Boston: 17 - New York: 1

[sears3820]

Boston ain't that good this year.

Keep telling yourself that.

This team is good enough to win another World Series. Once Manny comes around and our starting rotation gets healthy, we'll have more than enough to make a run for the pennant.

And to think we're still tied with the MFY's and we haven't played decent ball yet.

 

[Sloopy45]

sears3820: "Keep telling yourself that."

I don't have to. It'll bear out in the standings.

How far do you think you're getting with a one-legged Shilling (if he even comes back at all) and an ineffective Keith Foulke?

Righties are hitting .310 against Matt Clement. You think he's gonna be a star in the second half if that continues?

Look, I can't say a word because my team is old, flawed, and the Red Sox are firmly planted between their ears.

But that doesn't mean the '05 Red Sox are a good team. The offense is great, but the Bullpen looks very old, and the starters lack depth & quality.

 

[sears3820]

How far do you think you're getting with a one-legged Shilling (if he even comes back at all) and an ineffective Keith Foulke?

Schilling probably won't ever be 100% again this year but as you've seen in the past, an 80% is more than effective.

Foulke is having a rough go thus far this year. However, I'm confident his meeting Dr. Fleisig will work out the kinks.

Righties are hitting .310 against Matt Clement. You think he's gonna be a star in the second half if that continues?

Actually righties are only .298 (36/121). Out of those 36 hits, all but 7 of them were singles. He has yet to give up a HR or a 3B to a righty. And righties have only knocked in 6 runs against Clement. While it's still a disturbing number, he's not giving up a big hit with men on base.

The thing that is troubling for me about MC is his BBs on the road. He's walked 21 guys in 36 away from Fenway. He has to shore that up or he will give up one of those clutch base hits with RISP.

The offense is great, but the Bullpen looks very old, and the starters lack depth & quality.

Apart from Foulke and Alan Embree, I think the bullpen looks solid. Mike Timlin, Mike Myers, and Matt Mantei have all looked great. I don't count on John Halama for much. I really think you'll see a different Foulke in the second half.

I like our starting rotation depth wise more than last year. However, I don't think we setup better for the playoffs after losing Pedro. Having 2 aces like him and Schilling at the top of the rotation in the playoffs is vital to success. Once everyone gets healthy, I like the depth of this rotation from top to bottom better than last year's.

 

[Sloopy45]

sears3820: "Schilling probably won't ever be 100% again this year but as you've seen in the past, an 80% is more than effective."

80% is good enough to get him through a start or two in the Playoffs. Its not enough to get him through the back-end of a season plus an extended playoffs.

The Red Sox had two aces last year. They (maybe) have 80% of one this year. That's a huge difference when it comes playoff time.

And quite frankly, I don't think he's coming back. That ankle's gotta be severely damaged after last year. He had surgery immediately after the season, and is still out. That's not a good sign.

"While it's still a disturbing number, he's not giving up a big hit with men on base."

Hey, I'm not saying he hasn't done a good job of getting out of it so far. Obviously, the record speaks for itself. However, if .298 continues, then there will be plenty of big hits, HRs, etc. in that .298 over the course of the year (even if it hasn't happened yet). The averages always catch up to you in baseball, as you know.

There's a reason why Clement has great stuff but has been a journeyman his entire career.