April is one of the best months on the sports calendar. It brings the convergence of all four major sports in Boston and opens the door to the good times of spring and summer. So far though, it's been a little slow out of the gate.
The Red Sox have shall we say started a little slower than anyone anticipated and the Celtics are seeded in a tie for fourth place in the East, well below their lofty pre-season expectations. The Patriots offseason has been a little underwhelming to say the least, while the Bruins are more than holding their own and can make a legitimate run at a Stanley Cup. Put it all together and its perfectly average, something that's been very rare around these parts come April. This can all start to change as soon as next Tuesday at Fenway Park however where energy should be restored to the Boston sports universe.
Without further ado, here's my April 2019 state of the sports scene…
Red Sox - Before last week's opener in Seattle, the state of the Red Sox late-inning bullpen was the hottest topic to hit and the teams' glaring weakness heading into the season. Give the Red Sox credit for burying that narrative though. All they had to do was never put their team in a position to win and nobody would notice. Interesting strategy and funny enough it kind of worked, for now. I must say, I didn't foresee five rotten starts in a row coming, but I'm also not too concerned about it to be frank. It's clear that the Red Sox starting rotation is still stretching it out. Over the last few days, the engine looks like it's starting to turnover after some very cold starts.
Meanwhile, the bullpen has looked pretty solid. I'm still a little uneasy about the guys being counted on to preserve the leads, but they have capable arms back there. To a man, I like the talent. I like Matt Barnes and Ryan Brasier, Tyler Thornburg is a little scary but there's upside there based on his past experience in Milwaukee. The problem is there is plenty of downside with him too which for the most part is all we've experienced thus far during his tenure with the Sox. I'll play optimist though, he shows signs of breaking through. Last week I'd bet a nickel on him, now I'm up to a quarter. As a measuring stick, Jonathan Papelbon in 2007 would be a $1,000,000 bet so he's still a ways off, but he's not "Way back Wasdin" either…
One final thought on the bullpen; while I think the 'lead protectors' are a little short staffed, the other guys who come in to keep it close when the Sox are behind have some upside, particularly Hector Velazquez. He's got good stuff and could find a role as one of "the ahead guys" as the season advances. I liked him last year. He's my "guy to watch."
Lastly, building some momentum into next week's home opener would be ideal, but regardless, another banner will be raised and that should be good enough for now to get the spirit of Red Sox nation energized. Remember, despite their ugly .250 winning percentage thus far, they are defending champs and for the most part, the full 2018 roster is intact. I foresee smoother sailing ahead, starting next Tuesday.
Patriots – As I wrote a couple of weeks ago, the Patriots had a rather underwhelming start to the NFL offseason during the launch of free agency. However, as noted in my article, it's pretty silly to a panic about it, based on their team-building track record.
That said, April 25th is a big day for the Patriots. That's day one of the 2019 NFL Draft, which is typically a day where every New Englander has the right to be fully disappointed, deflated, underwhelmed or what have you. As the star collegiate players get gobbled up around them, the Patriots typically make their mark but zigging while everyone else zags. Their typical mantra is to gain future moveable assets while snatching up value at lower draft positions. All smart and sustainable team building tactics for sure, but not the most thirst quenching process for Patriots fans. 2019 should be a little different though. With the retirement of Rob Gronkowski, the loss of Trent Brown, gaping holes at wide receiver and yes the need for the eventual succession plan at quarterback this years' NFL Draft by all accounts should be electric. The Patriots own 12 picks and own six within the top 101. My expectation is moves aplenty. Moves that will help sustain their current championship level and at the same time, lay the foundation for the future. So while March was slow, late April and May should be jam packed with Patriots fodder, good or bad. There's plenty to break down.
Here's my wish list: Draft a top tight end in the first round. Trade some picks for a veteran wide receiver that can be trusted. Continue to fortify the offensive line with depth to push Isaiah Wynn and mitigate the loss of Trent Brown. Add a young quarterback that has the potential to be groomed (I'm intrigued by Ryan Finley of NC State and Daniel Jones of Duke). Also, I'd like to see them add some speed and youth to their Super Bowl winning defense at any and all levels. They have the draft capital to do it and they certainly cannot pay 12 draft picks given their limited cap space.
My expectation for the Patriots later this month is to see a lot of savvy maneuvering throughout the draft. Cap it off over the summer by picking up talented players when they fall off of cap-busted rosters like they so often do. If they accomplish this, then it should be wash, rinse, and repeat for the Patriots in 2019. However, if they fail to address their many needs in some form at the draft it could really cripple their momentum for 2019 and beyond. The time to build is here. For Game of Throne fans, "winter is coming" at least eventually. Prevent it now with a couple of good days between April 25th and 28th.
Celtics – You know the deal by now. They've been a bummer. A deflated balloon. They are stove top salmon when you feel like a grilled sirloin. In February that salmon was more like spam. I think they can win a round, maybe two if everything comes together, but much like my willingness to bet a quarter on Tyler Thornburg, my expectation for the 2019 Celtics isn't much higher. Call it $50.
Bruins – Saving the best for last. The 2019 Boston Bruins are the 2018 Celtics, minus the major injuries. I love a pleasant surprise and who doesn't? On otherwise boring nights, the Bruins have delivered all season long for the most part. They are imperfect, but they are mentally tough, gritty and determined. I think they can make a run for it. For real. It probably ends in Tampa Bay, but I wouldn't write them off. Their coach Bruce Cassidy has his head firmly on his shoulders and the team is the anti-Celtics as they seem to follow his lead and sing the same song. Win or lose, they'll put on a good show and will play with guts and focus. I'm quite sure of that and am feeling an Eastern Conference Finals appearance for the B's. In terms of the outcome? It's the NHL, flip a coin.
So although the first week of April didn't offer that typical spring in the step, I'm thinking the weeks to follow will heat up pretty fast. Here's to a hot spring in Boston.
