Reasons for Optimism

[TheKilo]

Shocking seeing me start this thread, right?

 

We have a postgame grumblings thread, so I think we should have a spot where we talk about things that are encouraging.

 

My top 3:

 

Youkilis - picking up where he left off

Ramon Ramirez - came up huge today and was awesome last night

Jason Varitek - Two homers this series and didn't look helpless from the left side

 

 

Honorable mentions go out to Beckett and Papelbon, too.

[Cocos Disciples]

Definitely agree with Youk and Ramirez, and I would put Beckett over Varitek. Tek has the two homers, but is hitting .167. Beckett's was awesome on Tuesday.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

I don't take anything real negative from this series. At least, though its not under ideal circumstances, we probably have a chance to sweep the Angels, since they didn't look good against Oakland and will probably be mentally battered for a while following the Adenhart thing. If nothing else, we lost 2 of 3 to the reigning AL champions, while the Yankees lost 2 of 3 to the f***ing Orioles.

 

 

On a side note, the numbers might not support it, but I think Garza is by far the Rays' best pitcher.

[David Bowie]

Nothing is encouraging. The red sox are 1-2 and matsuzaka sucks.

 

meanwhile the rays are 2-1 and only improving. Only a matter of time before they run away with it.

[Cocos Disciples]

Nothing is encouraging. The red sox are 1-2 and matsuzaka sucks.

 

meanwhile the rays are 2-1 and only improving. Only a matter of time before they run away with it.

 

Yeah man, we're already 1 GB. We're so f***ed.

[David Bowie]

You say that now but just wait.

[Cocos Disciples]

Great.

[ORS]

Don't listen to Ziggy Cockmuncher. He/she/it/s*** is a Yankee fan incognito, IMO. The reaction in the "CC is a f***ing bust" thread felt like frustration.

 

Varitek hitting whatever his BA happens to be right now is not what's important. He's been making consistent quality contact, but has suffered from some bad luck on balls in play. I'll take a full season of the way he's hitting the ball now. Hopefully, it lasts.

 

Pedroia's got to be on the good side too. Couple of lasers for extra bases with a dinger, a walk in each game. More of that is welcome.

[Dojji]

The guys I worry about right now are Drew and Lowrie. Neither have really shown much so far. They need to get going.

[jacksonianmarch]

Its 3 games in ladies and gents. When did I become the voice of reason?

[Cocos Disciples]

Its 3 games in ladies and gents. When did I become the voice of reason?

 

Gotta talk about something

[ORS]

Its 3 games in ladies and gents. When did I become the voice of reason?

The fact that you think you have indicates the impossibility of that ever happening. Look at the reason for the creation of the thread. It's the opposite partner thread to one for designated for venting. It's perfectly reasonable to have this thread without it being an overreaction, so stop assuming everyone is.

[Dojji]

You were the voice of reason at some point?

 

C'mon, we've been itching all winter to talk some real baseball. You really think a little thing like small sample size is going to discourage us now?

[schillingouttheks]

Definitely agree with Youk and Ramirez' date=' and I would put Beckett over Varitek. Tek has the two homers, but is hitting .167. Beckett's was awesome on Tuesday.[/quote']

 

Tek has had lots of good contact though, with nothing to show for it. I think it's more due to luck than anything else. He's hit some drives directly at the outfielders.

[MANNYHOF24]

I believe last year Tek hit like 295 until June 1st. Didn't he get ridiculously sick twice in a short span and not miss very much time? That could have taken its toll on him last year.

[Death]

Tek has not had very good stats for a couple of years, I hope that he is going to have a better year.

[Cocos Disciples]

I believe last year Tek hit like 295 until June 1st. Didn't he get ridiculously sick twice in a short span and not miss very much time? That could have taken its toll on him last year.

 

He hit .271 through May, and .299 in May.

[Dojji]

Tek has not had very good stats for a couple of years' date=' I hope that he is going to have a better year.[/quote']

 

He was OK for a catcher in 2007, and had a flu-assisged nightmare year in 2008. I think the jury's still out on him.

[Death]

He was OK for a catcher in 2007' date=' and had a flu-assisged nightmare year in 2008. I think the jury's still out on him.[/quote']

 

Yeah, he is one of the best catchers, but not a very good hitter.

[yeszir]

Kevin. Youkilis.

[yeszir]

At least Pat Burrel is funny:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xb1M--ltObA&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philebrity.com%2F&feature=player_embedded

[BoSox21]

Really? All this talk alllllll winter long about how Don Zimmer could hit better than Tek and all it took was a three-game series to sway opinions?

[BSN07]

Tek has never been wonderful with the bat. And I never expect him to be. But he gave a reason to be optimistic about him. But if he hit's .200 I won't be shocked.

 

Beckett looks healthy, i won't go too overboard since it was his first start, just like Lester and Dice-K, but he showed flashes of 2007 Beckett.

 

Youkilis is carrying the offense. Maybe the warm California weather will get the bats going.

 

Lester looked good, not great. But you can't be on everyday.

 

Dice-K looked uninspiring, but it is his first start, I'll try and reserve judgment for now.

 

Ramon Ramirez has some sick stuff.

 

Oki was very shaky.

 

Lowell looked like he is recovering well.

[TheKilo]

Really? All this talk alllllll winter long about how Don Zimmer could hit better than Tek and all it took was a three-game series to sway opinions?

 

My opinion isn't swayed but he made some good contact and I recognize that.

[ORS]

Yeah, really, and look at what's being said in relation to the topic of the thread. Everyone expected nothing from Tek, and rightly so given his past couple of seasons and advancing age. The fact that he's looking like he could be contributing more than nothing is something to be "optimistic" about.

 

That said, nobody should change expectations, IMO. His OPS on 5/21 last year was .892. He was dreadful after that.

[David Bowie]

Don't listen to Ziggy Cockmuncher. He/she/it/s*** is a Yankee fan incognito, IMO. The reaction in the "CC is a f***ing bust" thread felt like frustration.

 

Varitek hitting whatever his BA happens to be right now is not what's important. He's been making consistent quality contact, but has suffered from some bad luck on balls in play. I'll take a full season of the way he's hitting the ball now. Hopefully, it lasts.

 

Pedroia's got to be on the good side too. Couple of lasers for extra bases with a dinger, a walk in each game. More of that is welcome.

 

If the yankees and the red sox were playing, I'd root for the stadium to explode.

[jacksonianmarch]

If the yankees and the red sox were playing' date=' I'd root for the stadium to explode.[/quote']

 

how long must we wait to ban this f***er

[David Bowie]

how long must we wait to ban this f***er

 

You have a horrible inferiority complex. Are you under 5'5?

 

You have problems guy

[yeszir]

how long must we wait to ban this f***er

 

No longer

[jacksonianmarch]

HAIL THE ADMINISTRATION