I'm starting to talk myself into the Sox looking good for this season! I did this last year too...talk me out of it!!!

take the plunge

Yes, they will be better than last season. 15 games better.

Talk me out of wanting them to sign Lohse, don't know why but really want Lohse.

Lion 
All right, I'll go in there for Dorothy - Wicked Witch or no Wicked Witch - guards or no guards - I'll tear 'em apart. 
Ohhh! I may not come out alive but I'm going in there. There's only one thing I want you fellas to do. 
Tin Man and Scarecrow 
What's that? 
Lion 
Talk me out of it. 

In response to moonslav59's comment:

Of all times to get frivilous on us, you choose this one.  Right as I was about to upload this pic.

Well, for this post position, this pic fits even better.

Sorry Sheriff, I'll go back to doom and gloomin it.

In response to moonslav59's comment:

Well, at least you'll have an ally in Georom.  

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In response to Sheriff-Rojas' comment:

That was too low a blow even as a joke.

In response to jgallag1's comment:

-They're banking on Lester and Buccholz bouncing back, while hoping Lackey sees success he hasn't yet seen in Boston, and bringing in another closer, this one from the NL, to pair with the previous closer who is now the setup guy because he couldn't hack it in the AL East.

-Ortiz, at 38, needs to do what he did at 36/37, not 34-36.

-They're hanging high hopes on Napoli, who currently is dealing with BONE DEATH in his hip. A guy that has never really been a full time player, hardly been a 1B...now needs to do both, in the AL East.

-Ellsbury needs to produce like in 2011, unlike in 2012, 2010, or 2009.

-Pedroia needs to get beck to being the player he was pre-2012. This one I actually believe is likely.

-Then there's the rest of their FA splurging: Victorino, Ross, Gomes, Dempster.

-3rd Manager in 3 years, fairly unprecedented in pro sports.

-The three-headed clown still runs this team with their eye first on profits, second on ratings, and third on winning.

-And, finally, are being run by a very unproven GM who people still don't know if he's a puppett, or actually his own person. Lately, seems more the latter...but nobody really knows.

There, I think I've sufficiently rained on your parade.

Why do you want to go into the season thinking your team stinks?  My adivce?  Stay positive. 

BTW, waiting for it to all go south is what we Sox fans do best.  But you cannot wait for it all to go south, if you already think things are south!  Hope springs eternal for the boys of summer...for every true fan of every team, everywhere.  That is what being a fan means, IMO.

In response to jgallag1's comment:

You're supposed to go into the season thinking you're going to win.  There is no reason to be a fan otherwise.  I'd expect no less from 29 other teams.  Even if you were an Astro fan, I'd expect you to find something to root for, even the draft.

 - I can't think of a single reason why not to expect Lester from bouncing back.  I would actually lean on saying that it is a sure thing.

 - Health is the only thing that will keep Buch from bouncing back.

 - Same for Ellsbury.  Given that last years injury was a freak accident, and that he is in a contract year, I would actually lean on saying he is a sure thing as well.  Maybe not quite to his MVP type of seaon, but very productive.

 - Pedi had a down year last year and no reason to think that he won't be back to his old self.

 - We will also have Middlebrooks for the entire year which is a very promising scenario.

Of course you can never predict injuries.  But, it is not like these guys are getting old or have been showing decline in the numbers from the past few seasons.  So, you have to expect a much better chance of them getting back to the way they normally are rather than staying the same or getting worse. 

I also think that with Lackey now noit being hurt, and knowing his type of personality, will want to prove everyone wrong and should be decent anyways.  Although I would say that Lackey is as sure of a thing as the previous guys I just mentioned.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I mean "wouldn't" think that Lackey is as sure of a bounce back as the other guys.

 

This team will play hard, so they will be fun to watch!!  What happens?  Who knows!  GO SOX!!

.500

 

best part of the season? it's summer - have a beer or listen to some games on the radio while talking a nice ride...

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In response to Sheriff-Rojas's comment:

 

Moon, Sherrif .... there is always a sun shining above the gloom!  Ever climb out of the soup in a plane and break through at elevation ... beautiful.

 Just being a Sox Fan is a bright spot.

In response to SinceYaz's comment:

Every silver lining has its cloud.

...and every silver cloud has a lining.

In response to moonslav59's comment:

Sounds like a Grateful Dead song.

In response to BosoxJoe5's comment:

Good one!

It does!

I see you've got your list out, say your peace and get out. 
Yes I get the gist of it, but it's all right 
Sorry that you feel that way, the only thing there is to say is... 
Every silver lining's got a touch of grey. 
I will get by, I will get by, I will get by, I will survive. 

--"Touch of Grey" by the Grateful Dead

Up until the mega-deal last year, we were 9 games out of the WC with 35 games left. Still a chance to make the PS, albeit a slim one. So, unless management decides to blow up the roster again, and we are looking at .500 ball at the AS break again, don't count the Sox out.

The roster is pretty much cobbled together, but there are guys, Gomes, Vic, Dempster and now Sweeney, with something to prove. Like anything else, they have to believe in themselves. Heart is the one intangible that seems forgotten.