How many games will the Red Sox be back come Monday morning

[BoSox21]

He's been hurt in the 2nd half the last four seasons. Time to move on.

 

Yea fine but when you can get him at $4 mil a year without the burden of anything more than a one-year contract, there are gonna be drawbacks. But he's still always been good for 180+ IP with a mid-4s ERA and clearly for the FO, the pros still outweigh the cons. It's up to the FO to have a contingency plan

 

Dice-K, Smoltz and Buchholz being worthless are far more to blame for the rotation woes than Wakefield

[ElMaestro]

Yankee fan here, long time reader, newly registered. Always loved a good, respectful baseball conversation. Long time scout.com poster, and I have to say that some of our best posters are Red Sox fans...

 

Anyway...

 

I seriously think the yanks should take 3 of 4. A sweep is very improbable mostly because of the sunday matchup. People is talking about the Beckett - AJ game giving an edge to the Red Sox, and that could be true if you take into consideration that Beckett is better than Burnett, but you can't forget that Burnett is pitching very, very good in the last 2 months or so. His last outing was not good, but 2 bad outings in a row? Sincerely I think that's not very probably. That game should be a close one, yanks winning because their offense is better, and anybody could hit a HR at anytime.

[CrespoBlows]

SCAFFOLDS

[Spudboy]

Yankee fan here, long time reader, newly registered. Always loved a good, respectful baseball conversation. Long time scout.com poster, and I have to say that some of our best posters are Red Sox fans...

 

Anyway...

 

I seriously think the yanks should take 3 of 4. A sweep is very improbable mostly because of the sunday matchup. People is talking about the Beckett - AJ game giving an edge to the Red Sox, and that could be true if you take into consideration that Beckett is better than Burnett, but you can't forget that Burnett is pitching very, very good in the last 2 months or so. His last outing was not good, but 2 bad outings in a row? Sincerely I think that's not very probably. That game should be a close one, yanks winning because their offense is better, and anybody could hit a HR at anytime.

 

Welcome to Talksox ! Venezuela! Oh my.

[ElMaestro]

Welcome to Talksox ! Venezuela! Oh my.

 

Thanks... Yeah, I hope you guys don't think we all venezuelans are like Chavez :dunno:

 

Actually we are nice people

[CrespoBlows]

Thanks... Yeah, I hope you guys don't think we all venezuelans are like Chavez :dunno:

 

Actually we are nice people

 

What are the limits of free speech in your country?

[ElMaestro]

So far we can talk freely, at least about baseball lol

[Dojji]

It's time to step back and seriously ask how much worse Bowden and Tazawa could possibly be.

 

Smoltz isn't going to get better down the stretch. This IS the stretch. He's done. Get him out of here.

[yeszir]

Thanks... Yeah, I hope you guys don't think we all venezuelans are like Chavez :dunno:

 

Actually we are nice people

 

I'm skeptical. You appear to be a Yankees fan.

[ElMaestro]

Haha, well I know that in the US there is a huge "hate" between yankees and red sox fans. Not so much here, we have our own baseball rivalry (Caracas - Magallanes, winter league) so I have a lot of good friends that are Red Sox fans. Of course we tease each other and share jokes, also have nice discussions about our team's status, and always congratulate each other when our team wins...

 

BTW, the first game went as expected (at least to me). I have to say that is sad to see a pitcher with a great career as Smoltz to go down this way. He is just to old for this. I think that the sox need to end this experiment ASAP or their playoff chances will fade every day.

 

Joba also threw a terrible game. He was just lucky the Red Sox are in a bad offensive moment. But 7 walks in 5 innings is inexcusable.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Yeah, so, if Smoltz starts another game, I have to figure there's some kind of lucid payoff occuring behind closed doors with some important people being the beneficiary.

[TheKilo]

....

[Cocos Disciples]

6.5?

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

....

Just curious, are you here if this is still in progress/won by the Red Sox?

[TheKilo]

Just curious' date=' are you here if this is still in progress/won by the Red Sox?[/quote']

 

I just got home, I was out, it is Friday evening.

 

LOL COINCIDENCE LOL

 

So much for the easy split, eh Dipre? Dead team f***ing walking.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

I just got home, I was out, it is Friday evening.

 

LOL COINCIDENCE LOL

 

So much for the easy split, eh Dipre? Dead team f***ing walking.

Let me rephrase that...

 

 

Is this thread bumped by you if the game is still in progress or won by the Red Sox?

[TheKilo]

Let me rephrase that...

 

 

Is this thread bumped by you if the game is still in progress or won by the Red Sox?

 

What do you think?

 

What is there to be positive about this team right now?

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

What do you think?

 

No.

 

What is there to be positive about this team right now?

 

There's two games left in the series, one of which sees Lester against Pettitte, and if that matchup goes well, we've lost 1 game in the standings in a series on the road against a team we're trying to catch.

 

But if you don't buy that, I guess running around, spamming 'TEH APOKALIPZ IZ HEER' and forcing that upon everyone is a good alternative.

[TheKilo]

 

There's two games left in the series, one of which sees Lester against Pettitte, and if that matchup goes well, we've lost 1 game in the standings in a series on the road against a team we're trying to catch.

 

We'll lose two games unless Buchholz pulls a miracle tomorrow.

 

Rangers are winning tonight, once they finish off the Angels they will be one game back.

 

But if you don't buy that, I guess running around, spamming 'TEH APOKALIPZ IZ HEER' and forcing that upon everyone is a good alternative.

 

Haven't done that, thanks.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

We'll lose two games unless Buchholz pulls a miracle tomorrow.

 

So the Yankees have the Lester v. Pettitte matchup on lockdown?

 

Rangers are winning tonight, once they finish off the Angels they will be one game back.

 

August 7th.

 

Haven't done that, thanks.

 

You aren't running around the board ramming it down everyone's throats how awful this team, what an idiot Theo is, and how there's little hope for the future?

[TheKilo]

So the Yankees have the Lester v. Pettitte matchup on lockdown?

 

We entered this series 2.5 back. If we split the next two, we're 4.5 back. That's two games.

 

August 7th.

 

Have you looked at the Red Sox schedule for the next month? We could be 5+ out by next week.

 

 

You aren't running around the board ramming it down everyone's throats how awful this team, what an idiot Theo is, and how there's little hope for the future?

 

Do you dispute this is a bad team right now?

 

I never called Theo an idiot, and I never said there's little hope for the future. All I said was he has his work cut out for him. Do you disagree?

[TedWilliams101]

Jacoby, we aren't saying that this series is the reason the season is looking awfully grim, it's the fact that our team LOOKS awful right now. We really have absolute s*** in the rotation behind Beckett and Lester. Even if they win each of their starts, that still is only 2 out of 5 games. We would be lucky to just play .500 ball with 3 scrubs in the rotation, not to mention the fact that our offense has been absolute s*** for the last month.

 

Yes, after this weekend we will still be in contention. However, if we don't play better ball, we will continue to fall out of contention, not the other way around.

 

Also, as I stated before, just making the playoffs isn't good enough. If the Yankees win the division, there is a real good chance that we have to face them in the ALCS. They are clearly the better team right now. Does that mean we can't get lucky? Of course not. However, I don't like to leave things to chance. I like putting myself in the best position to succeed and I don't think Theo has done that for this club this year.

[TheKilo]

This team would be much, much better in the postseason. I just have serious doubts they get there.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

We entered this series 2.5 back. If we split the next two' date=' we're 4.5 back. That's two games.[/quote']

 

Ah yeah, was thinking 3-game series for whatever reason.

 

Have you looked at the Red Sox schedule for the next month? We could be 5+ out by next week.

 

We'll see. I've been thinking wildcard for a while, I don't really see the shame in that.

 

Do you dispute this is a bad team right now?

 

Right at this very moment, they're bad, but they have the internal talent (slumping/injured batters) to improve.

 

On paper, this is a very good team. Several players are currently slumping, Dice-K came into camp out of shape and started bitching midseason. Not too many ways to deflect that one before it hits. Smoltz was 10 times worse than any of us imagined he would be, even the pessimistic ones. For the season, Penny's been servicable. I still think Buchholz will get going before season's end.

 

Offensively, on paper, do you dispute that this is a good offense?

 

1B - Youkilis/Martinez

2B - Pedroia

3B - Lowell/Youkilis

SS - Green

LF - Bay

CF - Ellsbury

RF - Drew

C - Varitek

DH - Ortiz

 

Players are injured and slumping. s*** happens. The only true suckitude anyone could have predicted coming into this season was Green, Ortiz, and possibly Lowell.

 

I never called Theo an idiot, and I never said there's little hope for the future.

 

You just detailed in that other thread the many reasons why the outlook is bleak.

 

All I said was he has his work cut out for him. Do you disagree?

 

Work cut out for him...? He probably needs to acquire another starting pitcher in the offseason, that's about all I can think of. A lot of the team's problems are a bunch of little things that are adding up, and little of it is in his control. He assembled a good machine, and it's developed a random programming glitch.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Jacoby' date=' we aren't saying that this series is the reason the season is looking awfully grim, it's the fact that our team LOOKS awful right now. We really have absolute s*** in the rotation behind Beckett and Lester. Even if they win each of their starts, that still is only 2 out of 5 games. We would be lucky to just play .500 ball with 3 scrubs in the rotation, not to mention the fact that our offense has been absolute s*** for the last month.[/quote']

 

The only thing you can do at this point is hope it reverses itself. I think it will. Buchholz, unlike Penny and Smoltz, is just a kid who once he makes adjustments, will get his edge on hitters back.

 

I will say, though, that tonight's burning of everyone in the bullpen could prove to be lethal in the long run.

 

Yes, after this weekend we will still be in contention. However, if we don't play better ball, we will continue to fall out of contention, not the other way around.

 

I think we can play much better ball.

 

Also, as I stated before, just making the playoffs isn't good enough. If the Yankees win the division, there is a real good chance that we have to face them in the ALCS. They are clearly the better team right now. Does that mean we can't get lucky? Of course not. However, I don't like to leave things to chance. I like putting myself in the best position to succeed and I don't think Theo has done that for this club this year.

 

The playoffs are a f***ing crapshoot. A wildcard team makes it to the World Series just about every year (last year being the only exception I can think of since 2001). We have two great pitchers at the top of our rotation. If one more guy (Buchholz) surfaces, we're in great shape.

[TheKilo]

 

 

We'll see. I've been thinking wildcard for a while, I don't really see the shame in that.

 

We could be 5 out in the WC by next week.

 

 

Right at this very moment, they're bad, but they have the internal talent (slumping/injured batters) to improve.

 

On paper, this is a very good team. Several players are currently slumping, Dice-K came into camp out of shape and started bitching midseason. Not too many ways to deflect that one before it hits. Smoltz was 10 times worse than any of us imagined he would be, even the pessimistic ones. For the season, Penny's been servicable. I still think Buchholz will get going before season's end.

 

How long does a slump have to go on before we call it "the status quo"? I don't think they are this bad offensively but I don't think they will score much against good teams.

 

I keep coming back to their schedule. It's just brutal.

 

 

Offensively, on paper, do you dispute that this is a good offense?

 

1B - Youkilis/Martinez

2B - Pedroia

3B - Lowell/Youkilis

SS - Green

LF - Bay

CF - Ellsbury

RF - Drew

C - Varitek

DH - Ortiz

 

Sure. On paper.

 

Players are injured and slumping. s*** happens. The only true suckitude anyone could have predicted coming into this season was Green, Ortiz, and possibly Lowell.

 

Green's suck should have been easy to spot a mile away, he's a terrible baseball player.

 

If Ortiz and Lowell's suck was easy to predict, the FO should have maybe bolstered the offense, maybe with a corner infielder.

 

(I'll let you determine who I'm talking about)

 

 

 

You just detailed in that other thread the many reasons why the outlook is bleak.

 

 

 

Work cut out for him...? He probably needs to acquire another starting pitcher in the offseason, that's about all I can think of. A lot of the team's problems are a bunch of little things that are adding up, and little of it is in his control. He assembled a good machine, and it's developed a random programming glitch.

 

Not bleak, difficult.

 

Who is going to be playing LF next season? 3B? Who's their catcher of the future? What happens when Papelbon skips town? Does he re-sign Beckett?

 

Theo's job is going to be very very difficult over the next 2-3 years.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

We could be 5 out in the WC by next week.

 

Worst-case scenario.

 

Sure. On paper.

 

Meaning, the players aren't performing as they should be. Theo assembled quality players that aren't living up to expectations.

 

Green's suck should have been easy to spot a mile away, he's a terrible baseball player.

 

Yes.

 

If Ortiz and Lowell's suck was easy to predict, the FO should have maybe bolstered the offense, maybe with a corner infielder.

 

(I'll let you determine who I'm talking about)

 

They didn't overpay for Teixeira. That was the right move. The Yankees would have topped every offer we made until it reached the point where his contract would be a hinderance no matter what kind of production he provided.

 

That's it, that's all.

 

Who is going to be playing LF next season?

 

Probably Bay, since his recent awfulness could lower his price tag. We all know he's not normally this bad, if he can be a quality 3-bat in Pittsburgh for all those years...

 

If we're that desperate, there's always Holliday, though I'm not sure I'm on board with that.

 

3B?

 

Youkilis or Lowell, depending on if they bring in another CIF (or, maybe convert Drew to first, since you did acknowledge his defense as a concern in the future).

 

Who's their catcher of the future?

 

I'd imagine Martinez. Maybe he goes to first for good and Kottaras is given a chance.

 

What happens when Papelbon skips town?

 

Who cares? Paying hideous sums of money to a reliever is a no-no. Let him go. Bard should be well adjusted to the majors by the time this becomes an issue.

 

Does he re-sign Beckett?

 

Don't know why he wouldn't.

[a700hitter]

Theo's job is going to be very very difficult over the next 2-3 years.

They put themselves in this situation by letting key acquisitions slip through their fingers. Either Teixeira or Cliff Lee would have been difference makers for the Red Sox. They let the yanks and Phils eat their lunch. Lots of people will whine that you can't outbid the Yankees and that Tex only wanted to play for the Yankees. To me those were just rationalizations. Our owners had his ass in a room and asked him what he wanted, but instead of signing him right then and there they got cute and walked away from the table in an attempt to play hardball. It backfired. Sorry FO save your excuses. What about the Phillies? What is the FO excuse there? There was no bidding war. Our FO brags about all of its great prospects. Couldn't they come up with a package to seal the deal? the Phillies did not clear out all of its best prospects to get Lee. The FO hasn't even done there usual spinning in the press about missing out on Lee, because they probably can't come up with anything remotely plausible.

 

The FO spent half the season ooohing and ahhing about Smoltz and how great it would be when he got activated. What a huge misjudgment. When it didn't work out, it was too late to make other plans.

[yankees228]

This team would be much' date=' much better in the postseason. I just have serious doubts they get there.[/quote']

 

I thought you picked them to make the postseason (Kilometric)...

[Dipre]

I just got home, I was out, it is Friday evening.

 

LOL COINCIDENCE LOL

 

So much for the easy split, eh Dipre? Dead team f***ing walking.

 

Wow do you have to be such a douche?

 

The Yankees sucked as much offensive ass as us last night.