A Realistic View at 2018: Part II

[Maxbialystock]

Oh look. Common sense.

 

Indeed. Uncommon sense too because there are few of us left who see anything encouraging about this year's Sox.

[jad]

Indeed. Uncommon sense too because there are few of us left who see anything encouraging about this year's Sox.

 

Well, a .700 winning percentage is a bit better than what I'm used to. But maybe it's just the Polyanna in me.

[moonslav59]

I highly recommend you try being more selective.

 

When I look at the game threads I usually just look at the last few pages of them, and skim.

 

I used to totally ignore the game threads. Now, I join at the ends of games, as I watch the game on delay.

 

I still love this team.

 

It was expected we'd have a bad stretch or two. This is one.

 

Hopefully, tonight's coronary win will trun things around.

[Spudboy]

In spite of the negative stuff, I love having a forum like this to hang out in. In the olden times, if the Sox blew a game or were going bad, I suffered through it all on my own.

 

yup

[Spudboy]

Oh look. Common sense.

 

It does happen here once in a while.

[cp176]

That sounds easier than it is.

 

I find myself reading evrything. Sometimes, I don't even look at the poster's name, unless I'm going to respond. For years, I never paid attention to who each poster was, except for certain clowns or noticeably good posters.

 

Hang in there. There aren't many here who come across as absolute a-holes. Most of us can be sacastic and maybe even a little insensitive from time to time but this is still a great place to get some very good insight with respect to the Sox.

[oldtimer]

I used to totally ignore the game threads. Now, I join at the ends of games, as I watch the game on delay.

 

I still love this team.

 

It was expected we'd have a bad stretch or two. This is one.

 

Hopefully, tonight's coronary win will trun things around.

 

I find some of the crude language silly, which speaks most about the people who use it. I think these are kids and then find out they have been around the block. I just ignore them now.

[Maxbialystock]

The 2 recent losses to the Yanks didn't depress me. I actually saw confirmation of what you have been saying all along--that the Sox have a very competitive team this year. We could have won both games but for the bullpen collapsing both nights. Game 1 should have been a home team cakewalk with Severino going against Pom the bomb, but Pom came thru--as you suggested he might--with 2 runs in 6 innings. But Hembree blew that one.

 

Last night Porcello stunk, but the lineup came through and got us that 6-5 lead going into the 8th (thanks to the 5 outs by Johnson and Smith). Then Barnes and Kimbrel catered a Yanks rally party that scored 4 runs before the two of them could get a second out. Horrible.

 

But the rest of the team did pretty darn good given we were struggling and the Yankees are red hot. If ERod and the lineup and the bullpen can come thru tonight, we're tied with the juggernaut.

 

I'm quoting myself because right now I feel pretty doggone vindicated. What this series showed--and should by now be obvious to all--is that the Sox are very competitive with the Yankees. Our rotation was better and our lineup was at least as good. Our bullpen killed us in the first two games and almost did so last night.

 

I thought the Yankees would freight train us, but that first game when Pom pitched almost as well as Severino was encouraging. Last night was vindication. And the guy who saw this coming was moonslav.

[Slasher9]

I find some of the crude language silly, which speaks most about the people who use it. I think these are kids and then find out they have been around the block. I just ignore them now.

 

i have been using the F word too much lately. for that i apologize. losing to the Yankees i think brings out the worst in us.

[Bellhorn04]

Major league leaders in SLG:

 

Betts .803

Trout .681

Machado .629

 

OPS:

 

Betts 1.244

Trout 1.134

Machado 1.068

[Fan_since_Boggs]

I'm quoting myself because right now I feel pretty doggone vindicated. What this series showed--and should by now be obvious to all--is that the Sox are very competitive with the Yankees. Our rotation was better and our lineup was at least as good. Our bullpen killed us in the first two games and almost did so last night.

 

I thought the Yankees would freight train us, but that first game when Pom pitched almost as well as Severino was encouraging. Last night was vindication. And the guy who saw this coming was moonslav.

 

Good points. The Red Sox should have won the second game. And if they get a big hit in game 1 at a key moment, they win that one too.

[Fan_since_Boggs]

i have been using the F word too much lately. for that i apologize. losing to the Yankees i think brings out the worst in us.

 

Yeah, we freak out a little bit when we lose to the Yankees but that is a good sign--we're passionate fans!

[Slasher9]

Major league leaders in SLG:

 

Betts .803

Trout .681

Machado .629

 

OPS:

 

Betts 1.244

Trout 1.134

Machado 1.068

head of the big time class.

note to DD - hand him that blank contract to fill in - NOW!.

i promise you the numbers he fills in will be less than he will get on the FA market in 2021.

[SoxnCycles]

Yeah, we freak out a little bit when we lose to the Yankees but that is a good sign--we're passionate fans!

 

Even worse when they have a lead against them and blow it.

[Emp9]

Well, Bos & NYY are tied in their season series and tied in the standings. I’ll give the Yanks some credit. They came back in the standings down a lot of games while the Sox were still playing .500 ball. That’s tough to do. I’ve no idea why Yank fans were chanting Tyler Austin for. Dude made a punk play and then got his ass handed to him by Joe Kelly and last time I checked was batting .220 something. Not a name I’d be proud to start chanting like he was Derek Jeter or somebody. And to be honest, I’m still a bit pissed about last season when the Yanks were a bunch of rat f***s for going to the media over the Sox stealing signs with smartphones at the same time they were stealing signs from the YES cameras. Even the commissioner said that thats the kind of stuff teams keep between themselves and he and every team prefers it that way. But hey, I do credit their talent. They’re a talented bunch of rat f***s. Should make for an interesting season. It’d be kinda boring if we just ran away with the division like it was looking like we would.

[moonslav59]

I find some of the crude language silly, which speaks most about the people who use it. I think these are kids and then find out they have been around the block. I just ignore them now.

 

It's not so much the crude language as the knee jerk over reactions and negativity based on tiny sample sizes or bad stretches by the team or a player.

 

I get that some people are much more emotional and maybe don't mean everything they say in the heat of the moment, but it gets way out of hand during a 2-3 game losing streak.

 

I'll try to avoid posts and posters that depress me, but I like to read the flow of a conversation or debate.

 

I know the majority of this board is very knowledgeable and respectful.

 

I'm not going anywhere.

[Bellhorn04]

head of the big time class.

note to DD - hand him that blank contract to fill in - NOW!.

 

And do it on live TV, a la The Decision.

[Bellhorn04]

It's not so much the crude language as the knee jerk over reactions and negativity based on tiny sample sizes or bad stretches by the team or a player.

 

I get that some people are much more emotional and maybe don't mean everything they say in the heat of the moment, but it gets way out of hand during a 2-3 game losing streak.

 

I'll try to avoid posts and posters that depress me, but I like to read the flow of a conversation or debate.

 

I know the majority of this board is very knowledgeable and respectful.

 

I'm not going anywhere.

 

No offense, moon, but some of your posts have brought me down too. Such as the many complaining about the Moreland signing.

[moonslav59]

We've been in just about every game we've lost. To me, that's a plus. Maybe to others, it just frustrates them more and makes the losses more memorable.

 

This team is full of scrappy players. We never give up. I see a "fire and desire" I felt was missing last year. There seems to be a sense of urgency.

 

Several players have carried this team for short stretches, while a few have done very well all year.

 

ERod took a big step forward last night, and Pom seems to be nearing total rehab. Price and Smith are still question marks, but we have some depth and some players returning soon.

 

I can't see how any Sox fan can be discouraged.

[Nick]

We've been in just about every game we've lost. To me, that's a plus. Maybe to others, it just frustrates them more and makes the losses more memorable.

 

This team is full of scrappy players. We never give up. I see a "fire and desire" I felt was missing last year. There seems to be a sense of urgency.

 

Several players have carried this team for short stretches, while a few have done very well all year.

 

ERod took a big step forward last night, and Pom seems to be nearing total rehab. Price and Smith are still question marks, but we have some depth and some players returning soon.

 

I can't see how any Sox fan can be discouraged.

 

 

And the Yankees have played 7 more home games than the Sox. That will jump to 10 when we open a 7 game home stand vs A's.

[notin]

Joe Ross underwent Tommy John surgery after posting an ERA of 3.95 in 48 appearances, including 45 starts, covering 255.1 innings.

 

New York Mets right-hander Zach Wheeler underwent Tommy John surgery after posting an ERA of 3.50 in 49 appearances, all starts, covering 285.1 innings.

 

Following his TJS, in his first arbitration season, Wheeler settled for an $800,000 salary. In his second turn through arbitration, following a disappointing season, Wheeler settled for a 2018 salary of $1.9 million.

 

I question whether Ross will land a $5 million salary next year in his first arbitration season.

 

Wheeler also missed 2 1/2 seasons with his injuries. He's pitched 120 innings since 2014, counting this season...

[Nick]

No offense, moon, but some of your posts have brought me down too. Such as the many complaining about the Moreland signing.

 

Agree. I still think it was a good signing at the time. At the time of signing, JD was not a sure thing. At the very least, thus we had DH/1B covered with Moreland and Hanley.

 

I also thought Moreland played hurt last year. He's not great but more than adequate.

[User Name]

In line with a realistic view of 2018, I will state the obvious and say that, even though the Sox lead the Yankees by 2.5 games and have a better run differential, the Yankees are already the better team.

 

I base that on 2 things. The most important is that the Yankees have a terrific won-lost record despite a slow start--they are right behind us. The other is that they have played the tougher schedule to date--14 of 28 games vs winning teams vs. our 9 of 29 games vs winning teams. We have played 8 games against the three MLB bottom feeders (Baltimore, KC, and Detroit) and the Yankees have played them 4 times.

 

I don't see the above as incontestible, but it's what I think.

 

 

.

.....

.

 

I'm quoting myself because right now I feel pretty doggone vindicated. What this series showed--and should by now be obvious to all--is that the Sox are very competitive with the Yankees. Our rotation was better and our lineup was at least as good. Our bullpen killed us in the first two games and almost did so last night.

 

I thought the Yankees would freight train us, but that first game when Pom pitched almost as well as Severino was encouraging. Last night was vindication. And the guy who saw this coming was moonslav.

 

Which is it?

[Emp9]

We've been in just about every game we've lost. To me, that's a plus. Maybe to others, it just frustrates them more and makes the losses more memorable.

 

This team is full of scrappy players. We never give up. I see a "fire and desire" I felt was missing last year. There seems to be a sense of urgency.

 

Several players have carried this team for short stretches, while a few have done very well all year.

 

ERod took a big step forward last night, and Pom seems to be nearing total rehab. Price and Smith are still question marks, but we have some depth and some players returning soon.

 

I can't see how any Sox fan can be discouraged.

 

Even in Tuesday’s loss, I found it encouraging that Pom gave us a better than quality Start (6 Inn, 2 ER, 6 K). Our BP has been very disappionting, but I have to look at the close future that maybe it will improve with Wright and Thornburg in the mix. Every team loses. A lot. And loses against their most hated rival. As a baseball fan it’s imperative to find those silver linings in a loss when there’s one to be had. Just be happy there’s one at all.

[Slasher9]

Well, Bos & NYY are tied in their season series and tied in the standings. I’ll give the Yanks some credit. They came back in the standings down a lot of games while the Sox were still playing .500 ball. That’s tough to do. I’ve no idea why Yank fans were chanting Tyler Austin for. Dude made a punk play and then got his ass handed to him by Joe Kelly and last time I checked was batting .220 something. Not a name I’d be proud to start chanting like he was Derek Jeter or somebody. And to be honest, I’m still a bit pissed about last season when the Yanks were a bunch of rat f***s for going to the media over the Sox stealing signs with smartphones at the same time they were stealing signs from the YES cameras. Even the commissioner said that thats the kind of stuff teams keep between themselves and he and every team prefers it that way. But hey, I do credit their talent. They’re a talented bunch of rat f***s. Should make for an interesting season. It’d be kinda boring if we just ran away with the division like it was looking like we would.

 

i love this post.

[S5Dewey]

Agree. I still think it was a good signing at the time. At the time of signing, JD was not a sure thing. At the very least, thus we had DH/1B covered with Moreland and Hanley.

 

I also thought Moreland played hurt last year. He's not great but more than adequate.

 

That's the thing that's being overlooked in the Moreland signing. IMO Moreland was insurance (ok, weak insurance, but insurance) if we didn't sign a big hitter. We don't know where we would be without Moreland if we hadn't signed JDM. Duda? Maybe, but that was't a sure thing either with other teams after him.

 

Moreland may not be the absolute answer to any of our questions but he's at least able to play the game respectably and make contributions. Isn't that the role of bench players?

[Emp9]

i love this post.

 

Ha! Thanks. It was umm... therapeutic.

[mvp 78]

That's the thing that's being overlooked in the Moreland signing. IMO Moreland was insurance (ok, weak insurance, but insurance) if we didn't sign a big hitter. We don't know where we would be without Moreland if we hadn't signed JDM. Duda? Maybe, but that was't a sure thing either with other teams after him.

 

Moreland may not be the absolute answer to any of our questions but he's at least able to play the game respectably and make contributions. Isn't that the role of bench players?

 

If they didn't sign Mitch, they could've had Duda and LoMo!

[S5Dewey]

If they didn't sign Mitch, they could've had Duda and LoMo!

 

And given up GG defense at 1B and created a roster crunch.

[illinoisredsox]

No offense, moon, but some of your posts have brought me down too. Such as the many complaining about the Moreland signing.

 

That might be, but it's not the only thing he posts. There are a (very) few who's every post is "(insert name here) xxx sucks" after every ground out, strike out, walk/hit allowed, whatever with nothing else ever added.

 

Everyone has negative posts once in a while, and more often when the team is struggling a bit. But most add other substance to the conversations. Some clowns don't and IMO it's just easier to block them rather than have to scroll through 10-15 posts to find something actually worth reading. I don't like blocking people; some have earned it though.