mmmmmbeeer

This. Maybe I'm just forgetting but this crackhead-ish rock he does on the mound while getting signs just screams nervous energy. I mean, he usually rocks, but he's looking like a damn dope fiend with this year's rock. He's far too amped up and putting too lofty of expectations on himself.

I think we're going to see Kopech hit his highest pitch total to date, this evening....perhaps as high as 85-90 pitches (if needed).

Ugh. Matt doesn't deserve to be in here with a lead.

Bunt? The hell

Ruiz 6 Crochet 7 Bummer 8 Hendricks 9

I actually liked sticking with Lynn there. He's an accomplished vet and a no-nonsense kind of dude. He wanted that inning and it was right of Tony to give it to him. I don't necessarily agree with not having anyone warming, but no issue letting him finish it and get out of the jam.

Jose Ruiz is dominating and a very clear replacement for Marshall. Marshall has been atrocious all season while Ruiz has looked fantastic. Stoney even alluded to Ruiz taking on a more prominent role in the pen with (unnamed-aka Foster and Marshall) "guys currently struggling".

Shameless bump.....since this post he's hit 4 dongs, knocked in 12, a SB, and OPS of 1.429.

Did he explain why? Makes zero sense.

What about a flyer on Adolis Garcia from Texas, the Cuban rookie?

Sox at +130 tonight, so Vegas seems to think we have a decent shot at a win.

He looks so much more comfortable at the plate now than the beginning of the season. Don't get the sense he's pressing, at all. If he keeps hitting the way he has, which I think he will, the Sox will have one helluva conundrum on their hands when Eloy is back to healthy. 4 starting caliber players to fill 3 positions, none of which you can really make a case for sitting.

Really happy for Dylan. That's the most carefree, emotional, animated version of Cease we've seen since he's been called up. That's the pitcher he CAN be. That said, he could just be pulling a ReyLo and dominating the Tigers. I'm not sayin'....just sayin'.

NBCSports making it sound like Robert could be back today. Negative COVID tests are complete.

I'd like to see a bullpen piece added. Removing Kopech the last couple of weeks has had a pretty noticeable impact on the pen. I think we could use a relatively dominant lefty as my confidence in Bummer and Crochet are low. Maybe they'll both get going by the trade deadline but, being you're asking this question now, LH RP is the direction I'd look to, especially if/when Kopech moves into the rotation permanently.

It's hurting the effectiveness of his change-up, which is still sitting 92ish. Not near enough of a gap between his FB and change piece. I guess the positive side of that is that if his change-up velocity hasn't changed, his arm must still be capable of repeating his 4 seam velocity. Assuming it's a directive from Katz to bring down the velocity a bit and work on control, this serves as the second questionable decision I've seen Katz make (in my wholly unqualified opinion). Crochet needs that 100-102MPH to dominate and Bummer needs to use his cutter more to be successful. I can only assume Katz has talked Bummer into using his slider more than his cutter.

For what purpose? It's not to rest anyone, we just had two days off this week. If we're in the middle of 17 straight games, sure, he definitely get a start to give someone a breather. Now? Nah...his ass should be on the bench.

Speaking as someone who thought Topo Chico mineral water was a twist top, I believe him. I didn't cut myself, fortunately, but you twist that cap hard enough I can definitely see it breaking the skin.

Unless you know for a fact that Leury will be on this roster in September/October, there's absolutely zero reason to give him starts to "keep him fresh". He has no business anywhere near an MLB starting line-up. Engel/Hamilton will be primary backup OFs while Mendick/Lamb serve as primary IF backups. Leury should be the last man on the bench, not getting starts. Infuriating.

Robert has been putting together some really good ABs out of that 2-spot. I hope being dropped down to 7 doesn't have him regressing (like Yo moving from 2 to 4). That said, amazing how getting one player back can make a lineup look so much better.

On the one hand, these guys are all serious competitors and no one wants to be embarrassed. If you have a chance to break up a no-no or perfect game, the instinct is to do it. On the other hand, it's an 8-0 game, the opposing pitcher is chasing history, and, instead of using talent to beat him, you take a weak HBP to the foot that could have been avoided? I don't know. I lean toward it being little, if any, better than bunting to break up a no-no. What'd he say post game?

Fantastic game all around. Couldn't be happier for Carlos. Also couldn't be happier that Abreu didn't tear some tendons trying to save the perfecto in the 9th! Was it just me or was Perez taking that HBP pretty bush league? It's not a situation you see often so I'm not sure there are necessarily "unwritten rules" regarding what's bush league and what isn't. No doubt the slider was digging in at his feet but I really didn't see any effort to get out of the way. My first reaction was that Lynn should throw at him tomorrow.

How? With Leury? Not going to sacrifice defense?

But Andrew Vaughn is? Eloy fucked us, plain and simple. JR fucked us, too, by refusing to pay for a competent LF replacement. This is compounded by TA and our primary back OF both being on the IL. I'm not excusing TLR but let's not pretend he's sitting stud starters every night. TLR has tossed out over 100 different line-ups a season over most of his career. That's what he does. This should come as no surprise that we aren't seeing consistency from him.

I get it these have been shit lineups but you replace Mendick and Williams with TA and Engel, it looks a lot better. We're pretty decimated by injury at the moment. There are no good options. I do agree Vaughn should be getting ABs but I really doubt he'd fare any better against Bieber than Williams or Lamb will (though experience is priceless).