10/17 ALCS Game 5 @ Tigers

[marklmw]

Is Uehara a Cy Young Candidate?

 

doubtful ... but maybe the Rolaids Relief Pitcher of the year.

[BornToRun]

I have confidence in the Sox against the likes of Greinke, Wacha, Nolasco, et cetera. I will still be worried about the Dodgers or Cardinals No. 1 (Kershaw or Wainwright), but goddamn will it be nice when the Sox are in the series and we don't have to look forward to Sanchez-Scherzer-Verlander twice each. I hate to possibly be a jinx (well, no I don't, because I'm not, the Sox are awesome), but I expect the Sox in the series and I expect a lot more scoring than the ALCS.

 

I think this Tigers team is the toughest test we're going to face in this postseason. I don't deal in guarantees but if we beat these guys, I think whoever we draw in the Series isn't going to be quite as difficult. If we beat Detroit, we will have gone through the gauntlet of the AL ERA leader, the CY Young, and a guy who won both the CY and MVP award in 2011 and came out on top.

 

Anything can happen but I like our chances.

[BornToRun]

doubtful ... but maybe the Rolaids Relief Pitcher of the year.

 

The pricks will give it to Rivera. Just watch.

[Navafan29]

This series is absolutely ridiculous. I hope that if we win the WS, the documentary made about this season will correctly show how dang close this series was, even if we win in 6.

[Youk Of The Nation]

The documentary about this season will be titled "No f***s Left to Give: The Koji Uehara Story. (Also starring some other guys)"

[jung]

As for Leyland...I think the game has just past him by. Feels like he has been managing for decades and it might just be time. People like him...seems to be a nice enough sort and about a decade ago he seemed to be closer to the top of his game. A lot of the older managers are finding their way out of the game these past couple seasons. Jim's turn has to be right around the corner.

[yankees228]

I think this Tigers team is the toughest test we're going to face in this postseason. I don't deal in guarantees but if we beat these guys, I think whoever we draw in the Series isn't going to be quite as difficult. If we beat Detroit, we will have gone through the gauntlet of the AL ERA leader, the CY Young, and a guy who won both the CY and MVP award in 2011 and came out on top.

 

Anything can happen but I like our chances.

 

I would say the Dodgers' 1-2 punch at the top of their rotation is every bit as good as the Tigers' 1-2 punch.

[yankees228]

Oh and Koji is just incredible. His split is a top five pitch in all of baseball. I didn't think a reliever could come anywhere close to what Kimbrel did in 2012 but Koji has come close, and that alone is remarkable.

[iortiz]

I would say the Dodgers' 1-2 punch at the top of their rotation is every bit as good as the Tigers' 1-2 punch.

 

I'd rather face Greinke than Verlander or Scherzer anyday.

[mvp 78]

Gomes 5-0

 

Nava 1-3

[Brennan]

Test

[Brennan]

Been reading about trypophobia, had no idea how bad that can be. Station, your avatar is pretty screwed up brother.

[User Name]

I would say the Dodgers' 1-2 punch at the top of their rotation is every bit as good as the Tigers' 1-2 punch.

 

Yeah but then the Tiger's 3-4 can be most team's 1-2.

[sk7326]

I'd rather face Greinke than Verlander or Scherzer anyday.

 

It is not an unfair claim - Greinke would be most team's #1. Scherzer will win the Cy this year (deservedly, and really only he and Felix deserved consideration in the AL), but Greinke has a better track record. Verlander is probably the pitcher one would pick to win a game tomorrow. Kershaw is the pitcher you'd probably pick to have on your team the next 5 years.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

I know some people don't like it, so I'll ask before I do it. I work tomorrow at 5 am and get out at 1:30, maybe later. I have to do a couple of things after work and I'm not sure if I'll make it home in time to make a GT before the game starts. I can A)make one tonight and have pictures with details or B)make it on my phone without anything assuming I don't make it in time. I know it's my mojo, but many people believe starting a GT a day before is bad luck. That's the last thing I want in a game where we can clinch the pennant.

[mvp 78]

Just make it the day before. Mojo is very fickle. What once was bad luck, may now be good luck.

 

Also, it's your GT. You decide how you want to wield your mojo.

[seabeachfred]

I'd rather face Greinke than Verlander or Scherzer anyday.

 

Well we might get that chance though I do not want to see the Dodgers win that series. Not that I'm afraid of them. Know how most of you feel about the Yankees? That's pretty much the way I feel about the Dodgers.

[seabeachfred]

I know some people don't like it, so I'll ask before I do it. I work tomorrow at 5 am and get out at 1:30, maybe later. I have to do a couple of things after work and I'm not sure if I'll make it home in time to make a GT before the game starts. I can A)make one tonight and have pictures with details or B)make it on my phone without anything assuming I don't make it in time. I know it's my mojo, but many people believe starting a GT a day before is bad luck. That's the last thing I want in a game where we can clinch the pennant.

 

If it even hints of bad luck RSFFL---DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

OTOH, maybe mvp is right and just say the heck with it. I'm doing it my way.

 

Off to the airport and to Boston. Please keep the good thoughts coming and I will do what I can to help the cause.

Edited October 18, 2013 by seabeachfred

[yankees228]

Yeah but then the Tiger's 3-4 can be most team's 1-2.

 

Sure. The larger point is just that I disagree with the notion that the Tigers are far superior to the Cards and Dodgers. I think you can easily make the case that the Cards are a better team, especially if Craig is able to DH the away games, and the Dodgers have a ton of star power both in their lineup and in their rotation. Obviously Hanley's injury hurts them -- but in comparison to the Tigers, that's no different than the situation with Miggy.

 

I'm not trying to make the case that the Sox are going to lose in the World Series, should they get past the Tigers. In fact I would expect them to beat either NL team. I just think it'll be a very tough series -- certainly a tougher series than BTR seemed to be expecting and likely a tougher series than Sox fans have grown accustomed to having in the World Series.

Edited October 18, 2013 by yankees228

[Brennan]

Kershaw and Greinke don't have to pitch against AL East and AL Central hitters all season. You really have to admit that the NL is weaker on the whole, especially the NL west. For instance put a guy like Koji in the NL west and he probably breaks every record there is.

[yankees228]

Kershaw and Greinke don't have to pitch against AL East and AL Central hitters all season. You really have to admit that the NL is weaker on the whole, especially the NL west. For instance put a guy like Koji in the NL west and he probably breaks every record there is.

 

Greinke was pretty good the last time he was facing AL hitters in the majority of his starts. And I think you would agree that Kershaw is more than capable. Sure, on the whole the AL is better offensively than the NL. But guys like Kershaw and Greinke and Wainwright are good enough to dominate the very best offenses.

[BornToRun]

I'll just leave this here.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/10/18/the-uehara-phenomenon/

[mvp 78]

Fyi, if the Dodgers win tonight and force game 7, Sox will start at 4:30. If the Dodgers lose, the Sox will start at 8.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Fyi, if the Dodgers win tonight and force game 7, Sox will start at 4:30. If the Dodgers lose, the Sox will start at 8.

 

Ok, that explains the 4:30 or 8 start. I didn't know it was based on tonight's game. I like night games, but I'll take a day start if that means the Dodgers are gone.

[Brennan]

I'll just leave this here.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/10/18/the-uehara-phenomenon/

 

 

 

Amazing. 3 walks and 14 hits...

 

In over 44 innings.

 

Jesus

[Brennan]

Greinke was pretty good the last time he was facing AL hitters in the majority of his starts. And I think you would agree that Kershaw is more than capable. Sure, on the whole the AL is better offensively than the NL. But guys like Kershaw and Greinke and Wainwright are good enough to dominate the very best offenses.

 

 

 

I see your point but still, Greinke is a head case and not really what I call reliable and Kershaw is impressive, especially this year but he's spent his entire career in LA. Anything can happen but the Dodgers just don't scare me.

[User Name]

I see your point but still, Greinke is a head case and not really what I call reliable and Kershaw is impressive, especially this year but he's spent his entire career in LA. Anything can happen but the Dodgers just don't scare me.

 

Even more so with Kemp out, and Hanley and Ethier on the mend.

[Brennan]

We got this. I don't want a game 7 and I'm betting there isn't one but if there is Detroit is dead. Smooth sailing after that.

[Brennan]

On a different note, Hispanics across America, a non profit group is making signs saying Randy Levine is the devil and handing the out to anybody that will hold them up outside of a-fraud's trial. You don't have to know anything about the case, just know that a-fraud is Hispanic, I guess that means he's innocent. I honestly don't know how no one mentions reverse racism in any of these articles.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

We got this. I don't want a game 7 and I'm betting there isn't one but if there is Detroit is dead. Smooth sailing after that.

 

I don't know. Scherzer looked great last time while Buchholz didn't. Hopefully our offense stays alive and didn't leave it in Detroit. We need to get to the Tigers bullpen. Can't depend on another crazy 5 run comeback. The Sox need to treat this as a game 7 imo.