Countdown to the Playoffs - 2017 Edition

[moonslav59]

Doesn't everyone? Is there any Sox fan that hopes our season ends on a major blunder?

 

No, but apparently I'm one of just a couple posters who even thinks we've had more than our fair share of mental blunders this year and that chances are higher than any of us wish they'd be that one could happen at the worst time imaginable.

[Emp9]

No, but apparently I'm one of just a couple posters who even thinks we've had more than our fair share of mental blunders this year and that chances are higher than any of us wish they'd be that one could happen at the worst time imaginable.

 

That's just the Pre-2004 Syndrome talking. Everything's fine.

[mvp 78]

That's just the Pre-2004 Syndrome talking. Everything's fine.

 

Everything's been pretty great since Grady was fired.

[Bellhorn04]

There are a lot of ways for a season to end, and they're usually bad. If you've been a Sox fan long enough you've seen just about all of them.

[Slasher9]

There are a lot of ways for a season to end, and they're usually bad. If you've been a Sox fan long enough you've seen just about all of them.

not season ending...but....

we won a WS game on a pickoff at 1b.

we lost a WS game on runner interference.

[SoxnCycles]

Jeez, would you stop saying this?

 

Nope.

[Maxbialystock]

No, but apparently I'm one of just a couple posters who even thinks we've had more than our fair share of mental blunders this year and that chances are higher than any of us wish they'd be that one could happen at the worst time imaginable.

 

Thus a great chance to be able to say I told you so.

[moonslav59]

Thus a great chance to be able to say I told you so.

 

That's the last thing I want to have happen.

 

It would sicken me.

[Bellhorn04]

That's the last thing I want to have happen.

 

It would sicken me.

 

Assuming we win the division, based on what we have seen this season, there would seem to be a fairly strong chance that we see one or two mental mistakes in a playoff series.

 

But it's EXTREMELY unlikely that we lose the deciding game of the series on a mental mistake. We haven't even established that we've lost any particular game this year on a mental mistake. I think we would remember it pretty clearly if we did. The Holt play you've mentioned is a questionable example at best.

[Maxbialystock]

That's the last thing I want to have happen.

 

It would sicken me.

 

Well then we think alike. When I'm down on a player, I love being wrong. Unfortunately, I tend to crow when I'm right--which is wrong. Your enthusiasm for this team never wavers despite the red flags on bonehead plays.

Edited September 15, 2017 by Maxbialystock

[moonslav59]

Assuming we win the division, based on what we have seen this season, there would seem to be a fairly strong chance that we see one or two mental mistakes in a playoff series.

 

But it's EXTREMELY unlikely that we lose the deciding game of the series on a mental mistake. We haven't even established that we've lost any particular game this year on a mental mistake. I think we would remember it pretty clearly if we did. The Holt play you've mentioned is a questionable example at best.

 

I agree, but how many times do you hear an announcer say, "That was a fitting way for this team to win (or lose): they've been doing that all year long."

 

I'm not going to harp on this issue anymore. I've already said more than I ever expected I would. You guys know my feelings, and I hope I never will never speak about this issue again.

[moonslav59]

Well then we think alike. When I'm down on a player, I love being wrong. Unfortunately, I tend to crow when I'm right--which is wrong. Your enthusiasm for this team never wavers despite the red flags on bonehead plays.

 

Thanks, Max.

 

I'm obsessed with the Sox. Got that right.

 

I really appreciate your enthusiasm, too.

[S5Dewey]

Assuming we win the division, based on what we have seen this season, there would seem to be a fairly strong chance that we see one or two mental mistakes in a playoff series.

 

But it's EXTREMELY unlikely that we lose the deciding game of the series on a mental mistake. We haven't even established that we've lost any particular game this year on a mental mistake. I think we would remember it pretty clearly if we did. The Holt play you've mentioned is a questionable example at best.

 

The reason we don't remember it is because it seldom happens in the 9th inning with two outs.

 

When the "mistake" happens earlier in the game we have to rely on our memories (and opinions) to determine if it's a mental error that caused the loss.

 

Mental errors don't show up in the box score and our memories tend to gloss ithem over with the attitude of "Well, we had lots of other opportunities to win that game." That may be true but it doesn't alter the fact that the one error early in the game is what lost it. Everything else that happened...happened and that attitude is just a cop-out.

[Kimmi]

I think I'm actually being lenient.

 

I've never heard anyone who follows baseball that running to 3B on a ball hit in front of you is anything less than Bonehead. I've heard it called much worse- on this site even. Same with running into an occupied base. On that one, at least I can say, in that case, the motive could be to try and "make something happen," but how can anyone call it anything less than "bonehead". I think that's actually being kind.

 

Moon, there are many instances where runners have successfully made it to 3B on a ball hit in front of them. Mookie has done it at least a couple of times this year, with the reaction that he is such a smart baserunner. It's not an automatic 'don't run' situation. There are a lot of factors to consider, such as how hard the ball is hit and where the shortstop is playing.

 

It is sometimes a judgment call, and if a player is trying too hard, he might use poor judgment in that situation.

[Kimmi]

Jeez, would you stop saying this?

 

I really think the great majority of these 'bonehead' plays are just overaggressiveness. It doesn't make them any better, but it's part of the package if your team baserunning philosophy is to be aggressive.

[Kimmi]

Yup.

Because they're going to lose in the playoffs by 0-fer with runners in scoring position and 2 outs.

 

[Kimmi]

Assuming we win the division, based on what we have seen this season, there would seem to be a fairly strong chance that we see one or two mental mistakes in a playoff series.

 

But it's EXTREMELY unlikely that we lose the deciding game of the series on a mental mistake. We haven't even established that we've lost any particular game this year on a mental mistake. I think we would remember it pretty clearly if we did. The Holt play you've mentioned is a questionable example at best.

 

You never win or lose a game on one play, one decision, one mistake, etc. It just can't happen.

[MADSTORK]

The Sox being aggressive on the bases has to be a result of the lack of power and the overall inconsistency of the Offense..

They are still ranked last in most every pertinent offense category of all the current playoff Teams.

 

Sale back to earth does not play well for any playoff matchup. Add Ramirez being Sandoval the last month is a recipe for another quick exit.

[moonslav59]

We're saving our "peak" for just the right time.

[oldtimer]

We're saving our "peak" for just the right time.

 

Wait til next year

[illinoisredsox]

Magic Numbers:

 

Division - 13

Wild Card - 9

[Maxbialystock]

You never win or lose a game on one play, one decision, one mistake, etc. It just can't happen.

Not so. I've read it is a regular occurrence on those few teams with really weak fundamentals. It's what happens to teams that run into outs willy-nilly because they can't do what any Little League team can do. Boneheadedness is like Dutch Elm disease, nearly always fatal over time.

[Bellhorn04]

You never win or lose a game on one play, one decision, one mistake, etc. It just can't happen.

 

I understand exactly what you're saying, but I think this may be a matter of how one looks at things.

 

There are a lot of close games where one key play or one key misplay appears to make the difference.

[S5Dewey]

I understand exactly what you're saying, but I think this may be a matter of how one looks at things.

 

There are a lot of close games where one key play or one key misplay appears to make the difference.

 

Reposted:

Mental errors don't show up in the box score and our memories tend to gloss ithem over with the attitude of "Well, we had lots of other opportunities to win that game." That may be true but it doesn't alter the fact that the one error early in the game is what lost it. Everything else that happened...happened and that attitude is just a cop-out.

[Bellhorn04]

Reposted:

Mental errors don't show up in the box score and our memories tend to gloss ithem over with the attitude of "Well, we had lots of other opportunities to win that game." That may be true but it doesn't alter the fact that the one error early in the game is what lost it. Everything else that happened...happened and that attitude is just a cop-out.

 

Yeah, I don't fully agree with that either.

 

I always prefer to deal with actual games anyway. Then you can really have a discussion.

[S5Dewey]

Yeah, I don't fully agree with that either.

 

I always prefer to deal with actual games anyway. Then you can really have a discussion.

 

My belief is that once a team screws up an opportunity to score - or to get an out - that opportunity is lost forever and a team has to live with the consequences of it. Anything that happens before or after that has little to do with the missed opportunity.

[Bellhorn04]

My belief is that once a team screws up an opportunity to score - or to get an out - that opportunity is lost forever and a team has to live with the consequences of it. Anything that happens before or after that has little to do with the missed opportunity.

 

I understand that position. The thing about baseball is that there are so many plays in a game that you can pick and choose what you want as the key ones. (As Kimmi is saying.)

 

Consider last night's game. If the Sox hadn't tied it in the 9th we could blame it on missed opportunities or lousy offense or even Sale having a bad start. If we had scored 2 in the 9th and lost 5-4 we'd probably be blaming it on Barnes. If we had lost in the 10th-13th we'd again be blaming missed opportunities (or Kiermaier's catch off JBJ in the 9th.)

 

If we lost in the 14th Workman would be the goat.

 

And so on.

[Bellhorn04]

If there were such a thing as a Rays fan, they would undoubtedly be blaming their closer for losing that game.

[OH FOY]

That was a huge win, cause looking like Orioles are packing it in for the Yanks. 1 run games, take a look at what play either physically or mentally (usually mentally), made a difference. 1 run games are usually the difference in a winning or losing season.

 

Yanks don't have to face Bundy or Gausman, we do. Nice Bucky. Bundy pitched Tuesday, next start should have been Sunday, he pulled him for Jimenez.

Bucky hates the Sox, he'll play that series like 7th game of World Series.

I know first worry about Tampa.

Edited September 16, 2017 by OH FOY!

[cp176]

My belief is that once a team screws up an opportunity to score - or to get an out - that opportunity is lost forever and a team has to live with the consequences of it. Anything that happens before or after that has little to do with the missed opportunity.

 

 

I think that you are right. Also, most of this discussion has revolved around really bad mental mistakes not the normal ebb and flow of the game types of occurrences. There are all kinds of things that happen over the course of any game that can shape its' outcome but eliminating the truly stupid mistakes certainly gives your team a better chance to win.