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Post by libertine on May 21, 2015 8:21:14 GMT -5
Counterintuitively I was encouraged by last night's loss. So of the guys are making very solid contact, the balls will start to drop soon...hopefully. Mookie made hard contact in all 5 ABs and had "only" 2 hits to show for it for example. And that vicious left to right crosswind, which we won't have to deal with very often, knocked down a handful of balls that could've made the difference in the game.
My main concern had been the pitching and that has improved markedly. We keep on pitching like this and we'll be fine.
One other thought, again probably going against the flow of opinion here, with the way Victorino is raking the ball right now I would be tempted to ditch the platoon and have him play against both lefties and righties. I say this not knowing what is going to happen once Castillo is deemed ready for a call-up...
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Post by libertine on May 13, 2015 18:22:11 GMT -5
I don't know why some are calling this a "lucky win". Miley did pitch his way out of a couple jams but it was a strong start by him. We scratched out an early run against an otherwise brilliant Sonny Gray and in the end that was all we needed thanks to Miley and the pen...
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Post by libertine on Apr 28, 2015 8:51:09 GMT -5
I think some people are overreacting a bit to Miley's poor start to the season. The other starter on Sunday, Bud Norris, gave up 3 ER in 6.2 IP to lower his ERA to almost 12.00. There are a bunch of good starters in MLB who have got off to bad starts this season.
That being said not only Miley, but the whole staff, need to up their games just to reach the threshold of being considered underwhelming.
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Post by libertine on Apr 24, 2015 0:03:47 GMT -5
Ventura still may be an a-hole but tonight it wasn't him who started it. He quick pitched Eaton, who hit a comebacker to Ventura, on the way to first Eaton starts jawing with him about not liking being quick pitched and things kicked off. But Ventura has been in the in the middle of most of the incidents the Royals have got into so far this season, which are quite a few already.
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Post by libertine on Apr 6, 2015 19:51:01 GMT -5
What a comprehensively enjoyable opening day. For me the biggest plus for the day was the way Buchholz looked. Granted this is a very weak Phillies line-up but he looked every bit a #1 starter and the pressure thst goes along with that. His location was outstanding, the curve looked great and he seemed to work very well with Hanigan. I can count on one hand, with fingers left over, how many times Clay shook him off. Very happy for Hanley also. Huge day! Both he and Masterson seem genuinely happy to be back with Boston. Dustin not only having a day we were used to seeing from him but not hurting himself on an opening day like the past two seasons. And then there was Mookie being Mookie...
Add to all of that the news on Porcello. I am just afraid the team has set the bar very high for the rest of the season, lol.
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Post by libertine on Apr 4, 2015 21:15:00 GMT -5
AL EAST - 1. Boston 2. Toronto 3. New York 4. Baltimore 5. Tampa Bay
AL CENTRAL - 1. Cleveland 2. Detroit 3. Chicago 4. Kansas City 5. Minnesota
AL WEST - 1. Seattle 2. Los Angeles 3. Oakland 4. Houston 5. Texas
NL EAST - 1. Washington 2. New York 3. Miami 4. Atlanta 5. Philadelphia
NL CENTRAL - 1. St. Louis 2. Pittsburgh 3. Chicago 4. Milwaukee 5. Cincinnati
NL WEST - 1. San Diego 2. Los Angeles 3. San Francisco 4. Arizona 5. Colorado
AL Wildcard 1: Los Angeles AL Wildcard 2: Detroit
NL Wildcard 1: Los Angeles NL Wildcard 2: Pittsburgh
Best record in MLB: Washington Best record in the other league: Seattle
Worst record in MLB: Philadelphia Worst record in the other league: Tampa Bay
Read more: forum.soxprospects.com/thread/2593#ixzz3WObItwg0
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Post by libertine on Mar 18, 2015 8:25:37 GMT -5
"Nope, he's a fascist, just like Republicans. Just pick your favorite corporations to run the world, most of them overlap no matter who is in office. I don't even understand why there is a debate anymore. You're doing their work for them."
And most of them think Atlas Shrugged is an economics textbook. But I will refrain from calling them fascists even if I think they show fascist tendencies by trying to characterize people who disagree with them as traitors, or enemies of the state...
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Post by libertine on Mar 18, 2015 8:16:26 GMT -5
My reply was directed at redsoxnh2014 and not chavopepe2...
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Post by libertine on Mar 18, 2015 8:14:26 GMT -5
As a game I wonder how many of the 30 examples given in the original post can be identified above ^^^?
First for clarification the level of debt we are carrying as a country is lower, as a percentage of GDP, than it was in the 1950's. There is no debt crisis in the offing unless the GOP plays games again and threatens a default.
And if anyone thinks that Obama is a socialist, citing his "socialist policies" as the proof, they are disqualified from having an informed debate on the issues.
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Post by libertine on Mar 5, 2015 22:59:12 GMT -5
(Unintentionally) Sticking with the theme of songs with the word "brain" in the title.
Ten Years After - 50,000 Miles Beneath My Brain
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Post by libertine on Mar 4, 2015 0:38:58 GMT -5
The band's name is Funkadelic, sorry about the typo ^^^^
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Post by libertine on Mar 4, 2015 0:21:35 GMT -5
Well being an old school 70's rock and roller I am going to focus on some old pre-1980's stuff, that you may or may not know about. But most of it is pretty heavy on the guitar...
First up is George "Dr. Funkenstein" Clinton's band, Funkdelic...Maggot Brain.
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Post by libertine on Feb 18, 2015 0:57:32 GMT -5
I'd prefer Teheran over Kimbrel also. There is our a potential long term #1 starter. He, along with Freeman and probably more so than Kimbrel, is the one player the Braves are probably planning to build around.
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Post by libertine on Dec 31, 2014 22:48:52 GMT -5
All in all I expect the numbers to be about the same. He is a groundball pitcher coming to a team whose IF defense will be VERY strong and from a team that didn't employ shift defenses, which the Sox do quite effectively. Pitching to stronger AL lineups will probably be a drag on his numbers. But overall in my thinking I think it will all be a wash and his numbers should be comparable...
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Post by libertine on Dec 28, 2014 1:11:45 GMT -5
Sorry about the (screwed up) double post. Formatting issues. I promise to work it out...
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Post by libertine on Dec 28, 2014 1:09:32 GMT -5
He mocked our Sox so my guess is he will not have his number retired, nor would I want it to be. Christ, the team has already pawned his number off to too many JAG's. I think that is intentional. Based on the criteria the club uses to retire numbers Boggs qualifies to have his retired by the club. I know there was/were/is some hard feelings so I am not saying it will be retired any time in the near future. But he did go in with a Sox cap on, even though at the time he didn't want to, and I think in time any old wounds will heal sufficiently to allow him to be honored by the club.
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Post by libertine on Dec 28, 2014 0:57:44 GMT -5
Pedro? I think you have confused who we are talking about. I think my previous comment caused the confusion. I was talking about Pedro deserving to have his # retired and then commented on Boggs. I think Tx's reply was meant for me.
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Post by libertine on Dec 27, 2014 19:48:07 GMT -5
Yes, his number should be retired. Every Sox player who has been inducted to the MLB HoF (and went in wearing a Red Sox cap), except for Boggs, has had their number retired by the Sox*. Should the Sox retire Boggs' #? Imho, yes also...
* Edit: In the modern era
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Post by libertine on Dec 23, 2014 1:00:29 GMT -5
Really like this trade.
Hanigan will be a good pairing for Vasquez. I think he will help his development. And Hanigan has trade value if/when Swihart comes good.
Disappointed about WMB. I really thought he was going to be the 3B of the future after his first season. A 20-30 HR guy who would hit maybe .260-.280 in BA. But after a promising rookie year he never regained that form. I think it was probably due to the HBP that broke his wrist changing his plate approach. He appeared to not want to get his hands out over the plate and drive the ball the other way, or go up the middle. He kept the hands in and tried to pull the ball hard on most swings. Plus his pitch recognition was horrible.
But I hope he rediscovers things in SD. I only wish him the best...
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Post by libertine on Dec 23, 2014 0:26:11 GMT -5
Welcome libertine, I too lurked here for many years before posting last season. I agree, and am pleased and a bit surprised that an article in the globe today cited projections that have Boston expected to have one of the better starting rotations in baseball. If that is indeed the case, then perhaps the older flyball throwing Shields and the overpriced Hammels will indeed wait. We'll see how the starters led by Porcello, and E.Rodriguez and the prospects fare; this keeps our budget down and offers options for the many starters, hopefully at a reduced price during the July deadline. Thank you sir!
Yeah, we have a lot of organizational depth at SP. With the rotation as it is I say hold onto the prospects for now and see how they develop at AAA. Porcello is in the last year of his deal, we signed Masterson to a 1 year deal, and both Buchholz and Masterson have a history of injury/ineffectiveness which could create openings in the rotation for Barnes, Ranaudo or even Workman (who has been an effective starter in the past...still remember his near no-hitter in Oakland, he was nasty that day). But barring injury I see our rotation being pretty much set for 2015, with deep organizational depth at the position. No need to move anyone now.
Position players we don't have the depth at. That is why holding onto Betts and Swihart are my main concern for the rest of the offseason. Betts was very impressive in his cameo at the end of last season. Good plate discipline, elite speed, good defensively and has flashed some pop at the plate. Could be our leadoff man of the future if the end of last season was any indication! And Swihart is a potential (funny word as it may) all-star caliber C. We'll see how he handles a full season of more advanced (AAA) pitching...
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Post by libertine on Dec 22, 2014 23:30:16 GMT -5
Long time lurker, first time poster...
I am very happy so far with the Sox offseason. I am very happy with how Ben has built the pitching staff after missing out on Lester. If we add another starter I hope it is Shields as opposed to trading for Hamels. Why? The price for Hamels is waaaaaaaay too high. They (RAJ) are going to want Betts, Swihart or both! We are not in need of an "ace". I'd prefer that we hold onto the elite prospects, for at least one more year, to see how their development continues.
This upcoming season will (or at least should) be the year that Ranaudo and Barnes get their chance with the big club. Probably working out of the bullpen in a long role (many starters begin their careers that way) while getting their chance for spot starts in the rotation if/when there is an opportunity through injuries/ineffectiveness to/in the rotation. Also we will get a better read on Swihart, Johnson, Owens and Rodriguez before any more trades of the prospects are made. Swihart, Owens and Rodriguez are all at a very advanced stage for prospects their age, all currently 22 years-old and younger having each having quickly advanced to AAA. We should have a better read on their potential after they all get a full season at Pawtucket under their collective belts. The most intriguing part for me is the Vasquez v. Swihart decision if Swihart continues to develop as he has. Who do the Sox go with in the long run? The elite defender who might develop into a good hitter or the possibly elite hitter (at the position) who is a plus defender? A good problem to have!
As far as the position players for the club, the bash is back! Ben has assembled one of the more formidable line-ups in baseball. The most intriguing part will be the OF. I think in 2015 I think we will see Ramirez-Castillo-Betts/Victorino in the outfield. I can see a possible Betts-Victorino platoon. I think Betts still gets close to 400 PA with Victorino's injury history. With an eye towards preparing Betts to be the starter in 2016 after Victorino's contract expires. Where that leaves Craig and Nava remains to be seen...
I leave it there for now because I don't want my first post to read like War and Peace, lol. But I am looking forward to being part of (what appears to be) a passionate discussion about the Sox now and the Sox of the future.
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