10/1 @ Angels: ALDS Game 1

[Quinny]

Why is Ross on the roster?

 

ya i thought it should have been bailey instead..

[rician blast]

Quinny, is you're user name last-name related or did you perchance go to Quinnipiac U?

 

I ask because in another forum there was a guy named Quinny U who, obviously, went to Quinnipiac here in Ct. Just curious, not stalking or anything.

[BoSox21]

Why is Ross on the roster?

 

yea, I really dont see a use for a 3rd catcher either

[TheKilo]

Pinch hitting late in the game. They carried three catchers in last year's ALDS too.

[Quinny]

hah nah its just a nickname that i had a few years ago... not referring to Quinnipiac

[BoSox21]

Pinch hitting late in the game. They carried three catchers in last year's ALDS too.

 

you dont think Bailey is a better pinch hitting option than Ross?

[Cocos Disciples]

I understand having a third catcher ready to be added to the roster for the following round if a catcher gets hurt, but really is it worth wasting a roster spot on the risk of 2 catchers getting hurt in 5 games?

[Drew It Again]

going to be a great series if you guys don't mind it i have put a few reasons together why we are every bit as good as LAA

 

1) Papelbon isn't a big down grade from K-rod at all

2) 96 W's last year. If you would have told me Lowell would miss around 50+ games Drew the final 2 months Okajima would take a big step back, Beckett would be 12-10 and miss about a month Mike Timlin is toast and Manny Ramirez was traded. I would laugh at the fact you told me they won 95 in 08.

3)Our bench is pretty good.

 

Sure the Angels are the better team but I think with a break here and there we could make some noise lets get it on guys i'm fired up.

[Cocos Disciples]

I don't even think the Angels are the better team, and if they are it's not by much. In terms of pythag we beat them by 7 games. They have exactly the same home record as road, and I think if we can win 1 of the first 2, we got it in the bag.

[ORS]

I don't even think the Angels are the better team...

This is correct. The Sox were better on offense by 1/2 a run a game, with a better BA, OBP, and SLG. The Angels stole 9 more bases, but at the expense of getting caught 13 more times, so the Sox were better in the running game. The two teams gave up runs at an equal clip.

 

The Angels are a good team, but I feel they were a bit fortunate this year. They played in the weakest division in baseball, IMO. And the toughest part of the schedule, the 3 or so weeks following the ASG, coincided with when there were insane hot and playing their absolute best baseball of the season.

 

That said, it's still baseball. The top of the league wins only 55-60% of the time, the bottom still wins 40-45% of the time. While I think the Sox are a better team when you look at the two on paper, in October it's about who is hot and who is not. It's about who gets the big hit, makes the big pitch, or the big play in the field. There's a lot of talent on each side, and this could go either way.

 

Those that think we'll handle them easily because we swept them twice in the last 4 years and those that think we'll get swept because they went 8-1 against us this season are both fooling themselves. Could be a sweep, either way, could go 5. Should be fun.

[Cityofchampions33]

Actually since the break they have scored more runs and given up less than us. But I'll take Lester, Dice, and a (hopefully, knock on wood) healthy Beckett over their 3. Lackey has a 4.99 since the break, hopefully that continues tonight.

[ORS]

That's true, but like I said, they were very hot those first few weeks. Let's look at the most relevant time period, since the deadline, as that includes the roster changes.

 

[table]Team|R/G|ERA

LAA|4.89|4.22

Bos|5.79|4.29[/table]

 

Again, this team should not be considered the underdog, and if they win, it's no upset.

[Drew It Again]

i'm no statistician but can someone compare the bullpens to me thats the biggest key

[Cocos Disciples]

i'm no statistician but can someone compare the bullpens to me thats the biggest key

 

Boston bullpen: 4.00 ERA, .707 OPS

Los Angeles bullpen: 3.69 ERA, .709 OPS

[ORS]

On the season, that goes to the Angels, 3.67 to 4.00. For a time split, I don't know of a site that provides that type of double split, so you'd have to put the raw data into a spreadsheet.

[redsoxrules]

Anyone knows what the lineup is tonight ?

 

EDIT: nevermind I found it

 

Ellsbury

Pedroia

Ortiz

Youkilis

Drew

Bay

Lowell

Lowrie

Varitek

[Cocos Disciples]

Best lineup we have right there. Actually, maybe Ellsbury shouldn't be first. But still, good order IMO.

[Cocos Disciples]

An hour til game time, guys and gals. Don't you dare go to sleep during the game!

[Cityofchampions33]

Luckily I found a feed online, so I'll be here through the night. And ORS I'm pretty sure the Sox pen has better numbers second half of the season over the Angels, while I don't have the numbers that's one of the things that stuck out in my mind.

[msubulldogs21]

An hour til game time' date=' guys and gals. Don't you dare go to sleep during the game![/quote']

 

That should be a bannable offense.

[Cocos Disciples]

Well you have Masterson, who was filthy in the second half and wasn't even in the bullpen in the first half. Okajima's ERA dropped by over a half a run in the second half. Papelbon's ERA lowered by about a quarter of a run in the second half. Delcarmen had a complete change, with a 1.82 ERA in the 2nd half and a .502 OPS. So yes, the bullpen's big 4 all improved their numbers in the second half (don't have team bullpen 1st/2nd half splits, as ORS said).

[CrespoBlows]

Well you have Masterson' date=' who was filthy in the second half and wasn't even in the bullpen in the first half. Okajima's ERA dropped by over a half a run in the second half. Papelbon's ERA lowered by about a quarter of a run in the second half. Delcarmen had a complete change, with a 1.82 ERA in the 2nd half and a .502 OPS. So yes, the bullpen's big 4 all improved their numbers in the second half (don't have team bullpen 1st/2nd half splits, as ORS said).[/quote']

 

According to BR, the Red Sox had a 4.84 ERA in September, and a 3.77 ERA in August. Probably due to epic failures by Chris Smith, Mike Timlin, and the rest of the cannon fodder.

[Cocos Disciples]

Right, none of whom are on the postseason roster. I'd take September team bullpen stats with a grain of salt.

[Cocos Disciples]

That should be a bannable offense.

 

Truth. There's this kid in my math class who literally wears a Sox shirt every day, and even he said he won't watch past the 3rd. Some people need to get their priorities straight.

[VA Sox Fan]

An hour til game time' date=' guys and gals. Don't you dare go to sleep during the game![/quote']

 

 

Didn't get my nap in But am way too stressed/psyched to fall asleep!

 

I'm liking the line up.

 

GO SOX!! :thumbsup:

[msubulldogs21]

Truth. There's this kid in my math class who literally wears a Sox shirt every day' date=' and even he said he won't watch past the 3rd. Some people need to get their priorities straight.[/quote']

 

Wow. What a loser. First of all if you're in college you shouldn't have any problem staying up that late. 2nd, if you even halfway call yourself a fan, you will watch this one out.

[Drew It Again]

it's the playoffs, can't sleep this is the reward of being a fan.

[Cocos Disciples]

Wow. What a loser. First of all if you're in college you shouldn't have any problem staying up that late. 2nd' date=' if you even halfway call yourself a fan, you will watch this one out.[/quote']

 

HS, but the point remains the same. I mean I go to bed at 12 anyways, what's an hour or so later?

[The Dustball]

An hour til game time' date=' guys and gals. Don't you dare go to sleep during the game![/quote']

 

I've already abandoned all hope of having a good school day tomorrow. This is where you find out who the true fans are.

[Cocos Disciples]

it's the playoffs' date=' can't sleep this is the reward of being a fan.[/quote']

 

Word. I can see missing a west coast game in May. But this is why we watch baseball. Anyways, doesn't really matter cause we're watching it.