Are the Red Sox the best team in baseball?

[playaofthegame]

The Red Sox tied an MLB record with four straight homers, all solo shots, in the third tonight..Starting lineupSS Julio Lugo1B/3B Kevin YoukulisDH David OrtizLF Manny RamirezRF JD Drew/Eric HinskeCF Wily Mo Pena/Coco Crisp3B Mike LowellC Jason Varitek/Doug Mirabelli2B Dustin Pedroia/Alex CoraPitching staffCurt SchillingJosh BeckettDaisuke MatsuzakaTim WakefieldJulian TavarezBullpenJonathan Papelbon -- CloserMike TimlinBrendan DonnellyHideki OkajimaJC RomeroKyle SnyderJoel Pineiro11-5 record5 runs per game3 runs allowed per game (stats pending on finish of game in progress vs. Yankees in 7th inning)Homer here but what do you think? :dribble:

 

[Dmoney]

I hate the Redsox as a Yankee fan but as of now Apirl 22nd I do think the RedSox are the best team is baseball, they have been playing great and almost unbeatable but don't get to excited if you sweep the Yankees and see the Yankees have a bad record in April. I mean the Yankees always suck in April for some reason but you would be fooling you self if you think the Red Sox will win the division this year without the Yankees putting up a fight. Don't get to comfortable.

 

[playaofthegame]

yeah man trust me I know ALL about choking at the end of the season..have you seen the red sox in the past decade and a half? I have had to live through itI think this sox team is deeper pitching-wise and will able to hold on for the entire season and more talented than any Sox team..except for obviously the 1999 team which was facing the Yankees at their probably best as well (we were F*cked over by the umpire who called the phantom tag on Jose Offerman in the ALCS though..he even admitted he F*cked the call up after the game) and MAYBE 2004 teamHideki Okajima was a PLEASANT surprise thoughI just think this team is more talented and the Yankees don't have enough to hold up for the entire season..they're being plagued by injuries and honestly they don't win nearly as many games if ARod isn't hitting absolutely out of his mind right now..their pitching is weak and they don't have a bullpen..Rivera is getting old..I dunno man I think it's a new time and it's the Sox time to shine..but I know in September when we're down by 10 games in the division I'll be hitting my head against the wall and saying "Damn they got me again"

 

[Dmoney]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (playaofthegame @ Apr 22 2007, 11:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>yeah man trust me I know ALL about choking at the end of the season..have you seen the red sox in the past decade and a half? I have had to live through itI think this sox team is deeper pitching-wise and will able to hold on for the entire season and more talented than any Sox team..except for obviously the 1999 team which was facing the Yankees at their probably best as well (we were F*cked over by the umpire who called the phantom tag on Jose Offerman in the ALCS though..he even admitted he F*cked the call up after the game) and MAYBE 2004 teamHideki Okajima was a PLEASANT surprise thoughI just think this team is more talented and the Yankees don't have enough to hold up for the entire season..they're being plagued by injuries and honestly they don't win nearly as many games if ARod isn't hitting absolutely out of his mind right now..their pitching is weak and they don't have a bullpen..Rivera is getting old..I dunno man I think it's a new time and it's the Sox time to shine..but I know in September when we're down by 10 games in the division I'll be hitting my head against the wall and saying "Damn they got me again"</div>LOL you could be right, but I think it's going to be the way it always is, I don't think y'all will be 10 behind though. I mean don't get me wrong even though I hate the Redsox there isn't any team in sports I respect more then Boston. I think it will be a close race like always and I think both teams will get in, hopefully another ALCS between the Yanks and Sox but that could be wishful thinking because you are right the Yanks are getting old and stuff.

 

[yankshater213]

fuuuuuuck I absolutely love okajima... he's grown on me a lot. I really really like our team this year. once manny heats up and coco pulls his head out of his ass I think we could be a really really dangerous team if the pitching rotation and bullpen continues the way they're pitching.

 

[MaRdYC26]

Maybe right now, but they don't have enough in the bullpen to continue the success, and Matsuzaka will eventually fade and won't be nearly as good as many think.

 

[playaofthegame]

what do you mean we don't have enough in the bullpen to continue the success?did you forget we have a top 5 closer in baseball, Jonathan Papelbon?that alone boosts our bullpen's status..Okajima is turning into a VERY good setup man..Timlin has been consistent and will always be there when pap needs rest..Matsuzaka can't fade away yet..he hasn't even pitched at his best lol...wait until he gets goinBTW Papelbon is about to come in to f*cking ruin the Yankees

 

[MaRdYC26]

I never said anything about Papelbon, but it's a bumpy road to get to him.I like Donnelly A LOT, but I'm not sold on Okejima. I think that he is the same case as Matsuzaka, no one has seen his stuff because he is japense, but once starts getting seen he'll get hit hard. His stuff is pretty good, but I doubt he'll keep it up once we reach July and August.Timlin is quite terrible at this stage in his career, and besides Donnelly and Papelbon the rest of the pen is meh and inconsistent. And it's not going to help if you guys take a hit to the rotation with an injury either...I mean, the Yankees have these people injuried and we still have only been outscored 21-17 in the series.MatsuiPosada (here and there)Damon (here and there)WangMussinaPavano

 

[playaofthegame]

Does it matter how many runs we allow when we have this absolute tank closing out games for us?You could give him a 1/2 a run lead and he still wouldn't be nervous..the guy's an absolute tank

 

[MaRdYC26]

My point is ya'll don't sweep if we have Wang, Petitte and Mussina going.

 

[playaofthegame]

yes we do lol..we came up big when we needed it against your weak bullpen

 

[MaRdYC26]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (playaofthegame @ Apr 22 2007, 11:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>yes we do lol..we came up big when we needed it against your weak bullpen</div>Yeah I know, I applaud you for that, but I pointed out that your pitching wasn't very good compared to two very young starters for the Yankees.I believe it will be Mussina, Igawa, Wang for the upcoming rematch series in NY. Now, that's gonna be great.

 

[yankshater213]

papelbon is f*cking intense..id sh*t my pants if he was pitching to me.papelbon is the top closer in the MLB. there I said it..SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPGOTTA LOVE IT BOYS. KEEP IT UP.

 

[yankshater213]

btw mardy I dont think moose is gonna pitch vs us next weekend I heard torre say he wanted him to have a rehab start before he pitches, especially against the sox. idk, all I know is that you fuckers better bring your a game next weekend and make up some of this lost ground. aaaaah I think I busted a nut when paps ked jeter. that was f*cking beautiful.

 

[Becar]

The Red Sox just might be the best team in baseball right now. There are a few things that need to improve.Infielders offense- NOBODY is afraid to pitch against any of the Red Sox infielders (Papi not included).Bullpen- Yes, it is looking ok right now. And thank God you have Dice K. Pushing Papplebon up to be a starter this early would have been a big mistake in my mind. As of right now, he could probably put forward 4-5 solid innings before he breaks down. And yes, he is a top 3 closer in the MLB. But he is really the only person that the Sox can put in right now that any other team is afraid of. The bullpen is pretty weak when you compare it to teams like Detroit (Zumaya- Best set up man and best fastball in baseball. Rodney- 2nd best changeup in baseball. Jones- Despite looking bad at times, is actually one of the most consistant closers in the AL).Manny is playing uninspired baseball right now. Just seems like hes not into it. This REALLY has to change for Boston to be a real contender.Center Field- Seems like a very up and down position for the Sox.Good news is that all of these problems are very fixable. There is nothing huge that this team really needs to do to solidify themselves as the team to beat.

 

[Becar]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MaRdYC26 @ Apr 22 2007, 11:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Yeah I know, I applaud you for that, but I pointed out that your pitching wasn't very good compared to two very young starters for the Yankees.I believe it will be Mussina, Igawa, Wang for the upcoming rematch series in NY. Now, that's gonna be great.</div>3 pitchers that I dont exactly tremble in the knees when they are facing my team. Lets not make this a "Who has better pitching: Boston or NY" thread. Boston has it without even having to think about it.

 

[Dmoney]

Redsox got better starting pitcher by far, the only way the Yankees could match that is if Phill hughes is an absolute beast right away and then they sign the Rocket.

 

[Becar]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dmoney @ Apr 25 2007, 04:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Redsox got better starting pitcher by far, the only way the Yankees could match that is if Phill hughes is an absolute beast right away and then they sign the Rocket.</div>Now wait a minute Dmoney. I never said by far. I just said it was fairly easy to come to that conclusion. Neither team has DOMINANT pitching. But Boston definitely gets the slight edge.

 

[Dmoney]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Becar @ Apr 25 2007, 04:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Now wait a minute Dmoney. I never said by far. I just said it was fairly easy to come to that conclusion. Neither team has DOMINANT pitching. But Boston definitely gets the slight edge.</div>My bad, wrong uses of words. The Redsox probably have a pretty big advantage right now but maybe in a few weeks with Hughes and if Rocket comes they could have equal pitching.

 

[playaofthegame]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Becar @ Apr 25 2007, 04:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Manny is playing uninspired baseball right now. Just seems like hes not into it. This REALLY has to change for Boston to be a real contender.</div>I'll get to this in a second..I pretty much agree with most of your points but I don't see how the infielders offense is weak..Lugo has 6 SB and is always a thread to steal a base and beat out an infield hit. Mike Lowell has like 5 homeruns and 3 in the last couple days..the guy is a double machine..I think he led the MLB in doubles last year..Pedroia is pretty weak..but he's a rookie and he's out there because he's an EXCELLENT fielder..Yukilous isn't that great but he's also fairly young..he can hit for power though and is pretty solid..him and Pedroia are probably the weak links in the infield offenseOkay..about Manny..he isn't playing uninspired baseball right now..he just has not gotten his timing perfect yet and he has even said that..he said he doesn't blame it on the weather or anything else..he's just trying to get into a groove and get his timing back to where it was..give him time and he'll be hitting around .300 and get 40 homeruns, 100 RBIs by the end of the season like he does every single yearAnd Boston's starting rotation is BY FAR..BY FAR better than the Yankees rotationSchillingBeckettMatsuzaka alone are better than the Yankees rotationYanks bullpen is also extremely weakerI just think the Yankees not turning to their farm system until last year and spending big money on aging big name free agents has really really hurt them in the long run while the Sox have been building for the future for a few years now

 

[yankshater213]

Becar, about your Manny comments:He's like this regardless if he's on a 24 game hit streak and hitting .330 or in a 0-28 slump. He's always lazy, he always goofs off - thats the way he is. Like POTG said, his timing is a little off, and he's still trying to find a groove. He'll find it soon, he's too good of a hitter to not find it.