Tag Archives: Boston Red Sox

Josh Taylor Enters 2020 with High Expectations

Jamie Gatlin | April 19th, 2020

For the Boston Red Sox, the 2019 season was one to forget. After winning it all in 2018, the Red Sox finished third in the AL East and missed the playoffs for the first time in three years. The defending champs were besieged by injuries and a bullpen that struggled for the majority of the season. Although the Red Sox pitching struggled, some young players such as Josh Taylor stepped up. While the start of the 2020 season has been delayed, they’re optimistic that the season will be played. Taylor will be an important piece for Boston.

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MLB’s Best Lineups of the Past Decade (Part Two)

Joel Dorcas | April 14th, 2022

On to the bests of the best. These assemblies of position players have put up some impressive offensive totals. How will they be remembered compared to decades that will follow? Will home runs continue to dominate the game? Until then let’s play homage to these five great lineups! Feel free to let us know which teams should have made the cut, enjoy! Continue reading →

MLB’s Best Lineups of the Past Decade (Part One)

Joel Dorcas | April 13th, 2020

Now that we have the best pitching rotations covered, we can take a look at the best offenses of the past 10 years. To no one’s surprise, the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Houston Astros are on the list at least once. Also not a surprise, the highly potent offensives mostly are coming from the American League. It’s not to say the Dodgers and Cardinals weren’t stacked with productive players, it’s the fact that the A.L. just scores more runs with the Designated Hitter. Just a heads up, 2019 was a good year for offense, teams from that season are well represented here. Three teams with at least 900 runs and two teams with 300 HRs or more. O.K. let’s get to the list already! Continue reading →

Red Sox 2020 Preview

Jamie Gatlin | April 6th, 2020

Although the MLB season is currently on hold when and if play resumes, the Boston Red Sox roster will look very different than just a year ago. This offseason, the Red Sox dealt franchise star Mookie Beets in a blockbuster deal with the Dodgers. They also lost fan-favorite Brock Holt in free agency and will be without the services of Chris Sale due to Tommy John Surgery. They will have a new manager in Ron Roenicke after Alex Cora stepped down due to his role in the Astros sign-stealing scandal. While the Red Sox are full of new faces they will be looking to return to the postseason when baseball resumes. Continue reading →

Buck-Guys Talk Podcast: Mookiewood

Daniel Corrigan | February 12th, 2020

We break down the Mookie Betts deal that has sent him from the Red Sox to the Dodgers. Does this make the Dodgers the favorite to win the NL? Or even the World Series?

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Buck-Guys Talk Podcast: NFL Out- XFL In

Daniel Corrigan | February 5th, 2020

We recap the Super Bowl as the Kansas City Chiefs (who are from Kansas) put up 21 unanswered in the fourth quarter to defeat the 49ers 31-20. Now that the NFL is done with until closer to draft time, we turn our focus on baseball and the XFL, which will premiere this week.

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Blockbuster Three-Team Deal Involving the Red Sox, Dodgers, and Twins

John Lepore | February 4th, 2020

News just came down that the long-awaited trade of Mookie Betts has been agreed upon. As per Jeff Passan of ESPN, the deal includes a few other players, cash, and three teams. Let’s break it down.

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Podcast- MLB Hall of Fame and Astros/Red Sox Reactions with Joe Ricotta and Johnnie Black

Tom Greene  | January 24th, 2020

It’s been a while since I tapped into doing some MLB Content! So, I thought I’d get some reaction to the ongoing Astros and Red Sox scandals along with some Hall of Fame talk.
For that, Johnnie Black (@jball0202) and Joe Ricotta (@theriot326) join the show for some analysis.

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Hawk Harrelson- Ford C. Frick Award Winner

Tom Greene | December 11th, 2019

The Iconic Chicago White Sox play-by-play broadcaster Ken “Hawk” Harrelson has just won the Ford C. Frick Award, an award that compliments excellence in the world of baseball broadcasting.

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Modern Baseball Era HOF Ballot

John Lepore | December 8th, 2019

The Modern Baseball Game committee will announce their inductees tonight. There are 10 people on the ballot, but unfortunately, the committee members can only vote for four. I am going to run down the four candidates I would vote for if I were on the committee.

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Boston Red Sox 2019 Season Recap

Daniel Corrigan | November 5th, 2019

The former defending World Series champions came into the season with high expectations. They won a franchise-record, 108 games and rolled their way to a World Series victory over the Dodgers.

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Andrew Benintendi Will Be Looking to Rebound in 2020

Jamie Gatlin  | October 27th, 2019

Ever since Andrew Benintendi made his MLB debut in 2016, the Ohio native has been viewed as a key part of the Red Sox future. After a productive Junior season, he entered 2019 with hopes of becoming the next Red Sox star. Like many of his teammates, however, the season turned out to be full of failure. As the Red Sox look to return to contention, the play of Benintendi will be key as they try to build their next championship team. Continue reading →

A Farewell To Rick Porcello

Jamie Gatlin | September 29th, 2019

With the regular season entering its last day, the Boston Red Sox are about to embark on an offseason full of changes. As they look to return to the postseason in 2020, some difficult goodbyes with impending free agents including Rick Porcello could be on the horizon. Although Porcello has struggled immensely this year, in his last two starts he was in vintage form. With Porcello’s future uncertain, his five-year run in Boston may soon be coming to an end.

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Michael Chavis Provides Hope In Rookie Campaign

Jamie Gatlin | September 24th, 2019 

With the Boston Red Sox officially eliminated from playoff contention the 2019 team will be looked back on with disappointment. A year after the best season in franchise history the Red Sox were unable to live up to expectations. Despite the inconsistencies and injuries that seemed to be never-ending, there will be a few silver linings to take from this season. One of those will be the play of Michael Chavis who made his long-anticipated major league debut and proved to be a valuable piece.

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MLB DFS: Arms, Bats, and Stacks for September 17th, 2019

Joey Ricotta | September 17th, 2019

With the MLB season winding down, we won’t have many more opportunities to take advantage and make some money playing DFS. We need to capitalize on the remaining opportunities. That brings us to tonight’s slate of 14 games, starting a little later than normal at 7:05 ET. On the docket, we have a game at Coors Field which we always have to prioritize one way or the other, as well as some pitchers in good spots. To save you time and research, I went ahead and put some work in for you. The daily grind keeps rolling and we aren’t slowing down for anything or anyone. It’s time to get right back to it. Here are some of my favorite DFS plays for tonight’s games. Continue reading →

Two-Start Pitchers: Week 23 and Streamer of the Week

Matt Bishop | September 9, 2019

STREAMER OF THE WEEK

Mitch Keller, SP PIT 

(37% CBS, 4% ESPN, 9% Yahoo)

9/10: @ San Francisco Giants (69-74) 3rd in NL West

9/15: @ Chicago Cubs (76-66) 2nd in NL Central

I know this is cheap and a bit lazy being that I used Mitch Keller last week, but he was hit on the hand by a line drive in his outing on 9/03 and was forced to leave the game after only 1,2 innings and striking out 3 batters. This forced him to miss most of his first start and all of his second, but he is slotted back into the rotation and on track for Tuesday 9/10 and Sunday 9/15, so why not?

Firmly solidified as the Pittsburgh Pirates top prospect and ranked as the 25th best prospect in baseball, Mitch Keller carries an electric skill set and an array of plus offerings. But since his callup on 5/27, the results have been lack-luster, pitching to a butt clenching 8.62 ERA 1.98 WHIP. While his 11.86 K/9 is encouraging, Keller has never really been known for his control, which is evident from his 3.45 BB/9. This is slightly higher than his 2.83 BB/9 minor league career mark, but not terrible for his first exposure to major league hitters. Continue reading →

Eduardo Rodriguez Is Becoming The Red Sox Ace

Jamie Gatlin | September 9th, 2019

Coming into 2019 the Red Sox starting rotation was supposed to be one of their strengths. Unfortunately, this season has not gone as planned and due to inconsistency and injuries the Red Sox starters have not met expectations. Although it has been a disappointing season, Eduardo Rodriguez has been a bright spot on a struggling staff. The former top prospect is having the best season of his career. As the Red Sox fall and are currently third in the AL East, Rodriguez is emerging as an ace.

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Two-Start Pitchers: Week 22 and Streamer of the Week

Matt Bishop | September 1, 2019

STREAMER OF THE WEEK

Mitch Keller, SP PIT 

(37% CBS, 4% ESPN, 9% Yahoo)

9/03: Miami Marlins (48 – 87) Last in NL East

9/08: St. Louis Cardinals (75 – 59) 1st in NL Central

Firmly solidified as the Pittsburgh Pirates top prospect and ranked as the 25th best prospect in baseball, Mitch Keller carries an electric skill set and an array of plus offerings. But since his callup on 5/27, the results have been lack-luster, pitching to a butt clenching 8.62 ERA 1.98 WHIP. While his 11.86 K/9 is encouraging, Keller has never really been known for his control, which is evident from his 3.45 BB/9. This is slightly higher than his 2.83 BB/9 minor league career mark, but not terrible for his first exposure to major league hitters. Continue reading →

Brock Holt Heating Up At The Perfect Time

Jamie Gatlin | Aug 30th, 2019 

When Brock Holt first arrived in Boston, as part of the Mark Melancon deal expectations were not high. The young infielder was an unknown and was not expected to last long in Boston. His career, however, has not gone as planned and he has become an important piece over the last seven seasons. With free agency on the horizon, his run in Boston may, unfortunately, be coming to an end. As the season winds down, Holt is reminding Red Sox management what makes him so valuable. Continue reading →

DraftKings Around the Horn August 28th, 2019

Joel Dorcas |August 28th, 2019

We will get to pitching momentarily. First up is a glance at the highest implied run totals for today’s 11-game evening slate. A massive run line of 14 runs easily leads the way as the Boston Red Sox, who all of a sudden are running along very nicely (8-3 in their last 11), visit Coors Field and the Colorado Rockies. Twins-White Sox are at 10.5, Rangers and Angels as well as Pirates-Phillies are both set at 10 and the Indians-Tigers chime in at 9.5. Let’s break down some picks, hop on board, we’re going Around the Horn!

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Week 21 MLB Power Rankings

Daniel Corrigan | August 27th, 2019

Not too many shake-ups in this weeks power rankings. We do have some change in the middle, but the teams listed are the ones that we will see playing in October.

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Week 20 MLB Power Rankings

Daniel Corrigan |August 20, 2019

We are slowly approaching September Call ups. This is how the top contenders have ranked in the Week 20 power rankings.

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September Call-Ups: AL East Edition

Alex Kielar \ Aug 17th, 2019 

With September looming and pennant races tightening, it’s almost time for major league rosters to expand from 25 to 40. So I am going to give you a series of articles breaking down the likely most impactful September Call-Ups for all 30 teams. Let’s start with the American League East. Continue reading →

5 MLB Field/Sideline Reporters to follow for the rest of 2019… and beyond

Tom Greene  Aug 16th, 2019

If you’ve watched any sporting event, you notice that there are sideline reporters at every game. These reporters present info that is key to the game you’re about to watch, whether it’s an update on an injury to a player, field condition, or even a story about a player that you may not know. Continue reading →

MLB All-Decade Team: 2010s

Alex Kielar  Aug 14th, 2019

The 2019 MLB season is now in its stretch run, closing out the final year of this decade. So I thought it would be fun to put together a team of the best players by position for the 2010s All-Decade Team. A couple picks are definitely no-brainers, with others being tougher to come to a decision. Without further ado, here we go. Let the arguments commence. Continue reading →

Brandon Workman’s Unsuspected Rise

Jamie Gatlin \ Aug 14th, 2019 

Entering this season Brandon Workman’s future in Boston was uncertain. The righty had no options remaining and struggled in the second half and postseason last year. In 2019 however, he has not only proved his critics wrong but been the Red Sox best reliever. As the Red Sox have struggled mightily Workman has seemingly put it all together in his fifth major league season. Continue reading →

Two-Start Pitchers: Week 19 (8/12 – 8/18)

Matt Bishop | August 11, 2019

STREAMER OF THE WEEK

Yusei Kikuchi, SP SEA (@DET, @TOR)

(38% CBS, 47% ESPN, 30% Yahoo)

Yusei Kikuchi has been maddening this season, to say the least. While we have seen flashes of elite upside and ace potential, we have also seen one too many three and four inning starts, paired with a one inning effort where he was used as the opener. No matter how you spin it, he is nothing more than a streamer rest of season. Continue reading →

State of MLB: Prospect Hoarding

Frank Ammirante  Aug 9th, 2019

It has become a recurrent theme in trade negotiations between contending and rebuilding teams: “Prospect X is untouchable.” Teams have become increasingly reluctant to trade their top prospects in an effort to inch closer to a championship. Front offices are trying to do the same thing: construct a roster that is filled with young and talented players at below-market value contracts. This philosophy of risk-aversion, prospect accumulation, and player development is having a negative impact on Major League Baseball. Continue reading →

Darwinzon Hernandez Excelling In Red Sox Bullpen

Jamie Gatlin \ Aug 7th, 2019

So far this season the Red Sox bullpen has been a constant source of frustration. Their performance has been magnified of late as the Sox are currently six and a half games out of a wild card spot. While the relief group has been inconsistent so far, Darwinzon Hernandez is emerging as a key piece. The Sox lefthander has been dominate of late in his second major league stint. As the defending champs look to climb back into the playoff picture he will be an important piece of the puzzle. Continue reading →

MLB DFS: Arms, Bats, and Stacks for August 5, 2019

Joey Ricotta \ Aug 5th, 2019

Welcome back. We jump right into the week with a bigger slate than normal for a Monday. A 12-gamer with a decent amount of value along with some fun match-ups to exploit. So, let’s dive right in and take a look at the Arms, Bats, and Stacks for tonight’s games. Continue reading →

Post Trade Deadline Power Rankings

Daniel Corrigan |August 5th, 2019

Barring any late-season injuries, the final rosters are set after the trade deadline has passed. A familiar face in the AL has soared right to the top and a surprise team is slowly making its way into the top 10. Here are the new rankings.

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DraftKings Around the Horn August 1st, 2019

Joel Dorcas |August 1st, 2019

A few marquee matchups will take center stage Thursday as the Cubs and Cardinals will continue their rivalry at Busch Stadium. Boston Red Sox will look to keep mashing in their series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Houston sends their ace Gerrit Cole to Progressive Field to play the resurgent Cleveland Indians. And Clayton Kershaw looks to continue his solid season versus the San Diego Padres. You know the drill, we’re going Around the Horn! Continue reading →

State of Baseball: 50 Shades of Bland

Mike El-Far | August 1st, 2019

Embed from Getty Images

Major League Baseball has been under the microscope over the last decade for a multitude of factors. The pace of play (or lack thereof), lacking attendance numbers in certain markets, and the lack of marketability of its star players are just some of the issues that Rob Manfred has to contend with going forward. Realistically, there is one quick fix that can easily get new viewers watching America’s pastime.

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What Teams Need To Give Up To Land Noah Syndergaard

John Supowitz| July 30th, 2019

There was a lot of expectations in Flushing this year: Wilson Ramos, Jed Lowrie, Robinson Cano, with a Cy Young deGrom, the Mets looked to be a force in that heavy National League East. Unfortunately, the familiar injury bug and some players not living up to expectations have them in fourth place. They have said Noah Syndergaard is available, and a few teams could use an ace quality pitcher like him. He won’t come cheap; The Mets will look to rebuild their franchise as a result of trading him. Here’s what some teams may need to give up to land the Syndergaard. Continue reading →

Mookie Betts Rediscovering MVP Form

Jamie Gatlin | July 29th, 2019

Over the past month, the Red Sox have arguably played their best baseball of the season. Although they have gotten contributions up and down the lineup, nobody has been better than Mookie Betts. After struggling early on the defending American League MVP has been a different player of late. His bat has awoken at the perfect time as the Red Sox make their playoff push. With Betts regaining his stroke at the plate, the Red Sox offense which was already baseballs best has become even more dangerous. Continue reading →

Two-Start Pitchers: Week 17 (7/29 – 8/04)

Matt Bishop | July 29, 2019

STREAMER OF THE WEEK

Tyler Beede, SP SF

(36% CBS, 7% ESPN, 11% Yahoo)

Tyler Beede’s seasonal stat line leaves much to be desired.  Currently pitching to a 4.85 ERA 1.48 WHIP with an 8.6 K/9, he doesn’t really stand out as a highly touted waiver wire add. But since the calendar has turned to July, he seems to be putting it together:

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DraftKings Around the Horn July 25th, 2019

Joel Dorcas |July 25th, 2019

Thursday’s MLB schedule opens up with three-afternoon games followed by six evening contests. The afternoon tilts feature premium pitching options in Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer at home while the evening games offer up the potential of lots of scoring with Texas/ Oakland, 9.5 implied total, Cleveland/ Kansas City, 10.5, and New York/ Boston, 11. Also, keep an eye on the L.A. Angels hosting the Baltimore Orioles and right-hander Tom Eshelman. Put on your caps and apply the sunscreen, we’re going Around the Horn! Continue reading →

Aspiring Sports Writers Can Draw Inspiration From Jayson Stark

Alex Kielar | July 24th, 2019

This past weekend, six new players got enshrined in Cooperstown, and it was unforgettable. Getting to witness it all firsthand and being part of history couldn’t have been greater. From the Awards Ceremony and parade on Saturday involving 59 Hall of Famers to the Induction Ceremony itself on Sunday, it was unbelievable. Every speech was very moving, and one of my favorites was Jayson Stark’s at the Awards Ceremony on Saturday. Continue reading →

MLB DFS: Locks, Core Hitters, BvP, and Stacks for July 23, 2019

Joey Ricotta| July 23rd, 2019

You have to risk it to get the biscuit. You’ve heard the saying before, but when it pertains to daily fantasy lineups it can be especially pertinent. With that said, I like the Miami Marlins again tonight against Dylan Covey as a lower-owned stack. Not quite sure we can use them in cash games, but let’s take a look at some players that we can. Continue reading →

Week 17 Power Rankings

Daniel Corrigan | July 22nd, 2019

We have a new number one in the power rankings. It is a familiar face and should come as no surprise. With the trade deadline approaching, there is going to be some serious movement in the rankings as we approach the playoffs.

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Two-Start Pitchers: Week 16 (7/22 – 7/28)

Matt Bishop | July 22nd, 2019

STREAMER OF THE WEEK

Adrian Sampson, SP TEX

(16% CBS, 4% ESPN, 6% Yahoo)

2019 Season Stats:

(6-6) 4.92 ERA 1.45 WHIP 7.42 K/9 2.04 BB/9

13.6% K-BB% 1.76 HR/9 Continue reading →

The Red Sox Newest Power Duo

Jamie Gatlin | July 19th, 2019

When the Red Sox won the World Series last year, they were led by stars Mookie Betts, Chris Sale, and J.D. Martinez. Even with their success, young players like Rafael Devers were inconsistent. This season, that has been a different story as Devers and Xander Bogaerts have emerged as a deadly duo. The young infielders have led the Red Sox offense which is currently one of the best in baseball. Continue reading →

Week 16 Power Rankings

Daniel Corrigan | July 16th, 2019

 

The Trade deadline is quickly approaching. Most of these teams listed will look different in two weeks. But for now, let’s rank them as is.

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Buy High, Trade Targets and High Floor Waiver Wire Adds

Matt Bishop | July 12, 2019

I am wrong a lot. I was wrong when I said Matt Strahm had an elite skill set and proceeded to pitch to a 9.00 ERA since June 20 and get demoted to the bullpen. I was wrong when I called Kole Calhoun a league winner only to watch him hit .227 with a .764 OPS and 100 wRC+ since June 3. And I was way off base when I called Jose Peraza a serviceable SS option the rest of the season after turning in a dreadful .755 OPS and 95 wRC+ since April 25. But no matter how off base these claims can be, 3 out of 10 in baseball ain’t bad. Good luck and godspeed. Continue reading →

MLB DFS: Monday Money Plays and Stacks for July 15, 2019

Joey Ricotta | July 15th, 2019

Welcome back. It’s been a little over a week since I’ve last written a DFS article but hopefully, the winning hasn’t stopped for you. The All-Star break was much-needed for me personally, but I’m very excited to be back full force, ready to drop some knowledge that may help drop some dollars into our accounts. With that said, let’s get right into the Monday Money Plays and Stacks for tonight’s games. Continue reading →

Post All-Star Break Power Rankings

Daniel Corrigan | July 10th, 2019

 

We are officially back to real baseball. A wonderful weekend in Cleveland has come to an end, and we have teams to rank. Continue reading →

Team Grades: American League East

John Supowitz | July 8th, 2019

New York Yankees 57-30, 1st place +7.5 GB

Positives:

The offense is what held the team together. You would expect without Didi Gregorius to start the season, followed by Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Miguel Andujar, all on the IL, players like Gio Urshela, Cameron Maybin, and Clint Frazier all stepped up. The team had set a new record for consecutive games with a home run with 31. They have three hitters selected to the All-Star Game (Gary Sanchez, DJ LeMahieu, Gleyber Torres) and five total players (Aroldis Chapman, Masahiro Tanaka).

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MLB DFS: Cash Core and Stacks for July 7, 2019

Joey Ricotta | July 7th, 2019

The holiday weekend is almost over. So, let’s try to end it on a high note by making some DFS cash. Here are some of my favorite cash game core plays and stacks for today’s games. Continue reading →

Christian Vazquez Is A Rising Star

Jamie Gatlin | July 5th, 2019

Entering this season Christian Vazquez was not expected to be an offensive force. Like the Red Sox season however that has not gone as planned. Through Vazquez’s first four years in the majors, he only hit above .250 once. The Red Sox backstop had never driven in more than 35 runs in a season or hit more than five home runs. With the season at the halfway point, Vaquez has not only excelled offensively but been a force with the bat. Continue reading →

7&7 For the Week of June 24th

 John Supowitz | July 2nd, 2019

You thirsty? Of course, you are. Let’s kick off the holiday weekend with a 7&7.

You know the rules: 7 best hitters of the week

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