All We Could Have Asked for to Start the Year

[Orange Juiced]

The last few seasons, the Red Sox have gotten off to disastrous starts.

 

2009: 2-6

2010: 4-9

2011: 0-6 (and 2-10)

2012: 4-10 (and 12-19)

 

This year, they're 9-4, in first place, with the 4th best run differential in the majors. Their starting pitching has been off the charts great, compiling a 6-2 record, 2.09 era, 10.6 k/9, and 1.15 whip. Their top two starters, Lester and Buchholz, have been insanely dominant. They haven't gotten a bad start yet this year. And except for one hiccup from Hanrahan (who should have been out of that inning but a bad non-call on a third strike kept it alive), the bullpen has been tremendous as well.

 

The offense has gotten off to a slow start, so it's not like everything is clicking. But just as the pitching will regress to the mean, so should the hitting.

 

The one real bonus - if you can think of it this way - is that the JBJ situation has worked out pretty much perfectly. He provided a very early spark and energy but as Papi has gotten close to returning, JBJ's performance has been such that there's no doubt that sending him down to the minors is the right move. So they got something useful out of him in Papi's absence, but they won't have to worry about, geez, should we send him down if he's hitting .285 with 4 homers. Sending him down is a no-brainer, so they should be able to get that extra year of control over him down the road in 2019. So even that has worked out pretty well.

 

So all is good. Farrell seems to be doing a good job. This is a fun team to watch. The pitching has been lights-out, and the defense has been nearly flawless.

 

After the past four seasons of awful starts, this is, shall we say, very refreshing.

[crazydiamond]

I didn't expect them to respond so well to those defeats against Baltimore, honestly. The 'Hanrahan game' came while we were off to a great start, but the boys bounced back in great manner.

Napoli's on fire this week, and it makes me feel so bad for the guy with all of his health issues.

 

I hoped Yankees would be under .500 with this lineup, but I didn't expect Rays to perform so poorly either.

 

With all the hype surrounding them, I never saw the Blue Jays as favorites to win the division, not even close.

Dickey was never to repeat last year's performances, and with no Reyes around, everything above the third spot for them would be a surprise.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Completely satisfied with how they have performed so far. We could easily have 2 more wins if it wasn't for the bullpen, but I'll take the 9-4 record. It's only April but feels nice to be on top of the AL East. Our starting pitcher has been spot on so far. Before the season, many posters stated that Lester and Buchholz needed to perform well to succeed. Even though the bullpen hasn't played to it's full potential, we still do good. Same with the offense, and we don't even have Ortiz yet. We keep this up, we're in for a good season.

[a700hitter]

A fast start is such a nice change from the past several years.

[SoxSport]

So what does that tell you about how prepared the Red Sox were to start the previous several seasons?

And whose fault was it?

[seabeachfred]

Completely satisfied with how they have performed so far. We could easily have 2 more wins if it wasn't for the bullpen, but I'll take the 9-4 record. It's only April but feels nice to be on top of the AL East. Our starting pitcher has been spot on so far. Before the season, many posters stated that Lester and Buchholz needed to perform well to succeed. Even though the bullpen hasn't played to it's full potential, we still do good. Same with the offense, and we don't even have Ortiz yet. We keep this up, we're in for a good season.

 

You can have the 9-4 record RS. I'll take 10-4 any time. Aceves might just be a five inning pitcher right now but he did throw well until the last part of the 5th inning and then collapsed in the sixth with two meatball pitches. He either is exactly that, a five inning pitcher or he needs to be stretched out in his next start or two. Glad he got the win, though and 15 hits were terrific. Too bad Will, Salty and Drew got none of them. As for Carp, maybe Farrell and Cherington saw something in him because he really hit the hell out of the ball tonight. Maybe we got something there we didn't know we had. Last year Ciriaco, this year Carp? You never know.;);)

[seabeachfred]

So what does that tell you about how prepared the Red Sox were to start the previous several seasons?

And whose fault was it?

 

The hint there that it was Francona and you might be right. We do know he was distracted badly with health issues, a crumbling marriage and scared for his son about to be deployed to Afghanistan during ST of 2011. I've always said that he should have been replaced after the 2009 season. He was kept on two seasons too long.

 

Having said that may I make a suggestion SoxSport that someone made to me. We need to move on from Tito. He is in Cleveland now and except when he plays the Red Sox we ought to wish him well. No matter how we rate the man's managerial acumen the fact is he was at the helm when the Sox won two World Series. Time to deal with the present and it seems Farrell is doing a good job in the early going. This team is likeable and fun to watch.

[Spitball]

The hint there that it was Francona and you might be right. We do know he was distracted badly with health issues, a crumbling marriage and scared for his son about to be deployed to Afghanistan during ST of 2011. I've always said that he should have been replaced after the 2009 season. He was kept on two seasons too long.

 

Having said that may I make a suggestion SoxSport that someone made to me. We need to move on from Tito. He is in Cleveland now and except when he plays the Red Sox we ought to wish him well. No matter how we rate the man's managerial acumen the fact is he was at the helm when the Sox won two World Series. Time to deal with the present and it seems Farrell is doing a good job in the early going. This team is likeable and fun to watch.

 

Good post, Fred. This has been fun so far. I like the make up of this team.

[NZSox]

What do we all think of Nap? He started a bit slowly, but he seems to have figured out his swing and he's looking like a RBI machine at the clean-up spot with the 6th most RBI in baseball (16) and the equal most doubles in baseball (7). His defense has been fine as well.

[crazydiamond]

Played exactly 2/3 of a season in 2012, so I hope we rest him now and then, as long as we are able to pile up the wins without him, and keep him healthy for the postseason, as I believe this team can make it to October.

Already has 16 RBI compared to last year's 56, as well as 15 hits (80 in 2012) so you could say it's been a good deal for the team so far.

 

But surely nobody expected such an improvement from Victorino, coming off his worst year since 2006.

[redsoxbeatz]

WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS 2013!!!!

[Orange Juiced]

Played exactly 2/3 of a season in 2012, so I hope we rest him now and then, as long as we are able to pile up the wins without him, and keep him healthy for the postseason, as I believe this team can make it to October.

Already has 16 RBI compared to last year's 56, as well as 15 hits (80 in 2012) so you could say it's been a good deal for the team so far.

 

But surely nobody expected such an improvement from Victorino, coming off his worst year since 2006.

 

Not playing catcher should help Napoli immensely from an offensive standpoint, as he doesn't have to suffer the grueling effort it takes to catch day-in and day-out.

[kapsis21]

WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS 2013!!!!

 

I'll drink to that :thumbsup:

[MJantomaso]

Not playing catcher should help Napoli immensely from an offensive standpoint, as he doesn't have to suffer the grueling effort it takes to catch day-in and day-out.

 

I wouldn't mind him actually catching a game or two like we brought him in to do.

[Orange Juiced]

I wouldn't mind him actually catching a game or two like we brought him in to do.

 

He wasn't brought here to catch. He was brought here to play first base.

[Dojji]

I wouldn't mind him actually catching a game or two like we brought him in to do.

 

He wasn't brought in to catch. In fact the whole reason for the contract renegotiation fiasco we endured this summer was because expectations of Napoli changed when it came out that he wasn't healthy enough to catch without risking injury.

[MJantomaso]

I didn't mean to be an every day catcher. I thought they brought him in bc he gives them another catching option to make a spot start here and there.

[dduncan6er]

I didn't mean to be an every day catcher. I thought they brought him in bc he gives them another catching option to make a spot start here and there.

 

If Salty and Ross are both healthy what's the point in giving him a start behind the plate?

[SoxSport]

Yeah, everything is coming up roses for them--for a change. They even get away with replacing their hot "all world" kid SS with a vet coming off a concussion who makes the money and has started slowly.

While the kid is still hot in AAA. But they are getting great pitching and timely hitting--which is what it takes to win games. The other FAs are coming up roses for Ben. And the manager looks like a winner.

 

They now have another problem to contend with--the "Diva" Ortiz is ending his vacation (he has to or his DL days will affect his paycheck) and has agreed to DH again. One suspects his condition is unchanged from ST, but who knows? The media reported the medical staff had cleared him to play last August. It's a murky area nobody is talking about. After all, the guy has had countless big hits for the Red Sox over the years. Henry owes him.

[a700hitter]

This has been a great start to the season. It's nice for a change to not have a hole to dig out of in April.

[User Name]

Yeah, everything is coming up roses for them--for a change. They even get away with replacing their hot "all world" kid SS with a vet coming off a concussion who makes the money and has started slowly.

While the kid is still hot in AAA. But they are getting great pitching and timely hitting--which is what it takes to win games. The other FAs are coming up roses for Ben. And the manager looks like a winner.

 

They now have another problem to contend with--the "Diva" Ortiz is ending his vacation (he has to or his DL days will affect his paycheck) and has agreed to DH again. One suspects his condition is unchanged from ST, but who knows? The media reported the medical staff had cleared him to play last August. It's a murky area nobody is talking about. After all, the guy has had countless big hits for the Red Sox over the years. Henry owes him.

 

So it's not the fact that he's an extremely productive hitter when healthy. He's here because Henry owes him.

 

One of these days logic's going to put a hit on you for all of the times you've spat on its face.

[Behindenemylines]

Great start! Its all about the starting pitching. If the Sox consistantly get it they should be okay.

[Dojji]

I didn't mean to be an every day catcher. I thought they brought him in bc he gives them another catching option to make a spot start here and there.

 

So did they -- when they originally signed him.

 

The renegotiation happened because those expectations changed.

 

If we have a situation where Ross gets pinch hit for and then Salty gets banged up you might see Napoli finish out a game. That's probably the closest you'd come to seeing Napoli play catcher. Which is a pity, he was a competent catcher defensively, but his health won't allow it.

[Orange Juiced]

Quick look at the standings and we see that the Red Sox, one of the worst teams in baseball last year, have the 2nd best record and the 3rd best run differential in all of MLB. They are on pace to win 98 games.

 

#1 in runs scored

#1 in ops

#10 in era

 

In the offseason, some folks really criticized the Red Sox for making lackluster moves. Clearly, so far (45% of the way through the season), things have worked out swimmingly.

[Palodios]

Quick look at the standings and we see that the Red Sox, one of the worst teams in baseball last year, have the 2nd best record and the 3rd best run differential in all of MLB. They are on pace to win 98 games.

 

#1 in runs scored

#1 in ops

#10 in era

 

In the offseason, some folks really criticized the Red Sox for making lackluster moves. Clearly, so far (45% of the way through the season), things have worked out swimmingly.

 

You know, it made sense at the beginning of the year, when we all said "Well, if Lester and Buchholz return to form, maybe...."

 

Right now, it just seems silly:lol:

[mvp 78]

Quick look at the standings and we see that the Red Sox, one of the worst teams in baseball last year, have the 2nd best record and the 3rd best run differential in all of MLB. They are on pace to win 98 games.

 

#1 in runs scored

#1 in ops

#10 in era

 

In the offseason, some folks really criticized the Red Sox for making lackluster moves. Clearly, so far (45% of the way through the season), things have worked out swimmingly.

Yeah, but they still have to contend with that diva problem noted above!

[italstallianion]

Yeah, but they still have to contend with that diva problem noted above!

 

 

I thought we took care of the diva problem when we traded Beckett and Youkilis.