Sox Therapy: A Bad Short Term Weekend But Long Term?

So the first four games of 2019 were not quite as enjoyable as the last four of 2018, or the first four, or really just about any four.  However, the Sox entered spring training with a plan in place to ease the pitchers into it in hopes that it would pay dividends down the road.  Add the late reports of Xander Bogaerts getting inked to a long term deal and this weekend’s disappointments will likely be a footnote over not just 2019 but the long term.

Xander Bogaerts may not be going anywhere ...Read More...

Gonfalon Cubs: 2019 Season Predictions

I suck at these, but they’re always fun to revisit after the season to get an idea of my state of mind from Spring Training.

1. Bryant will finish top 3 in the MVP voting.  I’ve been saying for years he was going to put together a truly monster season, and he looked on his way last year before his shoulder injury.  I’m talking something .300+/.420/.600.
2. Rizzo’s 5 year OPS+ stops, and he rebounds to a 140ish OPS+ this year (IOW, staying healthy)
3. Baez will keep most of his gains from last ...

Sox Therapy: Let’s Get It On

The defending world champion Boston Red Sox hit the field just a bit over 24 hours from now.  A few stray thoughts, bad predictions and general hopes for the coming 7 months;

Breakout Star - Eduardo Rodriguez - People seem to forget that the soon to be 26 year old is already a good Major League pitcher with a career ERA+ of 107.  Reports out of Fort Myers have been overwhelmingly positive and I feel like there is some growing confidence on his part that he genuinely belongs. 

Disappointing ...

Hall of Merit: Most Meritorious Player: 1914 Ballot

For 1914 each voter should rank the top 10 players from all leagues combined.
Balloting is scheduled to close at 4pm EDT on 3 April 2019.
Anyone can vote, even if you do not normally participate in Hall of Merit discussions. If you have never participated in an MMP election, just post a preliminary ballot in the discussion thread by 2 April 2019.
For detailed rules see one of our previous ballots.

Sox Therapy: Camp is Broken

The World Champion Red Sox broke camp this weekend and headed to Arizona for a bit of a tune up with the Cubs before heading to Seattle to open the season against the Mariners.  There is news being reported in various places of some interest;

Chris Sale is a rich man.

Sale wasn’t exactly going through the couch cushions to get T-pass money before but he’s a lot richer now.  I had said earlier this winter that Sale was a bit lower on my priority list.  However this deal is a lot more ...

Sox Therapy: First World Problems: Ovations

Spring training is winding down, and most important decisions have been made. One more critical set remains: who should get the loudest ovations at the home opener?

Sox Therapy: Report from the Fort

It’s that time of year again, the time when everyone hates Jose as he tells you that he is in Southwest Florida drinking too much rum and watching the Sox do their thing.  While you are angry at me here are a few notes from Fort Myers;

- First off the good news has been health.  Apparently J.D. Martinez missed yesterday’s game with a sore back but there doesn’t seem to be too much concern on that front.  Other than that all the reports are that everyone is healthy.  Watching the players ...

Hall of Merit: Most Meritorious Player: 1914 Discussion

The Boston “Miracle” Braves swept the Philadelphia Athletics in the World Series.

The Indianapolis Hoosiers claimed the Federal League crown.

There was no formal challenge for the championship of black baseball but that didn’t stop Rube Foster’s Chicago American Giants from claiming the title on film.

Vote for 10.

Player			SH WS		BBR WAR
Tris Speaker		44.8		9.9	
Eddie Collins		42.4		9.1
Frank Baker		33.7		7.4
Sam Crawford		29.6		6.2
George Burns		31.9		6.5		
Tillie Walker		26.4		5.8
Ty ...

Hall of Merit: Most Meritorious Player: 1913 Results

Congratulations to Walter Johnson, our unanimous choice for the 1913 Most Meritorious Player!

Player Name	pts	ballots	1sts
Walter Johnson	120	8	8
Eddie Collins	108	8	0
Tris Speaker	101	8	0
Joe Jackson	87	8	0
Ty R Cobb	78	8	0
Frank Baker	76	7	0
Babe Adams	57	7	0
JH Lloyd	46	5	0
Reb Russell	39	4	0
Chrs Mathewson	30	4	0
Jose Mendez	29	4	0
Gavy Cravath	22	3	0
Joe Williams	17	2	0
Eddie Cicotte	16	2	0
Crs Torriente	8	1	0
Burt Shotton	6	1	0

Sox Therapy: Baseball Has Been Played!

The defending World Champions (that’s the Boston Red Sox if you forgot) have started playing baseball again.  Apparently the top prospects have made some noise already.  Bobby Dalbec crushed a homer the other day and Michael Chavis has cranked a couple of dingers of his own.  As both players are heavily dependent on their power to make an impact it’s a nice little sign in these crucial* early spring games.

* - not crucial

Maybe the biggest story so far is the Ryan Brasier situation. ...