Comments on: 2008 MLB Preview: Boston Red Sox

By: 2008 MLB Preview « The ReclinerGM Sports Blog

2008 MLB Preview « The ReclinerGM Sports Blog — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:11:50 +0000

[...] Boston Red Sox [...]

By: World Series » 2008 MLB Preview: Boston Red Sox

World Series » 2008 MLB Preview: Boston Red Sox — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 18:55:29 +0000

[...] The ReclinerGM Sports Blog wrote an interesting post today on 2008 MLB Preview: Boston Red SoxHere’s a quick excerptThey added nothing to the team, and I’m one that believes a whole lot has to go your way to win a World Series, and without a historically dominant team, it’s almost impossible to repeat…. [...]

By: Kenny

Kenny — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 15:53:15 +0000

To Gargs- While I agree Japanese pitchers usally do well the 1st year or then fall off, and Dice-K is still unproven, most Japanese pitchers who came over relied heavily on deception more so then stuff. Now Dice-K dosent have the greatest arsenal, but he does have good stuff and dosent rely on deception and hiding the ball. But we will se who is right and who’s wrong at the end of the season.

By: GARGS

GARGS — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 15:17:05 +0000

Woops, by Carlos I meant Carlos Silva

By: GARGS

GARGS — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 15:16:28 +0000

In a day and age where Carlos signs an 8 figure contract, I think your comment about a good 5th starter being able to stand up straight is very fitting, however it’s not a given that Wakefield will even be able to do that.

Well, with that said, I’m eager to see the rest of your rankings to see how you compare the various the rotations. I won’t even pretend to have put in a fraction of the thought that you have but the fact that Bucholz and Lester are so unproven and Wakefield so old, I would have to think that rotations like SD, NYM, LAA, and Arizona are just as good as Boston.

Keep up the good work.

By: Pete

Pete — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:11:49 +0000

A couple things….

- the top 5 or so rotations in the MLB were very bunched together and could really be interchangible.
- i did do the rankings before schilling got hurt. instead of re-ordering everything, i went back and gave him the lowest score possible. However, Dice-K, Lester and Wakefield all got high scores are 3-4-5 starters.
- I think Dice-K will be better this year than last, and his dip will come next year. He tired at the end of the year.
- I think Lester will be very good this year (for a 4th starter) and graded him accordingly.
- any team with a 5th starter that can stand up straight (wakefield in this case) gets a high grade.
- so Boston benefitted from a dominant ace, and very good depth 3-5.

also – i never said “lock” anywhere. no one is a “lock” to make the playoffs this year.

By: GARGS

GARGS — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 05:05:21 +0000

Did you do your rankings before Schilling went down? I hope so because there is no way Beckett, Dice-K, Buchholz, Wakefield, and Lester is the 2nd best rotation in MLB, not even close. Bucholz has three career starts, Lester’s career ERA is almost 5, and Japenese pitchers always seem to get “figured out” after initial success. Beckett is dynamite when healthy but he is not that far removed from his 5.01 ERA in 2006. And that’s not to mention Tim Wakefield. While the Sox are formidable any way you look at it, I don’t think they’re a “lock” for anything.