2 minutes ago, Sleepy Harold said:

Twas a very fun season that vastly exceeded my expectations in numerous ways. Had you told me in February that they'd be in contention for the division until they very last series of the season, make the playoffs, win a round, and be on the brink of the ALCS I would've taken it 100 times out of 100....with that being said, going out how they did (to Cleveland of all teams) was certainly a gut punch and their weaknesses got very exposed in those losses. But for a team that wasn't supposed to be here at all, I'll take it.

I agree . I don't think that people are upset the went down to Cleveland it's more how they did and how they will be remembered now

Super bummed, pissed it was the Guardians and that f*** JRam, but still proud of this team doing the unexpected and pulling as all with them

51 minutes ago, JoshPR said:

I agree . I don't think that people are upset the went down to Cleveland it's more how they did and how they will be remembered now

I think they'll be remembered as a very fun team in a growth year who ran out of gas at the end and pressed.

I think that after crawling from the wreckage of the 2024 season, it's pretty amazing to consider that two years later, we're looking at a young core with playoff experience that is only going to improve. I believe there's 5 solid positional starters (Teel, Meidroth, Vargas, Ant-man, Peters), and 3 guys who need anywhere from tinkering to an overhaul of their approach (Monty, Braden, Mune). We have a bevy of #4-5 starters. Maybe they trade from Monty, Braden, Quero to get someone who can throw 5 innings in a playoff game.

Tremendously fun season, and the front office gives me confidence they'll address the shortcomings that were exposed in the last 3 games.

10 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

I think they'll be remembered as a very fun team in a growth year who ran out of gas at the end and pressed.

Yeah, when the dust settles I agree. The choke is just too fresh at the moment

1 minute ago, WestEddy said:

I think they'll be remembered as a very fun team in a growth year who ran out of gas at the end and pressed.

And as an increasingly one dimensional offense that wasn't good at advancing runners, driving in runners from third with less than two outs...situational hitting, changing one's approach to manufacture individual runs, etc.

The Guardians Rays Brewers all have better leveraging of their overall team speed, defense, base running and fundamentals.

This traditionally is much cheaper to buy in FA than power numbers.

Most importantly, look at the draft day origins for those pitching staffs. Mostly home grown and cheaper/inexpensive.

Or the Guardians stealing Cade Smith from MN, just as the Guards lost Caminero to TB because they already had Jose Ramirez. (yes WEddy, the Sox stole Tristan Peters from TB too)

To summarize:

Best scouting.

Similar aggresive contact oriented styles of play minus young stars in Caminero/Chourio.

Similar offensive approaches...Guards Ball/Small Ball/Piranhas 2014/15 Royals, call it whatever the hell you want.

It should also be noted how good that Guards' pen would be now with E.Clase today.

1 minute ago, Bob Sacamano said:

Yeah, when the dust settles I agree. The choke is just too fresh at the moment

The '77 South Side Hit Men was such a crazy great summer. I was 13, and it was the first time in my Sox-rooting life (2nd, really after 1972) that it felt like I was watching a real baseball team. I'm surprised every time I look it up to find they finished in 3rd place, 12 games out. The electricity of that summer always feels like they finished closer to the top, in retrospect. The final 3 games will be a blip. Hopefully, drowned out by greater successes.