Team you fear most in the playoffs

[BigPapi]

Its simple: If the sox make the playoffs, which team would you absolutely not want them too play?

[Bellhorn04]

Has to be the Rays, because of their starting pitching.

[italstallianion]

I also feel the Rays are also built to win in terms of defensive "pedigree" ie shifting and an ability to play small ball and win close games.

[User Name]

The Tigers. Great starting pitching, dynamite offense, bullpen coming together.

[User Name]

The Rays. Guess I hadn't been paying much attention to them but last week's series really opened my eyes. Their pitching can be very hard to beat.

 

That being said, they're insanely hot right now and surely will cool off a bit and come back down to earth.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Rays....but one of the User Name must die.

[sk7326]

Detroit has the best all around team - the run differentials have been a strong indicator, though their division is less than special. Tampa has a very very October friendly club with all of that bat-missing pitching. Oakland is a dangerous team because of their bat missing pitching and a ballpark which plays to their strengths. Texas is always a factor too. Honestly the AL is pretty wide open this year. Sox have had some measure of success against all of the contenders.

 

Key in October is swing and miss pitching and being able to grind out good at bats. Red Sox can do both, and definitely the latter. Also - winning the World Series is about 3.5 good weeks of baseball. Get in the tournament, see what happens. Our team can absolutely contend.

[mvp 78]

Doesn't matter who wins the AL. It's the Pirates' year.

[User Name]

Rays....but one of the User Name must die.

 

Check the join date.

 

I'm not as scared of the Tigers as I probably should be. Obviously facing Miggy is always menacing but I just don't see them as too too big of a threat. I think we can take them.

[User Name]

I'd rather use post count.

[Orange Juiced]

The Tigers, Rays, Orioles, and Rangers would all be very tough match ups for the Sox. Each team has its own strengths. The Sox would have to play very well to knock any of them out.

[Dojji]

I fear self-inflicted wounds more than I fear any other AL team.

[italstallianion]

I fear self-inflicted wounds more than I fear any other AL team.

 

 

As in the Sox trading away top prospects for a player not on the Royals? Or literal self inflicted wounds like YOTN's definition of "sex"

[User Name]

^Aces

[mvp 78]

Nice.

[Dojji]

I argue for trades with the Royals because I know their roster and we match up well for a trade.

 

It's not like any of the alternative proposals I've seen (Peavy and Garza again? Really guys, how many years in a row has it been?) have been any better than the options I've put forward.

[italstallianion]

I know I know, it just reminds me of when Cartman pretends to be the "Awesome-O 4000" and is used to make movie plots and comes up with 1,000 movies....800 of which featuring Adam Sandler.

[dupree]

Tigers. Too much pitching. Thats why we need to add a starter to compete with them.

[BornToRun]

The Yankees. Now that they have the unstoppable awesomeness that is Derek Jeter back in the lineup, I can't see how anyone can stop the winning spirit and energy he brings to that ball club.

[Spudboy]

The Rays. And the Sox will most likely finish 3rd in the division and not make the post season.

[Bellhorn04]

The Rays. And the Sox will most likely finish 3rd in the division and not make the post season.

 

Are you serious or joking about the second part?

[mvp 78]

Are you serious or joking about the second part?

 

I can see this team doing a 2006.

[Spudboy]

Serious.

1.) Rays

2.) Os

3.) Sox

4.) Yankess

5.) Jays..

 

Just my opinion based on 47 years of baseball OBSERVATION.

[Bellhorn04]

I can see this team doing a 2006.

 

Anything can happen, needless to say, but I see no reason to expect a collapse at this point.

[Bellhorn04]

Serious.

1.) Rays

2.) Os

3.) Sox

4.) Yankess

5.) Jays..

 

Just my opinion based on 47 years of baseball OBSERVATION.

 

I don't really like to look at it this way, but we could finish third in the ALE and still make the playoffs.

[Bellhorn04]

I can see this team doing a 2006.

 

2006 had a lot to do with injuries.

[Spudboy]

Possibly? I don't see a collapse. I just don't see the Sox rotation having enough horses to compete in the East anymore. Although they should be able to feast on everyone else in the league except Oakland and Detroit..

[jacksonianmarch]

Detroit is the team nobody wants to face. Scherzer, Verlander, Sanchez and Fister in the rotation. Miggy, Fielder, et al in the lineup. They're the team to beat in the AL IMHO

[BigPapi]

I dont see why so many people think this roation sucks, even without buchholz.LAST YEAR, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR STARTERS HAD AN ERA THAT IS HIGHER THAN ANY OF THE ONES WE HAVE NOW! And if u look at the jobs stint starters like aceves at the beginning and now workman having a sub 3 era in his couple of starts, people have stepped up too fill buchholz spot. Not too mention how lester looks too be back on the swing and doubront is pitching very well. Lackey hasnt been sharp in his last 2 outings, but im sure he can regain form. Im not saying this success can continue, Im just saying people need too give credit too the very nice job the red sox starters have done thus far.

[mvp 78]

The starters have done well, but they don't have the frontline guys to match up against Detroit. Boston's staff is deep, but to win in the postseason it needs to be top heavy. Without Buchholz, this team has no chance in the playoffs.