8/03. Astros vs Sox. 11:35AM EST

[moonslav59]

39 minutes ago, Hitch said:

The Athletic have an article on there today where a few of the players were saying how happy they were that nobody got moved off the big league roster and that it was a real boost that Duran wasn't moved. 

I mentioned someone (McAdam's I think) saying this may happen the other day, but wasn't ready to believe it. I believe it now.

How many times have we heard about a drop in morale after recent lackluster deadlines, especially after other teams seemed to go overboard to improve their rosters?

I think a poster or two mentioned it, this season.

We did add two players and demote two others, so it's not like no clubhouse changes were made. One also wonders how trading non 26 man roster players would affect the clubhouse morale, or if we got better players than M & M.

[Maxbialystock]

4 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

Breslow absolutely FAILED at the deadline. Obviously the team is playing well now but if he had obtained a #2 SP, a good RH to play 1B, and a decent backup catcher we could have been the favorites to win at least the AL.

Instead he got M&Ms.

You are in the very unenviable position of whining about the "weaknesses" of a Sox team that doesn't really have any.  Gonzalez is the "good RH to play 1b."  Wong showed again today he is an effective backup catcher.  

The Sox pitching right now is better than the 2018 staff, the hitting is ranked 4th in MLB in runs scored, the defense is solid despite those errors, and the baserunning is pretty good.   

How good? The Sox have just played, post ASG, 12 games against 4 Division leaders and won 7 of them.   They mashed the Dodgers and Astros at Fenway and went 2-4 @ Cubs and @ Phillies.  

The one concern now is injuries.  I think Bregman, Story, Rafaela, Narvaez, Anthony, and Crochet are irreplaceable.  Maybe Chapman is.  

 

 

 

[Maxbialystock]

1 hour ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Breslow didn't want Breggy. Cora had to beg him to make the deal.

Really?  

[Maxbialystock]

1 hour ago, vegasbob said:

They wanted no clubhouse problems

Seriously? Because of Wong?  If so, I'm delighted.  

[d-money]

Impressive 3 games. They will get them again on the road. Need to just stay close to the division race. 

[Duran Is The Man]

18 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

You do. Otherwise you wouldn’t have commented on it.

Btw-which ML stadium has the second highest elevation?

Hint: it’s not Atlanta 

arizona for now. las vegas when the A's move is done.

[Maxbialystock]

Royals at the Fens for 3, then six road games @ San Diego and @ Houston.  

[d-money]

Just now, Maxbialystock said:

Royals at the Fens for 3, then six road games @ San Diego and @ Houston.  

Just stay within reach of the division. How many games we have left with Toronto?

[Maxbialystock]

3 minutes ago, d-money said:

Impressive 3 games. They will get them again on the road. Need to just stay close to the division race. 

Right now the top 9 teams in MLB have won between 62 games and 66 games.  That's a very tight shot group and means the Sox are very much in the hunt.  

After reading moonslav's listing of the weaknesses of some of those 9 teams, I think the Sox don't have any real weaknesses.  Pitching is the best since 2018.  Hitting 4th in MLB in runs.  Defense with lots of plus defenders.  And good baserunning.  The claim is that team morale is pretty good, especially after the Sox didn't trade away anyone on the 26 man roster last week.  A couple were sent back to Worcester, however.

 

[Maxbialystock]

6 minutes ago, d-money said:

Just stay within reach of the division. How many games we have left with Toronto?

Played 10, so I think it's 9.  

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

8 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

Played 10, so I think it's 9.  

Teams only play 13 games against other teams in their division.

[Duran Is The Man]

35 minutes ago, d-money said:

Just stay within reach of the division. How many games we have left with Toronto?

three. all of them in Toronto.

[FredLynn]

1 hour ago, Maxbialystock said:

You are in the very unenviable position of whining about the "weaknesses" of a Sox team that doesn't really have any.  Gonzalez is the "good RH to play 1b."  Wong showed again today he is an effective backup catcher.  

The Sox pitching right now is better than the 2018 staff, the hitting is ranked 4th in MLB in runs scored, the defense is solid despite those errors, and the baserunning is pretty good.   

How good? The Sox have just played, post ASG, 12 games against 4 Division leaders and won 7 of them.   They mashed the Dodgers and Astros at Fenway and went 2-4 @ Cubs and @ Phillies.  

The one concern now is injuries.  I think Bregman, Story, Rafaela, Narvaez, Anthony, and Crochet are irreplaceable.  Maybe Chapman is.  

 

 

 

This team has accomplished absolutely nothing. There are many weaknesses for those who are objective about the team to mention. To name a few: Boohler, Fitts, Wong (how many RBIs does he have this year?), Toro (who has had his day in the limelight) etc. The SPing is decent but could have been improved. There are many reasons we are not the favorites to win a pennant if one is objective and not mindlessly optimistic. The team could have been greatly improved if our incompetent GM had done what he was hired to do. He didn’t, so we are stuck competing for a WC spot. 
You may be happy with the results for the past few years but I am not. So get back to me when they have accomplished something.

[oldtimer]

1 hour ago, vegasbob said:

Bregman is a vacuum

Would Raffy made all of those plays?

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

2 minutes ago, oldtimer said:

Would Raffy made all of those plays?

That's a rhetorical question isn't it?

[notin]

1 hour ago, FredLynn said:

Breslow absolutely FAILED at the deadline. Obviously the team is playing well now but if he had obtained a #2 SP, a good RH to play 1B, and a decent backup catcher we could have been the favorites to win at least the AL.

Instead he got M&Ms.

Yeah if only the Sox had a RHH at 1b worth 1.2 bWAR in part time action and an OPS of 1.029 vs LHP.  That would be awesome…

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

1 minute ago, notin said:

Yeah if only the Sox had a RHH at 1b worth 1.2 bWAR in part time action and an OPS of 1.029 vs LHP.  That would be awesome…

The only thing important to Fred is that the Sox fail so he can be right. Typical of a narcissist.

[FredLynn]

Just now, notin said:

Yeah if only the Sox had a RHH at 1b worth 1.2 bWAR in part time action and an OPS of 1.029 vs LHP.  That would be awesome…

How’s our RHH 1B doing against RHP? How’s Toto doing recently? And Wong? How many RBIs does he have after today. Point is, there are weaknesses for those of us to see if we are objective and don’t wear a bonnet. How many of those weaknesses were addressed at the deadline?

The team is currently playing well. They would likely play better if those weaknesses had been addressed.

[FredLynn]

Just now, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

The only thing important to Fred is that the Sox fail so he can be right. Typical of a narcissist.

This team has accomplished zilch so far. All of the other contenders improved their clubs. We didn’t. I’d love to be wrong and see the Flops win a pennant but I don’t see that happening.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

1 minute ago, FredLynn said:

How’s our RHH 1B doing against RHP? How’s Toto doing recently? And Wong? How many RBIs does he have after today. Point is, there are weaknesses for those of us to see if we are objective and don’t wear a bonnet. How many of those weaknesses were addressed at the deadline?

The team is currently playing well. They would likely play better if those weaknesses had been addressed.

Yeah, the Sox could have won 4 games in that 3 game series.

[dgalehouse]

Does anyone really think that the Sox could not beat the Astros in a playoff series? Or the Blue Jays ? Or the Tigers ? Or the Yankees ?  

[d-money]

30 minutes ago, Duran Is The Man said:

three. all of them in Toronto.

Damn 

[Bellhorn04]

2 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

This team has accomplished zilch so far. All of the other contenders improved their clubs. We didn’t. I’d love to be wrong and see the Flops win a pennant but I don’t see that happening.

Fred, you've always prided yourself on being the most negative guy on the board.  It's kind of your claim to fame.

[FredLynn]

3 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Yeah, the Sox could have won 4 games in that 3 game series.

Or they could have become favorites to finally win a pennant. Are they?

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

5 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

How’s our RHH 1B doing against RHP? How’s Toto doing recently? And Wong? How many RBIs does he have after today. Point is, there are weaknesses for those of us to see if we are objective and don’t wear a bonnet. How many of those weaknesses were addressed at the deadline?

The team is currently playing well. They would likely play better if those weaknesses had been addressed.

Just curious, Fred. Can you please post some MLB teams that have no weaknesses?

[FredLynn]

1 minute ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Fred, you've always prided yourself on being the most negative guy on the board.  It's kind of your claim to fame.

I think of myself as being the most REALISTIC here. I see things the way they are, not how I want them to be. If some posters here (not to mention names)  claim this team has no weaknesses I’ll correct him.

[FredLynn]

4 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Just curious, Fred. Can you please post some MLB teams that have no weaknesses?

There are no teams without weaknesses. Never said such a team exists. But if we want to win a ring it’s necessary to minimize ours and that didn’t happen at the deadline. 
Did it.

As of now the following teams are favored AHEAD OF US to win the AL pennant: Tigers, Astros, Yankees, Jays, and Mariners. 
Maybe Breslow should have tried harder, eh?

[Bellhorn04]

4 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

I think of myself as being the most REALISTIC here. I see things the way they are, not how I want them to be. If some posters here (not to mention names)  claim this team has no weaknesses I’ll correct him.

And that's the same comeback you always use.  And who said we have no weaknesses?

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Just now, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Just curious, Fred. Can you please post some MLB teams that have no weaknesses?

Take your time.

 

1 minute ago, FredLynn said:

There are no teams without weaknesses. Never said such a team exists. But if we want to win a ring it’s necessary to minimize ours and that didn’t happen at the deadline. 
Did it.

I don't know. May hasn't even thrown one pitch in a Sox uniform.

[FredLynn]

2 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Take your time.

 

I don't know. May hasn't even thrown one pitch in a Sox uniform.

Based on his year to date performance he’s not the #2 SP we needed.