Ryan is saying that because James projects the Red Sox front five to only 60 wins combined, it's a "doom and gloom scenario."

In fact, that's a perfectly normal win total for the front five of a 95-win team. These are recent Sox clubs that won a lot of games - listed team wins, then wins from front five starters:

95 , 57 - 2009 Sox
95 , 58 - 2008 Sox
96 , 68 - 2007 Sox
95 , 62 - 2005 Sox
98 , 73 - 2004 Sox
95 , 60 - 2003 Sox

Ryan didn't used to be an idiot. His brain fell out in direct correlation to the amount of time he spent on talk radio. The format itself is simply evil.

EDIT: I should note that I'm just using the five starters who started the most games for the club. If I looked back at the opening day starting five, the numbers would almost certainly be lower.

How can we have such unemployment when people like this can find work? Ryan is not only stupid; he speaks unclearly. It's like he's got a bag of marbles in his mouth and is in a race to talk as fast he can without thinking.

Thass a perty fancy basement Bill's got himself.

I love the end where they ask how Theo Epstein must feel to hear such heresy. As if Epstein (or any other decent boss) wouldn't want to hear anything that could even be construed as a dissenting voice.

My prediction: pain.

The Red Sox are a Stephen J Cannell production?

How can we have such unemployment when people like this can find work? Ryan is not only stupid; he speaks unclearly. It's like he's got a bag of marbles in his mouth and is in a race to talk as fast he can without thinking.

Just like some people have a face for radio, Ryan has a voice for newspaper.

And like Bill Simmons, Ryan should stick to basketball.

(Aside: LOL at #6.)

Question: did James run these before Crawford and Gonzalez came to Boston? I notice they didn't mention projections for either of those guys.

I have never heard Ryan talk before. He looks and sounds like Andy Rooney's younger, dumber half-brother. He is actually, or was at least, a pretty good writer.

Ryan didn't used to be an idiot. His brain fell out in direct correlation to the amount of time he spent on talk radio. The format itself is simply evil.

You're slip is showing.

????

I don't understand how this is possible. All cameras should be programmed by now to shut off permanently when someone says something like "can I quote our good friend Dan Shaughnessy."

I don't understand how this is possible. All cameras should be programmed by now to shut off permanently when someone says something like "can I quote our good friend Dan Shaughnessy."

That's my bad. I input "Shank" and "CHB". I didn't know anyone still used his real name.

This is very similar to the "Bill James predicts Jeff Bagwell will win the batting title as a rookie" thing.

Bill looks svelte in this picture.