ESPN 2019 Rankings...

[Broad Street]

I hate the Sox but how are you going to rank them lower than the three teams they steamrolled on the way to the World Series?

 

Ok, maybe they didn't "steamroll" the Astros, but still...

[Angel Oracle]

Astros may start having pitching issues within a year.   Morton may retire, Keuchel is declining, McCullers may be out for 2019, and Verlander isn't getting any younger. 

Their position players roster is rock solid, though.

[floplag]

Odd...i get too early but damn, they must really think Bos played over thier collective head to drop them to 4th behind the team they just beat even. 

[UndertheHalo]

Well, it does say it’s the “way too early” power rankings. 

[T.G.]

I'm outraged.

 

[Make Angels Great Again]

If I were a Sox fan i'd be a little annoyed.

I'd also kill myself because i'm a Sox fan.

[Second Base]

[Docwaukee]

1 hour ago, Angel Oracle said:

Astros may start having pitching issues within a year.   Morton may retire, Keuchel is declining, McCullers may be out for 2019, and Verlander isn't getting any younger. 

Their position players roster is rock solid, though.

the Astros SP was incredible this year.  You'd have to think they're gonna take a step back assuming that they lose at least Keuchel.  Possibly Morton (I bet he comes back on a 1yr deal to the Astros), and it seems like McCullers is going to be suited to a relief role long term.  Verlander is going to be 36 entering a walk year and Cole is entering his walk year.  So they're going to have to turn their entire rotation over in the span of 2 years.  

I was hoping that they'd be in trouble come 2020, but realistically they're still in pretty good shape in that they've only got 50 mil in guaranteed contracts for 2020 and they have an absolute wealth of young arms in their farm system and a bunch of those guys are ready to go.  Whitley is possibly the best pitching prospect in baseball and we'll likely see him at the major league level next year. Josh James is a top 100 and had a nice major league debut.  Cionel Perez is an undersized lefty who throws hard and makes guys miss that probably ends up in the pen.  Corbin Martin, JB Bukauskas are a year away still. 

There's a bunch more as well, but not all of them are going to stay healthy and/or reach their potential, and even if they do, there aren't any that you can pencil in for the types of seasons verlander and cole had this year.  

Personally, what I hope they do is to spend more prospect currency trying to obtain guys like deGrom and I can also see them going after Realmuto.  It's not horribly realistic that we can catch them in 2019, so let's keep our fingers crossed that they consider their window open and go all in.  

[Docwaukee]

curiously absent from that list are the 97 win oakland A's.  

[yk9001]

I bet the higher ups in the Sox management have made their feelings known about this article!!1!

[eligrba]

Amazing how disconnected ESPN is to reality.

1. Boston Douche Bags

2. LA Penal Group

3. Houston

4. Cleveland

5. NY Turd Burglars

6. Cleveland

7. Milwaukee

8. Atlanta

9. Colorado

10. Chicago Cubs

I think the teams on this list played their way into a particular order.  Boston just beat the Yankees, Houston and LA yet they are ranked at #4......unbelievable.

[stormngt]

7 hours ago, Kody Mac said:

I hate the Sox but how are you going to rank them lower than the three teams they steamrolled on the way to the World Series?

 

Ok, maybe they didn't "steamroll" the Astros, but still...

We dont finish top 10 than fire Scioscia.....oh never mind 

[Lou]

On 10/29/2018 at 12:52 PM, Dochalo said:

... Corbin Martin, JB Bukauskas are a year away still. 

There's a bunch more as well, but not all of them are going to stay healthy and/or reach their potential...  

'Astros right-hander Corbin Martin is dealing with “a potentially serious elbow injury,” Brian McTaggart of MLB.com writes. Martin suffered the injury during a start for Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday. MLB.com’s 48th-ranked prospect"

[Docwaukee]

5 minutes ago, Lou said:

'Astros right-hander Corbin Martin is dealing with “a potentially serious elbow injury,” Brian McTaggart of MLB.com writes. Martin suffered the injury during a start for Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday. MLB.com’s 48th-ranked prospect"

sucks for that kid of course.  

Don't be surprised if we hear something about Whitley soon as well.  He hasn't pitched in a month and was rocking an era of 12.21 prior to missing some time.  

[Jay]

What do you expect from ESPN... buncha chowds.

 

 

[Lou]

On 6/25/2019 at 8:43 PM, Lou said:

'Astros right-hander Corbin Martin is dealing with “a potentially serious elbow injury,” Brian McTaggart of MLB.com writes. Martin suffered the injury during a start for Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday. MLB.com’s 48th-ranked prospect"

Tommy John surgery

[Lou]

On 6/25/2019 at 8:51 PM, Dochalo said:

sucks for that kid of course.  

Don't be surprised if we hear something about Whitley soon as well.  He hasn't pitched in a month and was rocking an era of 12.21 prior to missing some time.  

https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/astros-forrest-whitley-throws-off-mound/