then they started on time.

There might still be a couple that need to learn the lesson. (Not DD.)

Agreed. It's not like Nunez has been a worry for the opps this year. Devers has been deadly.

Gotta like it!

Too many have no idea what a good fielding play actually entails or even what a good fielder fielding the baseball looks like. I loved playing baseball, and when I got too old to play anymore, softball kept me going for a while. To me, defense was always my passion (in basketball, too). As a kid, I didn't dream of hitting a game winning grand slam in the bottom of the ninth in game 7 of the World Series: I dreamed of making a spectacular catch crashing against the wall. I was never a very good hitter, but my two favorite personal memories in sports were a defensive plays I made as a CF'er. One was robbing a guy of a HR in left-center field as i collided with the left fielder at the wall. The other was a miracle play I've never seen anyone else ever do. The ball was hit a long way over my right shoulder. I turned and ran, thinking I had no chance at catching it and would play the ball off the wall. When I turned to look, while running full speed away from home base, the ball was right there. I had not time to get my glove properly positioned so I swatted at the ball as it went by me. Somehow, the ball ended up in my glove, even though my glove was only opened facing away from the plate. I had caught the ball as my glove was moving downward away from me as the ball was past me. My teammates and opponents were in as much shock as I was. I'll never forget that play. I probably had a few big hits here and there, despite being a below average hitter, but those memories are lost.

Signing anybody based on a 5-10 start stretch is usually not a good idea. I have more confidence in Sale being strong all next year than Eovaldi.

If we win this year, like I'm pretty sure we will, I think Henry and DD will keep us competitive for another year, but they may have re-setting the tax in 2020 or 2021 part of the 2019 plan.

I wasn't for signing depth last springs. I think you were. I'm not for spending big on a starter next year, unless Henry opens the checkbook wide. I'm happy with the 8 guys we have going into next year, and feel like we can trade for someone next summer, if we need a starter. Eovaldi was not that expensive. Maybe DD will find a good one again, if needed.

Official lineup 1. Mookie Betts, RF 2. Andrew Benintendi, LF 3. Steve Pearce, 1B 4. J.D. Martinez, DH 5. Xander Bogaerts, SS 6. Rafael Devers, 3B 7. Ian Kinsler, 2B 8. Jackie Bradley Jr., CF 9. Christian Vazquez, C

He did move JBJ up in one playoff game, I believe.