Red Sox (Buehler) vs Rangers (Mahle): 3/29/25, 7:05pm

[Brandon Glick]

Walker Buehler makes his debut against I-didn't-know-he-was-still-in-the-league Tyler Mahle. Let's hope the Sox pull out this one.

[moonslav59]

I'm very hopeful that Buehler can and will have a big season for us. 

While I'm tired of the recent injury pitcher signings, this guy looks a cut above guys like Richards, Kluber and Paxton.

We need a SP'er or two to have great seasons. There may be a better chance of this than for 5 of them to have really good but not great seasons.

[Randy Red Sox]

31 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I'm very hopeful that Buehler can and will have a big season for us. 

While I'm tired of the recent injury pitcher signings, this guy looks a cut above guys like Richards, Kluber and Paxton.

We need a SP'er or two to have great seasons. There may be a better chance of this than for 5 of them to have really good but not great seasons.

i like this signing too

[d-money]

Al East is probably one of the toughest divisions in baseball so this team needs a good start in the first 30 games or so. A winning record not win 2 then drop the next two. Hope they start to hit.

[Hugh2]

28 minutes ago, d-money said:

Al East is probably one of the toughest divisions in baseball so this team needs a good start in the first 30 games or so. A winning record not win 2 then drop the next two. Hope they start to hit.

I actually think they're highly overrated and due to take a giant step back this year. 

The Yankees are probably worse, they did add Fried, but lost Soto and a ton of players in Spring. 

The Orioles did nothing to get better, lost Burnes

The Rays have done very little and don't have the same talent coming up in the pipeline like they have for decades

the Blue Jays did very little to get better. 

If the A.L. East is tough this year, I think it's because BOSTON takes a big step forward this year. 

[vegasbob]

48 minutes ago, d-money said:

Al East is probably one of the toughest divisions in baseball so this team needs a good start in the first 30 games or so. A winning record not win 2 then drop the next two. Hope they start to hit.

Yeah, that would be a .500 team, sort of like 2024, but better than '22/'23.

[moonslav59]

25 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

I actually think they're highly overrated and due to take a giant step back this year. 

The Yankees are probably worse, they did add Fried, but lost Soto and a ton of players in Spring. 

The Orioles did nothing to get better, lost Burnes

The Rays have done very little and don't have the same talent coming up in the pipeline like they have for decades

the Blue Jays did very little to get better. 

If the A.L. East is tough this year, I think it's because BOSTON takes a big step forward this year. 

I agree. The Yanks, O's and Rays are all worse than last year, on paper. Maybe the O's youth and projected age progression can more than make-up for their off season losses, but at best, they look even. The Jays could be better, but they finished 20 GB in the ALE, last year.

I also think the Astros and Guardians got worse. I'm not sure how much longer KCR and MN can keep up doing well. SEA might end up with the 2nd or 3rd best AL record.

[d-money]

33 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I agree. The Yanks, O's and Rays are all worse than last year, on paper. Maybe the O's youth and projected age progression can more than make-up for their off season losses, but at best, they look even. The Jays could be better, but they finished 20 GB in the ALE, last year.

I also think the Astros and Guardians got worse. I'm not sure how much longer KCR and MN can keep up doing well. SEA might end up with the 2nd or 3rd best AL record.

I wouldn’t count the yankess off yet. I still think the orioles are formidable. Got a good farm system . Sox just have to play good baseball. I think they should contend for the playoffs this year. No excuses. 

[moonslav59]

12 minutes ago, d-money said:

I wouldn’t count the yankess off yet. I still think the orioles are formidable. Got a good farm system . Sox just have to play good baseball. I think they should contend for the playoffs this year. No excuses. 

Yes, the O's are still good. They have a young team that should see growth, but losing Burns and Santander did not make them better. I think they look worse, even with expected youth-related growth. They did win 91 games in '24, so 91-95 is still possible, but I'm expecting 87-91.

I know the Yanks always find ways to stay above .500 and usually well above .500, but I think age and injuries will finally catch up to them. They just placed 8 guys on the IL, and that was after Cole, Gil and others were already on it. While we have a few older players in key roles, namely Chapman & Hendriks, the yanks have many more:

38 Carrasco

37 Goldschmidt

36 LeMahieu (IL)

35 Stanton (IL) & Tim Hill

34 Leiter Jr.

33 Judge & Stroman

32 Rodon & Reyes

31 Fried & Weaver

I'm not writing them off, but I don't see a great roster, especially with no Cole, no Soto, no Cortes, Holmes and others lost from the '24 roster. Losing Gil was huge. I'm expecting 80-85 wins.

[Hitch]

Interesting to see Campbell in LF today...

[moonslav59]

2 minutes ago, Hitch said:

Interesting to see Campbell in LF today...

DHam vs a RHP is probably a better bat that Rafaela, and DHam can defend 2B pretty well.

Cora likes to get everyone playing time.

[d-money]

Lovely start to this game . This team. 

[vegasbob]

Devers gets an RBI.  Patience pays off

[jad]

Raffy now 7 for 8 on the season.  Yikes!

[vegasbob]

You can't spell clueless without the C in Casas.  But he is a known late starter  like RD.   Can't wait for June to get here.

[mvp 78]

Shut up Kevin Millar

[mvp 78]

Narvaez!

[mvp 78]

Seems like Campbell is ready.

[vegasbob]

Campbell could be the breakthrough player that does  validate the Red Sox MiLB system  for rapidly developing position talent.

I see Casas was motivated by my comment .

[vegasbob]

Story , on the other hand may become another Bloom-bust

[mvp 78]

Buehler missing his spot on every pitch

[mvp 78]

Nice dp

[vegasbob]

May be a slipping memory but LOB(steres) were a problem last year and are showing up early this year.  

Abreu's key HR in Game#1 was the only exception in a small sample.

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, vegasbob said:

May be a slipping memory but LOB(steres) were a problem last year and are showing up early this year.  

Abreu's key HR in Game#1 was the only exception in a small sample.

The bigger issue is lack of production at the top of the lineup IMO. LOB can come down to luck like the Narvaez ground out. Hit anywhere else in the IF and Campbell maybe scores.

[mvp 78]

Call up Masa

[Jasonbay44]

Devers looks absolutely lost at the plate. Taking pitches down the middle with two strikes, swinging at nonsense early in the count. He needs to get his s*** together and quick. 

[d-money]

7 minutes ago, Jasonbay44 said:

Devers looks absolutely lost at the plate. Taking pitches down the middle with two strikes, swinging at nonsense early in the count. He needs to get his s*** together and quick. 

Pathetic. He needs to relax. Clearly pressing. 

[mvp 78]

Bregman smooth at 3b

[mvp 78]

9 minutes ago, Jasonbay44 said:

Devers looks absolutely lost at the plate. Taking pitches down the middle with two strikes, swinging at nonsense early in the count. He needs to get his s*** together and quick. 

Casas and Story have watched a few called 3rd strikes too. Drives me crazy. Protect the plate.

[d-money]

It has been a two run lead for awhile now but feels like 10 with this offense.