vegasbob

How the heck is Nunez supposed to play with you on his back ? You are a splinter in his finger, which Eduardo is giving you

OK, being positive, I would really like to see Joe Kelly be effective today and show what he can do. The Sox need him to be there with good command and high 90's stuff. If he throws 50% curveballs, I will throw up.

Workman fields like Price but quick reaction by Nunez and Lin stop the damage. A nice tidy 22 pitch inning from the bullpen ended by a base running mistake by the Tiger's McCann

Brandon Workman's ERA is still better than Matt Barnes even after spoiling Sale's attempt to lead a team shutout., but no story here folks, keep moving.

A sweep in Balt would be very welcome , then 3 of 4 from the Twins at Fenway followed by a 2 game win over the Phillies. Keep the pressure on NYY

Notice how the top of the lineup comes alive after the game is pretty much decided. Nothing but stat padders in the 1-3 positions. Looking to hook some literalist here into a debate

He's thinking, " I wonder if the plane will have WiFi so I can get a couple hours of Fortnite before Baltimore ?" Price doesn't think, he just overreacts.

Tomorrow's headline in the Globe: Stumpf Stumped by Bett's Bat

Sale does what he is supposed to do and win following a loss, this time with good support. Let's see if the vaunted bullpen can get the second shutout in 3 games, unlike Sale's opening start in Tampa way back in March. Just enjoying pulling some legs here in a potential Sunday win, pressuring the Yankees to match

We all have players we like to see in the game, Fred Lynn being one of those, and Mark Bellhorn as well. Just not feeling it with Matt, but obviously wish him and the team well throughout the season and playoffs leading to a ring. Hopefully Sale will have some gas in the tank in October and that Barnes doesn't give everyone gas , lol

Is it the 42.5% of the entire teams errors that bother you or the 27% K's ( not that unusual this year, is only 1 behind JDM for team lead) or his .291 OBP or his baserunning ? On the other hand his 48 rbi's and 14 HR's in the first half were OK for a virtual rookie. The .240 BA exceeds the CF'er and all catchers and Pedroia's .091

If hydration is important to musle performance and brain function, why are baseball players always spitting ? It used to be the tobacco but now its seeds and gum making the saliva glands overactive

Top 3 guys in the lineup, a combined 0-9 on a hitter's day.

Yes for JBJr , the bottom feeders are giving Sale the gift of a win opportunity.

See my comment on the baserunning fools on that last play. Are they ignoring Feebles or thinking way too much ?

Also a pretty smart baserunner on the ship of fools baserunning team

OK, I will concede to the stats presented by the Matt Barnes Fan Club and acknowledge his great contribution to the Sox success this year. But one final note, Matt Barnes will be the losing pitcher in the last game played by the RedSox in 2018 , which has bigger implications than his stats .

Just keeps on hitting, now 2-2 today

Good thing the lower half of the lineup is around to carry the deadweight in the 1-3 slots. In truth, Betts, Beni and JDM should be pounding this guy. But, oh wait, he's a LH'er

No thanks. His stats do not make a difference when he throws the ball over the lot trying to find the strike zone. I cringe when he comes in because he basically is a thrower , not a smart pitcher. I am glad that his inabilities have not yet caught up to his stats when he throws another 25 pitch 7th inning and K's a .200 hitter on a 3-2 pitch with the bases loaded that went into the opposite batter's box.

Odd how the Red Sox and Yankees are on track for 105+- wins with very shallow pitching staffs, and Houston with the GOAT rotation may win fewer games in the same league, different division. But if you think the Sox will prevail in any 4 game series with just Sale , Price and Porcello , try again. Far worse in the era of 5-6 inning starters is the current bullpen featuring some of the most unreliable arms you can assemble outside of Kimbrel, and he has a few moments when he looks like Ryne Duren warming up. Dave Roberts of Red Sox fame, now managing the Dodgers said as much about his team after another blow up where he had to use 4 pitchers in the 8th inning, then his closer Jansen. " Still don't have a clear idea of which reliever can be counted on from one night to the another. To be honest we are still trying to figure it out" Sounds like Cora. All contending teams are searching for one or more consistent pitchers who throw effectively.

This alignment makes a lot of sense since Devers would still get the most AB's (vs RH'ers). Nunez gets off his feet/knees for a couple days at a time. Can Holt sit on days Price pitches so the 1-4-3 DP won't risk Holt on a throw from Price, assuming David can handle the ground ball. Not a Swihart cheerleader , but I wonder how many guys out there who have not played meaningful MiLB nor MLB games at catcher in 3 years can step in with very few reps and handle the mental and physical aspects of a MLB catcher ? Not many. It takes smarts, strenth, versatility, quick thinking, pitcher and hitter knowledge (with bench help), a good arm and oh BTW, you are expected to hit also. Swihart gave up an entire season due to his unfamiliarity with the ridiculous quirk known as the LF roll up door at Fenway. Anyone is free to rip Nunez and Swihart , like I rip Carson Smith, Joe Kelly and Matt Barnes (forget Thornburg now) but right now you are dependent on these sub/scrubs for 2 critical positions 2B and catcher. Just IMO. Devers learning ( or not) the game at the MLB level reminds us of Shaw and Middlebrooks, plus the seecond year struggles after a quick intro late the previous season of Benetendi and Bogaerts. It will be boom or bust going forward.

Based on info on weather .com, the rain could continue until late afternoon (4-5PM) in the Detroit area. So it may be a cool (mid 60's) damp night. I will guess they will go all day to get it in, and make Sale pitch into a mess. Maybe a night for a bullpen game started by Joe Kelly

Some "small sample" post A-S stats: Sox have failed to score in 94.5% of their innings. They gave up 20% of their lead over the Yankees yesterday. Rafael Devers accounts for all their errors . Tyler Thornburg's ERA is 36.00 Sox are averaging 0.5 runs per game, and have only one hit with RISP in 18 innings Despite all that, they have matched NYY's record so far while eliminating 2 more games off the schedule. You don't have to beat anyone except the one right behind you to win the AL East and avoid the WC game My apologies to some of our very sharp , data driven analytic types on the site, who do provide meaningful information.

The only problem with winning 2 of 3 in a series is that it actually reduces the overal winning percentage of this team. Fairly amazing. It's like Betts could go 2 for 6 and lower his average.