ALE as of right now

[MANNYHOF24]

As of right now, the Red Sox have a 4 game lead in the ALE ahead of the Yankees. On paper, and by the way we are playing in the field I think its clear we have the superior team. I think starting pitching and bullpen is what really sets this two teams apart. We have a huge lead and Josh Beckett and Jon Lester pitched like s*** the first month of the season, DiceK has been nothing all year and Penny struggled early on too. Now that everything has seemingly straightened itself out, with Lester and Beckett pitching like Co-aces and Penny and wake having solid starts with Smoltlz and Buchholz waiting in the wings and Papi has is stroke back again, is there any reason to believe that the Yankees can hang with us for the rest of the season?

 

I think the only way this can happen is if Joba is moved into the bullpen and Phil Hughes could pitch consistently as a starter. If this doesn't happen I see no way the Yanks bullpen can hold up and be consistent whatsoever. Even then, it's going to collapse by Boston for this to be even possible. My only worry going forward would be for Ortiz and Lowell, if Ortiz goes into massive slump mode again, and Lowell breaks down then the sox offense could be in trouble.

[Youk Of The Nation]

I agree with pretty much everything you just said. I don't think Papi will ever be what he once was, but what he's been doing the last 15 or so games is good enough for me. Wake's consistency doesn't surprise me. The Sox HOF should be named after him when he retires. As for Lowell, I think the offense is good enough to fill a hole left if he were to go down.

[castigs850]

i think you underestimate lowell. right now everything is rolling for the sox, but we dont know who the real papi is at this point, if lowell breaks down we could be in some serious trouble offensively

[Youk Of The Nation]

Like I said, this offense can handle it. Remember when Youk went on the DL? They didn't miss a beat, and Youk is a much better hitter for this team. Papi was batting negative .1000 through early June and the Sox were ten games over .500. Between Youk, Pedroia, Ellsbury and his consistent .300, Tek surging this season after an awful 08, Green killing the ball, Drew, and of course Bay, this team can certainly make up for one lost hitter for a month.

[example1]

There is always a chance that the Yankees will catch the Sox. A 4 game lead at this point is nice, but it isn't insurmountable. The Sox pitching seems to be superior, both SP and RP, but I think the RP is what really, REALLY sets them apart. That 'pen can come in early iln the game and hold just about any team to one or two runs (often less), which means if Tito gets the SP out early enough then the Sox have a chance to win. That's a big deal and is something that this rivalry hasn't seen in quite some time.

 

Ortiz may not be what he once was, but he looks a lot better at the plate and is hitting down in the order. This team has enough pieces that slumps and poor pitching stretches can happen and the team will still play above .500.

[Cocos Disciples]

I'd be worried about the Rays too. Their pythag says they've severely underperformed.

[castigs850]

im enjoying whats going on right now, but listen to yourself. Of all those guys you just mentioned i trust 3. Papi and Green are doing well right now, but for how long is what im more concerned with. Im not a Drew hater, i could give a s*** about his emotion, but he isnt the guy to hold a lineup together. Tek? Come on, Tek?

 

all im saying is that im skeptical the problems we had two weeks ago just poofed and disappeared

[SCM33]

I'd be worried about the Rays too. Their pythag says they've severely underperformed.

 

Agree, and they have started playing better after a tough start, Toronto has played a little better too after their hiccup.

[BSN07]

The Sox are the better team right now. But there is still a good portion of the season to go. And the Yankees always seem to find away to keep it close or pass the Sox at some point. So let's not say it's a done deal yet. Like I have said before, I won't count the Yankees out until the Sox have actually clinched. Until that point anything can happen. Don't get me wrong, i think the Sox are the best team in the division. But soooo much can happen between now and the end of the season.

 

 

TB has indeed under performed so far this season, the biggest difference being the BP. Like I said at the beginning of the season, Their offense and SP are great. Their BP has always been their Achilles heal. Last season the BP overplayed itself, and now that it has regressed back towards the median, the team is not as strong as they where last year and now they are hovering around .500. Yes they can come back, but I'd be more worried about the Yankees right now. Especially with their ability to go out and bring in help for the team.

[jacksonianmarch]

for a good stretch, we were the better team. Thats the thing about baseball. You need your starting, relieving, defense and offense clicking to make a run. Otherwise, if one cog is out of the machine, then you will play poorly and inconsistently like we are now. Not worried though, long season left and Burnett is finally clicking it into gear. Assuming CC is okay, I think this thing is going down to the wire.

[TheKilo]

I'd be worried about the Rays too. Their pythag says they've severely underperformed.

 

This.

 

I think the Rays have the 2nd best run differential in all of baseball and are what, 3 games over .500?

 

They'll be in it until the end.

 

Way too early to count the Yankees out - I think their best move is put the Phranchise in the rotation and make Wang the 7th inning guy.

[jacksonianmarch]

I agree on that last point. Hughes has been great since going to the pen.

[Youk Of The Nation]

for a good stretch' date=' we were the better team[/b']. Thats the thing about baseball. You need your starting, relieving, defense and offense clicking to make a run. Otherwise, if one cog is out of the machine, then you will play poorly and inconsistently like we are now. Not worried though, long season left and Burnett is finally clicking it into gear. Assuming CC is okay, I think this thing is going down to the wire.

 

 

When?

[Dipre]

I agree on that last point. Hughes has been great since going to the pen.

 

I'm surprised, since you were completely convinced he needed to be sent down to AAA.

 

Hughes needs to be pitching in the Majors, and now's the time to give him a chance to take hold of a rotation spot.

[BSN07]

for a good stretch' date=' we [i']looked[/i] the better team. Thats the thing about baseball.

 

Fixed that for you. They looked like the best team. Then they played the Red Sox. And it was fairly obvious who was the better team at the time.

[inkman]

On paper' date=' and by the way we are playing in the field I think its clear we have the superior team. [/quote']

 

I would hardly call a 4 game lead clear evidence that the Sox are better. It makes me shakes my head to think that there are optimistic Red Sox fans anywhere on Earth but I guess a couple of World Series Championships will do that to a fan base.

[TedWilliams101]

8-0 vs the Yankees is what I would call clear evidence that the Sox are the better team...

[Spudboy]

I would hardly call a 4 game lead clear evidence that the Sox are better. It makes me shakes my head to think that there are optimistic Red Sox fans anywhere on Earth but I guess a couple of World Series Championships will do that to a fan base.

 

Did the dog make this post?

[BoSox21]

the bullpen is probably the single factor that makes the Sox a better team than the Yankees

[castigs850]

yea but if the yankees are good then the redsox are good too and the bluejays are getting hot and the devil rays are underperforming and the orioles have a young stud catcher

[Cocos Disciples]

5 way tie!

[TedWilliams101]

Who the f*ck are you?

[castigs850]

he is NOT me, despite what yeszir claims to know

[Dipre]

Why are we so overconfident in June?

 

We all know the Yankees are perfectly capable of going out and acquiring a couple relievers and shift the balance of power.

 

Not only that, on paper the teams are not that far apart.

 

A-Rod's going to improve, their SP will settle in, and they'll probably fix that bullpen, so the fact that we're a bit superior than them right now is no reason to go mouthing off.

 

Some people here are actually sounding like YANKEE FANS..........pititful........

 

Oh, and the whole 8-0 against them is a fluke, and anyone who says otherwise lives in fantasy land.

[MANNYHOF24]

he is NOT me' date=' despite what yeszir claims to know[/quote']

 

********. It's clearly you.

[yeszir]

********. It's clearly you.

 

Back on topic please.

[MANNYHOF24]

Back on topic please.

You got it.

Why are we so overconfident in June?

 

We all know the Yankees are perfectly capable of going out and acquiring a couple relievers and shift the balance of power.

 

Not only that, on paper the teams are not that far apart.

 

A-Rod's going to improve, their SP will settle in, and they'll probably fix that bullpen, so the fact that we're a bit superior than them right now is no reason to go mouthing off.

 

Some people here are actually sounding like YANKEE FANS..........pititful........

 

Oh, and the whole 8-0 against them is a fluke, and anyone who says otherwise lives in fantasy land.

 

As of right now, the Yankees are clearly the more flawed team. Obviously things can change, but I really like the sox chances. I think the Yankees bullpen is a huge hole, and even the starting pitching has been really inconsistent. If AROD can't get back to being AROD then the Yankees have little chance, IMO.

[MANNYHOF24]

I would hardly call a 4 game lead clear evidence that the Sox are better. It makes me shakes my head to think that there are optimistic Red Sox fans anywhere on Earth but I guess a couple of World Series Championships will do that to a fan base.

 

Haha, why should we not be optimistic? Since the start of the this decade our franchise has out performed yours on almost every level. Out played, out managed, and the Sox ownership has done a much better job finding players and making good decisions.

[inkman]

Did the dog make this post?

 

No. His name is Fenway and he lives with my ex wife. :wtf:

[yankees228]

the bullpen is probably the single factor that makes the Sox a better team than the Yankees

 

I have to disagree with this. Don't get me wrong, I think the Red Sox are a better team, but not because of the bullpen. Right now, for the most part, I actually feel pretty good about the Yankees bullpen. For most of the season all they had going for them was Mariano Rivera at the end of games, Alfredo Aceves, and, at times, Phil Coke. That is not good. However, right now, the bullpen could not be more different. If Brian Bruney stays healthy he can be very valuable to this team in the 8th, and the guy who is probably the best out of the group is Phil Hughes. Personally, I think the Yanks plan to keep Hughes in the bullpen for awhile.

 

So...

 

Closer: Mariano Rivera

Setup: Brian Bruney

Setup: Phil Hughes

MR: Alfredo Aceves

 

The Yankees have a lot of problems, but for the first time this year, the bullpen is not one of the bigger problems.