oldtimer

Yes, Cora is resting some people and sometimes that means giving away games we could have won. I also realize that PO series only last for short periods and guys that remain in extended slumps may easly wind up costing us series. We need to play the guys that are getting it done once we are in the Post Season.

Say that after we lose two to the Guardians in extra innings when we only have a couple of guys hitting. Offense coming from anywhere in the lineup can make the difference in winning or losing. We have a throwaway at bat with the catcher as it now stands.

All you have to do is to watch the games in action. Hembree has been bad and so has Thornburg. Pomeranz has nothing left and has been very ineffective and Scott doesn't get it done. At least with Cuevas, he has the stuff to be an effective pitcher. You guys that want to denigrate those who watch the games carefully and fall back on a constant litany of stats do yourselves a disservice

I agree, especially if the contract required to get a Kimbrel is longer than 3 years.

Watching the game last night tells me our offense is shakier than you suggest. Moreland and Kinsler are in slumps, Devers can be hot or cold, Beni will not pull the ball 90% of the time, our catchers don't hit, JBJ is swinging for the fences. Yes, Cora could have put in JDM, Holt, Nunez or Swihart into the game last night when 1 hit would have won it, but our offense was stagnant except for Mookie

Cuevas had an excellent showing last night. He has had good stuff, better than many others but my question about him was he experienced enough and calm enough to be able to deliver. He probably won't make it to the post season but he is head and shoulders above Hembree, Scott, Pomeranz and Thornburg.

I play a couple of games starting tomorrow morning so will leave the game, which may now be over for all I know. A few observations. Cuevas has impressed me in the past and had an excellent outing tonight. I doubt if he will make the PO roster, but he is better than at least one who probably will. Cora is playing MOreland and Kinsler tonight. Both are mired in slumps and provide nothing offensively. Be nice to win the game and we sit both Holt and JDM on the bench. i am generally discouraged by our hitting in which we seem to be late and poor contact, fouling a lot the opposite way. The player who has done that most of the second half is Beni. Tonight again, he fouled the opposite way and when he hit the ball it was to the opposite field or to left center. His home run total shows it, he just is not pulling much. When he does, he hiits weith more authority. Lots of our batters did that. Lin looks confident at the plate compared to most. Sorry that he won't make the post season. I would go with 1 regular catcher, Swihart and Lin. Mookie is really the only Red Sox player that hit with authority tonight. He was great, despite the last two strikeouts.

Brasier has been great for us and he had one of those occur. It happens and we have to move on from there. The opponents pichers have the same concerns. Hopefully, we will weed out most of the guys who aren't performing so we will be the best we can be.

The playoff roster is probably set now, barring any last minute injury. The possible exception is with the last reliever and with a slighter chance, one of the catchers vs Lin. The question that comes to mind now is to whether to put in the hotter hitter versus the slumping player. In my mind, the slumping players we have currently are Kinsler and Moreland, which could be substituted for by Holt or Nunez for Kinsler or Pearce and Swihart for Moreland. In both cases, it would be giving up some defense for more offense. The hope is that both Kinsler and Moreland will show some offense before the end of season but it hasn't been that way of late.

Kinsler is in a fairly deep slump at this point as is Moreland, so it might be better to go with Pearce at 1st and Holt at 2nd. Go with the hot hands.

I would add catcher to that list.

The Sox are resiliant with three hits and two runs to tie it in the 8th. Lot to like about them as they keep fighting.

Mostly negative comments here. We did get Devers to hit another and his resurgence is a positive. Also Swihart hit one and is a real alternative among our weak hitting catchers. Be nice to see Moreland and Kinsler do more to balance the team better for the PO.

We could wind up facing Oakland.

We won't do anything this year, but I hope there is a change coming for 2019.

It looks like Moreland and Bogey can use a rest. Our catching situation is what it is. Rest may help, but I am skeptical.

Those are the relievers I prefer as well, although Workman needs to avoid another meltdown where he refuses to throw strike. At least he has a sinker that can force groundouts.

Maybe he'll get the booby prize for the lowest batting average in the league! The guy needs a rest.

It showed last night and has to be deflating to the Guardians. They had most of their first string on the field and we had mostly backup players on and yet we still beat them. I didn't expect what happened, but there it is.

8 games to go and if we split those we would be at 109 wins. Hard to believe. One more win or 1 loss by Houston and we clinch home field advantage in the PO's. Looks like that will also happen.

Hard to miss. When we got a save opportunity, we went back to Kimbrel and I am glad Cora did. This win has to put some doubt in the Guardians fans minds.

Great for him. He can play. On a night with 12 hits and everybody except JDM having hits (he walked twice), LTime to think of something like a rest period while Vaz catches. I still question whether both Vaz and Leon will make the PO roster.

I agree. Doesn't seem to learn quickly. Maybe he can field at 1st but that is no slam dunk either.

I don't like the idea of putting Wright in to a game with opponents in scoring position. Passed balls are at a high risk. Better to bring him in to a clean inning where they can a passed ball. Coming in at the 5th or 6th inning, he could bridge to or through the 7th. With Barnes, Brasier and Kimbrel available, we should be able to handle two inn ings late.

Pretty easy to see, although Barnes needs to show he is okay. The question I have is whether Workman gets the final spot. Certainly Kelly has had problems and Hembree is at the extreme back of the line and should be gone next season.