Colome's Hat

Also, while he made it a bit interesting, Kimbrel's fastball is up to 97. While I think we will see him close before the season is out, it's smart of Tony and was likely at Kimbrel's behest to give him as many 8th inning opportunities as possible. Kimbrel is very routine orientated and likely needed to settle into that role a bit.

I'm really glad we won tonight because a loss would have been salt in the wound after seeing Steve Cishek come in at Yankee Stadium with the bases loaded and nobody out and retire the side without giving up a run.

If Yermin hits in September and can play a competent catcher, he'll be in over Collins.

Except they looked glorious in that first game and had moments in that third game. Honestly, TLR managing, we likely win because I think he likely has a backup plan with Crochet not working out. Renteria's managing was abysmal in that game. He looked like he had no clue what he was doing and completely and utterly freaked out and out of his depth.

Yeah. I also just think the fact that 4 of those five losses were really coin flip games. I think with Yaz in the lineup this weekend, we take 2 of 3.

I guess but this is still only looking at part of his career. Careers can be weird. I wouldn't say Adrian Beltre would have been a first ballot Hall of Famer based on the first half of his career. Yet it was the second half of his career where he really started to put up career best numbers (outside of that one amazing year he had with the Dodgers), stayed healthy, and consistently kept compiling numbers, which cemented him as a first ballot Hall of Famer. Jose, outside of 2018, has been able to stay healthy and play 150 or more games every year outside of his rookie year and of course 2020, which he started every single game. Will the abuse his body has taken catch up with him? Maybe. Or it might not. I also wouldn't be surprised to eventually see him win a Gold Glove if he keeps playing at 1st. It's just really hard to sort of make that call right now. This is also why I still haven't given up on Moncada either. He and Beltre are different players but many people wrote off Beltre before he got to Boston. Hopefully Yoan finds it sooner because if he follows Beltre's career, his best years likely won't be in a Sox uniform. As far as Baines, I went to his Hall of Fame induction and I always thought he deserved to be in. DH is a real position. And it depends on who you look at his career. The fact is, the bench marks he hit, everyone above him and several below him in things like hits are in the Hall of Fame. If 3,000 hits is basically a guarantee to the Hall, Harold would have without a doubt reached that benchmark had he not played in two strike years. The two strike years robbed him of likely reaching 400 home runs and 3,000 hits.

I can. If he can still put up numbers somewhere in between 2020 and this year, I think they should. Vaughn has proven himself to be a good outfielder and his future might be there. Jose might have to transition to doing more time at DH but I think it's definitely possible. It really depends on how he produces.

Cesar seriously needs a day off

I hate to just gush about someone who I spent much of the year crapping on but his presence in the lineup just makes the other hitters much better. His ability to take pitches and run up pitch counts.

I can live with that. Issue with Seby isn't his catching ability.

I know he's at 102 but I would put him out in the 5th and just be cautious.

We give them outs.

Have no problem with him being cautious with Judge.

Yaz's presence is just so badly missed in this lineup. It does look like Eloy is playing at the peak of his powers at the moment.

I do seem to recall Liam blowing a save before he went on that ridiculous run in May and he said he went over to watch video and picked up on something, maybe it was pitch selection, and made an adjustment. Perhaps something that might do the trick here.

It should also be said that Liam looked amazing in the first two pitches to Judge. Something happened after that wild pitch. I think he lost confidence in that pitch. If I have to guess, I don't think pitchers have a lot of confidence throwing to Zach. He really needs to go once Grandal is healthy.

Liam has publicly said he doesn't care where he pitches. He knew when they made the trade that this was a possibility. Maybe it's for show but considering his career, I think he'd be fine with it.

Tony pulled him not to run his pitch count up. There's a decent chance that happens tomorrow. That being said, I'd use Kimbrel in the 9th tomorrow and give Liam a save opportunity in Oakland.

Agree. Although I would still, maybe after this tough spell for Liam, split it for the rest of the year. Play it by matchup. Dude doesn't look like himself right now. I don't know whether Thursday night got in his head but he doesn't look right.

I would definitely put him in the 8th and let him do that. He has said he's comfortable pitching in the 8th. I don't think he is this bad but he's utterly worthless without that slider.

If people think the Sox bullpen is bad (it's not), the Yankees bullpen is a fire dumpster of suck. And I would say that with Chapman.

You absolutey have to hit Zavala for Collins

Hell no. I think you play by matchup but the next few outings, I think Kimbrel should get it. Although this also wasn't a save situation.

Prime Rivera averaged 6 blown saves a year, for what it's worth.

Walk Judge