35thstreetswarm

Is Robert supposed to be back tonight?

I'd add Hendriks and Kopech (when healthy and not recklessly run out there to pitch injured).

I think he was referring to "Yoan Moncada" rather than Yoan Moncada

And 11 otherwise unrelated San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers

I think we need a reality show with Dallas's mom, Wheeler's wife, Ozzie's sons, Giolito's dad, Prince Fielder's girlfriend, and Manny Machado's cousin.

This has been my motivating thought all year (I've made no secret). It's especially maddening for me because I actually predicted a terrible first half with a big turnaround in the second, so I've been holding the line for a long time waiting for it. My theory was that this team was indeed undisciplined, poorly-coached, and unmotivated, but that the schedule would create its own urgency eventually and that -- combined with returns from injury -- would fuel the turnaround. As recently as a week ago it really felt like that was exactly what was happening. I'm starting to think that there is something more deeply wrong with this team that might prevent the turnaround. But I'll still torture myself waiting around.

I think there's an argument that the Sox won 93 games largely because of their stellar performance in the early season before Tony's influence wore them down. It did seem like the character of the team started to change for the worse right around the beginnings of the TLR controversies (i.e. Yermingate/not knowing the rules), and the team has been in the doldrums ever since. This team was really fun in 2020 and May/June of 2021, which also happened to be the time it played well. It has been a weird, joyless, error-prone .500 team since.

By the way, along with the famed "triple play" baserunning gaffe that's two games *Adam Engel* of all players has single-handedly cost the Sox, half the Division deficit. Another thing I did not have on my 2022 Sox bingo card.

We have plenty of time and talent to make up a relatively small gap. The worry is that there really does seem to be something deeply wrong with this team.

Why is Robert in there? Why was Kopech in there? They’re hurt. It’s unreal that we over-rest guys all season in key games, and now we run guys out there who are actually injured

Yeah this makes no sense. Figuring out "Cy Young candidate vs. our worst pitcher is a bad matchup" does not exactly take a great scouting department. And would a "strong" team have just gone out there and scrimmaged on the waterlogged field, or what?

Could they really not determine Kopech was hurt before running him out there? I mean if he has to come out after four batters it seems like he probably shouldn't have started and put us in an immediate four-run hole. WTF

Still pissed the Guardians hid from the series loss they had coming to them yesterday. These are the kinds of games on which this team seems to lose focus. Hoping Kopech can turn in one of his sharp outings today.

Hey, I’m not the one who predicted a win in a Giolito day game start

This was a rough week, but now it’s Soxtalk’s time to shine!

That’s great and all, but does your fancy internet have driving directions to the closest card catalogue that I can consult to find it on microfilm?

Sad that I never even considered watching this game because i was so sure Gio would get shelled. Sad to see your ace become you fifth starter. What a roller coaster ride he has been, but glad we didn’t extend him when everybody was clamoring for it

I can’t emphasize enough how incredible the crowd was at the night game against the Astros last year. Better than 2005, even. Fans from other cities were texting me about how nuts it sounded on TV. It’s sad that this story got buried in the crap that was that series. But if we make it you really need to go to a playoff game, preferably at night.

Maybe, just maybe, we spend too much time thinking and talking about “schedules.”

I agree, though I wouldn’t say then Sox were better last season either. People are far too quick to make definitive pronouncements about seasons that are still in progress. The story of this season is still being written.

Yeah the crowds have been very good all season. I’ve been impressed every game I’ve attended.

I don’t know that we can say they’re a good matchup just yet, especially after last year. But they’re hardly unbeatable. Just need to get the offense going but I feel better about this year’s pitching than I did about last year’s.

Man you are easily triggered.

The Sox had a bad start to the season and are now playing better. Right on schedule! Now get Robert back and keep pushing.

Velasquez? Why?