Posts Tagged ‘redsox’

5 Fun Sports Thoughts Under the Fedora RedSox Move Big, 2 players away from Judging Mayo, It’s the 80’s Celtics Again, An Icy Reality for the Bruins and Pete Rose Colored Glasses

Posted: December 15, 2024 by datechguy in baseball, dynasty baseball, gaming, nba, nfl, nhl, online gaming, Sports
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The Redsox have since the Chiam Bloom Era have hoarded prospects the way Scrooge hoarded cash. This week they spent four of them including two very high ranking ones for a legit ace Garrett Crochet. The White Sox need everything and the Redsox got exactly what they needed the most.

This automatically makes the rest of the rotation better as they move down a slot and is a strong signal that will all the young talent that broke through last year they are ready to roll. It’s going to be a great three years for Boston fans. The front office was wise to ignore the press and wait till now to strike.

It will be fun

I do not understand all the calls for the head of 1st year coach Jerad Mayo over the Patriots 3-10 start. Does anyone really think a different coach with this team was going to do better?

Their biggest problem is that with so many bad teams (8 teams are 3-10 or worse coming into this week) the best they will manage is a top 10 rather than a top 5 draft pick.

If they can draft a solid lineman or two and pick up a #2 or better wide receiver either via the draft or as they have a ton of cap space through free agency this team will be a playoff team in less than a season.

If he can’t get it done with those additions, THEN we can talk about the coaching

It will be fun

If you’re a Celtics fan if this isn’t the 2nd Bird/McHale/Parish golden age it’s pretty damn close.

While they don’t have the best record in the NBA the C’s are a devastating team with at least 2 to 3 players coming off the bench who would be starting on any other team and starters who despite last year’s championship still have a Tom Brady class chip on their shoulder.

I strongly suggest the Bucks enjoy their NBA cup final as barring massive injuries that’s the closest their team will get to the final this year.

To be sure Cleveland will be no pushover in the east and Dallas, Houston, Memphis and OKC are going to be tough but in a seven game series depth and experience will be hard to match.

It will be fun

Alone among the Boston sports teams the future doesn’t seem bright for the Bruins.

Despite yesterday’s win they are still 1-2 on their latest road trip and seem to have settled down as an average team that if lucky might win a playoff series and frankly there is no reason to believe that the ceiling will get any higher over the next few years.

Their off season signings just don’t seem to have panned out and frankly I see no sign that it will get better.

Finally we are deep into my 1973 league draft and it’s getting interesting. My own team looks pretty good but I see myself with a B+ ace instead of an A+ Ace but I’ve also added Billy Williams to support Pete Rose and Darryl Porter is now of age to make a different.

I mention Pete Rose because I’ve been watching the HBO special on him made just before he died and there is one conclusion I’ve come to.

There is a legit debate on the HOF, Rose’s numbers clearly warrant it & his gambling on Baseball as a manager clearly warrants his banning and there is was also the mercy after 30 years argument.

But it also appears to me at a time when interest in baseball is down Rose’s situation made sure he was news for thirty years and made him the single most discussed great player in the game. More people know just how incredible a player Rose was BECAUSE of his banning and the scandals are the reason why 30+ years after the fact HBO is did a special, not on Bench, not on Joe Morgan, Not on Reggie Jackson or the Beloved Brooks Robinson, or Big Papi or A-Rod or Clemens and Bonds, but on Pete Rose.

While it must have torn his guts out to be left out of the HOF the one thing all of this has established is that while you might not like him, or what he did or trust him at his word, the one thing firmly established in any person’s mind is that if you wanted to build a team to win, Pete Rose is the guy you start with, Period!

That’s a hell of a legacy!

Dynasty Baseball 1972 League AL Red Sox at Yankees

Posted: October 2, 2024 by datechguy in baseball, dynasty baseball, gaming, online gaming
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These Writeups are about the 2nd Round of the AL Playoffs. All Series are five games.

Red Sox vs Yankees

RedSox

The Boston RedSox Offensive / Defensive/ Pitching evaluation was done in the Wild card round and Can be found in full here. Fast Summery Strong offense led by Yaz and Fisk, Tied for Top defense in MLB, Pitching, one ace (Nolan) and the rest average with no real closer.

Round 1 vs Angels Game 1 at Anaheim Stadium Gary Nolan Vs Tom Bradley

Game 1 was a true pitchers duel with Redsox Ace Gary Nolan facing Tom Bradley of the 18 losses. The first run came from a leadoff Bill Plummer Solo shot in the 3rd giving the Angels a 1-0. The Red Sox took the lead in the 6th when with two outs light hitting Doug Griffin hit a shot into the Gap that Manny Mota couldn’t catch up to. He end up on 2nd and Yaz immediately drove him with a single to center Griffin beating the throw from Moralas which allowed Yaz to get to 2nd which didn’t matter much since Willie Davis walked putting runners on 1st and Second for Carlton Fisk to singled to center with Yaz motoring home to make it 2-1.

That is all that Bradley would give up the three hits in the 6th were fully half of Boston’s total as Bradly pitched a fine game, alas for the Halo Nolan did even better. Not only did the Angels not get near another run but no Angel got to the plate with a runner in scoring position for Nolan’s 9 innings of work

Red Sox 2 Angels 1 WP Nolan 1-0 LP Bradley 0-1 HR Plumber (1)

Game 2 at Fenway Park Woodie Fryman vs Rick Wise

For the 2nd game in a row California struck first via the longball. In the top of the 1st with two outs Jose Cardinal put a ball over the wall in Right center scoring Bobby Valentine giving the Angels a 2-0 lead. It would have been 3-0 except Wes Parker once again demonstrated his glove at first robbing Manny Mota of a double on a shot down the line.

The lead was cut to one in the bottom of the 2nd when after a pair of walks Doug Griffin singled in Rico Petrocelli but in the top of the 3rd the Angles got it back as Tommy McCraw tripled to center with one out and Bobby Valentine singled him in. Manny Mota followed with a single which could have led to a big inning but wise struck out Cardinal and Morales lined to 3rd to kill the rally. The Sox Answered back again as Fisk put a two out fastball over the monster and the lead was back to 3-2.

In the 5th the Red Sox pitcher Rick Wise helped his own cause by legging out a slow roller that Bobby Valentine couldn’t get to first in time. This would prove critical as with two outs Ollie Brown put one in the gap scoring him all the way from first and the game was tied.

And tied it would stay both teams would threaten in the 8th without success and in the 9th after reaching on an error Dave Conception tried to make it to 3rd when Leroy Stanton hitting for Fryman singled to center but Vada Pinson who had just moved to center threw a strike to Rico Petrocelli for the 2nd out and Wise put out the fire. Angel closer Clay Carroll retired the Sox in order in the 9th and we went to Extras.

Wise would remain in until the top of the 11th when he came out after retiring the first 2. and Joe Horlen came in and promptly grooved a ball to Bill Plumber for his 2nd round tripper of the series.

With victory in their grasp and their playoff hopes on the line they left Carroll in for a 3rd inning which proved costly. He would walk lead off man Vada Pinson who would move to 2nd on a grounder to 3rd and would easily score on a double to left center tying the game. Davis would get to 3rd with two outs when Jack Aker came in and coaxed a pinch hit ground out from Norm Miller and we went to the 12th

After a leadoff single Al Severinsen retired California in order in the top of the inning. Aker would be saved from trouble by a great diving stop by Tommy McGraw keeping Wes Parker from a sure double but his luck would run out when Ollie Brown who only had 2 Homeruns all season for his worst slugging year in his career made Red Sox fans forget this by lifting a ball just over the wall to send the Redsox to a meeting with their longtime rivals from New York.

Boston 5 California 4 WP Severinsen 1-0 LP Aker (0-1) HR Plumber (2), Cardenal (1), Fisk (1), Brown (1)

New York Yankees 111-51 1st Place AL Alpha Division (#1 seed)

Offense: Whoever said “You can’t go home again” apparently never saw this Yankee team whose offense was completely invigorated by their return to the Polo Grounds as Yankees lead the majors in every offensive category except walks (2nd in AL 5th in majors) Stolen bases (3rd in AL 7th in majors) and at bats (1st in AL 2nd in Majors). The top three slugging percentages in the American league belonged to Bobby Murcer (.591+065 over 1971), young John Mayberry (.550 +.291 over 1971) and Reggie Smith (.528 +007 over 1971) Murcer’s HR total went from 23 to 36 Mayberry’s from 5 (in 104 games) to 35 (in 162) and Smith from 20 (in 162 games) to 30 (in 160). Oddly the move didn’t figure in Murcer’s numbers has he hit 10 more homers and slugged a full .197 points higher on the road (.488 vs .685) meanwhile Roberto Clemente hit .290 and drove in 90 while Ron Santo who was floundering in Cincy (.162 0 HR 6 RBI in 29 games) before being dealt to NY soared (.326 13 HR 75 RBI). Put simply they’ve been an offensive monster.

Defense: With so much offense you likely don’t need much defense but the Yanks were above slightly above average. Both Thurman Munson and Ed Kirkpatrick threw out more runners than they allowed to steal. Ron Santo took the 3B job from Bill Melton and ran with it defensively. Horace Clark proved just as good as Doug Griffin who was dealt to Boston early in the season. Clemente only threw out 4 but almost nobody tried to take an extra base against him however Reggie’s Smith’s 9 errors in the outfield were rather high and both Steve Kline and Terry Forster where adventures on the mound if the ball was hit to them.

Pitching: If the Yankees offense wasn’t enough their pitching staff managed the top ERA in the AL (2.96 3rd overall) and the 2nd lowest Avg against in the AL as well (.239) Meanwhile their bullpen saved 45 of 57 however their 116 HR allowed were the 3rd most in the AL & majors but given the dimensions of the Polo Grounds not a huge surprise. Mike Paul & Bob Moose were tied for 2nd in the AL for ERA (2.42) Terry Forester led the AL with 34 saves and Steve Kline and Bob Moose were top 8 in the majors for not giving up walks. Put simply with 3 20 Game winners (Wilbur Wood, Moose and Steve Kline) all of who had over 200 innings they are a force to be reckoned with.

Series one Yankees at Boston April:

Game one was a back and forth affair with six lead changes till it was even at 9 after 9 but in the bottom of the 10th Vada Pinson singled to start the 10th followed by a Triple from Wes Parker to win the game. In Game 2 Roberto Clemente doubled in one run and John Mayberry homered for 2 more in the 6th and Celerino Sanchez tripled in two runs more. Both Fisk and Yaz drove in runs in the 8th but it wasn’t enough and Forester picked up the save for 6-4 Yankees win. A two run shot by Parker and an RBI double by Yaz gave the Redsox a 4-0 lead but Bobby Murcer hit a solo shot in the 8th and the Yanks managed 5 in the 9th including a Reggie Smith homerun giving Yankees a lead that Forester would hold.

Series Two June in NY

The Redsox simply pounded the yanks with a solo shot by Davis a two run shot by Yaz and a three run shot by Rico Petrocelli. Rick Wise threw a complete game giving up 4 which was more than good enough to secure a 9-4 win. In game two after an early exchange of runs the Yanks took the lead with a 3 run 7th with a bases loaded fielders choice plus and a 2 run single giving Wilbur Wood a win and 3rd save for Forster in game 2 and his 4th save in game 3 with a Reggie Smith solo shot and a three run shot by John Mayberry giving Mike Paul the win

Series 3 Aug in Boston:

The Yanks went 8-18 with runners in scoring position allowing them to build a 6-3 lead for which was enough to hold off a 2 run rally in the 9th. In game 2 three Redsox pitchers combined to shut out the Yanks which meant that RBI doubles from Fisk and Griffin and a single from Petrocelli were more than enough to win. In the 3rd game the game remained even at 3 in the ninth but in the end Rick Wise could not hold off a rally with runs scored on a passed ball and a single from Gene Tenace.

Series 4 Sept in NY

The Redsox won a costly victory in game one when he ended up out for 3 series after diving for a ball in left a bases loaded grounder and a Doug Griffin single drove in 2 and a single and flyout in the 9th gave two more runs to secure a 4-1 win for Gary Nolan. In game 2 the Yanks scored 10 including 5 in the first 2 innings and five more on 17 hits while Bob Moose surrendered only 2 runs on 4 hits while striking out 11. In game 3 again things went back and forth and the Yanks took a lead in the 5th on a Clemente single and handed the ball to Terry Forster who had saved 4 vs the Sox but the fifth time was the charm for Boston as he made a key error with two on to load the bases allowing Wes Parker to single in the tying and winning run for a 5-4 Red Sox win.

Season series Yanks 7-5

The Pick: The Red Sox are a good team with a lot of fine young players who will give the Yankees grief and they played the Yanks tough all season but with excellent pitching and overpowering offence I can’t see the Redsox pulling this one off. Yanks in 4.

1972 League Playoff Review Wild Card Round American League California Angels at Boston Red Sox

Posted: September 28, 2024 by datechguy in baseball, Dynasty, dynasty baseball, gaming, online gaming
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The first round of our 1972 league playoffs kick off this week in a best of three series between the 2nd and 3rd wild card teams. The winner will face the top seeded NY Yankees in the Division series in round two (Best of 5):

California Angels 82-80 2nd in AL Alpha 29 GB 3rd wild Card

Offense: The Angels played pretty much .500 ball this season with a team that didn’t scare many people with their bats hitting .241 as a team despite Manny Mota being 2nd in the AL in hits (202) and hitting .314 (6th in the league) and walking even less (16th out of 20 MLB teams) hitting only 75 Home runs all season and finishing 14th in slugging although they had three players in the top 8 in the AL for Triples Mota with 10 (8th), Jerry Moralas 12 (tied 3rd) and Tommy McGraw who was 2nd with 13 and also 7th in OBP .374. Their most dangerous offensive player being Jose Cardinal who finished the season at .288 17 HR 107 RBI (4th in league) and 39 doubles (tied 5th) and 95 runs scored (7th)

Defense: A team with little offence needs solid defense and California certainly qualified in that score their .986 fielding percentage was tied for 5th in the majors and only .001 off the MLB lead and their 89 Errors were 6th in the majors. Bobby Valentine at 2nd (.984) Don Money at 3rd (.980) and Dave Concepcion (.980). The two weak links. 2nd Catcher Bill Plummer who let 10 of 11 baseruners steal on him and Cardinal whose 5 errors in right and .978 fielding percentages were a problem.

Pitching: Clay Carrol was lights out in the pen saving 28 in 31 chances with a WHIP of .092 (2nd in AL) but the starters ran hot at cold. Tommy John’s 2.46 ERA in 248 innings only produced a 15-14 record. Another innings eater was Tom Bradley who pitched 275 1/3 innings (6th in AL) but at a cost of 18 losses (tied 3rd in AL) against only 10 wins. The Ace of the team was Clay Kirby who led all American league pitchers with a .193 Avg against finishing with a 18-12 Record with a 3.33 ERA

Red Sox 86-76 3rd in AL Beta 14 GB 2nd Wild Card

Offense: Boston’s .256 avg and .326 OBP were both 3rd in the Majors and 2nd in the AL led by Carl Yazstremski whose .335 led the AL. Yaz also led the Majors with a .431 OBP and his .519 Slugging pct was good enough for 4th in the AL and top 10 in the majors. He was helped by Vada Pinson whose .311 avg (7th in AL (37 doubles (6th in AL) did their job and Rookie Carlton Fisk who managed 39 doubles of his own and Willie Davis whose 97 walks led the AL and Rico Petrocelli whose 24 Home Runs led the team (yet only drove in 67). Despite playing in Fenway they only managed 96 round trippers although their 244 doubles, no doubt aided by the green monster were good enough for 6th in the Majors and 2nd in the AL.

Defense: Boston .987 fielding percentage was part of a 4 way tie for the best in the majors and their paltry 83 errors were part of a 3 way tie for 2nd in the Majors (and 2nd in the AL) Fisk’s arm discouraged base stealing as he threw out 5 of the mere 12 who attempted to steal. Boston was one of three teams who allowed less that 10 SB all season (9). In the rest of the field things were just as good. Wes Parker only committed 4 errors in 1389 1/3 innings while helping to turn 100 DP getting to balls most fielders would not be able to touch while Rick Petrocelli only committed 7 errors at 3rd in 537 chances for an .987 fielding percentage while Vada Pinson committed only a single error in the OF primarily in Right while Willie Davis in center threw out 12 runners this season. One surprise down side was Left Fielder Carl Yazstremski who managed 6 errors as age seemed to catch up but was perfect at 1B when spelling Wes Parker.

Pitching: Boston’s team era of 3.52 was decidedly middle of the pack (0.02 behind California) Gary Nolan (16-9 2.72 ERA in 254 1/3 innings) Claude Osteen (16-18 3.72 ERA in 276 innings) and Rick Wise (17-14 3.11 in 272 1/3 innings) carried the workload with a rotation by committee Tom Timmerman, Lynn McGlothen, Ken Bret and John Curtis carrying the rest of the load. Boston lead the AL with 51 complete games. Nolan did lead the league with a 1.01 WHIP and was top 10 in avg against and was top 10 in ERA but the Bullpen as a whole managed only 24 saves in 35 chances with an aging Joe Horlen demoted to the pen with only a single start managing 8 saves in 10 chances (10th in league) but on the whole the bullpen was unremarkable.

Boston vs Calif head to head.

Series 1:

The Angels visited Boston in May losing two of three. In game one the Redsox gave Jim McAndrew his first loss 5-1 with Hector Torres, Horace Clarke and winner Gary Nolan (3-1) all singling with 2 men on in the 4th to provide all they needed. In game two Tommy John broke an Angels four game losing streak holding Boston to one run while Jerry Moralas’ 2 run shot off of Tom Timmerman did the job with insurance added later and Clay Carroll closing it out. Boston won the series however with a 6-4 win with Clarke and Torres again doing the damage to give Boston the lead in the sixth. Rick Wise pitched a complete game for the win.

Series 2:

The Sox came to California in Junes and Swept the angels away starting with a 9-2 blowout with Six Redsox hitters driving in runs off of Tom Bradly including winning pitcher Claude Osteen. Game 2 was closer as the Angels bailed out Tommy John with 2 out in the 9th to tie the game but the Sox started the top of the tenth with four straight single to drive in 1 and a two out single by Bud Harrelson driving in two more for the 6-3 final. Game three was a dual between Rick Wise and Clay Kirby but despite a one out Leroy Stanton single in the 9th driving for the 2nd day in a row to narrow it to 4-3 Rick Wise held on to win the duel.

Series 3

For the 2nd Time Tommy John held the Redsox to a single run and Carroll provided the save as the Angles won 3-1 thanks to a Rusty Torrez Home run off of Ken Brett in the 7th but Boston answered back the next day at Fenway with a 5-4 win with doubles by Carlton Fisk and Hector Torrez making the difference. In game 3 Claude Osteen who like his foe Tom Bradly would lose 18 on the season shut out the Angels who would win 2-0 helped by a rare key error by shortstop Dave Conception which put Fisk on first. Yaz singled him to 3rd and Petrocelli fly to the warning track in the August night sent him home.

Series 4

The last visit meeting of teams in September was again good luck for the hard luck Osteen. Tommy John only gave up a single run through seven but John Rooker gave up 3 more in the 8th including a 2 run HR by light hitting Doug Griffin so that when the Halos finally got two off of Osteen in the 9th it wasn’t enough. Game two went worse as three Sox pitchers combined for a shutout meaning that the paltry two runs that Jim McAndrew gave up was enough to cost him the game. Finally the Redsox scored three solo runs in the 1st three innings off of Bradley and added three more to double up California 6-3 despite RBI triples from both Money and Morales which couldn’t overcome homers by Pinson and Petrocelli

Season Series Redsox win 7-2

Boston’s offense clearly give them the advantage as both teams have excellent defense and middling pitching staffs, Boston’s strength in the rotation while California has a shut down closer. The question is can the Angels score enough runs to get to the Sox mediocre bullpen. I think the series will come down to Tommy John and Clay Kirby vs Gary Nolan and Rick Wise. But with the Bats Boston has I can’t see the Halos managing to break through.

My prediction Boston wins series 2-1

Five One Line Thoughts Under the Fedora Cenk Uygur & Bill Maher, What’s in it for Joe?, Has all the lawfare been Garland’s Vengeance? The Ten Point Jewish Vote Solution, Never Forget this is Chaim Bloom’s Red Sox Team

Posted: July 11, 2024 by datechguy in baseball, Blame Biden Administration, election 2024, middle east, politics, the courts, Uncomfortable Truths, under the fedora
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I think the only people in the media left whose opinion on Joe Biden should be considered are Cenk Uygur & Bill Maher as they were the only two people willing to acknowledge Joe Biden’s state before June 27 2024.

Given that Joe Biden is the exact same man today as he was on June 26th 2024 when the entire media/left except Maher & Uygur insisted he was fine and dandy and the utilitarian nature of leftist’s like him, can anybody explain to me what is Joe Biden’s incentive to voluntarily surrender either the Democrat Nomination or the presidency?

It hit me today that Joe Biden mental state being what it is might all the lawfare against Conservatives in general (Bannon, Praying Grandmothers etc) and Donald Trump in particular be a function not so much of the Biden Administration/campaign and it’s mentally failing leader but Merrick Garland himself taking personal revenge on those he blames for keeping off of the Supreme Court?

If the left embracing and protecting people who want them dead has only cost the Democrats ten points among Jews, why would anybody think that the revelations about media lies concerning Joe Biden would make a big difference to an electorate whose lives are not at stake?

Finally Boston fans enjoying a young and dynamic RedSox team surging into the final wild card spot and prepare to surge perhaps even higher should not forget this would not have been possible if the now fired Chaim Bloom had listened to all those folks in the media who wanted him to deal away these prospects who are now making their mark.

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