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Leamington letters #75: Same again, please

26/3/2014

12 Comments

 
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10-15. 

It’s not a great record so far, and there have been enough fumbles in the field, poor pitching and wild swinging to give some cause for concern. But we’ve been through this before. As we know, these are not games but training exercises. And, even in defeat, there have been more than enough reasons to be cheerful.

Reasons to be cheerful Part 1: The kids look good. Sizemore looks really good. 

Reasons to be cheerful Part 2: Papi has re-signed and Lester is about to. The pitchers still have another week to get fully extended and sort out those dead arm issues – yes, I’m talking about you, Felix – and it appears that Farrell has decided to be ultra-careful with Bucks. Good thinking. 

Reasons to be cheerful Part 3: In the outfield, the problem will be which of many get the everyday slots. The bullpen has the same issue. But these are problems which almost every other team would like to have. Hey, would love to have.

So I am pretty confident that when I land in Boston for the first homestand, I’ll be watching a winning team.

The question is, to what extent can this this team repeat the rolling, rollicking ride they gave us last year? Will the Sox be up there after 162 games? How will we fare against the rest of the ALE, which is once again, the toughest division in MLB?

Well, the Yankees have thrown money at the problem, their traditional response to both success and failure. And there can be no doubt that they will benefit (and we will suffer) from Jacoby's move south. But I've a feeling they are not going to do much better than .500. Wishful thinking perhaps. Those pesky Yankees, you can never write them off.

The Os have problems in the rotation, no proven closer, and the brilliant Machado has that knee, or lack of it. But Jiminez and Cruz are good signings and will make a significant difference.

The Jays? A healthy Reyes is still capable of being sensational and Buhrle and Dickey will surely improve on career-worst seasons. So surely they can’t be as dreadful as they were last year. They can. I’ve a feeling they will have a better record but still prop up the basement.

And the Rays. Regular readers will know of my admiration for Joe Maddon, and this year, he will have even more to work with. The rotation looks very good indeed - no-one would meet the price for Price - but the offence is an issue. If the pitchers can limit the opposition, the run shortage might not matter. And that's why I think they will be right up there with ...

the Sox.

My prediction for 2014 is exactly the same as it was last year: we will reach the post-season but will need a little luck and a major signing to go all the way.

Last year, we had some luck. Then we signed Peavy. And then we took the Series. This year, I’m looking to Ben to come up with a big trade at the appropriate moment. And keeping my fingers crossed that the baseball gods look favourably on us when the calls are close.

I’ve seen 97-65 predictions. I think that’s over-optimistic. But we will be 90 plus. One thing I do know is that it will be a great season. And if we end up facing and defeating those smug Cardinals in October, I will be very happy indeed.

Same again, please. Go Sox!

Today from the everysmith vault: I've been asked to contribute a piece to a learned journal about Dylan. 20,000 words. I'm working backwards, and have had enough of Tempest. But Love and Theft - now that's a different matter.

12 Comments
Paul
26/3/2014 12:17:05

Baseball is back! We know this because Max is writing about it again. Haven't followed spring training enough to argue your assessments, but "same again, please" is exactly how I feel. Go Sox!

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Mark
26/3/2014 12:56:05

The guys predicting 97 and more wins are the guys who were predicting that we would finish last in the ALE. At least you're consistent! Defending the WS successfully is rare. Don't think our guys are up to it, but they'll take us into October for sure. Envy you your trip to Fenway.

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Dean
26/3/2014 14:18:25

I think the Yankees will be well over .500. ALE will be a 3 way race. Yankees, rays, sox. A good team will lose out.

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CJ
27/3/2014 01:15:36

You spout about 20k words about Dylan every day! Love and theft a masterpiece.

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Anders
31/3/2014 04:47:56

Only 20,000? You must have caught him on an off-day!

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Scott
27/3/2014 02:00:49

i think this bloke has some fine points. Jacoby Ellsbury from Boston to Yankees is a huge boon for the Gothamites. Toronto will be up there and the St Louis Cardinals could indeed i think reprise last year's World Series appearance. There is indeed a lot of chat around Tampa. And Detroit. I can't see the Red Sox holding onto it but they are a class outfit. The only safe bet atm is the traditional NL Central wooden spoon toss up between my beloved Cubs and Milwaukee lol. Houston will be a good team one day but this coming season will see them get spanked.

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Sean
27/3/2014 03:05:44

The oracle has spoken. I trust in Max! Think Ellsbury's speed and production is a massive loss, IF he stays fit. And the swing away from us and to the Evil Empire could be decisive. But just put my boy Nava at lead off, and in left and let's win this thing again.
Can't wait.
GO SOX!

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JackB
27/3/2014 03:06:01

You are over-reaching. Sox had a lot of luck last year and an internal dynamic that will be hard (impossible?) to reproduce. You won't like this, but I think this could be the year of the Dodgers!

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myers
28/3/2014 03:34:54

Almost there...the anticipation is palpable...another roller coaster ticket purchased...once worst now first...tara Jacoby..no worries JBJ will fill his boots[won't he]no worries Grady Sizemore will [won't he]...the die is cast...pitch and pray...bring it on...breath in the Boston Air bro! Go safe Go Sox!

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Rick Hough
28/3/2014 19:42:10

A stellar, finely-grained overview, sir. Very correct about the Rays - dudes are bound-up at the plate. We've been bitterly resigned to the Ellsbury outcome for over a year but at least Cano's out of the division. This should be nothing but fun because the Townies are playing with house money and Magnetic North is still being established by the kid from Arizona State, Dustin Luis Pedroia. Championship hangover? No doubt.
We all know how much luck is involved in plucking even one ring; two in a row is a hill of almost absurd steepness but if Sizemore's not a mirage and Buch gets near 100%, we stand to be nicely entertained at the very least.
Meanwhile, can't wait to lay eyes upon you, sir.

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Bob
29/3/2014 03:33:16

Really enjoyed your blogs, extremely informative as usual, and your excellent article on Jim Rice made me do a wiki search for more info---After reading the web info, I came to the same conclusion as you----why wasn't he elected earlier? He certainly seemed to have the stats -----but he did have a curious one----hitting into record number of double plays---my kind of hitting----------
He is quite a man, and interestingly enough he lived in Anderson, So. Carolina---near where I lived for 7 years , Greenville----a curious part of the country with regard to its treatment of Afro-Americans---- It was not part of the plantation culture, known in the State as the Low Country, so the treatment of blacks , who were a very small minority, and their success in the area, varied considerably---Jesse Jackson, the fiery black preacher and politician, grew up in Greenville, and Bob Jones University, a die-hard conservative college, who only fairly recently allowed blacks to attend, is also in Greenville--Interesting, and sometimes troubling, place for a Californian to live----
You can take the boy out of San Francisco, but you can't take San Francisco out of the boy---particularly when he doesn't want that to happen---witness-- the Giants----

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Darren
31/3/2014 04:43:59

Everything starts again. Sox have looked pretty good in the last few days of spring training. Tonight in Baltimore is where it matters and when it matters we come through. Go Sox!

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    Max Smith

    European writer, radical, restaurateur and Red Sox fan. 70-something husband, father, step-father, grandfather and son. Resident in Warwick, England.

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