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Post by SteveUL on Apr 9, 2021 11:08:49 GMT -4
Kind of weird, they looked like a last place team vs Bal and a 1st place team vs TB. And still like a first place team against that same Baltimore team. It's still early with a lot of talent in this division, but maybe I really underestimated the Sox this year. Last year they lacked starting pitching and that was their greatest weakness. Plus the bullpen was weak. This year they have Eduardo Rodriguez (ERod) back, and Sale may be a month away from his return. They added Garret Richards which hasn't shown to be a good move yet. Tanner Houk was sent to the minors but will be back up at some time this season ... he is a solid starter. They also added to the bullpen, but that will remain to be seen how that pans out They also had defensive issues last year which they hope to have shored up. They didn't really have any problems scoring runs last year but just couldn't prevent them. With improved pitching and improved defense they'll start winning more of the close games, and minimize the blowouts. I don't see them as a contender this season but I also don't see them as the doormat they were last season, but its a very tough division always. I'm not letting my hopes get too high over 4 straight wins.
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Post by Captain Obvious on Apr 9, 2021 11:34:59 GMT -4
And still like a first place team against that same Baltimore team. It's still early with a lot of talent in this division, but maybe I really underestimated the Sox this year. Last year they lacked starting pitching and that was their greatest weakness. Plus the bullpen was weak. This year they have Eduardo Rodriguez (ERod) back, and Sale may be a month away from his return. They added Garret Richards which hasn't shown to be a good move yet. Tanner Houk was sent to the minors but will be back up at some time this season ... he is a solid starter. They also added to the bullpen, but that will remain to be seen how that pans out They also had defensive issues last year which they hope to have shored up. They didn't really have any problems scoring runs last year but just couldn't prevent them. With improved pitching and improved defense they'll start winning more of the close games, and minimize the blowouts. I don't see them as a contender this season but I also don't see them as the doormat they were last season, but its a very tough division always. I'm not letting my hopes get too high over 4 straight wins. I didn't find they were that bad defensively, maybe at 2B...adding Gonzalez and Hernandez will help there. Chavis is no longer there. Outfield won't be as good as with Bradley-Betts but they have good athletes in Cordero Renfroe Verdugo plus Gonzalez and Hernandez are good athletes. Ottavino and Sawamura should help the pen. Whitlock has looked great so far. Andriese is a solid innings eater. Hernandez and taylor both have the talent to be above average from the left. Brasier needs to get healthy.
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Post by Captain Obvious on Apr 12, 2021 9:20:50 GMT -4
RS keep mashing...the pitching overall has been good. 4 runs or less given up in 6 of 9 games.
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Post by SteveUL on Apr 12, 2021 10:40:39 GMT -4
RS keep mashing...the pitching overall has been good. 4 runs or less given up in 6 of 9 games. Pivetta was solid yesterday for 5 innings and then got into trouble in the 6th before his day ended. Still a solid outing for him. Even Garret Richards last start was far better than his first. He gave up back to back HRs in the 1st but then settled down and had a good outing. He just needs to find some consistency.
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Post by Captain Obvious on Apr 12, 2021 10:58:11 GMT -4
RS keep mashing...the pitching overall has been good. 4 runs or less given up in 6 of 9 games. Pivetta was solid yesterday for 5 innings and then got into trouble in the 6th before his day ended. Still a solid outing for him. Even Garret Richards last start was far better than his first. He gave up back to back HRs in the 1st but then settled down and had a good outing. He just needs to find some consistency. Pivetta has a very good arm but he can be frustrating. If they can harness his stuff he can be an asset in the rotation or pen. Once Sale is back they have a lot of options. ERod and Eovaldi are locked in. Perez as well. Then you need one of Richards, Pivetta, Houck or even Whitlock who has looked great so far. Much better than last year and hopefully by staying healthy, that depth can help the pen.
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Post by Mika on Apr 14, 2021 19:32:37 GMT -4
Sox actually look pretty good this year. I'm not getting my hopes up yet, but this looks like it'll be a fun season to watch them.
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Post by SteveUL on Apr 15, 2021 8:07:16 GMT -4
Sox actually look pretty good this year. I'm not getting my hopes up yet, but this looks like it'll be a fun season to watch them. Everything is working right now. Good starting pitching, pretty good bullpen, good defense, and everybody is contributing offensively, including a few that are very hot right now. No real flat spots in the batting order with everybody contributing. I don't think it will last as one of these elements will falter at some point and their winning pace will slow. Right now, with everything working, it reminds me of the 2018 team. But its a long season and there will be ups and downs. I don't expect them to finish in first but perhaps they'll remain in the conversation for first and manage a wildcard spot. Lots can happen over the next 150 games. I think you have to tip your hat to Alex Cora.
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Post by Mika on Apr 15, 2021 8:22:19 GMT -4
Sox actually look pretty good this year. I'm not getting my hopes up yet, but this looks like it'll be a fun season to watch them. Everything is working right now. Good starting pitching, pretty good bullpen, good defense, and everybody is contributing offensively, including a few that are very hot right now. No real flat spots in the batting order with everybody contributing. I don't think it will last as one of these elements will falter at some point and their winning pace will slow. Right now, with everything working, it reminds me of the 2018 team. But its a long season and there will be ups and downs. I don't expect them to finish in first but perhaps they'll remain in the conversation for first and manage a wildcard spot. Lots can happen over the next 150 games. I think you have to tip your hat to Alex Cora. A big question will be how complacent will they be when Sale gets back? But yeah, I expect this pace to keep going. They'll play elite teams soon enough and they get a proper test. I love having Cora back. He seems to have that ability to get players playing to their potential or even above their potential. They shouldn't suck this year though, that'll make for a fun season when I went in expecting another rebuild.
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Post by SteveUL on Apr 15, 2021 8:31:57 GMT -4
Everything is working right now. Good starting pitching, pretty good bullpen, good defense, and everybody is contributing offensively, including a few that are very hot right now. No real flat spots in the batting order with everybody contributing. I don't think it will last as one of these elements will falter at some point and their winning pace will slow. Right now, with everything working, it reminds me of the 2018 team. But its a long season and there will be ups and downs. I don't expect them to finish in first but perhaps they'll remain in the conversation for first and manage a wildcard spot. Lots can happen over the next 150 games. I think you have to tip your hat to Alex Cora. A big question will be how complacent will they be when Sale gets back? But yeah, I expect this pace to keep going. They'll play elite teams soon enough and they get a proper test. I love having Cora back. He seems to have that ability to get players playing to their potential or even above their potential. They shouldn't suck this year though, that'll make for a fun season when I went in expecting another rebuild. There are no elite teams yet, besides Boston. Everybody else is just hovering above or below 0.500. The Twins are supposed to be elite, and they are tough to beat. The only other team that is hot is the Dodgers, and SF and SD also have a pretty good start ... all NL teams.
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Post by Captain Obvious on Apr 15, 2021 9:34:56 GMT -4
Sox actually look pretty good this year. I'm not getting my hopes up yet, but this looks like it'll be a fun season to watch them. Everything is working right now. Good starting pitching, pretty good bullpen, good defense, and everybody is contributing offensively, including a few that are very hot right now. No real flat spots in the batting order with everybody contributing. I don't think it will last as one of these elements will falter at some point and their winning pace will slow. Right now, with everything working, it reminds me of the 2018 team. But its a long season and there will be ups and downs. I don't expect them to finish in first but perhaps they'll remain in the conversation for first and manage a wildcard spot. Lots can happen over the next 150 games. I think you have to tip your hat to Alex Cora. I would give more credit to bloom in filling the holes in the pitching than a coaching thing. Cora wouldn't have done much with last year's pitching.
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Post by Captain Obvious on Apr 15, 2021 9:37:00 GMT -4
Everything is working right now. Good starting pitching, pretty good bullpen, good defense, and everybody is contributing offensively, including a few that are very hot right now. No real flat spots in the batting order with everybody contributing. I don't think it will last as one of these elements will falter at some point and their winning pace will slow. Right now, with everything working, it reminds me of the 2018 team. But its a long season and there will be ups and downs. I don't expect them to finish in first but perhaps they'll remain in the conversation for first and manage a wildcard spot. Lots can happen over the next 150 games. I think you have to tip your hat to Alex Cora. A big question will be how complacent will they be when Sale gets back? But yeah, I expect this pace to keep going. They'll play elite teams soon enough and they get a proper test. I love having Cora back. He seems to have that ability to get players playing to their potential or even above their potential. They shouldn't suck this year though, that'll make for a fun season when I went in expecting another rebuild. Minnesota is supposed to be an elite team, especially their lineup but some are hurt or struggling. The nice thing about a hot start is those wins are in the bank in case you struggle later on.
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Post by Captain Obvious on Jun 11, 2021 7:44:54 GMT -4
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Post by Captain Obvious on Jun 15, 2021 7:53:19 GMT -4
Eovaldi pitched a nice statement game with the RS starters struggling, Toronto didn't really hit any balls hard. They really needed that after the big ERA's of the weekend.
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Post by Captain Obvious on Jun 17, 2021 9:04:55 GMT -4
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Post by bois on Jun 17, 2021 9:39:29 GMT -4
whose the kid that hit the absolute bomb last night grand slam? where did he come from?
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