Doug Fister's last 4 starts: 27.1 IP, 3.62 ERA, 23 K, 8 BB, 3 HR. That includes last week's debacle vs. Cleveland (5 ER in 4.1 IP). In fact, 3 of these 4 starts were against Cleveland. I know he just pitched last night, but is he available tonight?

That ignores two things; first of course is that the Sox are currently in The Gauntlet® and .500 against good teams is quite nice.

I like the idea of the notation next to The Gauntlet∞ changing with every post.

- Being a manager has to suck.  I suspect John Farrell really didn’t have a lot of options on Monday night but when it goes pear shaped like that the manager is going to take his abuse.  Between the way he managed that game and Fister’s complete game the bullpen has gotten a bit of a much needed reboot.

Dude is getting the job done. OK, really, the players are getting the job done, but the manager's job is to put the players in the best position to succeed, not just on any given night but over the long haul. Farrell is getting that done.

In retrospect Monday feels like one of those lose-the-battle-but-win-the-war type of games. I don't want to say it was a good thing they lost, but given the state of the bullpen it would have been a bad thing to go 14 innings, win or lose.

Any thoughts on Rafael Devers’ defense?  He certainly doesn’t look great but he seems better than I anticipated.  His strengths seem to be a very good internal clock and an accurate arm.  On the flip side his footwork seems a little awkward. 

I second all of this, except maybe the internal clock. He's had a few cases where his throw just barely beats the runner, which at this stage I'm not sure if it's because he has an exceptional internal clock or if it's because he has a bad internal clock combined with good luck so far. I sure hope it's the former. To his benefit he doesn't seem to get rattled in the field. In that regard he's no Benintendi, whose defensive demeanor is colder than present-day Ted Williams. And yes, every throw seems right on the mark.

To his benefit he doesn't seem to get rattled in the field. In that regard he's no Benintendi, whose defensive demeanor is colder than present-day Ted Williams.

I don't understand this. Are you saying Benintendi DOES get rattled? That's not my sense and your description of him being "colder than...Ted" makes me think that you agree with me.

Halfway through Jose's "Gauntlet" the Red Sox have done this:

2-0 v Rays
4-2 v Yankees
2-0 v Cardinals
1-1 v Indians (so far)

2 games vs the Indians, 3 v Baltimore, 3 v Toronto, and 4 games v the Yankees left in this stretch.

9-3 so far in a stretch where the intial hope was that they go 15-10 is a very good start, but the Yankees are still close enough that they can make September far too interesting for comfotrt if they take the Labor Day series 3-1.

Also, I will stop kvetching about Rick Porcello. I still think he should be considered the 5th starter when Price is healthy, but he's been solid over the last two months. I reserve the right to go back to kvetching when he blows the pennant race in back to back starts against Toronto and Houston at the end of the season.

Halfway through Jose's "Gauntlet"

This is excellent. I love getting credit for other people's work.

I don't understand this. Are you saying Benintendi DOES get rattled? That's not my sense and your description of him being "colder than...Ted" makes me think that you agree with me.

I'm saying Devers and Benintendi are similar in that regard (not getting rattled), but totally different magnitudes.

Halfway through Jose's "Gauntlet"

This is excellent. I love getting credit for other people's work.

In my version of The Gauntlet♥ Boston is 1-2 against Cleveland, having lost a home make-up game to them in addition to splitting the first two of this series. I'll be glad to give you full credit for the wrong version of The Gauntlet☆.

Also, I will stop kvetching about Rick Porcello. I still think he should be considered the 5th starter when Price is healthy, but he's been solid over the last two months.

ROTATIONAL POWER RANKINGS

1: Sale. He's had a couple of stinkers in the last few weeks, but he's still the one you want.

2: Porcello. Not quite "guaranteed win night" but solid.

3: Fister. Who thought he'd be #3 on this list?

4: Rodriguez. Still having trouble pitching through the 6th. He'd be further down this list if others were healthy.

5: Velazquez. The mystery. He's done well; he's done poorly. He's breathing and warm, which might be the best we can hope for.

6: Pomeranz. Hopefully the injury isn't bad and he'll be back soon.

7. Price. Likewise.

8. Johnson. Maybe straightened out?


When Pomeranz and Price return that doesn't bode well for Rodriguez. I think Fister has earned the spot.

Pomeranz is starting tonight and he's been excellent. Assuming he didn't damage himself too badly he's #2 on my list. I'd also have Edgar above Fister. He may not be getting deep into games but other than the game he pitched after injuring himself in Baltimore he's been good for 2-4 runs allowed every night. That'll do. I'm not sold on Fister yet.

Actually, if we can discuss playoff roster options I think Fister might be a guy who would make sense out of the bullpen. He throws strikes and keeps the ball on the ground. Add in the ability to give multiple innings and I think he's better suited to that role than Edgar would be.

You might be saying to yourself that win one, lose one is not really getting it done.

But your example was win one, lose one, win one, lose one, win one. .600 ball will always get it done.

When healthy (big "when" there) I'd have to go:
1) Sale,
A sizeable gap
2) Price
3) Pomeranz
4) E-Rod
5) Porcello
6) Fister

E-rod and Pomeranz both have significantly better recent track records than Fister, even if Fister had a great game the other night.

Pomeranz is starting tonight and he's been excellent. Assuming he didn't damage himself too badly he's #2 on my list.

Oh, I'd missed that. I'd seen that they recalled Velazquez, so I'd assumed he was the planned starter. Cool. Yes, I agree, he's second on the list.

If we're talking potential, I'm with you on Rodriguez. But the way they've been in the last few starts I think Fister is as likely as Rodriguez to give up 2-4 runs a night, but is far more likely to do that over 7 instead of just 5.1.

Agreed on Fister in the playoffs, but in all honesty their playoff rotation probably wouldn't have Rodriguez either. I'd rather have Price, despite his supposed playoff fortitude issues, if he's healthy; and I'm not expecting a 5-man rotation in the playoffs. The one thing I worry about with Fister in relief is that he's generally at his worst early in the outing. That might not play well out of the pen when he's only pitching early. I still agree, though, that he's likely in the bullpen then.

One thing to note is that the Red Sox have gotten very good outcomes from their 7th through 10ths starters. 92 IP in starts between Fister, Johnson, Velazquez, and Kendrick with a 5.48 ERA... which is good enough for about an ~85 ERA+ and probably a hair above replacement level. Not bad for that deep cut of the pitching staff.

Oakland gets: Rafael Rincones

Boston gets: Rajai Davis

Discuss.

Mentioned in those tweet replies: Selsky DFA'd to create 40-man spot.

I honestly have no idea who Rincones is.

A 19-year-old Venezuelan who hasn't even made it to the state-side minors yet? Playing right now in the DR Summer league. Is that a visa thing? Or is he just a late bloomer?

According to BBRef he just turned 18 last month. SoxProspects said he got a 300K signing bonus two years ago so the Sox must've seen something they liked. Doesn't look like they had him ranked in their top 60 but that far from the bigs that's not a huge surprise.

Boston gets: Rajai Davis

Discuss.

nice addition. still need another bat, preferably one that can play a cromulent 1B.

Aug. 24:

1887 Harry Hooper born
1901 Ump Pongo Joe Cantillon attacked by BOX fans. Players Chick Stahl & Ted Lewis come to his rescue
1908 MLB debut: Smokey Joe Wood
1940 Only time Ted Williams pitches in MLB: 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R/ER, 0 BB, 1 K. DET 12, BOX 1. Bagby in LF.
1961 BOX announce they won't pay Jackie Jensen for any games he misses due to fear of flying
1971 Luis Tiant's 9th straight loss: 23 G, 15 GS, 1 CG, 85.2 IP, 93 H, 54 R, 50 ER, 35 BB, 61 K. 5.25 ERA
1973 Reggie Smith calls Boston a racist city and demands a trade
1973 Carl Yastrzemski, who up to now has only played 2 MLB gms at 3B, plays there. Spends rest of the year (31 g in all) there
1999 Pedro Martinez fans 15 Twins: 8 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 15 K
2002 Manny Ramirez gets on base for 14th consecutive time, then makes out in LAA 2, BOX 0 game
2012 KCR 10, BOX 9 (12). KCR up 3-0 early, then BOX 9-3. KCR w/ 3 run 7th to tie it. BOX's 1st game after their big trade w/ LAD

Another Statement Win last night. How cool is it to be rivals with Cleveland again? Tito, Manny, etc., and recent playoffs, amirite? It appears that they beat us, last year, because of their starting pitching; Dumbrowski acquired Chris Sale in response. That worked; so far, anyways. Earlier this month the Sox beat the Indians over the head with a Statement Win at Fenway, courtesy of Christian Vazquez et al. This Wednesday the onus fell on Cleveland's ace Corey Kluber to prevent the Sox from winning the season series, up against our #2 starter (if you don't count last season's CY winner), and he pitched superbly.

Kluber did make a mistake to Moreland in the fifth and paid one for it. Pomeranz, who never did give up a run as he was able to bear down when he needed to, exited in the 6th because he was obviously still battling the back issue (losing pitches up and away, funny stretching-dances between pitches) but Kelly and Reed also put up zeroes through seven. Up to that point Kluber had been the best of four very good pitchers, albeit down by a run.

Tight game! Then in the eighth, obviously at the end of his dominating outing, with two out and having walked Holt, Kluber went 2-0 to everybody's new favorite ex-Yankee. Next pitch was an 89-mph cutter over the heart of the plate at which Nunez whiffed with a full beltre, falling on the ground in the process. Taking exception to the exuberance, Kluber tried to drill him in the ribs with his next fastball, but Nunez luckily got his (armored) elbow in the way first, resulting in a HBP, moving Holt to second later to be driven in by a hard ground ball from Betts that barely eluded 3B Urshela's glove. The Red Sox proceeded to run away with the victory.

I loved Kluber's choice to plunk Nunez, even though it ended up not working to the Indians' advantage. That was an important moment in the game and in the season. Both teams look to be winning their divisions, which means a repeat of last year's ALDS. Home court advantage might be on the line, neither to mention bragging rights nor Uncle Mo. Cleveland had to win last night in order to win the season series, and if so, they would have had to score two runs in two innings (and they did score one...) Given that, and given the fact that the on-deck hitter Betts had been completely flummoxed all night, the odds against the HBP costing anything significant were extremely high. So it was a good spot for a show of intimidation as there was a good chance that it would pay off down the road, but of course Betts and, later, Nunez put paid to that whole idea. Big psychological win for the Sox.

Umpires didn't warn anybody, Nunez took it like a (hu)man, professional job all around. We all know Tito and Farrell are both pretty aggressive in this arena, so kudos to everybody involved. Goodness me, I do love baseball.

Also:
Xander looks like his hand feels a lot better.
How good has Moreland been? Props to him and DD for his acquisition!
Carson Smith & his playoff eligibility requirements? Skinny, anyone?
Yankees don't seem good enough to worry, yet ???
I've never been a big Rajai fan but I can see he might fit right in on this Sox team

Devers: I like his internal clock, and I'd submit his so-far-good baserunning insticts/results as evidence. His first move is generally quick and accurate. He seems to make good decisions and his range is better than I first thought.

Carson Smith & his playoff eligibility requirements? Skinny, anyone?

He's eligible by being in the system. He'd have to take someone's spot on the 40 man roster (presumably he's on the 60 day DL which doesn't use a 40 spot) but that's easy enough. I'm highly highly skeptical that he can be a realistic option. After nearly two full seasons off he's got to come up, pitch, establish himself as an option to pitch in high leverage spots, pitch in high leverage spots, succeed in high leverage spots, then prove he's going to be able to take the ball at least every other day. That's a lot to do in six weeks particularly for a team that hasn't locked anything up yet.

Yankees don't seem good enough to worry, yet ???

I'd disagree with this. They are a good team with some holes. That rotation is underwhelming but their junkballing lefties (Sabathia/Montgomery) have given the Sox fits this year and our bullpen is so unreliable (hey another Addison Reed dinger!) that their offense means no game is ever over. They haven't lost a game to a team other than the Sox in a couple of weeks now.

Devers: I like his internal clock, and I'd submit his so-far-good baserunning insticts/results as evidence. His first move is generally quick and accurate. He seems to make good decisions and his range is better than I first thought.

Completely agree here. I thought he did a great job on Bogaerts' hit in the ninth (and I agree about Xander's hand as well) getting a good jump and going first to third.

Devers: I like his internal clock, and I'd submit his so-far-good baserunning insticts/results as evidence. His first move is generally quick and accurate. He seems to make good decisions and his range is better than I first thought.

Completely agree here. I thought he did a great job on Bogaerts' hit in the ninth (and I agree about Xander's hand as well) getting a good jump and going first to third.

For baserunning, yes, I agree with both of you. In the field, I'm still reserving judgment.

It was an odd play last night and shifts are funny things, but in the play on the slow roller to second where Devers cut ahead of Nunez to field the ball and then threw too soft to get the runner out it didn't seem like his internal clock was set right. I don't mean that to be overly critical of Devers - it was a difficult play - but it seemed to me like either (a) Nunez had a better chance of getting the runner, or (b) a crisper throw from Devers would've had the runner.

Again, I don't want that to seem overly critical. IMO on that play Devers met my expectations, but if my expectations of him at 3B are lower than y'all then the play really didn't sell me on your expectations. That said, it's not the kind of scenario to do that anyway.

I dunno. I looked at that play a number of times and here's what I finally decided: Nunez was too far away and his throwing angle was too acute so he was never going to make the play, and the timing of how he slowed down to let Devers handle it, I think, supports that view. Devers, at first, thought he could make the play and then decided that the situation called for safety, so made sure his throw was accurate. Because of the weird angle, accuracy involved a slow sort of elbow-first toss, which was barely too late to get the runner.

Otoh on the later texas-leaguer to left (that dropped inches foul) Devers got a great jump and took a good line to a ball that he was never going to catch. I like his quick glove and first move (which reminds me of X-Bo when he came up at 3B), and damnation, can that youngster hit. May I call him Big Puppi?

Again on Devers: of course he'll have slumps and will have to adjust, but it seems that the game is not too fast for him at all. That speaks to the "internal clock" we've been referencing but also to some sense of "baseball IQ" right? Devers resembles Bogaerts when he came up, not Moncada, and that's more of the latter than the former.

So... Price. I'm not getting the sense he's coming back this year. OTOH, they've been handling the absence so far. OTOH, a healthy Price is > a healthy Fister.

I just keep thinking all of the stop-start-stop stuff with this injury means Tommy John at some point, followed by a lost year. I want to be an optimist, but all the vagueness to me is an indication there's something major wrong, but Price is reluctant to get surgery, and the Red Sox don't want to be seen as pushing him onto an operating table. I feel like this is John Lackey all over again.

I'll take the split but that's a bit of a disappointing end to the series. Mookie is apparently day to day. My guess is with the flight home and the overnight he won't play tomorrow. Still, given the respective schedules this week to lose only half a game in the standings this week is a plus.

Gary Sanchez acted like a punk in that brawl last night, taking two separate cheap shots. Youtube link. The first can be seen at about 3:11, again at 4:11, and again at 5:03. After being held back by a coach (?) he goes for the double-dip on Castellanos, even cheaper, at 3:55 and 4:25.

Next chunk (10%) of the season consists of 16 games against the ALE in 17 days, nine games at Fenway, four at Yankee Stadium. [Spoiler Alert!] Sox win more than they lose (I know, it seems an impossible dream) and end up with their only concern being home-field advantage in the LDS. It's quite a testament to Dombrowski's acquisition & recognition of depth (reminding us still of the requisit kudos for Ben Cherington, echoing as it reverberates into the darkness of the past).

Aug. 25:

1926 MLB debut: Danny MacFayden
1963 CLE-BOX doubleheadeer: 17 BOX players K & 27 on CLE. 24 innings altogether
1970 MIN-BOX game delayed 43 minutes by bomb scare
1995 Jose Canseco, BOX, homers for 5th straight game in OAK-BOX game
2001 longest game of the year: TEX 8, BOX 7 (18)
2012 BOX trades Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez, Nick Punto & cash to LAD for James Loney & others

2012 BOX trades Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez, Nick Punto & cash to LAD for James Loney & others

New thread on this topic.

I'm digging Morton's optimism.

The Sox have managed The Gauntlet℉ about as well as could be hoped and are certainly we'd want them. 4 1/2 up with 35 to play is a rather nice place to be. Obviously every series is critical at this point but 2-2 in Cleveland is what we needed.

Incidentally;
Clevinger-Rodriguez
Fister-Carrasco
Pomeranz-Kluber
Sale-Bauer

Is there any game in this series that was won by the team that would have been considered the favorite based on those matchups? I would argue no.

Is there any game in this series that was won by the team that would have been considered the favorite based on those matchups? I would argue no.

And you'd get no argument from me on that, except maybe on Game 1 because I'm more bearish than most folk on Rodriguez.

Also, I will stop kvetching about Rick Porcello

I'm just saying tonight is all Scott's fault. Be true to yourself man! Slick Rick feeds off the negativity!

Aug. 26:

1938 2,000 hits: Jimmie Foxx. 1,673 games
1946 Ted Willliams facs the Boudreau Shift, 3 foot tall Marco Songini runs on field, ocupies 3rd base position - umps chase him off
1957 Red Sox hit 4 HR in 7th inning: Zauchin, Lepcio, Perisall, Malzone
1959 Al Smith Night 5,253 Smiths let in for free. CWS-BOX . Try to make fans like the non-Minoso more. But here is Al Smith's night: DP, K, Error. BOOED
1972 Danny MacFayden dies
1985 David Price born
1993 Wade Boggs first SH since 6-6-87
2002 300 homers: Manny Ramirez

So who has the better arm? Moreland or Davis?

You know what, lets not keep THIS going.

The last 3 games have certainly felt like September 2011.

Yeah, this was bleak. The good news is the Yanks lost two of three and I don't expect this rotation to collapse like that one. That was a bad rotation at this point, this is a good rotation having a bad week.

Aug. 27:

1911 Ed Walsh throws no-hitter. 1 walk. CWS 5, BOX 0. 4th inning walk
1950 2 slams in one game: Ray Boone (CLE) & Clyde Vollemer (BOX): BOX wins 11-9
1955 Best WPA for any Ted Williams HR we have WPA for: 0.736. Slam in top of 9th for team down 0-3. NOT BAD! Slam #14 of 17
1967 WPA's worst Reggie Smith game that not a pinch hit: 0-for-5, -0.380 WPA: CWS 1, BOX 0 (11). 7 hits total by both teams - walk-off-walk
1985 Wade Boggs's 81st straight game reaching best, his max. 128-for-322, 27/1/6 extra base hits, 46 BB. .398/.477/.543
1999 last game: Wade Boggs

See post #36.

Not really what I was hoping for this weekend. Just gotta get back at it tomorrow.

Well not a great 4 days. I suppose a few losses in a row were due, but now they've got Pomeranz and Sale on the bump in consecutive games.
Time to stop the rot, score some runs and win a couple of nice comfortable 6-2 games.

The game with 5 errors was just effing ugly though.

The last four days have sucked but the Sox lost four in a row a month ago then won 16 of 20. I'm uncomfortable but as Hugh notes the pitching is lined up and this is still a good team.

The good news is the Yanks lost two of three

You must be talking about last weekend, not the last three games. And if Aroldis ####### Chapman hadn't given up his inevitable bomb on Friday and the Yanks hadn't gone 0 for 12 with RISP, they would've had a sweep.

one, two, whatever. I'm an accountant not a mathematician.

You must be talking about last weekend, not the last three games.

No, he was speaking about the last three games the Yankees had played when he wrote the comment. I know that's difficult to figure out, what with the date of the comment being up that whole one line.

heh, I forgot when I wrote that, knew I shouldn't agree with that he BTF baseball bigamist.

No, he was speaking about the last three games the Yankees had played when he wrote the comment. I know that's difficult to figure out, what with the date of the comment being up that whole one line.

I knew I shouldn't get involved in threads that stumble along at a snail's pace. On most threads you can kind of assume that a comment a few lines up was made on the same day, and checking the date isn't necessary. But then this is understandably a slow time in Therapy Territory.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

heh, I forgot when I wrote that, knew I shouldn't agree with that he BTF baseball bigamist.

Don't be too steamed when I root for the Red Sox if they somehow stumble into the World Series.

I knew I shouldn't get involved in threads that stumble along at a snail's pace. On most threads you can kind of assume that a comment a few lines up was made on the same day, and checking the date isn't necessary.

Yes, it's Sox Therapy's fault you couldn't look literally millimeters above the line you were quoting as you were wondering what time frame he was speaking about.

Don't be too steamed when I root for the Red Sox if they somehow stumble into the World Series.

Ahem..."stumble", I don't think so. They are going to roar into the Series!

After kicking arse for nearly 3 weeks they were due for a poor run. If we were counting pythag losses then I'd be really concerned as they simply got thrashed in 3 of the last 4 losses. However in the real world, it was just 4 losses. You lick your wounds, move on and get the job done. Their 2 best hurlers are on the bump in their next 2 games and we'll see what happens with that.

Well I'll give you credit for at least being an AL EAST guy! Does Boston sit above or below Tampa and the Blue Jays in your order of support?

Hugh's right, of course. This is neither a team that can't pitch nor a team that can't hit, even though they've looked a little bit like that lately. It's arguable that if they go through a few games where they do neither that they're ahead of the game.

Speaking of wound-licking, isn't Peewee due back any day now? That might help some. And have you seen the swings Bogaerts has been taking on the low & inside fastball lately? His hand is feeling a lot better. And can you hear the 'Jaws' music gathering volume? That's Carson Smith in Pawtucket.

I knew I shouldn't get involved in threads that stumble along at a snail's pace. On most threads you can kind of assume that a comment a few lines up was made on the same day, and checking the date isn't necessary.

Yes, it's Sox Therapy's fault you couldn't look literally millimeters above the line you were quoting as you were wondering what time frame he was speaking about.

I'll take that as a concession, and await your inevitable response where you take this silly sub-exchange even more seriously than previously.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well I'll give you credit for at least being an AL EAST guy! Does Boston sit above or below Tampa and the Blue Jays in your order of support?

Well below the Torontorians,** but above the Rays. The only World Series I couldn't bring myself to watch in the past 65 years (literally) was that 2008 Phillies-Rays mess. Nothing really against Tampa Bay, but it's too Sun Belt and too domed and too recent expansion. At least the Red Sox are a real team with real history, a real ballpark, and plenty of likeable players.

** Bautista, Donaldson, and the melodious sound of "Torontorians" will suffice as reasons

I'll take that as a concession

Sad!

Aug. 28:

1907 MLB debut: Tex Neuer, NYY. 1-0 win over BOX. I month career: 6 CG, 4 W, 3 SHO - then never pitcher again in MLB
1908 BOX release Deacon McGuire
1913 end of Walter Johnson's 14 game winning streak; BOX 1, WAS 0 (11)
1926 Dutch Levsen, Cle, beats BOX twice in a doubleheader: 6-1, 5-1. 24th & last pitcher to do this. No K's all day
1928 Red Ruffing allows 6 doubles in one game. 11 IP, 11 H, 8 R, 6 Er, 2 BB, 6 K
1932 BOX 4, CLE 3 (11). Schedueld for 8/31, but will be an eclipse that day (sure enough, Fenway dark for 20 minutes on 8/31)
1946 Mike Torrez born
1950 CLE leads BOX 10-0 & 12-1 -- but BOX wins 15-14
1967 BOX signs free agent Ken Harrelson
1978 SEA-BOX game has 16 extra base hits: BOX win 10-9
1992 Roger Clemens, age 30 and 24 days, wins his 150th game
1992 last game: Jack Clark

Time to stop the rot, score some runs and win a couple of nice comfortable 6-2 games.

So I posted that at post 41. They are up 6-3, though not as comfortable as I had hoped having to come from behind. 3 Kimbrel outs from sealing this one, righting the ship and being back on their way.
And NY lost so that's nice also.

geez.Smoak making it interesting...

That was terrifying but also the kind of game I was alluding too. Pomeranz grinds through Sox, Devers makes a big defensive play, Workman locks down the eighth and Vazquez goes 4 for 4. Indians do us a favor and back to 3 1/2 we go.

Absolutely, and it's a return to 2017's winning formula: SP gives a QS; batters extend AB's, knock out the opposing starter and take advantage of the bullpen; bottom of the order produces late. Next couple of games feel important, as Thursday starts the last series against the Yankees this season. The Sox seem well-positioned.

Aug. 29:

1908 last game: Jimmy Collins
1932 Earl Averill walks 5 times in a game. 0-for-0 w/ 2 runs. CLE 6, BOX 3
1939 2nd of 17 grandslams for Ted Williams
1940 2,000 hits: Joe Cronin. 1,772 game
1953 Karl Olson, BOX, hits into walk-off Triple Play vs. Virgil Trucks, CWS
1964 Elston Howard Night: NYY sweep doubleheader vs. BOX: 10-2 and 6-1
1965 Ron Hansen, CWS, gets 28 chances in a doubleheader against BOX
1967 Reggie Smith steals 3 bases in one game - only time. NYY 4, BOX 3 (20). Both score 1 in the 11th. 2nd game of doubleheader. 29 innings in doubleheader for BOX-NYY. BOX wins 2-1. Then NYY wins: 4-3 (20)
1977 Jim Rice hits 3 HR in one game: 2nd, 3rd, and 6th innings. Singles in 4th. OAK 8, BOX 7
1983 Jim Rice hits 3 HR in 1 game for 2nd time. 3rd multi-HR gme of month (2 on 8/26 & 8/13 in 2nd game of d-header). 6 RBI. Bos8, Tor7
1996 MIN trades Dave Hollins to SEA for PTBNL: who is David Ortiz
2000 would-be Pedro Martinez no-hitter broken up in 9th by John Flaherty: 9 IP, 1 H, 0 R/ER, 0 BB, 13 K (1 HBP). Game Score 98 ties his personal high
2000 BOX-TBD brawl game: 5 fights, 8 TB ejected (including mngr & 2 coaches). Pedro Martinez win 8-0, 1-hitter & leading HBP in 1st.
2000 13th of 17 times (from 1920 to early Sept 2010) player misses cycle by 1B but gets 2 HR. Carl Everett

Man, I'd have been thrilled to go into the Bronx up 3 1/2, this is wonderful.

Man, I'd have been thrilled to go into the Bronx up 3 1/2, this is wonderful.

The last few days certainly seem to have shifted the pressure a bit. Instead of the Sox needing to win this weekend to keep the div lead, now the Yankees really need to win 3 out of 4 to have a shot at catching the Sox later in Sept. The Sox have a much easier schedule after this weekend, other than 5 vs the Blue Jays every team the Yankees play is in the WC race. Sox get 6 vs Toronto, 3 vs Oakland, 3 vs the Reds, and the 3 vs Houston come as the last series - either the two are fighting for AL domination or Houston at least is aligning its pitching.

OK, I'll confess that this is the point in any successful season when I launch into pants pissing mode. When the race is tight or the Sox are behind I'm pretty zen-like, what will be will be. But now when it looks like the Sox might be seizing a hold on things, this is where I clench up. So let me rant a bit about why I'm worried about this weekend even while the logical part of my brain screams "hey #########, even if they get swept they still have the lead!"

- I don't like the pitching matchups. Honestly that's about it. Sabathia-Edgar, Gray-Fister, Tanaka-Pomeranz, Severino-Sale...honestly I should like those pitching matchups because at the very least I think we have an edge Saturday and the Yanks have the edge on Friday while Thursday and Sunday are effectively toss ups. Somewhere in there is a win if not two to be expected.

- I find myself thinking of two past series; 2006 and 2013. 2006 was the year of the five game sweep at Fenway. The only reason I'm thinking of that season is that the Sox had their best pitchers going at the end of the series as they do here. In reality that team was a disaster at that point in the season having entered the series in freefall and rolling out Jason Johnson in game one. Jason Freakin' Johnson.

2013 is the other similar series. This one was in the Bronx and was the Yankees last chance that season. The Sox blew a big lead in game one then rallied thanks to a stolen base by Quentin Berry, won the next night thanks to Napoli's grand slam then blew 'em out in the third game.

I suspect neither of these results is likely this weekend. My head is telling me that this series is a split waiting to happen but I'm going to be a stress case all weekend.

Given what the two teams have left, the Sox only need a split. Really, even dropping three of four still leaves them 3.5 up, which I would have taken had I been offered it at the start of the series at Fenway.

Agreed. I'll relax when they have the win they need.

Not helping my mood. Someone talk me down dammit!

E-Rod continues being somewhere between mediocre and awful since returning from the DL.

But to me tonight's game turned on the dreadful AB Xander put up in the first inning with the bases loaded. There have been a couple other horrible ABs in scoring situations since, but that one really set the tone.

I thought Edgar pitched well. That fifth inning should have been a goose egg, Hicks bloop, Nunez misplay, the bleeder in the hole. Extra fifteen pitches took it out of him I suspect.

Agree about the X at bat though, had to jump on CC there, same thing happened in his game in Boston.

Gray-Fister,

So what you are saying is you don't think the pixie dust that was sprinkled on Fister the last 2 outings is going to last for a third?

Fister is either going 7 and giving up 2 or going 3 and giving up 8. There will be no in between.

The signature of E-Rod's mediocrity since the injury return is that he always looks-good-but-has-bad-luck right up until he gives up the crooked number which blows the game open for the opposition. The major difference tonight was that the killer blow was a 2-run rather than 3-run HR.

You are doing a bad job of talking me down!

I'll give it a try:

The Sox just killed August, went 5-5 in the last ten, with callups arriving. Devers is for real. JBJ to center, Peewee to 2nd, Eduardo to SS, Xander to DL or rest for a while. Porcello's coming on, Price will help soon, does anybody remember Carson Smith? Sox split this series with Yankees, never see them again.

Relax. OK now?

Here's another take on it: over the years I've done more than my share of pants-pissing, but it seems so out-of-place in the Third Millennium AD. We're the class of the ALE now, and the Yankees are the pretenders. We're the team taking all of the extra bases and they're the ones pouting about bunts after a win. It's always a battle with these two teams but Joe Girardi's the one who is pissing his pants right now. Let's own that.

Here's another take on it: over the years I've done more than my share of pants-pissing, but it seems so out-of-place in the Third Millennium AD. We're the class of the ALE now, and the Yankees are the pretenders. We're the team taking all of the extra bases and they're the ones pouting about bunts after a win. It's always a battle with these two teams but Joe Girardi's the one who is pissing his pants right now. Let's own that.

Given that the Yankees have been well under .500 since early June, and given the ongoing struggles of Judge and their closer circus, it's hard to dispute any of that. The only way the Yankees are ever going to get back in it is for their four top starters (Severino, Gray, Tanaka and Sabathia) all to start pitching like they're capable of pitching, do it consistently rather than sporadically, and take it into the 7th or 8th once in a while in order to give the bullpen some much needed relief. And since I'm asking for miracles, it'd be nice if Bird were to continue playing as he has the last few games, and for Judge to remember what it was like to go to right field on outside pitches instead of trying to pull everything.

It really comes down to which of these teams will play up to its capabilities, but when one of those teams begins September with a 4 1/2 game lead, it may not be over but you can smell the finish line.

See Morton, attaboy. Even Andy makes good points. That's the kind of cold logic I need.

I'll relax when we get one though. And of course even if we don't get one we have a 1.5 game lead with 27 to play and no more head to heads.

Sept. 1:

1906 A's 4, Box 1 (24) Jack Coombs and Joe Harris both go the distance (Harris was 2-17 entering the day: terrible run supprt)
1926 WAS-BOX combine for MLB record 11 sacrfiices in one ame,WAS wins the game 7-4. They also lead in sacrficies, 7-4
1935 Pitcher duel: Was 2, Box 1. Bobo Newsom: 14 IP (longest, tie), 9H, 1 R/ER, 7 BB, 4K. Lefty Grove: 13.1 IP, 12 H, 2 R/ER, 2W, 2K
1958 All 16 MLB teams play in a doubleheader. This is almost certainly the last time that's ever happened
1974 BOX purchase Tim McCaver from STC. Fisk out for the year
1976 Fergie Jenkins tears his Achilles tendon while covering first base in 5th inning for BOX agains TEX
1987 BOX trades Dave Henderson to SF
1990 inside the park slam: Mike Greenwell, BOX, vs. NYY. Win 15-1
2007 Clay Buchholz throws no-hitter. BOX 10, BAL 0. 2nd career GS

Unclench jackass.

Whew. Get to enjoy my Labor Day weekend now,

Watched last night with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, both Yankee fans, who loathe Gray despite his good numbers since the trade because they can't stand how slowly he works.

Doug Fister has certainly been an unexpected plus contributor.

Sept. 2:

1880 1st game played under artificial light: between 2 Boston department stores: R. H. White & Jordan Marsh
1929 Red Rufffing's 1st career pinch hit HR (out of 2).
1929 Joe Cronin hits for the cycle: 5-for-5, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR. Personal high 12 total bases. 3 runs, 4 RBI. WAS 10, BOX 7
1935 Joe Cronin hits the 1st of 4 career grandslams
1939 NYY make deliberate outs to make 6:30 PM BOX curfew win: Dahlgren Ks on attempted-IW. Selkirk, Gordon back-to-back home steal attempts
1960 Ted Williams, BOX, homers of WAS pitcher Don Lee. Williams once homered of his dad, Thornton Lee
1974 BAL 1, BOX 0 - twice. Both 1-0 games in doubleheader: Ross Grimsley & Mike Cuellar over Luis Tiant & Bill Lee
1975 BOX releases Tony Conigliaro
1993 MLB debut: Manny Ramirez
1996 Mike Greenwell gets 9 RBIs in BOX 9, SEA 8 game. Most RBIs for a playing compiling 100% of team RBIs
1997 MLB debut: David Ortiz
2001 Mike Mussina retires 26, then Carl Everett single. 2nd time he loses perfect in 9th 5-30-97. 9 IP 1 H 13 K Game Score 98 ties his high
2011 post offfice annoucnes it'll issue commemorative stamps for Ted Williams, Larry Doby, Willie Stargell, & Joe DiMaggio

That game was the perfect nerve tonic, right? A relaxing stroll down Victory Lane. Would they were all like that.

Sept. 2:

1939 NYY make deliberate outs to make 6:30 PM BOX curfew win: Dahlgren Ks on attempted-IW. Selkirk, Gordon back-to-back home steal attempts

Right details, right year, wrong date. It was the second game of a Sunday doubleheader. The Yanks scored 2 runs in the top of the 8th to go ahead by 7 to 5, and then after they ran into that last out at home, Cronin rushed out to protest and the fans showered the field with Coke and Moxie bottles. After a few minutes of that, the umpires awarded the game to the Yankees by the 9-0 forfeit score. Prior to that, the Red Sox had beaten the Yanks seven straight.

Thanks for the correction. I see the article says Sept. 3. It's been fixed.

We're the class of the ALE now

Agreed. Homegrown at every position but 1B. Which leaves a lot of money to spend on pitchers. Sox are first place despite all that dead money. Hitters are underachieving, still in first place. High homerun/K environment...Sox don't really have a single player with as many K's as games appeared. (Devers barely)

Still in first.

The big thing is with 26 games left .500 gets us to 90. The Yankees need to go 18-9 to get there.

Tomorrow is a pretty huge game. 5.5 up with 25 to play is not, of course, a lock by any stretch, but it's a hell of a lot better than 3.5.

It helps that they'll have 16 home games and 9 road games to close out the season (including last 7 at home).

Sept. 3:

1934 Joe Cronin, WAS, breaks bone in arm when collides at 1st w/ BOX pitcher Wes Ferrell. Cronin out for the year
1939 NYY make deliberate outs to make 6:30 PM BOX curfew win: Dahlgren Ks on attempted-IW. Selkirk, Gordon back-to-back home steal attempts [listed yesterday, but corrected by post #79 above]
1968 last game: Bill Monbouquette
1981 Jerry Remy, BOX, gets 6 hits in 20 inning game
2007 Pedro Martinez's 3000th K. BOX. Fans Aaron Harang
2008 Walk-off SH: Jacob Ellsbury: BOX 5, BAL 4

Not only are they mostly at home, but the remaining games are against Toronto(6), Tampa Bay(6), three against Oakland, Baltimore, Cincinnati, and (if necessary:) four versus Houston. Not by any means chaff, but if you labeled that schedule "gluten-free" I doubt you'd get in trouble with the FDA.

I'm combing through all my recent circulars, searching for labor-day bargains on dry pants; hoping to find a big Sale this afternoon!

Morton's optimism is really top notch. I'm enjoying it.

It's not that I think they're going to blow the division. I just can't see them winning a playoff series right now.

They're dooooomed. DOOOOOMED.

I just can't see them winning a playoff series right now.

Well they sure as heck aren't going to get past Cleveland as they look insanely good right now. If I were a betting man, I'd probably put my money on the Indians.

He Indians won't keep the winning streak going until October and we've played them well this year. I'm oddly confident despite this.

Might not be the Indians we're playing... should we make it (though we have a 6 game lead for a WC spot). Cleveland now only 3 back of Houston...

I mean, the schedule still favors us, I think, but I would have rather been 5.5 up; this does sort of complicate things.

Not only are they mostly at home, but the remaining games are against Toronto(6), Tampa Bay(6), three against Oakland, Baltimore, Cincinnati, and (if necessary:) four versus Houston. Not by any means chaff, but if you labeled that schedule "gluten-free" I doubt you'd get in trouble with the FDA.

FTR their record this year against those above named teams is all of 24-22, and that's including 10-3 against the Blue Jays. Toronto's also the only team of those above four** against which they have a net positive runs scored. The Red Sox are still the likely division winners, but it's not as if they're dominating it.

** They've yet to play the Reds

but I would have rather been 5.5 up; this does sort of complicate things

Well I'd rather they swept NY and been 7.5 up, but that didn't happen either. Needless to say, being 3.5 up is better then 3.5 down. Lots of home games and our guys play well at home. I'm not terribly concerned about winning the East but at this stage the Red Sox are definitely looking like the ugly step sister amongst Houston and Cleveland.

However 2 weeks is a long time in baseball and they could get on a little roll just entering the playoffs, that would be nice.