Friday, August 30, 2024

Predictions

"Predictions are always difficult, especially about the future."

New beginnings have infinite possibilities. And making predictions about a season needs clear eyes on both MVB and opponents. Nobody has clarity on either now.

During the early 1960s, the Boston Red Sox were terrible, winning sixty plus games a season, finishing at or near the bottom of the American League. They hired manager Dick Williams in 1967, who boldly predicted, "we'll win more than we lose." 

The Red Sox won the American League pennant on the final day of the season and took the mighty St. Louis Cardinals to seven games in the World Series, losing to the otherworldly Bob Gibson in the finale.

Winning is hard; that's what makes people treasure it.

Melrose has a tough schedule this season playing four teams in the Boston Globe preseason top 20: Newton North, Winchester, Burlington (twice) and Duxbury. That omits Westborough (the Globe considers them out of area I guess), Belmont (whom I project to be top 20), and Wakefield (twice), whom I also think will be top 20. That means nine of twenty games are possible top 20 ranked. 

According to Coach Scott Celli, winning big takes three things:

  • A good team
  • Luck along the way
  • Health

MVB hosts a jamboree/play day today which allows the coaching staff to get a great look at players against five separate clubs. Jobs are available to be won. 

Lagniappe.  

You never know. 


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