A Realistic View at 2022: Part III

[mvp 78]

Part II was "roster is set and Sox should win 92 games."

 

I think we were beyond that point. Needed to dust out those cobwebs and go with something new.

[JDavis76]

A Yankee fan. Must be my age that prevented me from seeing this earlier.

 

I now understand why you are so belligerent. It must be rough to be a fan of the wealthiest team in MLB and the one with far and away the most WS wins--but which has lagged so badly behind the Sox during the two decades of the John Henry era.

 

We, on the other hand, I have enjoyed those two decades, especially since some of us endured big chunks of the 86 year drought which really ended, not with the sweep of the Cardinals in the WS, but with coming from behind 0-3 in games to beat the Yankees in four straight games to win the 2004 ALCS.

 

"A Realistic View" was started several seasons ago by moonslav, who has used it to provide the rest of us with an omnibus thread which allows a pretty good discussion of what is happening and will happen with the Sox in any given season. This is the first time I can remember someone else (mvp 78) starting the next part. I think mvp 78 jumped the gun, but do agree this season seems headed in the wrong direction.

 

We've had at least one other Yankee fan on here--jacksonianmarch--who has actually been a good contributor. He's articulate and insightful and even criticizes the Yankees now and then.

 

You, on the other hand, remind of that obnoxious Yankee fan at an airport bar depicted in the movie, "For Love of the Game," which is based on a novel by Michael Shaara, who also wrote a terrific novel, Killer Angels, about the Battle of Gettysburg.

 

And I won't get into what you remind me of.

 

Back to baseball.......

[JDavis76]

Wasn't that his only career PA as a LHB?

 

No, I did not see it.

 

Yes it was his only career LH at bat.

 

The article I read says he does it quite often in the batting cage.

 

Anthony Rendon homers in first career left-handed at-bat

WWW.MLB.COM

---

ANAHEIM -- With 22-year-old rookie lefty Reid Detmers on the verge of history with a no-hit bid through eight innings, the Rays trotted out position player Brett Phillips to the mound for the eighth inning with the Angels already leading by eight runs. Phillips had the tough task of facing

Edited May 11, 2022 by JDavis76

[Maxbialystock]

Part II was "roster is set and Sox should win 92 games."

 

I think we were beyond that point. Needed to dust out those cobwebs and go with something new.

 

I figured.

[moonslav59]

Part II was "roster is set and Sox should win 92 games."

 

I think we were beyond that point. Needed to dust out those cobwebs and go with something new.

 

I'm fine with Part III starting now. There certainly is a big difference in our expectations, now vs day one.

[moonslav59]

Yes it was his only career LH at bat.

 

The article I read says he does it quite often in the batting cage.

 

Anthony Rendon homers in first career left-handed at-bat

WWW.MLB.COM

---

ANAHEIM -- With 22-year-old rookie lefty Reid Detmers on the verge of history with a no-hit bid through eight innings, the Rays trotted out position player Brett Phillips to the mound for the eighth inning with the Angels already leading by eight runs. Phillips had the tough task of facing

 

Watching that hit makes me wonder, if they are using different balls than the Sox games.

 

My guess is, he might hit lefty some more, now.

[notin]

My guess is, he might hit lefty some more, now.

 

He did hit it off outfielder Brett Phillips in a game that was already 10-0.

 

Maybe he does it again in another blowout game where he gets to face a right-handed throwing position player…

[oldtimer]

I'm fine with Part III starting now. There certainly is a big difference in our expectations, now vs day one.

 

With the lack of quality of the moves made by Bloom this winter season and the Sale continuing injury saga, my expectations for the team were for a 500 season. The slow start by Hernandez and Dalbec have been particularly troubling. I am in the camp of wanting changes sooner than later. I don't sense that will happen as there doesn't appear to be any urgency felt by management.

[Maxbialystock]

With the lack of quality of the moves made by Bloom this winter season and the Sale continuing injury saga, my expectations for the team were for a 500 season. The slow start by Hernandez and Dalbec have been particularly troubling. I am in the camp of wanting changes sooner than later. I don't sense that will happen as there doesn't appear to be any urgency felt by management.

 

Lots of slow starts. moonslav makes the case that big changes could happen this summer, but probably not the kind we want. It could be a fire sale with the intent of getting back prospects.

[moonslav59]

With the lack of quality of the moves made by Bloom this winter season and the Sale continuing injury saga, my expectations for the team were for a 500 season. The slow start by Hernandez and Dalbec have been particularly troubling. I am in the camp of wanting changes sooner than later. I don't sense that will happen as there doesn't appear to be any urgency felt by management.

 

Like Urgency after the season started?

 

[moonslav59]

Lots of slow starts. moonslav makes the case that big changes could happen this summer, but probably not the kind we want. It could be a fire sale with the intent of getting back prospects.

 

No doubt, but I'd rather wait to have those kinds of talks. It's mid May.

[JDavis76]

No doubt, but I'd rather wait to have those kinds of talks. It's mid May.

 

I believe Yogi once said, "It gets late early out there"

[Maxbialystock]

No doubt, but I'd rather wait to have those kinds of talks. It's mid May.

 

Of course.

[Kimmi]

Gotta love the Sox 3-0 run of eliminating the Yankees in the playoffs!

 

It will be all the sweeter when the Sox once again eliminate the Yankees this postseason.

[Kimmi]

NYY, TOR, HOU, TBR

 

I think CWS win the Central, but MN might beat 'em out.

 

I think LAA wins the 3rd WC over MN & the Sox.

 

 

I think it's way too early. A lot can change in one week. We have almost 5 months to go.

[jacksonianmarch]

The absolute best thing (to a Yankee fan) that the Sox can do is be in contention for that 6th PO spot at the deadline and then fall short

[moonslav59]

I think it's way too early. A lot can change in one week. We have almost 5 months to go.

 

Of course, this is just how I feel, now.

 

I've said several times, I have not given up.

[moonslav59]

The absolute best thing (to a Yankee fan) that the Sox can do is be in contention for that 6th PO spot at the deadline and then fall short

 

...and the best the Sox can hope for is the Yanks think they are 1 or 2 players away from being the fave, trade away some of their future, then s*** the bed, again.

[Hitch]

Lots of slow starts. moonslav makes the case that big changes could happen this summer, but probably not the kind we want. It could be a fire sale with the intent of getting back prospects.

 

It wouldn't be a fire sale as such.

 

Eovaldi

Hill

Wacha

JD

Bogey

Kike

Vazquez

 

 

... are all hitting free agency. If we're out of contention it would be madness to not maximise return as much as possible for them. All will likely be available to bring back in the summer if we wanted to. I doubt we would make a run at many of them though. It's not so much a fire sale, but using a very advantageous situation (in terms of players we can trade) to our advantage if that's the way things go.

[Hitch]

The absolute best thing (to a Yankee fan) that the Sox can do is be in contention for that 6th PO spot at the deadline and then fall short

 

This is indeed the nightmare scenario. Hopefully it's clear to management either way because if we're on the fringes of not knowing we will likely blow a massive opportunity to bring in some serious prospects/MLB ready players.

[Bellhorn04]

This is indeed the nightmare scenario. Hopefully it's clear to management either way because if we're on the fringes of not knowing we will likely blow a massive opportunity to bring in some serious prospects/MLB ready players.

 

Not to worry. The team continues to make the fire sale/high draft pick look like the play.

[Hitch]

Not to worry. The team continues to make the fire sale/high draft pick look like the play.

 

For reasons I'm not sure of, I feel like we're about to turn it around and go on a big run.

[notin]

For reasons I'm not sure of, I feel like we're about to turn it around and go on a big run.

 

The staff got beat by home runs from Travis Demeritte and Orlando Arica. I’m not sure of your reasons either…

[Hitch]

The staff got beat by home runs from Travis Demeritte and Orlando Arica. I’m not sure of your reasons either…

 

Better to be an optimist that's disappointed, than a pessimist proved right. Maybe.

[moonslav59]

It wouldn't be a fire sale as such.

 

Eovaldi

Hill

Wacha

JD

Bogey

Kike

Vazquez

 

 

... are all hitting free agency. If we're out of contention it would be madness to not maximise return as much as possible for them. All will likely be available to bring back in the summer if we wanted to. I doubt we would make a run at many of them though. It's not so much a fire sale, but using a very advantageous situation (in terms of players we can trade) to our advantage if that's the way things go.

 

The problem with this list of players is that all but Vaz, and I guess Kike, at the moment, are big losses, and finding decent catchers is very difficult.

 

However, with Price's money added on, I can't see why we can't replace these guys with the same type of quality and expectations, and it's not like bringing them all back is going to guarantee a better team. At most, we might stay even, since these guys are aging.

 

There is a chance we get some ML ready prospects for these guys, like we did with ERod, long ago. We could also see us stockpiling prospects at the deadline, then trading some in the winter to fill the gaps free agency can't do, or will be too expensive to do.

 

I'm not happy even thinking about a fire sale, but the mini fire sale of 2020 did work out pretty well, and this fire sale could/should bring back more than Pivetta & Seabold.

 

Again, I'm not giving up, but I can't seem to block the idea of a fire sale out of my head.

 

[Bellhorn04]

Better to be an optimist that's disappointed, than a pessimist proved right. Maybe.

 

In between stands the dispassionate realist!

[moonslav59]

In between stands the dispassionate realist!

 

Where does the passionate realist fit into the spectrum?

[mvp 78]

I think it's way too early. A lot can change in one week. We have almost 5 months to go.

 

I agree, but they have to win a series first. It's May 12th and they still haven't done that yet.

[mvp 78]

The absolute best thing (to a Yankee fan) that the Sox can do is be in contention for that 6th PO spot at the deadline and then fall short

 

More likely scenario is the Sox make it in as a 6th seed, they beat the Yanks in the playoffs like recent history, lose the next round and then all the FA's leave.

[JDavis76]

More likely scenario is the Sox make it in as a 6th seed, they beat the Yanks in the playoffs like recent history, lose the next round and then all the FA's leave.

 

The sox making the playoffs at this point is far from "likely". They are listed as having roughly a 30% chance as it stands right now.