A Realistic View of 2023: Part II

[Bellhorn04]

Our strength of schedule, this year is tough, too- one of the worst, but it should be a little easier than 2022.

 

Just so we're clear on this, the other teams in the AL East all have equally tough schedules as us - the problem is that there are too many good teams in the AL East right now. Correct?

[moonslav59]

Just so we're clear on this, the other teams in the AL East all have equally tough schedules as us - the problem is that there are too many good teams in the AL East right now. Correct?

 

Incorrect. The Yanks don't play the Yanks- they play us, instead.

 

Toronto does not play Toronto- they play us.

 

Same with TBR.

 

Baltimore has a tougher schedule, if you go by 2023 projected wins.

[Bellhorn04]

Incorrect. The Yanks don't play the Yanks- they play us, instead.

 

Toronto does not play Toronto- they play us.

 

Same with TBR.

 

Baltimore has a tougher schedule, if you go by 2023 projected wins.

 

But if the 2023 Red Sox turn out to be better than the projections, that all changes, right?

[Bellhorn04]

If the Red Sox are better, it makes their schedule easier. There, I think I figured it out.

[Old Red]

Our strength of schedule, this year is tough, too- one of the worst, but it should be a little easier than 2022.

 

Wha, wha, wha on the schedule. Like I keep saying if you want to win more games the best solution to me is one thing. GET BETTER. I don’t recall all this tough schedule, and being in a tough Div talk in previous years, but for some reason it has been now. Get over it! The Red Sox sucked last year! If the only way the Red Sox can win more games is to go to an easier schedule then maybe the Red Sox have the Wrong people running the organization, and changes need to be made. That I would agree with.

[Bellhorn04]

Setting aside the easy/hard part, the 2023 schedule is pretty freakin' wild, folks...

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Setting aside the easy/hard part, the 2023 schedule is pretty freakin' wild, folks...

 

Shouldn't we be talking about the Sox' first nine games on the schedule?

 

Three each vs. Orioles, Pirates, Tigers.

 

Boston could really jumpstart '23 and get off to a winning beginning -- 6-3, 5-4. Why not?

 

Otherwise... the Sox then play the next 14 vs. better comp: Rays, Angels, Twins, Brewers... and finish the month with the O's and Guardians. Rut-roh...

[moonslav59]

But if the 2023 Red Sox turn out to be better than the projections, that all changes, right?

 

Only if we end up better than NYY, TOR & TBR.

 

Based on 2022 or projected 2023, we have a harder schedule than they do.

 

In terms of 2022 vs 2023, yes, we all are helped by the schedule change pretty equally.

[moonslav59]

Wha, wha, wha on the schedule. Like I keep saying if you want to win more games the best solution to me is one thing. GET BETTER. I don’t recall all this tough schedule, and being in a tough Div talk in previous years, but for some reason it has been now. Get over it! The Red Sox sucked last year! If the only way the Red Sox can win more games is to go to an easier schedule then maybe the Red Sox have the Wrong people running the organization, and changes need to be made. That I would agree with.

 

If you don't like the talk of schedule, then ignore it.

 

We did not suck vs non ALE teams. In fact, we were damn good.

 

"Get over it?" Get over what? It's not bothering me. I'm just stating facts and trying to figure out what may or may not help us, this year- player changes, different strength of schedules, injury factors and more. It's what this site is for.

 

I'm not "wha, wha, whaing." it seems to me, you are doing so. Get over the fact that it is an issue of discussion!

[moonslav59]

Setting aside the easy/hard part, the 2023 schedule is pretty freakin' wild, folks...

 

It's crazy, but I love it!

 

Boston Red Sox Schedule | Boston Red Sox

WWW.MLB.COM

---

The Official Site of Major League Baseball

 

or

 

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://mktg.mlbstatic.com/redsox/documents/2023/2023-regular-season-printable-schedule.pdf

[Old Red]

If the Red Sox are better, it makes their schedule easier. There, I think I figured it out.

 

It’s not that hard really.

[Bellhorn04]

Only if we end up better than NYY, TOR & TBR.

 

Based on 2022 or projected 2023, we have a harder schedule than they do.

 

Yes, but it's only because we're projected to be worse than them. The closer we are to them, the less the schedule is a disadvantage.

 

It's a bit of a Catch-22 conundrum, one might say.

[Bellhorn04]

It’s not that hard really.

 

Agreed.

[Old Red]

If you don't like the talk of schedule, then ignore it.

 

We did not suck vs non ALE teams. In fact, we were damn good.

 

"Get over it?" Get over what? It's not bothering me. I'm just stating facts and trying to figure out what may or may not help us, this year- player changes, different strength of schedules, injury factors and more. It's what this site is for.

 

I'm not "wha, wha, whaing." it seems to me, you are doing so. Get over the fact that it is an issue of discussion!

 

I just have a way different view, and the way I look at things. Some want to see the Red Sox have an easier schedule, so the Red Sox have a better chance at winning more games, and would probably also would like to see them change Div, so they wouldn’t be in last place like last year. All, because of last year. I on the other hand would just rather see the Red Sox get better, and win more games that way. It wouldn’t bother me if the Dodgers, and Astros were added to the Red Sox Div. I’m not looking for an easy way out, but only for the team get better, and win more that way. The Red Sox beat the Yankees head to head in 2021, and also had a good div record. 2022 was just a blip on the radar screen to me, and i wouldn’t have changed a thing with the schedule.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Shouldn't we be talking about the Sox' first nine games on the schedule?

 

Three each vs. Orioles, Pirates, Tigers.

 

Boston could really jumpstart '23 and get off to a winning beginning -- 6-3, 5-4. Why not?

 

Otherwise... the Sox then play the next 14 vs. better comp: Rays, Angels, Twins, Brewers... and finish the month with the O's and Guardians. Rut-roh...

 

If the Red Sox have a bad team and a bad April, it could prove fatal (for any employees "on the bubble" anyway)... because then in the first three weeks of May, Boston plays 18 straight games vs. legitimate playoff contenders.

 

It would still be "early" -- but with the ages, health concerns and many one-year contracts, this club doesn't seem built for patience... just more changes.

[Bellhorn04]

If the Red Sox have a bad team and a bad April, it could prove fatal (for any employees "on the bubble" anyway)... because then in the first three weeks of May, Boston plays 18 straight games vs. legitimate playoff contenders.

 

It would still be "early" -- but with the ages, health concerns and many one-year contracts, this club doesn't seem built for patience... just more changes.

 

And we all know the first change that's going to come to John Henry's mind. His track record for patience speaks for itself...

[mvp 78]

Setting aside the easy/hard part, the 2023 schedule is pretty freakin' wild, folks...

 

Since they are now playing every NL team, will they be swapping fields next season with their opponents (i.e. the play MIA at home this year, but would pay MIA away next season)?

[Bellhorn04]

Since they are now playing every NL team, will they be swapping fields next season with their opponents (i.e. the play MIA at home this year, but would pay MIA away next season)?

 

That would certainly seem to be the logical play.

[harmony]

Did you notice, in terms of wins projected, the ALE vs ALW:

 

1. NYY>HOU (+0.3)

2. TOR> SEA (+3.6)

3. TBR>LAA (+4.7)

4. BOS

5. BAL>OAK (+7.5)

 

Net: ALE +15.6

 

Will the Houston Astros win 16 fewer games than last year (and the Seattle Mariners six fewer games)?

 

That falls within the realm of possibilities as the vastly improved Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels may make the AL West baseball's toughest division.

 

Or not.

[moonslav59]

If we are going to be any good, this year, we should get out of the gate on a winning note. We start the season...

 

3 v BAL

3 v PIT

3 @ DET

4 @ TBR

 

 

[notin]

And Yu Chang is back, claiming the last 40 man roster spot vacated by Story

[mvp 78]

And Yu Chang is back, claiming the last 40 man roster spot vacated by Story

 

On an MLB deal too. Younger than Iggy. His bat is ok. He can play every IF spot. Seems fine to me.

[jacksonianmarch]

Bello was just shut down with "forearm soreness"

[mvp 78]

Bello was just shut down with "forearm soreness"

 

@alexspeier

Alex Cora says Brayan Bello was shutdown briefly (“nothing to alarm”) due to forearm soreness he experienced in his last bullpen, when he threw a lot of breaking balls. He’s scheduled to resume throwing Monday. “We’re very confident Monday he’s back on his throwing program.”

[mvp 78]

Dear readers, note that jacko said not a peep about Nestor when he was diagnosed with a hamstring strain, but leaped at the chance to talk about Bello's forearm.

[jacksonianmarch]

Dear readers, note that jacko said not a peep about Nestor when he was diagnosed with a hamstring strain, but leaped at the chance to talk about Bello's forearm.

 

Hamstring strains in February are not news

Forearm strains in February for pitchers are news

[notin]

On an MLB deal too. Younger than Iggy. His bat is ok. He can play every IF spot. Seems fine to me.

 

And he can be added to the 40 man roster today, unlike Alfaro, Goodrum and Tapia.

 

He did have a good glove, but the bat is very weak so far in limited action…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

And Yu Chang is back, claiming the last 40 man roster spot vacated by Story

 

All in all, he's just another plank in the bridge.

[Old Red]

All in all, he's just another plank in the bridge.

 

That’s been turned over.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

That’s been turned over.

 

It's what can happen to a suspension bridge when cold March winds blow in New England.