2020 Red Sox Win Total

[mvp 78]

I'm praying for 40, but I'd be okay with anything over .500. Don't think 40 would be enough for the postseason though. Since everybody only plays a third of the teams in the league, there's not going to be as much parity as past years. Astros and Yankees could both go undefeated, theoretically

 

If you look at how the Yanks fared against the AL East last year, they could go 43-17. However, I think it's going to be a weird year and I think most teams will struggle to get into a rhythm.

[notin]

If you look at how the Yanks fared against the AL East last year, they could go 43-17. However, I think it's going to be a weird year and I think most teams will struggle to get into a rhythm.

 

And even a small injury could be devastating...

[mvp 78]

And even a small injury could be devastating...

 

s***, losing one starting pitcher could end your season.

[notin]

I think the Sox win 25-30 games.

 

I am not liking their chances without Sale, Price, Porcello and Betts. That;s an awful lot of talent to lose from a team that was only 3 games over .500 last year. I don't think Martin Perez, Brian Johnson, and Ryan Weber are going to replace Sale, Price and Porcello very adequately.

 

I do think Collin McHugh is a step up over Weber and Johnson, but will he start over either? And even if he does, cracking 30 wins might be a tall order.

 

But hey, if they can get on a run and make it exciting, dgalehouse is right. For once, the season is a sprint...

[notin]

s***, losing one starting pitcher could end your season.

 

Sox are already down 3 from a team that only won 84 games last year...

[mvp 78]

Sox are already down 3 from a team that only won 84 games last year...

 

If ERod, Eovaldi and McHugh are healthy all year, they could be fine depending on what they do with the 4th and 5th starters. I think they run out Weber as a Jalen Beeks type. If McHugh isn't ready, maybe Perez slides up to the 3rd spot and they have a bullpen game every 5th turn? It'll be really interesting to see how those last two rotations spots are managed.

 

I think they underperformed last year and maybe they can get to 35 - 25?

[mvp 78]

I think the Sox win 25-30 games.

 

I am not liking their chances without Sale, Price, Porcello and Betts. That;s an awful lot of talent to lose from a team that was only 3 games over .500 last year. I don't think Martin Perez, Brian Johnson, and Ryan Weber are going to replace Sale, Price and Porcello very adequately.

 

I do think Collin McHugh is a step up over Weber and Johnson, but will he start over either? And even if he does, cracking 30 wins might be a tall order.

 

But hey, if they can get on a run and make it exciting, dgalehouse is right. For once, the season is a sprint...

 

Bullpen management should be much different this year. It's really a year for Girardi to be managing somewhere. Just blow up those arms for a pennant.

[notin]

Bullpen management should be much different this year. It's really a year for Girardi to be managing somewhere. Just blow up those arms for a pennant.

 

Girardi is managing the Phillies...

[Kimmi]

Someone is squeezing in at .500 I bet.

 

I wouldn't be surprised. With such a small number of games, the difference between .500 (30 wins) and .600 (36 wins) is only 6 wins. In a regular season, .500 almost never makes the playoffs while .600 almost always does. But this year, two really good or bad series could make the difference. It will be interesting, for sure.

[notin]

If ERod, Eovaldi and McHugh are healthy all year, they could be fine depending on what they do with the 4th and 5th starters. I think they run out Weber as a Jalen Beeks type. If McHugh isn't ready, maybe Perez slides up to the 3rd spot and they have a bullpen game every 5th turn? It'll be really interesting to see how those last two rotations spots are managed.

 

I think they underperformed last year and maybe they can get to 35 - 25?

 

I think ERod, Eovaldi and Perez are locks for the rotation. But the last two spots look like some combination of Weber, Johnson and McHugh.

 

Bullpen management will be very important. Pitching depth will be less important than in years past, but still could be deadly if things break wrong...

[Kimmi]

I'm praying for 40, but I'd be okay with anything over .500. Don't think 40 would be enough for the postseason though. Since everybody only plays a third of the teams in the league, there's not going to be as much parity as past years. Astros and Yankees could both go undefeated, theoretically

 

The shorter the season, the more randomness kicks in. IMO, the Yankees are not as big a shoo in for the playoffs as most people are predicting. The Yankees are going down!

[notin]

If ERod, Eovaldi and McHugh are healthy all year, they could be fine depending on what they do with the 4th and 5th starters. I think they run out Weber as a Jalen Beeks type. If McHugh isn't ready, maybe Perez slides up to the 3rd spot and they have a bullpen game every 5th turn? It'll be really interesting to see how those last two rotations spots are managed.

 

I think they underperformed last year and maybe they can get to 35 - 25?

 

They might have underperformed last year, but you think replacing Sale, Price, Porcello and Betts with Perez, McHugh, Johnson and Verdugo/Pillar is the foundation from winning 52% of the time to 58% of the time?

[Kimmi]

I think the Sox win 25-30 games.

 

I am not liking their chances without Sale, Price, Porcello and Betts. That;s an awful lot of talent to lose from a team that was only 3 games over .500 last year. I don't think Martin Perez, Brian Johnson, and Ryan Weber are going to replace Sale, Price and Porcello very adequately.

 

I do think Collin McHugh is a step up over Weber and Johnson, but will he start over either? And even if he does, cracking 30 wins might be a tall order.

 

But hey, if they can get on a run and make it exciting, dgalehouse is right. For once, the season is a sprint...

 

IMO, the starting rotation becomes less important in this sprint of a season. That gives the Sox an advantage that they wouldn't have had in a long season.

 

I think Tampa Bay is going to really benefit from the reduced number of games. Their pitching should be very good. They are my current pick for the AL East.

[Kimmi]

They might have underperformed last year, but you think replacing Sale, Price, Porcello and Betts with Perez, McHugh, Johnson and Verdugo/Pillar is the foundation from winning 52% of the time to 58% of the time?

 

The difference is not so much in the personnel, but in the fact that there are so fewer games. A lot of games, not just for the Sox, but for all teams, will be bullpen or opener games.

[mvp 78]

Girardi is managing the Phillies...

 

Today I Learned...

[Bellhorn04]

I think the Sox win 25-30 games.

 

I am not liking their chances without Sale, Price, Porcello and Betts. That;s an awful lot of talent to lose from a team that was only 3 games over .500 last year. I don't think Martin Perez, Brian Johnson, and Ryan Weber are going to replace Sale, Price and Porcello very adequately.

 

I do think Collin McHugh is a step up over Weber and Johnson, but will he start over either? And even if he does, cracking 30 wins might be a tall order.

 

But hey, if they can get on a run and make it exciting, dgalehouse is right. For once, the season is a sprint...

 

Weber is going to kick ass this year.

[mvp 78]

The shorter the season, the more randomness kicks in. IMO, the Yankees are not as big a shoo in for the playoffs as most people are predicting. The Yankees are going down!

 

Vibing.

[mvp 78]

Weber is going to kick ass this year.

 

Oh s***. This is the content I crave...

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I think the Sox win 25-30 games.

 

I am not liking their chances without Sale, Price, Porcello and Betts. That;s an awful lot of talent to lose from a team that was only 3 games over .500 last year. I don't think Martin Perez, Brian Johnson, and Ryan Weber are going to replace Sale, Price and Porcello very adequately.

 

I do think Collin McHugh is a step up over Weber and Johnson, but will he start over either? And even if he does, cracking 30 wins might be a tall order.

 

But hey, if they can get on a run and make it exciting, dgalehouse is right. For once, the season is a sprint...

 

"It's still late..."

[mvp 78]

They might have underperformed last year, but you think replacing Sale, Price, Porcello and Betts with Perez, McHugh, Johnson and Verdugo/Pillar is the foundation from winning 52% of the time to 58% of the time?

 

The drop off from Betts won't be that big. Sale sucked balls last year anyway. Porcello is honestly a middle of the road innings eater in a year where innings don't matter.

[mvp 78]

IMO, the starting rotation becomes less important in this sprint of a season. That gives the Sox an advantage that they wouldn't have had in a long season.

 

I think Tampa Bay is going to really benefit from the reduced number of games. Their pitching should be very good. They are my current pick for the AL East.

 

Agree.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Losing a guy like Betts won't hurt the Red Sox as much as adding him will help a team like LA. This odd season -- if it even begins or doesn't end early -- could be one big extension of postseason pitching strategies, like those used by ex-Red Sox managers: Tito and Andrew Miller in Cleveland or Cora and his "rovers".

 

I think the only way the Sox will contend is if they discover or uncover a star swingman on the mound -- preferably a bulk guy instead of an opener (because the former eats more innings). This is the underrated position that I think will key a lot of teams: a young middle reliever with a live arm who can pitch often and effectively -- and not break down. Candidates for Boston may include Darwinzon Hernandez, Tanner Houck or someone we've hardly heard of that Bloom has his eye on.

[Kman]

Well looking at the schedule or at least what I think it will look like 10 games against each division opponent twenty games against NY and TB split those games 10-10 I hope....pound on Toronto and Baltimore 15-5 and twenty games with the NL East Nats, Braves, Phillies, Mets and Marlins maybe they can go 11-9 I don't think the Marlins will be very good the Nats and Braves will be good the Phillies and Mets might be good or maybe not we will see. Far as replacing Sale, Price and Porcello they were not effective pitchers last year and were a big reason why the Sox stunk in 2019. This year we can compete if ERod continues to grow, Eovaldi actually pitches to his potential and Perez and McHugh chip in for a coupe of months. This is going to be a weird year 60 games starting in mid to late summer sounds like a great time for fresh hitters to bat against pitchers I expect a lot of hitting especially the first 20-30 games and this Red Sox team should hit...yeah we will miss Mookie but the Sox have a good offense.

[mvp 78]

Losing a guy like Betts won't hurt the Red Sox as much as adding him will help a team like LA. This odd season -- if it even begins or doesn't end early -- could be one big extension of postseason pitching strategies, like those used by ex-Red Sox managers: Tito and Andrew Miller in Cleveland or Cora and his "rovers".

 

I think the only way the Sox will contend is if they discover or uncover a star swingman on the mound -- preferably a bulk guy instead of an opener (because the former eats more innings). This is the underrated position that I think will key a lot of teams: a young middle reliever with a live arm who can pitch often and effectively -- and not break down. Candidates for Boston may include Darwinzon Hernandez, Tanner Houck or someone we've hardly heard of that Bloom has his eye on.

 

Houck looked like dog s*** in ST. I don't think he's ready.

[Kimmi]

Well looking at the schedule or at least what I think it will look like 10 games against each division opponent twenty games against NY and TB split those games 10-10 I hope....pound on Toronto and Baltimore 15-5 and twenty games with the NL East Nats, Braves, Phillies, Mets and Marlins maybe they can go 11-9 I don't think the Marlins will be very good the Nats and Braves will be good the Phillies and Mets might be good or maybe not we will see. Far as replacing Sale, Price and Porcello they were not effective pitchers last year and were a big reason why the Sox stunk in 2019. This year we can compete if ERod continues to grow, Eovaldi actually pitches to his potential and Perez and McHugh chip in for a coupe of months. This is going to be a weird year 60 games starting in mid to late summer sounds like a great time for fresh hitters to bat against pitchers I expect a lot of hitting especially the first 20-30 games and this Red Sox team should hit...yeah we will miss Mookie but the Sox have a good offense.

 

I have always appreciated your positive insight Kman. I think our offense will be fine without Mookie. Our starting pitching is the concern for this year, but you make a good point that Sale, Price, and Porcello were not that great last year, so we shouldn't miss them that much. The shortened season works in our favor as far as the starting rotation goes.

 

We got this!

[notin]

Weber is going to kick ass this year.

 

 

Define “kick ass”...

[Bellhorn04]

Define “kick ass”...

 

At least a 0.5 fWAR

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Houck looked like dog s*** in ST. I don't think he's ready.

 

Being ready for a two-month sprint may be directly related to age. Since it will be vital for teams to get off to good starts, expect managers to chase early Ws, starters to insist they can go one more inning, and bullpens to be pushed to the max. Don't forget the new three-batter minimum (as well as the unusual injuries and virus risks). We may see revolving doors of relievers from a lot of 60-man rosters. The Astros and M's have each included 12 of their top pitching prospects on their 60. The world champion Nationals list 10, as do the Dodgers, while the Yankees have nine.

 

The Red Sox have zero... so far.

 

Top prospects in 60-man player pools

WWW.MLB.COM

---

As we near the beginning of summer training camps for teams before they return to the field following the hiatus to battle the coronavirus pandemic, we know that this year's expanded rosters may provide a better chance than most seasons to get a glimpse of some of the top prospects

[notin]

At least a 0.5 fWAR

 

 

So kick a little ass...

[Thunder]

Being ready for a two-month sprint may be directly related to age. Since it will be vital for teams to get off to good starts, expect managers to chase early Ws, starters to insist they can go one more inning, and bullpens to be pushed to the max. Don't forget the new three-batter minimum (as well as the unusual injuries and virus risks). We may see revolving doors of relievers from a lot of 60-man rosters. The Astros and M's have each included 12 of their top pitching prospects on their 60. The world champion Nationals list 10, as do the Dodgers, while the Yankees have nine.

 

The Red Sox have zero... so far.

 

Top prospects in 60-man player pools

WWW.MLB.COM

---

As we near the beginning of summer training camps for teams before they return to the field following the hiatus to battle the coronavirus pandemic, we know that this year's expanded rosters may provide a better chance than most seasons to get a glimpse of some of the top prospects

 

Maybe because we don't have any pitching prospects worthy of making the roster