4/15 @ Minnesota

[Lester82]

What's odd is their great defense around the diamond is not showing from the get-go.

[Lester82]

it's showed up in spots, but this team has looked not into it and making sloppy mistakes. I recall Francona getting upset with the team in mid/late March during a stretch of a number of spring training losses. Believe it or not.

 

He just wanted to see the club play more crisp, in-the-game baseball. Apparently, he was seeing some sloppy games down in spring. I just chalked it up to working out the rust in spr. training.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

2009: 3-6 start, finished 95-67.

 

2010: 4-5 start, on the road for 6, with the three home games against the defending champions.

 

Anyone who is calling for heads or predicting the apocalypse is a complete idiot.

 

This thread is why everyone laughs at Boston fans.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

Every game counts. If they play well out the gate, establish a nice lead in standings and all that then come August/September they don't have to worry about catching up a bunch of games just to make the playoffs while some players are injured or fatigued.

[Lester82]

^ Come on.

 

the reality though, is...

 

We all know if they built a nice lead with good early season play, or going 8-0 against the Yankees, but then stumble in August/Sept., people would moan about how they don't look that good at the more crucial point in the season.

[Jasonbay44]

2009: 3-6 start, finished 95-67.

 

2010: 4-5 start, on the road for 6, with the three home games against the defending champions.

 

Anyone who is calling for heads or predicting the apocalypse is a complete idiot.

 

This thread is why everyone laughs at Boston fans.

 

This.

 

Yes, every game does count, but its not how you start, its how you finish. My only concerns at the moment is the health of both Jacoby Ellsbury and Mike Cameron, there is no way in hell I wanna see Bill Hall starting for a long period of time.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

^ Come on.

 

the reality though, is...

 

We all know if they built a nice lead with good early season play, or going 8-0 against the Yankees, but then stumble in August/Sept., people would moan about how they don't look that good at the more crucial point in the season.

 

True, true.

[Spudboy]

The negative comments on this thread are a reaction to the Sox being out played in all three phases of the game today. And while it's just a nine game sample, a close observer has reason to question what is going on.

 

Hitting is cyclic. So ups and downs are to be expected. Defense is an aspect of the game that is far easier to asses. I player either makes the play cleanly or he doesn't. So far, the highly touted Sox D has not performed to expectations.

 

There are only three positions that I have no doubts about. 3,4, and 9.

 

Everywhere else is questionable.

 

Outfield: Ellsbury has been moved from center where he had problems reading the ball. Center is the easiest outfield position from which to read a ball. Now he is if left where he has to not only learn how to read a ball from a new position, but learn an entire league of ballparks. It may seem like an insignificant adjustment to casual observers. But it's not. He has tremendous speed. That's great. He has a rag arm. Those that ragged on him as a center fielder are going to have fun this year.

 

Cameron has played like s*** ( harsh, maybe) so far. Watch the gammmmzzz. He has gotten really bad breaks and has looked slow. Maybe it's just the new ballparks? Maybe he's just not what he was?

 

Drew is Drew. He does everything well in RF. He's made some clumsy plays (3-4) by my count so far.

If he is healthy, there is only one AL RF I'd prefer.

 

Infield: Beltre seems to still have the range and certainly the glove. But his throws are erratic and off target. Why? Add to that, he has said that he does not like the Fenway infield grass. Sound familiar?

I have every hope and confidence that he will be what he is supposed to be. But he has not shown it to this point.

 

Scutaro is a serviceable SS. Good range and glove. Weak arm. He made a fantastic play in the hole today. That, I suspect, was an anomaly.

 

No need discussing Pedroia and Youk. I'm confident that they will continue to be among the best defensive players at their positions.

 

Catcher? Pick your poison. V-Mart has looked like dog s*** so far. Veritek has much more skill (even now) but is not worth the offensive sacrifice for just a few months.

 

Overall, while it's way to early to make a solid assessment of the Sox "D", I'd say that any reasonable observer has the right to be concerned. Question marks exist.

 

Que the Talksox UZR Gods.

[YeAuldBroade]

They're record and team stats are better this year than they were last - and some how they managed to squeak out an above .500 season. I think I'll wait until the end of April before I push the panic button.

[Spudboy]

They're record and team stats are better this year than they were last - and some how they managed to squeak out an above .500 season. I think I'll wait until the end of April before I push the panic button.

 

As any knowledgeable baseball fan should.

[Dipre]

The Talksox UZR gods don't need to speak because it's April 15th, too early for an accurate assesment of anything.

[YeAuldBroade]

As any knowledgeable baseball fan should.

[Dipre]

Yeah but don't forget he's a 5 tool player who's worth every dime.

 

He's not worth every dime. He'd be worth every dime if he had more of the mythical beast known as the RBI.

 

It's April 15th by the way, Nostrafailure.

[Dipre]

its April 15th

 

Not so difficult.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Every game counts. If they play well out the gate' date=' establish a nice lead in standings and all that then come August/September they don't have to worry about catching up a bunch of games just to make the playoffs while some players are injured or fatigued.[/quote']

I never said every game didn't count. But expecting to have a reliable handle on what this team is after 9 games, 6 of them against great teams, is foolish.

[rhet]

The Talksox UZR gods don't need to speak because it's April 15th' date=' too early for an accurate assesment of [b']anything[/b].

 

It's certainly not too early to assess the nine games that have already been played.

[rhet]

He's not worth every dime. He'd be worth every dime if he had more of the mythical beast known as the RBI.

 

 

Hard to argue with that.

[Dipre]

It's certainly not too early to assess the nine games that have already been played.

 

What this team needs is more RBI's.

 

Hard to argue with that.

 

Of course.

[rhet]

What this team needs is more RBI's.

 

True.

But you seem obssessed with RBI's.

[yeszir]

Stop being an *******