AL EAST 2009
- Thread starter BillD1984
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I absolutely love the pitching. This staff is the deepest Sox staff I can recall in my 30+ years following them.
IMO, the bullpen is the deepest in baseball. If Paps needs a day off, they have 3 or 4 guys that they can plug in.
If EITHER Penny or Smoltz pan out, this also could be the best rotation in baseball.
I am however, a little concerned with the offense. Ellsbury has yet to prove he can do it over the long haul. Will Papi's wrist problems return? Can Youkilis carry the burden of a clean-up hitter from the get go? Can J.D. Drew stay on the field? Will Mike Lowell's hip hold up? Will the sophomore jinx hit Jed Lowrie? Can Varitek avoid being an almost automatic out again?
If most of those questions are answered positively, then the Sox can without a doubt win another championship. But if not, it could be third place in the East.
Injuries are the great equalizer in baseball. They can make also-rans of the best. I agree with your assessment of the pitching. Probably the best in baseball. Of course I thought that of the 2006 Tigers. Like I said, injuries.....
IMO, the Al East is going to be an interesting division- three very good teams and two not-so-good teams (O's, Jays).
This could be like the Big East in basketball, with the heavyweights- Red Sox, Yankees, and Rays- taking turns beating one another, while the lightweights take their lumps.
It's a case of the strong being strong and the weak being very weak.
This could be like the Big East in basketball, with the heavyweights- Red Sox, Yankees, and Rays- taking turns beating one another, while the lightweights take their lumps.
It's a case of the strong being strong and the weak being very weak.
Yep, but with the depth they have they are hopefully well positioned to deal with the injuries....
PLAY BALL!!!!
Red Sox president Larry Lucchino gave a tour of the stadium to Boston mayor Thomas Menino on Thursday, four days before the opener against Tampa Bay. Lucchino says a few more years of upgrades will be done and the park should last for another 40 to 50 years. This is the eighth straight year of improvements. There are more seats in the upper right field stands.
GO RED SOX!!!!!!
Red Sox president Larry Lucchino gave a tour of the stadium to Boston mayor Thomas Menino on Thursday, four days before the opener against Tampa Bay. Lucchino says a few more years of upgrades will be done and the park should last for another 40 to 50 years. This is the eighth straight year of improvements. There are more seats in the upper right field stands.
GO RED SOX!!!!!!
Holy crap!! NEW SEATS!!PLAY BALL!!!!
Red Sox president Larry Lucchino gave a tour of the stadium to Boston mayor Thomas Menino on Thursday, four days before the opener against Tampa Bay. Lucchino says a few more years of upgrades will be done and the park should last for another 40 to 50 years. This is the eighth straight year of improvements. There are more seats in the upper right field stands.
GO RED SOX!!!!!!
:upBreaking down the AL East.....................
The Tony Massarotti Sports Blog, featuring Red Sox, Bruins, Patriots and Celtics analysis
The Tony Massarotti Sports Blog, featuring Red Sox, Bruins, Patriots and Celtics analysis
PLAY BALL!!!!
Red Sox president Larry Lucchino gave a tour of the stadium to Boston mayor Thomas Menino on Thursday, four days before the opener against Tampa Bay. Lucchino says a few more years of upgrades will be done and the park should last for another 40 to 50 years. This is the eighth straight year of improvements. There are more seats in the upper right field stands.
GO RED SOX!!!!!!
Holy crap!! NEW SEATS!!
Bill, where are the new seats? Also, I wonder how come new stadiums are built and yet a place like Fenway just keeps improving and getting better.
PLAY BALL!!!!
Red Sox president Larry Lucchino gave a tour of the stadium to Boston mayor Thomas Menino on Thursday, four days before the opener against Tampa Bay. Lucchino says a few more years of upgrades will be done and the park should last for another 40 to 50 years. This is the eighth straight year of improvements. There are more seats in the upper right field stands.
GO RED SOX!!!!!!
"Hey, what's with the big yellow pole?"
This should have been in the "Caption this" thread.
I'm not quite as sold on the AL East being all that, the "Top 3" in the division all have questions
The Sox have become for lack of a better word are now "Corporate", I personally think they have too many players on the backside of their careers offensively(Oritz, Lowell, Drew, Varitek).
The Yankees have a bunch of players coming off of injuries, and the Rays will no longer be treated as a surprise and are thin in pitching.
The Jays are same as every year, they don't get better....and there don't seem to care.
The Orioles have small pieces here and there, they just need a player or two to blossom(Jones) to maybe be relevant again.
AL EAST PREDICTION
1. Yankees(90-72)
2. Red So
89-73)
3. Rays(86-76)
4. Blue Jays(76-86)
5. Orioles(74-88)
The Sox have become for lack of a better word are now "Corporate", I personally think they have too many players on the backside of their careers offensively(Oritz, Lowell, Drew, Varitek).
The Yankees have a bunch of players coming off of injuries, and the Rays will no longer be treated as a surprise and are thin in pitching.
The Jays are same as every year, they don't get better....and there don't seem to care.
The Orioles have small pieces here and there, they just need a player or two to blossom(Jones) to maybe be relevant again.
AL EAST PREDICTION
1. Yankees(90-72)
2. Red So
89-73)3. Rays(86-76)
4. Blue Jays(76-86)
5. Orioles(74-88)
Francona confirms Penny start
By: Rob Bradford
After the Red Sox' spring training finale -- a 7-3 loss to Minnesota at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Fla. -- manager Terry Francona confirmed that if all goes as planned Brad Penny will be making the April 12 start for the Sox in Anaheim. Penny finished off the spring schedule by pitching five innings, giving up three runs on five hits while striking out three and not walking a batter. He threw 79 pitches and is slated to next pitch on the Red Sox' off day, Tuesday, although it has yet to be determined where that will be.
By: Rob Bradford
After the Red Sox' spring training finale -- a 7-3 loss to Minnesota at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Fla. -- manager Terry Francona confirmed that if all goes as planned Brad Penny will be making the April 12 start for the Sox in Anaheim. Penny finished off the spring schedule by pitching five innings, giving up three runs on five hits while striking out three and not walking a batter. He threw 79 pitches and is slated to next pitch on the Red Sox' off day, Tuesday, although it has yet to be determined where that will be.
Red Sox fans,
Tell me about Jed Lowrie. I have him in one of my fantasy leagues and don't know much about him. Was he ever a highly touted prospect? Should I expect more power than he showed last year? When Lugo returns, he he going to take Lowrie's job?
Tell me about Jed Lowrie. I have him in one of my fantasy leagues and don't know much about him. Was he ever a highly touted prospect? Should I expect more power than he showed last year? When Lugo returns, he he going to take Lowrie's job?
I expect Lowrie to be a very solid Major League ballplayer. I don't think he'll be a perennial all-star or anything, but solid just the same.
I'd expect him to get anywhere between 350-400 AB's while hitting about .270 with 8-10 HR's and 50-60 RBI's.
As far as Lowrie's ceiling goes, I'd venture to guess: .285/15/70
IMO, it could not be more fitting that the Red Sox and Rays start the season against one another, giving their highly-entertaining games they played last season, as well as their thrilling ALCS.
Not just last season.....I think I can remember a few brawls between these two teams from a few seasons back (when Pedro was with the Sox)
