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Post by sarasoxer on Apr 19, 2024 19:54:49 GMT -5
I am so impressed with Youk and Merloni as color commentators. They give us insight beyond what we ever had previously. Kudos!!
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Post by sarasoxer on Apr 14, 2024 7:10:37 GMT -5
Poor Bobby D is 0-16. Can't last forever. Next game breakout? I really feel for the guy...seems like a genuinely good guy. One can see that he is taking things hard. Interesting that he is back to wearing glasses at the plate, but not in the field. I wonder if a scenery change would benefit him.....exorcise the demons.
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Post by sarasoxer on Apr 13, 2024 20:08:11 GMT -5
Yup. But I think the concerns on offense are overblown..He has, IMO, a lightening bat and seeming good bat to ball. He's done it in the minors with regular play. And, did you see him run on the triple to right? A certified gazelle..such a beautiful, gliding stride. Poetry. I was one of those who was noting despite his suspect offensive tools he was still finding a way to get it done at every level. But the toughest level is the last one so I think it's somewhat wise to temper expectation, this when I recently stated JBJ is a good comp. True enough. Xander had a below average first year adjusting. Likely Rafaela will too. All good. But he has the stuff on both sides of the ball. I'll take defense first this year. We aren't going anywhere realistically and I'm ok with that. I'm looking forward to Mayer, Anthony, Teel and Bleis in 2 years. I can wait. BTW Anthony hit 2 out today including one at 111 EV.
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Post by sarasoxer on Apr 13, 2024 9:39:23 GMT -5
Sox are on the banks of the Rubicon...
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Post by sarasoxer on Apr 12, 2024 18:27:11 GMT -5
Done watching the big club until Cora is fired or one of the big 3 are called up. This is an embarrassment what Cora has turned the on field product into Oh ye of little faith. Cora didn't construct this club.
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Post by sarasoxer on Apr 11, 2024 20:01:45 GMT -5
For how low the starter ERA has been they're throwing a lot of pitches per inning Maybe that's the trade off...To me our guys have really been tickling the edges of the zone particularly with off speed and avoiding harder contact thereby. If so, that likely results in a few more 'misses' and higher counts. But, hey, so far, so good.
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Post by sarasoxer on Apr 10, 2024 21:11:36 GMT -5
Do we know that the Orioles assertively tanked for a few years rather than being just lousy? But if the Orioles have succeeded by engaging losing, do you think that the Sox should do so to compete in the longer term? Are we above this? Looking at our horrendous last September record, could an argument not be made that we employed the same tactic?? We were 8-19 in September 2023. I would say Angelos tanked passively and indifferently. I think Henry's priorities are an NBA team and golf. The Red Sox are simply an appreciating asset. So what should the Sox do to get back in the competitive game?... Emulate the Os and passively tank? Spend like the Dodgers and Yanks to aggrandize ourselves whatever the costs? Find and exploit other avenues to jury rig the system? To your thrust, if we aren't winning and if Henry has other priorities superimposed on his deemed laissez faire, how much 'appreciation' will his assets have? I hate the idea that rigging the 'system' is the way to go ...Take me back to a simpler era...otherwise I have no interest.
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Post by sarasoxer on Apr 10, 2024 20:48:06 GMT -5
The talent gap between these two teams is very evident. Unfortunately. Tanking paid for the O's. Corresponding with bad owner passing away. Do we know that the Orioles assertively tanked for a few years rather than being just lousy? But if the Orioles have succeeded by engaging losing, do you think that the Sox should do so to compete in the longer term? Are we above this? Looking at our horrendous last September record, could an argument not be made that we employed the same tactic?? We were 8-19 in September 2023.
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Post by sarasoxer on Apr 10, 2024 20:33:29 GMT -5
okay if you want to be irrationally preemptively concerned even though the metrics say he is actually hitting the ball well that is your prerogative I *see* the balls he’s hitting. Kaine....
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Post by sarasoxer on Apr 9, 2024 15:32:32 GMT -5
Rafaela feels like an auto-K against a decent slider. Right now...
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Post by sarasoxer on Apr 9, 2024 15:01:52 GMT -5
I really don't want to turn off the home opener this early, but don't know if I have the stomach to watch this. This is the stuff Cora said would not happen this year. Hah, hah, hah! Just what I was thinking and just did....turned it off ... Watching it happen was like having an old scab picked off and having the bleeding start all over...psychological this time.
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Post by sarasoxer on Apr 8, 2024 20:12:33 GMT -5
Sad for him. Wanted him to do well so very much. Oh well... Yup. I believe that he is a good person and teammate. I always liked him...Once the league adjusted and exploited his holes, it seems that he became a AAAA player. In my mind his swing was so long that it caused early decisions on pitches that cleared the zone. Up and in with heat was another hole. What if he had consistently choked up on the bat...give him more reaction time? Hell, I we have pics of Williams choking up. Casas will do so. But Willy Mo never bought that either.
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Post by sarasoxer on Apr 8, 2024 19:43:51 GMT -5
I had figured he was one of the young players being referenced before the season, makes all the sense in the world to lock up a guy that you are certain will provide value on one side of the ball. A player with a high ceiling on defense and a low floor on offense but one whom they've seen enough to know that floor is not as bad as once feared. I still think the jury is out on his offensive upside. A full year here will help more clearly define his projected parameters. Yup. But I think the concerns on offense are overblown..He has, IMO, a lightening bat and seeming good bat to ball. He's done it in the minors with regular play. And, did you see him run on the triple to right? A certified gazelle..such a beautiful, gliding stride. Poetry.
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Post by sarasoxer on Apr 6, 2024 19:48:53 GMT -5
Sometimes he shoots like Steph, sometimes like John Starks, but I always want Sam to keep shooting 1 for 18 overall and 1 for 13 from deep? Sorry whatever the proffered comparisons, he shot like me.
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Post by sarasoxer on Apr 1, 2024 19:18:11 GMT -5
Nay, nay! I think that Rafaela has shown pretty good strike zone judgment to date and way over projections. But, wait for his exceptional CF play And bat. This guy is a solid on both sides Get on the train boys! He has a 57% chase rate and 39% whiff which are both horrible so your eyes are deceiving you The eyes have it...
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Post by sarasoxer on Apr 1, 2024 18:49:47 GMT -5
Nay, nay!
I think that Rafaela has shown pretty good strike zone judgment to date and way over projections.
But, wait for his exceptional CF play And bat. This guy is a solid on both sides
Get on the train boys!
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Post by sarasoxer on Mar 28, 2024 22:23:44 GMT -5
When Pedro was his age he wasn't yet Pedro 1.0. I'm NOT saying Bello is ever going to be anything like Pedro, but to me he looks like he's still got another gear or two he can reach, and has both the control and the stuff to have a good chance to get there. When Pedro was 25, he was 17-8, 1.90 with 13 CG for the Expos in his fourth full season in the bigs. He had 305 K in 241.1 IP and gave up 158 hits. He received 25 of 28 CY votes to take home his first trophy and Lou Gorman was impressed enough to send Carl Pavano and Tony Armas to Montreal to acquire him. Here's hoping Bello enjoys a similar 25-yo season, without the subsequent trade. Beat me to it...😊
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Post by sarasoxer on Mar 28, 2024 7:32:31 GMT -5
82-80. Duking it out with TB for 4th. We look a little like the Sox of the late 1950s-early 1960s to me. We'll be fun to watch offensively, but is our pitching staff any better this year? Achilles.
Bello is not Pedro 2.0. I watched 2 of his spring games in person. His FB was mostly 93-95... Middling these days...good secondaries. On what team would he be #1?
As an aside, if the Yankees don't win it this year after all that additional spending and Cap penalties...wondrous ear splitting primal screams will emanate from the Big Apple.
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Post by sarasoxer on Mar 21, 2024 12:03:09 GMT -5
Lineup tonight: Duran CF Devers 3B Story SS Casas 1B O’Neill DH Yoshida LF Rafaela 2BAbreu RF Wong C Now that's interesting on Rafaela...I don't know that he has played second before, but have no doubt that his athleticism would allow quick acclimatization..Of all the players I have been privileged to have watched in the GCL, he and Bleis have been a cut above...reported so by both Steve and me. Rafaela's offense is not a surprise and his seeming advancement in zone management will make him an offensive force not just a lineup place taker. Bleis stood out even more. This guy is so graceful in the outfield. Thoroughbred. Hopefully some day soon he will patrol the field with Rafaela...maybe in right.. .shades of Lynn and Evans.
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Post by sarasoxer on Mar 9, 2024 20:22:32 GMT -5
Valdez is all like, Grissom who? Sat behind a guy at Thursdays game at Fenway South who was from Atlanta. When I mentioned Grissom to a buddy next to me, the guy turned around and said "You can have him. He can hit for average, but doesn't have much power and definitely can't field". This guy was large, muscular had a shaved head and thick neck..think Telly Savalas on steroids. Wasn't going to argue...
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Post by sarasoxer on Mar 4, 2024 22:21:24 GMT -5
Wonder why Bleis keeps rising despite missing pretty much all of last season. Because he is a stud in waiting. If healthy this year, watch out. SteveofBradenton and I have seen him in the flesh. He is a comer from our standpoint...fast, athletic, of good size, a gifted fielder and can impact the baseball.
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Post by sarasoxer on Mar 4, 2024 22:06:02 GMT -5
Buddy, if you can call that up from memory, you are on a higher plane....and I want a pint of your blood...😵💫😊 Sarasoxer, all I remembered was they had tied the record with 2, 50 pts plus wins not that long ago so it was a much smaller feat than you are giving me credit for. Nevertheless, the requested exchange of blood stands. 😊
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Post by sarasoxer on Mar 4, 2024 9:49:02 GMT -5
Buddy, if you can call that up from memory, you are on a higher plane....and I want a pint of your blood...😵💫😊 So in my earlier years I remembered everything every conversation I had with everyone, now of course I'd forget shit but it bounced around in my head so that eventually every thought was there and recalled. That was back in the day and I was absolutely convinced that ANYONE that did not recall all details like I did was lying to me. Well many years older I've learned not only was that in-accurate but now I believe at least half the people were actually telling me the truth as I was convinced these sons of bitches were all in fact all lying. Now a little bit older I realize shit at least half these guys were telling their own truth. Crap. Perspective can be both a great thing and not so much. Just saw on the Athletic that you were right! Congrats!
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Post by sarasoxer on Mar 3, 2024 20:09:12 GMT -5
So since the start of February, which is my B-Day btw, the Warriors had the second-best record, in other words, the Celtics just faced the second-hottest team in the NBA for the past 5 weeks and still beat them by 52 points and if I'm not mistaken, going by memory here, they've become the first team in NBA history to win 3 games in a season by 50+ points. Buddy, if you can call that up from memory, you are on a higher plane....and I want a pint of your blood...😵💫😊
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Post by sarasoxer on Mar 3, 2024 19:28:43 GMT -5
Man Crawford looked good! The secondary's were sharp. He could really take it to another level this year! I hope so Steve, but I'm not going to refill my Kool Aid glass. I wonder what his performance would be if he had a more conventional delivery...He almost looks like a catcher throwing... more short armed. Sitting at home watching him throw with effort, I sometimes reflexively grunt with each pitch...as if I'm helping him. Like several of our starters, stuff/effectiveness diminishes second/third time around. The effort he exerts pitch to pitch has to effect a drain and contribute to that result.
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