vegasbob

Very late ( top 9) but I thought Rich Hill deserved a game thread on a night when he , again, delivered a very credible 6 innings of shutout ball, including 9 Ks out of 18 outs. Sox in line for a 2 game win streak as the ever reliable Matt Barnes tries to close out the O's.

Barnes was just fooling with them, lol

Only 6 more outs to nail this one down . At least it keeps the concept of a .500 team alive even if already pronounced brain dead

Note to Bloom: If Jake reed comes available, go ahead and pass. That is not a great delivery

Strahm went from being useful to being clueless in a couple weeks

Wacha in position to win another despite a slow start. The hitters are staying away from garbage pitches by O's in the 3rd. Sorry, Wacha gives up a couple in the top 4 and gets pulled by AC.

So glad to have my own thread, posted about 3 minutes after the one that got used. So here it goes. Soxc lose to another AL East rival but prevented for one day Aaron Judge's assault on the Maris record. The bullpen did blow another save. Couldn't advance nor score runners on second with no outs early in the game . Wacha pitched well enough to win but 9 outs, then 12 proved too much for the BP once again, although a bright spot was Barnes did not blow nor lose it. He may be the surprise factor in '23. Kike remains a player I choose not to root for . Casas either hits HR's or doesn't hit anything but will work a walk. He should improve . McGuire throws parabolas no matter what NOTIN says. The Sox cannot finish at .500 with this crew but fortunately, there will be at least 5 or 6 new regulars next year to assess and see if they are winners.

Moon, here is my only point of contention. The objective of the players, field manager, FO and ownership should be to win every game possible . It is not to balance the budget, finish .500 or better, develop players who are marginal or otherwise just do good in general . That is fine for high school sports and collegiate levels since most of those players will never go beyond that level. But if you hold yourself out to be a professional team the W-L's are the measure, no other stat matters except in contract negotiations. When I see marginal efforts or results or a losing team that has been handcuffed by its own lack of awareness or self imposed budgetary limits , becoming a consistent loser then it's time to call it out. I know the knock on being a "Rays Fan" is that they have never won it all , just come close year after year. That is probably more frustrating to their 3 or 4 fans than the Red Sox roller coaster ride over the past 10 years+ . You said it yourself. Better to win a few times than not at all. Agreed , but how do they gain continuity so tha tthey are competitive every year, even if not the eventual winner of the WS... I actually believe Bloom and thereby ownership is trying to do that with the MiLB improvements and trying 49 assorted pickups. It hasn't gelled yet, but maybe it will. If it doesn't in 2023 then I do think you will see turnover in the field management and F.O. Meanwhile I just hate losing and losers who can't dominate the situation.

He's in surgery to correct to correct his hip condition and have him ready for ST in Feb '23

Your boys got walked off. Find the positive in that

Why, their park is not historical nor quaint ?

Warning track power, Judge. Barnes had him figured by putting down the middle

Yes, the ballpark is uncomfortable but historical and quaint

Either that or re-spell my name RefZnyder

Here's a suggestion. You watch your game and I'll watch mine. Where did the throw home wind up? There was little chance of getting the out in any case , but in Kike's case, no chance . Do me a favor and put me on ignore because you are an irritant in an otherwise wonderful season. JBJr is well above average in CF, but the guy cannot hit

That was a "looping" throw and did not go to the right side of the base so Bogaerts had the tag in the wrong space. You need to go out of your way to call that a good throw.

I know some of you love Hernandez in center, but I think his defensive skills and arm are average at best. A manufactured run ties it up again. Brasier cannot avoid the one run given up. Sox needed 9 outs, got 4 of them.

Safe !!! Vaz used to throw lasers to second. McGuire throws parabolas

I'd like to think other wise but when he gets the leadoff man on , bad things tend to happen

Trevino looks like Yogi Berra with his gear on

All the hits (ex Pham) come from the lower half of the lineup. #2, 3, 4, 5 are 1 for 14. This phenomenon was also prevalent during july and August with a mixed bag of players while Devers, Bogey and JDM went into slumps.

As before this a season, the team wakes up from their afternoon snooze about the 7th/8th inning . Take the lead , and turn it over to the 9 outs required bullpen ! I'd suggest scoring about 4 more.

Why walk him when he K's just like JDM and Bogey, waving his wand as if it had no power left. Judge is washed up and done after that AB. No one will sign him, especially not the Sox

If Higishioka can make a simple out, then Judge can deliver the Slam. Except Wacha could laugh and issue an intentional walk for just 1 run

And don't forget 2004, 2007, 2013, and 2018. Plus the 5 last place AL East finishes in that era.