Countdown to the Playoffs - 2017 Edition

[mvp 78]

updated my post. WC has now become Playin Game (PG).

 

You know, if they had a mini tournament with 4 Wild Card teams, there'd be even more teams in contention down the stretch and even more excitement!!!!! - Bud Seilg's brain right now

[Bellhorn04]

You know, if they had a mini tournament with 4 Wild Card teams, there'd be even more teams in contention down the stretch and even more excitement!!!!! - Bud Seilg's brain right now

 

Or 3 Wild Card teams with Round Robins!

[illinoisredsox]

Magic Numbers:

 

Division - 25

Wild Card - 24

[moonslav59]

76-57 2017 (with Sale/No Papi)

 

74-59 2016 (with Papi/No Sale)

 

[Kimmi]

The Wild Card is dumb. Right now, if you're a .500 team in the AL, you're only 2.5 games out of the 2nd spot. Yuck!

 

Maybe. But if we were one of those teams that is 8 games out of the division but only 2.5 games out of the 2nd spot, we'd be thankful.

[moonslav59]

The Wild Card is dumb. Right now, if you're a .500 team in the AL, you're only 2.5 games out of the 2nd spot. Yuck!

 

It's a freaky year. The AL has 3 really good teams and the rest is about as close to "parity" as can be.The NL is haves and have nots ville.

[illinoisredsox]

Magic Numbers:

 

Division - 23

Wild Card - 21

[Slasher9]

UPDATE.

24 GAMES TO GO.

77-61

 

Currently we are in 1st place in the division.

FanGraphs odds to win the division: 80.9%

 

2.5 Games ahead of MFY (2 in the loss column).

[mvp 78]

Or 3 Wild Card teams with Round Robins!

 

Hmmmm, a Round Robin format does sound like some sort of Playoff rather than a play in game.

[mvp 78]

This is what I hate about you guys. We have one horrible night, through both our fault and the umpires, and you guys automatically think we suck. LOOK. AT. THE. f***ING. STANDINGS. YOU. DUMB. f***FACES.

 

I'm just leaving this one here.

[illinoisredsox]

Magic Numbers:

 

Division - 23

Wild Card - 20

[mvp 78]

Maybe. But if we were one of those teams that is 8 games out of the division but only 2.5 games out of the 2nd spot, we'd be thankful.

 

If we were a .500 team this year, this board would be deader than dead and the posts that would be on here would be wretched.

[Fan_since_Boggs]

There is a chance the Guardians could catch the Astros, meaning the Red Sox would play the Astros in the first round and the Guardians would play the wild card winner. I like this scenario better--going into Cleveland again, without home field, in a 5 game series, doesn't seem very promising for the Red Sox. Sale struggles against the Guardians and Kluber is Kluber.

 

Of course, all of this assumes the Red Sox will win the AL East, which is now far from certain.

 

Let's say the Yankees win the division. The Red Sox use C.Sale in the wild card game and the winner most likely plays the Astros, assuming the Guardians don't pass the Astros. In a weird sort of way, I like this scenario better than a 5 game series against Cleveland (with Cleveland getting home field). If the Red Sox win the W.C. game, they would take on the Astros with C.Sale unable to pitch game one. Another starter would have to step up.

 

The Astros are a problem for the Red Sox, though. The Red Sox don't hit lefties and would likely face D.Keuchel twice. That's trouble. The Red Sox just don't have the feel & look of a championship team this year--too many guys having down years, too many injuries as well. And I'm not sure J.Farrell has done a good job managing and pacing C.Sale. The most important games are in October and I'm worried Sale might not have enough left in the tank to be dominant in October.

Edited September 5, 2017 by Fan_since_Boggs

[Bellhorn04]

There is a chance the Guardians could catch the Astros, meaning the Red Sox would play the Astros in the first round and the Guardians would play the wild card winner. I like this scenario better--going into Cleveland again, without home field, in a 5 game series, doesn't seem very promising for the Red Sox. Sale struggles against the Guardians and Kluber is Kluber.

 

Of course, all of this assumes the Red Sox will win the AL East, which is now far from certain.

 

Let's say the Yankees win the division. The Red Sox use C.Sale in the wild card game and the winner most likely plays the Astros, assuming the Guardians don't pass the Astros. In a weird sort of way, I like this scenario better than a 5 game series against Cleveland (with Cleveland getting home field). If the Red Sox win the W.C. game, they would take on the Astros with C.Sale unable to pitch game one. Another starter would have to step up.

 

The Astros are a problem for the Red Sox, though. The Red Sox don't hit lefties and would likely face D.Keuchel twice. That's trouble. The Red Sox just don't have the feel & look of a championship team this year--too many guys having down years, too many injuries as well. And I'm not sure J.Farrell has done a good job managing and pacing C.Sale. The most important games are in October and I'm worried Sale might not have enough left in the tank to be dominant in October.

 

Yes, there are many problems and many worries for this team right now.

[SoxnCycles]

There is a chance the Guardians could catch the Astros, meaning the Red Sox would play the Astros in the first round and the Guardians would play the wild card winner. I like this scenario better--going into Cleveland again, without home field, in a 5 game series, doesn't seem very promising for the Red Sox. Sale struggles against the Guardians and Kluber is Kluber.

 

Of course, all of this assumes the Red Sox will win the AL East, which is now far from certain.

 

Let's say the Yankees win the division. The Red Sox use C.Sale in the wild card game and the winner most likely plays the Astros, assuming the Guardians don't pass the Astros. In a weird sort of way, I like this scenario better than a 5 game series against Cleveland (with Cleveland getting home field). If the Red Sox win the W.C. game, they would take on the Astros with C.Sale unable to pitch game one. Another starter would have to step up.

 

The Astros are a problem for the Red Sox, though. The Red Sox don't hit lefties and would likely face D.Keuchel twice. That's trouble. The Red Sox just don't have the feel & look of a championship team this year--too many guys having down years, too many injuries as well. And I'm not sure J.Farrell has done a good job managing and pacing C.Sale. The most important games are in October and I'm worried Sale might not have enough left in the tank to be dominant in October.

 

Yup, we've seen how mediocre this offense is against good pitching (and bad pitching, for that matter).

Cleveland has the best pitching numbers in the AL.

If the Sox have to play the Tribe in the first round, it's going to be a repeat of last year.

They may have a slim chance against Houston.

[Spudboy]

I'm just leaving this one here.

 

He'll calm down when he gets a taste of it.

[mvp 78]

He'll calm down when he gets a taste of it.

 

By "it" you mean "beer", right?

[Slasher9]

And I'm not sure J.Farrell has done a good job managing and pacing C.Sale. The most important games are in October and I'm worried Sale might not have enough left in the tank to be dominant in October.

 

this is gold right here. and #132 why JF needs to be fired.

[Bellhorn04]

And I'm not sure J.Farrell has done a good job managing and pacing C.Sale. The most important games are in October and I'm worried Sale might not have enough left in the tank to be dominant in October.

 

Here's where you can't win though, because if Farrell was giving Sale a bunch of extra days off he'd be getting roasted for looking ahead when we need to be winning games right now.

[illinoisredsox]

Here's where you can't win though, because if Farrell was giving Sale a bunch of extra days off he'd be getting roasted for looking ahead when we need to be winning games right now.

 

He was being roasted for that here. As I posted the other day, Sale's worst month historically (by far) is September and his second worst is August.

[mvp 78]

He was being roasted for that here. As I posted the other day, Sale's worst month historically (by far) is September and his second worst is August.

 

This place isn't a hivemind. There are all sorts of people with all sorts of opinions. Farrell is going to get roasted for everything he does whether it's right or wrong.

[Northern Star]

If we were a .500 team this year, this board would be deader than dead and the posts that would be on here would be wretched.

 

so...there's that!

[Kimmi]

He was being roasted for that here. As I posted the other day, Sale's worst month historically (by far) is September and his second worst is August.

 

This is why Farrell can't win. Pretty much no matter what he does, he's going to be criticized.

[Kimmi]

And to everyone, have faith.

 

We got this!

[Northern Star]

And to everyone, have faith.

 

We got this!

 

I love your optimism. No, seriously. It's good to hear.

[illinoisredsox]

Magic Numbers:

 

Division - 21

Wild Card - 18

[illinoisredsox]

Magic Numbers:

 

Division - 20

Wild Card - 17

[Maxbialystock]

This is why Farrell can't win. Pretty much no matter what he does, he's going to be criticized.

 

Heck, I have defended the heck out of him, but have also piled on now and then. I was furious when he left Porcello in too long in game one of the just finished Jays series. We're talking full bore ranting here--during, after, and long after that game was over.

Edited September 7, 2017 by Maxbialystock

[Maxbialystock]

And to everyone, have faith.

 

We got this!

 

You and moonslav, far more than the rest of us, have kept the faith. These last two games have justified that faith, and I seriously do not care it was the last place Jays. Their winning percentage is 46% and ours is 56%. Mathematically (actual games are different of course), the Jays should win 4 out of 10 games with us. Actually, 4.5 out of 10 games.

[Nick]

Hopefully 'managing' will not be the deciding factor. It's player's game. At some point, guys on the field have to perform.