A Realistic View at 2018: Part II

[notin]

the Orioles are 60.5 GB of the Sox with 3 games to go. has any team ever finished 60+ games behind the division winner in the history of the game?

going to poke around BR to see if i can find another...

 

Cursory research says t's been done at least 6 times since 1900, with the most recent being the 1962 Mets, who finished 60.5 games back.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_worst_Major_League_Baseball_season_records

[vegasbob]

Been travelling overseas for awhile, so missed most of September except for box scores/summaries. I will say that I hope we have to match up in the ALDS with NYY rather than A's. Two reasons, first is travel not being a factor. Second and more important to me, the team needs to show it can beat NY when it counts . It would be far more enjoyable than travel coast to coast to get after a young talented A's team. Beat the Yankees and get ready for the next challenge. If you can't beat the Yanks, then go home again wondering how to fix the pitching.

[moonslav59]

Been travelling overseas for awhile, so missed most of September except for box scores/summaries. I will say that I hope we have to match up in the ALDS with NYY rather than A's. Two reasons, first is travel not being a factor. Second and more important to me, the team needs to show it can beat NY when it counts . It would be far more enjoyable than travel coast to coast to get after a young talented A's team. Beat the Yankees and get ready for the next challenge. If you can't beat the Yanks, then go home again wondering how to fix the pitching.

 

I'd like to see us beat the yanks, too, but if we win a ring, nobody will be lamenting the fact that we beat the A's first- not the Yanks.

[Slasher9]

Cursory research says t's been done at least 6 times since 1900, with the most recent being the 1962 Mets, who finished 60.5 games back.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_worst_Major_League_Baseball_season_records

 

Pretty amazing actually..almost 60 years.

[oldtimer]

The Red Sox need one grand slams to tie the franchise team record (11) and four to tie the MLB team record (14). Still a chance at 11.

[Slasher9]

Chance right now

[moonslav59]

10 runs let up by pitchers who won't even see the Yankee series in October.

 

Let them pump their fists and beat their chests in September.

 

October is when we'll be smiling.

[Larry Cook]

10 runs let up by pitchers who won't even see the Yankee series in October.

 

Let them pump their fists and beat their chests in September.

 

October is when we'll be smiling.

 

Will the Yankees beat Oakland? If severino is not perfect, Oakland could put up some crooked numbers on him!

[notin]

Pretty amazing actually..almost 60 years.

 

The Mets were in their second year of existence at the time...

[OH FOY]

Oakland a better road team then home team, as far as scoring runs, also if they win wont have to travel far to Boston. Yanks got their work cut out for them, and so does Boston whoever wins. Play-offs throw everything out the window, at least for me. Edited September 29, 2018 by OH FOY!

[notin]

Will the Yankees beat Oakland? If severino is not perfect, Oakland could put up some crooked numbers on him!

 

Severino got beat up in the wild card game last year, and it didn’t matter much...

[Bellhorn04]

Severino got beat up in the wild card game last year, and it didn’t matter much...

 

But if he gave up a crooked number again this year, you'd probably like Oakland's chances.

 

I'm guessing that teams that give up a crooked number lose a pretty high % of the time.

[S5Dewey]

Oakland a better road team then home team, as far as scoring runs, also if they win wont have to travel far to Boston. Yanks got their work cut out for them, and so does Boston whoever wins. Play-offs throw everything out the window, at least for me.

 

According to Kimmie and contrary to popular belief Home Field Advantage doesn't exist. If so then HFDisadvantage also doesn't exist. Therefore whichever side you come down on regarding HFA it's going to be a 'wash' if we play Oakland.

 

However, if we play the Yankees, while I understand the statistics saying that HFA doesn't exist I have a lot of trouble believing that the Yankees with their short porch in RF and their 'strong men' with the ability to hit to RF doesn't give them a decided advantage when playing in YS.

 

Long and short, I'm glad we're playing game 7 (if necessary) in Fenway.

[S5Dewey]

But if he gave up a crooked number again this year, you'd probably like Oakland's chances.

 

I'm guessing that teams that give up a crooked number lose a pretty high % of the time.

 

That sounds reasonable.

[OH FOY]

Oakland leads the Majors in scoring runs on the road, and hit have hit more HRS then anybody on the Road (Including the Yankees), all this tells me is Oakland is a Pitchers Park.

[S5Dewey]

Been travelling overseas for awhile, so missed most of September except for box scores/summaries. I will say that I hope we have to match up in the ALDS with NYY rather than A's. Two reasons, first is travel not being a factor. Second and more important to me, the team needs to show it can beat NY when it counts . It would be far more enjoyable than travel coast to coast to get after a young talented A's team. Beat the Yankees and get ready for the next challenge. If you can't beat the Yanks, then go home again wondering how to fix the pitching.

 

I'm conflicted.

 

Beating the Yankees would be a lot sweeter than beating the A's... just because. OTOH, losing to the Yankees would be a lot more painful than losing to the A's ...again... just because.

 

Conflicted.

[Bellhorn04]

I'm conflicted.

 

Beating the Yankees would be a lot sweeter than beating the A's... just because.

 

Don't forget the big added bonus of beating the A's - first you get to see the Yankees go one and done before their wonderful fans.

[notin]

I NEVER EVER want to see the Yankees win.

 

If a super-race of aliens came to Earth from Alpha Centauri or wherever and challenged the Yankees to a Space Jam style game where, if the aliens won, they would enslave the entire human race, I’d still have trouble rooting for the Yankees...

[OH FOY]

Probably means nothing but since AS Break

Oakland 63 games 96 HRS

Yankees 65 games 103 HRS

Boston 62 Games 71 HRS

Make mistakes to Oakland or Yanks, ball goes a long way.

Don't under estimate Oaklands Power.

Edited September 29, 2018 by OH FOY!

[OH FOY]

If I was opposing Manager against Red Sox, I would not let Mookie or JD hurt me, I'll take my chances with rest of Line-up.

[moonslav59]

According to Kimmie and contrary to popular belief Home Field Advantage doesn't exist. If so then HFDisadvantage also doesn't exist. Therefore whichever side you come down on regarding HFA it's going to be a 'wash' if we play Oakland.

 

However, if we play the Yankees, while I understand the statistics saying that HFA doesn't exist I have a lot of trouble believing that the Yankees with their short porch in RF and their 'strong men' with the ability to hit to RF doesn't give them a decided advantage when playing in YS.

 

Long and short, I'm glad we're playing game 7 (if necessary) in Fenway.

 

Or game 5.

[moonslav59]

Probably means nothing but since AS Break

Oakland 63 games 96 HRS

Yankees 65 games 103 HRS

Boston 62 Games 71 HRS

Make mistakes to Oakland or Yanks, ball goes a long way.

Don't under estimate Oaklands Power.

 

I won't but don't over estimate just second half numbers.

[dgalehouse]

Let's forget the bravado and just be sensible here. The Yankees are a much more dangerous opponent than the A's. There is really no comparison. The easiest route to the World Series is playing Oakland in the ALDS and ,hopefully, Cleveland in the ALCS. To say otherwise is foolish.

[vegasbob]

If I was opposing Manager against Red Sox, I would not let Mookie or JD hurt me, I'll take my chances with rest of Line-up.

 

An astute observation, but maybe include Bogaerts too. The other 6 hitters are sub .265 guys with modest power. The catchers cannot hit their weight, and maybe not the 3B man either. Moreland has hit about .200 in the second half. It's a challenge when your 2 utility guys, Holt and Nunez, represent the biggest threats. Maybe Pearce gives a pitcher some concern but not on a consistent basis.

[Bellhorn04]

An astute observation, but maybe include Bogaerts too. The other 6 hitters are sub .265 guys with modest power.

 

Huh? Benintendi is hitting .290.

[Bellhorn04]

Being the winningest and highest scoring team in baseball just isn't enough to impress people, I guess.

[moonslav59]

An astute observation, but maybe include Bogaerts too. The other 6 hitters are sub .265 guys with modest power. The catchers cannot hit their weight, and maybe not the 3B man either. Moreland has hit about .200 in the second half. It's a challenge when your 2 utility guys, Holt and Nunez, represent the biggest threats. Maybe Pearce gives a pitcher some concern but not on a consistent basis.

 

Pearce has been a monster. (.832 second half)

 

Beni & Bogey are both over .285 and an .825 OPS. Go ahead and walk Betts and JD to let these guys beat you.

 

All this talk of 2nd half meaning everything then if that's so, why neglect JBJ? He has an .816 OPS second half. Devers is .809 second half.

 

We have a pretty balanced line-up. Yes, our catchers are black holes, but we can PH for them twice a game.

[OH FOY]

They are impressive, I just wouldn't let those 2 guys beat me. Force the others to do it. Not saying cant be done. I would just want more pressure in a Play-off series on other guys. Basically, you got 2 MVP's on this team, I would do everything to take the bats out of their hands. I would think better chance against the Sox. Just Common sense to me. Most of these guys were in last years Play-off game against Houston and didn't do much, I would try to repeat it.

Last thing the pressure of the Play-offs effects all Players Butts different ways, that's why I throw out Regular Season, stats.

Edited September 29, 2018 by OH FOY!

[notin]

Being the winningest and highest scoring team in baseball just isn't enough to impress people, I guess.

 

Well when you watch a team play everyday, it gets easier to find all their flaws. And when rarely see a team, you rarely see their flaws. So therefore the team you watch less is less flawed and a better team...

[OH FOY]

Well when you watch a team play everyday, it gets easier to find all their flaws. And when rarely see a team, you rarely see their flaws. So therefore the team you watch less is less flawed and a better team...

 

True, but you don't need to be Tommy Lasorda to know the importance of Betts and JD is to this line-up. I'm sure this team has been Scouted pretty good, anyway.