2017 Boston Red Sox (est. 2017)

[eck.nicholas]

OOTP 18 is upon us!

I will be attempting my first OOTP dynasty report using the Boston Red Sox.

This will be the 117th season in Red Sox history, 106th in Fenway Park.

The 2016 Red Sox finished the year 93-69. It was good enough to win their eighth AL East title. In the ALDS, the Red Sox faced off with the Cleveland Indians (94-67 AL Central Champs). The Indians cruised to a 3-0 sweep on way to winning the AL Pennant.

I will be playing as a GM as I am not very good making in game decisions.

Our Minor League System:

(AAA) - Pawtucket Red Sox
(AA) - Portland Sea Dogs
(A+) - Salem Red Sox
(A) - Greenville Drive
(A-) - Lowell Spinners
(GCL) - Boston
(DRL) - Boston
(AFL) - Surprise Saguaros


Let's Play Ball!

Acknowledgement: I want to thank rpriske. His Toronto series was a major influence on me for my own personal blog. I would like to take a few things that worked with him in style of blog. So thank you rpriske for the inspiration.

[eck.nicholas]

Well as you know, this years game starts with the World Baseball Classic.

Here are what the standings looked after the Preliminary Round:



The shocker of the Prelims is Puerto Rico, one of the finalists last time around, going 1-2 and being eliminated. Japan and Israel were the only perfect teams.

So that leads us to the Round Robin Round and the bracket:

[eck.nicholas]

So I made a few moves to bide my time during the WBC. I traded Hanley Ramirez to the LA Dodgers for Brandon McCarthy.



I really don't have long term plans with him past this season, however, I did open up $12 million dollars in my budget by trading away Ramirez.

Also while watching the WBC play out, I found a new starting pitcher that I hope can anchor the back half long-term, and fill a void by the David Price injury. So Boston would like to introduce Tomoyuki Sugano to the team.



I have a few offers currently out that I am waiting to hear upon, mostly for MiLB filler. I am overall good on any major changes prior to Opening Day.

[eck.nicholas]

So with that being said, here is the Opening Day roster as of (March 16, 2017):

Catchers:

Sandy Leon (Starter)
Blake Swihart

Infielders

1B - Mitch Moreland
2B - Dustin Pedroia
SS - Brock Holt
3B - Pablo Sandoval

Outfielders

LF - Chris B. Young
CF - Andrew Benintendi (Starting DH)
CF - Jackie Bradley Jr.
RF - Mookie Betts
OF - Rusney Castillo

I may look at moving a player or two around to have a backup IF just in case of an in-game injury. Don't want to risk playing an OF in the IF.

Rotation

1 - LHP Chris Sale
2 - RHP Rick Porcello
3 - RHP Tomoyuki Sugano
4 - RHP Joe Kelly
5 - LHP Drew Pomeranz

The starting rotation will be likely LH heavy when David Price returns, but as of now will be RH heavy all in the middle.

Bullpen

LR - RHP Steven Wright
LR - RHP Brandon McCarthy

MR - LHP Robbie Ross Jr.
MR - LHP Fernando Abad
MR - RHP Erik Cordier
MR - RHP Heath Hembree

SU - RHP Matt Barnes
SU - RHP Tyler Thornburg

CL - RHP Craig Kimbrel

Like I stated above, I may move a pitcher to Pawtucket to bring an IF onto the roster before first pitch.

[eck.nicholas]

Disabled List

SP - David Price - Elbow Inflammation - Out for 4 weeks
RP - Roenis Elias - Intercostal Strain - 1 day
RP - Carson Smith - Tommy John Surgery - 3-4 Months

We should have Price back with the rotation by early May (barring any setback). I expect Elias to be in the MiLB for the season and Carson Smith may just be shut down for the season. It is never easy coming off TJS, so I don't want to rush him back. Plus, he is not in this year's plans, so again, no rush.

[eck.nicholas]

March 22, 2017

We have made it through the Second Round Round Robin of the WBC. In Group One, we had the Netherlands, Cuba, Israel, and Japan. In Group Two, we had the United States, Mexico, Dominican Republic, and Italy. The Netherlands can celebrate being the best team in the RR as they went a perfect 3-0. Their prize? The United States in the semifinals. Cuba, Israel, and Japan went 1-2 and Japan slides out due to the tie-breaker. They will get Group Two's winner...Dominican Republic.

[lukestephens2293]

Originally Posted by eck.nicholas

OOTP 18 is upon us!

I will be attempting my first OOTP dynasty report using the Boston Red Sox.

This will be the 117th season in Red Sox history, 106th in Fenway Park.

The 2016 Red Sox finished the year 93-69. It was good enough to win their eighth AL East title. In the ALDS, the Red Sox faced off with the Cleveland Indians (94-67 AL Central Champs). The Indians cruised to a 3-0 sweep on way to winning the AL Pennant.

I will be playing as a GM as I am not very good making in game decisions.

Our Minor League System:

(AAA) - Pawtucket Red Sox
(AA) - Portland Sea Dogs
(A+) - Salem Red Sox
(A) - Greenville Drive
(A-) - Lowell Spinners
(GCL) - Boston
(DRL) - Boston
(AFL) - Surprise Saguaros


Let's Play Ball!

Following

[eck.nicholas]

Originally Posted by lukestephens2293

Following

Thank you! I really appreciate you following. Let me know if there is anything I can do to improve anything. I'm open to new ideas!

[eck.nicholas]

March 22, 2017 Team Transactions

The Red Sox shocked baseball after GM Nicholas Eck was quoted as saying, "We are done making moves prior to first pitch." They signed another big name out of Japan. This time getting LF Yoshi Tsutsugo.



Adding a quality OF bat that had an 8.3 WAR in Japan, the Red Sox hope he can continue swinging a big bat, and fill a power hole that was left with the David Ortiz retirement.

Minor Movements

- Traded AAA SP Kyle Kendrick to CHC for AAA LF John Andreoli
- Demoted RP Robbie Ross Jr to AAA Pawtucket
- Purchased contract of 2B Josh Rutledge from AAA Pawtucket
- Signed Free Agent SS Ha-sung Kim to MiLC
- Re-signed CL Craig Kimbrel to 5-year extension ($77,000,000)
- Activated RP Roenis Elias from DL, sent to AAA Pawtucket
- Purchased contract of C Alex Diaz from Southern Maryland (Indy)

[eck.nicholas]

Chris Archer and the United States blasted the Netherlands 9-0 on the back of home runs by Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt, and two by Giancarlo Stanton.

They will meet Japan. They defeated the Dominican Republic 6-1. Yu Darvish pitched a complete game, two-hitter as they advanced to the final.

[eck.nicholas]

In a scoreless game early, Christian Yelich launched a two-run blast off Masahiro Tanaka. The two-run home run was all of the scoring for the first five innings.

Heading into the sixth inning, the United States felt like it would be their night. Marcus Stroman had a three-hit, shutout going. Then momentum took a slight turn, that would never return the US' way.

Hisayoshi Chono led off with a single. Two batters later, Shinnosuke Abe singled Chono over to third. Boston's new man Yoshi Tsutsugo singled Chono in and Japan was able to head to the final three innings with a 2-1 deficit.

Stroman headed to the seventh inning still nursing a 2-1 lead. Japan made sure he wouldn't leave with it. A double by Seiya Suzuki led things off. A Shingo Kawabata single advanced him over to third on the next batter. Hideto Asamura and Motohiro Shima both walked on four straight, and Japan was able to tie it at two without an out recorded. Chono struckout to slow up some of the Japanese momentum. Hayato Sakamoto singled to left on a full count pitch that brought in the lead run in Kawabata. Asamura was thrown out trying to add a second run on that single. With two outs in the inning and now down 3-2, the US brought in Luke Gregerson to face Abe. On a 1-1 pitch, Shinnosuke Abe launched a three-run blast to put Team Japan up 6-2. The blast was his 3rd of the tourney.

Yelich scored in the top half of the eighth inning to cut it to 6-3, but David Robertson allowed Dai-Kang Yang to score in the bottom half on a wild pitch.

In the ninth, the USA tried to rally. With one out and down 7-3, a Jonathan Lucroy double scored Daniel Murphy. The next man up Yelich hit a Sac Fly that allowed Brandon Crawford to score cutting it to 7-5 Japan with two outs. Next man up was Buster Posey, the best hitter for the US. Posey represented the tying run with Lucroy on second. On a 2-0 count, Posey got one that he liked and slammed the ball. Unfortunately for them, it was not deep enough. He flew out to the warning track and the waiting glove of Yang, and it was over. Japan has won the World Baseball Classic!

It is Japan's first WBC Title since the 2009 season, and third overall.
It was the United State's first appearance in the WBC Final.

[eck.nicholas]

Despite losing in the final, the United States' starter Chris Archer was named the MVP of the tourney.

In three starts, Archer pitched 26.1 innings, had a 22/4 K/BB ratio. He posted a 3-0 record and a 0.34 ERA.

Yu Darvish of Japan finished second in voting. Miguel Lahera of Cuba finished third.

[eck.nicholas]

March 31, 2017

We were able to move Pablo Sandoval. We reached an agreement with the San Diego Padres. In the deal, we will retail 80% of Kung-Fu Panda's remaining contract. We also sent 3B Rafael Devers (#92 prospect), LF Fabian Andrade, and $1,700,000 in cash considerations.

In return we received SS Erick Aybar and RF Hunter Renfroe (#52 prospect).

Aybar gives us a veteran IF while moving an Albatross contract in Sandoval.

[eck.nicholas]

Time for Opening Day!

John Henry has given us the following goals.

Reach the Playoffs this season.

Should be doable. Building off last year and having a great addition of Sale to the rotation, and Benentendi to the everyday roster. Anything less than the playoffs is inexcusable in my book.

Extend Craig Kimbrel (by 2019)

Completed during the WBC. 5-years, $77,000,000.

Reach the World Series (by 2022)

Also should be doable. We have a great team this season. Cleared some budget by moving the albatross contracts of both Hanley and Sandoval. Also tagged with the third best farm system means we have great players in the wings awaiting their first taste of Red Sox baseball.

[eck.nicholas]

April Schedule

Three game set versus Pittsburgh (3rd-6th)
Four game set at Detroit (7th-10th)
Two game set vs Baltimore (11th-12th)
Four game set vs Tampa Bay (14th-17th)
Three game set at Toronto (18th-20th)
Three game set at Baltimore (21st-23rd)
Three game set vs NY Yankees (25th-27th)
Three game set vs CHI Cubs (28th-30th)

Some great games to start the year. Six against the NL (all at home) including a visit from the defending champion Chicago Cubs. The annual Patriots' Day game will be against the Rays on the 17th. Of our 25, 15 are against our AL East rivals...including the hated Yankees.

Projected Standings of April contestants:

PIT - 72-90
DET - 84-79 (Wild Card projection)
BAL - 82-80
TB - 80-82
TOR - 87-75 (AL East winners)
NYY - 78-84
CHC - 103-59 (NL Central, MLB Record, World Series Title projection)

As for us, the projections were not too kind. We are looking at a 79-83 season (4th in the East). The projections as most know are based on current roster. We expect David Price back soon and that will give us a boost....hopefully

[eck.nicholas]

Opening Day 2017

NY Yankees (Masahiro Tanaka) at Tampa Bay (Chris Archer)
San Francisco (Madison Bumgarner) at Arizona (Zach Greinke)
CHC Cubs (Jon Lester) at St Louis (Carlos Martinez)

[eck.nicholas]

MLB Scoreboard - April 2, 2017

NY Yankees (2) at (3) Tampa Bay
Rays Win 3-2

WP - Xavier Cedeno (1-0, 0.00)
LP - Michael Lorenzen (0-1, 0.00*)
SV - Alex Colome (1, 0.00)

* Lorenzen allowed 1 ER without registering a single out.

San Francisco at Arizona
Giants Win 4-1

WP - Madison Bumgarner (1-0, 1.13)
LP - Zach Greinke (0-1, 3.86)
SV - Mark Melancon (1, 0.00)

CHI Cubs at St. Louis
Cardinals Win 3-1

WP - Carlos Martinez (1-0, 1.29)
LP - Jon Lester (0-1, 3.38)
SV - Brett Cecil (1, 0.00)

[eck.nicholas]

Schedule - April 3, 2017

Atlanta (Julio Teheran) at NY Mets (Noah Syndergaard)
Pittsburgh (Gerrit Cole) at BOSTON (Chris Sale)
Detroit (Michael Fulmer) at CHI White Sox (Jose Quintana)
Colorado (Jon Gray) at Milwaukee (Zach Davies)
Toronto (Marcus Stroman) at Baltimore (Kevin Gausman)
Kansas City (Jason Hammel) at Minnesota (Phil Hughes)
Philadelphia (Aaron Nola) at Cincinnati (Takahiro Norimoto)
San Diego (Jhoulys Chacin) at LA Dodgers (Clayton Kershaw)
Cleveland (Corey Kluber) at Texas (Yu Darvish)
Miami (Adam Conley) at Washington (Max Scherzer)
Seattle (Felix Hernandez) at Houston (Dallas Keuchel)
LA Angels (Garrett Richards) at Oakland (Sonny Gray)

[rpriske]

I'll be following!

[eck.nicholas]

Originally Posted by rpriske

I'll be following!

Thanks for following rpriske!