dbecks

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES Rule 21 MISCONDUCT (d) BETTING ON BALL GAMES. Any player, umpire, or club official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has no duty to perform shall be declared ineligible for one year. Any player, umpire, or club or league official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform shall be declared permanently ineligible. I'm no lawyer, but it's pretty damn clear to me.

Matt Barnes is in mid-season form.

Gatdammit... I didn't even notice there were two threads. I'm still new around here, apparently. 3-1 (should be 4-0 if the bullpen didn't shit the bed on Opening Day), two games in Miami, then a day off before the Fenway opener (vs the Rays again) on Thursday. Brian Johnson on the bump tonight, in his home state.

Red Sox starters thus far: 24 IP, 16 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 23 K. Not bad.

Xander is locked in. So that’s something new.

So, apparently our bullpen isn’t as strong as previously thought.

Ok, here's my pick for a tentative (real) lineup: 1. Betts, RF 2. Benintendi, LF 3. JD Martinez, DH (it's maybe worth mentioning that JDM batted 2nd in several spring training games) 4. Ramirez, 1B (having Moreland start anywhere from 25-50% of the time, depending on Hanley's streaks & slumps) 5. Bogaerts, SS 6. Devers, 3B 7. Nunez, 2B (obviously until Pedroia comes back) 8. Vazquez, C 9. Bradley, CF Bench: Moreland, Holt, Swihart, Leon But it sounds like there will be a considerable amount of flexibility when it comes to lineups, due to inevitable injuries, streaks, platoons, and much-needed rests. I hope this team is built for ~180 games, not just 162.

Sorry, I'm new around here.

Definitely in on this one. The first episode was fantastic. Really liked the "confession" to Henry Winkler's character in the parking lot.

Hey, I get to start this one! 2017 record: 93-69 (1st in AL East)Lost the ALDS (4 games) to the eventual World Series Champion Houston Astros.Key additions:Alex Cora (manager)J.D. Martinez (!) (.303/.376/.690, 45 HR, 104 RBI, 26 2B -- in 119 games in 2017)Key losses:Chris Young: 2017 -- 7 HR, 25 RBI, .709 OPS (in 90 games)Addison Reed: 2017 stats -- 27 IP, 1-1, 3.33 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 28 KPitching2017 team stats (and MLB rank): 3.70 ERA (4th... 2nd in AL), .245 BAA (9th), 465 BB (3rd), 1580 K (3rd), 88 QS (2nd... 1st in AL)Tentative rotation & 2017 numbers:Chris Sale (214 IP, 17-8, 2.90 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 308 K)Drew Pomeranz (173 IP, 17-6, 3.32 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 174 K)Rick Porcello (203 IP, 11-17, 4.65 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 181 K)David Price? (74 IP, 6-3, 3.38 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 76 K)Eduardo Rodriguez (137 IP, 6-7, 4.19 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 150 K) -- probably won't be ready by Opening Day, so...Rotation for the first five:SalePricePorcelloHector VelazquezBrian JohnsonTentative bullpen & 2017 numbers:Craig Kimbrel (69 IP, 5-0, 1.43 ERA, 0.68 WHIP, 126 K, 35 saves)Joe Kelly (58 IP, 4-1, 2.79 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 52 K)Carson Smith (6 IP, 0-0, 1.35 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 7 K... 2015: 70 IP, 2.31 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, & 92 K)Brandon Workman (39 IP, 1-1, 3.18 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 37 K)Robby Scott (35 IP, 3-1, 3.79 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 31 K)Heath Hembree (62 IP, 2-3, 3.63 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 70 K)Matt Barnes (69 IP, 7-3, 3.88 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 83 K) Tyler Thornberg (2016: 67 IP, 8-5, 2.15 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 90 K)(Obviously the rotation is very lefty-heavy, and the bullpen is very righty-heavy. Not sure if it's a major problem, though...)The so-called "offense"2017 team stats (and MLB rank): .258 AVG (13th), .329 OBP (11th), .736 OPS (22nd), 785 runs (10th), 168 HR (27th -- dead fucking last in the AL)Tentative lineup & 2017 numbers:Mookie Betts, RF (.264/.344/.459, 24 HR, 102 RBI, 46 2B, 26 SB)Andrew Benintendi, LF (.271/.352/.424, 20 HR, 90 RBI, 26 2B, 20 SB)Xander Bogaerts, SS (.273/.343/.403, 10 HR, 62 RBI, 32 2B, 6 3B, 15 SB)Hanley Ramirez, DH (.242/.320/.429, 23 HR, 62 RBI, 24 2B)Rafael Devers, 3B (.284/.338/.482, 10 HR, 30 RBI, 14 2B, 3 SB)Mitch Moreland, 1B (.246/.326/.443, 22 HR, 79 RBI, 34 2B)Jackie Bradley, Jr., CF (.245/.323/.402, 17 HR, 63 RBI, 19 2B, 3 3B, 8 SB)Christian Vazquez, C (.290/.330/.404, 5 HR, 32 RBI, 18 2B, 7 SB)Marco Hernandez, 2B (58 AB)Injured -- Dustin Pedroia (.293/.369/.392, 7 HR, 62 RBI, 19 2B, 4 SB)... could *possibly* be back by Opening Day, but it sounds like they obviously don't want to rush him back.Bench -- Brock Holt, Deven Marrero, Bryce Brentz, Blake Swihart(!)Prospects?Jay Groome, LHP -- should make the move to AA this year, but is still a ways away. Apparently has front rotation potential, though. ETA 2020.Michael Chavis, 3B -- most likely will start the season in Pawtucket. Great bat, average glove. Doesn't have the size to move to 1B (which could signal trying out Devers at 1B here and there), so eventually might play corner OF. He'll get some playing time in Boston this year, almost guaranteed.Bryan Mata, RHP -- 18 year old Venezuelan. Likely in A-ball all year. Still a major project.Tanner Houck, RHP -- 1st round draft pick last year, hopefully sees some time in AA this year.Sam Travis, 1B -- had 76 AB in the big leagues last year, will likely see more this year. Had a solid season in Pawtucket (.765 OPS, 12 HR), but doesn't seem to have the power to ever be a starting 1B in the bigs.My prediction: win the AL East again (fuck the Yankees), lose in the playoffs against the Astros or Indians. Whoop-t-do. Go Sox. Opening Day is Thursday @ Tampa. 3:00pm central (only on NESN)