A Realistic View at 2024: Part III

[notin]

The Sox management and Duran have already issued the standard statement/ apology.

 

And a two game suspension to follow?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Watching the Astros completely destroy the Red Sox this weekend should give Boston fans hope...

 

... for success in future seasons, that is -- which maybe just got closer as the Sox promoted talented core position players to Triple A.

 

Ownership continues to refuse to let the front office invest in quality big league starting pitching, but part of that is a refusal to trade the likes of Mayer, Teel and Anthony.

 

There's a reason Houston is in the ALCS every year, and it has nothing to do with devious algorithms developed by the analytics department or Dusty Baker smoking a joint with Jimi Hendrix. It's all about STAR POWER. Was anyone surprised when Altuve, Bregman and Alvarez demolished Boston pitching... while Romy Gonzalez -- who tried his hardest -- just couldn't come through in the big spots for the Sox?

[mvp 78]

There's been a general neglect of the rotation ever since they hired Bloom. This was Year 5 of it.

 

I think they are trending in the right direction though. They need to develop guys AND acquire FA. They can't just rely on overpriced FAs. I don't believe there is a quick fix is this problem was endemic and goes back further IMO.

[mvp 78]

And a two game suspension to follow?

 

Escobar got 3 games for writing in on his eye black in Spanish. Pillar got 2 for yelling it at a pitcher. Both were over 5 years ago.

[jgar658]

Society is regressing to a Victorian puritanical stage.

Who cares!

[Old Red]

Losing isn’t fun, but the prospect of what looms ahead is. That little 7 game road trip coming up starting Thursday in Baltimore, and then on to Houston should be highly anticipated to say the least. The Red Sox play better on the road anyway, so sounds like a Fun road-trip to me. Sort of like the Griswolds. Anything can happen, and most likely will.

[mvp 78]

Losing isn’t fun, but the prospect of what looms ahead is. That little 7 game road trip coming up starting Thursday in Baltimore, and then on to Houston should be highly anticipated to say the least. The Red Sox play better on the road anyway, so sounds like a Fun road-trip to me. Sort of like the Griswolds. Anything can happen, and most likely will.

 

They have a chance to turn it around. Own up to their mistakes. Stop the bleeding. Make a little run. At least make the end of the season interesting unlike the last two years.

[Old Red]

They have a chance to turn it around. Own up to their mistakes. Stop the bleeding. Make a little run. At least make the end of the season interesting unlike the last two years.

 

I think it’s better it’s a 7 game road-trip than a 7 game home stand coming up against Baltimore, and Houston, or maybe they should just stay on the road the rest of the year.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Losing isn’t fun, but the prospect of what looms ahead is. That little 7 game road trip coming up starting Thursday in Baltimore, and then on to Houston should be highly anticipated to say the least. The Red Sox play better on the road anyway, so sounds like a Fun road-trip to me. Sort of like the Griswolds. Anything can happen, and most likely will.

 

Better pack plenty of rope cord; there may be several Aunt Edna corpses to tie to the roof.

[mvp 78]

I think it’s better it’s a 7 game road-trip than a 7 game home stand coming up against Baltimore, and Houston, or maybe they should just stay on the road the rest of the year.

 

34-24 record on the road!

[notin]

Watching the Astros completely destroy the Red Sox this weekend should give Boston fans hope...

 

... for success in future seasons, that is -- which maybe just got closer as the Sox promoted talented core position players to Triple A.

 

Ownership continues to refuse to let the front office invest in quality big league starting pitching, but part of that is a refusal to trade the likes of Mayer, Teel and Anthony.

 

There's a reason Houston is in the ALCS every year, and it has nothing to do with devious algorithms developed by the analytics department or Dusty Baker smoking a joint with Jimi Hendrix. It's all about STAR POWER. Was anyone surprised when Altuve, Bregman and Alvarez demolished Boston pitching... while Romy Gonzalez -- who tried his hardest -- just couldn't come through in the big spots for the Sox?

 

Houston does more than their share of analytic algorithms. They hired Alex Cora to put them at the forefront of that strategy in the first place. And whatever those algorithms do, they probably at least contribute to the star power of those players to some extent.

 

Alvarez in particular, as he was just a rookie ball hitter in the Dodger system when they acquired him for a mediocre reliever and came up through the Astros system while this entire process was being developed.

 

Or we could just assume the Dodgers misidentified Alvarez as the potential elite hitter he was becoming, and discarded him for 120 IP over 3 years…

[mvp 78]

Houston does more than their share of analytic algorithms. They hired Alex Cora to put them at the forefront of that strategy in the first place. And whatever those algorithms do, they probably at least contribute to the star power of those players to some extent.

 

Alvarez in particular, as he was just a rookie ball hitter in the Dodger system when they acquired him for a mediocre reliever and came up through the Astros system while this entire process was being developed.

 

Or we could just assume the Dodgers misidentified Alvarez as the potential elite hitter he was becoming, and discarded him for 120 IP over 3 years…

 

Alvarez was only with the Dodgers for 1.5 months. He hadn't even gotten into a game in the DSL for the Dodgers by the time he was traded.

[Duran Is The Man]

Society is regressing to a Victorian puritanical stage.

Who cares!

 

exactly.

[Hugh2]

Houston does more than their share of analytic algorithms. They hired Alex Cora to put them at the forefront of that strategy in the first place. And whatever those algorithms do, they probably at least contribute to the star power of those players to some extent.

 

Alvarez in particular, as he was just a rookie ball hitter in the Dodger system when they acquired him for a mediocre reliever and came up through the Astros system while this entire process was being developed.

 

Or we could just assume the Dodgers misidentified Alvarez as the potential elite hitter he was becoming, and discarded him for 120 IP over 3 years…

 

All teams use analytics, and have models that they use to evaluate players both within and outside their organization. The Sox are not special in this.

[Duran Is The Man]

All teams use analytics, and have models that they use to evaluate players both within and outside their organization. The Sox are not special in this.

 

i'd say they're special in that they have no f***ing idea how to evaluate pitching talent, as they're organization from top to bottom is lacking in TOTR pitchers.

[dgalehouse]

The Sox record is 61-55. Exactly what it was at this point last year. It seems that they are better this year, but the record doesn't show it. However, I think there is still a feeling that they will finish stronger this year. Is it realistic?

[Bellhorn04]

The Sox record is 61-55. Exactly what it was at this point last year. It seems that they are better this year, but the record doesn't show it. However, I think there is still a feeling that they will finish stronger this year. Is it realistic?

 

I picked them to win 80. That still seems realistic.

 

The pitching is a shambles. I hate it, but that's the way it is.

[Old Red]

I picked them to win 80. That still seems realistic.

 

The pitching is a shambles. I hate it, but that's the way it is.

 

As it usually does the outcome good, or bad will depend on the pitching. Sound familiar?

Edited August 12, 2024 by Old Red

[Bellhorn04]

As it usually does the outcome good, or bad will depend on the pitching. Sound familiar?

 

Yes. And we had such high hopes for Breslow and Bailey being the guys to fix it.

[moonslav59]

Yes. And we had such high hopes for Breslow and Bailey being the guys to fix it.

 

Those hopes have sure sunk, for now. I'm not sure things look more hopeful for next year. Wwe will need additions, for sure.

[mvp 78]

Those hopes have sure sunk, for now. I'm not sure things look more hopeful for next year. Wwe will need additions, for sure.

 

If you aren't more hopeful now than you were last year under Bloom, you have an axe to grind IMO.

[Bellhorn04]

If you aren't more hopeful now than you were last year under Bloom, you have an axe to grind IMO.

 

Things are more hopeful, but there's still room for a lot of angst about the pitching.

 

They still haven't shown they're prepared to do anything big about it. And they keep making blunders with the moves they do make.

[dgalehouse]

Those hopes have sure sunk, for now. I'm not sure things look more hopeful for next year. Wwe will need additions, for sure.

 

Maybe the WWE could bring back The Rock.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

If you aren't more hopeful now than you were last year under Bloom, you have an axe to grind IMO.

 

I just have teeth to grind. Bloom's biggest blunder was not trading Paxton when he was AL Pitcher of the Month and about to break down with another injury for the stretch drive.

 

Imagine when he was even a year older, that a team would then decide that Paxton would be their answer at the deadline.

 

(and this isn't second-guessing, because just last week I used the word "inevitable" to describe his next injury...)

[moonslav59]

If you aren't more hopeful now than you were last year under Bloom, you have an axe to grind IMO.

 

I meant how hopeful I felt going into 2024, after seeing the Brez moves and non moves over the winter vs what I see coming back, next year.

 

Since we don't know who might be added, I'm looking at how I felt about guys like Houck, Crawford, Bello and the everyday players vs how I see them looking for 2025. It's a mixed bag, right now.

[mvp 78]

Things are more hopeful, but there's still room for a lot of angst about the pitching.

 

They still haven't shown they're prepared to do anything big about it. And they keep making blunders with the moves they do make.

 

So far, he's made good moves and bad moves. Sounds about right for a brand new CBO.

[mvp 78]

I meant how hopeful I felt going into 2024, after seeing the Brez moves and non moves over the winter vs what I see coming back, next year.

 

Since we don't know who might be added, I'm looking at how I felt about guys like Houck, Crawford, Bello and the everyday players vs how I see them looking for 2025. It's a mixed bag, right now.

 

So you were excited going into the season, but now you believe they will suck s*** going into next year because you don't know who will be on their Spring Training roster? If I was in TX, I'd give you a swirlie for that.

[Bellhorn04]

So far, he's made good moves and bad moves. Sounds about right for a brand new CBO.

 

That's some serious in-depth analysis of his performance!

[moonslav59]

So you were excited going into the season, but now you believe they will suck s*** going into next year because you don't know who will be on their Spring Training roster? If I was in TX, I'd give you a swirlie for that.

 

Where did I say I think they will suck?

 

I said I was looking at the returning players and it's a mixed bag.

 

I don't feel more confident in Bernardino, I Campbell, Weissert, Crawford or Whitlock.

I feel better about Houck, Slaten and Criswell.

I'm probably close to the same on other pitchers.

 

I like Duran, Abreu, Rafaela, DHam, Romy, Wong and Ref better, not than I did in March. Devers, too.

I fell less confident in Casas, Story and our back-up catching situation, until Teel arrives.

 

Yup: mixed bag- nothing even implied about "sucking," but you read into things as you wish.

Edited August 12, 2024 by moonslav59

[notin]

Maybe the WWE could bring back The Rock.

 

I think they should sue the Wirld Wildlife Fund to get their old acronym back.

 

Or merge with them by staging matches between professional wrestlers and wild carnivores to raise money for conservation purposes…