What better on a rainy day than a little open baseball conversation.
On this week’s podcast, Paul and I looked back at the regular season and answered a few questions that I would love to hear your thoughts and answers on.
Did the Red Sox live up to expectations this season?
Consensus coming into the season was that this team was a 95+ win team with the A.L. East squarely in it’s sights. While they are on the verge of the 95 win watermark, they’ve been stumped in the division by the Tampa Bay Rays.
In my opinion, this team not only lived up to any lofty expectations, but given the circumstances, they exceeded them. Without Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, David Ortiz, Mike Lowell, J.D. Drew, Julio Lugo (thank you), and Manny Ramirez for extended periods of time this season, they still reached the plateau that we thought they could.
At the same time, it doesn’t feel like this team fulfilled on all it could have….this team still has better baseball in front of it (and heading to the post-season that’s a good thing).
What were the signature moments of the 2008 regular season?
Jon Lester’s no-hitter, Manny Ramirez being dealt at the deadline, and Dustin Pedroia’s August stand out in my mind as I look back on this season as its signature moments. Throw Jason Bay’s debut out there and starting the season on another continent and this has been a memorable season. What are your signature moments of 2008?
What were the biggest surprises of 2008?
Jon Lester, Jon Lester, Jon Lester…what more can I say about Lester’s performance this year. Add that to Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia’s break out performances along with the Tampa Bay Rays taking the world by storm, and 2008 has been filled with the unexpected.
What were the biggest disappointments of 2008?
Manny Ramirez. I’ve not been as disappointed by a professional athlete I so adored in a long time.
What do the Red Sox have going for them as they head into the post-season?
Paul and I both looked at this team and are very encouraged with how this team is rounding into the form down the stretch. Our top three starters are all on a roll. I don’t know that Beckett, Dice K, and Lester have collectively pitched as well as they have in the past month. Add a bullpen that outside of the anchor, Jonathan Papelbon, has been outstanding of late and you have to feel good about this team’s chances in the post-season.
At the same time, Ortiz is heating up, Ellsbury is on a 16 game hit streak, Youk’s on another tear and Pedroia is as gritty as ever. With Mike Lowell and J.D. Drew getting healthy, things seem to be falling right in line for this team.
Are you optimistic about the Red Sox chances to repeat as World Series Champions?
Discuss!!!!
