MLB 2018 Season thread

[Gregg2]

At 3:30 am, I was just hoping for someone to end the game.

I ended up going to bed after 4 am and I am dragging today .

Lucky it's a cold rainy day and I have no plans. I see a long nap in my future .

Getting up just in time to watch Game 4?
I record SportsCenter in the middle of the night, watch during breakfast, skipping commercials. The game was still going when the recording ended.

 

[ucfgrad93]

I watched for a little bit, but turned it off after the 12th inning.

 

[Plutonius]

I watched for a little bit, but turned it off after the 12th inning.

You were the smart one.

I just kept saying "one more inning" .

 

[MacNut]

Getting up just in time to watch Game 4?
I record SportsCenter in the middle of the night, watch during breakfast, skipping commercials. The game was still going when the recording ended.

That game really screwed with the late Sportscenter.

 

[Saskat]

I stayed up till the end. By 14th inning I was rooting for it to break a few records.

 

[Gregg2]

Last night's game (4) was also tied going into the 9th. The Red Sox apparently decided they didn't want extra innings two nights in a row!

 

[SactoGuy18]

Congratulations to the Boston Red Sox. But frankly, what did in the Dodgers was they went "by the book" WAY too much in analytics. This isn't the regular season, Mr. Roberts!

 

[dazz87]

Boston is one of the best team ive seen in awhile. Dodgers were lucky to get one game. Dodgers were just out match.

 

[maflynn]

I can't believe the Red Sox pulled it off - congrats. They had the the best record during regular season, and they were able to carry that through the playoffs and world series.

 

[td1439]

Congrats to the best Red Sox team in club history, and one of the best in MLB history. They had fewer wins than the '98 Yankees but also won a division with another 100-game winner and a 90-game winner. They beat two 100-win teams and the defending WS champs in the ALDS and ALCS and went 11-3 in the postseason ('98 Yanks went 11-2). '98 NYY probably still the gold standard, but this team came pretty close.

 

[maflynn]

'98 NYY probably still the gold standard, but this team came pretty close.

I take each season as its own distinct entity. I'm not taking anything away from the Yankees, but comparing teams like that, can be fun banter, but like any what-if scenarios there's not much you can do. I think one major reason for the success of the Sox was that they paid attention to their pitching staff, and in playoffs that's what (typically) wins games.

 

[Strider64]

I like that Boston won, but I couldn't stand Dave Dombrowski celebrating it. All I can say is DD must have great people already installed in Boston when he arrived, because the bullpen would had been the Achille's heel and the manager would had been a person who had lost touch with today's game.

 

[maflynn]

All I can say is DD must have great people already installed

No this was his team for the most part. He deserves all the credit for building a quality roster and while I think he over paid for some talent, clearly his philosophy paid off, at least for the short term. The Red Sox's farm system is not has deep as many folks would like it, given that he raided that to get people.

 

[Centaurr]

Congrats to the Red sox from a Mets fan, you deserve it. is it spring training yet?

FYI: i hate the dodgers, utley and puig

 

[rhett7660]

Called it back in August! Not a Red Sox fan, but man they looked good back then, and they looked really good all post season. Yes they lost one game in each series, but they found ways to win!

Congratulations to that team from Bean Town!

 

[maflynn]

FYI: i hate the dodgers, utley and puig

Don't forget Manny Machado, who likes to spike the opposing players with his cleats

 

[MacNut]

Don't forget Manny Machado, who likes to spike the opposing players with his cleats

His post season play won’t help him in free agency.

 

[maflynn]

His post season play won’t help him in free agency.

I agree, but I wouldn't be surprised if another team offers a truck load of money

 

[MacDawg]

No this was his team for the most part. He deserves all the credit for building a quality roster and while I think he over paid for some talent, clearly his philosophy paid off, at least for the short term. The Red Sox's farm system is not has deep as many folks would like it, given that he raided that to get people.

That is his MO
Time will tell how long he can keep it together

 

[MacNut]

I agree, but I wouldn't be surprised if another team offers a truck load of money

Someone will over pay. Rumors that Yankee interest has cooled off. I’d make a run at Eovoldi. But are two TJ’s a risk.

 

[td1439]

I like that Boston won, but I couldn't stand Dave Dombrowski celebrating it. All I can say is DD must have great people already installed in Boston when he arrived, because the bullpen would had been the Achille's heel and the manager would had been a person who had lost touch with today's game.

I have heard the same criticism of Dombrowski, and there was concern when he did nothing at the trade deadline while the other AL contenders stocked up. There was certainly plenty of criticism for the pen heading into the playoffs. To be honest, they were mostly a dumpster fire in late August and all through September. That's what kept me from really thinking this team was going to win it all this year. Then they suddenly got on track for the playoffs. The idea of Joe Kelly being as good as he was all through the playoffs is just mind-blowing to me. Even Heath Hembree, who I simply call "Kerosene", did fine in limited action. Kimbrel has been good but I'm not sure he's demonstrated the consistency of performance to be their closer going forward. He's streaky, and while he's really good when he's on, he's a mess when he's not.

 

[oneMadRssn]

The idea of Joe Kelly being as good as he was all through the playoffs is just mind-blowing to me.

I'm am also in awe of how amazing Kelly was in the postseason. The only thing that I noticed changed from regular season to postseason is Corra used to use Kelly for multi-inning relief in the regular season, but instead used him for mostly single-inning (with a few exceptions) and high pressure situations in the postseason. I'm really hoping the Sox dump Kimbrell and hold on to Kelly as the closer. He seems to do well in high-pressure situations, but poorly in multi-inning relief.

 

[Plutonius]

Someone will over pay. Rumors that Yankee interest has cooled off. I’d make a run at Eovoldi. But are two TJ’s a risk.

I'm sure the Yankees are still going to make a run at him.

While the Red Sox won 108 and the Yankees 100 if they don’t produce in the playoffs it means nothing.

Well the Red Sox produced .

I also don't think that the Yankees not winning the WS invalidates their 100 wins this year in the regular season.

Lot of question marks with the Red Sox. Shaky bullpen, and you don’t know how hard Sale is going to throw. And then there’s David Price, who is dreadful in the postseason.

With the exception of Kimbrel, the pitching (especially relief) looked pretty solid.

 

[maflynn]

Let the hot stove discussions begin This will be interesting how things shake out. I fully expect Kershaw will opt out of his contract. I guess he needs to pull that trigger this week. His agent will have a melt down of he doesn't. It makes too much sense, even if he re-signs with the Dodgers.

 

[Plutonius]

Let the hot stove discussions begin

Red Sox Free Agents:

Craig Kimbrel
Nate Eovaldi
Joe Kelly
Drew Pomeranz
Steve Pearce
Ian Kinsler
Brandon Phillips

After his performance in the World Series, the Red Sox will bid on Eovaldi but some other team will pay him more (i.e. he will go elsewhere).

The Red Sox will bid on Kimbrel but the team will will not be too upset if some other team gets him. The same goes for Kinsler.

I hope the team passes on Pomeranz although Cora likes him.

The only two I think that the Red Sox will bid seriously on are Kelly and Pearce.