What do you think the Sox chances are in 2013

[User Name]

Pal, there needs to be some whining around here, otherwise talksox wouldn't be talksox.

[cp176]

It certainly doesn't sound like it.

 

In 2012, he was given a pile of huge contracts for underachieving players, Bobby Valentine, and an empty farm system. He hasn't been perfect by any means, but every year he has retooled the team for the future. Let's see April --and the full roster -- before calling it complete junk.

 

I too am very thankful for the championships that have been won. 2013 was just magical. My concern is with a previous post regarding our front office caving to fan pressure and signing free agents to huge contracts. I hope that that is not the case. I want to be able to voice my opinion but I certainly don't want to sway theirs'. Our front office has a job to do and they are paid well to do it. None of us are on the front line. We have opinions and that is it. I want them to be competitive every year! I think they should be if the job is being adequately done. I might not agree but I will always support.

[a700hitter]

I too am very thankful for the championships that have been won. 2013 was just magical. My concern is with a previous post regarding our front office caving to fan pressure and signing free agents to huge contracts. I hope that that is not the case. I want to be able to voice my opinion but I certainly don't want to sway theirs'. Our front office has a job to do and they are paid well to do it. None of us are on the front line. We have opinions and that is it. I want them to be competitive every year! I think they should be if the job is being adequately done. I might not agree but I will always support.

Some people here must think that the FO monitors message boards and reacts to them. You and I know that if they are doing that they shouldn't be running an elite franchise. I do think that ticket sales and TV and radio ratings are factors in their decision making process and they should be as they affect their bottom line.

[cp176]

Some people here must think that the FO monitors message boards and reacts to them. You and I know that if they are doing that they shouldn't be running an elite franchise. I do think that ticket sales and TV and radio ratings are factors in their decision making process and they should be as they affect their bottom line.

 

Agreed - I have some fun with this. I follow them with a passion but that passion is limited in scope. I may not always agree with decisions they make and I might get lucky and be right once in awhile regardless I will support them. Might not see me in the ballpark but I will support. It is all about choices. I also don't pretend to be something I am not. I was taught early on that you have to have a grasp of your limitations as you set your goals. Just like you, I still want that frontline thrower.

[seabeachfred]

Personally I think this is the season that will tell us just about all we need to know about Cherington and Farrell. If they both flop with what they do it should be evident to anyone but a died in the wool Pollyanna that these two are not big enough for the job. For the manager it will be four miserable seasons of managing to one good one---a horrific record that would get a batter benche (though it took even less than that before they threw in the towel on the pathetic Bradley). For Cherington it would be three bad years in four and don't forget we've finished last two of the past three seasons, and the Red Sox should be able to contend every damn year---maybe not win the division every year but contend for it. I think the jury will decide by next October.

[Kimmi]

Trust in Ben? He finished last in 2 of his 3 seasons at the helm. The team is 8 games under .500 in his tenure. I can't remember the last time a Red Sox GM had a sub .500 record over a 3 year period. Seriously, why should we "trust him"? Because he got extremely fortunate in that Lester rebounded to ace status and Buch came out of the gates at 11-0. That is what catpulted the 2013 team. That plus Lackey having a great season after coming off surgery, and dodging a bullett that when Lackey left his 2013 opener cradling his arm that he missed no starts over the course of the season. I don't trust in Ben. I am thankful for the Championship, but I am not convinced that this guy is a top executive. After 2013, it was premature to be singing his praises. He hadn't hit on any model for cost-contained success. It is pretty obvious that he is still striving to figure out how to have consistent success. This year cost-containment is out the window. They are blowing away the luxury cap. If they don't take a big step forward in 2015, he will be a big money flop.

 

 

IMO, 2014 was about as big a fluke season as any team could have. As far as I've read, I have not seen anyone predict or foresee the offensive drop off that the team incurred last season. Sure, most people expected there to be a drop off, but not anywhere close to that magnitude.

 

IMO, Ben's only fault last season was not having a viable back up plan on the left side of the infield or in CF, should the starters get injured or underperform. One thing I like about this year's team is that the depth is much improved.

[a700hitter]

It certainly doesn't sound like it.

 

In 2012, he was given a pile of huge contracts for underachieving players, Bobby Valentine, and an empty farm system. He hasn't been perfect by any means, but every year he has retooled the team for the future. Let's see April --and the full roster -- before calling it complete junk.

I was at game 6 at Fenway and I am very thankful. That doesn't mean that I will suspend judgment going forward. Also, I am not calling anything "complete junk". Cherries just does not inspire me with confidence.

[Kimmi]

As far as predicitions for the 2013 season went, you start with the Pythagorean W-L record of 74-88, not the actual record of 69-93. Factor in the subtraction of Bobby Valentine, and that team was easily at 85 wins before making their first offseason move.

[User Name]

As far as predicitions for the 2013 season went, you start with the Pythagorean W-L record of 74-88, not the actual record of 69-93. Factor in the subtraction of Bobby Valentine, and that team was easily at 85 wins before making their first offseason move.

 

I really, really like you. Please stick around and post more!

[Kimmi]

I really, really like you. Please stick around and post more!

 

 

Thank you. I enjoy posting and discussing/debating baseball. The issue for me, usually, is finding the time to do so.

[vjcsmoke]

You didn''t read the thread title brah.

 

Ooops. Who necro'd the 2013 thread? LOL. NM then. Anyone want to talk about 2015? Hopefully we have a thread for that somewhere...

[mvp 78]

It was bumped to limit the "you don't know what you're talking about" nonsense that goes on here. We dumped on the Sox that offseason and they end up winning the WS. We all know nothing. We are all s***** prognosticators that get paid to do non-baseball things in our regular lives.

[Behindenemylines]

Some people here must think that the FO monitors message boards and reacts to them. You and I know that if they are doing that they shouldn't be running an elite franchise. I do think that ticket sales and TV and radio ratings are factors in their decision making process and they should be as they affect their bottom line.

 

If the FO was basing their decisions on the message boards then Lester would still be here. As much as I wanted Lester to stay, I think the offer made to Lester was fair. The Cubs had to over pay to get him.