Jake

Sox bullpen entered tonight 11th best at preventing inherited runners from scoring (but most teams allow a very similar percentage to score so the difference between like 5th best and 5th worst is very small)

Also think if Booser can stay healthy (to be fair, he literally never has which is why he's such a "fresh" arm in his 30s) could bring value in the coming years. He's one of the few actually talented players among the organization's bullpen options

Eisert and Leasure are fine by me. Alexander has been a mighty fine warm body IMO. In general, this game isn't bothering me that much because it's just not that bad of an omen when your young offense scores a bunch of runs and a bunch of old guys blow the lead

This was the warning

Man can you imagine if Chase didn't make that routine error after I pumped up his defense

their turn for soft singles

Thaiss had a bunch of backpicks too, not to mention our pitchers getting some at 2B. Somebody in the dugout is doing their homework on these plays.

Meidroth's error was ultimately pretty consequential lol

So after Alexander, who we got? Or is this Alexander's game now?

This is a tough spot for Venable. How long can you leave Elvis out there? Still need to cover 8 more outs and you don't have a lot of fresh arms.

Elvis was clearly meant to be a starter

Remember when the scouting reports said Meidroth was somewhere between complete butcher and barely adequate for 2B only?

That's my special little boy out there!

lol

Pleasantly surprised to see Shane back for the 5th

Not totally clear on what they're trying to accomplish here. I'm not a big Burke fan but seems like this can't be purely performance-related.

Didn't really get outplayed, but somebody has to win

Perez 1.60 FIP in his comeback (just reporting the facts!)

FWIW, Perez's average pitch velocities are 2-3mph above his season averages across the board. Some of it might be the standard gain guys get out of the bullpen, but I suppose it's a sign his elbow is in decent shape regardless.

Well I'm thinking about 5 guys — Colson, Vargas, Lenyn, Mead, Meidroth — for 4 spots. Might be a matter of just rotating through 7 guys for 6 spots (add in Quero + Teel and the DH spot). I'd say that I am again ready for Lenyn try on an outfield glove, but that doesn't really solve any problems given that the starting 3 out there are pretty much set.

I'm curious what the playing time will look like in the infield once Meidroth returns

Well that could have been a lot worse. Perez is another one of those lefties who seems to get away with leaving the cutter over the plate pretty often

LouBob needs to be careful with those off balance heaves back to the infield

They did Booser dirty

Davis you're getting too close to 30 years old to be falling asleep like this