Division Predictions '13

[a700hitter]

I originally counted $6, but I added up the change my pockets and it came to $8.

 

Hopefully Gizmo can wait about a week for the money I owe him.

LOL! So you are all in on the Sox.

[rjortiz]

$50 to win the East

$100 to make the playoffs either way

 

I think that the team has muddled along in August has given fans a false sense of dread - they have not actually moved much in the standings.

 

If someone offered me straight up odds on the Red Sox just to qualify for the playoffs, I'd be a whole hell of a lot more than $100.

[SoxFanForsyth]

If the Tigers have the best record in the AL, which I expect they will, and the Rays win the WC playoff, which I would think they will, how good would a Tigers/Rays series be??

[Orange Juiced]

If the Tigers have the best record in the AL, which I expect they will, and the Rays win the WC playoff, which I would think they will, how good would a Tigers/Rays series be??

 

I think if the four AL playoff teams (after the WC game) were Boston/Texas/Detroit/Tampa, that would make for two excellent series. And honestly, the NL should be pretty fun as well: LAD/StL/Pit/Atl. Just seeing the Pirates there makes it fun.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Just for some number crunching -

 

The Sox are 17-15 since the ASB. That's .531 baseball, or an 86 win pace. It's funny, you were considered optimistic this offseason to predict 86 wins. Now the Sox play at that level for a month and it's doom and gloom. Admittedly, they've been playing worse and making boneheaded mistakes, but regardless, it's funny to think about.

 

Brings me to my next point. The Sox have 33 games left. If they continue to play at this .531 pace, that will give them 17.5 wins, and would pin them between 92 and 93 wins to complete the season. In terms of just making a playoff spot, that would basically secure it, as the closes team (Guardians) would have to play .657 baseball (106 win pace) over their final 35 games to win 92 and potentially catch the Sox. And that's if the Sox continue to stumble and play like garbage.

[sk7326]

Standings at the All Star Break

 

1. Red Sox 59-39

2. A's 56-40 (2 games back)

3. Tigers 52-43 (5.5 games back)

4. Rays 56-41 (2.5 games out in division)

5. Rangers 54-42 (2 games out in division)

6. Orioles 54-43 (4.5 games out in division, 0.5 game out WC)

7. Guardians 51-45 (1.5 games out in division, 3 games out WC)

8. Yankees 51-45 (7 games out in division, 3 games out of WC)

9. Royals 44-49 (7 games out in division, 8.5 games out WC)

 

Standings entering today

 

1. Tigers 74-53

2. Rangers 74-53

3. Red Sox 75-54 (tied, Tigers have 2 games in hand)

4. Rays 72-53 (1 game out in division)

5. A's 71-55 (2.5 games out of division)

6. Guardians 69-58 (5 games out of division, 2.5 games out of WC)

7. Orioles 68-58 (5.5 games out of division, 3 games out of WC)

8. Yankees 67-59 (6.5 games out of division, 4 games out of WC)

9. Royals 64-61 (9 games out of division, 6.5 games out of WC)

 

I know Sox have mucked around a bit - and I'd be more annoyed at "how" they are playing in April and May (where now we just want results) - but really with the parity at the top of the AL, the Sox have not actually lost much ground at all - in fact they have gained a half a game on Baltimore for the final playoff slot. What has really happened since the break was that some of the teams that might have been buried (Royals, Yankees) are still not dead. In some ways Sox are in the same position they were before the Break - and actually a little better since they've run off a month from the calendar. If this is struggling - things aren't so bad.

[Thunder]

This is still a first place team, and one of the best records in the league. Even if they have struggled a bit, they are still a great team.

[Navafan29]

Final AL East:

 

Red Sox

Rays.............. 2 GB

Yankees......... 5 GB

Orioles........... 7 GB

Blue Jays....... 22.5 GB

 

 

David Price throws a no hitter in the AL wild card game. Sox beat the A's in the ALDS and Gomes gets huge clutch hits against his former team. Sox beat the Rays in the ALCS with a thrilling comeback in the bottom of the 9th of Game 7. Sox go on to play the Braves in the WS and get extremely unlucky. Controversial stuff happens and the Sox lose the World Series in 6 games. This adds to their history of tough losses.

 

Aftermath:

Napoli now has two tough WS losses in three years. Ellsbury wants to leave the frustration but realizes how much he's bonded with the gang and ends up back in Boston for 2014. Red Sox go on to win the 2014 World Series against all expectations.

[Behindenemylines]

Final AL East:

 

Red Sox

Rays.............. 2 GB

Yankees......... 5 GB

Orioles........... 7 GB

Blue Jays....... 22.5 GB

 

 

David Price throws a no hitter in the AL wild card game. Sox beat the A's in the ALDS and Gomes gets huge clutch hits against his former team. Sox beat the Rays in the ALCS with a thrilling comeback in the bottom of the 9th of Game 7. Sox go on to play the Braves in the WS and get extremely unlucky. Controversial stuff happens and the Sox lose the World Series in 6 games. This adds to their history of tough losses.

 

Aftermath:

Napoli now has two tough WS losses in three years. Ellsbury wants to leave the frustration but realizes how much he's bonded with the gang and ends up back in Boston for 2014. Red Sox go on to win the 2014 World Series against all expectations.

 

No way the Braves come out of the NL. It is amazing that they are where they are if you look at their team. Players they have lost to injuries, or players that have not produced. The Dodgers and their SP come out of the NL. Love to see the Sox (The heart says), but the head says Tigers to come out of the AL.