Predict the 2024 AL East standings

[moonslav59]

Better starting rotation?

 

Bello-Pivetta-Crawford-Houck-Whitlock

 

or

 

Eovaldi-Gray-Dunning-Heaney-Pérez?

 

I'll take the latter.

[notin]

I'll take the latter.

 

How about

 

Eovaldi-Gray-Heaney-Dunning-Cody Bradford?

 

That’s what Roster Resource has the Rangers defending with…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

How about

 

Eovaldi-Gray-Heaney-Dunning-Cody Bradford?

 

That’s what Roster Resource has the Rangers defending with…

 

Of course: Eovaldi-Gray-Heaney all won World Series games; Montgomery had a World Series loss -- who needs him.

[notin]

Of course: Eovaldi-Gray-Heaney all won World Series games; Montgomery had a World Series loss -- who needs him.

 

As many questions as the Sox have in their rotation, I think you will find the rest of the AL has numerous teams in the same boat.

 

If we look at last years 6 post-season participants (Baltimore, Tampa, Minnesota, Houston, Texas, and Toronto) how many are worse than the team that ended the season? And what teams in the AL did enough to supplant any of them? (Maybe NY?)

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

As many questions as the Sox have in their rotation, I think you will find the rest of the AL has numerous teams in the same boat.

 

If we look at last years 6 post-season participants (Baltimore, Tampa, Minnesota, Houston, Texas, and Toronto) how many are worse than the team that ended the season? And what teams in the AL did enough to supplant any of them? (Maybe NY?)

 

Yes, the Yanks improved their offense, getting Soto and Verdugo. But they lost five starting pitchers from the rotation: Cole, German, Severino, King, Brito... and replaced them with Marcus Stroman?

 

Yankee fans know better than to count on full seasons of health from Rodon and Cortes, and nobody can reasonably expect Cole to return to Cy Young status after merely resting a bum elbow...

 

I must be missing something with the annual World Series favorites that never play in the World Series.

[mvp 78]

Verdugo: 550 OPS in Spring Training and still showing up late

 

It's going to be fun to follow his escapades this year. Reaping. Sowing. What have you. The NY media will get on him harder than the BOS clown show.

[notin]

Yes, the Yanks improved their offense, getting Soto and Verdugo. But they lost five starting pitchers from the rotation: Cole, German, Severino, King, Brito... and replaced them with Marcus Stroman?

 

Yankee fans know better than to count on full seasons of health from Rodon and Cortes, and nobody can reasonably expect Cole to return to Cy Young status after merely resting a bum elbow...

 

I must be missing something with the annual World Series favorites that never play in the World Series.

 

The Yankees are far from locks, and while Severino-German-Brito did combine for 50 starts and 289 IP, these were not mainstays in that rotation. They will need Fluke Health from Rodon and Cortes and a solid return from Cole. But if the Judge-Soto-Stanton lineup doesn’t position that 82 win team as one of the most likely to displace a playoff team, then who positioned themselves better? Maybe Seattle, who, like Boston, will rely on a lot of younger pitchers in their first full season? Surprise spender KC? They’ll be improved, but is Wacha and Lugo enough?

[mvp 78]

The Yankees are far from locks, and while Severino-German-Brito did combine for 50 starts and 289 IP, these were not mainstays in that rotation. They will need Fluke Health from Rodon and Cortes and a solid return from Cole. But if the Judge-Soto-Stanton lineup doesn’t position that 82 win team as one of the most likely to displace a playoff team, then who positioned themselves better? Maybe Seattle, who, like Boston, will rely on a lot of younger pitchers in their first full season? Surprise spender KC? They’ll be improved, but is Wacha and Lugo enough?

 

They will need fluke health from the Judge/Stanton lineup... Is Judge ready for Opening Day?

[moonslav59]

How about

 

Eovaldi-Gray-Heaney-Dunning-Cody Bradford?

 

That’s what Roster Resource has the Rangers defending with…

 

Same answer.

[jad]

Verdugo: 550 OPS in Spring Training and still showing up late

 

It's going to be fun to follow his escapades this year. Reaping. Sowing. What have you. The NY media will get on him harder than the BOS clown show.

 

Not sure we should release our inner Schadenfreude since we're the ones who gave up Mookie for him.

[Bellhorn04]

I’m surprised how many think the Sox will come in last with 78 wins or more. That the Sox have accomplished this in the last two years didn’t underscore how rare it is. In MLB history, there have been as many 110 win teams as there have been last place teams with 78 wins…

 

It's a trend now though. AL East is historically strong, or something like that.

[mvp 78]

If they have 77 win with two to play, do you root for one more win for them to get to 78 or do you hope they get to 79? Maybe hope they lose out and stay at 77?

[Bellhorn04]

If they have 77 win with two to play, do you root for one more win for them to get to 78 or do you hope they get to 79? Maybe hope they lose out and stay at 77?

 

Vegas has them at 77.5, so that 78th win would definitely be a biggie for a lot of people.

[notin]

It's a trend now though. AL East is historically strong, or something like that.

 

It’s was a little easier for the 2023 Sox due to the balanced schedule. But that they did it twice while playing 76 games against the AL East is flat out crazy…

[mvp 78]

Vegas has them at 77.5, so that 78th win would definitely be a biggie for a lot of people.

 

I had no idea what Vegas had them at.

[dgalehouse]

1- Orioles. Obvious choice. Look like a legit championship contender unless the young players stumble , which is always possible. 2- Yankees. Strong team on paper. But injuries could derail their season . And they are definitely injury prone. 3- Red Sox. Will surprise. Should score plenty of runs. Improved defense will benefit the questionable pitching. Playoff spot possible. 4 - Rays. Due for a fall. The Sox should pass them at some point this season. Their MVP is the manager, Kevin Cash, arguably the best in the game. 5 - Blue Jays. Not impressed with them. Poorly balanced lineup fails to live up to expectations again.

[mvp 78]

1- Orioles. Obvious choice. Look like a legit championship contender unless the young players stumble , which is always possible. 2- Yankees. Strong team on paper. But injuries could derail their season . And they are definitely injury prone. 3- Red Sox. Will surprise. Should score plenty of runs. Improved defense will benefit the questionable pitching. Playoff spot possible. 4 - Rays. Due for a fall. The Sox should pass them at some point this season. Their MVP is the manager, Kevin Cash, arguably the best in the game. 5 - Blue Jays. Not impressed with them. Poorly balanced lineup fails to live up to expectations again.

 

Love it!

[vegasbob]

Red Sox take the AL East with a 99-63 record , followed by Orioles, Jays, Yankees , and a 72-90 Rays squad. You can't say it can't happen until it fails to materialize . Look for an update about April 9.

[notin]

I’m liking the optimism, even if some of it is sarcastic optimism. Sarcastimism, if you will…

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Death and taxes are always considered two givens.

Here's a third given: The SOX will finish last in the AL East for the 3rd straight season.

If they finish above .500, I will be amazed after this pathetic off-season of shopping at Good Will again.

[moonslav59]

Death and taxes are always considered two givens.

Here's a third given: The SOX will finish last in the AL East for the 3rd straight season.

If they finish above .500, I will be amazed after this pathetic off-season of shopping at Good Will again.

 

Many large companies pay no taxes.

[Bellhorn04]

Many large companies pay no taxes.

 

Income taxes, that is. There are plenty of other taxes, though.

[moonslav59]

Income taxes, that is. There are plenty of other taxes, though.

 

Some people and companies pay zero taxes of any kind.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Some people and companies pay zero taxes of any kind.

 

Then there are two adjusted givens. Death and the SOX finishing last. Unless you're gonna post that some people don't die.

[moonslav59]

Then there are two adjusted givens. Death and the SOX finishing last. Unless you're gonna post that some people don't die.

 

No we all die.

 

No, the Sox don't finish last, every year. Just 3 seasons ago we were close to going to the WS. Six years ago, we won the WS.

[dgalehouse]

That's Talk Sox for you. You can get an argument about almost anything. If I said the sky is blue, someone would come with an explanation why that is not true.

[moonslav59]

That's Talk Sox for you. You can get an argument about almost anything. If I said the sky is blue, someone would come with an explanation why that is not true.

 

It's actually not blue. We are seeing the reflection of blue, because the other colors are absorbed. The sky is actually absent only the color blue as it reflects it.

 

 

Edited March 18, 2024 by moonslav59

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

That's Talk Sox for you. You can get an argument about almost anything. If I said the sky is blue, someone would come with an explanation why that is not true.

 

If it's blue, then it's also melancholy -- but one syllable is so much easier than four... plus, if someone shows you a blue melon, it's probably photoshopped.

 

(I have no umpirical data to prove any of this, so check the check with the first base blue who's eyes are 90 feet away, in case he's bored and wants to punch air... and pretend he has x-ray vision)

[vegasbob]

It's actually not blue. We are seeing the reflection of blue, because the other colors are absorbed. The sky is actually absent only the color blue as it reflects it.

 

 

 

Same reason you can dip a glass into the deep blue sea and come away with a glass full of clear water.

[notin]

Same reason you can dip a glass into the deep blue sea and come away with a glass full of clear water.

 

That’s the devil at work!!