First road trip of 2019 is a doozy

[Maxbialystock]

It starts Thursday at Seattle and includes 11 straight games in Seattle, Oakland, and Arizona. All three of those teams had winning records last year and Oakland won 97 games.

 

The Yankees, meanwhile, play 6 against the Orioles, 3 against the Tigers, and 2 at Houston. The Orioles lost 115 games last year and the Tigers 98, but Houston was and is a solid team.

 

No doubt because I've been a Sox fan since 1949, I've already started worrying about the Sox: questionable bullpen, mediocre spring training, no Pedroia or Pearce, Price not looking so great. I could go on.

 

So here's my prediction for those 11 games: we win 5 of 11, and the Yankees win 8 of 11, and we get back to Fenway 3 games back.

[mvp 78]

Ye of little faith.

[Slasher9]

seattle, oakland, arizona forums are full of "why do we have to start the season vs the 108 win - world series champion Boston Red Sox" posts.....

[mvp 78]

Is the first road trip of 2019 already over?

[Slasher9]

Is the first road trip of 2019 already over?

 

i dont feel tardy...

[Maxbialystock]

Ye of little faith.

 

No doubt. My intent is to provoke other assessments because the regular season is upon USA day I don’t even know the roster except that it has 13 pitchers and no Pedey or Pearce.

[harmony]

seattle, oakland, arizona forums are full of "why do we have to start the season vs the 108 win - world series champion Boston Red Sox" posts.....

Fake news.

[S5Dewey]

It starts Thursday at Seattle and includes 11 straight games in Seattle, Oakland, and Arizona. All three of those teams had winning records last year and Oakland won 97 games.

 

The Yankees, meanwhile, play 6 against the Orioles, 3 against the Tigers, and 2 at Houston. The Orioles lost 115 games last year and the Tigers 98, but Houston was and is a solid team.

 

No doubt because I've been a Sox fan since 1949, I've already started worrying about the Sox: questionable bullpen, mediocre spring training, no Pedroia or Pearce, Price not looking so great. I could go on.

 

So here's my prediction for those 11 games: we win 5 of 11, and the Yankees win 8 of 11, and we get back to Fenway 3 games back.

 

Did I miss something? Did MLB change the season this year so it ends during the first week in April?

 

During my athletic "career" I had the privilege of being on the same team with a man who was a decade or more older than I was. When our team was falling behind either in the standings or during a game and I said something negative he'd calmly say to me, "Don't panic. The cream always rises to the top". He was right.

 

It's a marathon, not a sprint, my friend. Be patient.

[moonslav59]

Did I miss something? Did MLB change the season this year so it ends during the first week in April?

 

During my athletic "career" I had the privilege of being on the same team with a man who was a decade or more older than I was. When our team was falling behind either in the standings or during a game and I said something negative he'd calmly say to me, "Don't panic. The cream always rises to the top". He was right.

 

It's a marathon, not a sprint, my friend. Be patient.

 

Great points.

 

I'm with you 100%.

 

Think of how many times some wrote us off last year during a rough patch.

 

Have faith, my fellow Sox fans!

 

Back-to Back!!

[Maxbialystock]

Great points.

 

I'm with you 100%.

 

Think of how many times some wrote us off last year during a rough patch.

 

Have faith, my fellow Sox fans!

 

Back-to Back!!

 

I am not writing anyone off, least of all the Sox, not with that great hitting and rotation and superb manager. I just wanted to start a discussion about the road trip, so I simply said something provocative. And I do think back to back is doable.

[Bellhorn04]

It always amuses me how sports fans think they have this divine gift of foreseeing the future.

[FredLynn]

I am not writing anyone off, least of all the Sox, not with that great hitting and rotation and superb manager. I just wanted to start a discussion about the road trip, so I simply said something provocative. And I do think back to back is doable.

 

I am more concerned about how the team looked in ST than who our opponents are or where we play. I do not think that any team can just turn it on and turn it off. The team had an overall poor ST and I would expect some carryover. Of course no one should be writing off the season if they start poorly in March. I would be very happy if we managed to play our home opener with a .500 or better record. But its going to be tough.......

[Emp9]

It always amuses me how sports fans think they have this divine gift of foreseeing the future.

 

On the other hand, Max is older than the 3-eyed raven, so.. IDK?

[harmony]

If anyone is interested in the Seattle Mariners' offseason strategy, here is a piece from Seattle Times beat reporter Ryan Divish (brought out from behind the paywall by the Spokane Spokesman-Review):

 

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2019/mar/27/stepping-back-inside-the-mariners-decision-to-chan/

[fxkatt]

I don't think I quite understand how we did so well last year. Therefore, I am not all puffed up with confidence about this season. And this revolves around the lack of pitching depth. The Yanks have the same problem--but only with starters, and this could give them an advantage if we have one or two starters out with consequential injuries.

 

As to the start of the season... if you don't care about one game or one patch of games, then the wins mean little too. But do you think silence would accompany a 9-2 start. Ha ha. No way. And if we go 5-6 there will be no silence FROM ANYONE either, because each game does count which is why we have game threads and post game comments etc.

[dgalehouse]

It starts Thursday at Seattle and includes 11 straight games in Seattle, Oakland, and Arizona. All three of those teams had winning records last year and Oakland won 97 games.

 

The Yankees, meanwhile, play 6 against the Orioles, 3 against the Tigers, and 2 at Houston. The Orioles lost 115 games last year and the Tigers 98, but Houston was and is a solid team.

 

No doubt because I've been a Sox fan since 1949, I've already started worrying about the Sox: questionable bullpen, mediocre spring training, no Pedroia or Pearce, Price not looking so great. I could go on.

 

So here's my prediction for those 11 games: we win 5 of 11, and the Yankees win 8 of 11, and we get back to Fenway 3 games back.

Maxie , " Doozy " ? Don't hear that a lot any more .

[Maxbialystock]

Maxie , " Doozy " ? Don't hear that a lot any more .

 

Almost never. I think I heard it in Blazing Saddles— by the hangman.

[Maxbialystock]

Last year after 19 games the Sox were 17-2 and had a 7 game lead over the Yankees—and finished the season with an 8 game lead. A good start doesn’t win it of course, but it sure helps, just like a bad start can make things harder.

[Youk Of The Nation]

No doubt. My intent is to provoke other assessments because the regular season is upon USA day I don’t even know the roster except that it has 13 pitchers and no Pedey or Pearce.

 

The Red Sox had no Pedroia for 161 games last season and no Pearce for more than half of the season. They still did okay.

[moonslav59]

The Red Sox had no Pedroia for 161 games last season and no Pearce for more than half of the season. They still did okay.

 

No Eovaldi & Brasier for over half the season, as well.

[Maxbialystock]

No Eovaldi & Brasier for over half the season, as well.

 

Beat me to it. I also think Devers and maybe JBJ will hit better this year. Pedey will hit better than Kinsler--if his knee can hold up.

 

All that said, I think it is unarguable that the very hot start last year helped. The Sox still played very well after that--they had too. And they were borderline legendary in the postseason, 11-3 against three pretty good teams--the Yankees had 100 wins and I think the Astros 104.

Edited March 29, 2019 by Maxbialystock