A Realistic View at 2019: Part I

[jacksonianmarch]

I said it was a problem in focus, not talent. The Sox team is good enough to win games. But two veteran, GG OFers miscommunicate and let a ball drop in the OF. The reigning MVP get thrown out at 3rd down 4 with no outs in the inning. A good MLB starter in ERod loses the plate and gets lit up after being spotted a 3 run lead. A lineup that’s had some issues scoring throws a just off the IL veteran journeyman in front of JD and watches him K 3 times and leave 5 on base. The start is not due to a lack of talent. They’re good enough to win these games. They just don’t have the fire and focus they did at the start last year.

 

Btw, I know it’s two starts in, but ERod is down about 1.5 mph on his FB but a whopping 5 mph on his slider. Strange for now, will be interesting if it continues when the weather warms

Edited April 5, 2019 by jacksonianmarch

[Bellhorn04]

I'm never projecting a winning record on a west coast trip again.

 

A wise old fan like you should know better than to make predictions like that.

[Maxbialystock]

A wise old fan like you should know better than to make predictions like that.

 

All this crap about a west coast trip makes it sound like Magellan trying to sail around the world. The truth, I believe, starts somewhere in ST when actually winning a game was clearly the furthest thing from anyone's mind. It's ST, so who cares? All we have to do is get some swings or pitches in, do a little infield, maybe play some golf, and the regular season will take care of itself. To be honest I'm somewhat sympathetic to that approach if only because the 162 game season is an unbelievable grind.

 

Whatever the cause of this bad start, the last thing I would blame it on is the horrors of having to play in Seattle and Oakland. I mean, come on.

[oldtimer]

All this crap about a west coast trip makes it sound like Magellan trying to sail around the world. The truth, I believe, starts somewhere in ST when actually winning a game was clearly the furthest thing from anyone's mind. It's ST, so who cares? All we have to do is get some swings or pitches in, do a little infield, maybe play some golf, and the regular season will take care of itself. To be honest I'm somewhat sympathetic to that approach if only because the 162 game season is an unbelievable grind.

 

Whatever the cause of this bad start, the last thing I would blame it on is the horrors of having to play in Seattle and Oakland. I mean, come on.

 

I think you are closer to the truth of the situation. Starting pitchers werre babied, thinking the season is too much of a grind for them and guess what? They aren't ready. Maybe it will work in the long run but it isn't getting us off to a good start. Also the starting field players were played very little and not until the end was the lineup assembled. They do look unfocused and unready. Hopefully, the message will get home to them and we will at least see a better effort.

[Bellhorn04]

All this crap about a west coast trip makes it sound like Magellan trying to sail around the world. The truth, I believe, starts somewhere in ST when actually winning a game was clearly the furthest thing from anyone's mind. It's ST, so who cares? All we have to do is get some swings or pitches in, do a little infield, maybe play some golf, and the regular season will take care of itself. To be honest I'm somewhat sympathetic to that approach if only because the 162 game season is an unbelievable grind.

 

Whatever the cause of this bad start, the last thing I would blame it on is the horrors of having to play in Seattle and Oakland. I mean, come on.

 

Except that they were 3-4 in Seattle and Oakland last year, in the greatest season in franchise history.

 

The Red Sox have always struggled in certain venues. It's almost inexplicable, except that it's major league baseball.

[Maxbialystock]

Except that they were 3-4 in Seattle and Oakland last year, in the greatest season in franchise history.

 

The Red Sox have always struggled in certain venues. It's almost inexplicable, except that it's major league baseball.

 

Actually, I'm fine with inexplicable--bad juju. San Francisco is a great name, but Oakland? Depressing. Seattle is a good name, but it's the home of amazon and maybe the most perfidious and unconscionable corporation in America today--Boeing. Ok, so maybe all the sellers of opioids come first.

[Maxbialystock]

Back to a realistic appraisal of this year's Sox. Despite my griping, this should be a really good team because the only agreed-upon weakness is the bullpen, and they have been great in the first 8 games. We have a solid gold rotation, however, that is looking like unpolished brass, a lineup that's actually a linedown (ooh I like that ), and a defense that bad enough to give pitchers nightmares despite those gold gloves last year (besides, Kinsler's gone).

[jacksonianmarch]

They didn’t all of a sudden lose it. The focus and fire isn’t there through 8. Cora’s biggest calling card last year was that you had to beat his team, they didn’t beat themselves. That hasn’t been the case through 8. They very easily could be 0-8, so that has to have some solace

[notin]

Actually, I'm fine with inexplicable--bad juju. San Francisco is a great name, but Oakland? Depressing. Seattle is a good name, but it's the home of amazon and maybe the most perfidious and unconscionable corporation in America today--Boeing. Ok, so maybe all the sellers of opioids come first.

 

 

Boeing is headquartered in Chicago. Cut us some slack. We have more here than just violent gun deaths, as explained in our new tourism slogan.

 

“Chicago - Come For The Hot Dogs, Stay For The Murders”

[Maxbialystock]

Boeing is headquartered in Chicago. Cut us some slack. We have more here than just violent gun deaths, as explained in our new tourism slogan.

 

“Chicago - Come For The Hot Dogs, Stay For The Murders”

 

Actually, I did know that. Chicago was intended to make it easier for the big customers to come calling at Boeing headquarters, but they don't make no planes in Chicago. The body and heart are in Seattle. I think Boeing is still trying to find where the heck they left their brain, to say nothing of their conscience.

[cp176]

I think you are closer to the truth of the situation. Starting pitchers werre babied, thinking the season is too much of a grind for them and guess what? They aren't ready. Maybe it will work in the long run but it isn't getting us off to a good start. Also the starting field players were played very little and not until the end was the lineup assembled. They do look unfocused and unready. Hopefully, the message will get home to them and we will at least see a better effort.

 

I think that the biggest issue here is what looks like a revert to a few years ago - poor baseball fundamentals! Cora knows this too and I expect something will get done about it. Our Sox are one of the best teams out there but it is ml baseball. You can't take any team for granted.

I understand that I lean toward seeing things in an older school type of way and to this point I have seen absolutely no reason and no proof to say that some of the "older" ways of looking at things are wrong. I believe that you play like you practice. I do not know whether or not our guys were ready to go when the season began but they should have been.

[notin]

Actually, I did know that. Chicago was intended to make it easier for the big customers to come calling at Boeing headquarters, but they don't make no planes in Chicago. The body and heart are in Seattle. I think Boeing is still trying to find where the heck they left their brain, to say nothing of their conscience.

 

 

They also wanted to be a “Chicago company.”

 

If it’s all about where the planes are built, Huntsville might be the future for Boeing. The Sox play no games in Huntsville, Alabama this year...

[mvp 78]

Actually, I'm fine with inexplicable--bad juju. San Francisco is a great name, but Oakland? Depressing. Seattle is a good name, but it's the home of amazon and maybe the most perfidious and unconscionable corporation in America today--Boeing. Ok, so maybe all the sellers of opioids come first.

 

Oakland is a pretty pleasant sounding name if you think about it. Sounds rural and woodsy. Better than Seattle IMO. Like what does Seattle stand for? A sea battle?

[BillyWilliams]

If not, then I apologize.

I can honestly say that it does seem disrespectful to me, as Esther Rolle was a fantastic actress.

I've seen someone else use that year ago, and their intention were not pure at all.

 

If you meant no disrespect, I hear that. I don't like it, but it's not for me to judge.

 

I agree she was a great actress. She grew up 1 town away from where I live and they have a street named after her there.

 

I just didn't get the racist part, if I had posted a picture of Judy Zipper and Leonardo DiCaprio, would you have thought it was racist?

 

 

And apology accepted regarding the pike accusation.

[BillyWilliams]

Oakland is a pretty pleasant sounding name if you think about it. Sounds rural and woodsy. Better than Seattle IMO. Like what does Seattle stand for? A sea battle?

 

Agreed, I don't see how the name "Oakland" is depressing.

[notin]

Oakland is a pretty pleasant sounding name if you think about it. Sounds rural and woodsy. Better than Seattle IMO. Like what does Seattle stand for? A sea battle?

 

 

“Seattle” just sounds like someone couldn’t read the word “cattle”...

[Maxbialystock]

Oakland is a pretty pleasant sounding name if you think about it. Sounds rural and woodsy. Better than Seattle IMO. Like what does Seattle stand for? A sea battle?

 

Target on Oakland--it did indeed start out as coastal terrace prairie and oak woodland. No longer. Less population than Huntsville, AL. Seattle was named for an Indian Chief--just like Washington was.

[Maxbialystock]

I said it was a problem in focus, not talent. The Sox team is good enough to win games. But two veteran, GG OFers miscommunicate and let a ball drop in the OF. The reigning MVP get thrown out at 3rd down 4 with no outs in the inning. A good MLB starter in ERod loses the plate and gets lit up after being spotted a 3 run lead. A lineup that’s had some issues scoring throws a just off the IL veteran journeyman in front of JD and watches him K 3 times and leave 5 on base. The start is not due to a lack of talent. They’re good enough to win these games. They just don’t have the fire and focus they did at the start last year.

 

Btw, I know it’s two starts in, but ERod is down about 1.5 mph on his FB but a whopping 5 mph on his slider. Strange for now, will be interesting if it continues when the weather warms

 

Can't quarrel with much of that. Too true.

[Slasher9]

Except that they were 3-4 in Seattle and Oakland last year, in the greatest season in franchise history.

 

The Red Sox have always struggled in certain venues. It's almost inexplicable, except that it's major league baseball.

 

thank you.

[Slasher9]

. The focus and fire isn’t there through 8.

 

lack of FIRE & DESIRE.

Moons mantra for the 2017 Boston Red Sox.

[BillyWilliams]

Target on Oakland--it did indeed start out as coastal terrace prairie and oak woodland. No longer. Less population than Huntsville, AL. Seattle was named for an Indian Chief--just like Washington was.

 

Washington was an Indian Chief?

[Maxbialystock]

Washington was an Indian Chief?

 

Sure. When Lewis and Clark went out west and met some real Indian chiefs, they told them to go to DC and check out the guy there. Of course, by then it was Jefferson and Washington had died, but, yeah, our Presidents were once also Indian Chiefs, sort of. And some of the real Indian Chiefs did in fact make it to DC.

[moonslav59]

All this crap about a west coast trip makes it sound like Magellan trying to sail around the world. The truth, I believe, starts somewhere in ST when actually winning a game was clearly the furthest thing from anyone's mind. It's ST, so who cares? All we have to do is get some swings or pitches in, do a little infield, maybe play some golf, and the regular season will take care of itself. To be honest I'm somewhat sympathetic to that approach if only because the 162 game season is an unbelievable grind.

 

Whatever the cause of this bad start, the last thing I would blame it on is the horrors of having to play in Seattle and Oakland. I mean, come on.

 

It doesn't seem to matter when we play there.

 

It doesn't seem to matter how hot we are before we go there.

 

It doesn't seem to matter how cold they are before we go there.

 

It doesn't matter anything.

 

We always seem to suck when we go there.

[moonslav59]

lack of FIRE & DESIRE.

Moons mantra for the 2017 Boston Red Sox.

 

Fire, focus & desire.

 

Cora is the worst manager I have ever seen in a Sox uniform!

 

(sarcasm alert)

[BillyWilliams]

Sure. When Lewis and Clark went out west and met some real Indian chiefs, they told them to go to DC and check out the guy there. Of course, by then it was Jefferson and Washington had died, but, yeah, our Presidents were once also Indian Chiefs, sort of. And some of the real Indian Chiefs did in fact make it to DC.

 

So they didn't meet "real" Indian chiefs until they got out west?

[BillyWilliams]

I'm never projecting a winning record on a west coast trip again.

 

Nonsense, we all know you'll be predicting an 11-0 run again next season.........

[Maxbialystock]

lack of FIRE & DESIRE.

Moons mantra for the 2017 Boston Red Sox.

 

FIRE & DESIRE is such b.s. because it's completely undefinable and way too much of a catch all.

 

In fact, Betts's running error last night was, if anything, too much fire and desire--which, by the way, I think he still has plenty of. I think it was in Seattle that he tried to make a catch on foul fly/liner that had him crashing into a wall, but he slid at the last moment to avoid injury.

 

To me fire and desire works better in football and basketball, but baseball depends so much on technique to hit those corners from 66 feet while throwing the heck out of the ball--or simply to hit a round ball with a round bat squarely.

[Maxbialystock]

Nonsense, we all know you'll be predicting an 11-0 run again next season.........

 

I'd rather have moonslav predicting an 11-0 run than that dipstick max saying 5-6.

[Maxbialystock]

Fire, focus & desire.

 

Cora is the worst manager I have ever seen in a Sox uniform!

 

(sarcasm alert)

 

Focus is definitely the right word because I think it has to be hard to maintain over 162 games of interminable lengths.

[BillyWilliams]

I'd rather have moonslav predicting an 11-0 run than that dipstick max saying 5-6.

 

Well, given their struggles out there last year your prediction may have been a bit more "realistic" than moonslob's.....