Snopek

Hopefully it's not the garbage disposal while thinking it was the light.

I definitely get what you're saying, and I don't even really disagree. But take the box score from Monday's loss: https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/DET/DET202109200.shtml The only real glaring omission from the lineup is Abreu and they mustered 3 runs on 5 hits, which is a worse offensive output than the box score you linked. It's been a long season and we're all eager to see the same thing: the "A" lineup in meaningful games (and fortunately we will soon!). But I'd just like to see a little more consistency and life in lineups that are missing even one of those key guys. It doesn't feel like that big of an ask.

Clinch this ish.

I would assume so as well. Point being, completely dismissing games when a single starter is out doesn't sit well with me. If you're content with excusing every 1 or 2 run offensive output because <insert starter here> was out, that's obviously your prerogative.

Emphasize them? No. But completely dismiss them? Also no. On the offensive side, the injury thing is quickly going from reason to excuse. Sure would be nice if the team didn't need the perfect lineup in order to play above .500 ball. I would assume that most teams are not playing with their ideal lineup day in and day out. Now the Eloy thing...I believe that's having much more of a negative impact than the random starter or two missing from the lineup. If and when he can get out of his funk, this is a completely different lineup.

I’ll preface this by saying I don’t believe the way they’ve been playing has any bearing on their chances in the playoffs. Clean slate as far as I’m concerned. That said, I can understand where these threads are coming from. They’ve been mediocre for the entire second half, not just a 7-10 stretch. And this is basically the healthiest they’ve been all season, while playing as bad as they have all season. So some of the excuses have kinda run their course at this point.

Obvious trolling of that original post aside, what does frequency and timing of posts on a message board have to do with how much a fan someone is?

Pretty simple concept, but for whatever reason it seems difficult for some to grasp.

Absolutely. He's had some inconsistency, but he's been...consistently inconsistent in that Dylan Cease way. And I know it's still early in his career and injuries (or lack thereof) can have a luck element to them, but I get a sense that Cease may have the makings of pretty durable pitcher.

I know, I know. It was against my better judgement.

That's not how that works. You're making the sweeping statement, so why don't you prove that you're right.

If this is sarcasm, I blame it being Monday for my radar not working. Otherwise: https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/eatonad01.shtml

Aaron Ward is a really disappointing old timey baseball name.

Aaaand the boom or bust offense goes on

Did you just pick a random thread to say this in?

It really is. And this coming after last year's weirdo season which was another "throw the stats out the window" type season.

They are full season. But, honestly, there have been so many guys in and out of the lineup both pre and post ASB that it may just look wonky regardless. - Grandal missed more of his games post ASB - Tim missed more of his post ASB - Robert missed more pre ASB - Eloy obviously missed more pre ASB

The Sox are currently: - Tied for 3rd lowest launch angle in baseball - Tied for 3rd highest groundball rate in baseball - 7th lowest fly ball rate in baseball Oddly enough...as OP mentions, they are near the bottom of the league in sac flies post ASB, but they had the 4th most sac flies in baseball pre ASB. All while having a higher groundout to air out rate in the first half. What's it all mean? I'm not smart enough to know. Is it poor approach, poor execution, bad luck or all of the above?

Yep. I'm waiting to hear that Vaughn will be out through the playoffs due to an appendectomy or something.

This season has felt so damn long that I don't even remember the home series vs Seattle or playing Cincinnati at all.

Huh, I wouldn't have guessed that. Seems like the narrative of their incompetence playing in Oakland has overshadowed that a bit.

How many groundouts this inning? I'll say 4

I don't understand why this game in particular has brought out all the "they will get bounced in the first round" comments again. Pathetic effort and pathetic game? Yes. Surprising? Not really. This is sort of who they've been for awhile now. I don't think this ugly loss should change the way you feel about their chances in the postseason.

Imagine paying to watch this