The 2011 Red Sox Thread

[thetrailboss]

I know that it is August, but I've got to say that they are playing well as a team. Not to jinx it, but they could go all the way this season. The one thing I would improve on is their pitching, which seems to be struggling. Most games they get behind pretty quickly but then get warmed up and eventually surge ahead.

We'll see what happens......

 

[TheBEast]

Yes pitching is an issue. Good crop of up and comers in the field tho and Salty is coming into his own......Philly's starting pitching is killer....I'll put money on the Sox and Philly in the WS. Also nice to see the sox coming from behind and winning games late (although not tonight). They've sucked at wins like that in the last few years.

 

[deadheadskier]

Liking what I'm seeing from Bedard so far. I think he is the key to playoff success now that Bulcholz is done. Lackey doesn't do it for me as a #3 starter in the playoffs even though he performed well in big games for the Angels for many years.

 

[Geoff]

I remember Buckey F'ing Dent and other famous Red Sox September swoons. I'm not talking trash until late-September. The LAA and Texas could both get hot, the Sox could go flat and have a few key injuries, and Boston is out of the playoffs. The starting pitching is suspect. A rookie in right field is a big question mark. Scutaro has less range than Jeter and Lowrie is made of glass. Crawford swings at balls in the dirt and I think will prove to be a Theo Epstein mistake. The Sox were huge fun to watch when they were hot and scoring double digits every game but they also get shut down by nobodys.

I want to see a Sox-Yankees ALCS. The best rivalry in US professional sports. I care less about the World Series now that Boston has won a couple.

 

[drjeff]

I remember Buckey F'ing Dent and other famous Red Sox September swoons. I'm not talking trash until late-September. The LAA and Texas could both get hot, the Sox could go flat and have a few key injuries, and Boston is out of the playoffs. The starting pitching is suspect. A rookie in right field is a big question mark. Scutaro has less range than Jeter and Lowrie is made of glass. Crawford swings at balls in the dirt and I think will prove to be a Theo Epstein mistake. The Sox were huge fun to watch when they were hot and scoring double digits every game but they also get shut down by nobodys.

I want to see a Sox-Yankees ALCS. The best rivalry in US professional sports. I care less about the World Series now that Boston has won a couple.

Agree!!

And I'm also glad that the NFL preseason starts tonight, if for no other reason than it might take maybe 1 or 2% of the extra attention off the Redsox right now and hopefully let them continue playing the good ball that they have been as of late!

 

[thetrailboss]

Seems as if they are relying on their hitting to get them out of bad pitching.

 

[deadheadskier]

I remember Buckey F'ing Dent and other famous Red Sox September swoons. I'm not talking trash until late-September. The LAA and Texas could both get hot, the Sox could go flat and have a few key injuries, and Boston is out of the playoffs. The starting pitching is suspect. A rookie in right field is a big question mark. Scutaro has less range than Jeter and Lowrie is made of glass. Crawford swings at balls in the dirt and I think will prove to be a Theo Epstein mistake. The Sox were huge fun to watch when they were hot and scoring double digits every game but they also get shut down by nobodys.

I want to see a Sox-Yankees ALCS. The best rivalry in US professional sports. I care less about the World Series now that Boston has won a couple.

I've seen some pretty epic meltdowns in September in my life as well. Not quite the old fart you are, but I've seen plenty of them.

Your concerns are all quite valid. Though, I think it would have to be 2-3 major key injuries for the Sox to miss the playoffs this year. Angels are 7 games back in the Wildcard. This Red Sox team is still very deep despite it's weaknesses. I think they're a lock for the playoffs.

 

[JimG.]

I've seen some pretty epic meltdowns in September in my life as well. Not quite the old fart you are, but I've seen plenty of them.

Your concerns are all quite valid. Though, I think it would have to be 2-3 major key injuries for the Sox to miss the playoffs this year. Angels are 7 games back in the Wildcard. This Red Sox team is still very deep despite it's weaknesses. I think they're a lock for the playoffs.

You, Geoff and others are clearly tried and true Bosox fans.

And you're smart for not counting any chickens before they hatch.

Everyone wrote themselves a Phillies/Yankees World Series ticket last year and neither made it that far.

Pitching is what counts in the postseason. That's the reason San Fran won it all last season, with little offense I might add.

If I were forced to pick a WS winner now, it would be the Phillies...they have the best pitching staff by far. Nobody else is even close.

 

[snowmonster]

Talking about the Red Sox being a lock for the post-season is very premature. I remember watching Game 4 of the 2004 WS and thinking in the ninth inning what terrible series of events can unfold to make us lose this game and the next three games. If there was a team that could comeback from a dramatic ALCS, get to the brink of winning then squander it all away, it was the Red Sox of my youth.

Anyway, this edition of the Sox needs a reliable third starter. In a short series, you need three good arms. For some weird reason, I have faith in John Lackey. If he can focus for three months, then we have found the third guy. Otherwise, we have to ride the horse that got us here all these years, Tim Wakefield. Bedard can definitely insert himself into that slot. It's just that I don't have enough of a handle on him to form an opinion just yet. We hope for the best.

The Phillies' pitching rotation is sick!

 

[Nick]

It's hard to believe they are the same team they were in the spring. That was abysmal.

 

[JimG.]

This thread has been pretty dead lately. Fitting I guess.

Another late season Bosox swoon. Looks like they won't make the playoffs. Tonight's game was a killer.

Too bad the Yanks beat the Rays again.

 

[wa-loaf]

What are you talking about? The Pats are playing great. Need to work on the D a bit for the long haul ...

 

[deadheadskier]

I'm actually rooting for them to lose at this point. They're a disgrace. Something like 2-68 when trailing after 7 innings. ZERO heart. That's what made the 2004 and 2007 squads so great. Tons of heart and they were clutch when things counted most. Not this squad.

Theo needs to go. In the past two off seasons he's produced the worst free agent pitcher signing in baseball history in Lackey and now what looks to be the worst position player signing in Crawford. If I owned a team and my GM effed up to the tune of 227M dollars on just two players, he's gone. Never mind the decade long revolving door at shortstop, JD Drew, Bobby Jenks etc.

 

[snowmonster]

^ Eric Gagne, Dice-K...

I normally wait until the Red Sox are out until I start prepping the skis. Looks like I should start getting things in order.

 

[thetrailboss]

They LOST last night? They were ahead when I went to bed. Again, I went to bed at the right time......

 

[drjeff]

[size=+4]Go Patriots!!! [/size] [size=-4](since that seems likely to be the only pro sports team in Boston playing next week until the Celtics and Bruins start their seasons)[/size]

 

[Geoff]

Buchholz will be back, win a crucial game this next week, and shine in the ALDS.

 

[thetrailboss]

Buchholz will be back, win a crucial game this next week, and shine in the ALDS.

Odd since the Sox are saying that Bucholz is a no go for the rest of the season and post season.

 

[Black Phantom]

Buchholz will be back, win a crucial game this next week, and shine in the ALDS.

What about Al Dente?

 

[ZYDECORICH]

That clams in that chowder must be a little tougher today. In the words of Tom Petty freefalling!