5GoldGlovesOF,75

It was just bad luck, according to NESN, because the D-Backs were the greatest team in the history of this weekend. They're so good right now, when they finally get they're 3-4-5 batters back in the line-up, they'll be the F-Backs.

Watch the leather, man...

Breslow's boys finally picked a lane: Runaway Truck Ramp. It's an isolated place, usually on the decline, to help deal with hitting the brakes... away from others racing down the highway... away from the race. (you see them mostly out west, or in the Red Sox' case, west of Cape Cod)

OB and Youk just want you to know, a thousand times, "Arizona is the best team in the NL. Arizona is the hottest team in baseball. Arizona is so good at everything. Arizona is the only reason the Red Sox can't win this weekend. Arizona has the biggest snails that only come out at night."

Maybe, but I like the Globe calling them the Zombie Red Sox, because they keep coming back from the dead. I didn't read the article, but I picture the mob in Night of the Living Dead, arms flailing... at double play balls on D, lobbing meatballs from the mound, and swinging and missing in the batter's box with baserunners on third. And yet -- they. keep. coming... Kansas City and Minnesota are only two games out of first place in their division. Starting tomorrow, the Royals play 7 of their next 10 vs Cleveland, then three vs. the Twins... who play three vs Atlanta, then Toronto, Tampa, KC. The Guardians still have to go to LA to face the Dodgers for three. So nobody has a lock on a playoff spot in the AL Central.

Rich beyond belief, playing for a team committed to winning, in the best weather in the country... ... though hitting in Petco Park isn't quite like the Fenway experience.

Anthony hit a home run over the scoreboard. In the video, the sign it clears says Norfolk Airport. Any HR that goes over an airport traffic control tower has to be a very large sample size. https://nesn.com/2024/08/red-sox-star-prospect-belts-moonshot-in-second-straight-game/ (scroll down)

What Xander wouldn't accept from the Red Sox was their repugnant offer of a one-year extension. Even the dumbest fans like me could immediately see through that ruse, intentionally insulting the face of the franchise Silver Slugger in his prime (along with his mega-agent), to ensure he'd leave in free agency so they wouldn't have to pay him market value... much less a San Diego overpay.

Again, it only made sense to the Red Sox front office. He sucked for two years. And, all Moon's maybes could have also come true if Boston had instead traded for Burnes or signed Montgomery (sure, he's had a crap year, but who knows how different it would've been if Boras got him signed for a normal spring training, and he worked out of the same home as his wife, who was interning in Beantown. Monty, btw, just told the press that Boras is the one who blew it with the Sox last winter...

I was going to type a long post of outrage, but my fingers cramped up and my eyes went blurry. Maybe I'll be ready again by the next deadline.

They really didn't think that; they knew what they were doing. They also know what needs to be done -- and have for years... to win... but also, to just field a full team in order to turn a profit. They've just chosen to do the latter, lately. As for the former -- not right now... not yet... (hopefully, for our sakes, it won't be never again).

No link? Despite the old timey saying, a walk isn't as good as a hit -- not for moving baserunners, that is. A well-placed or hard-hit single (think, off-the-wall at Fenway) often moves runners two bases -- or even three, sometimes, if you're Duran or Mookie dancing off first. Yes, I'm referring to Betts scoring the walk-off run in his final game as a Red Sox, on a bouncing single by Raffy. Boston has so many big whiffers these days, how about batting their best contact man -- Yoshida -- after their best power guy? He's no righty, but then again, he's no Romy Gonzalez, either...

There's no stat for this, but someone will probably try to find one anyway: Devers has no superstar protection batting directly after him in the line-up. I've been worried about this since last winter... He's drawing more walks -- and expanding the zone -- because teams have no reason to throw him anything he can reach in a big spot. If you watch enough games, you recognize the plan: "pitch around him -- if he swings at crap, we get him out; if he doesn't, we'll get the next guy... just don't let Devers beat us." The Seattle manager who did, lost the game, and just lost his job (maybe it was a coincidence). Refsnyder, Wong and O'Neill have all had productive seasons, and heroic moments, but none of them are as feared with a bat like Raffy, the Red Sox' record-setting 28-year old. Maybe Casas, once he shows he's fully healed (if possible this season), can bat behind Devers. Or maybe someone like Anthony or Campbell can soon be that guy, so Raffy can finally have a Manny-Papi or Judge-Soto season. Put it this way: does any fan think Devers has truly peaked, and is incapable of an even better career year someday?

I haven't forgotten most of the players Cora was forced to use at shortstop the past two years, but I definitely remember that few were actually big league caliber defenders -- no matter how good or bad the pitchers were. And you're right, there are always plenty of good glove infielders available -- that the Bloomslow Era refused to pay barely minimum wage for while we wait for Story to rehab and return.

But only if he plays for Boston... The make-up is the day game Monday, followed by a regularly-scheduled nightcap. Jansen could catch in place of the departed McGuire, or pinch-hit if Cora decides to catch Wong in the first game. Jansen was batting for Toronto with an 0-1 count when the game was suspended. They should let him finish his at bat in a Blue Jays jersey, have him strike out intentionally, then pinch-hit in a Red Sox jersey later. Some traditionalists might prefer him to K for both sides; now that would be a record. But I'd give him the walk-off hit sign (it's point at the Monster).

Meant to put on the outside. Nothing should be blocking my colon at my age.

He was intrigued when an intern whispered in his ear, "Max Fried" because John heard FREED, and thought he was free. Then he saw the name in print. "FRIed? See -- I TOLD you about free agent starting pitchers... they're all FRYED."

Negative entitles might say low tide stinks, but Sam Kennedy assures you that the entire Red Sox front office is committed to use every resource -- so he has outfitted every analytic-retentive employee with clam rakes. "Anything we pull out of the mud is liable to be just as good as what we could get at the trade deadline," he lied. "There's oysters in some of those pearls."

Newman! ... Kevin Newman has a 2.1 WAR and 1.3 dWAR while playing 52 games at SS, 30 at 2B, 10 at 1B, 4 at 3B. Arizona, who signed him for just this year, was obviously willing to pay the going rate for a good defensive utility man... (note to Breslow's 24 Asst. VPs:) the D-backs gave Newman $200 grand more than MLB minimum wage. ... and I have no idea how a smiley face got into this post; if I did, it'd be a frowny face

I can't believe you're calling Moon that, after vowing to clean up the language in your posts.

Sale also has better weather, home cooking, and is finally stress-free from annual ring expectations of all the unreasonable fans and rabid media in New England.

Still waiting for a lumbering (yet clever) baserunner like Casas to sew like three oven mitts together, end to end, and then try diving headfirst with an extra-long extension.

You ged a D+ for allideration!

Niko Kavadas homered for the Angels. How will he ever recover from the psychological damage of being called up to the majors after only three full years in the minors?

John Henry is glad you're coming to his senses. Why would any sports fans rooting for their favorite team ever expect them to try to win?