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gerry
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Post by gerry on Jun 16, 2024 21:52:10 GMT -5
Hear ye, hear ye! Henceforth let this game be known as “the Fathers’ Day Game”, in which the Sox stole the day.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Jun 16, 2024 19:02:28 GMT -5
Baseball gods reward us for the umps BS Baseball gods? Solid defense? Not mutually exclusive.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Jun 16, 2024 18:53:38 GMT -5
“The Running Red Sox” says the announcer says. NEVeR heard that before. Love it.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Jun 16, 2024 17:47:41 GMT -5
Lineup tonight: Jarren Duran LF David Hamilton SS Rob Refsnyder RF Rafael Devers 3B Connor Wong C Masataka Yoshida DH Enmanuel Valdez 2B Dominic Smith 1B Ceddanne Rafaela CF Interesting speed kills observation. Accompanying the chaotic speed of Rafaella, Duran and Hamilton the only ones in this lineup without good speed are Raffy and Masa, maybe Dom. O'Neill’s speed on reserve. Grissom and Story also fit this new paradigm. I haven’t seen this emphasis in decades of watching.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Jun 16, 2024 10:28:01 GMT -5
This was the nightmarish PHI/NY series many feared would finally knock the Sox well below that magnetic .500. After, at min, a split and a clear headed look at the WC competition, well yikes. Now we know what we know and the Sox realistically look like buyers with resources to spend. Especially with: 1. continuing performances of the kids. 2. continuing returns of O’Neill, Yoshida, Valdez, Kelly, Abreu, Martin, Grissom, Casas, more. 3. growing confidence in the proximity of a half-dozen or so strong prospects emerging within a year.
The really good news is just how short the shopping list needs to be. This makes for a happy Fathers Day
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Jun 15, 2024 9:20:07 GMT -5
Put differently: 1B, 2B, SS, LF, RF, OF, DH 4SP, 3RP, WTF.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Jun 13, 2024 10:52:09 GMT -5
Story, Hamilton, Grissom, Yorke, Valdez, Mayer as MI is another wonderful problem. Kinda like the logjam in the OF. Too bad we don’t have anyone good for 1B or 3B (or SP, RP, C, DH). IMO that core is materializing before our eyes.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Jun 12, 2024 2:29:41 GMT -5
Changing my mind about Dom. Wish got that. Wow. Edit. To be fair Schwarber won that game with 2 HR. And Valdez did make a poor throw. Still wish Dom caught it but he didn’t really cost this game. That came from just 4 hits, one run and some bizarre calls. It was the Phils that was supposed to be jet lagged.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Jun 11, 2024 19:05:39 GMT -5
Changing my mind about Dom. Wish got that. Wow.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Jun 11, 2024 3:27:27 GMT -5
For discussion sake. The Sox OF overflows with 5-deep talent even without Anthony or Masa. The Duran-Rafaella-Abreu OF is fast becoming among the best. Ref may already be the best 4th OF.
That leaves a seemingly fragile TON, a twice GG power hitting RHB, and I think a FA at the end of the season unless extended. His potential for defense, speed, power is well proven and he is reported good in the clubhouse. But playing 150 games again seems unlikely.
Would it be possible to extend him on the understanding he would be on the bench, providing well above average RHB depth for Abreu, Duran, Casas (he can learn like Yaz did) and especially Yoshida as well as PH and PR.
I like ONeill for that RH big bat. IMO he will probably offer as good a RHB, more versatility, comfort with the system, fans and park, and cost less than the players considered above. Just a thought
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Jun 10, 2024 10:36:25 GMT -5
Beyond colonoscopy is the old and universal “All’s well that ends well.” I am grateful for the split. What pun?
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Jun 9, 2024 10:53:32 GMT -5
You make excellent points. Red Sox Nation as a whole is experiencing classic signs of loss and fatigue. Again. But this time we are not the cursed loveable losers. I, personally, think the ship is gradually turning in the right direction so that offer stands.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Jun 9, 2024 3:09:07 GMT -5
Champs. I feel your angst. And agree about the Sox being a sacred local trust. Beginning with my grandfathers more than a century ago through 6 generations of a large extended family down to our grandkids and great grandkids we are diehard Sox fans. This is a common beantown story.
I treasure the recent Sox dominant play from 2003 to 2021 and share your concern about the mis-steps of the past few years. But I am fully confident we will see it again soon. We are seeing the positive changes.
I also understand John Henry’s reluctance to be in the spotlight. He is a quiet, reserved man who is uncomfortable in its light, just like millions of people.
Moreover, after ALL he has done for the team and us, the fans, he has been increasingly pilloried online and in the media; and recently been booed by the same type of fans who relentlessly booed Ted Williams in my day, threw batteries at JDDrew and this week threw bottles at their players. Remember what Ted said to these morons masquerading as fans? I do. Why should JH feel compelled to face us during this insane period of historic vitriol and violent rhetoric. I can enjoy my house and simultaneously consider it an asset. What’s wrong with that?
Kennedy as his mouthpiece? C’mon. He is the Red Sox President. He, not JH, is the appropriate public persona of the Red Sox. We hear from Sam, Breslow, Cora and staff on a regular basis. Why should we expect more?
Finally, despite 14-16 injuries; despite losing foundational players like Whitlock, Giolito, Martin, Story, ONeill, Yoshida, Casas, Abreu, Grissom and many more, the Sox continue to hang in. It’s been a season of genuine highs and frustrating lows, which is draining for avid fans like you and me. So draining. But this team, healthy, is a very good team, even without several big ticket items we didn’t sign (and dodged a few bullets in doing so.).
I have never expected payroll to remain at the level of huge markets like NY, LA, CHI, DFW and have been pleased to always be in the $200M range. Come next off-season if the Sox don’t fill out this roster of amazing young talent with a star veteran or two and spend closer to the Tax-send me the receipt for a good meal and I will pay the bill. And I don’t gamble.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Jun 9, 2024 2:00:10 GMT -5
Totally disagree. This team has been playing with backups at 1B, 2B, SS, RF, DH. More than half the daily lineup. Sometimes with backups to the backups. 4,5,6 rookies every game. LOLOL. This team deserves medals for being 1.5 out of a WC starting week 2 of June. Let’s not forget or ignore injuries to the rotation and pen and AAA as well. Am not expecting too much the coming week but stranger things have happened; like this week. Context matters.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Jun 7, 2024 11:37:29 GMT -5
A fun thing I think about sometimes is that there was this emerging narrative in July of 2023 that the team's long-term vision was coming into place - that the long project of re-building the farm system was starting to bear fruit (Casas, Bello, Duran, Wong, Crawford, Houck, Whitlock...) and the contours of a competitive roster were starting to emerge. Then the team had a lackluster few weeks, Bloom got fired, everyone decided that the offseason depended entirely on whether they signed Jordan Montgomery, the owners pulled back on spending, and not one single person in the media happened to notice that the team had a decent or better young cost-controlled or extended player at literally every position and most of the starting rotation and bullpen. Cut to 2024 and we're really just picking up where things left off in July 2023 - except, again, no one is noticing because everything else has gone wrong. And few or any thought the rotation without Yamamoto, Montgomery, Giolito, Whitlock would be among baseball’s best. Or that an OF of Duran, Rafaella, Abreu, O’Neill, Ref would also be among baseball’s best. Or that playing games with 14 guys on the IL and 5-6 rookies at the same time could possibly still be above .500 and a wild card in reach. Impressive
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Jun 6, 2024 3:07:47 GMT -5
We don’t know yet how well Perales, Penrod, Fitts, others might succeed in the Show. Possibly better even than we expect, a Deja vu of 2o24 breakouts n this new pitching system?
Can we even hope for continuing development in 2025 from the existing seven surprising starters (lol, that came out like a Red Sox Christmas carol.)
This past mid season and off-season I prayed for established SP stars and was frustrated both times. This year outside additions are just not in my prayers, though I wouldn’t complain.
We won’t know what is needed for 1.5 and 4 months respectively but 10 talented, well coached SP from Fitts to Houck is probably enough to be a serious contender.
T
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Jun 4, 2024 12:44:29 GMT -5
Speier understands this systemic, granular approach; a genuine go to guy.
In this vein, the Sox have been playing with 5 or more rookies each game for a while now. And they are developing well.
Wouldn’t it be nice to see some healthy version of this young lineup in Atlanta: Duran, Grissom, Devers, Casas, Abreu, Wong, Yoshida, Rafaella, Hamilton? Ref, Valdez on the bench.
But 3 of them will still be sitting alongside Story, O’Neill, Whitlock, Giolito, Mata & Co. IMO we can be happy with and proud of the development of these kids and this team. And confident in Breslow and his brain trust.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Jun 4, 2024 2:01:59 GMT -5
You are worthy of our support and we are so in your debt for this site. Thank you
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Jun 3, 2024 22:10:04 GMT -5
Or the fun loving Croatians. Jivili
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Jun 2, 2024 11:24:23 GMT -5
Given the recent history of this team, what doesn’t make sense is having to decide among Duran, Rafaella, Abreu, O’Neill, Refsnyder, Anthony, Bleis. The Sox OF will be top five for years to come. Resolving this wonderful problem will be mind blowing at best.
All I see for Duran, C-Dan and Abreu is continuing improvement, overwhelming fan support and ROY votes. Anthony is SP’s top prospect. Ref must rank among the best 4th OF in the game. A remarkable conundrum. None would be getting these AB’s without the team’s injury jinx; especially if the amazing O’Neill had avoided a full speed collision with Raffy’s head. I also see “what to do, what to do” handwringing on the horizon.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Jun 1, 2024 1:43:40 GMT -5
The game announcers mentioned that he hit abysmally in his first 27 games and since then is batting .260. Higher now. He, Abreu and Hamilton were generally expected to start the season in AAA. Injuries brought them up. Look at them now. And these rookies keep getting better. In fact about a dozen on this MLB team, like Romy and Criswell, began the season elsewhere. Over .500 on June 1 is quite an accomplishment. And some core players are getting well. Nice.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on May 28, 2024 12:14:55 GMT -5
For two decades I have assumed that the JH owned leadership group has been a good citizen; capitalism done right by its stakeholders.
During those two decades JH:
-brought championships and Duck Boat parades to “Titletown”; and iconic players and staff to accomplish that goal.
-saved and renovated our Fenway Cathedral. Sure, some still resent the narrow seats, but our historic park has become the Notre Dame of ball parks.
-the environs of that historic ballpark continue to be improved in largely beneficial ways. -created Fenway South, a quantum improvement over the several former training facilities I have enjoyed.
-over and above the improvements to the team and it’s support structures, the JH group has become integral to improving the lives of the people who live in this city/state/NE region. His group has developed THE model for community involvement and support. This is irrefutable. Health and medical support for kids, veterans, cancer patients. Education and scholarships. Inner city development. This is a long list stretching all the way from kids running the bases to Fenway Farms to the Marathon to the Boston Pops on the field playing the Anthem. Pretty amazing, right?
Finally. Lack of investment? Cheap? Building a portfolio? C’mon guys. The John Henry led sports group has revolutionized investing heavily in the community. Has carried one of the top payrolls despite not being a top market (Boston population about 650,000?, MA population less than metro NYC or LA?). And after the loss of one of Boston’s largest companies, John Hancock, what is the problem with a Boston based company having a large and successful international portfolio?
Meanwhile, as Colbert would say, the Sox are hovering just below the tax cap, and around the .500 mark despite crushing injuries while watching young kids take up the slack by developing in the Show, the farm is consistently improving, investment in staff and equipment is at a high point. Not too shabby.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on May 27, 2024 12:49:50 GMT -5
I hope our “kids” (Abreu, Bello, Bernardino, Booser, Criswell, Duran, Grissom, Hamilton, Rafaella, Slaten, Wong) stand up to their kids. I wish Casas and Yoshida were on that list.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on May 26, 2024 15:29:50 GMT -5
And BC women just won the Natl Championship in lacrosse. Worth the side trip. 2nd win in 4 years. Great game. Now to finish the Sox recording free from anxiety.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on May 25, 2024 12:43:22 GMT -5
Listening to what David Hamilton said about his using his off days in the cages to improve at bats (which seems to be a fact) was inspiring. This could be beneficial to little rafffy as well.
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