Hardest Season up ahead?

[18plus86]

I think this will be one of the hardest seasons for the Sox. With the big target on their backs the Yanks are pissed. The whole organization. Don't be surprised if they pull a 98ish 110 win season out of their hats. Boston is very proud now, as I have been since 96, but be prepared to swallow that pride.

 

P.S. it hurts

[YanksHater213]

I definitely think this will be the toughest season ever. They proved that they can win, and they dont have that built in "curse" excuse anymore (which I believed was ******** to begin with). They definitely have to live up to so much more than they ever had to. Especially with a team this different, I think it will be tough, but well see.

[ACL BoSox]

Who cares? I can't wait for game threads!

[yeszir]

It's really hard to predict what the next season will bring. It's anticipated more than a season has ever been, but at the same time, the monkey seems to be off of the team's back and the air around them seems to be a bit looser. If anything the season will be more fun, knowing that we can compete with the yankees when it counts. Starting off against them in both openers will be amazing to say the least.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

I think its going to be one hell of a season. There are so many question marks among the team, so many guys gone, better division and such. i still think they will have 102 wins

[Sizzlin22]

Actually I tihnk the exact opposite. The pressure is finally off this team does not HAVE to win the world series. There is no more question about weather they can win in Yankee Stadium there is a whole lot less pressure on this team to win. I do not belive the Yankees can win over 100 games. A 200 million $ payroll should not have the beyond sub par defense of Bernie in center, Tony Womack at 2b and Tino at 1b pile that on top of a clubhouse that rivals the Bronx zoo and I jsut dont see them winning 100+ games.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

very good point... I also thought about Sheffield's comments today too, and about how everyone hates A-Rod. I am begining to think A-Rod will get fed up with people thinking of Derek Jeter as higher then him and may want to be traded some time in the future. i know that is a crazy idea but i can see it happening. I would not be surprised if that clubhouse broke out into a fight one of these days, lol.

[element1151]

I think its going to be one hell of a season.

 

Every season is one hell of a season in baseball!

[RedSoxRooter]

Actually I tihnk the exact opposite. The pressure is finally off this team does not HAVE to win the world series.

I totally agree. And to be honest, I thought there was more hype over 2004 starting than this year. Last year we were firing all our guns at once for one last shot to win it all in the "Pedro and Nomar era". We knew we had a roster filled with stars that on paper actually looked better than the Yankees and we also were coming off 2003 when we basically beat the Yanks at Yankee Stadium with our players, but lost because of our manager. 2004 was going to be redemption. 2004 meant anything short of a trip to the World Series was a total loss.

 

Now that is pressure.

 

This year will be different. We are the champs so the pressure to beat us is squarely on the Yankees and everyone else. Though I think the Sox will be competitive, and have a great chance at going back to the WS, to get caught up in all this repeat business is absurd. This is not the beginning of a Dynasty in Boston. We have no young guys who are entering their prime and who as a group will carry this team for the next 5 years. But we do have a GM and owner who will make us compete every year until some of the younger guys get here.

 

I cannot be the only person who feels that if all hell breaks loose and the Sox are a .500 team for any reason, that it's not going to really bother me. This team has already won the WS - and when I say team I mean the players left from 2003. The first team Theo really built.

 

And that is good enough for me for a couple of years probably because I liked these guys so much as players. Toss in the fact that the Sox won the World Series last year in the most inprobably way makes me feel even more this way. I can't see, really, how 2005 can top 2004, even if the Sox do win the Series again.

 

So I'm just looking for a good, fun, competative year. Anything on top of that is icing. So yeah, I think the pressure's off a little more than in previous years. Unless of course I'm the only one to think that way.

[TheHammerOfGod]

A 200 million $ payroll should not have the beyond sub par defense of Bernie in center, Tony Womack at 2b and Tino at 1b pile that on top of a clubhouse that rivals the Bronx zoo and I jsut dont see them winning 100+ games.

 

 

um i wasnt aware that tino had sub par defense but admittedly i havent watched the dude play in a while. u dont see us winning 100+ games huh? we did it with sub par pitching... im not sure why defense would hold us back

[TheHammerOfGod]

I would not be surprised if that clubhouse broke out into a fight one of these days, lol.

 

eh...i doubt it...that'd be too much fun lol

[Sizzlin22]

um i wasnt aware that tino had sub par defense but admittedly i havent watched the dude play in a while. u dont see us winning 100+ games huh? we did it with sub par pitching... im not sure why defense would hold us back

I meant Bernie had sub par defense that comment didnt apply to the other two. All I was saying is 200$ payroll should not have those 3 starting at where they are.