Red Sox: Off Season '23-'24

[moonslav59]

They were 57-54 on 8/6, then got to play the dregs of the league: KC, DET, WSH, NYY. After that, they turtled. This was not a very good team. Season was over when they lost 2 of 3 in OAK in mid July.

 

Part of the reason we were only 3 over .500 before playing those "dregs," was because we had played a tougher schedule up to that point. Beating the dregs, when you play them, is part of the reason all teams have more wins.

[moonslav59]

Or the Orioles; according to current prospect ratings on MLB.com, Baltimore still has the #1 shortstop, #2 catcher, #4 third baseman and #7 second baseman ON THE RISE.

 

The Rays only have the #1 first baseman and #1 third baseman (and #8). In baseball.

 

Where does the Red Sox' mighty core of their future sustained World Series contenders rate? Mayer and Teel are both #5 guys. But coming in hot for first baseman at #7: Blaze Jordan.

 

You had me, until the Blaze Jordan at #7 on any list.

[Bellhorn04]

The 2023 team fell apart mainly because of the weak starting rotation and the growing taxation of bullpen arms.

 

The offense faded hard too because of injuries and Yoshida's tailoff. That might have been addressed at the deadline a bit if the team was really trying to contend.

[moonslav59]

57-54 extrapolates out to an 83 win team…

 

Yup, and as late as Sept 4th, we were still on pace for 84 wins.

[Old Red]

Playing less games vs the ALE, last year, as compared to 2022, was supposed to help our record. We failed to mop up on non ALE teams, like we did in '22. Maybe that chances, this season. No doubt, playing in the ALE sure hurts a team's chances, but we need to rise above that, at some point.

 

If BAL ever starts spending, watch out!

The Yanks have Judge, Soto and Cole, but their supporting cast is so fragile, I'm not as worried about them, as some seem to be.

The Rays always find a way.

The Jays might be the easiest team to catch, but my sites are on the Yanks.

 

You preached about playing less Div games last year was supposedly was going to help the Red Sox have a better record last year, but as I pointed out at the time, because of the new schedule the Red Sox would also be playing more games against all the other tough teams, so it might not turn out as you think. As I keep pointing out also is that the Red Sox have played in the SAME division since divisions were brought in, and when they’ve been good enough they’ve won, and when they haven’t like the last two years they haven’t. I would rather play in the toughest Div than the weakest. Much more exciting to me.

[Old Red]

The 2023 team fell apart mainly because of the weak starting rotation and the growing taxation of bullpen arms.

 

The offense faded hard too because of injuries and Yoshida's tailoff. That might have been addressed at the deadline a bit if the team was really trying to contend.

 

The Bear Claw game said it all.

[notin]

You preached about playing less Div games last year was supposedly was going to help the Red Sox have a better record last year, but as I pointed out at the time, because of the new schedule the Red Sox would also be playing more games against all the other tough teams, so it might not turn out as you think. As I keep pointing out also is that the Red Sox have played in the SAME division since divisions were brought in, and when they’ve been good enough they’ve won, and when they haven’t like the last two years they haven’t. I would rather play in the toughest Div than the weakest. Much more exciting to me.

 

 

The Sox did play on the toughest division…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The 2023 team fell apart mainly because of the weak starting rotation and the growing taxation of bullpen arms.

 

The offense faded hard too because of injuries and Yoshida's tailoff. That might have been addressed at the deadline a bit if the team was really trying to contend.

 

And the professionals at any job with low morale that didn't sense any support at all from those who sign their checks just went through the motions.

[mvp 78]

Part of the reason we were only 3 over .500 before playing those "dregs," was because we had played a tougher schedule up to that point. Beating the dregs, when you play them, is part of the reason all teams have more wins.

 

And then they sucked down the stretch because they had to play all the teams in their division again because that's how the schedule works. You can't say, well they were good at this point and if you extrapolate it like notin says.... They were a 78 win team. They were lucky to not be worse.

[mvp 78]

You had me, until the Blaze Jordan at #7 on any list.

 

MLB Pipeline isn't reliable.

[mvp 78]

The 2023 team fell apart mainly because of the weak starting rotation and the growing taxation of bullpen arms.

 

The offense faded hard too because of injuries and Yoshida's tailoff. That might have been addressed at the deadline a bit if the team was really trying to contend.

 

And Verdugo/Duvall/Turner falloff.

[mvp 78]

Yup, and as late as Sept 4th, we were still on pace for 84 wins.

 

That's when they had to go back and play their own division and couldn't hang. Pace doesn't matter at that point when the same is overstuffed with below .500 teams you wont face again.

[notin]

And Verdugo/Duvall/Turner falloff.

 

And resorting to using Matt Dermody and Tayler Scott as starting pitchers…

[notin]

That's when they had to go back and play their own division and couldn't hang. Pace doesn't matter at that point when the same is overstuffed with below .500 teams you wont face again.

 

But until then the Sox has been playing very well against the teams in their division…

[mvp 78]

And the professionals at any job with low morale that didn't sense any support at all from those who sign their checks just went through the motions.

 

Not sure anyone can reasonably call Verdugo a professional.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The Red Sox were also really unlucky that the new schedule let all their division foes place less games against each other and more vs. the other divisions.

[mvp 78]

And resorting to using Matt Dermody and Tayler Scott as starting pitchers…

 

Not Dinelson Lamet?

[Old Red]

The Sox did play on the toughest division…

 

Like I’ve repeatedly said the Red Sox have played in the same Div since Div came into baseball. This constant whining about having to play in the toughest Div is hilarious. If you want to root for a team in a weaker Div go root for K.C. They’ve spent some money this year, and said they’re going for the Div. Like I’ve repeatedly said too I’d rather play in the toughest Div than the weakest. It’s more exciting, and to see how good you really are. I don’t go for this woe is me toughest Div stuff.

[Old Red]

The Red Sox were also really unlucky that the new schedule let all their division foes place less games against each other and more vs. the other divisions.

 

Yep the reason the Red Sox had a losing season again was because they were unlucky with the new schedule.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Like I’ve repeatedly said the Red Sox have played in the same Div since Div came into baseball. This constant whining about having to play in the toughest Div is hilarious. If you want to root for a team in a weaker Div go root for K.C. They’ve spent some money this year, and said they’re going for the Div. Like I’ve repeatedly said too I’d rather play in the toughest Div than the weakest. It’s more exciting, and to see how good you really are. I don’t go for this woe is me toughest Div stuff.

 

Posters on Royalscam.com rue the new schedule because KC has to play more games vs. the AL East. "We can't even the beat the Tank Sox!"

[moonslav59]

And then they sucked down the stretch because they had to play all the teams in their division again because that's how the schedule works. You can't say, well they were good at this point and if you extrapolate it like notin says.... They were a 78 win team. They were lucky to not be worse.

 

I'm not denying they deserved the 78-84 record. Yes, they could have been worse, and played much worse vs tough teams in Sept than they did earlier in the same season.

 

They were pretty good, before they played the dregs and tough teams. Before playing the dregs, they still had played a tougher than average schedule and were over .500. They played like a better team before the last 5 weeks of the season. Yes, I can say that.

 

Yes, we could have ended up with less than 78 wins, but we could have ended up with more, just as easily.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Yep the reason the Red Sox had a losing season again was because they were unlucky with the new schedule.

 

If only they didn't have to play so many Major League ballclubs!

[Old Red]

I'm not denying they deserved the 78-84 record. Yes, they could have been worse, and played much worse vs tough teams in Sept than they did earlier in the same season.

 

They were pretty good, before they played the dregs and tough teams. Before playing the dregs, they still had played a tougher than average schedule and were over .500. They played like a better team before the last 5 weeks of the season. Yes, I can say that.

 

Yes, we could have ended up with less than 78 wins, but we could have ended up with more, just as easily.

Tough teams in Sept? You were all excited about the prospect of playing the Yankees, and Jays again, because the Red Sox had beat up on both earlier in the season.

[notin]

Like I’ve repeatedly said the Red Sox have played in the same Div since Div came into baseball. This constant whining about having to play in the toughest Div is hilarious. If you want to root for a team in a weaker Div go root for K.C. They’ve spent some money this year, and said they’re going for the Div. Like I’ve repeatedly said too I’d rather play in the toughest Div than the weakest. It’s more exciting, and to see how good you really are. I don’t go for this woe is me toughest Div stuff.

 

Nobody is whining about it. Except you, all through 2022 any time add none pointed out their record outside the division…

[mvp 78]

If only they didn't have to play so many Major League ballclubs!

 

They should think about contraction again. I think they should start by eliminating the Rays and the Yankees.

[mvp 78]

Yes, we could have ended up with less than 78 wins, but we could have ended up with more, just as easily.

 

Gobbledygook.

 

Game #2. Fluke play. They should have been 77-85.

[notin]

Tough teams in Sept? You were all excited about the prospect of playing the Yankees, and Jays again, because the Red Sox had beat up on both earlier in the season.

 

Once again Old Red chastises a fan for being excited about the team.

 

The Sox did have a good record against those divisional foes all year long. Had you decided not to turn off when the team was playing will you might have noticed that…

[Old Red]

If only they didn't have to play so many Major League ballclubs!

 

Here’s the thing. The Red Sox used to be one of the toughest ball clubs, and now they are not, and to blame what Div they play in, or the schedule for the fall is just ridiculous.

[notin]

Gobbledygook.

 

Game #2. Fluke play. They should have been 77-85.

 

Or 76-86 if Bo Bichette knew how to run the bases…

[mvp 78]

Nobody is whining about it. Except you, all through 2022 any time add none pointed out their record outside the division…

 

If there was no interleague play (the worst), they would have been .500.