almagest
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Everything posted by almagest
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Oh my goodness I hope so
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Don't know this account, but the "swing change" part is really interesting. If the Sox can turn into a team that can maximize value in trades by targeting players who need a tweak, and then actually make it impactful, that could be HUGE.
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Yea, they do, but there's a difference between being miserable about random nonsense and misery over legit issues. Being pissed about choking away a division title and playoff series in 2020 is legit. Being pissed about Machado/Harper and having a terrible free agency strategy is legit. Being pissed about LaRussa and that whole debacle is legit. Worrying about org player depth is legit. I also don't disagree with you about this season either. It's been awesome and they're already playing with house money from my perspective, but there are things they'll need to fix or they won't be able to take the next step. Pitching depth is a big issue for the Sox. They'll need to make some smart moves to bolster that. They'll also need Murakami and Teel back and producing because I don't think everyone is going to keep hitting like this through next season, much less for the rest of this one, and they'll need to have more insurance against a couple slumps taking down the offense.I dunno man, If anything I think you're looking back at that time with rose-colored glasses. I remember people flipping out about the Sox getting swept in 4 games by Cleveland in 2020 at the end of the year when fighting for the division, and dropping 9 of their last 12 en route to blowing a 1-0 lead in a best of three against Oakland. After the season wasn't as good as you remember either. Ricky Renteria got fired for that performance and everyone was stoked about it until Hinch LaRussa was hired a couple weeks later, which was also terrible vibes and caused a meltdown here and on sports radio. You had the press release debacle and that area in the stadium being renamed for LaRussa over (IIRC) a long-time employee of the Sox. Some of the signs of a lack of depth in the minors was showing too and people started calling that out throughout 2021. And the Harper/Machado debacle was still relatively fresh, as was the baffling trend of using their limited budget for replacement level talent and relievers.2020 rotation was Giolito, Keuchel, Cease, Dunning, ReyLo. That was pretty consistent. Don't think any of them were injured except Keuchel on the 10 day, but he was back for the postseason. Rodon was out, but he hadn't had his breakout yet and none of us counted on him. Bullpen looked relatively healthy. https://www.espn.com/mlb/team/transactions/_/name/chw/season/2020 2021 the starters just sucked in the postseason. I don't think they were injured. Lynn, Rodon and Giolito were on the 10 day list at one point. The starters made 31, 32, 30, 28 and 24 starts. https://www.espn.com/mlb/team/transactions/_/name/chw/season/2021I think (and hope) they can absorb more flame outs than last time because they have a more sustainable drafting philosophy and can actually develop talent. The early 2020s Sox were almost entirely built from the Sale, Quintana and Eaton trades and when those guys didn't work out they had nothing behind them.The signs were there in 2020 when they collapsed against Cleveland and Oakland, and that's when everyone was healthy. That core only had like 110 games of top level play between 2020 and 2021.The game had absolutely passed LaRussa by and he should not have been hired. I can't say for sure the team underperformed due to him, but I don't think he helped. Looks like Hinch would've also been terrible, based on the Tigers collapse since midway through last season.2020 was prime "Ricky's boys don't quit!". That team did collapse against Cleveland at the end of the season and laid an egg against a beatable Oakland team in the postseason after winning the first game, though. Some warning signs were there in hindsight. I don't recall hearing the same positive team chemistry stuff we're hearing about this team, though. Some of the stories that leaked from those early 2020s teams as time went on were SUPER concerning (like the TA/Grandal stuff).Sole possession of first place mother fuckers!Just get the ball in the air man sheesh.I think there's a little bit of "oh no is it all going to come crashing down around us" whenever they look bad for a couple games. I know I feel that creeping in sometimes. Their offense is solid though, so whenever the pitching is decent they have a good chance to win. Just need to limit the games where they give up 6+.Why didn't they do this in the first two games. Just win 8-0 every time. Easy.One of those games for himI'll take this opportunity with the John Tumpane mention on the broadcast to say that I played little league with him and he went to my high school. He got mercilessly teased because he got a perm in his sophomore year.Nice approach by Grichuk, just hit it where the 6'4" guy could reach.Colson with a rough last 2 ABs. Had a cookie to hit before the strikeout too.AlmostCanseco is a good get. Should be fun.
