Countdown to the Playoffs - 2017 Edition

[Hitch]

And you alone get to decide which buttons were right? What a crock. The boo birds refuse to recognize that this team under Farrell has now won the Division two years in a row for the first time since 1916 despite weak hitting and a rotation near collapse. Instead you second guess every conceivable situation and decision because when the team loses it must have been the managers fault. This was the unremitting drumbeat when Francona, then called Francoma, was here. Heck, moonslav insists the team has no fire because the manager has no fire. I mean we are talking looney tunes stuff.

 

The team wins two divisions in a row, he stays. Plus he has better information and a whole lot more experience than all us Yahoos on Talksox. Seriously--its that simple.

 

My man.

 

The armchair coaches in here, always think they know best.

 

2 divisions in a row, in which Farrell has played no small part.

[moonslav59]

Farrell is as much a part of the reason we won as he is part of the reason we lost. Since we won far more than we lost, he must have done a good job.

 

Oversimplification.

 

You're assuming we were a .500 team on paper and JF helped us win more than we lost.

[Kimmi]

Oversimplification.

 

You're assuming we were a .500 team on paper and JF helped us win more than we lost.

 

I know it's oversimplification, and I said that mostly tongue in cheek. I just think if we're going to blame Farrell for losses, then he should get some credit for the wins.

 

That said, my opinion has always been that the job that a manager does off the field is more important than his in game decisions. This team has been scrutinized a lot this season. First, the Pedroia/Machado incident. Then the Price/Eck incident. There was an argument caught on tape between Farrell and Pom. There was a lot of distraction with what to do with Pablo and his contract. The leadership on this team was questioned repeatedly, not just here but in the media. So was whether the team had the 'fire' or the make up of a championship team.

 

Through all of that, Farrell and the team somehow held it all together and came out on top of the division. Farrell has to get some credit for that.

[moonslav59]

I know it's oversimplification, and I said that mostly tongue in cheek. I just think if we're going to blame Farrell for losses, then he should get some credit for the wins.

 

That said, my opinion has always been that the job that a manager does off the field is more important than his in game decisions. This team has been scrutinized a lot this season. First, the Pedroia/Machado incident. Then the Price/Eck incident. There was an argument caught on tape between Farrell and Pom. There was a lot of distraction with what to do with Pablo and his contract. The leadership on this team was questioned repeatedly, not just here but in the media. So was whether the team had the 'fire' or the make up of a championship team.

 

Through all of that, Farrell and the team somehow held it all together and came out on top of the division. Farrell has to get some credit for that.

 

I respect your opinion, but disagree.

 

Now is not the time to discuss all this.

 

Let's be optimistic, like we both have been all year, and wish for the best.

[devildavid]

I know it's oversimplification, and I said that mostly tongue in cheek. I just think if we're going to blame Farrell for losses, then he should get some credit for the wins.

 

That said, my opinion has always been that the job that a manager does off the field is more important than his in game decisions. This team has been scrutinized a lot this season. First, the Pedroia/Machado incident. Then the Price/Eck incident. There was an argument caught on tape between Farrell and Pom. There was a lot of distraction with what to do with Pablo and his contract. The leadership on this team was questioned repeatedly, not just here but in the media. So was whether the team had the 'fire' or the make up of a championship team.

 

Through all of that, Farrell and the team somehow held it all together and came out on top of the division. Farrell has to get some credit for that.

 

You are right of course. All that other stuff is soap opera material. The game is played on the field and Farrell and the Sox competed and won the division. I still don't like his aggressive base running philosophy but even that did not seem to have any significant negative impact. They played winning ball for Farrell and that's the bottom line. And they really seemed to have fun doing it.

[jad]

...

 

Now is not the time to discuss all this.

 

 

Ha. I thought I was reading a GOP press release!

[S5Dewey]

Ha. I thought I was reading a GOP press release!

 

Lolololololol

[Spudboy]

Ha. I thought I was reading a GOP press release!

 

Hahahahahaha!1!!

[OH FOY]

At this point in the Play-offs we have more hits than the Guardians, Nationals, Cubs, but we scored 4 runs. HRS? Or hitting with RISP?

Its not hitting with RISP, its power that is the difference.

[Kimmi]

Dudes dig the long ball!

[Bellhorn04]

Dudes dig the long ball!

 

That's the truth. Unfortunately, it does look like major league baseball became somewhat homer-centric this year.

[OH FOY]

RISP I know its only 2 games but were hitting .308

2 Outs and RISP were hitting .286

These are respectable numbers (I know its only 2 games) but only team in Play-offs without a HR.

[OH FOY]

Mr. Bellhorn is right. Game is different now. Every analyst has been saying this, all of them Former Major Leaguers.I think they know a little more.

[OH FOY]

Ron Darling said it best, as soon as a Runner gets on, forget everything and swing for the fences.

Good Managers are letting them do this, so they must like this new Philosophy.

Edited October 8, 2017 by OH FOY!

[Spudboy]

Everyone digs long balls.

 

The first thing you usually see when you tune into a nightly highlight show is clips of players going yard.

 

You don't often see clips of players taking a walk or grounding out to second base.

 

Why?

[ohiosoxfan]

The 2017 AL playoffs is looking eerily similar to the 2016 version. Once again, the Red Sox are looking like boys against men. Also once again, our two top starters suddenly resemble batting practice pitchers. Last year, Porcello won the Cy Young in spite of a terrible playoff start against the Guardians. This year, Sale may have throw away his chance of a Cy Young with his "September Swoon" and a bad outing against the Astros. Is it true that the Red Sox all along were a mediocre team that Farrell held together with duct tape and baling wire? Being out here in Ohio, I look at the job Francona has done with the Guardians. On paper, they are not light years better than the Red Sox. However, they have a never-say-die attitude and they are really never out of any game they play (witness being 5 runs down to the Yankees and winning). That used to be the Red Sox several years ago, coincidentally while Francona was manager. Can a manager win games by himself? No. But he can instill a positive spirit in his team that can pay off in the win column. Will firing Farrell turn around the Red Sox? Maybe not. But, as I have heard many owners of losing teams say after firing the manager, you can't fire the team.

[Spudboy]

Kluber will win the Cy Young Award.

[ohiosoxfan]

I am also guessing the Cy Young is Kluber's to lose. NE Ohio is really pumped up about him and the Guardians, especially with the Browns laying a big egg.

[devildavid]

The 2017 AL playoffs is looking eerily similar to the 2016 version. Once again, the Red Sox are looking like boys against men. Also once again, our two top starters suddenly resemble batting practice pitchers. Last year, Porcello won the Cy Young in spite of a terrible playoff start against the Guardians. This year, Sale may have throw away his chance of a Cy Young with his "September Swoon" and a bad outing against the Astros. Is it true that the Red Sox all along were a mediocre team that Farrell held together with duct tape and baling wire? Being out here in Ohio, I look at the job Francona has done with the Guardians. On paper, they are not light years better than the Red Sox. However, they have a never-say-die attitude and they are really never out of any game they play (witness being 5 runs down to the Yankees and winning). That used to be the Red Sox several years ago, coincidentally while Francona was manager. Can a manager win games by himself? No. But he can instill a positive spirit in his team that can pay off in the win column. Will firing Farrell turn around the Red Sox? Maybe not. But, as I have heard many owners of losing teams say after firing the manager, you can't fire the team.

 

The Red Sox were and still are a very good regular season team, but the regular season seems to take the best out of them and leave very little for the postseason. On paper, the Sox really are only the 4th best team left in the AL playoffs.

[Kimmi]

One down, 10 to go! We're still alive!

 

One game at a time boys.

[a700hitter]

The post season losing streak is over. It's time to go on a winning streak.

[Northern Star]

One down, 10 to go! We're still alive!

 

One game at a time boys.