Cover boys, again

I don't think that they'll finish behind the Yankees, but I do think that they finish behind someone else. They didn't look too great on opening day, and today?? Forget it, they were FLAT. Not gonna win a championship like that. I predict Beckett will have numerous back problems, along with Wakefield. Dice-K is inconsistent at best, and Lester...well.....

Oh yeah. And Schilling is just, unfortunately, washed up. Where's our pitching? Pitching wins the games. We're not gonna win.
On a brighter note, Manny looks great!!

I think it's time to stop giving any more attention to a Sports Illustrated "jinx." Why is there any energy spent thinking about this? The Red Sox graced the cover just before the post-season last yeat, and in 2004-- they went on to win the World Series both times. The Patriots were on there all season long, and finished up going undefeated for the first time in 30 years. The GIANTS were on the cover before the Super Bowl this year, and they won. The Celtics graced the cover of the NBA issue, and they are having the best season since 1986. It is complete foolishness. Sports Illustrated puts you on the cover when you are at the top -- there is no where to go but down. It's not a jinx -- it's just inevitability.

And Go Sox.

Sherri, I think you need to relax its the 2nd game of the year and in a different country...good god.

More fair weathered Red Sox fans....Why don't you people jump on the jinx bus and go to New York. I mean seriously. We lose one game and people have already washed away 162 others with it. There is a lot...I mean a lot of baseball to be played! So much that it will get on your nerves at times, but to you Sherri the season is already over. I am glad that you are comfortable and happy with a two game season with only two teams. I will tell you what.

It was so nail biting that I think they should do that every year. Come off yourself, Boston will be fine and quit bad mouthing my team.

Knee jerk much, Sherri?

Sherri.. You are wrong.

Defense wins championships.. Everyone knows that! The Sox will win the AL East, 4 games ahead of the Yankees. Beckett won't have any lingering back issues, Dice-K will get into form.. Also.. Don't read into the opening day games, The basically mean nothing, especially when we come back to the states and play 3 more exhibition games.. The Sox are still getting into season form.. So the 2 game series in Japan.. Worthless..

Wow, Sherri, it's too bad the Sox don't have 160 more games and six more months of baseball left to play...oh wait...

Chill out.

Has SI *ever* picked the Red Sox to finish first? When was the last time SI picked anyone but the Yankees to finish first? 1994? 1995? Over ten years, anyway. SI's professional evaluation on this topic is not to be trusted.

sherri way to base everything on 2 games, in japan no less.

I'd rather have a shaky pitching rotation now than around late september and into october...I'm confident that John Farrel and Terry Francona will have everyone at thier peak when it counts and add Masterson into our late season plans then you'll see the pitching people have been talking about.

If you really think Schilling was hurt last year before they sat him down for a few starts than your a fool. He'll be ready come the dog days of august and John Farrel will be looked at as a genius

Don't believe the crap SI puts out. EVERY year they claim the Yankees will win the AL East AND the World Series and EVERY year since 1999, they haven't. It's garbage.

On the positive side of things Sherri Sporting News picked the Red Sox to win the East and to beat the Cubs in the World Series. Relax don't start to panic until at least after the first Stanks series two weeks from now on the 12th if even then.

I hear what you people are saying. But whether there have only been 2 games (out of country played or not) fact: Schilling is pretty much washed up...fact: Wakefield has had back problems since last year, and they aren't going away.....fact: Dice-K is inconsistent, as proved last year. I don't see that changing too much. Beckett is out shining star, but I hope his back doesn't act up every other month. Our closers are great. We have a great line-up. Long shot prediction here, but I project them to come 2nd or 3rd by the end of the season.

Angela is right. SI is as accurate as Pravda used to be, or the New York Times is currently. The Yankees are finished. The Torre era is over, and the Yanks' prospects on which Verducci focuses, other than Chamberlain, haven't proven anything. The Yanks have one decent starter. Please.

In contrast, the Sox are simply too good to fail. They have enough pitching depth to absorb the loss of Schilling. And the Sox will benefit from a continued weak AL East.

Bottom line: Yanks don't make the playoffs; Sox win AL East going away, and repeat as AL and World Series Champs. Go Tarheels!!!