should be rolling out a much improved lineup every day this year. can't wait for pitchers and catchers to report!I seriously get wood thinking about the firepower involved here.
Sounds like a disaster. :Xsorry, Wood is back with the Cubs
You and the projectors down in Bristol, CT. They have almost everyone in the lineup having career years.I seriously get wood thinking about the firepower involved here.
Over/Under 100 SBs for Crawford+Ellsbury?You and the projectors down in Bristol, CT. They have almost everyone in the lineup having career years.I seriously get wood thinking about the firepower involved here.
IMO Beckett returns to 2 status and Buck regresses a little. I'm not sure on Lackey but we'll see. Lester is still among the best armis in the game and a great 1. Not the top rotation in the league but possibly top 5 if things shake out. Pen looks pretty decent with depth being questionable. I'm just not sold on Papelbon anymore but he's got something to prove this year....we'll see. Given the offense, we won't NEED the Arms to all revert to top form, but it wouldn't hurt. IMO Boston is a borderline lock for 900 runs and could flirt with 950. Assuming everyone stays healthy I think they win 93 with ease and could flirt with 100. IMO vegas is pretty decent at 96. I like the over there w/ a Push on that 96. Optimistic? Maybe... but not overly so.I'm a sox fan, and I think they are the team to beat in the AL East.That being said, I think we (Sox fans, media, etc.) are too quick to assume the Buchholz will repeat his 2010 performance. I think us assuming a 17-7 record with a 2.30 ERA is a bit optimistic.I'm thinking he reverts back to a 13-10 with 3.5 ERA. Not bad, but not dominant. Obviously, we have to hope that Beckett and Lackey will be much better than 2010.Thoughts?
I'm not sure how you think their bullpen depth is an issue. They have 3 closers in Papelbon, Jenks and Bard. And nice set up men in Wheeler, Okajima, and Reyes and a nice long option in Wakefield. There depth at Pawtucket is also pretty deep. Bowden, Rice, Atchison, Albers and a few others.That Papelbon, Jenks, Bard top 3 is pretty sick.IMO Beckett returns to 2 status and Buck regresses a little. I'm not sure on Lackey but we'll see. Lester is still among the best armis in the game and a great 1. Not the top rotation in the league but possibly top 5 if things shake out. Pen looks pretty decent with depth being questionable. I'm just not sold on Papelbon anymore but he's got something to prove this year....we'll see. Given the offense, we won't NEED the Arms to all revert to top form, but it wouldn't hurt. IMO Boston is a borderline lock for 900 runs and could flirt with 950. Assuming everyone stays healthy I think they win 93 with ease and could flirt with 100. IMO vegas is pretty decent at 96. I like the over there w/ a Push on that 96. Optimistic? Maybe... but not overly so.I'm a sox fan, and I think they are the team to beat in the AL East.That being said, I think we (Sox fans, media, etc.) are too quick to assume the Buchholz will repeat his 2010 performance. I think us assuming a 17-7 record with a 2.30 ERA is a bit optimistic.I'm thinking he reverts back to a 13-10 with 3.5 ERA. Not bad, but not dominant. Obviously, we have to hope that Beckett and Lackey will be much better than 2010.Thoughts?
Boston proposed trading catcher Victor Martinez to Tampa Bay in exchange for Crawford before the season began, according to a baseball source familiar with the proposed deal. Both players were entering their walk years, and both wound up leaving their teams at the end of the year as free agents. The Rays did not immediately reject the deal, but told Boston they would need to pursue one or two other potential moves in order to make it happen. The secondary moves fell through, and thus so too did the Martinez-for-Crawford blockbuster.
Still doesn't beat this.This is just about the stupidest thing I have ever seen in my life.
There's needs to be a license to produce videos.Still doesn't beat this.This is just about the stupidest thing I have ever seen in my life.
With Bobby Jenks as a component? I think not.Is this the best bullpen ever assembled?
I liked the one with Eric Gagne betterIs this the best bullpen ever assembled?
It's not even the best bullpen in the division.Is this the best bullpen ever assembled?
Yes it isIt's not even the best bullpen in the division.Is this the best bullpen ever assembled?
Slim chance over Scutaro.... this has been covered already.So how long before Jed is playing full time?
Easily the best bullpen in baseball.It's not even the best bullpen in the division.Is this the best bullpen ever assembled?
Riiiiight....guys with >10 K/9 and >3.3 K/BB just grow on treesOR there were only 5 relief pitchers in the AL to accomplish this last year.People seem to forget / ignore / not realize that he had the second worst BABIP of all pitchers last year. http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=rel&lg=al&qual=y&type=2&season=2010&month=0&season1=2010&ind=0With Bobby Jenks as a component? I think not.Is this the best bullpen ever assembled?
You seem to forget / ignore / not realize that he had a line drive rate of 20.8%. A numbers that's gone up the last 3 years.You better hope that Tito's willing to coddle Bobby when his bottle of Jack is empty like Ozzie did.Riiiiight....guys with >10 K/9 and >3.3 K/BB just grow on treesOR there were only 5 relief pitchers in the AL to accomplish this last year.People seem to forget / ignore / not realize that he had the second worst BABIP of all pitchers last year. http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=rel&lg=al&qual=y&type=2&season=2010&month=0&season1=2010&ind=0With Bobby Jenks as a component? I think not.Is this the best bullpen ever assembled?
I'll take the pen with the stud who led the AL in saves, with a .8 WHIP, setting up the best closer ever. Not saying that Boston's pen isn't any good, I just think the Yankees are better. We'll see.Easily the best bullpen in baseball.It's not even the best bullpen in the division.Is this the best bullpen ever assembled?
XYou seem to forget / ignore / not realize that he had a line drive rate of 20.8%. A numbers that's gone up the last 3 years.
2008 - 14.1%'wilked said:X'Limp Ditka said:You seem to forget / ignore / not realize that he had a line drive rate of 20.8%. A numbers that's gone up the last 3 years.
I knew the bullpen was bad last year, but this really puts it into perspectivethe Sox had 20 relief pitchers on the active roster last season. Only four of those pitchers are expected to be on Opening Day rosters this year.
I'm no mathematician, but it looks to me that it has gone up the last two years, not three broski...2008 - 14.1%'wilked said:X'Limp Ditka said:You seem to forget / ignore / not realize that he had a line drive rate of 20.8%. A numbers that's gone up the last 3 years.
2009 - 18.1%
2010 - 20.8%
Give it timeI'm no mathematician, but it looks to me that it has gone up the last two years, not three broski...2008 - 14.1%'wilked said:X'Limp Ditka said:You seem to forget / ignore / not realize that he had a line drive rate of 20.8%. A numbers that's gone up the last 3 years.
2009 - 18.1%
2010 - 20.8%
What stat would you like to be predictive? How about ERA, ERA+, WHIP, BB/9? Each number has been in decline since the end of 2008Also, there have been numerous studies that show that 'line drive percentage against' is not a skill, and is not predictive. Are you arguing otherwise? Care to share your data?
How about looking at useful stats for relievers, to start with. FIP is a useful metric... Here are AL relievers last year, sorted by FIP. He keeps pretty good companyhttp://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=rel&lg=al&qual=y&type=8&season=2010&month=0&season1=2010&ind=0K/9 and K/BB are useful metrics for relievers, again, here is the company he keeps therehttp://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=rel&lg=al&qual=y&type=8&season=2010&month=0&season1=2010&ind=0http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=rel&lg=al&qual=y&type=1&season=2010&month=0&season1=2010&ind=0The guy had terrible luck last year with BABIP, there is no question on this. He strikes out a ton of guys and does not put guys on with a walk. If you really think he sucks still, I am not going to change your mind, but the stats lead me to believe he will have an excellent year with a good defense behind him.What stat would you like to be predictive? How about ERA, ERA+, WHIP, BB/9? Each number has been in decline since the end of 2008Also, there have been numerous studies that show that 'line drive percentage against' is not a skill, and is not predictive. Are you arguing otherwise? Care to share your data?
If healthy Oakland's is better.'Finless said:Easily the best bullpen in baseball.'Man In The Box said:It's not even the best bullpen in the division.'Finless said:Is this the best bullpen ever assembled?
Yes. You're going to judge him by his outing today. Look at his numbers from last year.Is Daniel Bard an important piece of this epic bullpen?
Let me see if I have this right....You proclaimed the entire bullpen the 'best ever assembled' before a pitch was even thrown, yet you have a problem with me commenting about one player after real baseball actually took place?Is that how I should be reading this?Yes. You're going to judge him by his outing today. Look at his numbers from last year.Is Daniel Bard an important piece of this epic bullpen?
Woah woah woah. The Yanks have Joba, Robertson, Soriano, and Mariano. Easy here chiefYes it isIt's not even the best bullpen in the division.Is this the best bullpen ever assembled?
I think Joba deserves to be mentioned with the "remaining flotsam and jetsam". He's been terrible for two years.If you put all the Sox & Yanks bullpen arms in a bag and could choose from any of them wouldn't the order be:MarianoSorianoBardPapelbonJenksRobertsonChamberlainRemaining flotsam and jetsamI mean is this even debatable? People are really arguing the Sox bullpen is better than the Yanks?
Is Pujols teh suck after going 0-5 on Opening Day?Let me see if I have this right....You proclaimed the entire bullpen the 'best ever assembled' before a pitch was even thrown, yet you have a problem with me commenting about one player after real baseball actually took place?Is that how I should be reading this?