The Optimism Thread

[Spitball]

Optmism: Beckett pitches his best game in at least 9 months.

[Volk]

In the last 5 games, every single member of the rotation has tossed a quality start. That just feels good.

[mvp 78]

6-12 against the Rays in 2011

4-2 against the Rays in 2012

[a700hitter]

6-12 against the Rays in 2011

4-2 against the Rays in 2012

I'm not surprised. Jeff Keppinger batting cleanup would not scare a slow pitch softball pitcher. They don't have a lot of offense.

[redsoxfan3]

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

 

Team W L PCT GB

Baltimore 25 14 .641 -

Tampa Bay24 15 .615 1.0

Toronto 21 18 .538 4.0

NY Yankees20 18 .526 4.5

Boston 18 20 .474 6.5

 

The O's can only hang on to the lead in the AL East for so long. I really think it will be a close battle for the AL East between us, the Yanks, and Rays. I think the Jays and Orioles will be tough teams this year, but I think they are bound to round out the bottom of the East. I do not think many people would have predicted the bottom two teams in the AL East would be the Yanks and Sox after almost 40 games in. On a positive note, we are 6-1 in our last 7.

[Spitball]

I'm not surprised. Jeff Keppinger batting cleanup would not scare a slow pitch softball pitcher. They don't have a lot of offense.

 

Especially with Longoria and Jennings out of their line-up.

[a700hitter]

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

 

Team W L PCT GB

Baltimore 25 14 .641 -

Tampa Bay24 15 .615 1.0

Toronto 21 18 .538 4.0

NY Yankees20 18 .526 4.5

Boston 18 20 .474 6.5

 

The O's can only hang on to the lead in the AL East for so long. I really think it will be a close battle for the AL East between us, the Yanks, and Rays. I think the Jays and Orioles will be tough teams this year, but I think they are bound to round out the bottom of the East. I do not think many people would have predicted the bottom two teams in the AL East would be the Yanks and Sox after almost 40 games in. On a positive note, we are 6-1 in our last 7.

At what point should we start taking the Orioles seriously? Their roster seems well balanced for the first time in a long time, and Showalter runs a tight ship. I think they will stay in the race longer than most people expect.

[a700hitter]

Especially with Longoria and Jennings out of their line-up.

Another loss to their offense from last year is Damon. He has been an offensive catalyst every place he has played.

[FredLynn]

Another loss to their offense from last year is Damon. He has been an offensive catalyst every place he has played.

 

The Rays, when healthy, are not that bad offensively. They ranked 5th in OPS as of last night when I checked. Not mashers, but with their pitching staff their offense is certainly adequate to win games. The proof is their record relative to ours. They will be in the mix all year long.

[redsoxfan3]

At what point should we start taking the Orioles seriously? Their roster seems well balanced for the first time in a long time' date=' and Showalter runs a tight ship. I think they will stay in the race longer than most people expect.[/quote']

 

They should always be taken seriously. I just don't think they have what it takes to win 90+ games. They could very well win 80-90 this year. I just don't think they can be the best team in the AL East the rest of the year. They do have a decent team. I bet you are right. I am one that does not suspect they will stay in contention for too long, although they might be a very surprising team this year.

 

I think the AL East will be the best division in baseball record wise at the end of the year. Is it possible that we have all five teams finish with at least 80 wins? I know that division teams play the majority of their games against teams in the division, so I do not know the percentages and statistics on how many games each team plays against other teams in the division. I think there are five good ball clubs in the AL East this year. Anything can happen. We all saw what happened to us last September.

[a700hitter]

They should always be taken seriously. I just don't think they have what it takes to win 90+ games. They could very well win 80-90 this year. I just don't think they can be the best team in the AL East the rest of the year. They do have a decent team. I bet you are right. I am one that does not suspect they will stay in contention for too long, although they might be a very surprising team this year.

 

I think the AL East will be the best division in baseball record wise at the end of the year. Is it possible that we have all five teams finish with at least 80 wins? I know that division teams play the majority of their games against teams in the division, so I do not know the percentages and statistics on how many games each team plays against other teams in the division. I think there are five good ball clubs in the AL East this year. Anything can happen. We all saw what happened to us last September.

I don't think they win the Division, but can they finish second or third? Even a third place finish could get them a Wild Card berth.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Ken Rosenthal reporting that Oswalt threw a bullpen session for both the Phillies and the Red Sox this week.

 

Wonder if winning means anything to him. If so, this weekend series could be a bigger series than we thought.

[a700hitter]

Ken Rosenthal reporting that Oswalt threw a bullpen session for both the Phillies and the Red Sox this week.

 

Wonder if winning means anything to him. If so, this weekend series could be a bigger series than we thought.

Wow!! I have to think he would be more crucial to the Red Sox' chances than for the Phillies. I'd love to add him. Who would hit the pen?

[FredLynn]

Wow!! I have to think he would be more crucial to the Red Sox' chances than for the Phillies. I'd love to add him. Who would hit the pen?

 

Bard. He is certainly limited as to how many innings he can pitch this year anyway. Gotta have a decent replacement for him when he reaches that limit, and I don't mean DiceK

[a700hitter]

Bard. He is certainly limited as to how many innings he can pitch this year anyway. Gotta have a decent replacement for him when he reaches that limit' date=' and I don't mean DiceK[/quote']Dice K is a red herring.

[kapsis21]

Dice K is a red herring.

 

what is going on with Dicek he has totally lost it.. 5IP 5ER at AAA wow. he will get eaten up here. but sometimes its the opposite.. he can suck all at AAA and be decent when called up too! Garza does that every year but he is no Garza

[a700hitter]

what is going on with Dicek he has totally lost it.. 5IP 5ER at AAA wow. he will get eaten up here. but sometimes its the opposite.. he can suck all at AAA and be decent when called up too! Garza does that every year but he is no Garza

Expecting him to come back and be effective is unrealistic IMO. Never mind that he is rehabbing from injury, he hasn't been good for two yeas prior to his elbow injury.

[Bellhorn04]

Expecting him to come back and be effective is unrealistic IMO. Never mind that he is rehabbing from injury' date=' he hasn't been good for two yeas prior to his elbow injury.[/quote']

 

He had a stretch in 2010 where he pitched quite well for a few months. But I think your red herring description is appropriate.

[mvp 78]

Kalish went 1-4 in rehab start today.

[Station 13]

Kalish went 1-4 in rehab start today.

 

I thought he was in extended spring training.

[mvp 78]

I thought he was in extended spring training.

 

@PeteAbe: Ryan Kalish was 1 for 4 in his rehab game for Single A Salem. Single, K, 3-1, P-6

 

As tweeted by Peter Abraham.

[Bellhorn04]

@PeteAbe: Ryan Kalish was 1 for 4 in his rehab game for Single A Salem. Single, K, 3-1, P-6

 

As tweeted by Peter Abraham.

 

That was Kalish's second game. In his first game he was 2 for 4 with a home run.

[Bellhorn04]

Dice-K threw 5 shutout innings for the PawSox Saturday. 1 hit and 1 walk.

[mvp 78]

That was Kalish's second game. In his first game he was 2 for 4 with a home run.

 

Nice! Even more optimism.

[mvp 78]

Dice-K threw 5 shutout innings for the PawSox Saturday. 1 hit and 1 walk.

 

Just a red herring.

[a700hitter]

Just a red herring.

Bazinga

[SoxSport]

There's reason for optimism. The team is staying around .500, and when all the wounded return, you can expect they will improve their record--assuming there are no further important injuries (Pedey just went out today). They can be in the hunt for the playoffs if their pitching holds up. And if Valentine is allowed to be himself. Cafardo said it again today in his column: the front office is having a lot to say about what is done on the field--more than the fans realize.

[BornToRun]

There's reason for optimism. The team is staying around .500' date=' and when all the wounded return, you can expect they will improve their record--assuming there are no further important injuries (Pedey just went out today). They can be in the hunt for the playoffs if their pitching holds up. And if Valentine is allowed to be himself. Cafardo said it again today in his column: the front office is having a lot to say about what is done on the field--more than the fans realize.[/quote']

 

You're an *******, bro.

 

 

 

 

You being optimistic just made my head explode.

[mvp 78]

There's reason for optimism. The team is staying around .500' date=' and when all the wounded return, you can expect they will improve their record--assuming there are no further important injuries (Pedey just went out today). They can be in the hunt for the playoffs if their pitching holds up. And if Valentine is allowed to be himself. Cafardo said it again today in his column: the front office is having a lot to say about what is done on the field--more than the fans realize.[/quote']

 

They've always had a lot of say in what goes on the field. It's nothing new. The only new thing is the manager whining to Cafardo about it.

[a700hitter]

You're an *******, bro.

 

 

 

 

You being optimistic just made my head explode.

^ Why this? SoxSport is cool.