JoltinJoe wrote:The Sox are weak up the middle, at CF, C, and SS. C is a huge problem. You can carry a bad offensive catcher if his defense is respectable. But the Sox are extremely weak at C, both offensively and especially defensively. You don't win championships being so weak up the middle, especially at the C position.
The Yanks grabbing Russell Martin, when the Sox thought they were going to get him, has been overlooked. But that move was more significant than most everyday fans grasp.
CF is weak?
Jed Lowrie will start more games at SS than Scutaro in 2011... and Lowrie will hit 20 HRs and outperform Jeter across the board.
Sure Catcher is a spot you look at with a bit of concern, but Salty and Tek will combine for 25-30 HR
You should be more concerned with the Yankees offense than the Red Sox'
Jed Lowrie will start more games at SS than Scutaro in 2011... and Lowrie will hit 20 HRs and outperform Jeter across the board.
Sure Catcher is a spot you look at with a bit of concern, but Salty and Tek will combine for 25-30 HR
You should be more concerned with the Yankees offense than the Red Sox'
Good stuff.
jeebus travis... really?
catcher is going to be a hole in the lineup for the Sox... so is SS... if they get even VORP there they will be fine...
Yook, Pedroia, Gonzalez, Ortiz in the middle of the lineup and a healthier year should put them over the top in the division... you don't need to exaggerate their thinner positions to make that point.
North Dakota State University Bison 2011 and 2012 National Champions
catcher is going to be a hole in the lineup for the Sox... so is SS... if they get even VORP there they will be fine...
Yook, Pedroia, Gonzalez, Ortiz in the middle of the lineup and a healthier year should put them over the top in the division... you don't need to exaggerate their thinner positions to make that point.
I may be being a bit optimistic with Saltalamacchia, but he certainly could have a breakout season, he will be 26 this year which is the start of a players prime... Of course its nothing more than optimism at this point as theres nothing to back up my prediction.
Lowrie though hit 9 HR in 197 AB last season after finally getting healthy. If he gets 500 ABs this year, 20 HRs is very much possible... he should have a decent OBP too.
Ellsbury and Crawford will combine for 100+ stolen bases.
The only weak link on offense will be at catcher.... and its just as likely they get good production from there than it is they dont.
catcher is going to be a hole in the lineup for the Sox... so is SS... if they get even VORP there they will be fine...
Yook, Pedroia, Gonzalez, Ortiz in the middle of the lineup and a healthier year should put them over the top in the division... you don't need to exaggerate their thinner positions to make that point.
Ortiz will continue to decline. He was never really that good and his now falling apart from his steroid prime.
JoltinJoe wrote:The Yanks grabbing Russell Martin, when the Sox thought they were going to get him, has been overlooked. But that move was more significant than most everyday fans grasp.
QTF.
Remember I said this.
Last edited by JoltinJoe on Sat Apr 09, 2011 11:36 am, edited 1 time in total.
The day began with bad news for the Orioles, as Brian Matusz was officially placed on the disabled list with a strained intercostal muscle and could miss three-to-six weeks.
It shifted to optimism as the club announced that prized left-hander Zach Britton would be called up from Triple-A to make his major league debut on Sunday.
It ended in joy, as former prized prospect Chris Tillman pitched six no-hit innings and Nick Markakis made a spectacular game-saving catch to preserve a 3-1 victory over Tampa Bay.
The Orioles haven’t finished above .500 since 1997, and unlike the Pirates and Royals, haven’t been able to use financial impoverishment as a complete excuse, as they mostly drafted poorly and invested unwisely. The years of losing sapped the baseball energy in Baltimore, as attendance at once-packed Camden Yards declined from leading the American League four consecutive years in the '90s to ranking 10th in the league in 2010.
There is a good chance that will climb this season. The team went 34-23 after Buck Showalter took over last season, with the improvement coming in two areas: the team played better defense and the pitchers threw more strikes.
That mandate was on display Saturday night. Markakis made two superb plays in right field, including the final out when he ranged back to the wall and robbed Ben Zobrist of a potential game-tying double. Earlier, left fielder Felix Pie (in the game only because Luke Scott had strained a groin in the top of the inning) threw a strike to home to nail the speedy B.J. Upton in the seventh to keep the game tied 0-0.
But the big story was Tillman, a tall right-hander who originally came from Seattle in the Erik Bedard trade. He’s been a strike-thrower in the minors, but in 23 career major league starts has been tentative, nibbling at the corners like many young pitchers, an approach that has led to 4.2 walks per nine innings, include 5.2 last season.
He was ticketed for more time in Triple-A, but a hip injury to Justin Duchscherer opened a rotation slot and then he was pushed up a day in place of Matusz. Against a Tampa lineup known for working the count and taking walks (the Rays led the AL in 2010), Tillman did issue three free passes in six innings, pushing his pitch count to 101 and an early dismissal, but challenged hitters more than I've seen him in the past. I’m hesistant to read too much into this outing, as only four of his 13 in-play outs were groundballs. Still, you never know when an outing look this can be the confidence-builder a young pitcher needs.
On Sunday, Britton starts. He’s a lefty with a power sinker/slider combo who generated a lot of groundballs and ranked No. 11 on Keith Law’s top 100 prospects list. He was the team’s best pitcher in spring training and the only reason he didn’t make the squad was an attempt to protect his service time.
If the Orioles can hold the rotation together until Matusz returns, this team could be a big surprise. The lineup will be relying on the aging bats of Derrek Lee and Vladimir Guerrero, hopeful improvement from Matt Wieters, and the unknown productivity of whiff king Mark Reynolds. If those guys hit, this could be a fun team worthy of bringing the fans back Camden Yards.
Since August 3 when Buck Showalter was hired... we have the best record in the American League. Only team in baseball with a better record over that timespan is the Phillies. Fucking incredible considering how awful we were most of last year.
I'm trying to stay realistic and not blow my load the first week of the baseball season. I think 3rd or 4th in the AL East is the most likely scenario... but, wow. It took us 20 or 25 games or so to win our first 4 last year.
4-0
"The unmasking thing was all created by Devin Nunes"
- Richard Burr, (R-NC)
its still too early for that man. Maybe orioles could be 3rd place this season? Their manager is better and they got some good batters. Still, i don't think u should ask that question unless someone from the future comes and tells you
Grizalltheway wrote:Shit, looks like Andy had one too many fireflies at the game today.
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My brother was hammered and had just gotten up to go to the bathroom. When that guy ran out, my wife AND mom both said "Oh god, that's not dave is it?"
"Elaine, you're from Baltimore, right?"
"Yes, well, Towson actually."
Good stuff.
