Can Any team compete with Redsox for the American League Championship?

Pauulzcappin · 03-22-11, 11:11 AM

Actually the Oakland Athletics pitching staff would do very well against Red Sox hitters.

slimpickins · 03-22-11, 12:34 PM

If the RedSox don't get improved seasons from Beckett, Lackey and Matzusaka I am not sure they are much better than the Yankees if at all.

Landscaper · 03-22-11, 12:40 PM

Originally posted by slimpickins

If the RedSox don't get improved seasons from Beckett, Lackey and Matzusaka I am not sure they are much better than the Yankees if at all.

Ice House · 03-22-11, 02:40 PM

Yeah those guys are question marks.... but if I were a Yankee fan I would be really concerned about the #4 and #5 starters they have. I guess the Yankees can always make a trade for King Felix or something crazy..

Oakland A's really?? Is Dallas Braden ace material ?

Ice House · 03-22-11, 02:42 PM

Anybody seen the interview with Jonathan Papelbon on MLB network 30 clubs in 30 days ???

The reporter was drilling him with questions about his blown saves and asked him if he was concerned about his "stuff"

Papelbon looked pissed! lol Pap is a punk though , something tells me he doesn't get along with Bard since Bard and Jenks are breathing down his neck for his closer job.

Johnnythunder · 03-22-11, 02:53 PM

Yanks have the best 1-2 8th/9th inning punch in baseball with Soriano/Rivera so they will be very tough if the starting pitching holds up. Gardner as the leadoff man is very interesting. The guy can probably swipe 70 bags. If Jeter gets back on track the lineup is very dangerous. Both Yanks and Sox have 100 win potential this year and the starting pitching is the key because both teams can mash.

Pauulzcappin · 03-22-11, 03:42 PM

Originally posted by Johnnythunder

Yanks have the best 1-2 8th/9th inning punch in baseball with Soriano/Rivera so they will be very tough if the starting pitching holds up. Gardner as the leadoff man is very interesting. The guy can probably swipe 70 bags. If Jeter gets back on track the lineup is very dangerous. Both Yanks and Sox have 100 win potential this year and the starting pitching is the key because both teams can mash.

My only concern about the 1-2 in the batting order is Jeter grounding into too many double plays.

Milanboy · 03-22-11, 04:11 PM

They've added some good pieces, but that doesn't mean they are unstoppable. They still need to get a lot better production out of there pitching staff. I think they are very beatable.

Pauulzcappin · 03-22-11, 05:08 PM

Originally posted by Ice House

Yeah those guys are question marks.... but if I were a Yankee fan I would be really concerned about the #4 and #5 starters they have. I guess the Yankees can always make a trade for King Felix or something crazy.. Oakland A's really?? Is Dallas Braden ace material ?

He is the 4th starter on the rotation, for christs sake...

spippen · 03-22-11, 06:45 PM

Originally posted by slimpickins

If the RedSox don't get improved seasons from Beckett, Lackey and Matzusaka I am not sure they are much better than the Yankees if at all.

Each of those 3 guys you mention are very much Mr. Average, if even that good. The offense is what is projected to do well.

HoulihansTX · 03-22-11, 06:51 PM

Rangers are still a contender.

illfuuptn · 03-22-11, 08:34 PM

As a huge Sox fan I can tell you we are extremely overrated. Our offense really isn't much better than it was last year except we won't be plagued by injury. We lost Victor Martinez and Adrian Beltre, two HUGE bats. Everyone expects Lester and Buchholz to be great again, but I think Clay has a tough year in 2011 because he's known now. Lackey, Beckett, and Dice-K are mother ******* blow hards. And our bullpen is, trust me, the WORST in MLB despite our 1 million relief signings. As bad as we are, they Yankees are much worse. But we could get smashed in the playoffs easily.

ebbearsfb1 · 03-22-11, 08:52 PM

gonzo will have a big year..

dont laugh at the a's good pitching can go along way see the giants of last year

Panekkkk · 03-22-11, 09:26 PM

Originally posted by illfuuptn

As a huge Sox fan I can tell you we are extremely overrated. Our offense really isn't much better than it was last year except we won't be plagued by injury. We lost Victor Martinez and Adrian Beltre, two HUGE bats. Everyone expects Lester and Buchholz to be great again, but I think Clay has a tough year in 2011 because he's known now. Lackey, Beckett, and Dice-K are mother ******* blow hards. And our bullpen is, trust me, the WORST in MLB despite our 1 million relief signings. As bad as we are, they Yankees are much worse. But we could get smashed in the playoffs easily.

You realize they added Crawford and Gonzalez who are miles ahead of Martinez and Beltre right? Pedroia is healthy. Ellsbury is healthy. Boom goes the dynamite. Their pitching might not be the best in the league but they won't be relying on their pitching to win games.

greenshark11 · 03-22-11, 09:28 PM

i think they will win the wild card or division... but wont go far in the playoffs. they will be tough to compete with. itll be a race between the sox and yankees i think... Back to two years ago.

illfuuptn · 03-22-11, 10:34 PM

Originally posted by Panekkkk

You realize they added Crawford and Gonzalez who are miles ahead of Martinez and Beltre right? Pedroia is healthy. Ellsbury is healthy. Boom goes the dynamite. Their pitching might not be the best in the league but they won't be relying on their pitching to win games.

Don't think for 1 second that you know more than me about this team or betting on baseball for that matter. If Gonzalez lives up to all expectations(which I believe he will) he'll only be just as good as Beltre was last year. And Crawford is solidly overrated though still good. But people have quickly forgotten how great of a hitter Martinez is. Again, they win the divison. But when it comes to the playoffs when other teams line up their best pitchers, our god-awful arms will probably do us in.

mebaran · 03-23-11, 01:19 AM

It's going to come down to a few teams in the AL: BoSox, Yankees, Rangers

If the Red Sox end up facing the Phillies, I think I have to give it to the Phillies. They easily match up the best with Boston=..

sonnybaby · 03-23-11, 01:25 AM

the baltimore o's

Ice House · 03-23-11, 02:13 PM

Crawford and Ellsbury could combine for 80-100 SB's. This team will likely lead the majors in HR's. Beckett is the #4 starter ... pretty good # 4 starter. Only thing is Bucholz is a little bit overrated.
You got 3 MVP candidates
Pedroia
A. Gonzalez
Youkilis

#4 outfielder is Mike Cameron...
How is the bullpen weak??
Papelbon
Bard
Jenks
Andrew Miller(former #1 draft pick)
Wakefield
Japanese lefty

I mean I don't the way some of their players carry themselves but they seem unbeatable this year. I don't see another MLB club with this much Depth.

Ice House · 03-23-11, 02:16 PM

the biggest joke of the off-season is the san francisco giants. they did absolutely nothing to remain a contender...

sure they have the 2nd best pitching behind the phillies but their offense will be much worse than last year. They should have signed a slugger to play LF and re-signed Uribe. Look at Derosa's stats how the hell is a MLB starter on any team?

illfuuptn · 03-23-11, 11:28 PM

Originally posted by Ice House

Crawford and Ellsbury could combine for 80-100 SB's. This team will likely lead the majors in HR's. Beckett is the #4 starter ... pretty good # 4 starter. Only thing is Bucholz is a little bit overrated.
You got 3 MVP candidates
Pedroia
A. Gonzalez
Youkilis

#4 outfielder is Mike Cameron...
How is the bullpen weak??
Papelbon
Bard
Jenks
Andrew Miller(former #1 draft pick)
Wakefield
Japanese lefty

I mean I don't the way some of their players carry themselves but they seem unbeatable this year. I don't see another MLB club with this much Depth.

lol at the bullpen. Papelbon has changed nothing about his mechanics or his approach since last year. Still terrible. Jenks is recovering from an injury and is verrrry similar to papelbon in that he hasn't changed anything and his stuff isn't as good as it used to be. Bard was incredible last year so we have to hope he's good again. IDK about Miller. Wakefield lolololololol. Okajima is BY FAR the WORST reliever of all time. I promise you he gets smashed this year. A semi-specialist reliever who has a 5.00 era and gets hit at a .300 clip? lol he's the worst.

BstHcpr · 03-23-11, 11:51 PM

Sure.

The Yankees, White Sox, and Twins are all good enough to beat the Red Sox in 7 games.

BstHcpr · 03-23-11, 11:55 PM

Originally posted by illfuuptn

As a huge Sox fan I can tell you we are extremely overrated. Our offense really isn't much better than it was last year except we won't be plagued by injury. We lost Victor Martinez and Adrian Beltre, two HUGE bats. Everyone expects Lester and Buchholz to be great again, but I think Clay has a tough year in 2011 because he's known now. Lackey, Beckett, and Dice-K are mother ******* blow hards. And our bullpen is, trust me, the WORST in MLB despite our 1 million relief signings. As bad as we are, they Yankees are much worse. But we could get smashed in the playoffs easily.

The worst bullpen in MLB? Jenks, Papelbon, Bard, and Wheeler are all above average relievers. Reyes is a good left-handed arm out of the pen.

illfuuptn · 03-24-11, 06:12 AM

Originally posted by BstHcpr

The worst bullpen in MLB? Jenks, Papelbon, Bard, and Wheeler are all above average relievers. Reyes is a good left-handed arm out of the pen.

I can guarantee poor seasons from Jenks and Papelbon. Wheeler is solid. Reyes is a has been standard less-than-average pitcher. Bard is good but he'll have to be what he was last year if we want a chance.

goblue1988 · 03-24-11, 06:41 AM

Tigers can. If Maggs can stay healthy and Porcello rebounds from his mediocre season.

stevenash · 03-24-11, 07:12 AM

Red Sox lineup is solid, but with question marks.

Crawford will help greatly, solid pickup, so will Gonzalez, however, catching is suspect with Salty and Varitek.
Varitek only has a gig because of his loyalty and team leadership, because he's an instant SB against behind the plate, and an automatic out at the plate.
He's 5 years past his prime (at least) and is the very definition of the term 'washed up'

Quesion mark #2.
JD Drew.
He's old now, he's not a good clubhouse guy, his defense is ordinary at best, his on base average has gone from top ten in the league (.400 or so) to mediocre league average (.340 or so)
Same with his batting average.
Still hits 20 homers, but doesn't everybody these days?

Question mark #3
Marco Scutaro at SS.
Getting older also, doesn't get on base as much these days either.
Can they win with a so-so SS?

Question mark #4
Pedroia's health?
Can he bounce back from major injury and return to all-star status, or was 2008 the best we'll ever see from him?

Question mark #5
John Lackey
Has always been hit hard by this division, even when pitching out west.
He's an iffy #2 starter in the rotation, very pedestrian numbers last year 14-11 4.40 ratio of 1.4.
Those are OK numbers if you are #3 starter for the Mariners, not in this big boy division.
Needs to step it up, or will get smacked hard this year in this division.

Question mark #6
Josh Beckett
He's the #4 guy, he stunk last year, like really stunk.
He's 10000 years old and since there is no such thing as a fountain of youth, will stink again worse this year.

Question mark #7
Paps
The league has solved him, he's very hittable these days, look at his numbers, they regress every year.
Blows too many saves, not an elite closer as the Sox fans would believe he is.
Head case to boot.

Question mark #8
Big Papi
(see Jason Varitek)
Way past his prime, there are better options at DH then this old fat guy.

jennahazeplays · 03-24-11, 07:28 AM

ii actually think its gonna be a very close race this yr

rob11234 · 03-24-11, 07:53 AM

Very thorough assessment, stevenash. Agree with jennahazeplays - it will be a very close race this year.

Ice House · 03-24-11, 10:16 AM

I can see Papelbon getting shelled if he is not throwing atleast 96mph this year....

Thing about Bard is he is very fragile. He rarely ever throws on consecutive days. I would be shocked if they are able to make a succesful closer out of him. Yes he has a 100mph fastball but only for about 15-20 pitches. If you pay attention whenever he has a long inning or has to pitch 2 innings he loses 3 or 4 mph sometimes in the next inning. I think the reason they like Papelbon is b/c of his demeanor and confidence.

What happened to Jenks I thought that guy was lights out? Does he still throw 100mph? and isn't Okajima an all-star?

Ice House · 03-24-11, 10:18 AM

MLB network says the Redsox have a top prospect who might end up starting at SS this year some hispanic guy supposed to be the real deal.

MrMiami · 03-24-11, 10:36 AM

I like the devil rays as the "under the radar" team in the east as always. No one gives them respect but they always play Boston and new York tough. They will be in the race to the end.

Ice House · 03-24-11, 10:57 AM

Originally posted by Pauulzcappin

He is the 4th starter on the rotation, for christs sake...

Go to the A's official website. It has Braden as #1 I keep hearing about the A's I know their pitching is well above average but where are the runs going to come from?