Down to the wire

[yankthis]

Here is my dream prediction for the outcome of AL East race:

 

Sept. 30th - Red Sox in first place by a two-game margin. Beat Yankees and eliminate them from AL East race. But the Yanks still have a shot at wild card.

 

Oct 1st - Red Sox eliminate Yankees from wild card race.

 

Oct 2nd - Though their season is over for all intensive purposes, the Yanks still have to come back to Fenway one more time. They open up a big 9-run lead and hold it to the 8th innning. Red Sox tie the game with 9 runs against Mariano Rivera in the 9th, including two homers by David Ortiz. After 5 more innnings of pointless torture and anguish, Yankees win in the 14th inning with a solo homer by Alex Rodriguez. Season over. Go home.

 

[ORS]

If the Sox have the division wrapped up by Sept. 30, here is what will be facing the Yankees the last two games:

 

Starting pitchers

Oct. 1 - Lenny DiNardo

Oct. 2 - Abe Alvarez

 

Lineup

CF - Machado

SS - Ramirez

1B - Petagine

DH - Mirabelli

C - Shoppach

LF - Hyzdu

3B - Mueller (only because Youk is down with an injury)

2B - Cora

RF - Stern

 

BP available

Harville

Gonzalez

Harville

Hansen (if they don't think he'll be on the postseason roster)

Harville

 

Tito won't play the starters (even if the Yankees postseason is on the line) once the Sox are in the postseason. It's a nice thought though.

[Cityofchampions33]

As a baseball fan i hope it goes down to game 3 of the Fenway series. maybe even go back to YS for that playoff game. However as a Red Sox fan i want it over ASAP

[stocker323]

If the Sox have the division wrapped up by Sept. 30, here is what will be facing the Yankees the last two games:

 

Starting pitchers

Oct. 1 - Lenny DiNardo

Oct. 2 - Abe Alvarez

 

Lineup

CF - Machado

SS - Ramirez

1B - Petagine

DH - Mirabelli

C - Shoppach

LF - Hyzdu

3B - Mueller (only because Youk is down with an injury)

2B - Cora

RF - Stern

 

BP available

Harville

Gonzalez

Harville

Hansen (if they don't think he'll be on the postseason roster)

Harville

 

Tito won't play the starters (even if the Yankees postseason is on the line) once the Sox are in the postseason. It's a nice thought though.

Yankees are playing the same pathetic team we just demolished, there is no way that the Sox will have it wrapped up by then.

[26 to 6]

just out of curiosity ORS, why would you want all of your pitchers, specifically relievers not throwing for the last 2 games or whatever it would be if they won it as early as you said. That would be 3 days without working due to the day that is designated for the one game playoffs, and there also might be a day off between then and the start of the postseason (dont know for sure), so you might be looking at 4 days off for all of your relievers, which would lead to cold arms with no effectiveness.

[JohnnyDug]

As a baseball fan i hope it goes down to game 3 of the Fenway series. maybe even go back to YS for that playoff game. However as a Red Sox fan i want it over ASAP

 

Very true. And part of me even wants to show them up on their own field. But then again, I'd love to finalize it at Fenway. I'm just as indecisive as I am about which way to look at this pennant race. I feel guilty investing too much time in the Indian's progress and all of that. I suppose I'll side with Francona and count a win as a win, and a loss as a loss, but ultimately hope to go in and get the job done for OURSELVES and nothing else.

[ORS]

The AL playoffs start on the 4th, so it would be 3 days off. These guys could all use some rest. They'll get stretched out and have some throwing sessions during that time. I doubt 3 days is enough to render them ineffective.

[BoSox21]

make no mistake, this season will come down to next weekend, no doubt about it

[26 to 6]

The AL playoffs start on the 4th, so it would be 3 days off. These guys could all use some rest. They'll get stretched out and have some throwing sessions during that time. I doubt 3 days is enough to render them ineffective.

yo're probably right.

[schillingouttheks]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if I remember correctly that game with the Sox vs. Yanks where the Yanks won the game 1-0, wasn't Mo on like 3 days rest? Or was it a game around that time. I forget

[26 to 6]

i dont exactly remember. but it doesnt matter, all I was trying to say is that i wouldnt want to take a chance. some relievers work well on a few days rest while others dont.

[joe]

Here is my dream prediction for the outcome of AL East race:

 

Sept. 30th - Red Sox in first place by a two-game margin. Beat Yankees and eliminate them from AL East race. But the Yanks still have a shot at wild card.

 

Oct 1st - Red Sox eliminate Yankees from wild card race.

 

 

 

The Yanks will play 4 games against the Orioles, and I think they will easily sweep them. The Orioles are a very bad team now.

The Red Sox will play 4 games against the Blue Jays. The Sox has struggled against the Jays, and I just don’t see the Sox sweeping them!

Assuming the Sox will win two games, then they will be behind by two games when the Yank-Sox series starts.

 

Sox are playing at home, but the last time Sox-Yanks played at Fenway Park on July 14-17, Yanks took 3 out of 4!!!

Sox are coming out of a long team-wide slump, while the Yanks are hot.

Honestly, I am very concerned.

[schillingouttheks]

Normally, I would agree with your statement, joe. But the Sox bats are just alive, and if you remember Baltimore has always been a pain in our asses as well.

 

So, that being said, if I had to choose where to face Toronto, there would be no place like home! While I'm not getting my hopes up too much, at the same time I'm feeling pretty confident in the performance of our team in the most recent games.

[yankthis]

Baltimore will give the Yankees a run for their money.

 

Red Sox had a few big innings which resulted in two wins againts the O's. To say that they "demolished" them is ridiculous.

 

Chances are that there won't be any more than a two-game margin either way come the 30th.

[Manny Goes Boom]

Here is my dream prediction for the outcome of AL East race:

 

Oct 2nd - Though their season is over for all intensive purposes, the Yanks still have to come back to Fenway one more time. They open up a big 9-run lead and hold it to the 8th innning. Red Sox tie the game with 9 runs against Mariano Rivera in the 9th, including two homers by David Ortiz. After 5 more innnings of pointless torture and anguish, Yankees win in the 14th inning with a solo homer by Alex Rodriguez. Season over. Go home.

 

 

LMAO!!! Quite the dream. I see it coming down to the weekend series.

[noonanberg]

This would be my ideal ending. Each team splits their 4 games series. The Sox win game 1 of the final series, putting them up a game. The Yanks win game two, tying it up again, and then it all comes down to that last Sunday at Fenway. Bottom of the ninth, 1 out, Damon on 2nd, Sox down 4-3, Ortiz at the plate, CRACK into the bullpen, another walk- off for Ortiz, Sox go to the playoffs, Yanks go home.

[Ray10]

I just can't wait until the weekend and our 3 games series with the Yankees that is going to be the best time of the year.

[riverside sluggers]

all in all tonight is main game to focus on:

 

Schilling takes the mound for the Sox and hopes to get his 3rd quality start in the last 4 games. Schilling had beat Toronto back in April at Fenway where he had a season high 10 strikeouts in 5 innings.

 

Dave Bush opposes the Sox lineup who in 3 career games (all in 2005) the Sox have roughed him up good, as he is 0-2 with a 11.70 ERA against Boston. His only game at Fenway he lasted just 2 innings giving up 7 earned runs on 7 hits

[riverside sluggers]

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/video/dds_sell.jsp

 

for you sox fans you'll like this. on the left hand of the page is a free link to watch a highlight reel from 1st inning to the extra innings of a thrilling greatly pitched Sox win over the Yankees September 17, 2004. Its good to get your spirits up, and think positive thoughts!

[MANNYHOF24]

It would be very exciting for the season to come down to the last day, nerve racking but exciting

[riverside sluggers]

guys i was doing my homework beacuse i was plain sick and tired of hearing yankee fans saying, oh but the Yankees have the better bullpen, yadi yadi yada

 

Red Sox bullpen in September: 27 Earned Runs in 52.1 innings

Yankees bullpen in September: 38 Earned Runs in 72 innings

 

that is more innings than the Sox bullpen has had to pitch and also less earned runs that they have given up...

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

guys i was doing my homework beacuse i was plain sick and tired of hearing yankee fans saying, oh but the Yankees have the better bullpen, yadi yadi yada

 

Red Sox bullpen in September: 27 Earned Runs in 52.1 innings

Yankees bullpen in September: 38 Earned Runs in 72 innings

 

that is more innings than the Sox bullpen has had to pitch and also less earned runs that they have given up...

Both pens arent good. At the end of the day I think I'll take my chances with guys like Mariano Rivera, Tom Gordon and Tanyon Sturtze(Who has looked better of late) over Mike Timlin, Paplebon(the next big game he pitches in will be his first) and Hansen (read what I said about Paplebon). There isnt alot of depth in either. I think it will come down to which teams starters will be able to get them to the 7th or 8th innings of the game.

[riverside sluggers]

its funny how you just outright Papelbon, thinking he will crumble to the Yankees bats

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

its funny how you just outright Papelbon, thinking he will crumble to the Yankees bats

intresting because I dont recall saying he will get smacked around. Are you telling me there are NO questions about him and he is better then Tom Gordon? This weekend will be the most pressure Paplebon has ever faced. You cant just call him a given. It would be like me calling Chien Ming Wang a given on Friday. Do I have confidence in Wang? Yeah but I dont know for sure how he will do.

[riverside sluggers]

no, but i still have faith in him. he has proved himself in close and tied games

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

no, but i still have faith in him. he has proved himself in close and tied games

Well as I said, games against the O's are very important but they have NO comparison to games against the Yankees. It should be intresting. Paplebon is a good pitcher so I dont expect him to crumble under the pressure.

[example1]

intresting because I dont recall saying he will get smacked around. Are you telling me there are NO questions about him and he is better then Tom Gordon? This weekend will be the most pressure Paplebon has ever faced. You cant just call him a given. It would be like me calling Chien Ming Wang a given on Friday. Do I have confidence in Wang? Yeah but I dont know for sure how he will do.

 

A valid point. I think that Gordon is about as reliable as Timlin, and that Mariano is on his own level. However, I think any team in their right mind would IMMEDIATELY take Papelbon and Hansen over Sturtz. From my perspective Sturtz is an accident waiting to happen against the patient and hard-hitting sox lineup.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

A valid point. I think that Gordon is about as reliable as Timlin, and that Mariano is on his own level. However, I think any team in their right mind would IMMEDIATELY take Papelbon and Hansen over Sturtz. From my perspective Sturtz is an accident waiting to happen against the patient and hard-hitting sox lineup.

Hansen is iffy. He looked good one day and bad the next. It should be intresting to see how Terry uses him. His best pitch is his slider and he hasnt thrown it yet which makes me wonder. You guys have to remember he is fresh out of college. You cant expect a K-Rod like rest of the season. Papelbon might be better then Sturtze. Hes had an up and down year. The first part of the year he looked great then due to over use he lost velocity. Over his last 6 outtings the velocity is back and hes pitching better. The bottomline is both teams NEED their starts to get them deep into the game.

[example1]

Hansen is iffy. He looked good one day and bad the next. It should be intresting to see how Terry uses him. His best pitch is his slider and he hasnt thrown it yet which makes me wonder. You guys have to remember he is fresh out of college. You cant expect a K-Rod like rest of the season. Papelbon might be better then Sturtze. Hes had an up and down year. The first part of the year he looked great then due to over use he lost velocity. Over his last 6 outtings the velocity is back and hes pitching better. The bottomline is both teams NEED their starts to get them deep into the game.

 

I don't think you can comment on Hansen like that. He's pitched for the Sox TWICE. I don't think you can say he's iffy and I can't say he's great. However, given his stuff he WILL be great in the future and COULD be great this year. You're right, he's supposed to have a great slider but hasn't really thrown it well yet. It doesn't make me wonder though, since he's thrown 1.6 innings.

 

Papelbon has been used in big spots recently and has performed more than admirably. He's developed a splitter that is hard to hit (thanks to Schilling). The best part is that I don't think that Yankees have seen either pitcher, which is the first NEW thing to happen to this rivalry for awhile (add too: Aaron Small/Wang and Cano, along with Hanley Ramirez, who won't see any time in the series... I hope)

 

Papelbon's September numbers:

2-0, 9.2 IP, 8 G, 7H, 2 R, 1.86 ERA, .206 BAA.

[riverside sluggers]

Papelbon did pitch the 9th inning of the Sox's saturday win over the Yanks. 1.0 inning pitched, 1 Hit, 1 Walk, 0 R