7/19 @ Toronto - The Doc vs. a Former Cancer Patient

[example1]

With our win, back to one game out.

 

Hopefully Texas puts a hurting on you on the road, and we take care of business at home, and tie for first by the end of the next series.

 

Umm, you were tied for the lead three days before the ASB. It isn't like tying the Sox would be some sort of huge coup. If the Yankees had charged back from 10 games it would be something to get excited about, but waxing and waning between 0 and 3 games behind isn't something most of us are too worried about. Being tied with the Yankees (or even a game or two behind them) doesn't depress me about the Red Sox. The Yankees are supposed to be better.

 

The Yankees are a good team and they should be in contention.

[SoxSport]

..and meanwhile, the Red Sox still can't figure out who should be in the starting rotation. They have too many options, it seems, and not enough time to the trading deadline. The Yankees have been the better team lately--and their pitching overall isn't as good.

[VA Sox Fan]

You're really enjoying this, aren't you?

 

Lolz.

 

I hope he's not.

 

Welcome back Dipre. Stay Dipre.

 

I've observed Jacko since 2004 now and he's had about 4-5 different names, due to bannings and just being the pompous ass he is.

[Gom]

Umm, you were tied for the lead three days before the ASB. It isn't like tying the Sox would be some sort of huge coup. If the Yankees had charged back from 10 games it would be something to get excited about, but waxing and waning between 0 and 3 games behind isn't something most of us are too worried about. Being tied with the Yankees (or even a game or two behind them) doesn't depress me about the Red Sox. The Yankees are supposed to be better.

 

The Yankees are a good team and they should be in contention.

 

All good points. However, this team has been behind the eight ball all season. With pretty much both of our teams healthy now [Wang and Dice are out, but suck anyways], it's going to be fun to see who makes it.

 

From a Yankee point of view, I'd rather face the Tigers than the Angels. That's why I'd rather finish with a better record, since I assume the Angels will be better than the Tigers. It's a little premature, I know.

 

Plus, I'd like Tampa to be chasing you, not us, if you know what I mean.

[Cocos Disciples]

Plus the whole home field advantage thing.

[Gom]

Plus the whole home field advantage thing.

 

I don't buy that home field advantage too much in the playoffs. Not with the Yankees. We've won [and lost] on the road and at home at pretty much the same clip.

[Spudboy]

Not such a big surprise. The Yankees, Sox, and Rays were exected to be in a three way chase in the division. The Yankees have been hot. The Rays have all but caught-up. The Sox bats are asleep.

 

The fun is just beginning.

[Cocos Disciples]

I don't buy that home field advantage too much in the playoffs. Not with the Yankees. We've won [and lost] on the road and at home at pretty much the same clip.

 

Still, in general teams are better at home, so it helps to play more home games.

[Gom]

Agreed.

[Dipre]

Offense.

 

This team needs it.

[Dutchy]

I don't buy that home field advantage too much in the playoffs. Not with the Yankees. We've won [and lost] on the road and at home at pretty much the same clip.

 

Maybe you disagree but I think home field advantage may be more important this year than it's ever been for the Yankees the way balls are flying out of the new stadium. That park plays perfect for a lefty heavy, power hitting team. They are 29-16 at home (.644) and 25-21 on the road (.543).

 

And if the playoffs do come down to an ALCS between the Red Sox and Yankees, I know I'd prefer the Red Sox have home field advantage. They've gone 31-14 (.689) at home this year, the best home record in baseball.

[yankees228]

Maybe you disagree but I think home field advantage may be more important this year than it's ever been for the Yankees the way balls are flying out of the new stadium. That park plays perfect for a lefty heavy, power hitting team. They are 29-16 at home (.644) and 25-21 on the road (.543).

 

And if the playoffs do come down to an ALCS between the Red Sox and Yankees, I know I'd prefer the Red Sox have home field advantage. They've gone 31-14 (.689) at home this year, the best home record in baseball.

 

The problem is that you could make the case that you want the middle three games at home. There is a reason why the NBA (minus the finals) and the NHL do 2-2-1-1-1.

[Dutchy]

The problem is that you could make the case that you want the middle three games at home. There is a reason why the NBA (minus the finals) and the NHL do 2-2-1-1-1.

 

The case could be made. But the way Beckett and Lester pitch at home, that's where I want them to be pitching. At Fenway, Beckett is 6-0 with a 2.44 ERA and Lester is 4-3 with a 3.14 ERA.

 

Plus, I feel like when a team wins the first two games, there's less pressure to start their best pitcher on short rest. The Red Sox could go to Wakefield for a 4th game and have the other 3 starters nice and rested for the last 3 games of the series.

[yankees228]

The case could be made. But the way Beckett and Lester pitch at home, that's where I want them to be pitching. At Fenway, Beckett is 6-0 with a 2.44 ERA and Lester is 4-3 with a 3.14 ERA.

 

Plus, I feel like when a team wins the first two games, there's less pressure to start their best pitcher on short rest. The Red Sox could go to Wakefield for a 4th game and have the other 3 starters nice and rested for the last 3 games of the series.

 

The last part of your argument works both ways. If the road team can just split the first two games, which happens often, they take home field advantage. The only way the team with home field advantage gets to play more games at home is if the series goes the distance. The doesn't happen more often than it happens.

 

As for the Beckett and Lester argument, in a best of seven series, coming off of the division series (or LCS), how do you know they'll be available to start right away?

[Dipre]

The case could be made. But the way Beckett and Lester pitch at home, that's where I want them to be pitching. At Fenway, Beckett is 6-0 with a 2.44 ERA and Lester is 4-3 with a 3.14 ERA.

 

Plus, I feel like when a team wins the first two games, there's less pressure to start their best pitcher on short rest. The Red Sox could go to Wakefield for a 4th game and have the other 3 starters nice and rested for the last 3 games of the series.

 

For the love of God, no.

[Dutchy]

The last part of your argument works both ways. If the road team can just split the first two games, which happens often, they take home field advantage. The only way the team with home field advantage gets to play more games at home is if the series goes the distance. The doesn't happen more often than it happens.

 

As for the Beckett and Lester argument, in a best of seven series, coming off of the division series (or LCS), how do you know they'll be available to start right away?

 

That's true about the first 2 games. Still I like the idea of having 4 games at home should it go to a game 7 and I like Beckett and Lester pitching at home (if in fact that's possible). Plus, I like the idea of Sabathia starting in Fenway Park. It seems like he's gotten a little too excitable in his past playoff starts.

[a700hitter]

Plus' date=' I feel like when a team wins the first two games, there's less pressure to start their best pitcher on short rest. [i']The Red Sox could go to Wakefield for a 4th game [/i]and have the other 3 starters nice and rested for the last 3 games of the series.

I swear if Wakefield is scheduled for another post season start, I'll call in a bomb scare. I can't take watching another Wakefield post season start. Just forfeit that game and save the bullpen for the next three games.

[Dipre]

I swear if Wakefield is scheduled for another post season start' date=' I'll call in a bomb scare. I can't take watching another Wakefield post season start. Just forfeit that game and save the bullpen for the next three games.[/quote']

 

I'd rather start JD Drew.

 

And i'm dead f***ing serious.

[yankees228]

That's true about the first 2 games. Still I like the idea of having 4 games at home should it go to a game 7 and I like Beckett and Lester pitching at home (if in fact that's possible). Plus' date=' I like the idea of Sabathia starting in Fenway Park. It seems like he's gotten a little too excitable in his past playoff starts.[/quote']

 

Again, maybe the division series goes five games and CC starts games three and seven (if necessary).

 

I think the only true advantage of having home field advantage is game 7 (or game 5), if the series goes the distance.

[Dutchy]

I swear if Wakefield is scheduled for another post season start' date=' I'll call in a bomb scare. I can't take watching another Wakefield post season start. Just forfeit that game and save the bullpen for the next three games.[/quote']

 

We could start Smoltz instead if he pitches well the rest of the year (I meant in the 3rd game of the series, not the 4th). By the time the 4th game of the series comes around, usually that's normal rest for the first starter.

[Dutchy]

Again, maybe the division series goes five games and CC starts games three and seven (if necessary).

 

I think the only true advantage of having home field advantage is game 7 (or game 5), if the series goes the distance.

 

There is no game 7 in the divisional series, so either he starts game 3 of that series on short rest (which I'm pretty sure guarantees normal rest for game 1 of the ALCS) or he starts game 4 of that series, and would be available for game 1 of the ALCS on short rest or Game 2, possibly even on normal rest.

 

It's no guarantee, but Game 1 or 2 do seem like the most likely games for Sabathia to start. It's hard to tell because the schedule is always different.

[yankees228]

There is no game 7 in the divisional series, so either he starts game 3 of that series on short rest (which I'm pretty sure guarantees normal rest for game 1 of the ALCS) or he starts game 4 of that series, and would be available for game 1 of the ALCS on short rest or Game 2, possibly even on normal rest.

 

It's no guarantee, but Game 1 or 2 do seem like the most likely games for Sabathia to start. It's hard to tell because the schedule is always different.

 

When did I say there was a game seven in the division series? I said what if the division series goes five games? Assuming CC started game one of the division series that would line him up to pitch games three and seven of the league championship series.

 

As for the schedules, you're right. Everything changed in 2007 when TBS started broadcasting games.

[Dutchy]

When did I say there was a game seven in the division series? I said what if the division series goes five games? Assuming CC started game one of the division series that would line him up to pitch games three and seven of the league championship series.

 

As for the schedules, you're right. Everything changed in 2007 when TBS started broadcasting games.

 

That's what I assumed you meant by:

 

Again' date=' maybe the division series goes five games and CC starts games three and seven (if necessary).[/quote']

 

If the division series goes 5 games, it's unlikely that CC would be pitching the 5th game. So he'd likely be starting in the ALCS before Game 3. I guess you were saying CC would start games 1, 3 and 5 going twice on short rest though.

[Spudboy]

Of course Tampa and possibly LAA may have something to say about all this.

[yankees228]

That's what I assumed you meant by:

 

 

 

If the division series goes 5 games, it's unlikely that CC would be pitching the 5th game. So he'd likely be starting in the ALCS before Game 3. I guess you were saying CC would start games 1, 3 and 5 going twice on short rest though.

 

No, not at all. See, I guess I'm too used to the old format. I was saying he would start games one and five. You used to never be able to bring your game one starter back for game four on regular rest (in the DS). However, I remember Lester started game four on regular rest last year. I'm not sure if every series is set up like that.

[yankees228]

Of course Tampa and possibly LAA may have something to say about all this.

 

This is merely hypothetical, at least from my end. I am, by no means, assuming that both the Red Sox and Yankees will make the playoffs, let alone meet in the ALCS.

[a700hitter]

Here are some pictures from the Fanatasy Softball game:

 

[ATTACH]586[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH]587[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH]588[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH]589[/ATTACH]

 

The only bad thing about the day was that they had not updated the scoreboard standings to reflect the 3 game Red Sox lead.

[Dutchy]

No' date=' not at all. See, I guess I'm too used to the old format. I was saying he would start games one and five. You used to never be able to bring your game one starter back for game four on regular rest (in the DS). However, I remember Lester started game four on regular rest last year. I'm not sure if every series is set up like that.[/quote']

 

That is another advantage of having the best record in the league. You get to pick between the two different LDS formats. If the Red Sox finished with the best record in the AL, they'd get to pick the LDS with the extra off day.

 

I believe that didn't become part of home field advantage until last year.

[a700hitter]

How do I make the pictures larger?

[Dutchy]

Of course Tampa and possibly LAA may have something to say about all this.

 

No one's saying they won't beat us out for home field advantage. We're just discussing hypothetically whether or not home field advantage is actually an advantage in baseball.