35thstreetswarm

Abreu the only one masked up

They’re playing a World Series retrospective video — I might vomit. It really hits you when you get here…they shouldn’t be able to fly that flag

Oh then I’m for sure wearing my Blum jersey

See you there. Look for the guy in the Blum jersey! Let’s ruin those cheaters’ week

So I wonder if the plan is Rodon as backup starter the entire series in case somebody blows up...

...or they're just chatting about strategic baseball decisions on a message board designed for that specific purpose

If so, it seems a little Ricky-ish to be deploying the emergency plan already. Doesn't exactly project confidence to be loading practically the whole series on two starters at the beginning of the playoffs...before a game has even been played.

Do not like. I just don't think Lynn's all-fastballs, attack the hitter style works well against this lineup. That said, I guess there is some logic to this approach if it allows them both two potential starts, and I'm hoping for the best and for Lynn to make me look bad.

Especially against McCullers, who leads the league in walks but doesn't give up homers. Need to be patient in game 1.

Not to mention he's had whatever it is since at least Sunday. The game is Thursday. Not too many run-of-the-mill sicknesses that would make him unable to play 4-5 days after he got it.

...just post a lineup with a super obvious Abreu omission as a way of begging to be asked about it

Even in defeat the Yankees are arrogant. Boone in the postgame just now: “this shows the league is closing the gap on us.” Uh, you are the wildcard loser. You didn’t win the AL last year. The Yankees are not the standard in the AL against which other teams are measured, despite what ESPN tells you. Worry about making the f’ing playoffs next time. Also, “there’s….some teams in the Central who are getting better now.” No mention of the Sox. Well, he can watch us this week from home and get acquainted.

Not true. But I'm not giving away my parking secrets, either ?

Yep, appreciated. And I don't disagree that it's not that difficult for those of us who have set up Soxtalk accounts ?

Yeah that away lineup features fully five batters who will not be in the lineup Thursday

Not difficult for the kinds of people who post on message boards. But prohibitively difficult for a huge swath of the potential baseball-watching population. A lot of people dramatically underestimate how difficult it is for a lot of fans, especially older fans, to negotiate the ever-evolving technological landscape -- and they're not going to do it for a damn baseball game. Lots of folks just turn on the TV and try to find the game, and those people should be able to watch the game too. "Just find a streaming service that offers a free trial, set up an account, and cancel the trial when the trial period ends" -- great, you lost 35% of people at "streaming".

Here's all you need to know about playoff parking (and Sox parking in general): don't park in the lots like a sucka

Is it automatic (as in a normal person can just flip on the game and it will be there) or are there hoops to jump through?

Yeah, they can usually be counted on for the laziest possible take. I've seen quite a bit of love for the Sox from national writers, including plenty of WS projections.

This is an absolute joke. Really feel for those who can't watch. No local fan should be shut out of a playoff game.

I'm not sure about that -- who is the Astros 4th starter who matches up with the guy who's #3 in strikeouts in the AL? I'd take Dylan every time.

For selfish reasons I’m really praying for an earlier start time Friday (so I can make my flight home from Houston on Friday night). Generally not a fan of weekday afternoon games though.

(Reposting in the thread where I intended to post). We have better starting pitching, a better bullpen, and the offenses are a toss-up. I think we are a more complete team on paper. It will just come down to execution. It all starts with stealing one in Houston, which I hope we can do right out of the gate with Giolito on the mound.

We have better starting pitching, a better bullpen, and the offenses are a toss-up. I think we are a more complete team on paper. It will just come down to execution. It all starts with stealing one in Houston, which I hope we can do right out of the gate with Giolito on the mound.