Countdown to the Playoffs - 2017 Edition

[mvp 78]

I agree with mvp on this one. The extra wild card opens it up for more teams with mediocre regular seasons. 96 wins is much harder to achieve than 85. You're right that in a 5 game series the 85 can take down the 96, but that doesn't mean they should get the chance.

 

Maybe it makes the trading deadline more exciting, but I think I'd rather it go back to the one wild card days.

[mvp 78]

Why? An 85 game winner has a winning percentage of 52% and 96 game winner 59%. In a five game series between those teams the outcome is statistically pretty much of a toss-up.

 

Then let's add a full additional round of the playoffs and have 7 teams in each league make the playoffs (1st place gets a bye).

[oldtimer]

We got some help from Toronto tonight. The magic number for the pennant is now 6. We have got to get some hitting up and down the lineup or our departure will be sudden.

[moonslav59]

Then let's add a full additional round of the playoffs and have 7 teams in each league make the playoffs (1st place gets a bye).

 

Making the top dog team sit for a whole series may not be that helpful. Sure, a bye is better than playing, but I don't like it.

 

We can't let 16 out of 30 teams make it. I think the one game play-in for the two scrub teams is fair and not time consuming.

 

I suppose you could have 3 wild card teams and make the worst division winner play a one game play-in. (6 teams make it in each league or 12 out of 30)

[Northern Star]

Then let's add a full additional round of the playoffs and have 7 teams in each league make the playoffs (1st place gets a bye).

 

Or let's not.

[illinoisredsox]

Magic Numbers:

 

Division - 6

Wild Card - 0

Edited September 23, 2017 by illinoisredsox

[SoxHop]

Magic Numbers:

 

Division - 6

Wild Card - 0

 

I'm digging the countdown.......

[Maxbialystock]

Then let's add a full additional round of the playoffs and have 7 teams in each league make the playoffs (1st place gets a bye).

 

Meh. Five per league means the top third of teams get to the postseason, no biggie. Better, playing that one wild card game puts those teams at a disadvantage as they should be. Then the Division Series can go on with 4 teams from each league and naturally progress to 2 teams from each league then 2 in the WS.

 

To me the real point of adding the 5th team and second wild card team was to give the Division winners an advantage which is as i should be. Adding the first wild card team years ago was a necessity when each league went to three divisions.

[Bellhorn04]

Meh. Five per league means the top third of teams get to the postseason, no biggie. Better, playing that one wild card game puts those teams at a disadvantage as they should be. Then the Division Series can go on with 4 teams from each league and naturally progress to 2 teams from each league then 2 in the WS.

 

To me the real point of adding the 5th team and second wild card team was to give the Division winners an advantage which is as i should be. Adding the first wild card team years ago was a necessity when each league went to three divisions.

 

Personally, I see no reason why a division winner deserves a better break than a wild card team with a better record than the division winner. Divisions are just arbitrary groupings designed to promote artificial rivalries and reduce travel costs.

 

Like everything else Bud Selig did, it's all about the dollars. Bud was good at that part of his job, I have to admit.

[moonslav59]

Personally, I see no reason why a division winner deserves a better break than a wild card team with a better record than the division winner. Divisions are just arbitrary groupings designed to promote artificial rivalries and reduce travel costs.

 

Like everything else Bud Selig did, it's all about the dollars. Bud was good at that part of his job, I have to admit.

 

Ding, ding, DING!

[devildavid]

I hope the Sox aren't too beat up heading into the playoffs. Pedey and Betts hurting today and not playing. But it will be a good test for the bench to help evaluate who should be on the postseason roster.

[moonslav59]

I hope the Sox aren't too beat up heading into the playoffs. Pedey and Betts hurting today and not playing. But it will be a good test for the bench to help evaluate who should be on the postseason roster.

 

Nunez still out too.

[oldtimer]

Nunez still out too.

 

So when will Nunez be back? We could use him tomorrow as we need to keep winning.

[moonslav59]

I don't want to jinx anything, but we've had this thing wrapped up for a week.

[oldtimer]

I don't want to jinx anything, but we've had this thing wrapped up for a week.

 

Look, if by wrapped up you mean the pennant, I don't think it is a sure thing. One more game against the Reds. If we win that and set the magic number to 4, we will have 7 tough games to go, all at home. The Jays aren't that bad and Houston is very good. Winning 4 of those seven will be a tough chore. We have to hope the Yankees don't sweep their remaining games. I am all for playing all out every game until we close them out. Today we survived because of excellent pitching. JF had Young and Holt in the game and we were lucky to get the runs we did.

[moonslav59]

Look, if by wrapped up you mean the pennant, I don't think it is a sure thing. One more game against the Reds. If we win that and set the magic number to 4, we will have 7 tough games to go, all at home. The Jays aren't that bad and Houston is very good. Winning 4 of those seven will be a tough chore. We have to hope the Yankees don't sweep their remaining games. I am all for playing all out every game until we close them out. Today we survived because of excellent pitching. JF had Young and Holt in the game and we were lucky to get the runs we did.

 

Yeah, it's not a "sure thing", and maybe I've been too optimistic all year, but this team is too good to choke this away.

[illinoisredsox]

Magic Numbers:

 

Division - 5

Wild Card - 0

[SoxHop]

Magic Numbers:

 

Division - 5

Wild Card - 0

 

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the count down Mr. Illinoisredsox......

[Kimmi]

Look, if by wrapped up you mean the pennant, I don't think it is a sure thing. One more game against the Reds. If we win that and set the magic number to 4, we will have 7 tough games to go, all at home. The Jays aren't that bad and Houston is very good. Winning 4 of those seven will be a tough chore. We have to hope the Yankees don't sweep their remaining games. I am all for playing all out every game until we close them out. Today we survived because of excellent pitching. JF had Young and Holt in the game and we were lucky to get the runs we did.

 

I like this post oldtimer. I think we are in great shape to win the division, but nothing is guaranteed yet and should not be treated as such.

[Slasher9]

UPDATE.

8 GAMES TO GO.

90-64

 

1st place in the division.

FanGraphs odds to win the division: 97.4%

 

4 Games ahead of MFY.

[moonslav59]

We have the exact same record as last year, without having scored a hundred more runs than any other MLB team.

 

Last year's team went 3 and 5 in their last 8-- 3 and 8, if you count the CLE playoff series.

[Maxbialystock]

Yeah, it's not a "sure thing", and maybe I've been too optimistic all year, but this team is too good to choke this away.

 

Actually, you've been more on the money than most of the rest of us. You and Kimmi.

[Slasher9]

My 4th favorite day has happened. Special love to Mr. Harmony:

1. Red Sox win World Series

2. MFY eliminated.

3. Bobby Bonilla day

4. Mariners eliminated

[Maxbialystock]

Look, if by wrapped up you mean the pennant, I don't think it is a sure thing. One more game against the Reds. If we win that and set the magic number to 4, we will have 7 tough games to go, all at home. The Jays aren't that bad and Houston is very good. Winning 4 of those seven will be a tough chore. We have to hope the Yankees don't sweep their remaining games. I am all for playing all out every game until we close them out. Today we survived because of excellent pitching. JF had Young and Holt in the game and we were lucky to get the runs we did.

 

Meh. This ain't a June swoon we're seeing right now, not when the Sox are 8-2 in their last 10 and 7 of 8 on their final road trip. The monkey is on the Yankees back, not ours. You sound almost accusatory when you say, "JF had Young and Holt in the game and we lucky . . ." Do you honestly think he was resting Pedey and Betts because he doesn't want to win or that maybe he thought they were tired? And what was lucky about Moreland's dinger batting cleanup where he has batted a big chunk of the season?

 

Yes, pitching has been vital and very good, but it too has had its ups and downs what with Porcello and Fister both struggling to get out of the first inning unscathed. Not too long ago ERod had the same problem. The first inning!!! That's pretty darn hard to manage around even in September with the presumed deep bullpen.

[S5Dewey]

Meh. This ain't a June swoon we're seeing right now, not when the Sox are 8-2 in their last 10 and 7 of 8 on their final road trip. The monkey is on the Yankees back, not ours. You sound almost accusatory when you say, "JF had Young and Holt in the game and we lucky . . ." Do you honestly think he was resting Pedey and Betts because he doesn't want to win or that maybe he thought they were tired? And what was lucky about Moreland's dinger batting cleanup where he has batted a big chunk of the season?

 

Yes, pitching has been vital and very good, but it too has had its ups and downs what with Porcello and Fister both struggling to get out of the first inning unscathed. Not too long ago ERod had the same problem. The first inning!!! That's pretty darn hard to manage around even in September with the presumed deep bullpen.

 

I tend to stay out of these discussions criticizing the manager. I've found that if one believes everything they read here they believe that when the Red Sox win it's in spite of John Farrell's ineptitude and the Sox were lucky, and when the Sox lose it's all Farrell's fault.

 

There may be occasional truth in all of that, but it's not all cut and dried.

[oldtimer]

Meh. This ain't a June swoon we're seeing right now, not when the Sox are 8-2 in their last 10 and 7 of 8 on their final road trip. The monkey is on the Yankees back, not ours. You sound almost accusatory when you say, "JF had Young and Holt in the game and we lucky . . ." Do you honestly think he was resting Pedey and Betts because he doesn't want to win or that maybe he thought they were tired? And what was lucky about Moreland's dinger batting cleanup where he has batted a big chunk of the season?

 

Yes, pitching has been vital and very good, but it too has had its ups and downs what with Porcello and Fister both struggling to get out of the first inning unscathed. Not too long ago ERod had the same problem. The first inning!!! That's pretty darn hard to manage around even in September with the presumed deep bullpen.

 

Moreland has been swinging at balls at the letters and above and was 0 for 19 going into that AB. He also was hitting mainly to left when he did contact the ball. Getting a ball to hit and getting the bat on it was rare for him and a big help for us. Putting Young in the lineup means we had a guy in who hasn't got a hit in a dogs age. The choice was him or Davis. Neither are hitting. Holt is also nothing special. I know we had Lin and Marrero sitting while Holt played. We had no really good options. It depends on who we intend to go forward into the playoffs with. I would play those utility guys first.

[SoxHop]

Anyone know a site that gives Vegas odds on winning in baseball?

 

What's funny is, when I lived in NE, everyone had a bookie.

[OH FOY]

We have the exact same record as last year, without having scored a hundred more runs than any other MLB team.

 

Last year's team went 3 and 5 in their last 8-- 3 and 8, if you count the CLE playoff series.

 

What was the run differential from last years Sox to this years? Looks like about 100 runs from last years team to this years at seasons end. Tells you the importance of Pitching, and Defense.

Papi and Hanley, Betts, were great last year, but getting Sale was huge.

Thinking about it only 100 runs not that bad, with No Papi, Hanley stinking, and Betts down a bit.

Sept 24 last year Hanley had 110 RBI's.

Edited September 24, 2017 by OH FOY!

[SoxHop]

I tend to stay out of these discussions criticizing the manager. I've found that if one believes everything they read here they believe that when the Red Sox win it's in spite of John Farrell's ineptitude and the Sox were lucky, and when the Sox lose it's all Farrell's fault.

 

There may be occasional truth in all of that, but it's not all cut and dried.

 

Totally........... this site would make you beleive that Farrell is the devil...

[Northern Star]

My 4th favorite day has happened. Special love to Mr. Harmony:

1. Red Sox win World Series

2. MFY eliminated.

3. Bobby Bonilla day

4. Mariners eliminated

 

I didn't know anyone cared enough about the Mariners either way.