8/30 - vs Blue Jays, Eh.

[Slasher9]

get out the brooms to sweep up these blue balled bishes.

Big Dick Rick vs Happ.

Another Lefty so Brock Star should still be on the pine. although i guess that means CY will be in the lineup.
Vaz tonight? i believe so.
Rajai leading off again? he effing better be. he's WDR dance had me perplexed though. need to see it again. tonight.
Closer? i'm going with Kelly.

btw - john gibbons has the worst mooka face in all of baseball. he constantly looks like someone just pulled out their weiner and pissed into his bowl of cheerios. i might hate his face more than i hate showalters. TBD.....

[Bellhorn04]

If it comes down to it I could see Workman being tonight's closer.

[TylerD]

Big bounce back game for Rick tonight! Lets get 3 in a row boys!!!

[mvp 78]

If it comes down to it I could see Workman being tonight's closer.

Reed and Kimbrel are definitely not available.

[TylerD]

If it comes down to it I could see Workman being tonight's closer.

No need. Porcello is going 9 innings with a no hitter.

[Thunder]

SWEEP PLEASE!!!! Win. Dance. Repeat. x3

[Maxbialystock]

Definitely want a sweep because our guys are due a longer bounce back from the horrible 4.

Of those 6 games--4 losses, 2 bounce back wins--the most common thread is starting pitching. In both wins the starting pitching was good to very good, both quality starts by Pom and Sale. In 3 of the losses the starting pitching was terrible--Sale then Porcello then ERod, who turned out to be the best because he went 6.2 innings and "only" gave up 5 runs. Fister pitched great (another quality start), but lost, not because we couldn't hit, but because we couldn't drive anyone home. The Sox left 25 guys on base.

The second most common thread is weak hitting--19 runs in 6 games is 3.3 runs per game.

As someone once said, momentum is all about your next starting pitcher.

Happ gave up 5 in 6 innings his last time and lost to the Twins in Toronto. Porcello went 4.2 and gave up 11 (4 earned) to the Orioles at Fenway.

Gotta give the pitching edge to Toronto. Given the last 6 games, maybe the hitting edge too.

But a baseball game is like of box of chocolates: you never know what you're going to get.

In NYC, meanwhile, the Indians are up 2-1 in the 6th, Bauer vs. Garcia.

[mvp 78]

Bautista is a hoser, eh?

[mvp 78]

Davis LF,
Nuñez 2B,
Benintendi CF,
Betts RF,
Bogaerts SS,
Devers 3B,
Ramirez 1B,
Young DH,
Vazquez C,

and Porcello RHP

[illinoisredsox]

Davis LF,
Nuñez 2B,
Benintendi CF,
Betts RF,
Bogaerts SS,
Devers 3B,
Ramirez 1B,
Young DH,
Vazquez C,

and Porcello RHP

Interesting; Leon has been catching Porcello much of the season.

[Maxbialystock]

Interesting; Leon has been catching Porcello much of the season.

Yes, but this is the better lineup and Leon could not prevent the bloodbath of Porcello's last start. If you dragged Leon into a court of law and accused him of being a great fit for Porcello, I'm not sure you could get a conviction. I personally think Leon is the better catcher (except, these days, for his arm), but Vazquez sure ain't no big step down. I wish he blocked pitches better, but that's about it.

[Bellhorn04]

Yankees lose!

[bosoxmal]

Isn't it time to part with Young? Maybe bring back Castillo?

[bosoxmal]

Interesting; Leon has been catching Porcello much of the season.

It's about time! Also time to say goodby to Young and bring back Castillo (or even Swihart is he's healthy)

[S5Dewey]

SWEEP PLEASE!!!! Win. Dance. Repeat. x3

Now that we've got the "Thunder is back at college" jinx behind us.... JUST WIN!