Elktonnick

They are older. The left side is slower. Crawford looks to be afraid of the wall and he has clearly lost a step. Defense is the key. All the data suggests that their defense will be poorer next year. They are more likely to have injuries because of that etc. Right now they aren't as good as they were last year and that team performed the worst of any during the Henry era. QED This team right now is the worst of the Henry era. That's my view and we'll see if the seasons bears my opinion to be correct.

Baseball, as a sport, is not a business, so while sometimes it is pertinent to apply business precepts to baseball analysis, it is not pertinent to apply it in this discussion. Of course it is. Whether a sport or business the management principles are the same. The palyoffs are a crapshoot making the playoffs requires the most wins in the division or the best record for non divisional winners. The only rresult that counts is wins the rest is process. BTW Any MLB that rmanage itself as solely a sport not a business won't be successful.

Thatis a logical inconsistent argument . One can't say something "Its not so balck and white" and then say eliminating subjective noise. No environment is neutral. These measures cited above are what those who follow TQM and CQI management techniquescall process measures. Results based management is interested in outcomes. The only outcomes that count in baseball are wins. Any scientific analysis has to include proclivity to injury. In any case by any fact based analysis the 04 team won 98 games the 11 team 90 a nearly 10 percent diference. The 11 team was injured. History tells us the 12 team will be as well. Ballplayers, as a group, reach their peak value much earlier and decline much more rapidly than people believe. A great deal of what is perceived as being pitching is in fact defense. The 12 team is older than the 11 team. The defense may be weaker as a result.

Could have been but wasn't! Those are the facts. But in any case, as interesting as the discussion is whether the 11 team was better than the 04 team, the real question is whether the 12 team, as presently constitutted, is better than the 11 team. I say it is not. Everything is predicated on health. I believe this team is unlikely to be as healthy as the team was last year. I know it is highly speculative. But based on previous history none of the top starters nor Youklis are likely to avoid the disabled list next year. This team has litte depth, none in the rotation. For this reason as for right now this team is worse than last year's. It remains only above average. It is unlikely to win the division and will probably have a difficult time winning a playoff spot.

Do you believe this team is better right now then the team that ended the year?

Of course it is all debatable. It's a forum. That's what one does in a forum. On paper is the only way to evaluate during the hot stove. Just because my view may be a bit more pessimistic doesn't mean I won't bleed red for this team as I have every year since 1953. They may surprise or they may upgrade. But they are the worst team the red sox have fielded since 2004. Of that I am convinced.

If Beckett, Buccholtz and Lester don't get hurt the Sox have good starting pitching but have big questions at 4 and 5. Their bull pen is incomplete to questionable. Another big question is can those three starters stay healthy. Both probability and their own medical histories say otherwise. Offesnively the sox will score runs again. But as we have seen offense alone gets you third place in the ALE. On paper this team is still worse then the team that ended the year. The upgrade at manager may make a difference. Is this team good enough to win. Perhaps but only if the Rays, Yankees are worse. On paper, they aren't good enought to win the division. With the upgrade to the Angels the question becomes are the good enough to win the (or a) wild card. Maybe, but not with the team as it is currently composed. Their defense on the left side is average at best sometimes poor given Scutoro's limited range and weak arm. Behind the plate Salty has improved somewhat but no one will mistake him for a Molina. If Tek comes back (OMG) then forget about it. Shoppach will throw out some runners but only if the pitchers learn how to hold runners and then in only the fifty or sixty games he'll play. Overall assessment this an above average team, nothing more. Certainly not the best team the Red Sox have fielded during the Henry era. It could just as easily be the worst.

That last point is why several of us doubt the FO's committment towards real change. It almst like the was some sort of compromise made so LL could get his man BV as manager.

If anyone were to track our exchanges they would see I prove, you don't. Secondly they would see you are always the first to resort to insults. Thirdly you never backup anything you say. BTW I am still waiting for you to respond to my questions to you of over a month ago. .

Onus my ass you pompous jerk. All do is accuse and never back up or prove anything. The only that proves you are sophomoric fool. Is that plain enough for you

Son I minored in philosophy with a specialty in logical empiricism before you were born. And, I know you don't know a thing about that, statitistics or Markov chains while we are at it.

He has slowed done a step or two. While it is true that with an open stance a batter tends to see the ball better, an open stance is fine for the young and the quick but a batter has to take an extra step to come to the ready position if you watch closely.

I agree that the Sox are being unrealistic if they beleive they can get throught the year with a pitching staff as shallow as the one the currently have. Lester has to stay healthy but given his body type and medical history who can be sure. Buccholtz's stress fracture what are the chances that may re occur. Beckett always seems one false step away from either a back or ankle injury. Can Aceves continue a whole season at the pace he has pitched etc etc.

Yes they did as did the Braves. The Braves actually could have had Mays and Aaron as did the Giants. Neither team however wanted to have two black outfielders. Imagine a lineup with both Mays and Aaron.