In Case of a Tie

[jacksonianmarch]

Let’s say the Sox and Yanks tie atop the division and need to play a tie breaker before the wild card play in game. The loser would head to the wild card game. The winner would take their #1 or #2 seed in the playoffs.

 

Assuming your players are healthy, do you start your ace vs the Yankees or do you try to win with Porcello and save Sale for an elimination game? For the Yanks, would we save Sevy for the elimination game and start CC or Tanaka?

 

If I managed the Yanks, I’d probably go CC vs the Sox as he has the track record and it saves Sevy for the play in game which is a true elimination game. If I managed the Sox, that’s a tougher question. Sale is the unquestioned ace yet do you want to burn him in what would not be an elimination game? What are the thoughts of the group here?

[Slasher9]

if it comes down to the last days of the season for the division neither team will be able to set their rotation for game 163 or for the play-in game. it will be whomevers spot it is in the rotation as i would expect both teams will be going all out that final week to try and win the division during 162 games.....

[jacksonianmarch]

I’m assuming we have the option to set our rotation. Clearly that’s not the easiest thing to do, but assuming we could, who would you start?

[greenwell]

If the race is that close then you don't have a chance to set up the rotation the way you want in the end of the season so the pitcher depends on where they are in the rotation. Having said that, if you have a choice you throw Sale against the Yankees. Even though the wildcard is an elimination game, the two games together are a win one of two scenario and you're better off winning the first one.

[Maxbialystock]

Let’s say the Sox and Yanks tie atop the division and need to play a tie breaker before the wild card play in game. The loser would head to the wild card game. The winner would take their #1 or #2 seed in the playoffs.

 

Assuming your players are healthy, do you start your ace vs the Yankees or do you try to win with Porcello and save Sale for an elimination game? For the Yanks, would we save Sevy for the elimination game and start CC or Tanaka?

 

If I managed the Yanks, I’d probably go CC vs the Sox as he has the track record and it saves Sevy for the play in game which is a true elimination game. If I managed the Sox, that’s a tougher question. Sale is the unquestioned ace yet do you want to burn him in what would not be an elimination game? What are the thoughts of the group here?

 

I agree with the others. You have supposed a hypothetical decision that is very unlikely--being able to pick the starter for game 163 after finishing in a tie for the first 162. By the 163d game, the Sox would almost certainly have been expending all pitching resources just to avoid the tie which would lead to having to play not one but two single elimination games to get to the ALDS.

 

The other part is that we still have almost half a season to play and something could happen to Sale, Severino, Sabathia, or the others from both rotations.

 

Oh, and we do get it that in the last two series the Yankees took 4 of 6 and that your OP is simply a reminder that not one but two Yankee starters have the Sox number right now. That could change.

[Dojji]

There's no point saving Sale for the sake of having a chance to lose. Empty the magazine on the game in front of you in a situation like that.

[Kimmi]

I would start Price against the Yankees.

[Kimmi]

There's no point saving Sale for the sake of having a chance to lose. Empty the magazine on the game in front of you in a situation like that.

 

Completely agree. If we could set our rotation the way we wanted, Sale would get the start against the Yankees.

[Bellhorn04]

There's no point saving Sale for the sake of having a chance to lose. Empty the magazine on the game in front of you in a situation like that.

 

Empty the magazine is a good way to put it.

[notin]

There's no point saving Sale for the sake of having a chance to lose. Empty the magazine on the game in front of you in a situation like that.

 

The counter argument is that if you don’t star Sale, it makes him available for the Wild Card game if you lose or game 1 of the ALDS if you win...

[Kimmi]

The counter argument is that if you don’t star Sale, it makes him available for the Wild Card game if you lose or game 1 of the ALDS if you win...

 

I can see that argument for a tie breaker game, since the team will go on either way.

 

I would still start Sale against the Yankees. I think our other starters are good enough to beat whoever we had to beat in the Wild Card game if it came to that.

[notin]

I can see that argument for a tie breaker game, since the team will go on either way.

 

I would still start Sale against the Yankees. I think our other starters are good enough to beat whoever we had to beat in the Wild Card game if it came to that.

 

To me I’d think it makes get be situational.

 

If the other wild card team had their ace ready to go and runs might be at a premium, it might be worthwhile to roll the dice with another pitcher against the Yankees and save Sale for an ace matchup in the WC game. But if the opposing ace pitches a day or two before, I might be more likely to pitch Sale vs NY and just bypass that game, knowing if I am in it my secondary guy might outpitch theirs...

Edited July 5, 2018 by notin

[Kimmi]

To me I’d think it makes get be situational.

 

If the other wild card team had their ace ready to go and runs might be at a premium, it might be worthwhile to roll the dice with another pitcher against the Yankees and save Sale for an ace matchup in the WC game. But if the opposing ace pitches a day or two before, I might be more likely to pitch Sale vs NY and just bypass that game, knowing if I am in it my secondary guy might outfield theirs...

 

Fair points.

 

If we're assuming that the Sox can line up their rotation the way we want, then we have to assume the other teams can as well. So, we'd likely be facing an ace in the wild card game.

[jacksonianmarch]

The counter argument is that the tie breaker is not an elimination game. The Wild Card game is. Do you blow through your ace in the tiebreaker and risk having your 2 or 3 pitch in the WC game with your season on the line?

[jacksonianmarch]

Also, right now the Mariners have a 7 game lead on Oakland for the WC. I don't believe Oakland stays in the playoff picture this year. I also don't think the M's hang with the Astros by the end. My bet is the M's win the AL WC2 and will line up Paxton for that game

[Slasher9]

. My bet is the M's win the AL WC2 and will line up Paxton for that game

 

hope he beats you.

[notin]

Fair points.

 

If we're assuming that the Sox can line up their rotation the way we want, then we have to assume the other teams can as well. So, we'd likely be facing an ace in the wild card game.

 

Possible.

 

Also possible the other WC team takes all 162 games to hold off another team. It’s just another factor to potentially consider...

[Youk Of The Nation]

I say start Porcello, he's capable of winning and conversely, the Yankees are capable of beating anyone, including Sale, in a one-game playoff. Too much to risk by using Sale and losing anyways, and then needing to use Price or Porcello for an elimination game. I want Sale for either a WC game or game 1 of the DS.

[vegasbob]

Let’s say the Sox and Yanks tie atop the division and need to play a tie breaker before the wild card play in game. The loser would head to the wild card game. The winner would take their #1 or #2 seed in the playoffs.

 

Assuming your players are healthy, do you start your ace vs the Yankees or do you try to win with Porcello and save Sale for an elimination game? For the Yanks, would we save Sevy for the elimination game and start CC or Tanaka?

 

If I managed the Yanks, I’d probably go CC vs the Sox as he has the track record and it saves Sevy for the play in game which is a true elimination game. If I managed the Sox, that’s a tougher question. Sale is the unquestioned ace yet do you want to burn him in what would not be an elimination game? What are the thoughts of the group here?

 

One small matter is that your team can only win (or lose) the game you are playing, not tomorrows. Win todays and expect your next guy up to have the ability to win his. If the Sox let CC or Severino dominate their minds over their abilities , then shame on them.

[vegasbob]

Also note the head to head 3 game series at Fenway between these two teams. If the hypothetical race comes down to the end that tight, you can be assured that Severino, CC , along with Sale and Porcello will have pitched in that series, and not be available for the tie game or possibly the elimination game. So now we are looking at Erod and whoever is the Sox #5 guy for those two potential games. How deep is the Yankee rotation when arms and psyches are pretty tired.

 

Boone and Cora will not admit it but if they haven't already considered this twist , they will be lying.

[dustcover]

A lot depends on the last three games of the season against the Yankees. Per the standings, how many of the final three will the Sox have to win to secure the title and/or how many wins of the three to create a tie. This synopsis will create an intriguing strategy as to the pitching rotation for both teams just to complete the regular 162-game season.

 

Then if there is a tie, how the respective managers used their respective starters for those final three games will contribute mightily to who they send to the mound for the tie-breaker.

[Spudboy]

I would start Price against the Yankees.

 

This is the best answer so far.

 

Start Price and win.

 

No better way to shove it up the Yankee asses unless the Sox are down 3-0 in the LCS.

 

f*** the Yankees.

[jd98]

If you win the tiebreaker, there is no elimination game, so why would you not try your best (ie start Sale) to win that one. I'm not seeing any difference between this scenario and game 6 of the LCS (or game 4 of LDS). If by magic, you had everyone available with no rest issues for game 6, wouldn't you start the best guy in game 6 (ignoring factors like matchups/ballpark/etc that may sway decision)

[oldtimer]

Probably be Eovaldi against DeGrom.

[cp176]

Probably be Eovaldi against DeGrom.

 

Still can't get over how dimwitted this one game playin might be. Only good thing is that the Sox will play hard to the wire. Much more entertaining.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

This is the best answer so far.

 

Start Price and win.

 

No better way to shove it up the Yankee asses unless the Sox are down 3-0 in the LCS.

 

f*** the Yankees.

 

Start Price and win? You're asking a lot, Spud.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

The only thing I can post that's not speculation is that for the Yankems and SOX to be tied at the end of the season, one of the teams going into the final 3 game series will either have a 1 game lead or a 3 game lead. Based on that reality there's no way either team will be holding back their best pitcher to pitch in a tie breaker unless, by coincidence, it's his turn in the rotation. But to answer the brain-twister on the original post, I would start Sale in a tie breaker. Edited July 6, 2018 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[harmony]

Earlier this week a Seattle radio broadcaster commented that if the Mariners capture a distant second Wild Card slot by a confortable margin, as projected, a down-to-the-wire race in the AL East would help the M’s because the club could give its starters more rest than could the Wild Card entrant from the AL East.

[jacksonianmarch]

He is right

[S5Dewey]

Earlier this week a Seattle radio broadcaster commented that if the Mariners capture a distant second Wild Card slot by a confortable margin, as projected, a down-to-the-wire race in the AL East would help the M’s because the club could give its starters more rest than could the Wild Card entrant from the AL East.

 

Yep. We could have two teams in the AL East with over 100 wins and one of them will be playing a team with possibly

 

That points out precisely what is wrong with the current wild card system.