Countdown to the Playoffs - 2017 Edition

[oldtimer]

When Hanley Ramirez is thrown out by a half a football field no amount of ya buts is going to make it ok. I hope he went on his own. He probably did.

 

Just Hanley being Hanley and having a goldilocks moment that doesn't turn out to be "just right"

[cp176]

Just Hanley being Hanley and having a goldilocks moment that doesn't turn out to be "just right"

 

I have to admit though - a part of me still likes Hanley. Even though he basically has looked bad we still need that potential big bat in there. Some here have compared him to Manny. Not me. Manny was certainly a better hitter but not someone I could ever really warm up to. I kind of like Hanley. Not sure I like him in a Red Sox uniform though.

[illinoisredsox]

Magic Numbers:

 

Division - 17

Wild Card - 13

[SoxHop]

Just Hanley being Hanley and having a goldilocks moment that doesn't turn out to be "just right"

 

That's how I see it. There's no fixing that at this point. And I can't find the coach at fault for it because Hanleys a wing-nut on the basepath. Hanley when right, hits and plays some first. That's all I expect from him.

 

I also think there is a correlation as to how much his helmet falls off to how well he is hitting. Get that man some Velcro on his helmet for goodness sakes.

[SoxHop]

Still on the topic of mental blunders, I can remember reading about some teams where the players had their own 'kangaroo court' where anyone would made such a blunder would take some grief and possibly be hit with a modest fine. I think maybe Don Baylor was a kangaroo court judge. I strongly suspect the 2017 Sox have no such thing but maybe they should.

 

We should do this next year. Keep track and have a judge.

[Kimmi]

Aggressive baserunning led to our only run scored today, and also led to what should have been our 2nd run scored, were it not for the bonehead replay crew.

[MADSTORK]

Houston helping us out....

[oldtimer]

Aggressive baserunning led to our only run scored today, and also led to what should have been our 2nd run scored, were it not for the bonehead replay crew.

 

There is a fine line between being aggressive and being stupid. Many of the contributors here agree with that and are okay with aggressiveness. There have also been many plays where our runners were out by many steps after unwisely trying to get the extra base, or were out when they didn't remember how many outs we had or were out on what appeared to be botched hit and run situations. Those are the ones that we all wish they would avoid going forward.

[Maxbialystock]

We should do this next year. Keep track and have a judge.

 

Frank Robinson did that with the Orioles the year after he came from Cincy. One reason why he later became a manager.

[Maxbialystock]

Aggressive baserunning led to our only run scored today, and also led to what should have been our 2nd run scored, were it not for the bonehead replay crew.

 

Doesn't count. Only boneheaded plays count when talking about aggressive baserunning.

[moonslav59]

Doesn't count. Only boneheaded plays count when talking about aggressive baserunning.

 

None of the plays I label as being "bonehead" have anything to do with aggressiveness. Few have anything to do with overaggressiveness.

 

Forgetting how many outs there are, running with your head down into an occupied base, not hustling, and lack of focus are not a result of being aggressive or overaggressive. Linking the two is not facing the true debate here.

 

Running into an out when you are thrown out by 15 or more feet may be labelled "aggressive" by some, but to me, someone made a mistake (runner/ 3B-1B coach?). Even if you throw all those out, we've still had way too many bonehead plays on the base paths and on defense.

[moonslav59]

Doesn't count. Only boneheaded plays count when talking about aggressive baserunning.

 

According to your logic, it shouldn't count as good base running, because (by deep analysis) it didn't change the outcome of the game.

[Slasher9]

UPDATE.

19 GAMES TO GO.

81-62

 

Currently we are in 1st place in the division.

FanGraphs odds to win the division: 90.0%

 

3.5 Games ahead of MFY (3 in the loss column).

[devildavid]

There is a fine line between being aggressive and being stupid. Many of the contributors here agree with that and are okay with aggressiveness. There have also been many plays where our runners were out by many steps after unwisely trying to get the extra base, or were out when they didn't remember how many outs we had or were out on what appeared to be botched hit and run situations. Those are the ones that we all wish they would avoid going forward.

 

The reason they will not avoid them ever is because it is Farrell's philosophy to always be aggressive on the bases. He doesn't care if outs are made because he thinks being aggressive at all times will always net out to a favorable outcome. This is how they will always play under Farrell. Aggressiveness can look stupid when applied at all times.

[devildavid]

Cleveland is looking scary good right now. I was hoping the Sox might end up with a better record than them but now it looks like they the Guardians may wind up with the best record in the AL. Francona's managing genius strikes again! Our only hope is to not face them in the playoffs, but what other AL team can beat them?

[Slasher9]

Cleveland is looking scary good right now. I was hoping the Sox might end up with a better record than them but now it looks like they the Guardians may wind up with the best record in the AL. Francona's managing genius strikes again! Our only hope is to not face them in the playoffs, but what other AL team can beat them?

 

not scairt. 2007 rockies won 461 games in a row before getting buzz sawed by the Sox in the WS.....

[mvp 78]

not scairt. 2007 rockies won 461 games in a row before getting buzz sawed by the Sox in the WS.....

 

The hot team in September continuing its streak into October isn't a real thing. It's not an indicator of future performance.

[Spudboy]

The hot team in September continuing its streak into October isn't a real thing. It's not an indicator of future performance.

 

Maybe not.

 

How did you feel about the Sox backing their way into the post season last year?

 

Were you brimming with confidence?

[Bellhorn04]

Maybe not.

 

How did you feel about the Sox backing their way into the post season last year?

 

Were you brimming with confidence?

 

I thought we would beat Cleveland last year.

[mvp 78]

Maybe not.

 

How did you feel about the Sox backing their way into the post season last year?

 

Were you brimming with confidence?

 

If they won homefield advantage, maybe they could have started out that series stronger? IDK. That's the only conclusion I can draw at this point.

 

I wasn't brimming with confidence over that team prior to their late season swoon. They only won the division because of their crazy streak in Aug/Sept or whenever.

[mvp 78]

After 9/11 last year, they went 13-7. Can't really say that was a late season swoon. Yes, they stopped winning games the last week of the year when they rested everyone.

[mvp 78]

Sox had the best offense in the league and then did this: http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/boston-red-sox-team-stats?season=2016&category=BATTING&group=1&time=2

 

Not sure that had anything to do with the last two series of 2016's regular season.

[mvp 78]

I'd say losing the last two series was as big of an indicator of ALDS success as the following theory:

 

I 100% blame our quick exit to the Papi Retirement Tour effect. 100%. way too much focus on 1 man the final week of the season. honestly way too much focus on 1 man the entire season. i 100% think David Ortiz is the Greatest Red Sox Player of all time. i also think David Ortiz was 100% selfish having a retirement tour and not waiting until after the season ends to announce the end of his playing career.

best of luck in your after baseball life Papi. but you and i both know that your retirement tour cost the 2016 Red Sox. big league.

[devildavid]

not scairt. 2007 rockies won 461 games in a row before getting buzz sawed by the Sox in the WS.....

 

Not the same. The Guardians are a much better team than the Rockies ever dreamed of being. They are for real, and not just because of the latest winning streak. They are putting up some very impressive numbers.

[mvp 78]

not the same. The Guardians are a much better team than the rockies ever dreamed of being. They are for real, and not just because of the latest winning streak. They are putting up some very impressive numbers.

 

cle ops 2017: 789

col ops 2007: 791

[Maxbialystock]

Maybe not.

 

How did you feel about the Sox backing their way into the post season last year?

 

Were you brimming with confidence?

 

Me, I was astounded when the Guardians took 3 straight, but you can never convince me momentum had anything whatsoever to do with that. Price then Porcello, our two best starters, were simply outmatched by the Guardians first two starters. Their problem wasn't momentum, it was postseason ineptitude of the first order. Polar opposite of, say, Lester and Lackey in 2013 or the bloody sock guy in 2004 or Beckett in 2007.

 

Buccholz went 4 giving up 2 in the "stay alive" final game, but then Pom gave up 2 more. We lost because our pitching stunk, simple as that.

 

As for now, I agree the hot streak doesn't necessarily carry over, but good pitching almost certainly will. Indeed, the Guardians overall defense, including pitching, is the dominant stat in the AL this season. Between pitching and defense, the Guardians have given up a total of 515 runs. The next best AL team (us) has given up 588 runs. That's .5 runs per game difference. The Astros have given up 644.

 

Defense and pitching tend to hold up a whole lot better than hitting. Cleveland doesn't need momentum to beat the socks off anyone in the ALDS or ALCS.

 

The Dodgers, if anyone is interested, have given up 513 runs this season. So my money is on those two teams getting to the WS.

[S5Dewey]

 

Defense and pitching tend to hold up a whole lot better than hitting.

 

Ahhh... my pet peeve!

 

Are you suggesting that pitching and defense are more important in the long run than offense? (Something I believe, BTW))

 

If that's so why do we focus on offense when we talk about getting players to complement the Sox? When we talk about a player the first thing said is that his OPS is such-and-such with very little attention paid to his defense. Even when we talk about Bogaerts, whose defense is about average for a SS, the thing we talk about more than anything is his offense. This focus on offense is why some were ready to trade JBJ for a sack of used baseballs when he was hitting .220. The same with Vazquez.

 

I'm not saying offense isn't important - it is. But when we talk about players their defense is the ugly step-sister whom everyone seems to want to overlook in favor of their offense.

 

When's the last time you heard someone say, "Yeah, he's only hitting .220, but he plays GREAT defense so I want him on the team!" That is, other than the few of us who've been JBJ fanboys since Day 1.

[Carpin]

cle ops 2017: 789

col ops 2007: 791

 

Take into consideration Coors Field for every Colorado offensive stats

[Kimmi]

There is a fine line between being aggressive and being stupid. Many of the contributors here agree with that and are okay with aggressiveness. There have also been many plays where our runners were out by many steps after unwisely trying to get the extra base, or were out when they didn't remember how many outs we had or were out on what appeared to be botched hit and run situations. Those are the ones that we all wish they would avoid going forward.

 

I get that oldtimer. I agree that there are some definite boneheaded plays, like forgetting how many outs there are and like Hanley trying to advance to 3rd on a groundball hit in front of him. I am not arguing about those.

 

The ones that I take issue with are the ones that are judgment calls but are being called stupid. If the runner is out, then it's easy to say that trying to advance was stupid. OTOH, if the runner is safe, it would be called smart baserunning. It could be the exact same baserunning play that gets classified two different ways depending on whether the runner is out or safe.

 

To me it just seems like pretty much every time the Sox make an out on the bases, someone is calling it another stupid out. That is usually not the case.

[Kimmi]

If they won homefield advantage, maybe they could have started out that series stronger? IDK. That's the only conclusion I can draw at this point.

 

I wasn't brimming with confidence over that team prior to their late season swoon. They only won the division because of their crazy streak in Aug/Sept or whenever.

 

Home field advantage really isn't a real thing either.