A Realistic View at 2019: Part II

[a700hitter]

It is kind of pointless to argue analytics with you and and a couple of other posters because you just ignore the arguments presented and continue to post what you believe is true.

Pure arrogance ^

[a700hitter]

I don't disagree, but it should probably be pointed out that a lot of those boats sunk, too.

Some people that weren’t acquired have failed? Not a strong argument for anything.

[Noles_1335]

I may have this stat wrong but I think somewhere I had seen that Moreland went 0-14 in his rehab stint. If this is true since May 17th he is something like 6-45.... what in the hell are we to do with 1st base right now. We have 3-4 black holes in our lineup every night!

[S5Dewey]

It is kind of pointless to argue analytics with you and and a couple of other posters because you just ignore the arguments presented and continue to post what you believe is true.

 

I can accept that criticism, as long as you can accept that it works both ways.

[kenmeister]

It’s not that our pen isn’t as strong as the Yankees pen. Our pen is awful and barely MLB competent. You can’t hide a pen like that no matter how good your starters are unless you go back to the days when complete games were common.

 

Gosh I would love to see even an 8 inning start. 7 seems to be the new 9.

[oldtimer]

Our Sox played a good game and our pitching was competent. We just ran into better pitching and our offense was held down. Taking 2 of 3 from the Rays was a good outcome. We now have to face a very good Yankee team and we must at least split with them to keep our hopes alive. There are no excuses, we have to perform and we start with Porcello and with a tired BP.

[FredLynn]

Our Sox played a good game and our pitching was competent. We just ran into better pitching and our offense was held down. Taking 2 of 3 from the Rays was a good outcome. We now have to face a very good Yankee team and we must at least split with them to keep our hopes alive. There are no excuses, we have to perform and we start with Porcello and with a tired BP.

 

The way Cleveland and Oakland are playing right now we actually need to win the next series.

[moonslav59]

Tough loss. We need to win more of these one run games

[harmony]

Tough loss. We need to win more of these one run games

The Red Sox record in one-run games -- 15-12 (.556) -- is better than their record in other games: 41-35 (.539).

[moonslav59]

The Red Sox record in one-run games -- 15-12 (.556) -- is better than their record in other games: 41-35 (.539).

 

Seems the opposite, but that is why we can't always go by just our own feelings based on our observations. Numbers matter.

[moonslav59]

I'm in Maine now and will be going to a Sea Dogs game at some point. My nephew works at the park!

 

I'll keep you posted.

 

Love it her in Maine... in the summer!

 

[a700hitter]

I'm in Maine now and will be going to a Sea Dogs game at some point. My nephew works at the park!

 

I'll keep you posted.

 

Love it her in Maine... in the summer!

 

A lot cooler than Texas in August.

[moonslav59]

A lot cooler than Texas in August.

 

Yes, indeed. My whole family comes from all over the world every summer. 20+ at a big lake house on Sebago.

 

Life is good!

[OH FOY]

Seems we play better baseball on the Road this year. That last WC will not upset me. Maybe they get Us against the World attitude.

[cp176]

I'm in Maine now and will be going to a Sea Dogs game at some point. My nephew works at the park!

 

I'll keep you posted.

 

Love it her in Maine... in the summer!

 

 

I've been cruising on the lake this summer and I have to say that it is a pretty good life.

[cp176]

I have not been posting often primarily due to the fact that this team has been so painful to watch but I did read here on one these threads someone being quite critical of sale and that one got my attention. It has hurt me to watch him struggle as much as it has hurt anyone but I'm not buying anyone saying that he is done. Watching him pitch his last two starts should have shut up his numb nut critics. he still can throw. he is a warrior and exactly what any team in any sport needs.

As for out bullpen - it has been a sad thing to watch. If you want to compete these days, obviously you have to have a good one. Ours isn't. You get what you pay for. You have to spend something to get something. Trying to to build one on the cheap may occasionally work especially for teams with no money but losing games by constantly experimenting really doesn't make much sense.

[jacksonianmarch]

The Sox must focus on WC2. You’re not catching Cleveland. Heck, you might have a better shot at catching Minnesota. The Yanks come to town for 4, and the only starter you miss is Happ, while we miss Price. Yanks don’t need anything. They could get swept and still be 8 games up in the L column. The Sox need the series. Anything worse than 3 of 4 for them and they’re in trouble. The A’s face the Rangers for a 4 game set, so the Sox have a shot to pick up some ground as the Rangers are tough. The Rays face the Jays, so any Sox slippage is gonna cause the Rays to jump back ahead. The WC2 race is gonna be epic at the finish

[Bellhorn04]

The Sox must focus on WC2. You’re not catching Cleveland. Heck, you might have a better shot at catching Minnesota. The Yanks come to town for 4, and the only starter you miss is Happ, while we miss Price. Yanks don’t need anything. They could get swept and still be 8 games up in the L column. The Sox need the series. Anything worse than 3 of 4 for them and they’re in trouble.

 

I don't think the Sox will be 'in trouble' if they split. Losing 3 of 4 and giving up piles of runs, however, could really dampen the front office's enthusiasm for our chances.

[jacksonianmarch]

I don't think the Sox will be 'in trouble' if they split. Losing 3 of 4 and giving up piles of runs, however, could really dampen the front office's enthusiasm for our chances.

 

That’s a big part of it. The Sox need help. Acquiring nobody is a season killer. The Sox don’t have Stanton, Severino, and Betances coming back (theoretically). They are who they are. And that’s a great offense with a rotation that’s 3 deep (book is still out on Cashner) and a pen that’s awful. If the Yanks take 3 of 4 and the A’s extend the Sox’ deficit to 4, will DD spend what little prospect capital he has to go all in? No upgrades means no playoffs

[notin]

That’s a big part of it. The Sox need help. Acquiring nobody is a season killer. The Sox don’t have Stanton, Severino, and Betances coming back (theoretically). They are who they are. And that’s a great offense with a rotation that’s 3 deep (book is still out on Cashner) and a pen that’s awful. If the Yanks take 3 of 4 and the A’s extend the Sox’ deficit to 4, will DD spend what little prospect capital he has to go all in? No upgrades means no playoffs

 

I’m glad you said that for two reasons.

 

1. I don’t have faith in DD to make any upgrades.

 

2. Your prediction track record is, to be kind, f***ing awful...

[jacksonianmarch]

I’m glad you said that for two reasons.

 

1. I don’t have faith in DD to make any upgrades.

 

2. Your prediction track record is, to be kind, f***ing awful...

 

Not this year. I should play powerball

[notin]

Not this year. I should play powerball

 

Go for it.

 

And when they interview you on TV about winning, somehow casually work in the phrase “I was all over it like a dung beetle on buffalo poop.” Just so we all know it was you.

 

And make it sound like you’re serious...

[jacksonianmarch]

If I won powerball, I’d say a lot more than that! Privately that is. No way I advertise that I was the winner. Lawyers help in that case, and probably only in that case. Otherwise they’re snakes!

[jacksonianmarch]

Also, I’ve been right a lot on the Sox this year because I know this narrative. George sold out EVERY YEAR for a title. Once they incorporated the lux tax and draft pick comp, George’s game wasn’t sustainable. It took some Georgian economics to win 2009, but the price paid was exorbitant. Trout was picked in the Teixeira comp spot. Burnett fell off a cliff. The old guard continued to occupy roster spots at below replacement level production. We fell into the dreaded “mediocrity” zone and didn’t come back up until 2017. 2015 was a mirage. It took phenomenal development, shrewd drafting, luck, and a temporary tear down plus 5 years in the wilderness to get back. I’ve been predicting this cliff for years. It was easy to see. As a Yankee fan, I kinda hope DD pushes his chips further into the middle and deepens the cliff.

[notin]

If I won powerball, I’d say a lot more than that! Privately that is. No way I advertise that I was the winner. Lawyers help in that case, and probably only in that case. Otherwise they’re snakes!

 

Oh I get protecting your anonymity.

 

So if you win, answer EVERY QUESTION with the dung beetle line and NOTHING ELSE. If they ask how you feel, you’re “all over it like a dung beetle on buffalo poop.” When they ask how it will change your life, you’re “all over it like a dung beetle on buffalo poop.” It’ll be like a Marshawn Lynch press conference, but more awesome.

 

It’ll go viral. We’ll see it.

 

And THEN I will take your predictions seriously.

[Kimmi]

It’s not that our pen isn’t as strong as the Yankees pen. Our pen is awful and barely MLB competent. You can’t hide a pen like that no matter how good your starters are unless you go back to the days when complete games were common.

 

Our pen is awful in save percentage. In just about every other category, our pen is good to average. Judging a pen on saves alone is as bad as judging a starting pitcher on wins alone.

[Kimmi]

Tough loss. We need to win more of these one run games

 

The outcome of one run games is largely due to randomness.

 

The Yankees are 11-12 in one run games.

[moonslav59]

The Sox must focus on WC2. You’re not catching Cleveland. Heck, you might have a better shot at catching Minnesota. The Yanks come to town for 4, and the only starter you miss is Happ, while we miss Price. Yanks don’t need anything. They could get swept and still be 8 games up in the L column. The Sox need the series. Anything worse than 3 of 4 for them and they’re in trouble. The A’s face the Rangers for a 4 game set, so the Sox have a shot to pick up some ground as the Rangers are tough. The Rays face the Jays, so any Sox slippage is gonna cause the Rays to jump back ahead. The WC2 race is gonna be epic at the finish

 

Cleveland is playing very well right now, but they will have a tough stretch at some point. We will catch them, because we are better.

 

Book it.

[moonslav59]

Perhaps DD's biggest strength has been making in-season deals at a very low cost.

[OH FOY]

Play better on the road, rather have last WC. End of July 1st game at Fenway for the Yanks. Edited July 25, 2019 by OH FOY!