A Realistic View at 2017 Part I

[Kimmi]

I agree that golf is a sport because 1) It involves a ball [or a puck] and 2), you keep score.

 

But your definition makes cheerleading a sport and there's no way I'm buying into that!!

 

Well, I would agree that the cheerleading that is done during a football or basketball game is not a sport.

 

However, there is a whole world of competitive cheerleading which I would classify as a sport. I'm thinking it's similar to gymnastics.

[Kimmi]

Next, they'll be calling driving a car making a bunch of left hand turns a sport.

 

LOL If there is a 'sport' that I wouldn't call a sport, it would be racing.

[Kimmi]

By your logic, foosball and jacks are sports...

 

I used to love playing jacks! Good stuff.

[Kimmi]

I agree, and in my experience it's why I like the sport of wrestling. Wrestling is all about sportsmanship, respect, and ethics - at least where I live it is.

 

Wrestling is also an obvious sport Notin overlooked in his remark to my prior post. Although wrestling doesn't involve a ball we do keep score, and the participants are more athletic than jacks players. Maybe the most athletic of any sport.

 

What I don't like about wrestling is the way that wrestlers starve themselves in an unhealthy way for several days in order to make weight before a match. I have seen this in some of my friends when I was a high school student, and as a teacher, I have seen this in some students. Maybe it's my ignorance about the sport, but something doesn't seem right with that.

[S5Dewey]

Well, my goal was to simply disprove your definition, not to create a comprehensive list. My original post included Gnip Gnop, which fit your definition of a sport but I felt might be too obscure of a reference for some of the younger readers.

 

Yeah.. well...,. I guess I assumed that most people wouldn't think that I believed that any activity that has a ball and we keep score is a sport and any activity in which we don't have a ball and/or keep score isn't. It was more of a general tongue-in-cheek comment and not intended to be taken literally. Especially when I later talked positively about wrestling, which doesn't have a ball.

 

But I do appreciate your effort to disprove my "definition"!

[S5Dewey]

What I don't like about wrestling is the way that wrestlers starve themselves in an unhealthy way for several days in order to make weight before a match. I have seen this in some of my friends when I was a high school student, and as a teacher, I have seen this in some students. Maybe it's my ignorance about the sport, but something doesn't seem right with that.

 

I don't disagree that we have a ways to go yet in protecting our young players, and wrestling isn't the only sport. I'm not completely comfortable with the risk of concussion high school and younger (or anyone, for that matter) football and soccer players are subjected to. I don't like how many Little Leaguers are throwing curve balls or how many young pitchers are throwing too many pitches in games. Locally we had a high school pitcher throw 162 pitches in a state championship game. I think that's too many, and in fact many states are now limiting the number of pitches a pitcher can throw in a game. My state is in the process of adopting a rule like that for this season that's consistent with what other states are doing. Is it in response to the kid throwing 162? We'll never know. If not it's a huge coincidence.

 

I agree that something doesn't seem right about wrestlers starving themselves to make weight and I wish it weren't that way, but my point still remains that wrestling in my part of the country is possibly the greatest example of team sportsmanship and overall good behavior by the participants of any sport I see. I'd like to think that the weight issue will change but until parents and coaches monitor the wrestlers weights on a day-to-day basis it probably won't, and I don't see that happening.

[Spudboy]

To me, just having physical forced placed upon you, such as G forces with car racing, does not make it a sport.

 

I am fully aware of the forces and stresses on a car racer. I'm not "ignorant".

 

Is flying an Air Force jet a sport?

 

Would it be, if they raced?

 

Probably not but when was the last time you saw a guy like Pablo flying an F-22?

 

What a dumb analogy.

[notin]

 

You would not last very long unless you were in very good athletic condition.

 

While I agree auto racing id a sport, trying to defend it as one by highlighting the physical stresses involved does make me laugh.

 

You have to be in pretty good shape to survive basic training. But that doesn't make it a sport...

[notin]

Yeah.. well...,. I guess I assumed that most people wouldn't think that I believed that any activity that has a ball and we keep score is a sport and any activity in which we don't have a ball and/or keep score isn't. It was more of a general tongue-in-cheek comment and not intended to be taken literally. Especially when I later talked positively about wrestling, which doesn't have a ball.

 

But I do appreciate your effort to disprove my "definition"!

 

Im here for you.

 

I really wanted to keep Gnip Gnop in there because its funnier. But alas, not so timeless.

 

I work with a Canadian fellow who insists any activity where players or teams take turns (football, baseball) are "games" but a sport is an activity where the ball is out there for everyone, like (primarily) hockey, but also like in basketball, soccer, and of course foosball and quiddage...

[Bellhorn04]

While I agree auto racing id a sport, trying to defend it as one by highlighting the physical stresses involved does make me laugh.

 

You have to be in pretty good shape to survive basic training. But that doesn't make it a sport...

 

Physical stress plus racing pretty much seals the deal.

[moonslav59]

Probably not but when was the last time you saw a guy like Pablo flying an F-22?

 

What a dumb analogy.

 

It was an analogy that related to the G stress and mental stress that car racers are under. One mistake and you could be dead.

 

IMO, not a sport...just and adventurous and dangerous game.

[Bellhorn04]

It was an analogy that related to the G stress and mental stress that car racers are under. One mistake and you could be dead.

 

IMO, not a sport...just and adventurous and dangerous game.

 

Your definition of sport seems pretty narrow.

 

Regardless, it's widely accepted as a sport. A race car driver was SI's Sportsman of the Year in 1973.

[notin]

Physical stress plus racing pretty much seals the deal.

 

Doesn't racing alone seal the deal? I think most races held outside of county fairs and rural festivals are sports....

[Bellhorn04]

Doesn't racing alone seal the deal? I think most races held outside of county fairs and rural festivals are sports....

 

I think it does, but some folks seem to have an issue with the fact that there's a machine involved.

[moonslav59]

I think it does, but some folks seem to have an issue with the fact that there's a machine involved.

 

That and no right turns. I mean, at least add a little more challenge.

 

I get the fact that it is physically demanding to race a car at those speeds for that long of a period, but I just don't see it as being a sport.

 

[S5Dewey]

That and no right turns. I mean, at least add a little more challenge.

 

I get the fact that it is physically demanding to race a car at those speeds for that long of a period, but I just don't see it as being a sport.

 

 

I see the most grueling part of auto racing being mental. I can't imagine the continued intensity of having to be attentive to everything going on around one and focusing on those things for the extended periods of time involved with no moments when one could "take a few seconds off". I think it would be mentally exhausting, more than just about any other "sport". If it is a sport. :-)

 

I have an older brother who's also into sports, but his sports center around the great outdoors - hunting, fishing, trapping, etc.. My original comment about something not being a sport unless it involved a ball was a takeoff on a good-natured jab I take at him when describing our definitions of sports. "We both like sports but to me it's not a sport if there's not a ball involved and to him it's not a sport unless he's killin' somethin' ".

 

Regardless of how that sounds I do have a lot of respect for him and what he does. I believe in the rights of hunters and fishermen, and if I'm going to be lost in the woods I don't know anyone I'd rather be with. I'm confident he'd get us out alive.

[cp176]

That and no right turns. I mean, at least add a little more challenge.

 

I get the fact that it is physically demanding to race a car at those speeds for that long of a period, but I just don't see it as being a sport.

 

 

You ever tried it? I don't really mean any disrespect but I try not to judge if I haven't walked along at least a little bit in someone else's shoes. If someone is engaged in a physically demanding activity that they want to consider a sport, ok with me. Might not necessarily be a sport I like to watch or engage in but who am I really to say what they do isn't a "sport".

There are plenty of very non-athletic people participating in activities that some would call sports. Some might not. If a person has the attitude that if something is worth doing than it is worth doing well, then i guess that means they have done their preparation prior to participation. If they want to call what they do a sport then it sure works for me. In my particular golf case, it doesn't bother me at all if someone who is ignorant about what it takes to excel at the game doesn't think that it isn't a sport. They have no clue what it takes to do it well. After my playing days were over, I did play a great deal of men's league basketball and fast pitch softball. Sports or just recreational activities? Depends on your perspective and whether or not you just rolled off the couch to play. I was a marathon runner - sport? It was for me and for those who don't consider something like this activity a sport I would ask them it they think that they could do the work entailed to go under 2:40? It is all a matter of perspective.

[Bellhorn04]

I think there have been times when I've been dismissive about certain sports too, including auto racing. But auto racing is plenty demanding. You're not just out for a Sunday drive. You're trying to go as fast as possible and beat the other drivers while making sure you and your car make it through the race in one piece. A lot of physical skill and mental acuity would obviously be required. I certainly wouldn't want to attempt it.

[moonslav59]

You ever tried it? I don't really mean any disrespect but I try not to judge if I haven't walked along at least a little bit in someone else's shoes. If someone is engaged in a physically demanding activity that they want to consider a sport, ok with me. Might not necessarily be a sport I like to watch or engage in but who am I really to say what they do isn't a "sport".

There are plenty of very non-athletic people participating in activities that some would call sports. Some might not. If a person has the attitude that if something is worth doing than it is worth doing well, then i guess that means they have done their preparation prior to participation. If they want to call what they do a sport then it sure works for me. In my particular golf case, it doesn't bother me at all if someone who is ignorant about what it takes to excel at the game doesn't think that it isn't a sport. They have no clue what it takes to do it well. After my playing days were over, I did play a great deal of men's league basketball and fast pitch softball. Sports or just recreational activities? Depends on your perspective and whether or not you just rolled off the couch to play. I was a marathon runner - sport? It was for me and for those who don't consider something like this activity a sport I would ask them it they think that they could do the work entailed to go under 2:40? It is all a matter of perspective.

 

I'm not trying to put down car racing or golf or any activity or game I don't consider a sport. I just have a narrower view of what a sport is. I'm fine with those who have a wider view on this.

 

I can even understand those who would call baseball a game and not a sport.

[Bellhorn04]

I'm not trying to put down car racing or golf or any activity or game I don't consider a sport. I just have a narrower view of what a sport is. I'm fine with those who have a wider view on this.

 

I can even understand those who would call baseball a game and not a sport.

 

Well, if we really wanted to purify what a sport is we'd be down to the sports engaged in by the ancient Romans and Greeks.

[S5Dewey]

Well, if we really wanted to purify what a sport is we'd be down to the sports engaged in by the ancient Romans and Greeks.

 

Like wrestling?

[moonslav59]

Some Sox questions to ponder....

 

Leon- Vazquez-Swihart: All have shown promise in either offense or defense.

Can two of these guys step up their weaker side and become all around solid catchers?

 

Keep an eye on Leon's weight. He seemed to me to be gaining weight throughout last season. Will he pull a Panda on us in 2017?

 

He has always been a bit "pudgy", but I don't see any indication of him gaining more weight.

 

 

Sale, Porcello, Price: Sale has been a rock, and so has Price until 2016's shaky start and finish. Porcello blossomed.

Can the big 3 live up to their hype?

 

Will the risk of injury bite us with Sale?

 

If we lose any of the big 3, it will be a major issue, but we'll still have two top quality starters.

 

Holt, Rutledge, Hernandez, Travis, Marrero...

Is this bench good enough?

 

Young and Swihart may also be bench players and are better than those you name.

 

I have Young as a starter vs LHPs, but certainly he's a great bench piece vs RH'd starters replaced by a lefty. Yes, Swihart could be a key bench piece this year.

 

 

Abad, Hembree, Scott, Workman, N Ramirez, Martin, Ysla: Hopefully, we don't have to count on any of these guys too much...

Are they good enough?

 

Abad certainly was awful for us in 2016. He seemed to have good stuff but never achieved good results.

 

He still led all Sox pitchers in lowest OPS against (.461) vs LHBs. That's what we got him for.

 

 

JBJ: He has had two straight seasons over .830. There were a few big ups and big downs in those two seasons and one big long down in 2014.

Can we expect more consistency in 2017?

Can we expect a jump in OPS?

 

What has JBJ done in the off season to improve his technique? Without some change in his swing mechanics I don't believe he can achieve consistency.

 

It's hard to know if a major adjustment is needed, or if he just had a season ending slump.

 

I think it's too early to label him a streaky hitter. I'm noit saying there aren't indications he will be, because there are, but let's give him a chance to show what he's got.

[moonslav59]

I tried to stoke the fire with this post, but nobody tried to warm themselves by the fire...

 

Some Sox questions to ponder....

 

Pablo Sandoval: Lots of questions on this guy. Here are some:

Is his weight loss going to be something that we continuously have to worry about?

Even if he gets in top shape, can we expect the numbers he put up several years ago with SF?

Can his fielding return to slight plus or just average?

 

Leon- Vazquez-Swihart: All have shown promise in either offense or defense.

Can two of these guys step up their weaker side and become all around solid catchers?

 

Carson Smith: He's really had just one full season in MLB- a very good one (1.01 WHIP/11.8 K/9). He is coming back from major surgery and may not be "ready" until May or June.

Can we expect the 2015 Smith to return to form by mid season and into the playoffs?

 

Tyler Thornburg: After his rookie year's 1.185 WHIP, he had two years over 1.25 before posting last year's excellent 0.940 number. His K rate was never above 9 until jumping to 12/1 in 2016.

Can we trust these 2016 numbers as legitimate indicator of who he now is and will continue to be?

 

Kelly, Ross & Barnes: Can these guy continue to show the growth they experienced, at least in flashes, in 2016?

Can they make up for the loss of Ziegler, Uehara & Tazawa?

 

ERod, Pomeranz & Wright: All 3 had a very good to great half season last year but also had bad halves as well.

Can the rotation stay healthy enough for one of these guys to give a big boost to our pen?

Can the two that start go long enough into games to lessen the need to have a good pen (or deep pen)?

 

Sale, Porcello, Price: Sale has been a rock, and so has Price until 2016's shaky start and finish. Porcello blossomed.

Can the big 3 live up to their hype?

 

Mitch Moreland: His fielding has always been GG quality.

Can we get decent numbers from him, at least vs RHPs?

Can his playing many games at 1B help keep HanRam fresh and healthy?

 

Chris Young: He's been one of MLB's best hitters vs LHPs in recent years.

Can he produce vs LHPs as a DH?

Can he get enough playing time in the OF to keep him "in the game"?

 

Holt, Rutledge, Hernandez, Travis, Marrero...

Is this bench good enough?

 

Abad, Hembree, Scott, Workman, N Ramirez, Martin, Ysla: Hopefully, we don't have to count on any of these guys too much...

Are they good enough?

 

HanRam: He's been up0 and down for much of his recent career. Age 27 .712, age 28 .759, age 29 1.040, age 30 .817, age 31 .717 and age 32 .866. He's also had under 430 PAs in 3 of the last 6 years (under 512 in 4 of 6).

Is HanRam due for an off year?

Can he help pick up the slack with Papi's retirement?

 

Pedroia: He had his first .800+ OPS since 2011. He had his first season with over 135 games played since 2013.

Can we count on a healthy and productive Pedey this year?

 

Bogaerts: He has shown steady growth at the plate, despite his late season swoon. His OPS jump was due almost exclusively to a gain in power. His fielding is another matter.

Can we hope for a turn around on defense?

Can we expect a further increase in his offense, especially in the OBP area?

 

JBJ: He has had two straight seasons over .830. There were a few big ups and big downs in those two seasons and one big long down in 2014.

Can we expect more consistency in 2017?

Can we expect a jump in OPS?

 

Betts The only question here is how high is this kids ceiling?

 

There's a lot of questions here, but there's also a lot of players listed here that are pre-prime, at the start of their prime years or in the meat of their prime. There's a strong chance someone has a breakout year or a huge gain in production. Even a player like Betts could jump over a 1.000 OPS and nobody would be shocked.

[Bellhorn04]

Like wrestling?

 

Yep. Rasslin', runnin', jumpin', swimmin' and such. Only events you can perform in a pair of shorts.

[cp176]

I'm not trying to put down car racing or golf or any activity or game I don't consider a sport. I just have a narrower view of what a sport is. I'm fine with those who have a wider view on this.

 

I can even understand those who would call baseball a game and not a sport.

 

 

It is personal that is why it is nonsensical to argue over it. I just appreciate anything and anyone who puts in the time and works hard at anything athletic. On a personal level I consider anyone who is physically fit and works at it an athlete. They want to call what they do a sport - fine by me.

[cp176]

Yep. Rasslin', runnin', jumpin', swimmin' and such. Only events you can perform in a pair of shorts.

 

 

Original games performed naked - do we have to do these things naked?

[moonslav59]

It is personal that is why it is nonsensical to argue over it. I just appreciate anything and anyone who puts in the time and works hard at anything athletic. On a personal level I consider anyone who is physically fit and works at it an athlete. They want to call what they do a sport - fine by me.

 

Agreed. Let's get back to Sox baseball...

 

Which Sox player is most likely to see a 100 point rise in his OPS?

 

Betts .897> ?

HanRam .866> ?

JBJ .835>?

Beni .835>?

Pedey .825>?

Bogey .802>?

Holt .705>?

Vaz .585>?

 

It's easy to look at Vaz and think .685 is achievable without anything major happening. Bogey getting over .900 makes some sense. JBJ's ability to have stretches of awesome numbers begs the question about being able to sustain it over a longer period or multiple periods within one season. I like Betts getting over 1.000, but that's a lot to ask for someone who has shown steady growth for years. He's bound to have a level off year here or there along the way. He did jump 77 points last year, so asking for 100 after that is a lot to ask.

 

Who is most likely to drop 100 points?

HanRam .866>

Young .850>

Leon .845>

Beni .835>

Pedey .825>

 

I'd say Leon is the obvious pick here.

 

[Kimmi]

I don't disagree that we have a ways to go yet in protecting our young players, and wrestling isn't the only sport. I'm not completely comfortable with the risk of concussion high school and younger (or anyone, for that matter) football and soccer players are subjected to. I don't like how many Little Leaguers are throwing curve balls or how many young pitchers are throwing too many pitches in games. Locally we had a high school pitcher throw 162 pitches in a state championship game. I think that's too many, and in fact many states are now limiting the number of pitches a pitcher can throw in a game. My state is in the process of adopting a rule like that for this season that's consistent with what other states are doing. Is it in response to the kid throwing 162? We'll never know. If not it's a huge coincidence.

 

I agree that something doesn't seem right about wrestlers starving themselves to make weight and I wish it weren't that way, but my point still remains that wrestling in my part of the country is possibly the greatest example of team sportsmanship and overall good behavior by the participants of any sport I see. I'd like to think that the weight issue will change but until parents and coaches monitor the wrestlers weights on a day-to-day basis it probably won't, and I don't see that happening.

 

I honestly haven't watched wrestling enough to know about the sportsmanship of the sport. I have no doubt that your opinion regarding that is correct.

 

I've always wondered why the wrestlers don't just wrestle at their current weight rather than going through those unhealthy eating habits to make a lower weight.

[mvp 78]

I honestly haven't watched wrestling enough to know about the sportsmanship of the sport. I have no doubt that your opinion regarding that is correct.

 

I've always wondered why the wrestlers don't just wrestle at their current weight rather than going through those unhealthy eating habits to make a lower weight.

 

The more weight you lose, the more prominent your cauliflower ear becomes. It's strictly to scare the other opponents and for leverage to a lesser extent (i.e. the cauliflower ear can act as a lever).

[Kimmi]

Agreed. Let's get back to Sox baseball...

 

Which Sox player is most likely to see a 100 point rise in his OPS?

 

Betts .897> ?

HanRam .866> ?

JBJ .835>?

Beni .835>?

Pedey .825>?

Bogey .802>?

Holt .705>?

Vaz .585>?

 

It's easy to look at Vaz and think .685 is achievable without anything major happening. Bogey getting over .900 makes some sense. JBJ's ability to have stretches of awesome numbers begs the question about being able to sustain it over a longer period or multiple periods within one season. I like Betts getting over 1.000, but that's a lot to ask for someone who has shown steady growth for years. He's bound to have a level off year here or there along the way. He did jump 77 points last year, so asking for 100 after that is a lot to ask.

 

Who is most likely to drop 100 points?

HanRam .866>

Young .850>

Leon .845>

Beni .835>

Pedey .825>

 

I'd say Leon is the obvious pick here.

 

 

I'm going to go with the two catchers, Vazquez to raise his OPS by 100, and Leon to drop by 100 points.

 

I think Bogaerts will show some improvement, but 100 points is probably stretching it. And I think Pedroia will have a bit of a drop off, but again, 100 points is probably stretching it.

 

Obviously, much of this depends on health.