Yanks v Sox, rivalry renewed

[kenmeister]

Yanks clinch East by May 30th

 

Am I the only one not scared by the 2018 Yankees? I believe the Sox will three-peat for AL East champion. I also think they will finally make it past the first round of the playoffs. I think they are a well-rounded team, probably as good as the 2013 team, and I'm very excited for this season.

[Nick]

Am I the only one not scared by the 2018 Yankees? I believe the Sox will three-peat for AL East champion. I also think they will finally make it past the first round of the playoffs. I think they are a well-rounded team, probably as good as the 2013 team, and I'm very excited for this season.

 

I like our pitching staff and we should be improved offensively.

[Spudboy]

Am I the only one not scared by the 2018 Yankees? I believe the Sox will three-peat for AL East champion. I also think they will finally make it past the first round of the playoffs. I think they are a well-rounded team, probably as good as the 2013 team, and I'm very excited for this season.

 

Today on MLB TV I saw a graphic from Pecola that projected the Yankees to win 97 and the Sox would finish 8 games back at 89.

 

I never trust these expert projections.

 

There are just too many moving parts and those parts are all human with large variability.

[Bellhorn04]

Am I the only one not scared by the 2018 Yankees? I believe the Sox will three-peat for AL East champion. I also think they will finally make it past the first round of the playoffs. I think they are a well-rounded team, probably as good as the 2013 team, and I'm very excited for this season.

 

To me it's not a question of being scared. But if you're not taking the Yankees seriously as a tough opponent this year I think you're kidding yourself.

[sk7326]

Am I the only one not scared by the 2018 Yankees? I believe the Sox will three-peat for AL East champion. I also think they will finally make it past the first round of the playoffs. I think they are a well-rounded team, probably as good as the 2013 team, and I'm very excited for this season.

 

WE won 93 games without anybody of our hitters having a great season, and a distinct lack of homeruns. There is a lot of reason to think the Yankees have improved. But - that applies to us too.

[Kimmi]

The only time I will agree is for retaliation, nothing wrong with backing up your teammate.

 

That's pretty much what I'm talking about.

[Kimmi]

Am I the only one not scared by the 2018 Yankees? I believe the Sox will three-peat for AL East champion. I also think they will finally make it past the first round of the playoffs. I think they are a well-rounded team, probably as good as the 2013 team, and I'm very excited for this season.

 

You are not alone. The Yankees don't scare me.

[Kimmi]

To me it's not a question of being scared. But if you're not taking the Yankees seriously as a tough opponent this year I think you're kidding yourself.

 

Sure, they'll be a tough opponent. I don't think anyone is seriously blowing them off. But don't underestimate our Red Sox.

[kenmeister]

Both teams will win 90+ games. I just put the Sox in the upper 90s and the Yankees in the low to mid 90s. Put me down for 99 wins for the Red Sox this year

[cp176]

The only time I will agree is for retaliation, nothing wrong with backing up your teammate.

 

Joke = Not according to Pedroia!

[mvp 78]

Am I the only one not scared by the 2018 Yankees? I believe the Sox will three-peat for AL East champion. I also think they will finally make it past the first round of the playoffs. I think they are a well-rounded team, probably as good as the 2013 team, and I'm very excited for this season.

 

Sox are going Back to Back to Back. Yanks will probably end up in 3rd place.

[Nick]

Sox are going Back to Back to Back. Yanks will probably end up in 3rd place.

 

Yanks haven't done it. It doesn't mean they can't do it. But looking good on paper does not always translate to performance on the field.

 

We've won two in a row. And I think this team is better than the last two.

[Bellhorn04]

Health of starting pitchers could easily dictate who wins.

[moonslav59]

Health of starting pitchers could easily dictate who wins.

 

It has been a strong indicator in our past championship seasons.

 

2004: We had only 5 starts from our 6+ starter.

 

2007: We had 5 starters with 23+ starts and Lester with 11 (11 starts from our 7+ starter)

 

2013: We had 4 starters with 27+ starts and Buch with 16 and Peavy with 10. (17 starts from 8+).

 

Most non- ring years saw much more starts from or 6/7th+ starters.

[kenmeister]

It has been a strong indicator in our past championship seasons.

 

2004: We had only 5 starts from our 6+ starter.

 

2007: We had 5 starters with 23+ starts and Lester with 11 (11 starts from our 7+ starter)

 

2013: We had 4 starters with 27+ starts and Buch with 16 and Peavy with 10. (17 starts from 8+).

 

Most non- ring years saw much more starts from or 6/7th+ starters.

 

This is why I'm hoping Brian Johnson is a success story. Drew Pomeranz, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Steven Wright can't stay healthy. David Price may be into the frequent injury phase of his career too.

[moonslav59]

This is why I'm hoping Brian Johnson is a success story. Drew Pomeranz, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Steven Wright can't stay healthy. David Price may be into the frequent injury phase of his career too.

 

I think ERod's injury has always been his knee. Hopefully, the surgery put an end to all the flare-ups.

 

One of Wright's injuries was while base-running. That should not happen again.

 

Pom is the most worrisome to me of the bunch (and Price).

[sk7326]

The Yankees won 91 games last year with almost every "variable" they needed to go well actually going well/really well.

The Red Sox won 93 games last year with remarkably few of those things going well.

 

The Yankees deserve the hype, but they could easily be worse than last year.

[Kimmi]

Yanks haven't done it. It doesn't mean they can't do it. But looking good on paper does not always translate to performance on the field.

 

We've won two in a row. And I think this team is better than the last two.

 

!!!

[Kimmi]

Health of starting pitchers could easily dictate who wins.

 

It usually does, I think.

 

It may be premature, but I'm starting to feel a lot more confident about Price's elbow.

[Kimmi]

The Yankees won 91 games last year with almost every "variable" they needed to go well actually going well/really well.

The Red Sox won 93 games last year with remarkably few of those things going well.

 

The Yankees deserve the hype, but they could easily be worse than last year.

 

I love this post.

[mvp 78]

Yankees are s***

[Carpin]

Yanks haven't done it. It doesn't mean they can't do it. But looking good on paper does not always translate to performance on the field.

 

We've won two in a row. And I think this team is better than the last two.

 

No argument with that, your team is better than the last two years, but the Yanks are MUCH better than the previous too, it will be a fight to the end

[notin]

The Yankees won 91 games last year with almost every "variable" they needed to go well actually going well/really well.

The Red Sox won 93 games last year with remarkably few of those things going well.

 

The Yankees deserve the hype, but they could easily be worse than last year.

 

The Yankees had multiple players leap frog from nowhere top superstardom. Severino. Judge. Gregorius. The only Sox players having their best season were the guys who never played a full season before. ..

[jacksonianmarch]

We lost Sanchez and Didi for a month, Bird for 5 months, Castro for a month, Holliday for a half season, Pineda to TJS, Betances to the yips and Chapman was dealing with shoulder issues for multiple months in between. Sevy, Montgomery and Judge reached their ceilings. It isn’t like they weren’t capable of the seasons they had. We’re healthy, have a full season lined up for Gray, Kahnle, Bird, Robertson and Stanton and our deep farm has another year of experience under their belt. Betting on a decline is a fools errand

[Bellhorn04]

We lost Sanchez and Didi for a month, Bird for 5 months, Castro for a month, Holliday for a half season, Pineda to TJS, Betances to the yips and Chapman was dealing with shoulder issues for multiple months in between. Sevy, Montgomery and Judge reached their ceilings. It isn’t like they weren’t capable of the seasons they had. We’re healthy, have a full season lined up for Gray, Kahnle, Bird, Robertson and Stanton and our deep farm has another year of experience under their belt. Betting on a decline is a fools errand

 

It's funny how we can list all the bad things that happened last year and talk like nothing that bad could happen this year.

[jacksonianmarch]

Of course things can go wrong. The thing we have this year, like I said above, is another year of experience for the kids. Our best prospects are essentially big league ready, and we have a TON of them. When you have big league depth and then top prospect depth, you have the strength to cover for injury or poor performance. We didn't have that as much at the beginning of the yr. We had Torreyes starting every day at SS while Didi was out. We had Chris Carter as our 1b with no reliable backup until we dealt for Frazier, and then we moved Headley over there. I totally forgot to put Hicks on there as he missed half a season, and we had to rely on Smellsbury to cover half a season worth of ABs. Outside of catcher, we now have top prospect level coverage for all spots on the roster. We did not have that last yr.

 

At catcher, we have Romine and Higashioka. Higashioka's ceiling offensively is higher, but he was overmatched last yr in his debut. Romine is a defensive guy who cant hit

At 1b, we can start Tyler Austin there, who at the very least, destroys left handed pitching. If Bird misses significant time, Walker can move from 2b to 1b and platoon with Austin

At 2b, we have Wade and Torres to back up should Walker suck, get hurt or move off position. Drury can also slide over to 2b

At SS, we have Wade and Torres to back up Didi

At 3b, we have Andujar, Torres, Wade or Walker who can backup Drury

In LF, we have Stanton who can move out from the DH spot. In terms of minor league depth, we have Frazier and McKinney

In CF, if Hicks goes down, we probably move Gardner to CF. Ellsbury can back up as well. Frazier can play CF, but he is not a true CFer

In RF, Stanton can move out from DH to take RF. Also, Frazier and McKinney can cover

At DH, should Stanton get hurt, I anticipate Andujar or Austin would step up there

 

In the rotation, we have German, Cessa, Adams, Sheffield and Acevedo literally sitting in AAA waiting

In the pen, Holder, Coshow, Heller and Feyereisen are ready with any of the above starters capable of slotting in

 

Outside of catcher, we have top prospect level capability or true MLB capable veteran depth. This cannot last forever, clearly, but it is impressive to say the least

Edited March 22, 2018 by jacksonianmarch

[FredLynn]

Of course things can go wrong. The thing we have this year, like I said above, is another year of experience for the kids. Our best prospects are essentially big league ready, and we have a TON of them. When you have big league depth and then top prospect depth, you have the strength to cover for injury or poor performance. We didn't have that as much at the beginning of the yr. We had Torreyes starting every day at SS while Didi was out. We had Chris Carter as our 1b with no reliable backup until we dealt for Frazier, and then we moved Headley over there. I totally forgot to put Hicks on there as he missed half a season, and we had to rely on Smellsbury to cover half a season worth of ABs. Outside of catcher, we now have top prospect level coverage for all spots on the roster. We did not have that last yr.

 

At catcher, we have Romine and Higashioka. Higashioka's ceiling offensively is higher, but he was overmatched last yr in his debut. Romine is a defensive guy who cant hit

At 1b, we can start Tyler Austin there, who at the very least, destroys left handed pitching. If Bird misses significant time, Walker can move from 2b to 1b and platoon with Austin

At 2b, we have Wade and Torres to back up should Walker suck, get hurt or move off position. Drury can also slide over to 2b

At SS, we have Wade and Torres to back up Didi

At 3b, we have Andujar, Torres, Wade or Walker who can backup Drury

In LF, we have Stanton who can move out from the DH spot. In terms of minor league depth, we have Frazier and McKinney

In CF, if Hicks goes down, we probably move Gardner to CF. Ellsbury can back up as well. Frazier can play CF, but he is not a true CFer

In RF, Stanton can move out from DH to take RF. Also, Frazier and McKinney can cover

At DH, should Stanton get hurt, I anticipate Andujar or Austin would step up there

 

In the rotation, we have German, Cessa, Adams, Sheffield and Acevedo literally sitting in AAA waiting

In the pen, Holder, Coshow, Heller and Feyereisen are ready with any of the above starters capable of slotting in

 

Outside of catcher, we have top prospect level capability or true MLB capable veteran depth. This cannot last forever, clearly, but it is impressive to say the least

 

This is what is called *potential*. Baseball history is littered with teams with great potential and teams with little potential that overperformed. Like most teams, the Yankees are an injury or two to a key player away from another second place finish (or worse). I am confident that the Sox team, as currently constructed, will be competitive all year as long as they stay relatively healthy.

[Carpin]

This is what is called *potential*. Baseball history is littered with teams with great potential and teams with little potential that overperformed. Like most teams, the Yankees are an injury or two to a key player away from another second place finish (or worse). I am confident that the Sox team, as currently constructed, will be competitive all year as long as they stay relatively healthy.

 

Every team is one or two injuries away from falling off a cliff (Sorry about this expression, I know some people in the forum is very sensitive with the word "cliff". lol), Jack's post is more about depth than potential. For me the thing that I worry the most is what some people call "the sophomore slump", but is part of life in every young player.

[cp176]

Every team is one or two injuries away from falling off a cliff (Sorry about this expression, I know some people in the forum is very sensitive with the word "cliff". lol), Jack's post is more about depth than potential. For me the thing that I worry the most is what some people call "the sophomore slump", but is part of life in every young player.

 

No offense but I think "Jack" does a pretty good job of trying to convince Red Sox nation to be concerned about everything while tending to make it seem as though the Yankmees are just awesome from Cashman on down. I think that we are looking at two very talented teams. I don't share "Jack's" concerns for the Boston Red Sox moving forward. I think that we will be just fine.

[jacksonianmarch]

You apparently haven’t been around the past few years. This is my first real optimistic season at the outset in years.

 

If everyone stays healthy, I think the Yankees roster is built with a better offense, much better bullpen and a deeper rotation. If everyone doesn’t stay healthy, then we have both big league veteran depth and top prospect depth waiting. What’s your depth? Let’s look

 

C- currently Vazquez is the starter. Leon the backup. Swihart might play in.

1B- Moreland and Hanley to platoon. Travis behind them

2B- Nunez to start. Pedroia should return soon. Behind them is a conglomerate of suck

SS- Bogaerts to start. Nunez can play but only after Pedey returns and is a massive defensive minus. Marrero, Lin and Holt can play but offer nothing offensively

3B- Devers to start, but the same cavalcade of misfits behind him

OF- JD can run out there yet he has been the worst OFer in baseball the past few seasons and gets hurt if you look at him cross eyed. If you choose to keep JD as is (very part time OFer) you’re looking at Holt covering LF and Beni moving to cover CF or RF. If Beni is hurt, Holt to LF.

 

On the mound, you’re depth is already tested.

Top 5 should be good

Sale

Price

Pom

Porcello

ERod

 

Beyond them,

Wright hasn’t been good aside from a half season in 2016

Johnson has been AAAA level for awhile

Velasquez is similar to Johnson but worse

Beeks? Bleh!

 

No real top prospects ready to step in. Retreads ready to pitch. One sided players backing up. Nunez helped your versatility but that’s assuming Pedey comes back strong. If injuries strike both sides, we’ve got far more depth to handle it.