Author Archives: @Matthew O'Halloran

Down on the Farm 5/19-5/25

*Every weekend, I will be updating you on weekly results from the Boston’s farm teams, which include Pawtucket Red Sox (AAA), the Portland Sea Dogs (AA), the Greenville Drive (A), and Salem Red Sox (High A). After every team is recapped, individual stats are posted. Also, I will have a prospect of the week section at the end.

Down on the Farm- Pawtucket Red Sox

The Paw Sox 2-6 over the week, bringing their record to 19-25. The Sox started off the week with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Rochester. Justin Haley was brilliant once again, allowing two runs in six innings, lowering his ERA to 3.63. However, the Paw Sox only recorded five hits, which lead to the defeat. They followed up that loss with another loss by the score of 3-0. They rebounded from those two tough losses with an impressive 5-4 win over rival Scranton Wilkes-Barre.

Jalen Beeks gave up three runs in the first, but the Sox crawled back thanks to two RBIs from Cole Sturgeon. They had another impressive 7-6 win the next day. Aneury Tavarez and Ramon Flores hit in all seven runs. Scranton rebounded the next day and dominated the Sox by the score of 7-1. Chandler Shepherd struggled, giving up four runs in 3.1 innings. Their bats were shut down again as they were defeated by the Rail Riders 3-1. They closed out the week with another loss against Lehigh by the score of 6-4. Marcus Walden struggled in his start, but Robby Scott did have two innings of no-hit baseball in relief. It would not surprise me if he was back in the majors soon.

Down on the Farm- Portland Sea Dogs

The Sea Dogs went 1-5 over the week, bringing their record to 16-29. Despite six innings of one-run ball from Mike Shawaryn, the Sea Dogs started off the week with a 6-3 loss. The bullpen was awful, and the bats could not produce enough runs for the win. The next game was not any better as they were killed, 12-3. Dedgar Jimenez and Jake Cosart were awful on the mound, and the bats were mediocre once again.

They had an off day on the 21st and lost again on the 22nd. The game was tied at three because Kyle Hart gave up one earned run over seven innings, but then Josh Taylor gave up two runs in the eighth. The bats rebounded as they defeated Hartford 12-3. Teddy Stankiewicz was great in his seven-inning start and seven of the hitters in the lineup knocked in at least one run. The next game was the opposite as they lost 12-5. Jake Cosart gave up five runs in 1.2 innings to put the game away.

Down on the Farm- Greenville Drive

The Drive went 1-5 on the week, bringing their record to 11-35. They started off the week with a 5-2 loss at the hands of Augusta. Jhonathan Diaz had a decent start, but the offense only recorded six hits. The game on the 20th was suspended in the second inning. They had a tough 11-10 loss in extras against Asheville. Juan Florentino gave up the game-winning base hit in the tenth. The Drive lost again the next day by the score of 5-3. Denyi Reyes only gave up one run over five innings but the offense struggled.

They rebounded from the losses with a 4-3 win over the tourists. Kutter Crawford gave up no runs in six innings and Marino Campana’s two RBI’s led the offense. Greenville could not build off the momentum from the win and lost 4-2. Like last time, Jhonathan Diaz had a decent start, but the offense only recorded six hits. The Drive closed out the week with a 3-1 loss against Colorado. They only recorded three hits in the defeat.

Down on the Farm- Salem Red Sox

The Red Sox went 5-3 on the week, bringing their to 22-23. record to They opened up the week with a 6-5 win over the Blue Rocks. Matt Chatham knocked in three runs and Jake Thompson gave up two runs over six innings. Salem had a doubleheader the next day, winning both games 7-3. Bobby Dalbec had three RBIs in the night game. The Sox continued their momentum with a 5-1 win over the Frederick Keys. Tanner Houck was impressive, giving up just one run in six innings.

The bats exploded in the next game, as they won 13-11. Jordan Procyshen knocked in three RBIs, Brett Netzer knocked in two and Matt Chatham knocked in two as well. On Wednesday, their momentum was thwarted as they lost 15-6. Enmanuel De Jesus gave up 12 hits and eight runs over 4.1 innings. Salem lost again the next day, this time by the score of 5-1. The Sox only landed four hits and Jake Thompson struggled in the start. They closed out the week with a 4-3 loss against the Blue Rocks. Darwinian Hernandez gave up four runs in six innings and the bats only produced four hits.

Prospect of the Week- Bryan Mata

Age: 19
Position: RHP
Team: Salem Red Sox
Stats this year: 2-2 W-L, 3.51 ERA in seven starts, 25.2 IP, 19 strikeouts
Pitches: fastball, curveball, changeup

Down on the Farm- 5/12-5/18

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*Every weekend, I will be updating you on weekly results from the Pawtucket Red Sox (AAA). Also, the Portland Sea Dogs (AA), the Greenville Drive (A), and Salem Red Sox (High A). After every team is given a recap, individual stats are posted.

5/12-5/18

Pawtucket Red Sox

The Red Sox went 1-4 during the week, bringing their record to 17-20. On the 12th, the Sox fell to Syracuse 6-5 on a walk-off walk. They had chances to win it in the late innings, but the offense could not come through. Justin Haley got the start and allowed two runs over 3.2 innings. On the 13th, they lost by the score of 9-1. Starting pitcher Marcus Walden gave up one run in 2.1 innings. On the 14th, they defeated Buffalo 6-5 on a walk-off single by Tzu Wei Lin.

Dustin Pedroia went ⅓ with a single in a rehab start. Jalen Beeks gave up two runs in six innings, lowering his ERA to an impressive 1.93. Their game on the 15th was postponed due to rain. The next day, they lost 5-4. The game was tied in the ninth until Ryan Brasier gave up a go-ahead sacrifice fly. On the 17th, they had an off day. On the 18th, they were defeated by Rochester 2-0. Chandler Shepard’s one earned run over six innings was not good enough as the Sox only recorded four hits.

Portland Sea Dogs

The Sea Dogs went 4-3 on the week, bringing their record to 15-24. On the 12th, the Sea Dogs lost to Binghamton 10-7. They had control of the game at first, but gave up all ten runs from the fourth to the sixth inning. Kevin McAvoy gave up five runs over 4.1 innings. They lost 10-4 the next day. Tony Renda knocked in two runs, but Travis Lakins gave up four runs in 2.1 innings. On the 14th, they lost to Reading 10-7. Tate Matheny knocked in two runs, but Trey Ball gave up a long ball in the seventh. They were also rained out on the 15th, which caused a doubleheader on the 16th.

The first game was an 8-2 win thanks to three RBIs from Austin Rei, and five innings of two-run baseball from Kyle Hart. Chad De La Guerra’s five RBIs were not enough in the second game as Portland lost 9-8. The game was tied going into the ninth, but Jake Cosart gave up two runs in the top half of the inning. On the 17th, they beat Altoona 12-9 in ten innings. They scored all twelve runs in the final four innings and the top three hitters in the lineup racked up seven RBIs. On the 18th, they won by the score of 8-4. Starting pitcher Travis Lakins struggled, but Teddy Stankiewicz picked up the win with 6.1 innings of shutout baseball in relief.

Greenville Drive

The Drive went 1-5 on the week, bringing their record to 10-30. On the 12th, the Drive lost to Lexington 6-0 and they only recorded four hits. Nick Duron gave up four runs in as many innings. On the 13th, they lost 7-3. Frankie Rios had two RBIs but Devon Fisher gave up four runs in the seventh and picked up the loss. On the 14th, they won a wild one by the score of 13-12. They scored eleven of the thirteen runs in the final four innings, and the bullpen barely hung on in the ninth.

On the 15th, they lost by the score of 4-3. They were in control of the game, but Angel Pardon gave up three runs from the seventh to the ninth inning to blow it. On the 16th, they had an off-day. On the 17th, they lost to Agusta 2-1. Denyi Reyes only gave up two runs over six innings but that was not good enough. On the 18th, they lost by the same score. Enmanuel De Jesus gave up one run over six innings in the start.

Salem Red Sox

Salem went 0-2 during the week, bringing their record to 17-20. On the 12th, the Sox lost to Lynchburg 18-1. Tanner Houck gave up five runs over four innings. On the 13th, they lost 6-2. It was a one-run game in the ninth, but Algenis Martinez and Matthew Gorst gave up three runs in the ninth. On the 14th, Salem had an off day. On the 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th the games were washed out by rain.

Down on the Farm- May 5th- May 12th

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*Every weekend, I will be updating you on weekly results from the Red Sox’ farm teams: Pawtucket Red Sox (AAA), the Portland Sea Dogs (AA), and the Greenville Drive (A).

Pawtucket Red Sox

The Red Sox went 2-4 over the week, and they are now on the 16-16 year. On May 5th, they defeated Scranton 2-0 thanks to seven shutout innings from Chandler Shepard. Tyler Thornburg also had a clean eighth in a rehab outing. On May 6th, they defeated Scranton by the same score. Justin Haley picked up the win, and he now has a 3.60 ERA. Brandon Workman pitched the sixth, seventh, and eighth while Bobby Poyner picked up the save. On May 7th, they fell to Lehigh by the score of 4-1. The Paw Sox only recorded six hits and starting pitcher Josh Smith struggled over four innings. On the 8th, they lost 4-1 again.

They only have one batter hitting above .300, and the offense has struggled all year. On the 9th, they were shutout by the score of 3-0. Starting pitcher Jordan Beeks kept them in the game, but they only recorded two hits. On the 10th, the bats were quiet again as they fell to Syracuse 6-4. Starting pitcher William Cuevas struggled, giving up four runs in as many innings. On the 11th, the bats finally exploded with a 12-2 win. They scored eight runs in the first and Chandler Shepard picked up the win.

Portland Sea Dogs

The Sea Dogs went 4-4 on the week, and they are now 11-20 on the year. On the 5th, they were defeated by Hartford 9-6. Portland tied it in the eighth, but Trevor Kelley blew it in the bottom half of the inning. On the 6th, they lost by the score of 12-4. Starting pitcher Matthew Kent only lasted 2.2 innings. On the 7th, they lost to New Hampshire 10-2. Starting pitcher Kevin McAvoy gave up five runs in four innings.

On the 8th, they won by the score of 5-3. Teddy Stankiewicz threw 5.2 innings of scoreless baseball out of the bullpen. On the 9th, they won by the score of 7-1. They put the game away by scoring five runs in the ninth. Mike Shawaryn threw seven innings and gave up no runs. On the 10th, they defeated Binghamton by the score of 7-2. Tate Matheny was 2-4 with three RBI’s. On the 11th, they lost 5-1. It was competitive until the eighth, but Trey Ball gave up three runs.

Greenville Drive

The Drive went 4-2 during the week to improve to 9-25. On the 5th, they defeated Greensboro 2-1. They were losing 1-0 in the eighth, but Frankie Rios and Lorenzo Cedrola scored to give the Drive a win. On the 6th, they dominated by the score of 10-2. Kevin Suarez knocked in three runs and Denyi Reyes gave up one run over seven innings. On the 7th, they won 3-2, with all three runs coming in the eighth. Left fielder Victor Acosta hit the go-ahead home run.

They had an off day on the 8th then they were crushed by Kannapolis 10-2. Starting pitcher Angel Pardon only lasted 1.1 innings and gave up five runs. On the 10th, they were shutout by the score of 2-0. Starting pitcher Kutter Crawford pitched well, but the Drive only recorded three hits. On the 11th, they won 6-4 behind Jagger Rusconi’s two-run home run.

Rotation Changes Coming for the Sox?

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The Red Sox starting rotation exceeded expectations in the first month. The staff posted a 3.34 combined ERA, which ranks fifth in the MLB. Porcello leads the team in ERA, Sale leads the team in strikeouts, and Price has had his best start in Boston. However, Eduardo Rodriguez and Drew Pomeranz have both struggled mightily in their returns.

Drew Pomeranz

Pomeranz has only made two starts, and he usually takes time to get into his rhythm. In April, he posts a 4.09 ERA, but in August, he posts a 2.92 ERA. Pomeranz was the second best starter on the team last year, so things would have to get very ugly for him to be moved to the bullpen. However, if he does not rebound eventually, Cora will have no choice but to explore other options. I think he will figure it out because he usually does, but there is still no guarantee.

BOSTON, MA – JULY 19: Drew Pomeranz #31 of the Boston Red Sox high fives teammates in the dugout after being relieved during the seventh inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park on July 19, 2017, in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Eduardo Rodriguez

Rodriguez has more of a sample size than Pomeranz, starting five games with a 4.78 ERA. He is considered to have lots of “potential”, but he has not lived up to it so far. The best ERA he posted with the Sox was 3.85 in 2015, and his ERA has been in the 4’s after 2015. He has also missed substantial time due to injury, including the first few weeks of this season. With his inconsistent play and injury risk, it might be time for Alex Cora to make a change in the rotation.

But who would they replace him in the rotation with?

Hector Velazquez

Valazquez put up a 2.25 ERA during his five-year stint in the Mexican league. He got his first major big league opportunity and has not disappointed thus far. The right-hander has a 4-0 record this year, including two starts. He also has been effective as an innings eater. On Friday, he threw for 3.1 innings, giving up no runs, which gave the Sox a chance to win. On Monday, he threw two innings, giving up zero runs, which was a big reason why the Sox won. Want to know who started those games that Velazquez bailed them out in? Drew Pomeranz and Eduardo Rodriguez. Interesting.

Will Alex Cora Do It?

After Friday’s game, the first year skipper was asked if he was considering a change in the rotation. He replied with a simple “no”. I get why, and I agree with his reasoning. Pomeranz and Rodriguez have not made many starts, so they do deserve time to rebound. Also, there is no guarantee that Velazquez keeps up the pace he is on. More scouting will come out on him, and he could cool down. I do not think a change should be made now, but it is something that Alex Cora should have on his mind for the future. I would put a deadline on June first for Rodriguez. If he still has a poor ERA, and Velazquez still has an outstanding ERA, then why not make the change?

Should the Celtics Trade Jayson Tatum?

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Jayson Tatum has had a very impressive rookie season, as he averaged 13.9 points per game in the regular season. He has developed into a scoring option and will be key if the Celtics make a run in the playoffs. Tatum is a versatile player, as he started games at forward and guard this year. He can shoot the three and drive to the rim. With a few more years in Brad Stevens’ system, Tatum should develop into an All-Star and All-NBA player. Given all this, there are still some Celtics fans who want to trade Tatum. Why? That would be for two other stars, by the names of Anthony Davis and Kawhi Leonard. They have been rumored to be on the trade block, but should the Celtics trade for one of them?

Trade for Anthony Davis?

A trade possibility for Davis would center around Al Horford and Jayson Tatum. Al Horford is a given because the money needs to cancel out, and Davis and Horford have similar contracts. The big decision is whether or not to trade 20-year-old Jayson Tatum.

Like Tatum will, Davis has developed every year. He averaged 13.5 points per game in 2012 and 28.1 points per game in 2017. Davis and Tatum could have similar careers when it’s all over, so I would say yes to that trade. The keyword in that last sentence is “could”. We KNOW that Anthony Davis is a top five player in the league. We THINK that Jayson Tatum could develop into this, but that is no guarantee. A known commodity is better than a projected commodity, and they have the best chance to win now with Davis. Tatum could get slowed down by injuries, or the NBA could catch up to him. Rookies often have great years, then coaches figure out how to defend them and they slow down. If Tatum is out of Stevens’ system, he could struggle if the Pelicans screw him up.

Trade for Kawhi Leonard?

Kawhi Leonard seemed like he would be the next greatest Spur after the Parker, Duncan, and Ginobili era. However, a strange injury situation has caused tension between him and the Spurs. Some reports say that Kawhi is being a wimp, and other reports say it is the Spurs’ medical staff’s fault.

A trade possibility for Leonard would center around Rozier, Morris, Tatum, and a first. I understand this is just a rumor, but I would not do this trade if it was proposed. First of all, this is a bigger package than the Davis trade, and I think that Davis is better than Leonard. Second of all, I voiced my concerns with Tatum outside of Stevens’ system, and I feel the same way about Leonard outside of Pop’s system. Stevens is considered to be one of the best in the business, and I think he would handle Kawhi well. However, Pop is the best in the business and with all the reports, we do not know where his head is really at. I do not know for sure if Tatum will be a superstar, but I do believe that he is a hard worker. But I do not trust Leonard as a person.

Danny Ainge

Danny Ainge is not scared to make a move as he has made many big splashes before. His most notable moves came in the 2007 offseason when he assembled the big three. His other big moves came the last offseason when he completely transformed the team. He traded fan favorites Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley, and he will not hesitate to trade Tatum if he feels like the offer is right.

Red Sox vs. Yankees Preview

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Red Sox vs Yankees, one of the greatest rivalries in sports is about to continue on Tuesday. This could be a preview for the AL East Division title match-up throughout the year, and the games should be fun to watch. The games were a thrill last year, with the Yankees taking eleven in the series.

Preview

The series will last three games, going from Tuesday to Thursday. The Red Sox will come in at 8-1, which is first in the AL East. The Yankees will come in at 5-5, ranking third in the division. The probable pitchers are Sale and Severino in game one, Price against Tanaka in game two, and Porcello vs Gray in the finale. Xander Bogaerts was placed on the ten day DL, but the teams should be at full strength. First-year managers Alex Cora and Aaron Boone will be going at it for the first time.

What’s at Stake for the Red Sox

The Red Sox are 8-1, but they have played easy competition. The Marlins and Rays are unlikely to win more than 70 games, so the Red Sox must prove themselves. The Red Sox have not blown out the easy competition either. Six of the eight wins have been by two runs or less. One of those wins took extra innings, and another took a sixth run eighth inning.

The Red Sox lineup has been average at best so far, and they will be put to the test against a tough three starters. Comebacks will be unlikely, as the Yankees have the lethal 7-8-9 pairing of Robertson, Betances, and Chapman. Xander Bogaerts has been the best hitter in the lineup so far this season, and the Red Sox will need to find a way to score without him. Hitters who are struggling such as Jackie Bradley Jr. (115 avg), Andrew Benintendi (161 avg), and J.D. Martinez (226 avg) will all have to step up.

The rotation has been dominant so far, but the Yankees’ lineup will put that to the test. Luckily for the Sox, they have their three best starters going for them in the series. If the offense fails to produce runs, then the Sox will have to find ways to grind out wins. The bullpen has been shaky aside from Kimbrel, and they still do not have a determined eighth-inning man. If the games are tough and low scoring, then the Red Sox bullpen will have to win games.

What’s at Stake for the Yankees

The Yankees have been disappointing this year, with the offense to blame for the most part. Giancarlo Stanton has been the most notable, with twenty strikeouts in 42 at-bats. Aaron Judge has not been much better, with 13 strikeouts in 38 at-bats. If the games are low scoring, then the Yankees will have to grind out enough runs, and they have not shown the ability to do that. The Yankees are a team with a lot of power, but they are also screwed when they are not mashing the ball over the ballpark. The average pitching rotation has to be superb, and the offense has to find a way to score without many players that hit for average.

Don’t Overreact Either Way

The series will be exciting, but at the end of the day, it’s just the fourth series of the year. If they win or lose every game by 30 runs, not much can be taken out of the games because much will change from now until September. My prediction is that the Red Sox will take ⅔, with them winning the first and last games.

Cover image courtesy of USA Today.

Sox Sweep Marlins

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Going In

The Red Sox started the series 3-1 while the Marlins were 2-2. The first game saw Trevor Richards face off against Brian Johnson. The second and final game saw Chris Sale square off José Ureña. The Red Sox’ bats came in quiet, only scoring ten runs in the first four games. The pitching staff has been great, as the starters gave up two runs in 24 innings. Miami was inconsistent in their opening series, with scores ranging from 10-6 to 2-1. On paper, the Red Sox should have had no trouble sweeping the rebuilding Marlins. The Red Sox swept the series, and here’s how that happened:

Improved Hitting and Consistent Pitching

The Sox scored seven runs in game one, the most so far this season. They got twelve hits, and home runs by Mookie Betts and Hanley Ramirez put the game away in the seventh. In the second game, they only got four runs, but the hitting was timely. Andrew Benintendi gave the Sox a 2-1 lead in the 11th with a single that knocked in Eduardo Nunez. After the Marlins, Hanley Ramirez hit a go-ahead double in the 13th that made it 4-2. The Red Sox hung on to win by the score of 4-2.

The pitching staff has been amazing through the first six games of the season. In the first game, Brian Johnson tossed six innings of one-run ball. Johnson has been a 4-A player for a few years now. He is out of options, so he will be in the major leagues for a long time if he can keep this up. In the second game, Chris Sale threw five innings of one-run ball. This is mediocre for Chris Sale standards, but good enough to give the Sox a chance. The bullpen threw eight innings, only giving up one run to get the win. Heath Hembree ended up with the save, making him the third Sox pitcher to get a save this season.

This staff has been great and should get even better. Drew Pomeranz, Eduardo Rodriguez, Steven Wright, and Tyler Thornburg should help the rotation when they return from their respective injuries. Drew Pomeranz has been good ever since he was traded to the Sox, and was great last year posting a 17-6 record. Eduardo Rodriguez has tons of potential, but his various injuries have shunned that potential. If he can live up to said potential, he will be a very good starter. Steven Wright had a great first half of 2016, and the knuckleballer could be a help if he can get his 2016 magic back. Tyler Thornburg has not pitched in 18 months because of injuries, but he could be a great late inning reliever when he comes back.

Other Notes

Andrew Benintendi is hitting .158, and JD Martinez is hitting .200. No need to overreact six games into the season, but they are two key guys in the lineup.

Gabe Kapler is the biggest idiot on the planet. Aaron Boone is a close second.

Alex Cora has been conservative with his starters as he said he was going to. Sale could have gone more than five innings, but no need to wear him out.

@Prime_Kyrie2

Can the Celtics Catch the Raptors for the One Seed?

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The Raptors seemed to have the one seed in the Eastern Conference locked up, but a recent run by the Celtics has cut the lead to three games. With eight games left in the season, the Celtics need to make a run to lock up the top seed. Here’s how they can do it and how it would benefit them:

How Can They Get It?

The Raptors have a challenging schedule for the remainder of the season. They play the Nuggets, Cavaliers, Pistons, Heat, and most importantly, the Celtics twice. Five of the seven teams the Raptors play are playoff teams, so they could go below .500 the rest of the season. The Celtics have an easier schedule, as they play the Jazz, Wizards, and Raptors twice. It would be very unlikely if the Celtics got the one seed without going 2-0 against Toronto due to the three-game deficit. The Celtics could go on a twelve game winning streak to end the season, as long as they don’t slip up against inferior opponents.

How Helpful Would It Be?

The Celtics are banged up and they need the worst possible team they can face to get by. As of now, the Heat are the eighth seed, which is actually a bad thing because the Heat give the Celtics trouble. The Bucks would be the better match-up for the Celtics, because Al Horford does a fairly good job guarding Giannis Antetokounmpo. Assuming they get there, the one seed in the second round would be the most beneficial for the Celtics. As of now, they would play LeBron James and the Cavaliers. The Cavaliers have struggled this season, but LeBron James is basically impossible to beat in the playoffs. The one seed would allow the Celtics to match up with the 76ers or Pacers, which is easier. The one seed would help in the Conference Finals because a potential match-up with the Raptors would be at home.

Cover image courtesy of USA Today.

How Do the Red Sox Match up with the Yankees?

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The 2018 MLB season starts later this month, and the Red Sox and Yankees will be battling it out for first place in the AL East. The Red Sox have won the division two straight years, and the Yankees lost in the ALCS last year. Since they are likely to be neck and neck, let’s evaluate how they match up with each other:

Hitting

The Yankees have a dominant duo with Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge, who combined for 111 home runs last year. They are complemented by other productive hitters such as Gary Sanchez, Aaron Hicks, and Didi Gregorius. The Red Sox struggled with power last year, but they did add slugger J.D. Martinez to the lineup. Unlike the Yankees, the Red Sox rely on average and speed to score runs. If Hanley Ramirez, Mookie Betts, Rafael Devers, and Andrew Benintendi all hit for power, then the Red Sox will win the division. If they hit for average, the Yankees will win. Xander Bogaerts and Jackie Bradley Jr. have not lived up to expectations, but they both have great potential. They could be nice compliments at the bottom of the order.

Final prediction: The Yankees hitting will match up better than the Red Sox.

Yankees Pitching

The Yankees have a shaky starting rotation, but a very good bullpen. If Luis Severino repeats what he did last year, then he is the clear ace. If he does not, the Yankees are in trouble. Masahiro Tanaka is rarely healthy and has struggled in past years when healthy. Sonny Gray had a promising start to his career, but he had a 5.69 ERA in 2016 and a 3.75 ERA in 2017. If he can get back to his 2015 days when he had a 2.73 ERA, then he will be a great number two starter. The rest of the Yankees rotation is filled out by 37-year-old CC Sabathia and inexperienced Jordan Montgomery. The Yankees should win almost every game when they have the lead going into the seventh. David Robertson, Dillon Betances, and Alrodis Chapman is a dominant 7-8-9 trio.

Red Sox Pitching

The Red Sox pitching staff has a ton of potential. David Price, Chris Sale, Drew Pomeranz, and Rick Porcello all have the potential to be aces. David Price struggled a bit in 2016 but shined when healthy in 2017. Rick Porcello won the Cy Young award in 2016 but struggled in 2017. Chris Sale was an MVP candidate but started to fall off at the end of last year. Drew Pomeranz has been excellent since the start of 2016, hopefully, he can keep that up. Eduardo Rodriguez is a nice option for the fifth starter, but it looks like Brian Johnson will take that spot due to Rodriguez’ knee injury. The Red Sox did not make any improvements to the bullpen, and it seems like Carson Smith and Tyler Thornburg will be relied on. They were traded for in consecutive offseasons, but injuries have kept them both sidelined.

Final prediction: Red Sox pitching staff will match up better than the Yankees pitching staff.

Cover image courtesy of BoSox Injection.

How Long Is the Celtics’ Window?

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The Celtics have been rebuilding ever since they traded their big three to the Nets. Danny Ainge has done a great job getting the Celtics back to an elite level. He used the Nets trade to eventually acquire Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kyrie Irving. He also signed big name free agents Al Horford and Gordon Hayward. Brad Stevens has done a great job getting the most out of his players. The Celtics were the number one seed in the East last year, and they are on pace to get a top two seed this year. However, the Celtics are still not close to a championship and the window to win one might be closing. So why is that?

Talent Level on the Team

Even with all the talent they have, the Celtics might not be good enough to beat LeBron James and the Cavs. If they do, then they would have no chance against the superpower Warriors. Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward (when healthy) are superstars, and Al Horford is a consistent All-Star. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have developed nicely, but they still are not good enough to win it all. In the NBA, you usually need three superstars to win a championship. The Celtics have two superstars, Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward. Al Horford is a great player, but not good enough. The Celtics know this because the last championship they won was with Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett.

How to Get the Big Three

To fix this problem the Celtics have two options: wait or strike now. The answer might seem obvious, but it’s really not. The Celtics could wait until 19-year-old Jayson Tatum or 21-year-old Jaylen Brown develop into a superstar. The problem with this is that it is no guarantee that both or even one of them develop into a superstar. The Celtics could strike now by trading for another superstar. Pelicans superstar Anthony Davis and Spurs superstar Kawhi Leonard have been rumored to be on the trade block. To do this, the Celtics would most likely have to give up Tatum or Brown, Terry Rozier, and picks, or something along those lines. The problem is if Davis or Leonard flail out in Boston, while Tatum or Brown develop into superstars on another team. Personally, I would go with the strike now option. It is better to get a known commodity than a player you hope develops into a superstar. Danny Ainge has proven that he is willing to take risks, and he will take these risks to maximize the Celtics’ window.

Competition Around the League

The Cavaliers and Warriors have been the finals matchup for three straight years. LeBron James has been the main reason as to why the Cavs have been to the finals. He is a free agent this summer and is expected to leave. If he does, then the Cavs will rebuild. The Celtics should easily win the East because they are better than secondary teams like the Raptors, Wizards, and Bucks. In the West, the Warriors have been the powerhouse. It is going to be very hard to match them on a talent level, but the Celtics could do it if they make the right moves. Kevin Durant is a free agent this offseason, and he will most likely resign but anything could happen. If he leaves, then the Warriors will become much weaker. Klay Thompson is also a free agent this summer, and his departure would damage the Warriors.

So How Long Is the Window?

I would say the window for the Celtics to win a championship is three years. Kyrie Irving and Al Horford are free agents after the 2019-2020 season. Assuming the puzzle pieces fall in the wrong place for other teams, then the Celtics should win the championship as soon as next year. If the Warriors lose Klay Thompson and the Celtics add Anthony Davis, then the talent gap from the Warriors to the Celtics will be much closer.

Cover image courtesy of NBA.com.