So let me get this out of the way right now because I get the feeling it could be a little bit contentious on this program tonight, okay?

Could be a little contentious.

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Plan your stay at Mohegan Sun.com. We are with you until 7 o'clock here on the baseball reporters, and then we will turn it over to Bruins' pregame. Bruins and Ottawa Senators, game five of their series. That's at 7.30, but pregame begins at 7. Dave Goshen and Bob Beers. Celtics also play tonight. I feel compelled to give you all these programming notes.

Celtics will be on WZLX tonight.

Our sister's station is obviously a lot going on in Boston this time of year,

particularly when both teams thankfully make the playoffs again.

Okay, so now that I've got that all off my chest,

617-779-0-98-5.

I said this at the start of the afternoon program.

I'll say it again now.

One of the more under-reported stories or elements of the Chris Sale deal this season has not gotten a lot of attention.

I'm going to get to that momentarily.

And before I even do that, let me tell you that as a Red Sox, lifelong Red Sox follower and as a Red Sox fan, and I'm not afraid to admit that, I grew up here as a Red Sox fan. I can separate the two. I can come to work and understand that I have responsibility to sort of give an honest analysis of what the team is and is not. But at the same time, I don't root for them to lose. I root for them to win. Of course I root for them to win. And not just on a professional level. I want to see them do well. Again, I grew up here. They're in my blood like they're in everyone else's blood. And I understand that Chris Sale is your shiny new toy. Chris Sale is your hope for a world championship. I get it and

with good reason. Chris Sale's dynamite and he's pitched his ass off here in the early part of

the year. Been absolutely sensational and he was sensational yesterday in Toronto. Now did I see every

pitch of the game? No. We were on the air during the time of the game, but I got a pretty good grasp on what was going on, and I can tell when a pitcher is dominating, and when he's not, and Sale was dominating yesterday.

So, sale for those of you who don't know, eight scoreless innings, 13 strikeouts, game was scoreless after eight innings, the Red Sox scored in the top of the ninth.

Manager John Farrell, even though Sale had thrown 102 pitches, had then elected to send Craig Kimbrill out to the mound to close the game.

Kimbril gave up a lead-off home run to Kendris Morales, had tied the score at one.

The Red Sox ultimately won it in 10. Chris Sale did not get a win as a result of Kimbril's blown safe. Boo-hoo, who, I feel badly for him. Okay? Now, again, I say that somewhat sarcastically, but of course, you'd like to see that effort rewarded. Who wouldn't? At the end of the day, the Red Sox won the game, which is really all that should matter.

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