Red Sox 2019 (design, clean, outside)

[redplum33]

Originally Posted by MMS02760

It however means nothing now. We don't have the same team as last year and much of the competition (unlike the Red Sox) added talent and got better.

They're not playing like last year's team, but it is essentially the same team as last year (minus Kimbrel and Joe Kelly). I do have concerns about the bullpen, but I don't feel the loss of Kimbrel and Kelly is the issue. This is a remarkably talented team that is being poorly managed.

Devers has improved tremendously offensively and defensively, Xander has really stepped it up, and Chavis should be considered an improvement to the team. However, Mookie has not performed to his potential and that has significantly harmed the team. IMO, Mookie didn't deserve to make the All-Star team.

Jerry Remy often says that he doesn't believe team chemistry plays a big role. As an example he points out that the 1978 team was "25 guys, 25 cabs". I disagree with Jerry; I believe the 1978 team was an aberration in that regard.

And while not a 25 cabs situation in 2019, I feel that there's a major problem -- a divisiveness that was painfully evident when they visited the White House.

When taking into consideration Mookie's lackluster performance, a pitching staff that didn't show up for Spring Training, an arrogant and vastly overrated manager, and hostility within the clubhouse, it's easy to understand why this very talented team is 11 games behind on July 1st.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by redplum33

They're not playing like last year's team, but it is essentially the same team as last year (minus Kimbrel and Joe Kelly). I do have concerns about the bullpen, but I don't feel the loss of Kimbrel and Kelly is the issue. This is a remarkably talented team that is being poorly managed.

Devers has improved tremendously offensively and defensively, Xander has really stepped it up, and Chavis should be considered an improvement to the team. However, Mookie has not performed to his potential and that has significantly harmed the team. IMO, Mookie didn't deserve to make the All-Star team.

Jerry Remy often says that he doesn't believe team chemistry plays a big role. As an example he points out that the 1978 team was "25 guys, 25 cabs". I disagree with Jerry; I believe the 1978 team was an aberration in that regard.

And while not a 25 cabs situation in 2019, I feel that there's a major problem -- a divisiveness that was painfully evident when they visited the White House.

When taking into consideration Mookie's lackluster performance, a pitching staff that didn't show up for Spring Training, an arrogant and vastly overrated manager, and hostility within the clubhouse, it's easy to understand why this very talented team is 11 games behind on July 1st.

I think it's a bit more simple than that. I think it's essentially two things.

1. You don't have a reliable back end of the bullpen. They've blown a ton of games this year for that reason alone. They can't hold a lead. They also struggle to win close games (which they did a lot of last years). Eovaldi is allegedly being considered for closer. I don't know about that one. We'll see.
2. You have a little bit of a hangover. Last year there was a little more of an edge to prove to the world they could do it. They did it. Now they're less fire/drive. That shouldn't stop a good team from winning again, but see number 1. They can weather a few offensive struggles (this team isn't having a hard time scoring either), but the back end of the bullpen is killing them.

I think chemistry plays a role in success (see: 2013 or 2004), but I don't think it's necessarily an issue here and I don't think the white house visit is indicative of a rift (white house visits are polarizing no matter who is occupying it). I also think that Cora is an excellent manager. I'm not sure how he's overrated. He can be arrogant at times, but he generally gets the best out of his players. Players around the league love playing for him.

[redplum33]

Originally Posted by lrfox

I think it's a bit more simple than that. I think it's essentially two things.

1. You don't have a reliable back end of the bullpen. They've blown a ton of games this year for that reason alone. They can't hold a lead. They also struggle to win close games (which they did a lot of last years). Eovaldi is allegedly being considered for closer. I don't know about that one. We'll see.
2. You have a little bit of a hangover. Last year there was a little more of an edge to prove to the world they could do it. They did it. Now they're less fire/drive. That shouldn't stop a good team from winning again, but see number 1. They can weather a few offensive struggles (this team isn't having a hard time scoring either), but the back end of the bullpen is killing them.

I think chemistry plays a role in success (see: 2013 or 2004), but I don't think it's necessarily an issue here and I don't think the white house visit is indicative of a rift (white house visits are polarizing no matter who is occupying it). I also think that Cora is an excellent manager. I'm not sure how he's overrated. He can be arrogant at times, but he generally gets the best out of his players. Players around the league love playing for him.

The stars aligned last year.

I feel Cora is responsible for the pitching situation. From the lack of innings the starters got in Spring Training to the current mismanagement of the bullpen. I don't see the bullpen as lacking talent.

Regarding the White House, all of the white guys went. All of the black and brown guys didn't go (including the manager). I can't see how this wouldn't be a problem.

[redplum33]

https://twitter.com/NBC10_Joe/status...29395284873216

[redplum33]

Beautiful start in Toronto. Devers crushed that!

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by redplum33

The stars aligned last year.

I feel Cora is responsible for the pitching situation. From the lack of innings the starters got in Spring Training to the current mismanagement of the bullpen. I don't see the bullpen as lacking talent.

Regarding the White House, all of the white guys went. All of the black and brown guys didn't go (including the manager). I can't see how this wouldn't be a problem.

I think "the stars aligned" is selling what happened last year short. I would only apply "the stars aligned" to the 2013 team that relied on career years from some guys, and some older players using every drop of gas they had in the tank.

Last year you had a potent offensive team that had bullpen struggles all season and a superstar closer who was anything but lights out in the postseason. In spite of winning 108 games, a lot of analysts were calling the Astros and Yankees favorites going into the postseason. As with any team in any sport, the bulk of it comes down to the players and David Price found his playoff groove, and Eovaldi stepped up big in multiple spots. But a lot of credit should be given to Cora for making the right moves with an imperfect bullpen, or using the right hitters in the right spots (remember pinch hitting Nunez for Devers?), etc.

I still don't think it matters though. Again, you've had players and coaches skipping White House visits since White House visits were a thing. I cannot imagine a scenario in which anyone could point to the White House visit as an issue with the 2019 team.

[redplum33]

Originally Posted by lrfox

I think "the stars aligned" is selling what happened last year short. I would only apply "the stars aligned" to the 2013 team that relied on career years from some guys, and some older players using every drop of gas they had in the tank.

Last year you had a potent offensive team that had bullpen struggles all season and a superstar closer who was anything but lights out in the postseason. In spite of winning 108 games, a lot of analysts were calling the Astros and Yankees favorites going into the postseason. As with any team in any sport, the bulk of it comes down to the players and David Price found his playoff groove, and Eovaldi stepped up big in multiple spots. But a lot of credit should be given to Cora for making the right moves with an imperfect bullpen, or using the right hitters in the right spots (remember pinch hitting Nunez for Devers?), etc.

I still don't think it matters though. Again, you've had players and coaches skipping White House visits since White House visits were a thing. I cannot imagine a scenario in which anyone could point to the White House visit as an issue with the 2019 team.

To be clear, I meant the stars aligned for Cora. The 2018 team was extremely talented.

I don't want to turn this into a political discussion, so I think it's probably best to agree to disagree about the White House visit.

That kid from Barrington didn't look so great last night, but I think he will help the team.

[redplum33]

Chavis! Unbelievable comeback!

[redplum33]

Marco Hernandez! Let's see if the bullpen can finish this off...

[redplum33]

3 hour rain delay at this point...