I'm a Sox fan.
- The Sox will be better in 2015 based on addition by subtraction of Dunn and Konerko
- I like Smardjia, but don't love him. He's a #4 rotation guy in the AL. I do not like him in the #2 hole, but he still makes the rotation better than it was without giving up much.
- I like Robertson...he's an upgrade to a crappy bullpen. I do not like his contract in years and dollars, since bullpen guys tend to be a crapshoot, but given the fact that the bullpen was as bad as it was, the Sox HAD to sign a proven relief pitcher and the contract won't completely handcuff the team.
- the Cubs got a proven winner in Lester. I'd take Lester over Smardjia on any day. They have a ton of upside and I believe they will turn the corner and be a contender starting in 2015.

Both teams improved dramatically. My biggest concern is that the Sox avoid a stupid contract. So far, they seem to have done that.

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Agreed. He doesn't have the ability to spend a lot of money either. If Robin doesn't get it done this year they have to let him go. I would fire him right now. This team has the talent to make the playoffs.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

Shark really isn't our #2 starter. He's definitely an upgrade and I think the Sox top 3 starters could beat any team in a series. Sounds like Rodon will start the season in the pen but may end the season as a starter. I would love that especially if the Sox are in playoff contention.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

The Sox will at a minimum be in contention, barring major injuries. It looks like they are putting together a really good team.

I think Shark is better than Quintana. We'll see.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Yes....they should be a playoff team, barring catastrophic injuries.

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What do you guys expect out of the rest of the division?

I expect KC to contend.
I expect Minnesota to suck.
I expect Detroit to continue to hit a lot of HR, play God-awful defense and fundamentals and miss playoffs.
I expect the baseball experts to continue picking the Indians to win the division and miss the playoffs.

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Good answer


Cespedes will help a little with defense, but yeah, not sure what Detroit is doing. You'd think they'd be all over Robertson

Cubs were the only team willing to take on the full $40 million for a 31 year old catcher playing through two years of decline

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

cry yourself to sleep on your cubbie pillow while repeating this mantra

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Similar to how Cubs fans in their euphoria are glossing over St. Louis and Pittsburgh there is a convenient ignorance by Sox fans that their team is staring up to KC, DET and CLE.

2) Shark is their #3. If people looked at Quintana's production rather than his "stuff" this point would be readily apparent.
3) don't worry about the contract, it's not your money. Robertson is light years ahead in production and talent than anyone the Sox were throwing out there in the late innings. This was the #1 problem with the team last year and now it is solved

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Quintana won't be #2...I don't see 1 & 2 being both Left handers

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not following.
The Sox have 3 teams to surpass....KC, Detroit, Cleveland. I think Detroit and Cleveland are possible, but not automatic. KC is a different story. I'm not concerned about Minnesota at this time.

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St. Louis and Pittsburgh didn't lose their top pitchers.

KC and Detroit are at best, no better than they were last season. It looks to me like the Tigers are worse. KC won 89 games.

This division is available.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Kluber Lang and the Indians dont even warrant a mention in your eyes?

Sox with their 73 wins were closer to last place Minnesota (70) than 3rd place Cleveland's 85.

I'd love to see the fantasy land where adding the sloppy seconds converted reliever from a last place team, closer with 3+ ERA and 35 year old DH transform a team into a contender.

Kirkwood giving dolphin the dolphin business

I think you're going to see it. The bullpen is a lot better and the rotation is much better. Eliminating Dunn and the team mascot will really improve the lineup and bench. Having a defensive replacement for Abreu is great. Keeping Abreu to no more than 100 games in the field will eliminate those foot issues he was having.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

You will. You just have to wait a few months.

Don't let your Sox hatred cloud your judgement here.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

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They'll be better but to annoint them contenders is too way too rosy. Let's us Cubs fans deal with the delusional optimism.

Those three teams will be staring up at the Sox next season. Especially Detroit and Cleveland.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

You're gonna look really silly next summer if this isn't just trolling. The Sox are definitely playoff contenders, possibly world series contenders. Let's see what else they do.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Set your over/under on Sox wins next year and we can get some real action going then.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Cleveland has more talent than the Sox.

Over/under 83 wins for the Sox. They'll be 2 games better than the Cubs.

the moves they made make them 10 games better? I doubt it. Still more to be done.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

I gave them 3 extra wins since Bruce Chen is no longer with the Royals.

Yes. Probably more. That also assumes some halfway decent contribution from Avi and Rondo.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Not true.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul