Ducksnort

Sure, the hitter after that is hot too. Didn't take into account the IBB. Point is, there are situations where it is acceptable, strategic, and even necessary.

Exactly. I think this whole bunting issue is just compounded because the Sox just suck in general. It wouldn't be a thing. I don't think bunting should be used as much as Ricky uses it, to be completely honest, but I think this whole idea that it should just go away completely is ludacris. There are situations in baseball in non-pitcher hitting situations where the bunt is completely acceptable and strategic.

It's the 8th inning. You are down by a run. Its Runners on 1st and 2nd, nobody out. The runner on 2nd is slow but the runner on first has some wheels. You have a notorious ground ball hitter at the plate, and he doesn't necessarily have a good history of high exit velocity. He's on a cold streak, 0 for last 10. In fact, he is in the top 20% of hitters in the league who have hit into double plays for the year. It's August, so he has had plenty of ABs. He's got decent speed, despite the high double play percentage, and has15 stolen bases on the year so far. He has proven in the past that he can get the bunt down. The opposing team's pitcher is a sinkerballer with good control. ERA in the high 2s, and has thrown many DPs. The next hitter is hot and has been driving in runs like crazy, like 4 homeruns in the last 4 games with 15 RBIs. So far in the game he is 3-3 with a double and a homer, 2 rbis. Actually he is 7-10 lifetime against the sinkerballer. The 3 outs he did make were flyballs to the outfield. No one is warming in the bullpen. Plug that shit into a computer What would you do as a manager in this situation? (I read the article)

I swear if he puts Alonso back at cleanup tomorrow behind Abreu...

So predictable. Idk why they keep talking up Alonso like he's gonna break out soon...I see no signs of this.

Timmaaayyyy

Dang, that sucks

Abreu is retiring a White Sock. He will not be traded this season, he will receive an extension and rightfully so. He is blocking no one and there isn't anyone on the market better than him. He still has some good years left. He's staying. And for his sake, he wants to stay, I really hope he stays long enough to at least win a playoff round with the Sox. He's been on losing teams his whole career. Dude definitely deserves to end it on a winning note.

Soo who is out long man now with Covey in the rotation? Marshall?

I guess Leury has a thumb issue? Abreu just missed that...damn wind.

That is why you bunt. Stop hating on it. It worked perfectly there and was executed just as planned.

And thay is why Anderson and Charlie should be hitting in the top half of the lineup, not effing Yonder Alonso and Welington Castillo. Base hit here ties it.

Lopez head is up his ass

This...just doesn't make sense. Today's lineup is even worse than yesterday's with McCann being given a break. Anderson needs to be hitting cleanup in this lineup, even with his current regression, and with honestly Tilson leading off and Moncada hitting 2nd.

For the record, Palka doesn't provide much flexibility either (if we are talking about defense). In fact, Alonso is much better at his sole position than Palka is at his, so you could say that the flexibility piece actually favors Alonso. However, as far as the bats are concerned, yeah right now Palka is a better fit on this team. I would give it another month. If Alonso hasn't turned it around by then, bring Palka up with Cease and cut ties with Alonso. Not sure who would spell Abreu at first when he needs it then. Can Palka play 1st? Maybe one of the catchers or Leury?

Love it. Great baseball. Pen almost blew it but Colome with the 4 out save. Was great. Was beautiful. Billions and billions of likes. Best game ever. Except for the wooing. That needs to stop.

Yeah while I agree the offensive is gonna start regressing, he isn't going to lose the defense, which IMO makes him a better choice than Castillo just with that. It's not like Castillo is a better hitter right now anyway, and likely won't be for the remainder of the season.

Yeah I would much rather Eloy be the DH, Tilson stay in CF, Leury in left and Cordell in RF. But you're right, Alonso likely has a very long leash.

Dude is a beast. Both offensively and defensively. What an upgrade over Narvaez, so far. Have we found our catcher savior?!?!

When Eloy comes back, it looks like Tilson is making a case to stay.

I love the name Charlie for an MLB team...hopefully he can stick. I remember how excited we were to get him when we got him from St. Louis.

I literally said McCann is having my babies. Sox better offer him 350 million dollars over 10 years, and none of that incentive bullshit.

Sox better offer him what he's worth if this continues throughout the season. Catchers like these are extremely hard to come by, and if the Sox just lucked out on him, wow.

I'm in the same boat as most, didn't really care for Benetti when he started out but he's been much better this year, and Stony compliments him well. They are entertaining to listen to. I don't really care for the Sox Math or 1 thing with Ricky, but that's not really the point of this thread. And, it's really something when most people enjoy the duo now in the bad times, imagine how nice it will be during the good years.

Phew. This umpiring crew is having an awful night. At least they have had bad calls on both sides.