Countdown to the Playoffs - 2017 Edition

[SoxnCycles]

Right now, sadly, I rank the Sox potential playoff performance as inferior to the Yankees, Astros, and Guardians. Current performance shows our starting pitching to be slumping, and our hitting as spotty as it has been all season. Maybe they can beat the Twins in the Wild Card game, but that's about it. This team really played above its head this season but is looking weak at the moment.

 

Agree.

I wasn't very optimistic just based on the wildly inconsistent offense.

Add a pitching rotation that suddenly can't get to the 4th inning without giving up moonshots and the Sox chances in the playoffs have gotten considerably worse.

[OH FOY]

Yanks play at 1 today, hope Blue Jays hit a lot of Tanaka's.

35 HRS in 171 innings this year.

Edited September 29, 2017 by OH FOY!

[mvp 78]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]547[/ATTACH]

 

It's the Loch Ness Lock of the Holocene Extinction.

 

Nessie says "I told you it was a lock you doubting Thomases."

[devildavid]

It was very kind of the Yankees to lose last night. I hope they repeat the favor today. They have been very accommodating when we have needed it.

[Bellhorn04]

It was very kind of the Yankees to lose last night. I hope they repeat the favor today. They have been very accommodating when we have needed it.

 

Some Yankee fans are in a bit of an uproar over how Girardi managed last night's game. For unknown reasons he went to his B relievers in spite of having won the 3 previous games 11-3, 6-1 and 6-1.

[Slasher9]

all your bases are belong to us

[mvp 78]

@PeteAbe

 

MLB is naming the World Series MVP for Willie Mays, who hit .239/308/.282 in 20 WS games. David Ortiz hit .455/.576/.795 in 14 WS games.

 

Papi >>> Willie

[mvp 78]

@EvanDrellich

 

Check this out: David Price, Carson Smith & Craig Kimbrel have combined for 22 2/3 scoreless innings this month with 33 strikeouts & 6 walks

 

We got this.

[OH FOY]

How did Papi do in Centerfield? Saw one of longest HRS hit by Say Hey in Shea Stadium, when I was a kid.

In Centerfield there was back-drop on top of it was a clock, he hit it. Had 52 HRS that year.

 

https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=yfp-t-s&p=willie+mays+the+catch#id=4&vid=7ef7256e5ea38fc0440777846ba60148&action=click

Edited September 29, 2017 by OH FOY!

[mvp 78]

How did Papi do in Centerfield? Saw one of longest HRS hit by Say Hey in Shea Stadium, when I was a kid.

In Centerfield there was back-drop on top of it was a clock, he hit it. Had 52 HRS that year.

 

https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=yfp-t-s&p=willie+mays+the+catch#id=4&vid=7ef7256e5ea38fc0440777846ba60148&action=click

 

How'd Willie do playing DH?

[S5Dewey]

This is the same debate that will surface again when Papi becomes eligible for the HOF. How important is it that a player plays a defensive position?

[harmony]

This is the same debate that will surface again when Papi becomes eligible for the HOF. How important is it that a player plays a defensive position?

Apparently important.

 

Seattle designated hitter Edgar Martinez has not been inducted into the Hall of Fame despite posting 68.3 bWAR and 65.5 fWAR in 2,055 career games.

 

David Ortiz posted 55.4 bWAR and 50.6 fWAR in 2,408 career games.

 

I always remind myself that it's a Hall of Fame, not necessarily a Hall of Baseball's Best Players. David Ortiz is far more famous than Edgar Martinez because of his performances on the bigger stages in larger media markets.

[Bellhorn04]

Apparently important.

 

Seattle designated hitter Edgar Martinez has not been inducted into the Hall of Fame despite posting 68.3 bWAR and 65.5 fWAR in 2,055 career games.

 

David Ortiz posted 55.4 bWAR and 50.6 fWAR in 2,408 career games.

 

I always remind myself that it's a Hall of Fame, not necessarily a Hall of Baseball's Best Players. David Ortiz is far more famous than Edgar Martinez because of his performances on the bigger stages in larger media markets.

 

Edgar Martinez should be in the Hall. One of the worst omissions, really. Frank Thomas kicked open the door for DH's, IMO.

[S5Dewey]

Apparently important.

 

Seattle designated hitter Edgar Martinez has not been inducted into the Hall of Fame despite posting 68.3 bWAR and 65.5 fWAR in 2,055 career games.

 

David Ortiz posted 55.4 bWAR and 50.6 fWAR in 2,408 career games.

 

I always remind myself that it's a Hall of Fame, not necessarily a Hall of Baseball's Best Players. David Ortiz is far more famous than Edgar Martinez because of his performances on the bigger stages in larger media markets.

 

I knew there was something we agreed on! :-) Emart should have been in the Hall before now but Papi's getting in (assuming that happens) should open the door for Martinez without a doubt.

[Carpin]

I knew there was something we agreed on! :-) Emart should have been in the Hall before now but Papi's getting in (assuming that happens) should open the door for Martinez without a doubt.

 

Not taking anything away from Ortiz, Martinez should be in the hall before him but I believe it will be the other way around

[Kimmi]

It's been a lock for about a week now. Today, I'd view it as a dead bolt lock.

 

No, it's not a lock until the numbers say it's a lock. Our chances are very good, but stranger things have happened.

[Kimmi]

Right now, sadly, I rank the Sox potential playoff performance as inferior to the Yankees, Astros, and Guardians. Current performance shows our starting pitching to be slumping, and our hitting as spotty as it has been all season. Maybe they can beat the Twins in the Wild Card game, but that's about it. This team really played above its head this season but is looking weak at the moment.

 

In terms of run differential, they are all better than the Sox. That said, I don't agree that this team has played above its head all season long. I think the pitching is about where I'd expect it to be, and the offense has played below its ability level. The team hasn't looked good since coming home, but I still like our chances in the playoffs as well as any other team's chances.

[mvp 78]

Apparently important.

 

Seattle designated hitter Edgar Martinez has not been inducted into the Hall of Fame despite posting 68.3 bWAR and 65.5 fWAR in 2,055 career games.

 

David Ortiz posted 55.4 bWAR and 50.6 fWAR in 2,408 career games.

 

I always remind myself that it's a Hall of Fame, not necessarily a Hall of Baseball's Best Players. David Ortiz is far more famous than Edgar Martinez because of his performances on the bigger stages in larger media markets.

Papi was better. Don’t fool yourself.

[Hugh2]

this team is looking like they’re laying an egg again at the end of the year

[Northern Star]

I want percentages: how much of the collapse is on Farrell and how much on the players?

[oldtimer]

this team is looking like they’re laying an egg again at the end of the year

 

We held that team to six hits and yet only got 5 ourselves. Beni is slumping, JBJ is slumping, Pedroia is not himself and Nunez is out. Someone just needs to step it up. I hope Vaz wasn't sick. He is a darn site more of a threat than Leon at the plate.

[devildavid]

In terms of run differential, they are all better than the Sox. That said, I don't agree that this team has played above its head all season long. I think the pitching is about where I'd expect it to be, and the offense has played below its ability level. The team hasn't looked good since coming home, but I still like our chances in the playoffs as well as any other team's chances.

 

Unfortunately, this offense may be producing as good as it can. There is a core of young players who appear to be streaky hitters with limited power. They are good hitters, but none of them is a great hitter. Maybe Devers will develop into the big power bat. Its hard to say at this early stage in their careers. The starting pitching was good, but with Price hurt much of the season it was not dominant outside of Sale. Now they all seem to be out of gas. Maybe they carried too much of the load for most of the season. I sure hope the starters find their second wind or the Sox will be in trouble in the postseason.

[harmony]

Papi was better. Don’t fool yourself.

A better showman indeed.

[Maxbialystock]

I want percentages: how much of the collapse is on Farrell and how much on the players?

 

Fair or not, it's always on the manager. See Francona in 2011.

[a700hitter]

I want percentages: how much of the collapse is on Farrell and how much on the players?

It is mainly on Farrell to figure out how to close the deal. The boys are banged up pretty bad. Nunez still can't play. Pedroia is badly banged up as is Hanley, and Betts is on fumes. We have very few guys playing over 75%. They got Farrell 90+ wins. He needs to help them win a couple of close ones and he hasn't. He needs to contribute over the weekend of the games are close.

[SoxHop]

It is mainly on Farrell to figure out how to close the deal. The boys are banged up pretty bad. Nunez still can't play. Pedroia is badly banged up as is Hanley, and Betts is on fumes. We have very few guys playing over 75%. They got Farrell 90+ wins. He needs to help them win a couple of close ones and he hasn't. He needs to contribute over the weekend of the games are close.

 

What???????? Come on???????? The next two games are up to Farrell to win?

 

Blame him for not squeezing one more win out the last 160 games, but not the last two.

[jacksonianmarch]

If the Guardians win Saturday, then the Stros have literally nothing to play for Sunday. The top spot in the AL has Cleveland with the tie breaker, so the only was the Stros can win the top spot is to actually beat the Guardians.

[a700hitter]

What???????? Come on???????? The next two games are up to Farrell to win?

 

Blame him for not squeezing one more win out the last 160 games, but not the last two.

I am not saying that. I am saying that if these games are close, he needs to push all the right buttons.

[oldtimer]

What???????? Come on???????? The next two games are up to Farrell to win?

 

Blame him for not squeezing one more win out the last 160 games, but not the last two.

 

JF tried last night but the playerss couldn't come through. Maybe the general tenor of the team is something he can impact and also he can make the moves, but individual players have to take responsibility and deliver. They still need to win one of the next two and it is possible but the odds keep getting shorter. Hope for the best today.

[Slasher9]

A better showman indeed.

 

David Ortiz did not get to pad his stats against weak ass AL West pitching for 2 decades....,