Question of the week: are you optimistic?

[notin]

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

It might be more likely that Sandoval can be a RHP going forward...

NOW you’re getting it…

[notin]

3 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Sometimes when I have hard things to do at my job, I just avoid them altogether too and hope the problem just goes away on it's own!

And if it doesn’t, just trade your problem to the Giants…

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, notin said:

And if it doesn’t, just trade your problem to the Giants…

Sounds too cruel to my problems to do that to them. 

[Bellhorn04]

22 minutes ago, notin said:

It also might be that right field in San Fran is a cavernous expanse that stretches all the way to the Pacific Ocean…

But he OPS'd over .900 playing DH for the Giants last year.

[mvp 78]

15 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

But he OPS'd over .900 playing DH for the Giants last year.

825 OPS at SF

977 OPS at BOS

[Maxbialystock]

On 4/21/2026 at 8:55 AM, moonslav59 said:

I'm trying to decide if I'm more pessimistic about the Sox than 11 other AL teams.

i'm smiling because you are one of the optimists.    Me more so.

My view is that that the starting pitching is looking like what we hoped for and the bullpen is OK.  The defense with Contreras at 1b and Durbin at 3b and Mayer at 2b is better than ever.  Outfield of Anthony, Rafaela, and Abreu is maybe better than the infield, and catcher is good.  

The problem is obviously with the hitting., but I honestly think it will come around--especially Durbin, Mayer,  and Anthony.  Story and Duran I'm less sure of.  Rafaela is already off to a pretty good start.  

I do not however see a quick fix to the lack of power.  Those 17 runs in Baltimore have skewed the team's runs scored up to 18th.   So the team OPS, ranked 27th, is the truth of the matter.  The best W-L records in MLB right now belong to the teams among the top 9 in team OPS's.  

The three best W-L records also have the three best team ERAs--Braves, Yankees, and Dodgers.   Chris Sale, whom Breslow dumped, is having  his 3d straight excellent season with Atlanta.  He's had 5 superb starts and 1 lousy one. 

But it all boils down to wins and losses.  The Sox have won 3 straight with Tolle on the mound tonight.  If he wins and the Sox win with loser Bello tomorrow, there just might be light at the end of the tunnel.  

 

[jdc69]

One of the things I like so far is the batting order. Putting Duran 1st and Anthony 3rd makes sense. It feels solid. Before it seemed overly creative. Duran isn't hitting great but its where he's meant to hit. I think in the last 2 games Duran he's hit into 3 fielders choice, not great of course but he made it home on two of them I think and it may be because he puts pressure on the pitcher. 

[notin]

Just now, jdc69 said:

One of the things I like so far is the batting order. Putting Duran 1st and Anthony 3rd makes sense. It feels solid. Before it seemed overly creative. Duran isn't hitting great but its where he's meant to hit. I think in the last 2 games Duran he's hit into 3 fielders choice, not great of course but he made it home on two of them I think and it may be because he puts pressure on the pitcher. 

Duran was thumping the ball all over the park last night and ended up 0 for 4.  Tonight he’ll probably hit two bloopers and a weak infield grounder and get 3 hits…

[Bellhorn04]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

825 OPS at SF

977 OPS at BOS

I'm duly corrected.