GomesBeard

Disappointed to lose the game, but they weren't going to go 162-0 anyway. I thought Porcello was fine. I mean, who woulda thought that Jeff Francouer would hit the game-winning HR? Tells you how bad the pitch was, I guess, since he can't hit... Defense was a little clunky as well, with Pedey making that throwing error and KFP adding one later. Most nights we'll score more than 4 runs. I sure thought Hanley's hit was out. Weather was really miserable here; I live 50 miles from Philly. Another one like last night, tonight.

Buehrle's BaBIP is about 20 points lower than Porcello's. Good thing is that 2014 was his best year - most innings pitched, most wins (and most losses, too), lowest ERA at 3.43, lowest WHIP, and BaBIP under .300.

Well, it seemed like Buchholz was stinging the ball pretty good today, although he didn't get any hits.... Took a couple of good plays to get him out - at least according to the radio broadcast. I certainly didn't expect that from him!

It is hard not to overreact, and certainly Philly sucks - although Hamels doesn't. So there is that. But much better to start with a W and some very positive signs of ST carry-over, than not! And Pedroia being healthy is a wonderful thing. Best way for him to not injure his thumb again by sliding head-first, is just to hit the ball out of the park..... ;-)

Guess mlb.tv audio is a few ticks behind....

Laser f***ing Show!

Well. we're off an running today! Hoping for a good season. Pundit's predictions seem to be a little scattered re: AL East and play-offs, but I am hoping for a competitive season and making the play-offs. With this pitching staff, assuming good health, I can see the Sox making the play-offs, but it's not a deep-into-the-postseason sort of staff with no ace that can be a stopper. So unless that changes, I don't see a deep run. I'll say 86 - 88 wins and we win the division but lose in the first round. Which would still be a successful season in my books, coming from last.

Kelly threw 32 pitches in bullpen, and threw all of his pitches. Said he felt fine. So that's good.

Funny juxtaposition....

Now Koji is hurting, pulled hammy..... I think Farrell mentioned Mujica as the closer....

Well, if all of these guys currently in the rotation get to or near 200 innings this year, I think that will mean that they've all pitched well. With the young arms the Sox have, and the ability to go out and get a guy like Hammels, I think that will happen if someone falters.

I guess we're still talking 'predictions' so will post this here.. http://www.si.com/mlb/2015/03/17/boston-red-sox-rotation-rick-porcello-wade-miley-clay-buchholz Interesting article. I happen to like Verducci, and the comment about the starting rotations in the AL East and the lack of Cy Young votes was pretty eye-opening. Of course, the real question is, can we get to the WS with this rotation. That, I think, is a little more problematic.

I have to believe that a uper-80's fastball must look like 100 mph after a knuckler! But with the advent of having power arms in the BP, if you have a guy who throws 95 coming in after Wright, it must seem like Aroldis Chapman on steroids....

Joe Kelly pulled from yesterday's start with 'bicep stiffness/tendonitis' - apparently something that has happened before. Everyone seems to be downplaying it. But the Mets downplayed Zach Wheeler's elbow pain until they announced he needed TJ surgery yesterday. Not saying the same for Kelly, but an early injury that he has had before concerns me, even for the #5 guy. Kelly is a guy that I was hoping for very good things from, pitching beyond a #5. And with recent injury history of other guys in the rotation, I'm wondering how much the Sox will have to test their pitching depth this year. I'd like to see a couple of the young arms at some point, but not too many and not too soon....

I've been busy with my Jets posts... ;-)

I agree, half the fun of going to a game is the location....

Agree. Phillies fans I know can't stand him. Re: Hamels - I never really looked at his numbers before but he has good splits, has been pretty consistent throughout his career and has been very durable. If it was either the prospects or the money, I think the Sox would have done something by now. But the combination of owing $110 million and potentially costing top prospects, I think it also makes sense to wait a bit. The Phillies are going nowhere and Amaro is going to have to take quantity over (top) quality at some point relatively soon, I would think. As far as Pedroia is concerned, I also see him having a big year assuming he doesn't slide head-first again. The offense has a chance to be really, really good and I don't see Pedey wanting to be left out. He's one of those players who, when healthy, can really will himself to a big year. I like the depth the Sox have all over the place and like the Moncada signing, especially with the hand-wringing done by the Yankees fans over NOT getting him. The feeling that Moncada OWED them the chance to make the last bid because they are the YANKEES, damn it.... That's really hilarious.

Well, it's been a while since I've been to a game in Fenway - but NY talk radio is filled with fans who talk about nothing else but the new Yankee Stadium and how the atmosphere is completely different from the old place. And as noted, the seats behind home plate are always empty, whereas every time I watch a Sox game on TV, the opposite it true. Even if Dennis Drinkwater isn't in attendance, his seat is filled... (I did see that Jeremy Kapstein had a new headphone radio late in the season, guess the yellow ones died....)

Interesting that many of the 'over-under' odds being set by the gamblers have the Sox finishing first.... An example: Sox 86, Orioles 84.5, Blue Jays 83.5, Yankees 80, Rays 77.5. Yeah, these are calculated to win money for the casinos but still. I haven't spent a lot of time analyzing the rosters of the other contenders in the division but I know that if Tanaka and Pineda don't pitch well for the Yankees, they are toast. I think the Sox have a bigger margin for error than that. Toronto worries me more than the O's or Yankees. I can see either the Sox or Jays winning the division, and I think this will be the most competitive division (notice I didn't say 'best') in the AL. But just to get off the fence, I will go - Sox, Jays, Orioles, Yankees, Rays. To get in the play-offs, we'll have to win the division. No WC from the East.

The problem with building a new stadium is not so much what it looks like, but the fact that due to the cost, they will have to price the seats out of the reach of the average fan, and current design trends being what they are, there will be so many other things to do at the ballpark that people who are not baseball fans will fill the place to see maybe some of a game but also visit the various stores, restaurants, bars, etc that will fill the new venue. This is what happened to Yankee Stadium. It's not just the $2,500 seats behind home plate that are frequently empty, and I've been told that the hard-core fans that made the old place rock are priced out for many games. The same thing has happened at Metlife Stadium (home of the Jets and Giants), mainly due to the PSL's they charge. If you go to Fenway Park, you're going to watch the game. That's not necessarily the case in a new 'Fenway Park' and it changes the complexion of the whole experience. As much as FP is a dump, it's still all about going to see the Sawx. I'd hate to lose that.

So what do you think about the GM and HC (and staff) hirings?

I've seen both him and El Tiante outside Fenway interacting with fans - Luis more than Fred, but both are very approachable and good guys.

Juno ended up a dud here in Central NJ... 6 inches of fluffy stuff. Not that I'm complaining.... I don't understand that Renaudo trade either, Pal. It does seem like they gave up on him quickly, after just a few games in the bigs.

Maybe he looked at the future pitching in the minors and liked it? Mets could have an awesome rotation this year. If they stay healthy, and Matt Harvey is 100% the will be in most of their games....

Well, I am! And I do think the new duo will get this thing headed back in the right direction. There is a decent amount of talent on the team, especially defensively, and a lot of cap space, an owner willing to spend and the #6 pick..... And a guy in charge of personnel who, you know, actually has done scouting and talent evaluation... So I am cautiously optimistic about the immediate future of the team.