illinoisredsox

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.

I wouldn't read too much into anything with Smith yet. He is basically in the 3rd week of spring training.

Magic Numbers: Division - 33 Wild Card - 29

I can't say I blame him there. There are no other OFs on the 40 man roster. IMO, Holt is a better OF than IF (defensively). I'm not saying he's great. But in the midst of a pennant race, I'm not sure I trust the 4th OF spot to a kid (Lin) who has maybe played 20 games in the OF professionally. Brentz, who would require a roster move as in DFAing somebody, might be okay as a hitter but he's a terrible OF.

Yes, but he's also hitting .241 in Pawtucket and is a career .241 hitter over 6 minor league seasons (2000+ plate appearances). He's better than Holt defensively (and probably a better baserunner). Interestingly, he's been playing a fair amount of outfield at Pawtucket (15 out of 27 games). They know he can do the job in the infield, so one has to wonder if the Sox are grooming him to replace Holt in the super utility role next season.

Doesn't even have to be serious to affect him offensively. I just hope they keep him out until it's as healed.

Magic Numbers: Division - 34 Wild Card - 31

According to this, no, so long as he is in the organization. Per Major League Baseball's collective bargaining agreement, players must meet certain criteria in order to be eligible for postseason play. Players must be on the 40-man roster, the 60-day disabled list or the bereavement/family medical emergency list as of midnight ET on Aug. 31 to be eligible for their respective clubs' postseason rosters. Consequently, players that are acquired via September trades or signed as free agents in September are ineligible for postseason play. Clubs can petition the Commissioner's Office to add any player that was not on the 40-man roster as of Aug. 31 -- provided the player was in the organization on Aug. 31 and is replacing a player who has spent at least 60 days on the 60-day disabled list. The Royals were able to use this tactic to add Brandon Finnegan to their roster during the 2014 postseason, despite the fact that Finnegan was not on the 40-man roster as of Aug. 31. Additionally, all players who have served part of a suspension for performance-enhancing drugs in a given season are ineligible for postseason play that year. http://m.mlb.com/glossary/transactions/postseason-eligibility

PH may not be required, but with Lin and Marrero up, it would certainly allow for PR if need be (especially for Leon).

Smith should stay at Pawtucket as long as possible (their season ends on Labor Day); he's still in spring training for all practical purposes. I think that is the plan. 30 days is the maximum rehab assignment for pitchers and Smith was sent to Pawtucket on his rehab on August 6 (exactly 30 days before the end of the AAA season).

They will have to DFA somebody to put Smith on the 40 man as well (he's still on the 60-day DL, which means he doesn't count towards the 40 man). Probably Owens or Elias will go. Beeks would require a release as well. 3rd catcher would probably be Swihart, since he is on the 40 man and Butler is not.

No. I just have very little use for people who sit behind a keyboard acting as tough guys when they would absolutely wilt in the same situation (assuming one could transplant Barnes' right arm onto one's self). A week or so ago, somebody posted that Barnes seems to have that Schiraldi look; I agree with that. Whatever "it" is, he doesn't seem to have it when it comes to being a front half of the bullpen guy. The thing is he'll look great for a couple weeks, and then all of a sudden look like crap.

Bet you wouldn't have the guts to say that to his face.

Helped my son set up his apartment near Philly last week, and then stopped by Williamsport on the way back to Illinois and took in a game (Walla Walla was one of the teams, California was the other). 46 years after my last LL game, I finally made it to the World Series. One item off the bucket list. It really is an incredible place, and you can't beat the price of admission (free). Highly recommend it.

While they may get 13% wrong by the book, all the players ask for is consistency so they can adjust. They don't get too mad about an ump calling a pitch an inch outside a strike or a ball so long as it called that way the whole game. What drives players crazy is when it goes back and forth over the course of nine innings (or worse, 1 at bat).

The really good umps will admit when they blow a call. Remember when Jim Joyce made that horrific call that ruined Armando Gallaraga's perfect game several years ago? Joyce, widely acknowledged by the players as one of the best, couldn't say often enough how sorry he was, how bad he felt, etc. and apologized to Gallaraga personally before the game the next day. Guys like West, Hernandez and CB Bucknor wouldn't have given it a second thought.

And I will respectfully disagree. As I said the other day, Betances should be easy to run on with that high leg kick. No idea of what kind of jump Holt got, but Sanchez made a perfect throw and Gregorius was blocking the base, forcing Holt to go around him on the dive. The Yankees made the play. A feet first slide may well have enabled Holt to be safe, and if nothing else, Gregorius would think twice about blocking the base with his knee next time. That being said, one minor factor here may well have been the fact that Bradley, at the time, was 0-9 (now 0-10) vs. Betances with 6 Ks and 1 BB.

No issue with sending Holt. Betances has a high leg kick, he should be relatively easy to run on. Sanchez made a perfect throw. One thing I'd like to see is more feet first sliding. One of the reasons Holt was out was that Gregorious was blocking forcing Holt to go around him diving in. Go in feet first and infielders might stop blocking bases so often.

It might be now.

That being said, one really has to wonder if the vertigo still has some lingering affects.

So who would you put at 2nd? And if you say Nunez, then who do you DH? Hanley hasn't exactly looked that good lately either.

I know but the applicable comments (the attempted second mound visit) are here.

For the record, the rules are (paraphrasing): 1) A team is allowed 2 mound visits per inning per pitcher. On the second one, the pitcher must be removed from the game. Exception due to apparent injury (and the ump will go out to assure only the injury is discussed). 2) A relief pitcher must face at least one hitter (the batting slot must complete an AB) or otherwise finish an inning (e.g., a runner caught stealing to end an inning finishes his obligation).

So the bottom line is: 1) Farrell, who tried to make a pitching change when he couldn't, needs to recharge his two working brain cells. 2) His biggest critics here, a) didn't know what happened and don't seem to know the rules. Am I to conclude that they are operating with 1 brain cell?

Do you mean after the Hicks homer? If so, then how in the world would Kimbrel have had time to warm up? After Gardner wa hit, Hicks homered on his 6th pitch, two of which were swinging strikes. Do you mean after Judge walked? That was only 8 pitches later (and when he brough Kelly in). I'm not convinced that Kelly was fully warm.