Dustin Pedroia's MVP season was a season too soon for this team, but a later version definitely made the squad!
Lineup: Boston may not have the immediately noticeable power of the Yankees and Astros... but Boston runs out an incredible SEVEN OB 10 or 11 hitters to start the lineup! The lineup alone is worth 4590 points!!! Leading off is one of the best five tool cards in Showdown, as Jacoby Ellsbury put up a Trout-like season in 2011. He's followed by steady and fast Dustin Pedroia, providing solid offense and plenty of AVG from 2B and the two hole. Hitting third is MVP Mookie Betts..... just wow, it's like he saw Ellsbury and said "let me do what you do, but with an OB 11 instead." Cleaning up is OB 10, HR at 17 JD Martinez -- expect plenty of production from him power-wise. What a great signing he's turned out to be!! The power doesn't stop there, as the Red Sox roll out Ortiz and Bogaerts for another pair of OB 10, HR at 18 hitters.... these kind of guys are hitting 2-3 on a lot of other All Decade teams!!! Yet another OB 10 is in the 7 hole, as Youkilis brings out a very versatile and dependable card. Hitting eighth is future HOFer Adrian Beltre, who (true to form) put together a sensational contract-year season in his only year in Boston. I can't believe an OB 9, HR at 18, 2B at 14 guy is hitting EIGHTH!!! (and 2019 Rafael Devers may get called up when I've got him printed off).... Rounding it out is the only "weak spot," with 2019 catcher Christian Vazquez bringing a powerful OB 7 card that's got a great +8 arm. Overall...... this may very well be the best lineup we've seen so far. The Dodgers still have a great claim to the throne, but what do y'all think? Is there a new top offense here?
Rotation: The Red Sox start things off with 2018 Chris Sale, who was as dominant as we'd all expect. Honestly, it just seems right having a "Pedro 00" card at the top of the rotation! His Tier 1 card is a better ace than Toronto and New York throw out, and can go toe-to-toe with Snell for the Rays! He's followed by a pair of good Tier 2 starters, although some managers will be concerned about the control. Beckett is one of my favorite types of cards, essentially Kevin Brown 01. Meanwhile, Buchholz doesn't give up doubles and has a 1-18 out range with his Control 3. I expect the Red Sox attempt to use him for 4-5 innings, then turn it to the 'pen. Rounding it out is Cy Young winner Rick Porcello. He's a Tier 3, but he doesn't surrender doubles on his C6 card.
Bullpen: If you thought the bullpen would be the weakness, guess again. Tier 0 Koji Uehara is one of the best closers in the AL and, if not for the incredible Rays' bullpen, would really stand out. He's supported by 2019's Brandon Workman, providing another Tier 1 card with a bunch of K to deliver. The third straight closer is next, with Craig Kimbrel's card that helped solidify Boston's bullpen on the way to the 2018 World Series title. He's got the most K of anyone in the bullpen, to no one's surprise. A pair of Tier 2 studs rounds things out with Tazawa and Breslow.
- Dodgers 8010 points
- Yankees 7920 points
- Red Sox 7770 points
- Nationals 7670 points
- Astros 7420 points
- Reds 7220 points
- Blue Jays 7140 points
- Rockies 7090 points
- Rays 7060 points
- Indians 6880 points
- (T10) Mariners 6880 points
- Orioles 6830 points
- Giants 6800 points
- Marlins 6750 points
- Tigers 6710 points
- Royals 6570 points
As a Yankees fan I am happy we came in with more points, but honestly I think this team is probably better.
ReplyDeleteLineup: Agree on all accounts. If they only had a slightly better catcher they would be absolutely unstoppable. He's the only player under 5 expected runs, and comes in at a paltry 3.9 expected runs, though his arm makes up for it. Betts is by far the anchor of this lineup at 6.65 expected runs, and JD comes in .15 behind, and David Ortiz comes in at 6.17 runs giving them three studs in the middle of this lineup. Youlkilis, the pesky mofo he is, comes in at 5.84 expected runs, and Ellsbury is less than .1 runs behind him. Bogaerts gives a great SS card another .1 behind him, and Pedroi and Beltre both come in above 5 expected runs giving this line up an insane amount of pop.
Rotation: Slight switch up, I actually have a 2013 Bucholz card that is 4 Control, 6 IP and 18 outs as the top card at 4.90 expected runs, ahead of Chris Sale who comes in at 5.33. Beckett comes in just above 6 and Price at 6.54, which is just enough wiggle room that one of the top lineups might be able to get to these guys.
Rotation:
Uehara is a stud at 4.56 expected runs, and Workman follows him at 5.06. Kimbrel is about a half run back, and Breslow 3/4 behind at 5.76. Tazawa rounds it out at 5.94 runs, which also gives a slight window for some of the studly offensive teams to potentially keep themsleves in the game.
Overall this team is going to absolutely rake, and the arms are strong enough that they should pile up the wins easily....that being said, go yanks!