mvp 78

https://www.pressherald.com/2018/04/05/cora-makes-red-sox-a-team-of-peace-and-confidence/ They look relaxed and confident. Of course, winning streaks will do that. But these Boston Red Sox say they are stronger. They can feel it. Hanley Ramirez is one of those confident players. What changed? “Got to give credit to that guy in the office right there,” Ramirez said, pointing to Alex Cora’s workplace in the Red Sox clubhouse. What has Cora done? “From Day 1,” Ramirez said, not finishing the sentence. I’ll finish it. From Day 1 of Alex Cora’s brief time as the Boston Red Sox manager, he’s instilled a sense of calm and confidence. Boston is baseball-crazy. People like to say the fans can be passionate. But face it, the perspective easily gets lost in this mentality that every game is a must-win … in a 162-game schedule. Cora isn’t going there. “I don’t get caught up, man,” he said. “The baseball experience is awesome but you can’t get caught up with it, because instead of having fun with it, it becomes a grind,” he said. “I know I’m going to have good days, bad days, horrible days, I know that. But I’ll keep it simple. We have a good team and a great organization … This is my office, Fenway Park. It’s a special place. I’m having fun with it. “It’s not that I’m hiding my emotions. It’s just how I feel … I’m comfortable doing my job and where I’m at.” And his calm seems to rub off. “There’s no panic in the dugout,” Ramirez said. “Everyone is relaxing and letting things happen. The more you get tight, the harder things get. “Stay loose and let the game come to you.”

If you want to make the playoffs, Stanton is going to have to hit better than .185 with a 40% k rate. Gary Sanchez will have to OPS higher than .342 as well.

I seriously doubt any GM would overlook his overall offensive struggles since last year.

Kelly Leak would be the best player on the current Rays roster.

No reason to trade him when he’s struggling. You wouldn’t get enough for him right now.

One of the reasons I hate interleague is that it's just too confusing for me.

Good luck!

https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/981947680212463616 Live pregame ceremonies.

@JonHeyman Inside Baseball: in 2 hours gabe kapler will face perhaps his toughest critics (philly fans). or perhaps 2nd toughest. a quote from the clubhouse: "We'll be OK .. we just need the manager to get out of the way." What's the earliest a manager has been fired?

https://deadspin.com/what-did-gabe-kapler-f***-up-this-time-1825010802 Just glad I'm not a Philly fan.

Clearly Cora doesn't want him.

Four teams in the East and West form a "split rivalry" where the rivalry pairings alternate in odd- and even-numbered years. In the East: Odd-numbered years: Boston Red Sox v. Philadelphia Phillies Toronto Blue Jays v. Atlanta Braves Even-numbered years: Boston Red Sox v. Atlanta Braves (the Braves played in Boston as the Boston Red Stockings, Red Caps, Beaneaters, Doves, Rustlers, and Braves from 1871 through 1952) Toronto Blue Jays v. Philadelphia Phillies

I thought it was always the Braves?

@jcmccaffrey Expect a lot of sore muscles and cold bats today after playing in Florida since Feb. 14. It's 33 degrees right now with 30 mph winds. Feels like spring to me!

SSS. Do you really think he's going to end up at 6.4 wins? He hasn't had a season that good since 2009. He has only hit 5 wins once since then.

Mets since interleague play: .505 (82 wins per year) Braves since interleage play: .546 (88 wins per year) Last year, an 88 win team in the NL makes the playoffs, while the 82 win team would have had a worse record than the mediocre Cardinals who hovered around .500 all year.

I'd love Hanley more if he wasn't a negative WAR player who was paid $20M/season.

There should be!

Is the first person to be sent down Poyner or Walden? Walden hasn't been very impressive from what I've seen. I think I'd rather have Hembree or Kelly.

Now there is a word we shouldn't be throwing around. Yuck.

Maybe mildly better? IDK. It's not a term I see thrown around a whole lot. Again, I'm not a trained linguist.

I hope JK becomes a shutdown 8th inning guy if that's his ceiling.

I agree that Kelly's numbers are better. I also agree that my issue with Kelly may be irrational.

I just don't like Kelly. It's irrational, but I can't help it.