bosoxmal

I disagree. I think the influnce of Ortiz will be of inestimable value. From the stat sheet, he appears to be a contact hitter. Fair K to BB ration. I don't it's possible to get a goodd line on a player until he's faced the best. Then grows. I wouldn't expect too much, however.

I know he numbers exist, but I have no idea what they mean. You say Betts is pretty standard. They all look pretty standard, I guess. But, it's the when part of those games. Wins and losses. It has come to the point where, late in the game, it is not Bogaerts or Bradley we're waiting to come w/2 on, it's Betts. His hitting with men in scoring position must be much better than the other three. The last two nights are typical of what I mean. 2 on, 2 out, score 3 zip, he comes up with a base hit, and the "Lift" to the team is obvious. Last night, 1-1, 8th inning. Bang! No way they are going to lose this game. He brings "something" to the team that Yaz and Williams did. We all know that Papi had it also. I think Betts is even helping him hang on!

We can all read the numbers. You name it. OPS, RBi, doubles, SB, whatever. They tell us the what but not the when. Am I right when I repeat, "as Betts goes, so go the Sox." Am I biased? I hope not, but it seems like every game we win, Betts is in the Pivotal Points discussion. I guess I could wear myself out pulling up every game, and seeing how many we won when he went "o-for" and compare them with games where he either homered or had multiple hits. And a lot of those games have been on the road! Yes, I think we'll go 7-4 on this trip.

Great job, Rob!

Probably not, but looking back over the first half of the season, the other AL East teams had similar trips. "Stiff upper lip", as the London footballer might say! I have a feeling, we might be OK and do a little better than 6-5!

Time for ball and strikes cameras. Tradition? What's that. I sw my first game in 1932 at Braves Field. There were 2 umpires, I think, boards for bleacher seats, and enough empty seats to let us all in after the 3rd inning (or maybe the 4th). The game has changed, mostly for the better. Some of these umpires are blinder rhan I am. (and I am totally blind in my left eye!.

All of you who had some sort of premonition, raise your hands! Without getting sloppy about it, Mr. Betts could have saved this season, RIGHT THERE as the announcers love to say,

When Mookie Betts strikes out twice, in the same game, on a ball he couldn't have reached with a rake, you know there is no lack of frustration making the rounds. Some sort of shake up is needed---soon. This year is about 6 games from being over.

How many times have we come from behind to win a game? This year, that is. Once, twice? I don't remember them.

And off-speed balls.

Wright must have a pocket full of shamrocks!

Final game of the trip, we have wasted some great opportunites. The Orioles are folding, but the Jays are winning steadily. The Rays look like they might send the mighty Yankees back to NY with their tails dragging. Is today's game a must? No, but Wright has to get something going. Sticky day in sunny California. We can take 6 of these 11 games, and not fall out of it. Any thoughts?

Sitting here watching Brentz who has as big an uppercut swing as I have ever seen and wondering if there is anything the coaches can do about it. A few minutes later Puols loses one, and the end of the swing shows the bat head about even with the letters on his jersey.

Sounds good to me! And, the sooner the better! I just hope it's not a bad omen. Anybody else remember the Boston Bees? Or, maybe this would be a way of retribution. God, they were awful!!!!

Marsha, Marsha, Marsha! Mookie, Mooklie, Mookie!

The Moncado part is crazy, but not the other parts

With the trade market as zany as it seems to be right now, I have to wonder what kind of pitching prospects we could command for the likes of a Pedroia-Holt package. At the same time, the hot shots from the minors (Moncado and the other kid) could be called up, thrown into the fray, and enjoy the guidance of Big Papi. Do something imaginative for a change! How much would THAT advance their careers. A chance of a lifetime! Go Sox! Do something imaginative while the opportunity is there! (But what do I know; I'm just a rookie!)

I'll be flipping back and forth to and from the convention . Glad we have time between innings! Baseball and political junkies never die, they jsy rot away in front of the TV/ 1

I think I'd rather look to next season and, especially, a half decent pitching staff. Pedro said the other day that we shouldn't worry about Price. I've been "worried" about Price ever since the trade. His past playoff performances have been a disaster. I wonder why. It may have been a decent gamble, but I think Pedro was doing a little hopeful cheer leading. Wright may have some good games left, but it looks like hot-weather sweats are a bigger problem than anticipated. Betts, Bogaerts and Papi have carreid the offense, but it looks to me that Papi knew what he was talking about when he decided to ring down the curtain. I hope I'm wrong, but I think he's an every other day player for the rest of his career. We sure can't expect him to equal his first half. The bullpen is a total mess. Almost as bad as the starters, the Yankees are 4 games (the last time I looked) behind us and coming up on the outside like Whirlaway. No, I have.not thrown in the towel, but I'd rather lose getting younger, than hang around for a one game playoff. But, I'll be at the TV promptly at 10 tonight, and watch the game until I crap out. Msyne the 7th. ot so!

Trade Pedroia and Holt for some young pitching. Bring up Moncada and the Italian kid. Rest Big Papi about half the time. Make the middle of the line-up read Betts-Bradley-Boegarts. Any order you want as long as it's right-left-right. (Right now, opposing managers are drooling, late in the game) when they see right right right, then left left left. That makes it real easy to get people warmed up. Give the 40,000 people who show up every day something to cheer about. Get a pitching coach. Get a manager whos is not a "nice guy".

I also noticed that the Yankees are 4 games behind us. (and they have a terrible ball club). This is a pivotal game---deja vu all over again. The pitching is the worst in many years, and it would take a miraculous turn around by at least three starters to prevent the flood. Lack of imagination on the parts of JF and DD have not helped. If there is a blockbuster trade coming, it better happen soon. Chris Sale and Rich Hill would go along way towards turning things around. Hill's problem is a blister which CAN be resolved.

Betts is an emerging player. He is 34th, in the AL, in OBP!!!! And 11th in RBIs!!! And he's still leading off? He could be moved to the second spot, first, see if the trend continues, and look for him in the 3, 4 or 5 hole after Papi leaves.

None of your arguments are convincing (hitting lead off so as to get 40 or 50 more at bats during the year? Wow, what an idea! Too bad they didn't think of that in the old days, when they might have had Williams, or Musial or Mantle or the Babe leading off so they would get a few more at bats!) And who said anything about changing Bogaerts or Ortiz. I specifically said switch Pedroia and Betts, and we'll have a stronger line-up. With this really bad pitching stafff, we need all the runs we can get---and more!

Pedroia doesn't like leading off? Tough. Most of the players would rather stand in the circle and watch 4 or 5 or more pitches. Who wouldn't? But, most would not bitch about it.

The impact would be little? BRFORE tonight's game Betts was second in the AL in hitting with men on base. (over .400) The first time he comes to bat (20% of the time, at least) there is no one on base. AND, hittin in front of Papi, he would get even better pitches to hit! This BS of someting not broke, why fix it? is nonsense. Why is it not a good thing to get better?