vegasbob

Since we are talking a Realistic View of 2019, get real. Say the Red Sox win the #1 or #2 WC and get to play one game to set up the ALDS series. Even assuming Eovaldi is back and in good shape, along with regular rest for the other 4 starters (Price, Sale, Porcello and Rodriguez) , who do you start in a one game playoff, with the season on the line ? Even assume Sale has full physical capabilities and is not tired, since Cora rested him most of September. Who goes for you ?? Then who is first out of the pen when you have a one run lead opening the "clean" 7th inning ?

Had to leave after about the 4th or 5th inning assured of a win, given the lead. Came home and didn't look up the score but just read this thread first. Told me all I needed to know. All the answers are self contained. Relievers who cannot throw strikes are next to worthless. Any reliever exceeding 20 pitches in an inning is treading on really thin ice. Any reliever brought out for a second inning is like tossing dynamite sticks to kids. A reliever who consistently throws curve balls (Barnes/Workman) will not be consistent , low pitch count out getters. Barnes throwing 36 pitches to get 2 outs is on Barnes first and Cora second. I personally have disliked Barnes as a key reliever for the last 2 seasons. He can post all the numbers you want to support him with but a more gutless wonder I have never followed.. Brasier needs to be studied from the scrap heap he came from, the Japanese League. His contribution last year was like several on this team who played way over their pay grades and won a stunning championship. As Steven A. Smith says, "Happy Birthday, Good Luck, I don't care !". Just check it out, when the pitch count exceeds 20, the majority of the time the reliever fails. Today was a wasted effort where Brian Johnson gave you a 5 inning gift and then 4 guys in the pen, including Shawaryn blew it big time. Barnes with 2 losses and 5 blown saves, as a veteran reliever, in less than a half season is the primary culprit. Brasier is a nobody and should never be expected to be a winner.

Chavis is making progress to figuring out how to be an effective hitter. good for him and us.

Early lead compliments of JBJr. Very nice work

Very little question based on June 21 & 22 that brian Johnson is a far more effective pitcher than Chris Sale, especially in Fenway. Also the offense never scores early for either guy

Could not agree with you more, with only the exception that Mike Trout , playing in a pressure free environment, does carry the load year after year and performs well. He is welcome to the money Artie Moreno is paying him. One reason for trading Betts this winter is to get a couple of young, high potential players (OF'er/pitcher) that he might bring from a team that expects to sign him long term. There are only a handful around.

The only reason this game won't be a 15-12 slugfest is that neither of these pitchers is likely to go more than 3 innings, if that.

Imagine no runs scoring, you can do it if you try. Imagine Eduardo Nunez wearing another uni Imagine all the fans leaving Fenway

Another f'ing ball swung at that never reached the plate. Clueless AB's

This is a contending team relying on JBJr and Nunez for run support. At least Leon can follow Sale to the showers

Will JBJr make you flinch right here ?

It may sound very odd, but could you imagine a trade deal this year with Sale and others ?

Really need an HR to tighten this up

Remember when DD thought he had the BP locked down with Kimbrel closing and 2 near closers right next to him---Thornburg and recently released Carson Smith

Colten Brewer's stats for the last month keep getting better. Maybe he's the real deal after a terrible start. I guess he takes Thornburg's slot.

I noticed from the first inning that Thornton concealed the ball until very late in his delivery making his 93-95 FB all the quicker looking. Actually pitching a good game.

So Sale is eligible for 3-8. Nice help from the offense

Well, it's not the contract year, you see. Just wait until 2020 to place your real Betts

There's the top of your lineup against a 4+ ERA rookie type pitcher, playing at home. Thornton has no pitch count issue to help us get to the Jays pen.

WTF was that Mookie ? Then the popper upper once again by Beni

This is the top of the lineup ready to make a move on the Jays lead. Nothing happens here, could be a wasted night.

Got to get into the Jays pen sooner than later to pull this one back. Sale has maybe 1 inning, 2 at the most, now that he's warmed up.

Glad Chris Sale showed up in time to lock down the Jays. It was like he wasn't ready in the first. Now OB can keep counting K's.

Chavis must watch a lot of Beltre videos where Adrian launched from his knees. f***ing pitch did not even reach the plate. Developing low tolerance for Chavis' non-competitive AB's, interspresed with some rockets

Sale is as perplexing as JDM in a slump. He certainly is not the workhorse ace/stopper that you can count on to set the tone for a contending team.