35thstreetswarm

I think a lot of people felt that way, but were just resigned early on that the Sox wouldn’t pony up the 325+ needed to get him. People were excited about Machado because it looked, for a time, like we might get a bargain.

"Moreover, it is highly doubtful that a major league baseball team would utilize a commercial rental car service counter for such a transaction, nggnnnnnn" (adjusts masking taped-glasses) ?

I just imagine Francona standing behind a dejected-looking Plesac at the rental counter like "no, he will NOT be needing SiriusXM radio, thank you very much."

Very cool. Fun to have real speed on this team.

The last few years in particular have taught that a lot of people take outsized joy in seeing the pettiness, intemperance, and bluster of the comments section invade the somber, measured tones of the article. I’ve always appreciated that line myself, and don’t get titillated by seeing people speak in a public forum like they’re a blowhard in a bar. But I guess there will always be a market for that.

Agreed. It’s as if someone congratulated him early on for finally laying into the kind of meathead caller that drives everyone crazy...then he leaned too hard into that act, tried to “own” too many callers, and dialed the righteous indignation up to 10 far too frequently. Eventually condescending exasperation became his default tone and he just came across as a bully.

I’m hoping they announce jammed shoulder and fewer than 4-6 weeks

16.2 GAME WINNING STREAK

There was one stretch where he was really commanding the breaking ball as I recall (during his best stretch)

Since we did it the other way, that’s like A 13.5 GAME WINNING STREAK!!

I actually didn’t see it until now—sure enough!

Like it! Have also been wondering how long until the “Pantera: Vulgar Display of Power” shirts and references would start showing up. I guess I’ll start. Somebody with more skill than I should appropriately convert this.

Yes. Might have been sadder to play to an empty stadium with half a Cardinals team

Anybody have any more info on this game? Any reason to believe there will be any point in making the drive out (either to attend—which seems unlikely—or at least to get close/watch from a cornfield/somehow soak up the ambience in a season where we’re all starved for normal baseball contact high)?

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I'd call that a negative. Or maybe a positive-negative.

Still lots of time. The short schedule magnifies those little win streaks, too, and I think they'll come. I thought this team would scuffle early and gain strength as the season wears on, and I'm still sticking with that projection.

Leury is fine. You can just plug him in anywhere

I was so looking forward to watching a lineup made up of major leaguers...guess it’s just not to be

Terrible inning

I just remembered I don’t trust our bullpen at all. They’re going to pitch a lot this season. Fuck

I think this is right. I also think the asterisk will be smaller than most realize. People don't even remember which championships (in baseball and other sports) came in shortened seasons. Hell, the Hawks won a cup in a 48 game season and nobody discounts it one iota (I actually forgot about it completely). I realize this is a much more exceptional circumstance, but if the season goes off without major disruption I think the champ will get due respect. Now if something ELSE happens that doesn't allow the season to play out as planned - like one team in the World Series quarantining half its players during the series - that would of course change things independently. But that hasn't happened yet.

This is some weird incel ish right here

I like that. And I think 37 may be what's required to win a division. Just not second wildcard.

Too high. That's roughly a .620 winning percentage -- equivalent to a 100 game winner. Only four teams in MLB had that through 60 games last season, and that had three really fast starters in the Yankees, Twins, Astros. I think 33 or 34 wins does it.