Rock Bottom, 2021 AL East

[mvp 78]

I think I have it down.

 

Yankees fans: poor winners, obnoxious, bad accent, terrible posters, ugly

Red Sox fans: poor losers, obnoxious, bad accent, terrible posters, attractive

[mvp 78]

I lived in NYC for a spell. This was my feeling for them, too.

 

Then again, that's my feeling for most sports fans. Not the most reasonable of groups of people are we, after all.

 

I've had Tampa Rays and Marlins fans talk s*** about my Sox hat.

[notin]

I think I have it down.

 

Yankees fans: poor winners, obnoxious, bad accent, terrible posters, ugly

Red Sox fans: poor losers, obnoxious, bad accent, terrible posters, attractive

 

Plus look at the celebrities.

 

The Yankees have Billy Crystal and the Impractical Jokers cast.

 

The Sox have Stephen King and Ben Affleck.

 

Who really wins?

[Maxbialystock]

I have never had a problem with Yankee fans. I like talking baseball with them because inevitably I know a lot about their team, plus I like being in a rivalry with the team that won 27 WS, especially now that the 86 year curse is history and the Sox are sort of at the same level. Jacksonianmarch is to me typical of the breed. I also like the different cultures of the two cities and try not to remind Yankee fans that their forebearers rolled over for the British Army (and fleet) in August 1776 five months after the Red Sox fans' forebearers drove them out of Boston.

 

Interesting point Notin makes about the last 40 years.

[moonslav59]

I have never had a problem with Yankee fans. I like talking baseball with them because inevitably I know a lot about their team, plus I like being in a rivalry with the team that won 27 WS, especially now that the 86 year curse is history and the Sox are sort of at the same level. Jacksonianmarch is to me typical of the breed. I also like the different cultures of the two cities and try not to remind Yankee fans that their forebearers rolled over for the British Army (and fleet) in August 1776 five months after the Red Sox fans' forebearers drove them out of Boston.

 

Interesting point Notin makes about the last 40 years.

 

Yes, agreed.

 

I go back about 50 years.

[mvp 78]

Plus look at the celebrities.

 

The Yankees have Billy Crystal and the Impractical Jokers cast.

 

The Sox have Stephen King and Ben Affleck.

 

Who really wins?

 

Even Michael Keaton didn't want to be a Yankees fan.

[Maxbialystock]

Not much point in this as an actual thread, is there, Max? We've already got one called Major Concerns that was started after the first game.

 

This is pretty much the same as a thread titled We Suck.

 

Silly.

 

Just a reminder to everyone that bellhorn and thunder were right, and I was completely wrong.

[mvp 78]

Just a reminder to everyone that bellhorn and thunder were right, and I was completely wrong.

 

It’s not a problem to be wrong, it’s only a problem when you refuse to admit it.

[notin]

Even Michael Keaton didn't want to be a Yankees fan.

 

I think he’s the only actor to play a DC hero and a Marvel villain...

[moonslav59]

I think he’s the only actor to play a DC hero and a Marvel villain...

 

...as well as Noah and Jack Frost.

[a700hitter]

And attributed to me the power apparently, to ruin our good times, through merely being back posting. Otherwise why would anyone think to bring such a thing up? As I said, pretty fragile stuff. Maybe stick me on ignore, enjoy life, be ruin-less. You're not getting any younger.

I would never attribute “power” to you about anything. That only happens in your self-centered world.

[Hitch]

It’s not a problem to be wrong, it’s only a problem when you refuse to admit it.

 

Oh ain't that the truth!

 

I'm still not sure what we have with this team. We aren't as bad as the first three games showed, and we aren't as good as the past seven have shown either. It'll be interesting to see where in-between we land along the way. I thought we might surprise a few people along the way this year. That's still my guess, although if we keep this winning streak up, the cat will be out of the bag.

[mvp 78]

Oh ain't that the truth!

 

I'm still not sure what we have with this team. We aren't as bad as the first three games showed, and we aren't as good as the past seven have shown either. It'll be interesting to see where in-between we land along the way. I thought we might surprise a few people along the way this year. That's still my guess, although if we keep this winning streak up, the cat will be out of the bag.

 

I still think they are a 86 win team. I'm really not sold on the current starting rotation. Eovaldi is sure to come down with an IL stint and have diminished stuff. Richards is an unknown. Long term health of ERod? Is Sale going to be productive when he comes back? Is Houck a starter or reliever? Will Pivetta revert to a AAAA guy? What could Seabold provide?

 

The pen should be average to slightly above average. The offense will be near the top 5. It's the starting pitching that is really difficult to project.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I still think they are a 86 win team. I'm really not sold on the current starting rotation. Eovaldi is sure to come down with an IL stint and have diminished stuff. Richards is an unknown. Long term health of ERod? Is Sale going to be productive when he comes back? Is Houck a starter or reliever? Will Pivetta revert to a AAAA guy? What could Seabold provide?

 

The pen should be average to slightly above average. The offense will be near the top 5. It's the starting pitching that is really difficult to project.

 

And as we've seen in the past two years, problems with the rotation always affect the workload and thus, effectiveness of the bullpen.

[Hitch]

I still think they are a 86 win team. I'm really not sold on the current starting rotation. Eovaldi is sure to come down with an IL stint and have diminished stuff. Richards is an unknown. Long term health of ERod? Is Sale going to be productive when he comes back? Is Houck a starter or reliever? Will Pivetta revert to a AAAA guy? What could Seabold provide?

 

The pen should be average to slightly above average. The offense will be near the top 5. It's the starting pitching that is really difficult to project.

 

Yeah, agreed on all points. It feels like a get-us-through-the-year rotation, rather than one built to be a contender. But we'll see, I guess.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Yeah, agreed on all points. It feels like a get-us-through-the-year rotation, rather than one built to be a contender. But we'll see, I guess.

 

Obviously no one expects a .700 winning percentage to continue, but what if Boston is still around .550 approaching the trade deadline? That could make July a very fascinating month for the Nation, depending on whether Bloom ultimately decides to be a buyer or seller. Imagine if the Sox still have one of the top five AL records (which would qualify for the postseason), and Bloom traded Barnes or Eovaldi for prospects...

[notin]

Obviously no one expects a .700 winning percentage to continue, but what if Boston is still around .550 approaching the trade deadline? That could make July a very fascinating month for the Nation, depending on whether Bloom ultimately decides to be a buyer or seller. Imagine if the Sox still have one of the top five AL records (which would qualify for the postseason), and Bloom traded Barnes or Eovaldi for prospects...

 

 

Like the 1997 White Sox, who were 3.5 games out of first and then decided to deal 3 of the pitchers to the Giants. In return for Roberto Hernandez (closer), Wilson Alvarez and Danny Darwin, the Giants received a handful of prospects, the only two of whom that turned into anything of consequence were Keith Foulke and Bob Howry, both of whom would later pitch for the Red Sox. The White Sox finished 1997 under .500, but made the post-season 3 years later, only to be swept by the Mariners in the ALDS, thus accomplishing the rare feat of losing a post-season series to Seattle.

 

So yeah, that would be bad...

[moonslav59]

Like the 1997 White Sox, who were 3.5 games out of first and then decided to deal 3 of the pitchers to the Giants. In return for Roberto Hernandez (closer), Wilson Alvarez and Danny Darwin, the Giants received a handful of prospects, the only two of whom that turned into anything of consequence were Keith Foulke and Bob Howry, both of whom would later pitch for the Red Sox. The White Sox finished 1997 under .500, but made the post-season 3 years later, only to be swept by the Mariners in the ALDS, thus accomplishing the rare feat of losing a post-season series to Seattle.

 

So yeah, that would be bad...

 

Are you trolling harmony?

[moonslav59]

Obviously no one expects a .700 winning percentage to continue, but what if Boston is still around .550 approaching the trade deadline? That could make July a very fascinating month for the Nation, depending on whether Bloom ultimately decides to be a buyer or seller. Imagine if the Sox still have one of the top five AL records (which would qualify for the postseason), and Bloom traded Barnes or Eovaldi for prospects...

 

There's a good chance we will be talking about these choices in July. (Remember, there is no longer the usual waiver wire deadline of August 31st, so it's trade in July or hold o to them.

 

One interesting and rare occurrence could occur.

 

We could trade Eovaldi and Barnes, as well as some 2022 option player not likely to be kept around for prospects, and then we could trade young talent for a player under team control for several years, who might be a salary problem for the team trading him. (Seller & Buyer)

[notin]

Are you trolling harmony?

 

Very much so.

 

Or not...

[Hitch]

Obviously no one expects a .700 winning percentage to continue, but what if Boston is still around .550 approaching the trade deadline? That could make July a very fascinating month for the Nation, depending on whether Bloom ultimately decides to be a buyer or seller. Imagine if the Sox still have one of the top five AL records (which would qualify for the postseason), and Bloom traded Barnes or Eovaldi for prospects...

 

It reminds me of '19. We were struggling and clearly nowhere near where we needed to be (plus had the impending cliff ahead), and the week or so before the trade deadline we went on a run winning games and dragging us back into 'well you never know' territory. I often wonder what would have happened if we'd been far enough out for a sell off there. Mookie would have brought back even more at that time. Or we could have side stepped the problem all together and maybe traded Price and Eovaldi to contenders (although I don't remember how Eovaldi was doing at the time). JD may have gone too, however, and Vaz.

 

We went back to being rubbish straight after. Would have been interesting to see what would have happened. Especially as it was Gunslinger Dave with the reigns at the time.

[Hitch]

Very much so.

 

Or not...

 

Ha!

[Kimmi]

I still think they are a 86 win team. I'm really not sold on the current starting rotation. Eovaldi is sure to come down with an IL stint and have diminished stuff. Richards is an unknown. Long term health of ERod? Is Sale going to be productive when he comes back? Is Houck a starter or reliever? Will Pivetta revert to a AAAA guy? What could Seabold provide?

 

The pen should be average to slightly above average. The offense will be near the top 5. It's the starting pitching that is really difficult to project.

 

The pitching staff will be decent if they can stay healthy. We just need them to keep the games within reach and give the offense a chance.

[a700hitter]

The pitching staff will be decent if they can stay healthy. We just need them to keep the games within reach and give the offense a chance.

Or the bullpen might wear out by June and the hot bats in the warm weather might bludgeon our starters. I like your optimistic outlook better.

[moonslav59]

Or the bullpen might wear out by June and the hot bats in the warm weather might bludgeon our starters. I like your optimistic outlook better.

 

We’ve had an 9 man pen, and our starters have gone 5+ in every start but one.

 

They may see some more action over the next few months, but so far, it has been far from overused.

[Kimmi]

Or the bullpen might wear out by June and the hot bats in the warm weather might bludgeon our starters. I like your optimistic outlook better.

 

This is why I have always thought that carrying 14 pitchers made the most sense. Our starters are not going to regularly go more than 5 or 6 innings, and having the extra relievers will help the pen from getting overused.

 

Also, at some point in the summer, we will hopefully get Sale back.

[Kimmi]

Rock Bottom 2021 AL East - New York Yankees

 

^^^

[Maxbialystock]

This is why I have always thought that carrying 14 pitchers made the most sense. Our starters are not going to regularly go more than 5 or 6 innings, and having the extra relievers will help the pen from getting overused.

 

Also, at some point in the summer, we will hopefully get Sale back.

 

Wow. Someone said this out loud and in public. 14 pitchers means 9 position players day after day with just 2 subs: a catcher and someone pretty versatile.

 

On the other hand, having just 2 subs means the Sox bench is going to be more engaged than those huge 3 man benches.

[Bellhorn04]

Wow. Someone said this out loud and in public. 14 pitchers means 9 position players day after day with just 2 subs: a catcher and someone pretty versatile.

 

On the other hand, having just 2 subs means the Sox bench is going to be more engaged than those huge 3 man benches.

 

26 man roster now, so 14 pitchers = 3 subs.

[notin]

26 man roster now, so 14 pitchers = 3 subs.

 

Weird, because when they expanded rosters to 26, there was supposed to be a limitation on pitchers at 13. That not in effect?