With his biggest fan, his grandpa, cheering him on while phoning in the occasional tip, Mike Y (4 hits ystrdy) & the rampaging G-men can overtake Phils for WC this week -- Yaz has gotta be the happiest guy on the planet -- holy makarel tho, who would he root for in a Sox-SF WSeries....

"Prized hitting guru" Robert Von Scoyoc has indeed made LAD a fearsome squad
but even they were no match for Stephen last nite -- yep, he smacked an RBI basehit, scored a run, & w/his league-best 14th win, is in line for his 1st 20-win season & the Cy -- if he stays healthy he'll break 200 IP for just the 2nd time in his career -- he'll try to tie his career best w/his 15th win this wknd vs AZ (he's won 15 three times) -- envision Wash getting closer to Atlanta/pulling away from Phila this week, however, Max Scherzer remains sidelined

Obviously this 2-week stretch is, well not our season, but still major -- no complaints so far, we won both series last week, & That HAS To Happen Again This Week -- we gotta win em both (TB this week, at NY this wknd) -- we need to be 4-5 GB NY, same ahead of TB next week -- it's the pivotal juncture of our season

BOSTON RED SOX

[Edited on 7/29/2019 by Stephen]

always been a big Stephen fan. Like Mark Prior, without injuries he could have been an all time great.

but even if he wins the Cy Young he's merely the second best pitcher on his time

Trading deadline is down to 25 minutes. 😮

Astros Big 3 Ps of Verlander, Cole and now Zach Greinke is now as good as Wash, LAD, or Sox tandem of Sale, Price, Porcello -- whatever happened to Lance McCullers?

Guessing Indians will regret trading Bauer -- that was a heck of a throw he made over the CF fence -- he was 5th in league in K's w/185

😮 Kansas City T-Bones? (American Association)

[Edited on 7/31/2019 by Stephen]

Astros Big 3 Ps of Verlander, Cole and now Zach Greinke is now as good as Wash, LAD, or Sox tandem of Sale, Price, Porcello -- whatever happened to Lance McCullers?

Guessing Indians will regret trading Bauer -- that was a heck of a throw he made over the CF fence -- he was 5th in league in K's w/185

😮 Kansas City T-Bones? (American Association)

[Edited on 7/31/2019 by Stephen]

Totally agree about Bauer. Don't get that one.

Disagree about Houston. I think their top three are better than Boston's. On one of the ESPN baseball shows they said they will be favored over everyone they play (for whatever that's worth).

[Edited on 8/1/2019 by Lee]

Yanks complete the weekend sweep of the Sux. Even with injuries piling up, they keep winning.

all 0-8s are ugly, this one doubly so vs 2 teams we were trying to catch -- same Brewers, they coughed up their own crucial wknd series w/Cubs
will the last 2 months become garbage time for the Sox -- I don't think so, but we have to be as hot down the stretch as Cleve is rite now (league-best 37-15 since June 4) --
but, even w/3 former Cy Young winners, our pitching doesn't suggest that happening -- only ERod (13-4) has pitched well

Justin Bieber another CG gem -- the game needs more like him, also Verlander -- only 6 IP but 10 Ks & 1st to 15 wins w/a 2.68 ERA, both league highs, & 2nd in strikeouts -- Houstros & Tribe will be tough -- Tribe showing no sign of missing Bauer -- Bauer was hit hard his 1st start w/Reds --
same Stephen, a rarity, knocked outta the box Sat. -- an automaton he isn't I guess 😉 -- w/the dog days of August here, could a break be coming for Stephen

[Edited on 8/5/2019 by Stephen]

First there was Clev of Cleve's teres major strain (he's back)
then the strain of Mad Max's rhomboid (still sidelined)
now David, w/what they're calling "a triangular fibrocartilage complex cyst" in his left wrist, which was treated with a cortisone shot.

None top Carlos Correa tho -- fractured ribs, incurred while getting a massage
Let's go Sox, 6 games to make up for the WC shouldn't be impossible, with or without David -- hopefully he can bounce back

[Edited on 8/8/2019 by Stephen]

Whoa, Noah (88 K's), Zack Wheeler and Jacob deGrom give the Mets top 5-caliber heat while fanning everyone in sight

but still in all, in this, the 50th year of their Miracle 1969 season, they're not making anyone forget Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman or rookie fireballer Nolan Ryan -- Mets are languishing

Unbelievable, it's not just their big 3 anymore -- Stroman has joined, they're playin like it's 1969 w/a league-best 19-6 since the break, & just like that, Matz & the METS are the talk of the Citi -- Stroman-Stephen kick off their key wkndr 2nite as the Amazins look to pass Phil-Wash in NL East

Chris & MadBum were good last nite -- Chris' W-L isn't good but he's right there in K's -- there was a no-hitter BC recently, Madison's gem last nite was 7 IP w/2 relievers

It's a mad game of streaks -- ours needs to begin w/last nite

Howabout, the Everett AquaSox

or the Modesto Nuts -- they're Seattle Mariners minor league teams -- King Felix pitched 2 IP for the Nuts recently giving up 2 earned runs & fanning 3 -- Felix last pitched like a king in 2015 (18-9)

Stephen has been my favorite P to follow ever since 2012, when, after going 15-6, a healthy Stephen sat out the stretch run of Wash's pennant race & playoffs
because of a contract agreement
he wasn't a holdout, it wasn't a contract disPute
it was a contract aGreement

hadn't ever seen anything like that before, so he became my poster boy to follow/throw tomatoes at*, as far as the coddled/injured/preprogrammed modern-day MLB hurler --
that's why I mention him all the time

*and talk him up him too -- have always said how good he was, when he felt up to the task -- his #s do that talking anyway

Dustin had further knee surgery 2 days ago to ensure independence later in life -- the guy is great, he's gotta be content w/the career he's had -- watta warrior

Bill Walton just did the entire White Sox/Angels broadcast, 9 innings of shear genius insanity! Sox Won!!!......Peace......joe

Bill Walton just did the entire White Sox/Angels broadcast, 9 innings of shear genius insanity! Sox Won!!!......Peace......joe

I wonder if he did some Grateful Dead partying prior to the game. Was he trying to act that way? The other guy couldn't even get a word in.

I guess he figures he is being paid for certain shtick and Man does he deliver!!! Had me thinking I was tripping at the ballgame, maybe like Doc Ellis or something???.........Peace.......joe

That must have been priceless alright -- just about to read an AP article on it

Speaking of ChiSox
(SEEYA BENCH 😮 )

on this day 1990
With his 328th, Carlton Fisk broke Johnny Bench's career HR record for catchers

Pudge one time did a commercial in which the bench was mentioned a lot -- "if you wanna get off the bench, you gotta buy......."
then at the end of the commercial, he looks straight into the camera and, in full catcher's gear, says "See ya, Bench" & runs out on the field, obvious quip, leaving Johnny on the bench as Carlton's backup

24 years in the bigs, 11 w/Bo, 13 w/Chi (nine really for us, 1st 2 years 1970-71 mostly in minors)
he most own all the catching records for both teams
Let's go Sox
BO-Sox 😛 😉

[Edited on 8/17/2019 by Stephen]

Tiggers beat Verlander last night. Love him but I liked that. I've had this discussion with friends and when the time comes for the HOF, I really hope he goes in as a Tigger but I have my doubts.

Giolito was just as good for ChiSox, 3-hit shutout, 12 Ks -- probly Verlander's top performance this year, win or lose
Let's go BoSox (fading fast tho) -- about the only thing worth looking forward to is Yaz's return to Fenway w/his family next month to cheer on Mike when SF visits

23 years in a Red Sox uniform, 1st player w/400 HR & 3,000 hits
Cahl
Happy birthday Carl Yastrzemski, 80 yrs young

[Edited on 8/22/2019 by Stephen]

Verlander banned a Detroit Free Press writer (the main Detroit paper) from the dressing room last night. Yikes. 😮

Adirondack River Pigs?
Couldn't possibly go over well tho -- sure enough,
HOWEVER, read the fine print

TUPPER LAKE, N.Y. — A new semi-pro baseball team in the Adirondacks is rooting around for a new nickname. Some residents grunted at "River Pigs."

Now the name of the new Empire League team will be changed.

The name River Pigs was chosen to reflect the region's logging history. River pigs were skilled loggers who broke up logjams on rivers

Clay and Felix had so-so returns over the weekend

Most importantly -- I know all you fans took note over the weekend of the century mark of the greatest feat ever on a baseball diamond -- 100 years can't diminish its impact, in fact it only enhances it

On Aug. 24, 1919, in his first start as a member of the Indians since being traded from the Red Sox, right-hander Ray Caldwell is knocked unconscious after being struck by lightning with two outs in the top of the ninth inning. The 31 year-old free-wheeling spitballer, who was was unconscious for about five minutes, refuses to leave the game, needing just one more out for the complete-game victory, and goes on to record the final out for the 2-1 victory over Philadelphia at Cleveland's League Park.

[Edited on 8/28/2019 by Stephen]

Everyone talks about the 1969 Amazin Mets,which they should
But waattabout the Cubs too -- were way ahead, then lost 17 of their last 25 in an unbelievable choke

Now it's the Cubs & Mets in a 3 critical games, & NYM still smarting from sweep to Atlanta -- took some of the wknd starch outta Citi fans, & let's face it, they don't wanna see a repeat of 2006 and 07, when Mets coughed it up in consecutive Septembers --
on the other hand, their own 3 game sweep would enable Amazins to pass Cubbies in NL standings for the 1st time this season

Mad Max is back, the lowly O's are in from Baltimore for a visit, & an injury-free Stephen & the streaking Nats (W5, 8-2 L10) could be poised to catch Atlanta -- Braves own the Mets, they've won 11 of 14 against them

Just a pissah race for NL MVP between Acuna Jr and Christian Yelich -- players with both speed & power, & Acuna Jr is crowding Jose Canseco's 1988 record of 40 HR and 40 SB

ACUNA JR: .290 BA, 106 runs (1st place), 156 hits (2nd), 36 HR (4th) -- 30 SB (1st) -- then t9 with Cody Bellinger w/89 RBI

YELICH: .329 BA (2nd), 41 HR (2nd), 100 RBI (5th) -- 25 SB (4th) -- then t7 hits (146), and 8th in runs (91)

pissah is a regional term -- I'd have to give it to Christian based on BA differential -- Bellinger is having a great year too (.312, 42 HR, 89 RBI, 101 runs)

No Sox fan, or player, is giving up yet -- one thing is sure, a deserving AL team won't be in the playoffs, that has a better record than all but 2 NL teams (if it started tomorrow) -- there's three spots for Oak, MN, TB & Tribe

Let's Go Sox

If we can win these 2 series this week vs division leaders it’ll show we mean business & we’ll still have a pulse going into next week’s big (for Yaz fans) SF series

Giants made their run in this, the 2nd straight year of the retirement of a long time west coast manager, Bochy (after Sciosa last year) - looks like too little too late tho - could be for us too - need look no further than the 0-8 vs TB/NY late July-early Aug
Let’s Go Sox

[Edited on 9/3/2019 by Stephen]

Guessing Indians will regret trading Bauer -- that was a heck of a throw he made over the CF fence -- he was 5th in league in K's w/185

😮 Kansas City T-Bones? (American Association)

[Edited on 7/31/2019 by Stephen]

Totally agree about Bauer. Don't get that one.

[Edited on 8/1/2019 by Lee]

Yep Bauer has been a bust for Reds, & Chief Wahoo’s Tribe sliding outta contention gong into their crucial wknd series w/MN -
Same thing w/Cashner, he was great in Balt, a bust here - walked bases full last night costing us the game/series - now it’s last-gasp time this wknd - it's always big w/NY, let’s goSox

[Edited on 9/6/2019 by Stephen]

now it’s last-gasp time this wknd - it's always big w/NY, let’s goSox

I don't see Boston sneaking in. I think they are running out of time. Although it would be fun to see them play NY if they could make it that far.

Yeah it's completely doubtful because of the lack of pitching. Announcers said last night that we lead the league in number of games giving up eight or more walks per game.

Cubs are getting closer and closer to a playoff berth, they're playing well — what’s w/AZ, suddenly they’re just 2 GB Cubbies —
Same Atlanta, they’re W8 & have surged past MN in the overall - Mil, Phil & Mets at 72-68 - NY & Houstros 92-50, LA 1/2 GB

It’s 6 teams vying for 2 spots in NL - Sox are 5 out - again, no pitching makes it highly improbable
But We Won Tonite

[Edited on 9/7/2019 by Stephen]

The Flubs ain't looking so good. I was going to go up to Milwaukee this weekend to see the series. Glad I didn't bother. I don't think they are going to catch St Louis.

Hope your team makes it, looks like they should - suddenly Wash sliding (L4), no catching Atlanta now like I thought they would

It’s just the penthouse & outhouse this year in the AL - not just NY & Hou, but TB, MN, Oakland, Tribe up top

Same down below, it’s not just Det & Balt, all those bottom 6 teams are down the tubes - Tygiz likely 100 losses today, but at least won’t hit their 2003 record-for-futility of 119

Was mistaken, that SF series is next week- both currently 7 out - let’s go Sox

Hope your team makes it, looks like they should - suddenly Wash sliding (L4), no catching Atlanta now like I thought they would

It’s just the penthouse & outhouse this year in the AL - not just NY & Hou, but TB, MN, Oakland, Tribe up top

Same down below, it’s not just Det & Balt, all those bottom 6 teams are down the tubes - Tygiz likely 100 losses today, but at least won’t hit their 2003 record-for-futility of 119

Was mistaken, that SF series is next week- both currently 7 out - let’s go Sox

Well, the Nats got one in last night against the Braves, who looked like they could have pulled it back in a place they rarely find themselves at home, playing the bottom of the 9th inning.
This year has been weird though. I can't remember a time when there were so many teams over 500, much less over 600.

Brewers are having a nice surge - taking 5 of 7 from the Chubs (and a couple from Houston last week). Still 2 games out from the final Wild Card, but it would be nice to see them end the season strong. They are in Miami this week, if they can't add a few Ws over the next four games, they don't deserve to make the playoffs.

Red Sox have fired their President. Seems a bit of an overreaction, but they took a small dip this season after dominating in 2018, but were still in a position to make the playoffs late in the year.

Meanwhile, the Yankees seem like the team to beat. They've figured out their rotation and Boone should get Manager of the Year for keeping the Yankees atop the AL with all of their injuries through out the season.

Interesting...

https://sports.yahoo.com/dave-dombrowski-red-sox-fired-world-series-041332777.html

Rotten break for the Brew Crew w/Yelich injury, they’re going good right now too
For the Sox, it’s wait til next year
BOSTON RED SOX

[Edited on 9/11/2019 by Stephen]