Jake

Any type of decision you see on a regular basis — bunting, pinch hitting, player positioning, bullpen usage — you should assume that they are coming from Getz. Front office is deciding on the philosophy of these things, hopefully based on some kind of careful analysis, and then Venable is asked to execute the philosophy in the games (and make sure the players buy in).

I'm not really feeling it. Sox had terrible pitching matchups in the first two games. Each game ended up being not far from a coin flip. And it helps that this year's team has made it clear that a loss today doesn't mean anything about how tomorrow will go. Plus, soon it will be Teel day.

I think the evaluation is "did the plane to Chicago land safely?"

Forgot about Gameday 3D being a thing. Yeah I think he might have been toast with an accurate throw. Was close to the base and moving the wrong way. Not to say I think Braden did anything wrong.

I wonder where the runner on third base was on that final play. Any chance if Braden just fielded the ball on a short hop that he might have been able to get the force at home?

One thing with Seranthony is I've primarily thought of his issues this season as being about command. And maybe that is all it is. But I'm surprised to see that the whiff rate on his sweeper has been cut in half year over year. That's been his bread and butter pitch that is basically unhittable. It's not getting bombed or anything but it's not the reliable whiff machine it was in the past. I'm not really sure why either because the pitch's shape and speed is basically identical relative to last year — it's got plus-plus break.

Splitter is nasty (are there any bad splitters?) but he usually has serious issues commanding it and it's not a great option to righties for the most part IMO. That said he did throw one to Lee on an 0-1 count I think it was. Don't remember seeing it again though.

Peoples might be part of the solution in the long run but I think you're wasting your mental energy if you're thinking there would be many different win-loss outcomes if he was on the Sox.

Well, Davis Martin isn't dead is the message I take away from this one. Sox were a few bounces of the ball away from winning each of these games. Won't be surprised at all if they roll through the Guards. (Won't be surprised if they don't, either)

A fitting end there

Yeah Taylor looked bad and has generally struggled with multi-inning appearances.

I've been watching that Acuna play and I don't know that it was a play that was very easy to make. Jones can run and that ball was very deep in the hole and not hit hard enough to get to the fielder very quickly. And I know that Acuna has a strong arm for a SS so I doubt that arm strength was a factor.

They just keep finding the holes

McGonigle may run here.

First pitch clipped the zone but no joy

If I could have Tanner Murray's POV I would be more sure about the call.

Looks safe to me now.

Let's see the replay on this one

I wouldn't send Taylor back out. He's generally struggled in his second innings and this time out he didn't have his good stuff in his first inning. Yes I know what that means for who is pitching.

I don't think we've gotten a replay on a check swing the entire series. CHSN either isn't sending a big enough crew to Detroit or they're using Detroit's cameras and Detroit is the one with a skeleton crew.

I see what's going on with the Tigers pen. They're basically average at run prevention, better than the Sox, but their bad performances have been highly concentrated into the worst possible situations.

I didn't love it but it's not too bad all things considered given that I know the Sox philosophy is basically to make sure you don't go home with any of them left. It's late, there are only so many pitches that are taken and close, and Grant was a little bit on the ropes.

I mean the individual pitchers basically all have good stuff and mostly are having good seasons. Will Vest is the main guy with bad season numbers I remember and we've seen him enough in the past to know he's real tough when he's on. And here comes another new guy with a 2.08 ERA

I had to look it up — was 11 inches above the strike zone

Pitch location that Carpenter hit 390 feet