How about those RED SOX!

[Goondal]

...and we signed Masterson.  Excuse me while I go jump off a bridge.

[Goondal]

Sox trade high ceiling prospect Anthony Ranaudo for Robbie flippin' Ross?  We entered this offseason with all this extra cash and a surplus of prospects.  How have they managed to give give both away without making the team better?

 

If they had signed nobody and traded nobody and just went into the season saying they wanted to give the young guys a shot I would have been fine with it.  This offseason just keeps getting worse.  Every time I see a prediction on the East I see the Sox at the top.  Why?  Offseason grade is a D+ at this point...and the only reason it is that high is Porcello.

[Goondal]

Very nice start to the season with five home runs. Clay looked very good.

[Goondal]

Also, Porcello signs a four year, eighty million dollar extension, seems a little steep but I am happy to lock him down

[pantherphan96]

Very nice start to the season with five home runs. Clay looked very good.

 

Here's hoping Buchholz stays healthy and reemerges as the ace of this rotation. With this offense potentially being better than the 2013 one, and a 2013-esque Buchholz, it could be another special year for the Sox.

[Goondal]

Here's hoping Buchholz stays healthy and reemerges as the ace of this rotation. With this offense potentially being better than the 2013 one, and a 2013-esque Buchholz, it could be another special year for the Sox.

I sure hope he does, he tends to be better in odd numbered years. If not though I do not expect a repeat of the worst to first, even if he does it will be tough. I was not as impressed with the offseason as others

[pantherphan96]

I sure hope he does, he tends to be better in odd numbered years. If not though I do not expect a repeat of the worst to first, even if he does it will be tough. I was not as impressed with the offseason as others

 

The offseason wasn't as great as it was made out to be, but the AL East doesn't appear to be all that improved, I think the Orioles will regress significantly and I don't see the Yankees or Rays being able to battle for the division.

[Goondal]

The offseason wasn't as great as it was made out to be, but the AL East doesn't appear to be all that improved, I think the Orioles will regress significantly and I don't see the Yankees or Rays being able to battle for the division.

orioles will definitely regress. I agree on the Yankees and Rays especially not competing.

I see Toronto, Baltimore, and the Sox all around 83-87 wins. Koji and Hanley staying healthy will be huge I think.

[*FreeFua*]

orioles will definitely regress. I agree on the Yankees and Rays especially not competing.

I see Toronto, Baltimore, and the Sox all around 83-87 wins. Koji and Hanley staying healthy will be huge I think.

If Toronto's rotation doesn't bury them their bullpen will. They'll score runs but they aren't going to out score teams all year.

[pantherphan96]

orioles will definitely regress. I agree on the Yankees and Rays especially not competing.

I see Toronto, Baltimore, and the Sox all around 83-87 wins. Koji and Hanley staying healthy will be huge I think.

 

I really don't see Baltimore doing all that well with a mediocre offense and starting rotation. I think a healthy Pedroia could be a huge difference for the offense this year.

 

If Toronto's rotation doesn't bury them their bullpen will. They'll score runs but they aren't going to out score teams all year.

Them losing Stroman really hurt, he could have headlined their rotation as the #1. Now their only hope is that Norris can progress quickly and be the ace. They also have to bank on Buehrle and Dickey having enough in the tank for one more good year

[*FreeFua*]

I really don't see Baltimore doing all that well with a mediocre offense and starting rotation. I think a healthy Pedroia could be a huge difference for the offense this year.

Them losing Stroman really hurt, he could have headlined their rotation as the #1. Now their only hope is that Norris can progress quickly and be the ace. They also have to bank on Buehrle and Dickey having enough in the tank for one more good year

Aaron Sanchez definitely has big time potential and Drew Hitchinson is only 24 but I don't think they'll get anything consistent from any of these guys this year, just too young.

Dickey pitched well last night but that inexperienced bullpen started the meltdown and Cecil finished it.

I think your division comes down to you guys and Baltimore and the rest aren't all that close in the end

[pantherphan96]

Aaron Sanchez definitely has big time potential and Drew Hitchinson is only 24 but I don't think they'll get anything consistent from any of these guys this year, just too young.

Dickey pitched well last night but that inexperienced bullpen started the meltdown and Cecil finished it.

I think your division comes down to you guys and Baltimore and the rest aren't all that close in the end

 

I believe Hutch's potential caps at a #3 rotation guy. Mid 4s ERA is not a good sign, especially as the league turns more and more into a pitcher's league. Definitely too early to tell with Sanchez, can't say I'm too worried about him, maybe in a couple more years. Dickey is also tough to tell because he's a knuckleballer so his arm is not as old as 40 year old fastballer but knuckleballers are very volatile game-to-game. Barring injuries I would expect the Sox to win the division, but not sure how far we can go without an ace or dominant closer (depending on how Koji recovers)

[*FreeFua*]

I believe Hutch's potential caps at a #3 rotation guy. Mid 4s ERA is not a good sign, especially as the league turns more and more into a pitcher's league. Definitely too early to tell with Sanchez, can't say I'm too worried about him, maybe in a couple more years. Dickey is also tough to tell because he's a knuckleballer so his arm is not as old as 40 year old fastballer but knuckleballers are very volatile game-to-game. Barring injuries I would expect the Sox to win the division, but not sure how far we can go without an ace or dominant closer (depending on how Koji recovers)

Yep, agree with everything you said

[pantherphan96]

Not a fan of Mujica as our closer. Exhibit A right there.