SinceYaz

S5, do you remember when the conversation used to be about whether a relief pitchers were worthy of HOF consideration? The basic negative was that they were only in the game for an inning or so, maybe less. It was a rabid discussion for a while. The sentiment is similar with this never ending squabble. If folks don't think a DH is worthy, it had best be because of his lack of performance.

Absolutely true. Edgar was living in Junior's shadow ... even when Junior left, it was the sucking sound of his evacuating that people felt more than Edgar's presence. Not taking anything from Edgar's talents but your point of the other layers Papi brings are well established. As far as the contentions as to his over all value to the team, DH and/or any other issue, name me the last player on the Sox who was not just CENTRAL to 3 WS crowns but just on the team! Not even Theo was here for 3 ... () We could look back at the rosters of the 1912, 1915 and 1916 ....

I think Pedey's been with us "so long" now that it is easy to forget he wasn't with us in '04. Mark Belhorn is often overlooked, aside from his namesake here.

And even though we lost yesterday, we have had double digit hit games for 6 straight games ....

I know these stats must be so much more pleasant than what you've been so diligent posting the last two seasons! My little kid's mind imagines what this line up's Strat-o-matic cards would be ....

Young has made a case for himself, Moon. What a recovery! DD can show his face, eh? I look at the line up every night (or day) and stand amazed. Never a weak moment. I walked away from the tablet when Clay gave up 4 runs early in the game last week. Admittedly, I had a ton of work to do, but I didn't look back for the Sox to climb the hill again. Silly me. When I came back the score was all tied! I was busy, but I stopped for 10 minutes to watch the offense go off again! Absolutely love it.

Did you mean fish?

I knew you wouldn't be offended. You were a positive voice in our previous experience and I appreciated that. Whiny Red Sox fans always got on my nerves, as you might remember. I appreciate the variety of information I've gained with the different perspectives. When S5 adds the side of smart, that fills in the point I was hoping to make. Heh, we have seen stupid baserunning before ... or on the lighter side, "learning" baserunning (i.e. some of the 3rd base attempts last year.). Now, whenever Mookie, Xander, even Shaw are on first and someone singles deep, they are heading around third and scoring. There have been a couple of dumb plays I recall this season, not picking on Hanley but twice he was thrown out by a car parking spot ... uncomfortable. But HanRam has been another HOT batter as well, so he's well on his way to a great rebound.

He's just Babe being Babe, 700 ... I think he'll behave better here than at BDC, but he will find a point and run with it. )

With ya, man!

Incredible. I do hope he's being sarcastic. )

Almost moved to Ballymore about a decade ago, pre-Showalter. About then there were more Sox fans in stands than O's.... My cousin and friends said some very unpleasant things about my potential arrival, because I planned on going to Camden Yard about 8 times a year. LOL. They were ready to string me up. My sister has lived in the DC/Ballymore area since 1969 ... Think of it ... from the days of Weaver and Palmer to now. Anyway, we didn't move. I was being considered for a multi-racial congregation. But I was too white. Funny since both my wife and I are also native as well as a potpourri of European lines of whatever. We tan really well.

SnC ... prayer not received as desired.

That is why we sent Kimmi over here. JUST KIDDING! I know it makes it more interesting to watch and back when I did play the game, it rattled the lesser ballers when the Lord Mercury was able to steal on us. I do agree with S5, it's smarts, too. They are all using a gene that my memory says the old Sox rarely used. Smart, involved, understanding what was going with the pitcher's motion, speed, etc. .... I'm resisting repeating myself or like minded ones ... It's fun ... no matter who is right

I am remembering blathering on about Ells and Vic being the high speed part of a power offense back in '13. I was really looking forward to speed AND pop. In all honesty, I couldn't be enjoying all the speed on the basepaths, the 1st to 3rd, or even better 1st to home, as well as the sudden surge of HR power from Pedey, JBJ, Hanley, Shaw and the ongoing power of Papi. It is a treat. Just because we get a single doesn't mean that moment has ended ... EVEN HANLEY IS STEALING. It used to be that a guy could get up and make a sandwich, come back and sit down and if it was man on 1st, it would still be man on 1st. Now you make the sammich and come back and he's turning the corner for third because the throw skips into center ...

Heh, G1!!!

Hi JF ... (Don't take that the wrong way ) Right now Vaz is playing a tick above that, so .... .241/.290/.670 and I think he can pick up some. Not worried if he doesn't ...

Don't you just love it when the bat works too? I smile every time there's someone on first, that snap throw Vaz has must have every base runner itchy. Incredible guy... and his arm, if JF is to be believed, isn't 100% yet!!!

Well put.

I can't get my avatar on either, but it appears to have too many pixels... so I'll have to change.

Hey BBss .... welcome aboard and "ain't we havin' fun!"? Hehehehe

Amazing, RSDD ... just smashing amazing! I love everything he's doing, but can you imagine a pitching staff getting past the first 6 in the lineup and thinking, "whew, time to take a breather.... OH NO, NOT JBJ .....!!!" And then back to the top .... wow, just wow!

Kimmi, You know I don't use this type of language out of context, but after last night, again ..... ddddddddddddddddiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!

Kingface may also be thinking of what we have done, in large part, to other team's #1s. Sonny Gray, for instance - even though he seems to be having a rough start to the season as well. But we did pretty well against others, as long as they weren't lefties.

I think it is very sensible to consider this number will come down. I am thinking it isn't out of the realm of reality that it remains league-leading, though. I am also impressed with the two terms I've been hearing and some I've had the pleasure of witnessing. I don't know if there is a stat with initials for it, but the guys are hitting to all fields. They are being played by the shifts based on prior plate experience, but the dead pull hitting of Mookie, Pedey, Papi, JBJ, and maybe even Xander has been, to one point or another, modified so as to give these fellas and advantage over the shift. Shaw is even learning more and more about how to look inside and this last week has seen pitchers trying to pitch him away - and he has done well with that. Papi isn't going to lose the shift and he is still a pull hitter, but some of his dingers have been dead center to left of center. The Other Stat that may remain high is they aren't hitting for mere singles ... they haven't been hitting lots of HRs until lately. But they have been hitting doubles and triples at a great rate. That I can see remaining close to the current pace. Not quite as high but, dahlin' (as we used to say in HS in FL), it is lookin' nice right now.