February 8, 2013

Three Main Pre-Season Magazines: Red Sox Will Finish Last Again

The three main pre-season magazines - The Sporting News, Lindy's, and Athlon - are on the newsstand and all three publications pick the Red Sox to finish in last place for the second straight season.

The Sporting News

AL East
Yankees
Blue Jays
Orioles
Rays
Red Sox

Pithy Red Sox Comment: "They spent a ton of money, but it remains to be seen whether it was spent wisely."

ALC - Tigers
ALW - Angels
ALWC - A's over Blue Jays
NLWC - Giants over Reds
ALDS - Tigers over Yankees; Angels over A's
NLDS - Nationals over Giants; Dodgers over Cardinals
ALCS - Angels over Tigers
NLCS - Nationals over Dodgers
WS - Angels over Nationals
Example
Lindy's

AL East
Blue Jays
Yankees
Rays
Orioles
Red Sox

Pithy Red Sox Comment: "No real stars among the seven newcomers, but solid additions, and they should help fumigate the clubhouse. It will help if Jon Lester remembers how to pitch and John Lackey can bounce back. Look for a big year from Jacoby Ellsbury."

ALC - Tigers
ALW - Angels
ALWC - Yankees, Rangers
NLE - Nationals
NLC - Reds
NLW - Dodgers
NLWC - Atlanta, Giants
AL Champions - Blue Jays
NL Champions - Nationals
Example
Athlon

AL East
Yankees
Rays
Blue Jays
Orioles
Red Sox

Pithy Red Sox Comment: "The Red Sox need so much to break right to contend in the AL East. ... In reality, this is Year 1 of a lengthy rebuild, and even though the Red Sox hope and expect to remain competitive, it's probably going to be another season or two before they restore their status as legitimate contenders."

ALC - Tigers
ALW - Angels
ALWC - Rays, Rangers
NLE - Nationals
NLC - Reds
NLW - Giants
NLWC - Cardinals, Dodgers
ALCS - Tigers over Angels
NLCS - Nationals over Giants
WS - Tigers over Nationals
Example
USAToday Sports (Paul White)

AL East
Blue Jays (88 wins)
Red Sox (87)
Rays (87)
Yankees (83)
Orioles (79)

ALC - Tigers (94)
ALW - Angels (95)
ALWC - White Sox, A's
NLE - Nationals (102)
NLC - Reds (89)
NLW - Giants (93)
WS - Tigers over Nationals

Like White, none of the magazine's other seven writers picked the Red Sox for the East or for one of the two wild cards.

14 comments:

mattymatty said...

I wrote about how the national media is counting out the Red Sox at Baseball Prospectus. It's subscriber only but this confirms it. I don't think the people who are writing these things are looking any further than the last 18 months. They're certainly not looking at Boston's roster. Maybe I've got rose colored classes on but I don't think 90 wins is out of the question. Is that crazy?

allan said...

Doesn't seem all that crazy to me. ... The thing about the East is that I could see the Red Sox finishing in any of the 5 spots.

FenFan said...

A healthy club wins 90 games easily.

allan said...

PEDRO!

PEDRO!!

laura k said...

PEDRO!

PEDRO!!


Yay! YAY!!

Your said...

Two have the Yankees first? I don't know any Yankees fan who thinks this. I live in NY, 50 miles from the city. Everyone is a Yankees fan.

9casey said...

Allan, you done with book yet? I know I am being a pain in the ass, just really want to know what you thought before I forget the whole thing.

allan said...

Allan, you done with book yet?

Got sidetracked with other stuff. Have not gone back to it, but I will!

mattymatty said...

I asked Chad Finn of the Boston Globe about this in his weekly chat and he responded with the following:

"I'm with you, man. You touched on it in your column -- there was not a lot of star power in what they did, and that's the kind of stuff that gets attention from many national writers. They filled out the roster with competent professionals, some who had down years but who have had great success recently (see: Victorino and Napoli, '11). Plus, their 69-93 record is somewhat misleading. They were gutted by injuries and the Trade and went 16-42 after August 1. They're not your classic star-laded Sox team, but they're fairly deep and have a real chance to surprise. "

Zenslinger said...

Doesn't seem all that crazy to me. ... The thing about the East is that I could see the Red Sox finishing in any of the 5 spots.

I can almost see any of the teams finishing in any of the spots!

SoSock said...

Well, let's just add to the not-so-rosy forecast -
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/gun-accident-red-sox-prospect-bryce-brentz-shoots-192035731--mlb.html#more-63034

9casey said...

And LBJ's and Pedey's plane struck by lightning ...

allan said...

Yikes.

Mark said...

And now HH strains his hammy in his first bullpen; https://twitter.com/ESPNJoeyMac/status/301348094182834177