Postseason Happenings 2016

[Slasher9]

49 GAMES TO GO.

61-52

 

currently we are in 3rd place in the division, but leading the 2nd WC spot by 0.5 games over dirty Detroit.

 

Division:

3 Games back but only 2 in the loss column.

 

We need a win streak soon or the negative mojo may be too much for us to overcome.

 

might be good timing....NL team coming in for 3 this weekend while Baltimore is out West.

 

BOYS - IT'S TIME TO GET SERIOUS.

 

i BELIEVE we can do this! who's with me>?

 

LET'S DO THIS!!!!!

[mvp 78]

I'm out. I'm glad we're still in it this year. Last year the offseason thread was posted by now.

[SoxnCycles]

49 GAMES TO GO.

61-52

 

currently we are in 3rd place in the division, but leading the 2nd WC spot by 0.5 games over dirty Detroit.

 

Division:

3 Games back but only 2 in the loss column.

 

We need a win streak soon or the negative mojo may be too much for us to overcome.

 

might be good timing....NL team coming in for 3 this weekend while Baltimore is out West.

 

BOYS - IT'S TIME TO GET SERIOUS.

 

i BELIEVE we can do this! who's with me>?

 

LET'S DO THIS!!!!!

 

I'm in.

The bullpen should all go out as a group, get shitfaced and punch each other. Get it out of their systems before the next road trip.

 

The f***ers can start by sweeping the D-Backs.

Edited August 12, 2016 by SoxnCycles

[Wade Boggs]

49 GAMES TO GO.

61-52

 

currently we are in 3rd place in the division, but leading the 2nd WC spot by 0.5 games over dirty Detroit.

 

Division:

3 Games back but only 2 in the loss column.

 

We need a win streak soon or the negative mojo may be too much for us to overcome.

 

might be good timing....NL team coming in for 3 this weekend while Baltimore is out West.

 

BOYS - IT'S TIME TO GET SERIOUS.

 

i BELIEVE we can do this! who's with me>?

 

LET'S DO THIS!!!!!

 

I'm In. But starting to run out of time. Need a sweep . But I think they will win 2 out of 3 against AZ. When your starting pitching is Ok and you don't have a 'lights out' bullpen and can't hold the lead from 7-9 it starts getting hopeless. But to give up being only 3 out doesn't work for me.

[Bellhorn04]

This team is cooked for the simple reason that the bullpen is a disaster. I see no signs of hope for that changing.

[SoxnCycles]

This team is cooked for the simple reason that the bullpen is a disaster. I see no signs of hope for that changing.

 

The only hope is that relief pitchers can regain effectiveness as fast as they seem to lose it. Pitchers are flakey to begin with.

Releif pitchers are the flakiest.

But, you're right. If they don't, the Sox are screwed.

[Spudboy]

The only hope is that relief pitchers can regain effectiveness as fast as they seem to lose it. Pitchers are flakey to begin with.

Releif pitchers are the flakiest.

But, you're right. If they don't, the Sox are screwed.

 

Exactly.

 

It sure was weird to see almost the entire pen implode in the same game. Then Ziegler blows up the next day as if it was his turn to suck. Then Barnes strikes out the side the next inning after being putrid the night before.

 

Wild stuff.

[harmony]

49 GAMES TO GO.

61-52

 

currently we are in 3rd place in the division, but leading the 2nd WC spot by 0.5 games over dirty Detroit.

 

Division:

3 Games back but only 2 in the loss column.

 

We need a win streak soon or the negative mojo may be too much for us to overcome.

 

might be good timing....NL team coming in for 3 this weekend while Baltimore is out West.

 

BOYS - IT'S TIME TO GET SERIOUS.

 

i BELIEVE we can do this! who's with me>?

 

LET'S DO THIS!!!!!

Cool Standings still gives the Red Sox a 72.8 percent probability of advancing to the postseason despite their daunting schedule:

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/coolstandings.aspx

[mvp 78]

Cool Standings still gives the Red Sox a 72.8 percent probability of advancing to the postseason despite their daunting schedule:

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/coolstandings.aspx

 

This expects the O's to play below .500 and the Sox to play better than they have so far (.570 percentage going forward). It's certainly possible, I guess...

 

If the Sox go into a one game playoff with the O's, I'll be drinking heavily.

[Station 13]

Exactly.

 

It sure was weird to see almost the entire pen implode in the same game. Then Ziegler blows up the next day as if it was his turn to suck. Then Barnes strikes out the side the next inning after being putrid the night before.

 

Wild stuff.

 

Ziegler is old and has not so dominating stats. Barnes is still unprovened. Losing Koji, Smith and Tazawa hurts them. And Farrell needs to figure out quickly what Tazawa is now, it was a mistake to take him out the 8th inning role to begin the year.

[sk7326]

In. It's all in front of us. The team will play the teams it needs to beat.

 

I actually am okay with the rotation - somehow another, I think it is competitive. Now the bullpen needs to do its job - and without Uehara, that might only be done with some consistent multi-inning relief work. I think they need to think about Buchholz now less as a long man, and use him more in the 2012 Lincecum position to give them multiple innings.

[Nick]

49 GAMES TO GO.

61-52

 

currently we are in 3rd place in the division, but leading the 2nd WC spot by 0.5 games over dirty Detroit.

 

Division:

3 Games back but only 2 in the loss column.

 

We need a win streak soon or the negative mojo may be too much for us to overcome.

 

might be good timing....NL team coming in for 3 this weekend while Baltimore is out West.

 

BOYS - IT'S TIME TO GET SERIOUS.

 

i BELIEVE we can do this! who's with me>?

 

LET'S DO THIS!!!!!

 

I'm all in with the girl in the picture....

[moonslav59]

Here's an easier look breakdown of remaining games:

v= versus at home

@= away

 

Boston (19 Home/ 28 Away)

10 TB (3 v TB/ 7 @ TB)

9 BAL (3 v BAL/ 6 @BAL)

7 NYY (4 v NYY/ 3 @ NYY)

6 TOT (3 v TOR/ 3 @ TOR

4 @ DET

3 v KCR

3 v AZ

3 @ OAK

3 @ SDP

1 @ CLE

 

Toronto (22 Home/ 25 Away)

10 NYY (4 v NYY/ 6 @ NYY)

6 BAL (3 v BAL/ 3 @ BAL)

6 BOS (3 v BOS/ 3 @ BOS)

6 TBR (3 v TBR/ 3 @ TBR)

7 LAA (3 v LAA/ 4 @ LAA)

3 v HOU

3 v MN

3 @ CLE

3 @ SEA

 

Baltimore (25 Home/ 23 Away)

9 BOS (6 v BOS/ 3 @ BOS)

9 NYY (3 v NYY/ 6 @ NYY)

7 TBR (4 v TBR/ 3 @ TBR)

6 TOR ( 3 v TOR/ 3 @ TOR)

4 v HOU

4 WSH (2 v WSH/ 2 @ WSH)

3 v AZ

3 @ SFG

3 @ DET

 

Detroit (27 Home/ 21 Away)

10 MN (4H/ 6A)

9 KCR (6H/ 3A)

7 CLE (4H/ 3A)

6 CWS (3H/ 3A)

4 v BOS

3 v LAA

3 v BAL

3 @ TEX

3@ ATL

 

Seattle (22H/ 27A)

10 OAK (4H/ 6A)

10 LAA (3H/ 7A)

7 TEX (3H/ 4A)

6 HOU (3H/ 3A)

4 @ CWS

3 v MIL

3 V NYY

3 v TOR

3 @ MN

 

Houston is still in it, and they are pretty hot right now, but I doubt they make it.

[harmony]

Here's an easier look breakdown of remaining games:

v= versus at home

@= away

 

Boston (19 Home/ 28 Away)

10 TB (3 v TB/ 7 @ TB)

9 BAL (3 v BAL/ 6 @BAL)

7 NYY (4 v NYY/ 3 @ NYY)

6 TOT (3 v TOR/ 3 @ TOR

4 @ DET

3 v KCR

3 v AZ

3 @ OAK

3 @ SDP

1 @ CLE

 

Toronto (22 Home/ 25 Away)

10 NYY (4 v NYY/ 6 @ NYY)

6 BAL (3 v BAL/ 3 @ BAL)

6 BOS (3 v BOS/ 3 @ BOS)

6 TBR (3 v TBR/ 3 @ TBR)

7 LAA (3 v LAA/ 4 @ LAA)

3 v HOU

3 v MN

3 @ CLE

3 @ SEA

 

Baltimore (25 Home/ 23 Away)

9 BOS (6 v BOS/ 3 @ BOS)

9 NYY (3 v NYY/ 6 @ NYY)

7 TBR (4 v TBR/ 3 @ TBR)

6 TOR ( 3 v TOR/ 3 @ TOR)

4 v HOU

4 WSH (2 v WSH/ 2 @ WSH)

3 v AZ

3 @ SFG

3 @ DET

 

Detroit (27 Home/ 21 Away)

10 MN (4H/ 6A)

9 KCR (6H/ 3A)

7 CLE (4H/ 3A)

6 CWS (3H/ 3A)

4 v BOS

3 v LAA

3 v BAL

3 @ TEX

3@ ATL

 

Seattle (22H/ 27A)

10 OAK (4H/ 6A)

10 LAA (3H/ 7A)

7 TEX (3H/ 4A)

6 HOU (3H/ 3A)

4 @ CWS

3 v MIL

3 V NYY

3 v TOR

3 @ MN

 

Houston is still in it, and they are pretty hot right now, but I doubt they make it.

To be precise, Seattle has 23 homes games and 26 road games remaining. The Mariners play the division-leading Texas Rangers four times at home and three times on the road. The M's play their next seven games on the road against the struggling Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels.

 

The Mariners, who have won six straight since the disappointing split with the Red Sox at Safeco Field, now trail the Sox by one game in the Wild Card race.

[oldtimer]

Exactly.

 

It sure was weird to see almost the entire pen implode in the same game. Then Ziegler blows up the next day as if it was his turn to suck. Then Barnes strikes out the side the next inning after being putrid the night before.

 

Wild stuff.

 

And Kimbrel the night before that. Really difficult to understand.

[moonslav59]

To be precise, Seattle has 23 homes games and 26 road games remaining. The Mariners play the division-leading Texas Rangers four times at home and three times on the road. The M's play their next seven games on the road against the struggling Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels.

 

The Mariners, who have won six straight since the disappointing split with the Red Sox at Safeco Field, now trail the Sox by one game in the Wild Card race.

 

Thanks for the correction.

 

I think Seattle has one of the easier schedules remaining. 20 games vs the A's and Angels is nearly half their games! Add 13 vs CWS, MIL, NYY and MN and it's pretty much a cake walk for 2/3rds of their schedule.

[sk7326]

And Kimbrel the night before that. Really difficult to understand.

 

kimbrel is a bit easier - he just has not pitched much at all

[Maxbialystock]

Excellent thread. I love the optimism of the OP, but am influenced by the two big things already mentioned: horrible bullpen, tougher schedule than other claimants to a playoff berth.

 

Others have said our players look they don't care, and I disagree. I think they maybe care too much and are consequently playing tight. I doubt that Farrell is alleviating the tightness. That's really up to the clubhouse leaders.

 

My point is that I believe that the OP's optimism is justified if these guys can return to the way they were playing in the first half of the season. I would be tempted to try keeping the same players and not to platoon: Betts, Bogaerts, Pedroia, Ortiz, HanRam, JBJ, Leon, Shaw, Benintendi. Rotation is set (Buch for Wright is temporary). As for the bullpen, I think Farrell, Lovullo and the pitching coach need to redo their assessments of the bullpen and try to come up with the best three for the 7th, 8th,and 9th innings. My candidates--only that--would be Barnes, Buchholz, and Kimbrel, and the other four are subject to getting jerked as soon as they screw the pooch.

 

I am not against firing Farrell but am assuming John Henry won't do it now.

[moonslav59]

Excellent thread. I love the optimism of the OP, but am influenced by the two big things already mentioned: horrible bullpen, tougher schedule than other claimants to a playoff berth.

 

Others have said our players look they don't care, and I disagree. I think they maybe care too much and are consequently playing tight. I doubt that Farrell is alleviating the tightness. That's really up to the clubhouse leaders.

 

My point is that I believe that the OP's optimism is justified if these guys can return to the way they were playing in the first half of the season. I would be tempted to try keeping the same players and not to platoon: Betts, Bogaerts, Pedroia, Ortiz, HanRam, JBJ, Leon, Shaw, Benintendi. Rotation is set (Buch for Wright is temporary). As for the bullpen, I think Farrell, Lovullo and the pitching coach need to redo their assessments of the bullpen and try to come up with the best three for the 7th, 8th,and 9th innings. My candidates--only that--would be Barnes, Buchholz, and Kimbrel, and the other four are subject to getting jerked as soon as they screw the pooch.

 

I am not against firing Farrell but am assuming John Henry won't do it now.

 

Even with the injuries, the slumps, the meltdowns and the tougher schedule, I would not bet against this team.

 

I think our players do "care", and I think they will rise to the occasion when needed.

 

I also think having Papi on the team is the trump card.

[sk7326]

The beauty of baseball is that a pennant is just 3 1/2 weeks of good baseball away. It is also why the league's best team only wins relatively rarely ... (like the 2013 Red Sox)

 

This is not the league's best team - but it's baseball ... get in, see what happens. We know this team can hit - even if it is in a cold spell. The rotation has not been ideal, but it is good enough to churn out competitive starts. Bullpen is worrisome - a lot rests on whether Uehara can return (a lot of others fall into place then)

[SoxHop]

49 GAMES TO GO.

61-52

 

currently we are in 3rd place in the division, but leading the 2nd WC spot by 0.5 games over dirty Detroit.

 

Division:

3 Games back but only 2 in the loss column.

 

We need a win streak soon or the negative mojo may be too much for us to overcome.

 

might be good timing....NL team coming in for 3 this weekend while Baltimore is out West.

 

BOYS - IT'S TIME TO GET SERIOUS.

 

i BELIEVE we can do this! who's with me>?

 

LET'S DO THIS!!!!!

 

It's sucking right now........ but it would be amazing to follow through on what had been an amazing first half...

 

There are so many story lines this year, I'd like to see some of these guys have the chance to celebrate this season..........

 

I'd like to see Wright with his hands raised up jumping up and down after a World Series win...........

 

we just need a few of these guys to pick it up back up....

[moonslav59]

This past winter/early spring, when many were exposing our glaring weaknesses, I kept saying we should "look at the bigger or more plentiful weaknesses on just about every AL team.

 

Now look at how badly many feel about this team right now (or maybe after last night's game). Well, we're still in the playoffs, if the season ended right now.

 

Other teams are worse than us.

 

I'm not saying that's something to rejoice about, but this team can and has played a lot better than recently. Teams go through struggles and bumps. Maybe that's all this was.

 

I'm still optimistic.

 

 

[georom4]

Agreed. The team is talented and this is not a fluke. Despite spotty front line pitching and dubious trades we have the talent and desire to compete at the next postseason level. It's nice to watch games that matter this time of year for a change.

[Kimmi]

49 GAMES TO GO.

61-52

 

currently we are in 3rd place in the division, but leading the 2nd WC spot by 0.5 games over dirty Detroit.

 

Division:

3 Games back but only 2 in the loss column.

 

We need a win streak soon or the negative mojo may be too much for us to overcome.

 

might be good timing....NL team coming in for 3 this weekend while Baltimore is out West.

 

BOYS - IT'S TIME TO GET SERIOUS.

 

i BELIEVE we can do this! who's with me>?

 

LET'S DO THIS!!!!!

 

I'm not only in, I'm also driving the party bus to the playoffs.

 

I am unable to think any other way.

 

Let's go!

[Kimmi]

Exactly.

 

It sure was weird to see almost the entire pen implode in the same game. Then Ziegler blows up the next day as if it was his turn to suck. Then Barnes strikes out the side the next inning after being putrid the night before.

 

Wild stuff.

 

It's a freaking enigma how stuff like that happens sometimes. Who could foresee the entire pen (save for Buchholz, go figure) would implode as badly as they did over the course of two games? Three games really, but we were able to hang on in the first game against the Yanks.

[Kimmi]

This expects the O's to play below .500 and the Sox to play better than they have so far (.570 percentage going forward). It's certainly possible, I guess...

 

If the Sox go into a one game playoff with the O's, I'll be drinking heavily.

 

Much of this playoff report is based off of run differential. The O's and the Sox records should be flip flopped.

[moonslav59]

The O's and the Sox records should be flip flopped.

 

If the managers were flopped, maybe the records would be too.

[devildavid]

I'm mildly pessimistic. As noted, killer schedule and bullpen in a shambles. Luckily, no other team in the division is dominant. Sox could squeak in. Farrell's job may depend on it.

[Kimmi]

The O's and the Sox records should be flip flopped.

 

If the managers were flopped, maybe the records would be too.

 

Farrell is not perfect, but all of the blame that he is getting for our recent losses is ridiculous.

[moonslav59]

Farrell is not perfect, but all of the blame that he is getting for our recent losses is ridiculous.

 

Agreed. I'm not one to knit-pick every decision a manager makes. I was about the last guy to call for Valantine's neck and other before him, so I'm not a head-hunter, but in more of a general sense, I feel Farrell has been a failure.

 

The old saying, "You can't fire the team" has some merit, although we did just that in 2014, but I do think a change of manager often provides a spark needed to wake up some players and create a more serious mood. Who knows? Maybe this team needs less seriousness. maybe they are wound up too tightly.

 

I think it's obvious JF is not a master in-game strategist, so you expect him to be a top motivator of player preparation type guy then, right? I don't see that either. I have trouble pointing to just one big strength he has, and it's not the accumulation of many tiny strengths either.

 

We never seem to win games with management, and I think that was true with Tito as well. I'm sure I'll catch flack for saying that, but when if comes to naming the best managers over the past 46 years (when I became a Sox fan), I doubt you'll see one Sox name in a top 40 or 50 list.

 

Where's our earl Weaver? Sparky Anderson? Jim Leyland?