2024 Red Sox

[Husky25]

I don't start many threads, but there didn't appear to be a Red Sox thread for the current season. There is now.

They finished last year at 78-84, despite being 57-51 and only 2.5 games out of the wild card at the trade deadline. To me, the issue with 2023 actually started in 2019, when they went from one extreme in player /development/acquisition (Dave Dombrowski) to the other (Chaim Bloom). At the end of the day, Bloom just couldn't shake his Tampa tendencies and part with prospects for the betterment of the Major League club, and doing comparatively nothing for the 3rd straight season destroyed morale...again. They ended up being the best last place team among the six divisions and Bloom lost his job because of his hesitancy to pull any trigger, let alone THE trigger.

For about 3 years, the organization seemed to want to drum up interest on the field, by doing other stuff off of it. and even after Tom Werner proclaimed they were going "Full throttle," the winter progressed as if they were stuck in 2nd gear.

The lineup actually looks fairly decent. The bulk of the 'Sox' issues will be on the mound. All five projected starters are righties and while Brayan Bello is the Opening Night starter and has shown Top of the Rotation potential, he's not an Ace. Each of the back end starters were once highly thought of farmhands, but none have really pulled it together as rotation pieces (Whitlock is far more effective out of the 'pen). They just don't seem to have a guy who can reset the bullpen on a regular basis. Speaking of which, other than aging Kenley Jensen and Chris Martin, the bullpen is mainly a collection of "Who?'s" to casual outside observers.

All that said, "Hope springs eternal (A phrase that should never be used in reference to the Red Sox)." We shall see what we shall see.

 

[Husky25]

1-0

 

[The Viking]

I'll tell ya what- as they said last night in the telecast, Cora wants them to get more athletic and younger and you can see it after one game.
I like the diversity of their outfield. Duran, Rafaela ans ONeill left to right. The play where Rafaela caught the LF sleeping and turned a double from a triple was outstanding. And his stance being just like Mookies is fun to see.
Not bad after one game. If they can take 2 of 3 on the road against seattles strong starters, that's pretty good.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

My summer vacation starts the weekend of the Yankees/Red Sox series in Boston. I'm a Yankees fan and was thinking about a trip up to Boston to catch one of the games with my wife and I.

Any suggestions of visitors' ettitque as a Yankees fan in Fenway? I'd like to wear my gear, but not plan on putting any extra attention on myself.

 

[Waquoit]

Any suggestions of visitors' ettitque as a Yankees fan in Fenway? I'd like to wear my gear, but not plan on putting any extra attention on myself.

Things have changed. Wear your gear, Fenway caters to visiting fans these days.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Any suggestions of visitors' ettitque as a Yankees fan in Fenway? I'd like to wear my gear, but not plan on putting any extra attention on myself.

Fenway is an amusement park these days. No one cares. The days of getting beaten up in the bleachers for wearing a Yankee hat are long gone.

My serious advice would be the same as it is for everyone: don't go. Maybe an empty stadium forces Henry to sell the team.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Fenway is still a fun place. The team has done an amazing job improving the overall game day experience around and in the park. That said, it’s hard to get to and expensive. So I choose Worcester instead.

As for the team, I have long believed that the MLB practice of long guaranteed contracts means that a fair number of players in the minors are better than major leagues. So I mostly approved of the Sox just going young. It has largely worked despite some of those worst injury misfortune I’ve ever seen. Bailey at pitching coach has been amazing. They won’t win a WS, but they are entertaining.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Almost no action on this thread. Yet the Sox are a fun team. I'm astonished by the pitching. Andrew Bailey is a genius. The young position players are exciting and the team is scoring runs by running and getting on base. Considering how short-handed they've been, they are playing well. Once Casas is back, they could continue to win series for a bit. Duran is having a monster year and should be a top All Star vote getter, instead he's 20th. Connon Wong has likewise been incredible. Abreu coming back with O'Neil and Casas will give them some power finally.

 

[Waquoit]

I'm not interested in rooting for an "asset".

 

[HuskyHawk]

I'm not interested in rooting for an "asset".

I don’t root for owners. Don’t care about them. The team is the team.

 

[The Viking]

This is a very left handed team - even their dynamic trio in AA - all left handed hitters. You wonder if this offseason they look to trade some of it (majors and or minors) for pitching assets or right handed hitting.
Agreed on the impact Breslow and Bailey have had on this pitching staff. Outstanding. An eye to get the right pieces and Bailey knows what to do with it.

 

[Waquoit]

The team is the team.

The team is their team.

BTW, what do Triston Casas, Jarren Duran, Tanner Houck, Ceddanne Rafaela, Kutter Crawford, and Brayan Bello all have in common?

 

[HooperScooper]

The team is their team.

BTW, what do Triston Casas, Jarren Duran, Tanner Houck, Ceddanne Rafaela, Kutter Crawford, and Brayan Bello all have in common?

All drafted or originally signed by the Dombrowski regime.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Well Red Sox fans, how are you feeling? Anybody feeling positive about this exciting young team. I kept telling people who wanted big, slow RH bats that can't play the field that the team isn't going in that direction. It's a team built on speed and defense, which helps the pitching. The defense has had issues at times with injuries in the infield.

The best news is that this team should only get better. They will probably stumble at some point, but young players in almost every key position.

 

[Husky25]

Really like following this team. I don't need them to go all in, but they need to make a move to improve the MLB club. I'd like a starting pitcher (preferably lefty) in order to relieve some pressure on the Bullpen.

Incidentally, I was watching the Yankee series over the weekend and texted my baseball friends that I recognize only three Yankees players. One was a former Red Sox (Doogie) and the other two were Judge and Cole. Can't imagine why they are slipping.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Really like following this team. I don't need them to go all in, but they need to make a move to improve the MLB club. I'd like a starting pitcher (preferably lefty) in order to relieve some pressure on the Bullpen.

Incidentally, I was watching the Yankee series over the weekend and texted my baseball friends that I recognize only three Yankees players. One was a former Red Sox (Doogie) and the other two were Judge and Cole. Can't imagine why they are slipping.

I think they will do something. Fans mad that Breslow isn't committing to "buy" are just stupid. You don't signal that, it weakens your hand. Yorke is tearing it up in the minors now. So either he will force his way into the 2B conversation, or they may move him. They are loaded with middle infield and CF talent. Agree LH starter would be the preference. Need some injury protection and the ability to rest some guys.

Amazing thing is they are doing this without Casas, who should come back soon.

 

[Husky25]

Sox are bringing in James Paxton. Good to get a lefty in the rotation and have a 6th starter to ease the considerable strain on the pitching staff. This may not energize the fansbase for a World Series run, but it's nice to see that, coupled with re-upping Cora, that ownership cares at least a little. They should be decent position for a wild card spot down the stretch.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Sox are bringing in James Paxton. Good to get a lefty in the rotation and have a 6th starter to ease the considerable strain on the pitching staff. This may not energize the fansbase for a World Series run, but it's nice to see that, coupled with re-upping Cora, that ownership cares at least a little. They should be decent position for a wild card spot down the stretch.

They know him and know what he is. I think the familiarity helps. Really needed that lefty starter too. More to do, but it's a step.