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I think in Houston we are going to have to out hit Houston. Hard to hold that lineup down offensively. I think Cesar's glove is over rated at this point. He hasn't been that good. He's looked lost at times, can't get the ball out of his glove a few times that cost a DP, didn't cover 2nd on a potential DP and that's just stuff I can remember from the past week+.

Cesar has looked a little boneheaded at times there.

I am a huge proponent of HR's making the difference in the playoffs. However that being said, Leury has been BY FAR the better player since the All-Star break and if that continues in the playoffs Leury would be the easy choice to keep innings going and being on base for the HR's from the other guys. Also with the Sox road struggles having a guy who is also far better on the road helps tremendously.

I think he should. On the road Leury hits .297, .357 , .413, .770. Hernandez .220 , .290 , .354 , .644 The last 28 days Garcia .354 , .393. , .512 , .905 , 140 OPS +. Hernandez .247, .313, .385, .691 69 OPS+ Also at this point I don't think anyone can really say Hernandez over Leury makes that much of a difference defensively. The 2nd half of the season Leury has been consistently impressive while Hernandez has epitomized the struggles of the 2nd half and the trade deadline . Let's all hope the powers that be can see what is clearly visible and not let the trade deadline acquisition determine who starts in the playoffs.

I think it's how you view hitting that would make someone favor either one as a hitter and their value to the offense. I put more value on slugging percent since extra base hits move runners along farther than getting walks does. If Yoan could ever get up his slugging to Anderson's level while maintaining his OBP then he would be more of a 6+ fWAR guy instead of 4 . But for now Anderson means more to the offense.

I'm not so sure about it being the key. I certainly think it helped. But I would imagine it was a combination of things. Seeing clearly is always a good thing but making changes that need to be made physically until they become 2nd nature probably meant more. Bob Gibson said he couldn't see very well in the documentary Fastball. I'd recommend this to anyone that hasn't seen it. A must for baseball fans who dig the history of the hardest throwing pitchers in baseball history. It also has some of the last film of Tony Gwynn and Ernie Banks. It should also give you some idea on just how very difficult it is to hit once the fastball speed is very high.

This is just the way I saw it happening. Everybody was bummed the Sox kept losing but with the division a cakewalk , resting guys was happening . I always said I had hoped the last 7-10 of the season , even after clinching the division, that LaRussa would start playing the regular lineup more to get them playing together heading into the playoffs. They will probably finish exactly where I said they would in a post 3 weeks ago when I said 24-29 games above .500.

Sox cant get rid of more young pitching. If they get rid of anyone it'll be Kimbrel.

FB topped out at 93 bottomed out at 88 . Threw the change up as much if not more than the slider. He showed he had a good game plan and knows how to pitch. But if you are looking fpr signs of the fresh Rodon that guy is gone.

If they hang on it's the 1st time all season at 23 games above .500 I believe .

I suppose fatigue is just not being able to snap things off as when you were stronger. He just can't recover to the point of feeling strong and fresh. The slider is probably the pitch that puts the most stress on his arm. If he can throw the change effectively he can be effective too.

As much as I like the results from Rodon I'm not going to think it means all that much. The day after being eliminated I think the Reds are out of it mentally too.

I'm glad you said that because I decided not to pile on him , he's been in a tough situation and handled it well. Sheets is just better for the team right now being LH.

That's why having LH bats in the lineup matter so much when a RHP is fooling RHH's.

At home yes , on the road not so much.

We all know stuff is important but throw strikes and keep them off balance means more. He out Keuchel'd Keuchelwith a change up instead of a sinker.

Ok Carlos take a seat you are done for the evening . Really nice job !

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Poor Friedel , he's sounds like he should be in the Sound of Music.

Come on now if you watch the broadcasts and maybe you don't you, you had to have heard Zeke Bonura name about 1000 times.

Silk

2nd when. I looked it up the other day and the Sox were only .66 DP per game which was 5th best , meaning 25 other teams grounded into more DP per game.

Nice Ken Berry avatar. Only way to catch Houston is put together a winning streak because they aren't going to keep losingand the Sox haven't been doing much of that the 2nd half.

This is how we do it .. sorry Shaq

I don't mind that call at all. The results sucked but it was an attempt to stay out of the DP and there's no way Grandal should have taken that fastball right down the middle.