6-0 os in the 2nd knocked Green out already
Alvarez Davis and Trumbo with HRs

Don't get ahead of yourself Droford. Your ridiculously pro Baltimore comments aren't much better than Hawk's homer shtick.

Jay Bruce is so fucking bad. Holy shit.

I would honestly be fine with firing Sandy for that trade alone. He brings NOTHING to the table. Nothing. And it only cost us the prospect that made Sandy deem it worth to not even try to bring back Daniel fucking Murphy.

Os 2 hit the Yankees 8-0 and the Rays beat the Jays 8-3

3 GB now

best team in baseball history. They won a game.

Toronto is on their way to being tied for 1st with the Red Sox and os only 2 gb. Can't wait to mock them when they lose a 4 game lead

19-3 for Porcello and first place in the ALE. Cy Young?

I wonder if Zach Britton gets his PEDs from Eric Gagne.

lol just remember the only reason we rip on the Os is because you are insufferable. If you read my posts, I'm quite complementary of them. You're just a huge baby.

Fucking pesky Rays. Could see this coming. If the pitching for the Rays stays the same next year they could have a good year.

Snell was really good, but I was more impressed with Cobb on Friday. First start in a long time, gets a bit roughed up in the first inning and then proceeds to deal for the next 4.

Archer, Cobb, Snell and Odorizzi is a pretty scary rotation.

The Rays just need some offense outside of Longo. For a team that was so well built internally they've actually whiffed on some drafts the past couple of years in terms of position players.

And did the Jays ever have a 4 game lead on the 2nd place team? Feel like Boston and Toronto have been neck and neck for a while. Unless Droford means Baltimore was 4 games back, in 3rd place, which is completely different to when they dropped a 4 game lead over the second place team.

But 2 and 4 is the same guys. Just like Baltimore's pitching staff isn't much different than Boston's, and Chris Davis and Adam Jones aren't overpaid underperformers.

I think Boston will tale the division. They just seem consistent where the Jays and O's are streaky. I want Toronto to win it though since Droford thinks they are garbage.

MLB is praying for Boston to make it to the World Series so they can milk the Big Papi Retirement Tour angle as long as possible.

Big Papi retirement vs. Cubs World Series drought is the matchup they most certainly want, although the Even Year Giants making yet another run to the playoffs is an easy sell for them too.

http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/7008976...065183?cid=nym

Michael Conforto: Major League center fielder

Much as I love Thor, he desperately needs to work on holding runners on. Opposing baserunners have stolen 45 bases on him this year, that's nearly double the second highest total in the league. He's also closing in on the single-season record of 60.

He has a really high leg kick pitching out of the stretch and he comes to set so deliberately that he's tipping off runners that he's 100% committed to throwing to the plate. A lot of the stolen bags against him come without a throw even being made because they've gotten such a huge jump.

He rarely even throws over to first or second. It's like he pays the runners no mind because he just assumes he can strike everybody out. Obviously when he's on he's fucking filthy, but he's still gotta pay attention to the runners.

You're being really nit picky I think. Guy has stranded roughly 75% of runners each of the last 2 seasons. Stolen bases don't mean squat if they can't score. Greg Maddux used to say he dgaf about stolen bases for the same reason.

Sox can be just as streaky as the Jays and Os though.

Biggest positive right now for the Sox is Price finally getting into an Ace-like groove for the rotation. Been pretty good the last 5-6 starts and not a huge disappointment or streaky like earlier in the season.


Always wondered how much MLB regretted Sox-Cubs not happening in 2003. That probably would have been the greatest World Series ever in terms of hype.

No, I'd rather have somebody have Josh Beckett's approach. He focuses on the batter and tries to strike them out. Clay Bucholtz always pisses me off because he focuses all of his attention on the guy on first base. Throws a shitty pitch and it's a 2 run-home run or walks the guy.

The other night Trea Turner (remember him???) led off the game with a single, then stole second and third by a mile and later came on to score on a sac fly. You're nuts if you don't think holding runners on matters. Absolutely nuts. It can be the difference between a free run.

You learn how to hold runners on in Little League.

Again I'm not trying to bury Thor as he's been great but it's still a clear weakness in his game. They've had to saddle him with Rene Rivera as his personal catcher solely because he has a better chance of throwing out runners than d'Arnaud. They know teams will run wild if he allows a baserunner.

Oh yeah and also Maddux's motion out of the stretch was a hell of a lot less extreme than Thor's. He didn't actually need to worry about runners because he didn't telegraph it every time he was going to the plate.

Stealing 3rd is such a rarity it shouldn't really be brought up when trying to make the argument.

75% of the time Vito, a runner who gets on is stranded against Thor. You're being really nit picky and pointing out one instance where a run happened to score is not evidence. It's confirmation bias.

Thor is just fine as a dominant, top of the rotation starter. He's top 10 in WAR, ERA, FIP, K9, BB9, earned runs allowed, strikeouts, etc.

You're literally complaining for the sole reason of complaining. For some guys, yes, holding runners is important. For Syndergaard, it's not. He does more than enough with runners on to limit them scoring, specifically by punching out guys.

Dastardly Devon Travis with a 2 run single to tie it

One thing impressive about the Jays is I can't remember the last time they lost 3 in a row. Yeah, they'll fuck around and lose 2 against shitty teams, but they're a very good team at stopping the bleeding. I feel like most of this year has been them stopping the bleeding, which is why they are where they are at, positive and negative.


And LOL Damo. GIMMICK INFRINGEMENT YOU MOTHERFUCKER

honestly think if Russ Martin wasn't a catcher (ie. the toll on his body) he could hit 30 home runs a year. Dude is a beast. He had 7 home runs 3 weeks ago

He was originally a 3rd baseman I believe.

The strength with Toronto is its rotation. They have an incredibly strong staff and when you're that deep, it's not hard to avoid going into extended slumps.

Bullpen saved them today. Anything to avoid a losing skid.

lol poor Chris Archer. I really like that guy too.

People have been stealing third on Thor all season.

Nobody here is saying that Thor isn't good. I'm saying that he could be that much better if he actually started to pay attention when people are on base.

Right now any runner with the slightest bit of speed who is able to work out a single or a walk against Thor is a cinch to take second. So those singles ostensibly become doubles. And on days when Thor doesn't have his best stuff, it leads to a lot of free runs.

That 75% runners stranded figure would get even better, which would make him even better than he already is. I have no doubt it's gonna be something he works on this winter since he's otherwise not gonna be throwing.

Glad Bill Simmons said today was the worst Red Sox loss of the season...I'm sure he's only watched about 7 games this year since he's usually too busy jerking off to NBA material.

#BillSimmonsPost

He's putting up a 5 WAR season Vito. At 23. Maddux put up the same kind of season at the same age. Of course every pitcher has room to improve. But I still think you're reaching. Syndergaard is an absolute stud and he's yet to peak physically. Just enjoy it while it lasts.

Oh and Maddux's left on base rate is nearly identical to Syndergaard's is now. Thor will be just fine.

How is it any worse than any other loss? They took 2 of 3 and got bit late in a game like it could happen to any other team. I get there was a no hit bid, but shit happens. Unless it is a clinching game or you blow a huge lead in a game I can't see how any one loss is worse than another.

Even if it's one of those types of losses, it counts as just one loss.

If nothing else it might push Rodriguez in the right direction to give him some confidence. He's had a disappointing season.

Well yeah that's pretty much what I was getting at. Just in a clinching game (ie. you get clinched on) you're completely fucked, and a really badly blown game is a lost opportunity.
But I 100 per cent agree in that no matter how you lose it, it's a loss. Some sting worse in the moment, but it can all be changed by going out there and winning the very next night.

Agreed you handsome bastard.

In other news, I see Baltimore has dropped back down to 3 games out. The rate they're going they will be fighting for a second wild card spot, and I like Detroit with either Verlander or Michael Fulmer, who I like more than anything Baltimore has.

Dickey apart from maybe 3 starts since the break has been utterly woeful. And the best part about his starts is Josh Thole gets to play, which means essentially an auto-out in your lineup.

Oh and Gibbons decided it a great idea to sit Troy Tulowitzki lol

Ubaldo with a CG 2 hitter..no hit the Rays the final 8 innings. Crazy.

he looked good against the Jays too

Padres aren't going to do either of you two favors. They're about to get stomped by Boston.