Countdown to the Playoffs - 2017 Edition

[S5Dewey]

No one wants to face the Guardians right now.

 

The good news is that we don't have to face the Guardians right now. If they change, and I think they will because "statistics" tell me that no team wins all of their games, there's only one way for them to go and it's down.

 

Let's wait until October before we give up before the first pitch is thrown. Things can change a lot by then.

[Kimmi]

Running with your head down, forgetting how many outs there are and not focusing on what's going on is not "trying to make things happen". I've said over and over, I have no issues with being aggressive, and if trying too hard creates a few out due to over aggressiveness, I can live with that. I wouldn't hold that against JF either, unless it was too often. I don't think it has been too often.

 

I keep talking about bonehead plays and people keep responding like I'm talking about aggressiveness or over aggressiveness. The only over aggressive plays I might label as "bonehead" is if the runner is out by 15 to 20 feet, and even that might be the coaches fault for sending the runner. Either way, that could and probably should be called a mental mistake. I don't think this has happened much. Heck, one time I remember we sent a runner from 3rd when we clearly shouldn't have, and he was safe due to a weak throw.

 

Bonehead is bonehead-not aggressive.

 

Moon, I get the difference between boneheaded and aggressiveness, and I understand that you are talking about the boneheaded plays.

 

I still think that boneheaded plays can be caused by trying to do too much. Forgetting how many outs there are is not a case of trying to do too much. But trying to advance to 3rd on a ground ball hit in front of you certainly could be. If I'm not mistaken, you have called that a boneheaded play, to which I agree. My point is that I could see that play and some other boneheaded things being done by a player that is trying too hard to make something happen.

[Kimmi]

I'm in. It is too late this season, but still would be fun.

 

Next year, we keep a running log of the stuff.

 

I just can't wait for next season to start!

[Kimmi]

Just a friendly reminder to all - We got this!

[moonslav59]

Moon, I get the difference between boneheaded and aggressiveness, and I understand that you are talking about the boneheaded plays.

 

I still think that boneheaded plays can be caused by trying to do too much. Forgetting how many outs there are is not a case of trying to do too much. But trying to advance to 3rd on a ground ball hit in front of you certainly could be. If I'm not mistaken, you have called that a boneheaded play, to which I agree. My point is that I could see that play and some other boneheaded things being done by a player that is trying too hard to make something happen.

 

You're standing on 2B and a ground ball is hit in front of you to the SS or 3Bman. Everyone who has ever played or studied baseball knows you don't run to 3B. You can say the reason the guy ran to 3B was because he was "trying to hard" or being "aggressive", but it is clearly a bonehead play, unless there's a shift on or something.

 

Trying to make something happen? Really? You're already on 2B. The only thing you could possibly be trying for is an out or a rare error.

 

Look, I get that a few plays are borderline bonehead-aggressive. I'm not talking about those, although maybe I may label more plays bonehead that you or others, but I know bonehead when i see it.

[SoxHop]

I just can't wait for next season to start!

 

Figuring we have three versions of what actually happened on a bobbled ball by Holt here on this forum, a aggressiveness/bonehead play log here should be standard talksox zanniness at it's best.

[Bellhorn04]

Figuring we have three versions of what actually happened on a bobbled ball by Holt here on this forum, a aggressiveness/bonehead play log here should be standard talksox zanniness at it's best.

 

Yes, well said.

[Slasher9]

The good news is that we don't have to face the Guardians right now. If they change, and I think they will because "statistics" tell me that no team wins all of their games, there's only one way for them to go and it's down.

 

Let's wait until October before we give up before the first pitch is thrown. Things can change a lot by then.

 

completely logical. let's not jump off the bridge just yet at the thought of facing cleveland...

[Maxbialystock]

You're standing on 2B and a ground ball is hit in front of you to the SS or 3Bman. Everyone who has ever played or studied baseball knows you don't run to 3B. You can say the reason the guy ran to 3B was because he was "trying to hard" or being "aggressive", but it is clearly a bonehead play, unless there's a shift on or something.

 

Trying to make something happen? Really? You're already on 2B. The only thing you could possibly be trying for is an out or a rare error.

 

Look, I get that a few plays are borderline bonehead-aggressive. I'm not talking about those, although maybe I may label more plays bonehead that you or others, but I know bonehead when i see it.

 

Moon, I would argue that even that example--guy on 2b, no one on 1b--can be situation dependent. If he is fast and smart, he could well--and justifiably so--go for 3b based on where the ball is hit and how much lateral movement (or, better still, movement toward home plate by the thirdbaseman) is required to field the grounder. If no one is out, there are significant advantages to gettin someone to 3b on a groundout because then he can score on a fly ball, a groundout, a bunt, a passed ball, a balk, whatever. That's why we often expect the batter to move the runner by hitting to the right side in that same circumstance. If the guy on 2b obeys your golden rule and doesn't budge no matter what, he is still on 2b but with one out--big advantage to the pitcher because only a hit can hurt him. Even if the runner advances on a ground out or fly, there are now two outs, which means another groundout or fly ball won't bring him home.

 

Let me re-emphasize that generally your rule makes sense. I just think there can be exceptions.

[OH FOY]

Last 17 games Yanks play 14 at home and 3 on the road against Opponents with a .489 winning percentage.

Sox play 8 at home 9 on the road, against Opponents with a .487 winning percentage.

Yanks basically just played 3 at home too, against Tampa in NY. Tampa plays us tough in Tampa.

Keep an eye on this. I'm not counting my chickens just yet. Every game now huge.

Edited September 14, 2017 by OH FOY!

[Bellhorn04]

completely logical. let's not jump off the bridge just yet at the thought of facing cleveland...

 

Yes, we can jump off that bridge when we come to it...

[Maxbialystock]

completely logical. let's not jump off the bridge just yet at the thought of facing cleveland...

 

Please do not put me in the pessimist category. I have already written why I think we are the only AL team who can beat the Guardians in the ALCS. I also think we can beat the Astros. We have the second best defense (pitching and fielding) in the AL plus we potentially have some good starters to match up with theirs. Our one real problem is that we actually need to score runs to win, and that has generally our weak point this year against good pitching.

[Maxbialystock]

Last 17 games Yanks play 14 at home and 3 on the road against Opponents with a .489 winning percentage.

Sox play 8 at home 9 on the road, against Opponents with a .487 winning percentage.

Yanks basically just played 3 at home too, against Tampa in NY. Tampa plays us tough in Tampa.

Keep an eye on this. I'm not counting my chickens just yet. Every game now huge.

 

Good reminders (and facts). Thanks. I was too lazy to look up the schedules.

[Slasher9]

Please do not put me in the pessimist category. I have already written why I think we are the only AL team who can beat the Guardians in the ALCS. I also think we can beat the Astros. We have the second best defense (pitching and fielding) in the AL plus we potentially have some good starters to match up with theirs. Our one real problem is that we actually need to score runs to win, and that has generally our weak point this year against good pitching.

plus we need to minimize our boneheaded plays and continue to win despite JF....

[Slasher9]

Last 17 games Yanks play 14 at home and 3 on the road.

this is f***ed up. schedule makers have the fix in for MFY. f*** them.

[OH FOY]

It is an absolute necessity we clinch the Division in Toronto, or earlier.

[OH FOY]

Here's why at least to me.

http://www.espn.com/mlb/team/schedule/_/name/bos/boston-red-sox

 

Sale is lined up for the last day with 4 days rest, just say Astros are fighting for best record, and Sox and Yanks are tied (or game behind), on last day, they go with Sale, and we lose, wont have him for Wildcard or Play-off.

Just throwing scenarios out there, next time a runner is thrown out on stupid base running play and might cost you a run, and a game. That's how close baseball is, now.

You absolutely play for the moment, but if that moment is stupid, could cost you for the future.

Edited September 14, 2017 by OH FOY!

[mvp 78]

It is an absolute necessity we clinch the Division in Toronto, or earlier.

 

Why? The Astros will have clinched before their season ends against us. They'll be using a AAAA roster.

 

It'd be nice to rest people, but you can still probably do that anyway.

[mvp 78]

Here's why at least to me.

http://www.espn.com/mlb/team/schedule/_/name/bos/boston-red-sox

 

Sale is lined up for the last day with 4 days rest, just say Astros are fighting for best record, and Sox and Yanks are tied (or game behind), on last day, they go with Sale, and we lose, wont have him for Wildcard or Play-off.

 

There are a lot more games to be played before we have to worry about using Sale in the last game of the year.

[Bellhorn04]

Why? The Astros will have clinched before their season ends against us. They'll be using a AAAA roster.

 

That may depend on whether they have any chance to catch Cleveland for best record. Hopefully not.

[OH FOY]

Haven't put the Hammer down on the Yanks all year, had plenty of chances. Still feel going down to last weekend. Now is the time Farrell better get the lead out, and think Play-off baseball and end it, like Cleveland. Month ago Twins were 2 games back. Edited September 14, 2017 by OH FOY!

[S5Dewey]

Here's why at least to me.

http://www.espn.com/mlb/team/schedule/_/name/bos/boston-red-sox

 

Sale is lined up for the last day with 4 days rest, just say Astros are fighting for best record, and Sox and Yanks are tied (or game behind), on last day, they go with Sale, and we lose, wont have him for Wildcard or Play-off.

Just throwing scenarios out there, next time a runner is thrown out on stupid base running play and might cost you a run, and a game. That's how close baseball is, now.

You absolutely play for the moment, but if that moment is stupid, could cost you for the future.

 

Thank you. This is what I've been preaching all along, that every game counts at the end of the year. That's why i get so upset about those boneheaded plays that could cost us a game. Every game is important.

[greenwell]

Here's why at least to me.

http://www.espn.com/mlb/team/schedule/_/name/bos/boston-red-sox

 

Sale is lined up for the last day with 4 days rest, just say Astros are fighting for best record, and Sox and Yanks are tied (or game behind), on last day, they go with Sale, and we lose, wont have him for Wildcard or Play-off.

Just throwing scenarios out there, next time a runner is thrown out on stupid base running play and might cost you a run, and a game. That's how close baseball is, now.

You absolutely play for the moment, but if that moment is stupid, could cost you for the future.

 

It's a minor difference, but if he goes with 4 days rest the rest of the year (there's one off day in there so he would jump someone in the rotation) he would pitch the next to last game of the season. He still wouldn't be available for a wc playoff game, but could start game one of the ALDS.

[Carpin]

Yes, we can jump off that bridge when we come to it...

 

Good one

[devildavid]

Thank you. This is what I've been preaching all along, that every game counts at the end of the year. That's why i get so upset about those boneheaded plays that could cost us a game. Every game is important.

 

But don't forget the boneheaded plays that won games. Y'know, just dumb luck.

 

And don't forget that this team consistently tries for the extra base, which is a gamble, because Farrell thinks it pays off on balance. This can lead to plays that appear boneheaded.

[S5Dewey]

But don't forget the boneheaded plays that won games. Y'know, just dumb luck.

 

And don't forget that this team consistently tries for the extra base, which is a gamble, because Farrell thinks it pays off on balance. This can lead to plays that appear boneheaded.

 

I question whether Farrell thinks boneheaded plays will pay off on balance. I sooner believe that he likes the aggressive game, but aggressive doesn't equal boneheaded. As Eck said when Beni bot thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double, that's just stupid even if he's safe.

[devildavid]

I question whether Farrell thinks boneheaded plays will pay off on balance. I sooner believe that he likes the aggressive game, but aggressive doesn't equal boneheaded. As Eck said when Beni bot thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double, that's just stupid even if he's safe.

 

No, that is being aggressive, It is all in the eye of the beholder. If the manager is encouraging aggressive base running things like that will happen more often than if he did not encourage it. How do you determine objectively the stupidity of being aggressive on the bases?

 

If players don't cover or back up bases, if they don't hit the cut-off man, if they forget how many outs there are, if they try to make a play when they shouldn't; these are things that can be considered mistakes or lack of fundamentals. Running aggressively when the manager wants you to is not a mistake unless the manager tells you it is and your behavior should change after he tells you.

Edited September 14, 2017 by devildavid

[devildavid]

Here is an article from the Boston Globe on Farrell's approach to aggressive base running.

 

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2017/08/13/snotes/oWVxYg0IN7nSBGE8fqiPYN/story.html

[mvp 78]

@pgammo

 

Andrew Miller reactivated. Guardians BP leads AL in ERA(2.80), Save%(78.05), K/BB(strikezone control-3.59)

[Kimmi]

You're standing on 2B and a ground ball is hit in front of you to the SS or 3Bman. Everyone who has ever played or studied baseball knows you don't run to 3B. You can say the reason the guy ran to 3B was because he was "trying to hard" or being "aggressive", but it is clearly a bonehead play, unless there's a shift on or something.

 

Trying to make something happen? Really? You're already on 2B. The only thing you could possibly be trying for is an out or a rare error.

 

Look, I get that a few plays are borderline bonehead-aggressive. I'm not talking about those, although maybe I may label more plays bonehead that you or others, but I know bonehead when i see it.

 

Well, I disagree. I didn't say that it's not a bonehead play (although in some cases I think that's a judgment call), just that I 100% believe that trying to do too much or trying to make something happen can lead to some bonehead plays.