How will this team finish the season?

[Kimmi]

I think the Sox have a very good shot at making it to the postseason.

 

Once you get there, it's really difficult to predict anything. Randomness plays too big a part in baseball. The key is to get to the playoffs, then anything can happen.

[devildavid]

A lot of posters have been saying something similar, about how this is not a championship caliber team. Does the team have weaknesses? Sure. All teams not named the Cubs do. But even a team like the Cubs, who look like a championship caliber team, are by no means a shoe in to win the championship. Most people felt that we looked like a championship team in April and May.

 

As much as we've scuffled in June, we are still 2nd in baseball in run differential. That says something. We are not getting blown out by the competition. Also, the Sox, the Cubs, and the Guardians are the only teams that haven't lost 4 games in a row. The point there being that all teams have rough patches and mild losing streaks. As the old saying goes, you are never as bad as you look when things are going bad.

 

I think they are missing the X factor to be championship caliber. This is my totally unscientific gut feeling.

[robert vonhalle]

I think they are missing the X factor to be championship caliber. This is my totally unscientific gut feeling.

 

well we will not finish last year because tampa sucks!!!!!true on the x factor need better clutch hitting and better pitching.

[georom4]

I predicted about .500 at the start of the year - I will be off by about 5/6 games I think - Unless DD gets some pitching help. Still you have to feel good about the core youngsters on the team. Much better than i expected and fun to watch (unlike recent teams)

[Spudboy]

I predicted about .500 at the start of the year - I will be off by about 5/6 games I think - Unless DD gets some pitching help. Still you have to feel good about the core youngsters on the team. Much better than i expected and fun to watch (unlike recent teams)

 

So you are saying between 81 and 87 wins?

 

You and I are alone on this on Talksox.

[cp176]

So you are saying between 81 and 87 wins?

 

You and I are alone on this on Talksox.

 

not alone at all - I thought that they would get to 85. I actually think that they still will but they have needs.

[Bellhorn04]

We are just giving up far too many runs. The last 3 games we've had our 3 best starters going and we've given up 24 runs.

[Spudboy]

not alone at all - I thought that they would get to 85. I actually think that they still will but they have needs.

 

How could I have forgotten about you?

[Spudboy]

We are just giving up far too many runs. The last 3 games we've had our 3 best starters going and we've given up 24 runs.

 

This team is over rated.

[cp176]

How could I have forgotten about you?

 

Come on - don't forget about me up here Spud. You've turned me into a Swihart fan. I would not trade him. After watching Vazquez - after seeing Benintendi- Swihart's value is greater than most of us think.

[Spudboy]

Come on - don't forget about me up here Spud. You've turned me into a Swihart fan. I would not trade him. After watching Vazquez - after seeing Benintendi- Swihart's value is greater than most of us think.

 

I agree. The kid is a great athlete and plays hard. Good speed, good arm, can run better ( faster ) than anyone currently on the team not named Betts. He was forced into starting at catcher last year when he was at least one year off. I think he did well. Now many are poo-pooing him because he had some trouble blocking balls and dropped one pop up and of course Vasquez is the second coming of Yadier.

Edited June 26, 2016 by Spudboy

[cp176]

I agree. The kid is a great athlete and plays hard. Good speed, good arm, can run better ( faster ) than anyone currently on the team not named Betts. He was forced into starting at catcher last year when he was at least one year off. I think he did well. Now many are poo-pooing him because he had some trouble blacking balls and dropped one pop up and of course Vasquez is the second coming of Yadier.

 

I could not agree with you more and I am as guilty as the next guy when it comes to looking for that next best thing. 700's eye test works for me. Seeing them up close can tell us a lot. I actually kind of like the Romanski kid in Portland behind the plate. He had a long night last night because their pitching sucks so badly. Sounds familiar i think.

[Spudboy]

The Sox are now 14-17 in June and 13-18 in the last month.

 

To me, it's easy to see this team 12 or more games out of 1st at season's end.

 

3rd place is better than last place.

[S5Dewey]

The Sox are now 14-17 in June and 13-18 in the last month.

 

To me, it's easy to see this team 12 or more games out of 1st at season's end.

 

3rd place is better than last place.

 

Ya know, third place doesn't sound all that great to me after the start this team got off to. However, if DD can wring an 88 win season - 10 wins better than last year - out of this team I'm not going to be too disappointed. At the end of the day it's pretty hard to win 90+ games without good pitching and e's starting down the right track in rebuilding the pitching staff but it's going to take more than a year or two to do it. The lesson to be learned here is that one simply cannot decimate the pitching staff and expect to go on winning year after year. I've asked myself over and over again, what in HELL were they thinking?

[Spudboy]

Ya know, third place doesn't sound all that great to me after the start this team got off to. However, if DD can wring an 88 win season - 10 wins better than last year - out of this team I'm not going to be too disappointed. At the end of the day it's pretty hard to win 90+ games without good pitching and e's starting down the right track in rebuilding the pitching staff but it's going to take more than a year or two to do it. The lesson to be learned here is that one simply cannot decimate the pitching staff and expect to go on winning year after year. I've asked myself over and over again, what in HELL were they thinking?

 

It was completely unnecessary and the FO should have known that what they were doing was not advisable.

[S5Dewey]

It was completely unnecessary and the FO should have known that what they were doing was not advisable.

 

That may be the understatement of the season!

[SoxnCycles]

I thought the Sox were going to the playoffs last week and a handful of crappy games hasn't changed my mind.

 

So, do the doom & gloomers now think Price sucks, is that it?

[User Name]

It's a "June" swoon for a reason. It will end.

 

"No team is as good as they look when they're streaking or as bad as they look when they're slumping"

[mvp 78]

I thought the Sox were going to the playoffs last week and a handful of crappy games hasn't changed my mind.

 

So, do the doom & gloomers now think Price sucks, is that it?

 

I have no problem with Price, Wright or Porcello. I'm worried that ERod is going to continue to struggle the rest of the way and he was being relied on as a major part of the rotation this year. I think a simple upgrade in the 5th spot would do this team well.

 

Also, riding overly high during a winning streak and overly low during a losing streak is just failing to see the larger picture. I thought this team was an 86-88 win team in the offseason. I still believe they'll wind up there and am happy about it. This is far better than what we suffered through the previous two years.

[User Name]

With a couple of breaks, they may win 90+, but it's almost impossible those breaks happen with the pitching as currently constructed.

[Bellhorn04]

I thought the Sox were going to the playoffs last week and a handful of crappy games hasn't changed my mind.

 

So, do the doom & gloomers now think Price sucks, is that it?

 

I don't consider myself a doom & gloomer, but it's pretty freakin' depressing when you give up 30 runs in 4 games and 3 of those games were started by our best starters.

 

Do you see any hope for this pitching staff getting better?

[mvp 78]

I don't consider myself a doom & gloomer, but it's pretty freakin' depressing when you give up 30 runs in 4 games and 3 of those games were started by our best starters.

 

Do you see any hope for this pitching staff getting better?

 

Texas is also the best team in the AL right now.

[mvp 78]

With a couple of breaks, they may win 90+, but it's almost impossible those breaks happen with the pitching as currently constructed.

 

Don't worry, good Clay will show up. You just have to be patient.

[Slasher9]

the good news is....so far nobody has chosen "these guys stink" on the poll. yet.

[mvp 78]

the good news is....so far nobody has chosen "these guys stink" on the poll. yet.

 

D'oh!

[Slasher9]

lol...well that didnt take long.

[SoxnCycles]

I don't consider myself a doom & gloomer, but it's pretty freakin' depressing when you give up 30 runs in 4 games and 3 of those games were started by our best starters.

 

Do you see any hope for this pitching staff getting better?

 

It's up to Price and Wright.

I'm not worried about the Sox getting a replacement for the #5 spot.

 

I am somewhat worried that Price is either hurt or is having some trouble living up to his contract.

If he can't improve and Wright slips, it wont matter who else they get.

 

Personally, I think Price gets his act together and Wright pitches well all year, with a few games like Sats game thrown in, just to keep it interesting.

Porcello is who he is, good for 6 innings and 2 or 3 runs per start.

The Sox get bullpen help and, if we're lucky, a servicable starter by the deadline.

The offense will get back to tearing the cover of the ball.

Not like they did in May, but good enough to carry the team on occasion, like most good offensive teams do.

 

Baltimore is on a tear, but it wont last. They're not running away with the division.

[Slasher9]

It's up to Price and Wright.

I'm not worried about the Sox getting a replacement for the #5 spot.

 

I am somewhat worried that Price is either hurt or is having some trouble living up to his contract.

If he can't improve and Wright slips, it wont matter who else they get.

 

Personally, I think Price gets his act together and Wright pitches well all year, with a few games like Sats game thrown in, just to keep it interesting.

Porcello is who he is, good for 6 innings and 2 or 3 runs per start.

The Sox get bullpen help and, if we're lucky, a servicable starter by the deadline.

The offense will get back to tearing the cover of the ball.

Not like they did in May, but good enough to carry the team on occasion, like most good offensive teams do.

 

Baltimore is on a tear, but it wont last. They're not running away with the division.

 

agreed. good post.

[SoxnCycles]

agreed. good post.

 

Thanks.

Hopefully, Rodriguez and the Sox get back on track by kicking the crap out of the lowly Rays tonight.

[iortiz]

It's up to Price and Wright.

I'm not worried about the Sox getting a replacement for the #5 spot.

 

I am somewhat worried that Price is either hurt or is having some trouble living up to his contract.

If he can't improve and Wright slips, it wont matter who else they get.

 

Personally, I think Price gets his act together and Wright pitches well all year, with a few games like Sats game thrown in, just to keep it interesting.

Porcello is who he is, good for 6 innings and 2 or 3 runs per start.

The Sox get bullpen help and, if we're lucky, a servicable starter by the deadline.

The offense will get back to tearing the cover of the ball.

Not like they did in May, but good enough to carry the team on occasion, like most good offensive teams do.

 

Baltimore is on a tear, but it wont last. They're not running away with the division.

Agreed.

 

On the other hand if Price and Wright keep their level, and Porcello keeps his ERA around 4, still we are going to need another arm if we want to splash in the POs.

 

What worries me is the BP. No one is reliable aside Hembree and Kimbrel. Koji is done. Tazawa is allowing a lot of HR. Layne is a lost cause. Ross Jr. is not the answer.