5GoldGlovesOF,75

How can we not like a guy whose walk-up song is "Soul Kitchen" by the Doors? A song written almost 30 years before he was born... there's a throwback guy focused on getting a pitch to hit in his zone.

... you can lose and then lie that you really won... but there's no way intelligent fans, media and the league would ever fall for it.

Cora's plan for the last 14 games: Sale will start the 6 games vs. Baltimore, with Houck, Whitlock, Pivetta and Richards pitching the final four innings each night; Eovaldi and ERod will split the starts in the other 8, with all hands on deck in the bullpen.

O's pen threw high leverage innings every night vs. NY.

Joe Churches!

O's swinging from their heels vs. Sale, almost as if they have nothing to lose, no pressure, and there's only two weeks left in the season. Pedro might say a few up-and-ins could make it more uncomfortable for relaxed hitters.

I won't buy one. Yellow is cowardly, blue sad. And they really stick out like a yellow shirt in a sea of red somethings: shirts, caps, letters, stockings, number one fingers, etc

Sox may have to figure out an "injury" to an infielder so they can add Joe Churches to the postseason roster.

A hard-earned DP Oops, wrong thread

Good point -- which makes viewing the box even less reliable: the 2D outline isn't representative of the actual 3D (or as you point out 5D) zone. As for high breaking balls, some umps give up on them out of the hand or when they reach the plate -- but because of the depth of the actual zone, we viewers see some called balls hitting the target mitt "in the window" as Eck calls it... Let's hope Sale's slider is vicious and cutting deceptively out of the zone tonight!

Serious question: Since we all know that the distance of a batter's "letters to knees" or even the unofficial "belt to knees" fluctuates with every single individual, do networks ever expand or constrict dimensions of the box to reflect each individual strike zone? It sure doesn't look that way to this viewer.... Btw, wouldn't modern computer tech have a way to automatically and instantly update every at bat accordingly?

... and a goalie stick. And lend it to Vazquez.

If he were smart, he'd refuse to catch that...

So of course expect to see lots of bleeders, bloopers, bobbles, overthrows, blown saves and platoons of ghost runners on second every night at the witching hour.

Agreed -- I hate the box. It is imperfect, misleading, obtrusive, manipulative, and a crutch that all networks think they should follow suit with, to impose upon viewers. Relying on a fake outline is like a business that requires male employees to wear neckties to contrive importance... because, you know, someone somewhere once thought it was a good idea -- even though ties ensure no respect whatsoever, and look ridiculous flapping on a windy day or dangling in a bowl of soup.

For that, we need Sale to be Stretched-Out Sale before his second Covid quarantine.

Alright: who has predictions for final victory totals for this stretch run? I got Boston at 8-6 and New York 9-7 for 91 wins each, and the Jays at 12-4 for 94. I want the Sox to win more, and expect them to win more, but with the erratic way they've been playing -- including pulling out some dramatic Ws -- maybe an 8-6 finish is a realistic goal that could qualify them to play at least one more game...

I would do it, but would Bloom? If the Sox move X to another position, would he opt out?

Good point. But for me as a spectator, a quick grounder seems less painful than three flailing swings and misses at sliders breaking down and away to the same exact spot out of the strike zone. It's my own issue: as a kid I once struck out a lot, then worked for decades at attaining discipline in the box, and it's an approach we now coach to all young hitters.

Since my post was to caution some fans -- and agree with others -- who maybe aren't fond (like myself) of watching whiffers... to be careful what you wish for. Great stats, btw.

Thanks for the math lesson. I'll make sure I bold-face just might be enough, could be, and may have to next time.

I know you're joking, but would even Joe Kerrigan start that first trio with a postseason berth on the line? Tell notin that Bobby V is holding an online contest to see which talksox posters will be those outfielders' late-inning defensive replacements in Washington. Bottom line: Cora will want to keep at least one big bat on the pine for late-inning pinch-hitting heroics. Who fans prefer will be irrelevant, since the Nats' starting pitcher will determine whether JD or Schwarber is in the original line-up.

Improving the D, as has been said, could also weaken the O... for those of us who can't handle the truth of three true outcomes: Baez, Correa and Story all strike out more than Bogaerts. Baez even leads the majors in Ks this year.

Boston's season all comes down to Baltimore. The Red Sox have 14 games left, six with the Orioles. The Sox have to go 4-2 vs. the O's, and just break even in the remaining eight vs. the Mets, Yanks and Nats... that will give them 91 wins -- which just might be enough to win the second Wild Card berth. Ninety-One Ws could be a best-case scenario for New York, who'd have to go 9-7 the rest of the way. The Yankees play their last nine vs. the Red Sox, Blue Jays and Rays. Even if NY has a winning record in that final grind, don't be surprised to see weary pinstripes crushed in a one-and-done -- probably by Toronto, which could win 95 and have domefield advantage. Of course, the Sox-Yanks may have to play one more if they tie, to see who'll qualify for the WC game. How will Kevin Cash manage those last three in the Bronx: rest regulars or go all out to win? Who would Tampa rather face in a best-of-five ALDS? Maybe a better question is: who do the Rays think has a better chance to beat the Jays on the road -- Boston or New York?

We'll have at least three DHs on the bench... where they'll become PHs (in swimming pool parlance, the latter is often associated with "shock" interventions).