Red Sox Culture of Losing?

[Blitzville]

At their current pace the Boston Red Sox are on track to go 71-91 and finish last in the AL East again. This would be the 3rd year in the last 4 the Red Sox will have lost at least 90 games and finished last in the division. Now some Sox fans want people to focus on that one World Series title in 2013 & believe it makes up for the terrible way the Sox have played in 2012, 2014 and now in 2015. They are only kidding themselves. Fans can't be content with the Sox performance missing the postseason in 5 of the last 6 years (including this year).

The Red Sox are not some small market team with limited resources they should be much better and much more consistent than they have been for a very long time. And that's the simple truth.

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

I once built a robot out of french fries. But then I ate it. And that's the simple truth.

 

[TDs3nOut]

Personally, I would gladly accept three horrible years and a WS win in the last four years.

 

[SpartyNash13]

As a Tigers fan that loss to Boston in the 2013 ALCS really stings, I think the Tigers were much better than the Sox, they were just clutch while our bullpen sucked ass and Leyland made some dumb decisions to cost them big time. I hate calling championships flukes but no doubt about it that Red Sox team was a miracle one year wonder.

 

[williewilliejuan]

I once built a robot out of french fries. But then I ate it. And that's the simple truth.

Good thing you weren't in Philly. They would have fucked your french fry robot.

 

[navamind]

As a Tigers fan that loss to Boston in the 2013 ALCS really stings, I think the Tigers were much better than the Sox, they were just clutch while our bullpen sucked ass and Leyland made some dumb decisions to cost them big time. I hate calling championships flukes but no doubt about it that Red Sox team was a miracle one year wonder.

Any other year, I'd agree. But the Sox were playing good baseball all year long. Even in May, their worst month, they played .500 ball. And just about literally everyone played well. Red Sox had 12 players with 200+ PA that year. 11 of them had an OPS+ of 100 or higher. Red Sox got 27+ starts from four of their SP (save for Buchholz who missed half the season, but had a 237 ERA+ (!)). Red Sox had 50+ WAR as a team, the most in all of MLB.

This was a team that had outscored their opponents by nearly 200 runs. They were 33-13 in blowouts.

It was a weird year. I expected the wheels to collapse sooner or later, but it never happened. 2013 was just completely shocking, and because of that, was easily one of my favorite Sox teams ever.

 

[SpartyNash13]

Any other year, I'd agree. But the Sox were playing good baseball all year long. Even in May, their worst month, they played .500 ball. And just about literally everyone played well. Red Sox had 12 players with 200+ PA that year. 11 of them had an OPS+ of 100 or higher. Red Sox got 27+ starts from four of their SP (save for Buchholz who missed half the season, but had a 237 ERA+ (!)). Red Sox had 50+ WAR as a team, the most in all of MLB.

This was a team that had outscored their opponents by nearly 200 runs. They were 33-13 in blowouts.

It was a weird year. I expected the wheels to collapse sooner or later, but it never happened. 2013 was just completely shocking, and because of that, was easily one of my favorite Sox teams ever.

Sorry, I didn't mean that they were a decent team that won a weak division (2006 Cardinals, 2000 Yankees, 2005 Astros) that made a deep run, I believe they had a better record than the Tigers that year. They were a good team but just a flash in a pan. I still think that the Tigers despite the worse record were better overall, just not head to head when it mattered unfortunately.

 

[navamind]

Sorry, I didn't mean that they were a decent team that won a weak division (2006 Cardinals, 2000 Yankees, 2005 Astros) that made a deep run, I believe they had a better record than the Tigers that year. They were a good team but just a flash in a pan. I still think that the Tigers despite the worse record were better overall, just not head to head when it mattered unfortunately.

I thought that Tigers team underperformed their overall performance (6 games under their 99-63 pythag, outscored opponents by 172 runs). They had by far the most talented pitching staff in MLB IMO, though their defense hurt them a bit. As a team, the Tigers led MLB in FIP and xFIP, and WAR by a good amount (27.0, Dodgers were 2nd at 20.4).

There were a couple of very good teams in the AL that year. A's were pretty darn good, especially given their financial situation.

I agree the Sox were a flash in the pan.

 

[molsaniceman]

In 2013 cherington looked like a genius( a bunch of players exceeded their norm) This year looks like an idiot ( bunch of players underperformed) So which is he? as for being in last 3/4 years Im ok with a WS every 4/5 years

 

[soxfan1468927]

In 2013 cherington looked like a genius( a bunch of players exceeded their norm) This year looks like an idiot ( bunch of players underperformed) So which is he? as for being in last 3/4 years Im ok with a WS every 4/5 years

Yeah 2013 he had quite a few "wins" and few misses. Signing Gomes for cheap, getting Napoli for cheap after his hip issues, signing Victorino, grabbing Koji, even Stephen Drew and Mike Carp put together solid seasons. The only miss that I can remember is trading Melancon (who was an All Star that year) for Hanrahan and Holt. That looked bad after that season.

 

[soxfan1468927]

Since then, however, Cherington has essentially traded Lester/Gomes for Porcello (and signed him before he threw a pitch) and half a season of Cespedes, traded Lackey for Kelly/Craig, and signed Ramirez/Sandoval to monster contracts. Those have been very bad. I didn't mind the Miley deal (and still don't) and getting Rodriguez for Andrew Miller could be a huge win.