moonslav59

Certainly, that could happen. There's a strong chance Pablo does not do well when he returns. I'd give Pablo a pretty long leash though, assuming he hasn't gained 10 pounds while on the DL.

It's hard to know that when a pitcher lets up 6 unearned runs after one error that no runs would have been scored the next inning had the out been made the previous inning, afterall the pitcher did let up multiple hits after the error. I think we've lost 2-3 games on fielding errors. We've also made some bone head plays not considered errors, and I'm not even talking about base running mistakes. My guess is, we've lost 3-5 games due to mistakes on defense and the base paths.

He will- big time!

That's better than most teams have. I'm also fine with Hernandez at SS long term. He's better there and at 2B than 3B. Plus, we have super sub Holt coming back soon. Apparently, everyone loves this guy. Back to 3B, we have 13 errors already at 3B. The next two teams have 16 combined! I'm thinking if Pablo will not be back soon, I'm getting real close to wanting Devers to get a shot.

I'll blame "the cliff" on trading Espinoza.

The worst 3 ERA- teams are... 122 Mariners 121 Mets 117 Tigers All were thought to have strong pitching staffs on paper. The top 6: 78 LAD 85 HOU 86 AZ 87 COL 88 CWS 89 BOS

Did I mention how glad I am we got... Chris Freakin' Sale! 2017 WAR 2.5 Sale 1.7 and below others K/9 13.13 Salazar (but with a 5.20 ERA) 13.04 Sale K/BB% 32.9 Sale 26.7 Pineda 26.1 Scherzer WHIP 0.77 Carrasco 0.77 Sale 0.81 E Santana xFIP 2.25 Sale 2.41 Pineda 2.43 McCullers 2.60 Severino 2.84 Kershaw ERA- 25 Vargas 37 E Santana 38 Paxton 43 Keuchel 46 Carrasco 47 Leake 51 Sale AL Leaders 2016-2017 Combined (200+ IP): WAR 7.6 Sale 6.0 Verlander & Porcello 5.5 Quintana 5.4 Kluber 5.1 Tanaka xFIP 3.14 Pineda 3.31 Sale 3.38 Keuchel 3.42 Stroman 3.43 Archer 3.51 Kluber 3.52 Price 3.68 Tanaka 3.80 Sanchez 3.86 Porcello (Sox have 3 in the top 10.) WHIP 0.98 Sale 1.06 Verlander 1.07 Porcello 1.09 Fulmer 1.10 Kluber ERA- 69 E Santana 70 Fulmer 72 Sanchez 73 Sale 75 Hamels 76 Porcello 77 Verlander K% 28.2 Sale 27.9 Pineda 27.4 Archer 27.3 Verlander 26.3 Kluber 24.0 Price (Porcello is 11th at 21.8) K-BB% 23.1 Sale 21.5 Pineda 20.2 Verlander 19.6 Archer 19.5 Kluber 18.7 Price 18.1 Porcello (3 Sox in the top 7!)

No, just the top qualifiers by innings pitched.

I think we're about to go on a nice winning stretch. Just a hunch.

Some interesting names at the bottom of the WHIP list this season: 97 (worst) A Wainwright 94 Zimmerman 93 Salazar 92 Moore 90 Sabathia 89 Teheran 87 Arrieta 83 Quintana 81 Harvey 74 Verlander 70 Kluber 66 Lester

But, who has great players on the bench? Comparatively speaking, I think our bench looks very good for short term injuries, and better than average for long term. Long term: OF: Young plays FT. 1B: Moreland or HRam plays FT with S Travis available. 2B: Hernandez/Holt, Rutledge SS: Hernandez, Marrero 3B: Hernandez/Holt/Rutledge and eventually Devers C: Swihart takes the place of Vaz or Leon. Beyond these guys, we don't have much, but this is prey decent, at worst.

Is the nerve issue related to the mix up over the off season workout regime?

lol!

I still think our bench is one of our greatest strengths. We have a winning record despite having our $30M+ starter on the DL all year, our 4/5th starter (Wright) now out all year, our other 4/5 starter (Pom) missing time, and a whole slew of everyday player injuries, illnesses and family leaves. I know all teams have injuries, but other than 3B, I think we have filled in for lost players very very well. Vaz has done a great job as our back up catcher. Moreland and Young have done a very good job playing full time, instead of platoon. In fact, they've done better vs "the wrong handed" pitchers. (Moreland .879 v LHPs/.793 v RHPs and Young .827 v RHPs/.566 v LHPs) As for 3B, it's hard to blame a GM for having his top 4 third basemen out injured for a significant time. Having to bring up Marrero is stunning. Our bull pen has been led by pitchers not expected to be on the opening day roster had everyone been healthy (including Smith & Thornburg). If you agree that this would have been our opening day pen: Kimbrel, Smith, Thornburg, Kelly, Barnes, Ross & Abad, then these pitchers would be considered "depth": Heath Hembree Robbie Scott Ben Taylor Brandon Workman While Kendrick has sucked as our 7th starter, once Price returns, we might not have to see him again.

If it was so team friendly, he should have demanded a no-trade clause. I get your point, though.

At first, I felt Devers looked more like a 1Bman than a 3Bman, at least as he matured, but according to reports, he has done a very good job improving his defense on the farm. I see him as our 3Bman of the future, until he proves otherwise. (I still have not given up on the idea of acquiring a top defensive SS and moving Bogey to 3B. This would allow Devers to play 1B.

Pedey has not just lost speed. I'm still thinking he should not bat first or second anymore.

More than Bagwell? More than Lynn? More than Burleson?

It's not greater than the ML team, unless maybe HRam goes on the DL too. $22M HRam $21M Porcello $16M Pedey $13M Kimbrel $12M Sale $6.5M Young $5.5M Moreland $4.5M Bogey $4.5M Pom $3.6M JBJ $2.8M Kelly $2M Abad Plus scraps for others

With the day off, we don't need a 5th starter for a while, so they brought up Ross for pen help. Johsnon, Velazquez and Owens all have shown reason for consideration as our next 5th starter. So far, we've gone through three 5th starters: Steven Wright (Out for the season.) Kyle Kendrick (Just sent down.) Brian Johnson (Had one start earlier.) If Price had been healthy, one could have called Pomeranz our fourth 5th starter.

Even Sparky Lyle for Danny Cater is worse than this one.

I think the pitching will come around (again), especially when Price and one of our two good RP'ers return.

Here's the worst stretch: Starting AUG 15 2 v STL 3 v NYY 4 @ CLE 3 v BAL 3 @ TOR 4 @ NYY ending SEPT 3

I agree. This one was like a punch in the gut. Losing Fisk was a travesty, but that wasn't a "signing" or "trade"- just sheer madness and incompetency. . The CC signing was horrendous, but we got out from under it, so I'd say the Pablo signing was the worst signing.

It is frustrating for all of us Sox fans, but the season is a long one. An optimist might look at all the injuries, illnesses and family leave days we've lost along side still having a winning record and think we're not so bad off.