NWINFan

Although I am always a nervous fan, I don't see the Indians overtaking the Sox. Winning the division, even a bad division, will be a big step for the franchise since it hasn't won a division title in 13 years. But I have doubts about the post season. In a tense short series, you can't let your offense go dormant and your bullpen has to, at least, protect multi-fun leads if you get them. The team has been in first a long time, and it has been entertaining this year. But I've had an uneasy feeling about them. I don't know if the World Series will happen this season.

No, there is no need to jump off the ledge. But it is odd for a player like Anderson to sit out three games in a row. If he sits out a fourth game, there is need to worry.

Realistically speaking, the Indians don't appear to be a threat. It took them until late August just to get back to .500. This team just doesn't have the talent level of the 2005 club. They would really have to turn things on. But if they can stay somewhat close, there are those five games against the Sox in late September. However, I also don't think we can compare this Sox team to the 2005 club. Just because that team won doesn't mean this one will. There was just something special about the 2005 season. For the most part, the Sox are a well-rested team. There are some off days coming up. The best lineup should be put every day until the division is clinched. I don't even like the appearance of the team thinking this thing is won before it is. I am not saying players are thinking that. I am just hoping they're not. The main thing for the Sox is not to let this bad stretch get into their heads. Tim will return to the lineup and so will Grandal. They still have a good starting staff. The division is theirs to win. Just go out and do it. But until they actually do, I worry. When they clinch, I'll celebrate.

The strange thing is that LaRussa didn't take this approach in 1983 when the Sox had a big lead and clinched the division early. The day after the Sox clinched, Richard Dotson threw a complete game shutout. Position for the playoffs? Maybe we shouldn't assume they will be in the playoffs.

Must be some kind of injury because I can't imagine Anderson sitting out this long with a little soreness or fatigue. He's the team leader, and he wouldn't let himself sit this long. This is not good.

I think the faithful have been wavering for some time. The team will still draw well with the losing. But I think the Lovable Loser stuff is fading and has been fading. Their FO must know they have to do something meaningful this offseason. Maybe it's me, but I think Cub fans have become bitter since 2016. There is some real anger out there.

The best lineups should be out there now. Players have been rested during the season and there is an off day at the end month and four off days in September. The opportunity for rest will be there. This is a young team; we shouldn't be hearing about fatigue. LaRussa seems to coddle his players. Is the club serious about doing something this post-season? If they are, get out there and play, wrap up the division as early as possible and play for home field advantage. To hell with rest.

The team has played 125 games. When can we start judging them?

What can this mean for the rest of the Rays?

Actually, they have been consistent. Consistent in giving up multi-run leads. They can make any manager look dumb.

I don't know how things will turn out, but I know one thing: That lineup against TB was a joke.

The Cubs lost their 12th straight at home, but celebrated not being no-hit. They have nothing else to celebrate. I hope their "loyal" fans are having a good time.

You are right about Moncada. Striking out has always been a problem for him. He will never really be a big power hitter, and so he needs to put the ball in play more. 125 strike outs at this time of the season is alarming. When he struck out so much in 2018, fans said he was still developing. He's been around for a little while now.

Cubs getting no-hit going into seventh with a rain delay. Wonder of the KC pitcher comes out if the game resumes. If the Sox lose one game to the Cubs next weekend, it will be a disgrace.

I don't think he will win ROY, but he deserves recognition. In addition to his growth as a hitter, he has done well playing positions in which he has had no or little experience. He has done a lot to contribute to this winning season, and he will only get better.

Remember the old saying: Don't look behind you, someone may be gaining on you.

I don't know about all the sides to these issues. I do know that if there is another prolonged work stoppage of any kind, there will be a strong backlash from fans. It took some time for the sport to recover after the 1994 farce. Both sides need to bargain in good faith although I realize that may seem like an odd concept to both sides, mostly by the owners.

Good for you, Chuck. The common formula has been to play .500 against the good teams, beat up on the bad ones. Will it matter in the playoffs? In a way, yes, since the Sox will be playing a good team in the playoffs. Go 2-3 in the first round, and you're out. Actually the 18-21 record isn't all that bad. It was just a little discouraging to get swept by Houston and go 1-5 against the Yankees. As for the playoffs, right now I don't think there is any favorite among the contenders.

One thing I don't want to hear from any MLB franchise is that fans have to be "loyal" during these tanking periods. Tanking is one indication that a FO has failed and now is doing something desperate. Yes, the Sox rebuild has begun to work, but there was confusion in the organization during the 2010s. Go for it? Or tank and rebuild? Many Sox fans supported the rebuild because at least the team now had a solid direction. But the last decade no Sox team went to the post-season, the club had a couple of its worst years since the 1970 106-loss season, and the decade was as bad or even worse than the 1970s when John Allyn and Bill Veeck didn't have the resources to run a major league franchise. The Cubs situation is abysmal. I'm not going the cry over the team getting pounded, but that club shouldn't even pretend to be a major league team. There has to be a better way to rebuild or retool without turning a team into a joke. MLB can stick the crap about being loyal.

I agree. If the Sox want to make inroads into the Chicago baseball market, they have the opportunity to do so right now. But I don't know if the organization is even concerned about that. Meanwhile, the Cubs are so bad right now, they are not even fun to stomp on.

Agreed. No blowing multi-run leads in the late innings.

Abreu isn't one of the greatest of all time, but he has had a great career with the Sox. I remember seeing him the first time during the home opener in 2014 and will never forget a couple of line shot hits he picked up that day. He will be remembered by many Sox fans, and that is all that really matters.

Injuries can't be used as an excuse for recent performance. Regardless, if they can win five of the next 11 and then mop up on the Cubs and Pirates, they can go into September with almost 80 wins. That should do it for the division. The playoffs are another story especially with LaRussa at the helm.

Hopefully, the offense will be there in the playoffs. I still have nightmares of 1983 playoffs when the Sox scored three runs in four games and went down rather meekly to the Orioles.

The division probably is won, but I never take anything for granted. This is baseball and anything weird can happen. When they actually clinch, I'll relax. Yes, the AL Central is full of bad teams. But this next week and a half, the Sox will not be playing bad teams. There is nothing irrational about that.