illinoisredsox

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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.

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.