5/22 SOX @ Rays 6:50PM ET

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Btw, tonight's HP chUMPIRE has been excellent on his calls. Almost robo-like.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

The guy I'm thinking of is Daniel Nava. He stayed on 2d when the next Sox batter bounced one off the RF wall.

And don't forget knuckleballer Wright who pinch-ran, slid back to 2b (I think on a throw) and injured himself badly enough to go on the 60 day IL.

If Wright was still on the team, the SOX would have a battery of Wright and Wong.

[vegasbob]

Great game, great run by the Sox, but up ahead looms armageddon. The Sox have to go back to dreaded Fenway Park, where dreams are demolished.

Truly bewildering with the W-L record at Fenway, and it is not a 1 year aberration. Winning at home for this team should be a given.

[vegasbob]

I can wait. The guy went on the 60 day IL just from swinging a freaking bat. I think he's due for TammyJohn surgery.

An actual concern going forward , at least this year, is that Casas will always be one swing away from reinjuring it.

And it does seem to take time ( weeks) for him to get up to speed at bat.

[Maxbialystock]

If Wright was still on the team, the SOX would have a battery of Wright and Wong.

Actually, I think Wong could catch a knuckleballer.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

An actual concern going forward at least this year is that Casas will always be one swing away from reinjuring it.

And it does seem to take time ( weeks) for him to get up to speed at bat.

Well, one thing's for sure. Casas won't get Wally Pipped by either of the 2 guys playing 1st at the present.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Actually, I think Wong could catch a knuckleballer.

If not, the SOX FO could always give Montgomery a call.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

If not, the SOX FO could always give Montgomery a call.

Having checked the internet on Monty, I discovered that he was the last major leaguer to bat w/o wearing a helmet.

[Maxbialystock]

Grissom is off the hook. Aranda of the Rays went back to 1b on a grounder to Grissom, which he completely mishandled, but still had plenty of time to get Aranda out.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Having checked the internet on Monty, I discovered that he was the last major leaguer to bat w/o wearing a helmet.

This fits in nicely with another old SOX player, Don Zimmer, who was beaned seriously enough to initiate the use of batting helmets in MLB.

[vegasbob]

Zach kelly is another thrower, not pitcher. I would not want him in a high leverage situation which he almost created in the 8th. A 2.18 WHIP and 10 walks in 7 innings over his last 7 appearances provides evidence.

[vegasbob]

Grissom is off the hook. Aranda of the Rays went back to 1b on a grounder to Grissom, which he completely mishandled, but still had plenty of time to get Aranda out.

I recall a few TalkSoxers constantly referring to Grissom as he faltered getting ready to play in early May. I don't know Vaughn personally but had feeling he was not all that he was cracked up to be ( short on experience). He does offer club control for multiple years and maybe will learn to hit. He has been unlucky with his hard hit balls going At'em. However , 60 PA's with ONE walk tells something

Overall, not sure where this one can go. i think only upwards because you could not be a lot worse to date.

[vegasbob]

Kelly is determined to make this a save situation for Kenley. Burn your teammates, Zach.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Here's another thing that came to mind. In both 1967 and 1975 the SOX lost the WS in 7 games. In '67 they entered the WS w/o Conigliaro, who was hit in the eye by a Jack Hamilton fast ball. In 1975 they entered the WS w/o Jim Rice, who was hit in the arm by a bad pitch. Both were major contributors in those respective years.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Sweeping their way back to Fenway.