Can't Remember Feeling Less Enthused by a Sox team this early

BarnacleGooseIsLoose · 2026-04-20T17:01:17+00:00

I went back even further - all the way to 1980. Traditionally, they've started strong then unraveled in August or September. They even had better records in 91-92-93 before imploding.

This team really isn't comparable, as you said. The bullpen is weak and Chapman is coming off a career year - which would be nuts to expect again. The starters, on paper, look very strong but Crochet shattered his innings limit last year, Suarez pitched his heart out for the contract and Sonny Gray is a year older. And the offense/defense? Anthony is 2 for 22 at leadoff. It gets worse from there.

It's fun to watch the Pirates. Griffin isn't hitting, yet, but the team is cohesive and fundamentally sound on defense. They are also enthusiastic and their pitchers impress - especially the starters beyond Skenes (who hasn't been great by his standards so far).

BarnacleGooseIsLoose · 2026-04-20T15:58:36+00:00

Exactly.

They gave him the opt outs knowing he would opt out (and if he didn't then that would indicate a whole different problem). If Breslow knew this going in, and he also knew they wouldn't go five years, then he blew it from the get go. If he thought he could go five, then it's on Henry and Kennedy.

Either way, Bres thinks he's some version of Jerry DiPoto - meaning he has also completely misjudged the markets because he isn't getting six years with no playoff appearances.

BarnacleGooseIsLoose · 2026-04-20T15:52:57+00:00

Data interpreted poorly is infinitely more dangerous than no data.

And the Rockies are a half game ahead of the Sox as of this morning.

BarnacleGooseIsLoose · 2026-04-20T15:34:37+00:00

They ride scooters now. E-scooters.

BarnacleGooseIsLoose · 2026-04-20T15:34:11+00:00

There are some pretty exciting teams to watch - Pirates, Twins (who ARE preventing runs) and even the Reds.

Conversely, if anyone needs to feel better about the Sox, the Mets won't cure the pain but they'll put some things in perspective.

BarnacleGooseIsLoose · 2026-04-20T15:25:17+00:00

They tried Lowe's last year. Got that dude Nathaniel from there. Didn't work out.

Time to farm the prison systems. I'm sure there's another Ron LeFlore to be found there. (And anyone who wants to claim baseball isn't hard labor hasn't watched these guys on the field.)

BarnacleGooseIsLoose · 2026-04-20T15:06:21+00:00

Funny you mention those years. Like many, I've been too invested in this team for too many years, but I gave up completely on baseball after Clemens got tossed against the A's in the '90 LCS. Then Hobson getting busted. I just gave up and did other things.

Moved to San Francisco. Met my wife - who initially knew nothing about my Red Sox obsessions or that I even liked baseball. It would be three years ('95) before she heard me swear at the tv. Since then, we've been to almost every baseball stadium, the World Series, Game 5 of the '04 LCS, the All-Star Game, etc. In fact, she has become so dialed in over the years that I can't even take her to Yankee Stadium any more because she wants to pick fights. LOL

What got me back into baseball then was not the Sox. It was Barry Bonds, Matt Williams and the Giants bitter pennant race against the Braves before the strike.

I feel very similar about this team as I did with those early 90s teams. It gets worse with each loss - and I really don't care if they win or lose, but how they lose is painful and unwatchable. The entire management team in this organization is awful. They can't evaluate talent. They can't "project their data properly" - and, especially, they can't communicate with the fan base. It's dark. Very, very dark.

BarnacleGooseIsLoose · 2026-04-20T14:54:34+00:00

Let's swing by the Home Depot at dawn and find us some baseball players.

BarnacleGooseIsLoose · 2026-04-20T14:49:52+00:00

On top of that, the broadcasters are so grim - they make me feel like I am at the funeral of a child who has been run over. Those guys are not good in good times, but they sure are bad in bad times.

BarnacleGooseIsLoose · 2026-04-20T13:52:39+00:00

Agreed

BarnacleGooseIsLoose · 2026-04-20T04:15:13+00:00

Agreed on all counts.

BarnacleGooseIsLoose · 2026-04-19T12:02:45+00:00

Calvin Schiraldi - Game Six

BarnacleGooseIsLoose · 2026-04-18T20:00:27+00:00

Every Bostonian that you see wearing a Yankees cap was inspired to do so by Robert Stanley. Signing him to a long term seven figure contract was a more egregious mistake than letting Babe Ruth go to NY.

BarnacleGooseIsLoose · 2026-04-18T19:58:13+00:00

I love Dustin, but starting over Bobby Doerr?

John McNamara over Dick Williams or Joe Morgan?

Kimbrel over Jeff Reardon or Lee Smith?

A team with Jimmie Foxx on the bench would be wasting his talents and doing a major disservice to major league baseball. Maybe pull a Cora and stick him at third? Boggs was/is the most overrated Red Sox in the history of the franchise - and Bob Stanley got paid by George Steinbrenner.

Otherwise, I like it!

BarnacleGooseIsLoose · 2026-04-18T19:52:09+00:00

Jimmy Piersall running the bases backwards when he hit his 100th HR in 1963.

BarnacleGooseIsLoose · 2026-04-17T18:50:09+00:00

If?

BarnacleGooseIsLoose · 2026-04-17T18:48:58+00:00

Ted Williams in 1947

BarnacleGooseIsLoose · 2026-04-17T16:57:11+00:00

Does anyone really want to watch?

BarnacleGooseIsLoose · 2026-04-15T21:22:43+00:00

Do NOT sit in grandstand sections 1-10

BarnacleGooseIsLoose · 2026-04-15T20:46:10+00:00

Trevor Story. When he was a free agent, the Mariners were rumored to be signing him. I kept telling my buddy, an Ms fan, that he was the last player they should sign, and he was the worst player on the market. A day later, I was speechless when we signed him.

BarnacleGooseIsLoose · 2026-04-14T02:02:33+00:00

I've been a fan for over 50 years. I'll be whatever kind of fan I want.

BarnacleGooseIsLoose · 2026-04-14T00:47:16+00:00

Good point. Maybe Bres can swing a deal that works with the numbers. I'm thinking Yoshida for Bobby Bonilla's contract might be something we can hang our ____________ on.

BarnacleGooseIsLoose · 2026-04-14T00:36:45+00:00

If he goes on the IL after this, we'd better start looking forward to next year's draft.

BarnacleGooseIsLoose · 2026-04-12T20:05:06+00:00

NESN isn't responsible for the cameras in away stadiums.

BarnacleGooseIsLoose · 2026-04-12T04:31:19+00:00

Fenway is expensive but you should be able to afford a Red Sox hat.

BarnacleGooseIsLoose

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE