vegasbob

Kelly might have been a BP favorite with his peers with a sense of humor. Plenty of Dodger fans laughing at him now. I don't get the same feel for Kimbrel as a great clubhouse guy. I suspect he was quiet, pitched the 9th with a clean inning, with a lead, and went home. No direct knowledge of Craig, but a guess.

if any given hitter became adept at slapping the ball oppo, the other team wouldn't shift on him . That in turn would open up more of the field to him.

Betts' 2019 will be somewhat forgotten by the time he signs a 10 year deal for the $300MM or sits out 2021 ST waiting for the call.

If athleticism was the key to overall baseball success, you would not have seen CC unsuccessfully trying for his 250th career win last night. OK, he's an easy target. The significant criteria for baseball success include, eye sight better than 20/20, fast reaction time , superior eye hand coordination, quick twitch muscles not just bulk strength, sprint speed running. There's probably a few more testable metrics that will weed out those that succeed at the HS level, but not beyond AA level.

How about just recognize that is where the pitcher will throw him the FB until he learns to take a few up there ? His quick early success ruined any plate discipline that he had , if any. Now it is burning him with that late, upper cut swing. Chavis could be a stronger Bogey or another Middlebrooks as mentioned. Please someone work with this kid to get the former not the latter.

That was an "early" critical game. Going to Barnes should not have been an issue. His performance under the conditions was unfortunate because it fuels the arguments over whose a loser and idiot. But here is something to watch. Barnes and Workman would be considered by most to be our #1 and #2 RP's right now for shutting down the opponent. Barnes relies heavily on his knuckle curve, and Workman on a 12 to 6 breaker. In high leverage situations, reliance on curve ball command/control can vary a lot night to night . Despite his fastball, one of Kimbrel's risks last season was significant use of his curve. It may be too predictable, but set the AB up with a FB strike before going to the curve to try and get strike 3 swinging at a non-strike. Be nice if either of Barnes or Workman had a good change up to really mix the hitters up. Matt can throw mid 90's, so he should be able to throw a sinking straight change which would be a killer. Or maybe a splitter can be developed by these guys. WTF do LeVangie and Bannister do in their spare time anyway?

25 games remaining in June with 9 against inferior opponents (Jays, O's, KC, ). 3 with the White Sox, although trailing Minn by 11 1/2 , are 29-30. There are 4 games with the Texas Rangers who are actually nominally ahead of Boston for the second wild card at 30-27. The remaining 9 , however, are against teams with current better records and above us in standings in the AL (NYY, TB, Minn). If there is progress to be made, these games need to fall 16-9 in our favor. Get 7 from the weak ones, get 4 from WS/TX, then 5 of 9 from the leaders. Doesn't sound dominating but do it first or improve on it if the Sox can. Be nice to see Sale get 3 of those wins, and Eovaldi with a couple. Price can do 3, Porcello and Erod get 2 each, leaving 4 come from behinds for the bullpen to rescue.

London is not American either. If they Brexit before we get there can Barnes still pitch?

Isn't London end of June for 2 ?

We need the Rainman in the pen.

America has more asphalt than ice, consequently the weighting towards b'ball. Also much less equipment for single parents to buy.

Smoking Joe has been truly awful. He brought the WS hangover with him to LA.

No doubt bad conditions for a curve baller like Barnes, but that is an ongoing s*** show only equaled by Clint Frazier's.

Barnes well over 20 pitches, nobody out, run in by balk. You cannot make up this stuff. But look at his numbers, he's an All Star.

Unreal that either this game goes to a rain delay or Matt Barnes , with all his stats, can't shut them down. Can't get his curve ball gripped in the rain.

If your OF experience consisted only of shagging BP flyballs, you would be better prepared to play RF than Clint "The Rifleman" Frazier

Rafi's improvement is visible this year, including the field. Had a pretty slow start like all other (ill-prepared) Sox players, but has settled in strongly. Gives some hope for others in his age group, club controlled , not expensive guys.

X be earning his new contract extension. Carrying this team, with Rafi, while others have been slumping. Slump does not include Leon nor Nunez , lol

So it must be Barnes for the 8th due to the lineup going back to the top. Another two runs might help, not because of Matt but just because.

gardner still the world's best 2 strike, foul ball flicker. No one gets it past him

OK, Beni gets it going too with some help from helpless Frazier. Credit where its due.

Great place to have added the runs. 2 hits last night from Leon, two from Nunez, Holt gets a 58mph flare that counts.

Great execution to get out of that mess. Score some runs

Well, that would be 3 straight shots after prior perfection by Price

had the good fortune once to stand behind the batting cage for RS BP at the old Rangers stadium. Boggs hitting line drives all over the field sounded somewhat similar to gunshots