Snopek

This is basically how I feel about the team, but I'm just surprised at how controversial of a thought the bolded part seems to be around here.

What about with Rizzo, Sanchez, Urshela, Gleyber and Chapman all available for the Yankees? Also, they still lost all those "coin flip" games. Oh, except for the Field of Dreams game. They won that coin flip.

Maybe it's a low bar sort of thing when compared to Collins. Not that that makes it any better.

The arrogance is a little off-putting. Like, it's weird to me that some folks just can't entertain the idea that there might be some AL teams better than the Sox. I've seen the Yankees quickly dismissed as non-contenders, despite the fact that they're only 2.5 games back from the Sox in the W-L column. Don't get me wrong - I think this is a VERY good Sox team and I'm beyond excited for the potential playoff run. I just struggle to understand the cocky posts that state one's hopes as fact (and then invalidate those that don't see it the same way).

It's so obnoxious.

By that logic you should never bring in a relief pitcher ever.

Fair enough. Maybe I misinterpreted the post I initially quoted.

Here’s what I don’t understand: If the Sox lose 2 of 3 to a team and some people are upset, they’re told it’s a long season, doesn’t mean much, stop being negative, always something to complain about etc etc. But if the Sox win 2 of 3 it’s supposed to be conclusive as to which team is superior over the other? For the record, I don’t see Cleveland as a threat at all, but it has nothing to do with this past series. I just don’t follow the logic that a series can mean nothing or determine the better team, depending on whether the Sox won the series.

I'm not sure I believe that. Are they good enough to do that? Perhaps. Have they proven it? No way.

It sucks, but better now than October. I wasn’t expecting a perfect and seamless return from the IL for any of our guys.

I’m as cautious as they come, but this is a healthy perspective to have. This is how you take advantage of the huge lead/terrible division.

You and your high standards. Don't you know you're supposed to be content?

I absolutely agree that he could be our best SP the last 6 weeks, but last I read they view him as too valuable coming out of the pen. I don't think there's enough time to stretch him out at this point.

Insurance. Can never have enough SP. Especially if Rodon is experiencing some fatigue.

It’s their job.

Sources confirm the sport, however, is indeed definitely probably baseball.

I agree to an extent. Problem is, the playoffs will be loaded with really good pitching (including ours!), so the "tip your cap" thing has to end at some point.

If it weren't for me it would have only been 122.9%.

So the dreaded question...who are we bringing in to pitch the 7th/8th?

This is basically it. Thinking you can make someone change and trying to make them change, on an internet message board no less, is pretty arrogant and selfish.

Whole lot of implying how to be a fan in this thread. So Jack is pessimistic (or "realistic," in his words). Who cares? How does that affect you? We all approach fandom differently. We're all rooting for the same outcome.

In the three most recent road series vs contenders (@NYY, @HOU, @MIL), the Sox have been outscored 54-15. Obviously this doesn’t definitively prove anything one way or another (injuries, etc), but it’d be foolish to completely dismiss it because they have a cushy division lead on four not good teams.

I get what you're saying here, it's a low bar. I agree that even decent (but not great) performances by Eloy/Yaz/Robert are an improvement over the current situation, but I guess what I'm wondering is...how much of an actual improvement is that? Are 'non world beater' versions of Eloy/Yaz/Robert enough to make the Sox AL favorites? Not asking you or anyone in particular - no one knows - but it's just something I'm thinking about. This is a great point.

Nah, I was never in favor of them adding a big bat like Gallo. As you said, it’s just hoping our guys come back healthy and productive. But it seems that a large number of folks are already concluding that Eloy, Luis and Yaz will come back and perform at their best.

Getting those three regulars back of course makes them a better team, but there seems to be this assumption/expectation that they will all come back and perform at a high level while avoiding any setbacks. It’s certainly possible, but I don’t know how realistic it is.