illinoisredsox

Doubt it; those dreadlocks you know.

Interesting; Leon has been catching Porcello much of the season.

Maybe he ought to try and grow one (although he looks so babyfaced that might be a problem). Anything to get him out of this funk he's been in. That goes for Bogaerts as well, although I think his wrist is the major issue and we probably ought to temper expectations on him for the rest of this year. Time off is the cure for him and the Sox can't afford to give him that right now.

This is so full of BS I may need to get out my boots. People are down on Hanley because of one thing and one thing only; he's not performing to expectations. It's not because of dreadlocks, skin color or anything else. People were on him two years ago because he didn't perform. He put up good numbers last year (especially in the second half) and guess what, very little criticism. This has not been a good year and the critics are back. Ditto Young, he's not having a good year and isn't really doing the job he was brought in to do, hit lefties. Nothing to do with his beard (which quite frankly, I had not noticed). What's the excuse for the criticism of Moreland for much of the season? Sale and Pomeranz are loved because they've been pitching well. Porcello has not and guess what, people are down on him. Want to go back to the Manny era, how many people liked JD Drew? Don't recall a lot of "hate" for Pedro, but Schilling sure gets his share. Bottom line in Boston and every other town, if you do well, most fans will love you, if you don't; they won't.

The rain out yesterday actually was NOT in the Sox favor. Sabathia was supposed to start the regular game today, but the Yanks are taking advantage of the ability to add a 26th player and are using a AAA guy in game 2, bumping Sabathia to Thursday. Say what you want about his stuff, but the man has been kryptonite against the Sox this season (3, 3-0, 0.90 ERA, 0.850 WHIP in 20 innings). I would rather they not have to face him. Sox will face Sabathia, Gray, Tanaka and Severino. A series split this weekend would be just fine.

Magic Numbers: Division - 28 Wild Card - 25

I'm starting to wonder what kind of base runner Nunez is. He easily could have been retired 3 times on the bases tonight. I know the contact play was on but he didn't exactly try and stay in that rundown to let Betts get to second.

Angel Hernandez is the 3rd base ump; need I say more?

I honestly have no idea what that second sentence is trying to say.

I don't see how Price could be in the mix in September. He hasn't pitched since July 22, and I believe is still throwing on flat ground. Even if he were recovered to the extent that he could pitch, you can't just put him out there in the middle of a pennant race. Ideally, you would want him to get 2 or 3 rehab starts, and with minor league seasons ending Labor Day, that becomes an issue. Greenville will be in the Carolina League playoffs, but of the other affiliates, only Salem has a shot. The only way he takes the mound in September is if the Sox lose a couple starters for whatever reason, or maybe he could be used in long relief in an out of hand game.

Magic Numbers: Division - 29 Wild Card - 26

Texted one of my old college roommates last night (who also lives in Sugar Land); he said he had gotten about 2 1/2 feet of rain at his house, but all was well so far. I cannot fathom that much rain. This whole page puts our Red Sox discussions in perspective, doesn't it?

I think my signature says it all. | | v

No, the Sox have not won their season series against the Astros. They are 2-1 with 4 to play at Fenway the last weekend of the season. OTOH, they did win the season series from Cleveland 4-3. All of which means nothing once October rolls around.

And yet we see opposing left fielders come in and play it pretty well. Heck, Holt has gone out there and played it decently on short notice. You have to start wondering about Benintendi's willingness/ability to learn.

The coaching staff can pound balls off the wall all day, every day but Benintendi has to put the work in and the lessons have to stick in his brain. The coaching staff can't do the latter.

Magic Numbers: Division - 31 Wild Card - 27

Have to disagree on Benintendi; he has made several mental mistakes this year. I don't see every game but I have observed numerous throws to the wrong base and overthrowing the cutoff man. How many times has he gotten too close to the wall and had the ball bounce past him (missing the ball is physical, putting yourself in a bad position so that the miss can happen is mental IMO). There have been a few times he could have gone 1st to 3rd and didn't. Missing the cutoff man is the one that really stands out; we aren't talking a Clemente or Evans type arm here.

As predicted in the Thursday Red Sox game thread, Torre took care of his boys (they might even be reduced on appeal).

Magic Numbers: Division - 32 Wild Card - 28

It was either 1967 or 1968 when Gibson NEVER was taken out of a game during an inning. Couple of differences between now and "back in the day": - every pitch now seems to be thrown with max effort. Overall speeds were less back then, but a pitcher would throw his fastball at 85% and rear back at 100% when he needed it. - a lot more breaking pitches, especially the slider (which supposedly is very tough on the arm)

Wouldn't count on it. Torre's in charge of that; I don't trust him to do the right thing, especially at this time of year.

And that's not just this year. If I remember correctly, the Tribe is the only team that Sale has a losing record against in his career (at least among teams he has faced more than one or 2 times) and I think his highest ERA against any team is also the Guardians. Every pitcher has one team he beats by throwing his glove out there and one team he just can't beat.

Yep, one of those games.

Wouldn't break my heart to see all 3 of them gone. Actually, West can be a decent umpire on those rare days he decides the game isn't all about him (e.g., 2004 ALCS). Unfortunately, those games are few and far between. Hernandez and Bucknor are lousy all the time.