Treading Water in August?

[sk7326]

It is especially remarkable because we haven't had a stopper in the rotation since Buch went down.

 

Well that proves the point about the stopper - the Red Sox have generally thrown together competitive solid outings all season. I can wish they had someone in the Scherzer-King Felix-Yu level of hombre, but you can count those on one hand - the totality of our rotation has been plenty good and will not be the reason the team loses in October.

[Orange Juiced]

Well that proves the point about the stopper - the Red Sox have generally thrown together competitive solid outings all season. I can wish they had someone in the Scherzer-King Felix-Yu level of hombre, but you can count those on one hand - the totality of our rotation has been plenty good and will not be the reason the team loses in October.

 

It is an interesting question: Would you rather have a dominant #1, followed by three #3's, or would you rather have four #2's? If you can have the first guy go games 1, 4, and 7, you have an automatically large advantage in those games. But you also have a disadvantage in the other four games. Of course, if you know your #1 is going to win those three, then the other team has no margin for error.

 

However, if the other team manages somehow to beat your #1, then you're in big trouble. It's a great basket, but you're still putting all your eggs in it.

[MJantomaso]

I think Lackey has pretty much been a stopper all season. We can never score any f***ing runs when he pitches though.

[sk7326]

It is an interesting question: Would you rather have a dominant #1, followed by three #3's, or would you rather have four #2's? If you can have the first guy go games 1, 4, and 7, you have an automatically large advantage in those games. But you also have a disadvantage in the other four games. Of course, if you know your #1 is going to win those three, then the other team has no margin for error.

 

However, if the other team manages somehow to beat your #1, then you're in big trouble. It's a great basket, but you're still putting all your eggs in it.

 

You'd love to have your first alignment in October ... but you'd rather have four #2s over a 6 month season. That is what makes baseball a fun game - it is a true test of a team's all around ability, since the skills to make it through the marathon are almost opposite the skills needed to win short series.

[Station 13]

I think Lackey has pretty much been a stopper all season. We can never score any f***ing runs when he pitches though.

 

Red Sox have been shut out 10 times, 5 of them with Lackey starting in those games.

[Behindenemylines]

The Sox SP the last week has been outstanding. If they keep pitching like this into September the Sox are going to be in every game regardless who the opposing pitcher is. The Sox offense and their ability to run up pitch counts also helps out as they can get into the bullpens quicker. Remember in the playoffs the amount of off days plays a role in whether a team uses three or four pitchers.

[Orange Juiced]

Sox are now 5.5 games up on Tampa.

 

Bos: 82-56 (24 games left)

TB: 75-60 -5.5 (27 games left)

 

If the Sox go just 12-12, Tampa has to go 19-8 just to tie.

If the Sox go just 8-16, Tampa has to go 15-12 just to tie.

But if the Sox go 15-9, Tampa has to go an astonishing 22-5 just to tie.

[sk7326]

Sox are now 5.5 games up on Tampa.

 

Bos: 82-56 (24 games left)

TB: 75-60 -5.5 (27 games left)

 

If the Sox go just 12-12, Tampa has to go 19-8 just to tie.

If the Sox go just 8-16, Tampa has to go 15-12 just to tie.

But if the Sox go 15-9, Tampa has to go an astonishing 22-5 just to tie.

 

Things are looking good - that said, 3 head to head with Tampa and 16 of the next 19 in the division (the 3 non division - the next 3 vs Detroit). Plenty of time for a big swing - but the team is cranking out solid effort after solid effort.

[Thunder]

Things are looking good - that said, 3 head to head with Tampa and 16 of the next 19 in the division (the 3 non division - the next 3 vs Detroit). Plenty of time for a big swing - but the team is cranking out solid effort after solid effort.

 

Overall, 18 of the last 24 are in the division. 7 vs the Skanks, 6 vs the Orioles, 3 vs the Rays, and 2 with the Jays.

[jung]

I have no reason to believe the Sox will play differently the next month than they have played all year. Sticking to their knitting has gotten them this far. In fact as long as they keep using the same formula, they are in every game with the exception of the very best games pitched by the very best pitchers in the league. Now that their starting pitching is so good, they are if anything winning at a more impressive rate now than earlier in the season when you consider this is crunch time.

 

We got a good dose of what happens when the starting pitching lets down even a little bit though in those series we were losing soon after the ASB. This formula works for the Sox and would work with either terrific starting pitching or consistently great middle relief. Not sure anybody gets consistently great middle relief. However the starters are really on a roll.