June 3, Rays at Boston, Game 2

[Maxbialystock]

Glasgow vs. TBD

 

I think it's Pivetta, but it could be Kluber or even Houck, who last pitched Monday.

 

A shout out to moonslav who has been the most upbeat of all of us this season. He has said repeatedly these guys can come back from deficits, and today they did it against the best team in MLB--who, I hasten to add, are not playing in the freaking Trop today. He has also said the bullpen's pretty good--and boy were they today. Huge win, very uplifting for us fans--and for the players too.

 

It also occurs to me that 4 games in 3 days presents some special managerial challenges, and I think Cora gives us an edge in that department.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

The Rays are doing what teams have been told to do what seems forever; win at home and play .500 on the road.

Btw, I'm watching the Angels/Astros game and they brought up the Astros' Mount Rushmore of hitters and it got me to thinking who were the 5 best hitters in SOX history?

My list of hitters who could qualify for the top 5 are as follows:

 

Ted Williams

Jimmie Foxx

Jim Rice

Nomar

Yaz

Manny

Big Papi

Boggs

 

So there's 8. I'm sure Teddy Ballgame will be on everyone's top 5, so who do you pick as the next 4?

Edited June 3, 2023 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

...

[notin]

The Rays are doing what teams have been told to do what seems forever; win at home and play .500 on the road.

Btw, I'm watching the Angels/Astros game and they brought up the Astros' Mount Rushmore of hitters and it got me to thinking who were the 5 best hitters in SOX history?

My list of hitters who could qualify for the top 5 are as follows:

 

Ted Williams

Jimmie Foxx

Jim Rice

Nomar

Yaz

Manny

Big Papi

Boggs

 

So there's 8. I'm sure Teddy Ballgame will be on everyone's top 5, so who do you pick as the next 4?

 

 

Jimmie Foxx is far and away the most underrated hitter in MLB history…

[illinoisredsox]

The Rays are doing what teams have been told to do what seems forever; win at home and play .500 on the road.

Btw, I'm watching the Angels/Astros game and they brought up the Astros' Mount Rushmore of hitters and it got me to thinking who were the 5 best hitters in SOX history?

My list of hitters who could qualify for the top 5 are as follows:

 

Ted Williams

Jimmie Foxx

Jim Rice

Nomar

Yaz

Manny

Big Papi

Boggs

 

So there's 8. I'm sure Teddy Ballgame will be on everyone's top 5, so who do you pick as the next 4?

 

I think Tris Speaker has to be included on the qualifier list. I know he spent more than half his career in Cleveland, but he was with the Sox for his first 9 years and put up some pretty impressive numbers.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

I think Tris Speaker has to be included on the qualifier list. I know he spent more than half his career in Cleveland, but he was with the Sox for his first 9 years and put up some pretty impressive numbers.

 

I knew I'd leave somebody off. Good catch.

[notin]

I think Tris Speaker has to be included on the qualifier list. I know he spent more than half his career in Cleveland, but he was with the Sox for his first 9 years and put up some pretty impressive numbers.

 

I’d go Dwight Evans before Speaker…

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

... Edited June 3, 2023 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Jimmie Foxx is far and away the most underrated hitter in MLB history…

 

No doubt. His offensive stats were amazing. For example, in 1938 as a member of the SOX Jimmie hit 50 HR's, drove in 175 runs and scored 139 runs. His slugging % was .704; his OPS was 1.166, his OPS+ was 183, and his BA was .349.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

I’d go Dwight Evans before Speaker…

 

It's difficult to compare different eras of baseball, but from an offensive stats view, Tris leaves one of my all-time favorite SOX players in the dust.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

No one has ventured a top 5 so I'll post my top 5:

 

Williams

Foxx

Manny

Big Papi

Rice

 

Leaving off Yaz, Boggs,Nomar and Speaker reflects the great hitters the SOX were blessed with over the years. And yes, Dewey was a damn good hitter and the best defensive RF I ever saw.

Edited June 3, 2023 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[notin]

It's difficult to compare different eras of baseball, but from an offensive stats view, Tris leaves one of my all-time favorite SOX players in the dust.

 

Understandable, but I penalize Speaker for not wearing a Sox uni often enough. Dewey has no such issue and also belongs in Cooperstown…

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Understandable, but I penalize Speaker for not wearing a Sox uni often enough. Dewey has no such issue and also belongs in Cooperstown…

 

The HOF thing is arguable, but his 19 very good years with the SOX should qualify to have, at least, his number retired. It's inexcusable that it hasn't happened yet.

[Maxbialystock]

Crawford is starting game 2. Not a bad choice, but chances are he won't go 5.

 

Dugo

Devers

Yoshida DH

Duran

Tapia LF

Casas 1b

Reyes SS (!!!!)

Valdez

Wong

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Trivia time:

 

What is the most retired number in MLB?

[vegasbob]

Crawford is starting game 2. Not a bad choice, but chances are he won't go 5.

 

Dugo

Devers

Yoshida DH

Duran

Tapia LF

Casas 1b

Reyes SS (!!!!)

Valdez

Wong

 

In his defense, it was Kike's day off, or was it his off day ? He did get a hit, and when he goes 1 for 4, it improves his average and OPS.

[vegasbob]

Trivia time:

 

What is the most retired number in MLB?

 

42, no player can wear it on any team

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

42, no player can wear it on any team

 

Good point, but the number I'm referring to was worn by a 11 different HOF players.

Edited June 3, 2023 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

42, no player can wear it on any team

 

Btw, I thought you would at least argue about my top five SOX hitters.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Btw, the #89 is the only number from 0-99 to never have been worn in MLB.

[notin]

42, no player can wear it on any team

 

Well, I mean I saw one day where EVERYONE wore it…

[wyo-sox]

Great opportunity for Crawford to fight for a spot. A guy can come out of the pen pretty motivated in these type of opportunities.

[notin]

Good point, but the number I'm referring to was worn by a 11 different HOF players.

 

I was thinking 8, since the number used to be reserved for catchers. Yogi Berra and Bill and Bill Dickey for example. Plus you have Yaz, Ripken and Pops Stargell.

 

But I looked it up. Not 8…

[notin]

Good point, but the number I'm referring to was worn by a 11 different HOF players.

 

This statement is not true…

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Well, I mean I saw one day where EVERYONE wore it…

 

Just try to sneak anything past Notin. I dare you.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

This statement is not true…

 

 

The number is 20, I just guessed that they were all HOF'r's.

[wyo-sox]

C'mon Yoshi! Here is a guy I WAS DEAD WRONG ABOUT. He has been a solid bat.

[notin]

The number is 20, I just guessed that they were all HOF'r's.

 

Well, it wasn’t 11 different players. Three teams retired it for Frank Robinson. (Cincy, Baltimore, Cleveland).

 

And as it turns out, Arizona (Luis Gonzalez) and KC (Frank White) did retire it for non HOF talent.

 

Still an excellent question. I had to look it up…

[wyo-sox]

What happens to Duran when Duvall returns? Any chance Duvall can be our first-baseman, lol?

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Well, it wasn’t 11 different players. Three teams retired it for Frank Robinson. (Cincy, Baltimore, Cleveland).

 

And as it turns out, Arizona (Luis Gonzalez) and KC (Frank White) did retire it for non HOF talent.

 

Still an excellent question. I had to look it up…

 

Thanks for correcting that. I should have just stuck to the original question. I blame Vegas for all the confusion.