ALDS rehash and ALCS assessment

[Bellhorn04]

Agreed, it’s about expectations. Last year was enjoyable and a success since it wasn’t expected. This year was not as successful. I’d say the Sox entered the year as World Series contenders, if not favorites. Expectations shouldn’t be an ALCS exit

 

But expectations have to be tempered by the fact we're actually an underdog on paper in this series. We're playing the defending champs, who posted an insane +263 run differential this year and then destroyed Cleveland by a total score of 21-6.

[FredLynn]

Scaled back is likely and not necessarily bad if the slider and changeup are working.

 

We will not get the "scaled back Sale". He had all his pitches working, including a 96mph FB, against the Yankees. He might get beat but I can't see him losing his fastball again. I think if he gets beat its because Verlander tosses a gem and our offense fails to support Sale.

[sk7326]

So if the Stros go out and sweep the sox in the ALCS, you'll call this a good season? I doubt that entirely. Your team is squarely within their window. You have to win a title

either this year or next or Dombrowski's plans were a failure

 

The Red Sox had a great season. Any team that won 108 games had a great season. Winning the tournament is a different deal - and we know the baseball season is the worst of all the sports at identifying the best team. There is nothing a GM can do to guarantee a world series winner. Billy Beane was a bit glib when he said (something to the effect of) his job as a GM ends with the postseason ... but it's largely true.

 

Now it's just about winning the 11 games (now 8). And since we know that the Baltimore Orioles were one of two MLB teams to hold the Yankees without a homerun in back to back games at the Stadium this year ... that shows just how much "nothing matters". Don't get me wrong - the title is what we live for, but it's also something an 85-77 and 83-78 team have done in my lifetime. Those aren't exactly great GM'ing jobs.

[sk7326]

But expectations have to be tempered by the fact we're actually an underdog on paper in this series. We're playing the defending champs, who posted an insane +263 run differential this year and then destroyed Cleveland by a total score of 21-6.

 

Right - and it also proves how the baseball playoff is virtually single elimination. The Red Sox had that rotten weekend at Tampa Bay, and it was barely a blip. Here, it's the end of your season.

[Emp9]

BTW - DoDamage was taken from a Brian Cashman quote earlier this season when he said the NYY were the only team to do damage to the Red Sox. ahahahahahaha. thanks Brian!

 

Holy crap you’re right, I didn’t put that together. Ha! I like these Red Sox. They know how to troll back.

[Maxbialystock]

Sox have the best record, 108 wins, but are underdogs in the ALDS and ALCS. Fine with me. Worthy adversaries. Adds to the anticipation, especially for tonight. Ain’t it great?

[notin]

you better rethink your application for that Mets job notin. They may have a contract clause saying you can't post to Talksox.

 

Yes I have a very big fear that the Mets will pass me by because of my posting activity here. No other reason makes sense..,

 

😀

[Tedballgame]

Anytime the Sox can eliminate the Yankees twice at Yankee Stadium in a single season, that makes it a successful season in my eyes. The WS would be a cherry on top of the hot fudge sundae I am already enjoying. Having Yankee trolls like Jacksonianmarch and Billywilliams have to eat crow is also enjoyable. I said three weeks ago the Sox would beat the Yankees and they were both popping off. YES may have some replays they can watch while Sox fans are watching the ALCS.

[cp176]

Yes I have a very big fear that the Mets will pass me by because of my posting activity here. No other reason makes sense..,

 

 

You just might need to the right people to refer you. I'll do what I can!

[d-money]

I understand that view, absolutely.

 

I think if we lose this series but give Houston a tough time it'll still be a successful season. On paper (run differential), Houston is the best team in MLB this year.

 

This is not the same team from last season. They’re beatable. I would hate to lose again to them. Our players need to do a better job this time around.

[FredLynn]

Sox have the best record, 108 wins, but are underdogs in the ALDS and ALCS. Fine with me. Worthy adversaries. Adds to the anticipation, especially for tonight. Ain’t it great?

 

I do not bet much, but if I am reading the odds correctly the Sox are favored to win the series in Vegas. They are at anywhere from -110 to -125. I think the negative number means that in order to win $100 you would have to bet $110-$125. The Astros are at +105-+110.

 

http://www.vegasinsider.com/mlb/odds/las-vegas/

[jung]

Seen what I think are hysterical baseball talking head predictions for this series, such as Astros in 5. How do you get yourself to that one? Is that one Sox split here and then lose all three games in Houston?

 

I can see Astros in 6 if somebody was going to make an argument for the Astros. But I can't see 5 games happening for either team. If (and I do mean if) a case could be made for one of these teams in 5 games, it would have to be Sox given the first 2 games are here. Honestly I think 5 games is unrealistic for either team. I still think this series goes 7 and well it should.

[Bellhorn04]

I do not bet much, but if I am reading the odds correctly the Sox are favored to win the series in Vegas. They are at anywhere from -110 to -125. I think the negative number means that in order to win $100 you would have to bet $110-$125. The Astros are at +105-+110.

 

http://www.vegasinsider.com/mlb/odds/las-vegas/

 

Correction, the Sox are only favored to win tonight's game. If you click to the MLB Future Odds page you'll see that Houston is favored to win the ALCS.

[sk7326]

This is not the same team from last season. They’re beatable. I would hate to lose again to them. Our players need to do a better job this time around.

 

they were beatable last year too. There is no reason to be scared of them. there is no reason to believe this series is a sure thing.

[FredLynn]

Correction, the Sox are only favored to win tonight's game. If you click to the MLB Future Odds page you'll see that Houston is favored to win the ALCS.

 

Got it. The Astros should be favored. Their pitching is superior to ours. And until someone dethrones them they are the champions. If we can somehow hold serve in the first two games I like our chances.

[moonslav59]

Correction, the Sox are only favored to win tonight's game. If you click to the MLB Future Odds page you'll see that Houston is favored to win the ALCS.

 

If we win this game, which is no sure thing, my guess we will then be favorites to win the whole series.

[moonslav59]

Got it. The Astros should be favored. Their pitching is superior to ours. And until someone dethrones them they are the champions. If we can somehow hold serve in the first two games I like our chances.

 

Being last year's champion means very little, if not nothing.

 

Teams change too much from year to year. We are not the same team and neither are they.

[jung]

Got it. The Astros should be favored. Their pitching is superior to ours. And until someone dethrones them they are the champions. If we can somehow hold serve in the first two games I like our chances.

 

Yea I agree with the Astros being a slight favorite, but only slight. Talking heads picking Astros in 5 should just nut up and tell it like it is. Astros in 5 means they don't think the Sox belong on the same field with the Astros in a 7 game series. They should just own up to how they really feel and say they think its Astros in 5 and a possible sweep at that. Its just a BS pick IMO.

[d-money]

I feel game for 1 is very big for this team. Hope betts gets out of that funk.

[Slasher9]

Anytime the Sox can eliminate the Yankees twice at Yankee Stadium in a single season, that makes it a successful season in my eyes. The WS would be a cherry on top of the hot fudge sundae I am already enjoying. Having Yankee trolls like Jacksonianmarch and Billywilliams have to eat crow is also enjoyable. I said three weeks ago the Sox would beat the Yankees and they were both popping off. YES may have some replays they can watch while Sox fans are watching the ALCS.

Perfect post.

[Hitch]

Being last year's champion means very little, if not nothing.

 

Teams change too much from year to year. We are not the same team and neither are they.

 

You don't think winning it the previous year brings with it a degree of experience (and possibly calm) during the heat of play off baseball? Of course it means something.

[moonslav59]

You don't think winning it the previous year brings with it a degree of experience (and possibly calm) during the heat of play off baseball? Of course it means something.

 

No, I actually think winning the year before makes it harder to win again.

 

No team has won back to back since '99-'00.

 

The SFG are the only team to win 2 in 3 years ('10 & '12).

 

Complacency is as real as experience- not that I'm calling the 'stros complacent, but team focus on learning ways to beat the "team to beat", and i think the Sox improved enough to beat them.

Edited October 13, 2018 by moonslav59

[OH FOY]

You know what beats complacency.....Good Pitching. And Houston improved their Pitching from last year. They won over 100 games back to back years, and this year the Astros had a lot of injuries to their Core guys. I expect a dogfight. Edited October 13, 2018 by OH FOY!

[d-money]

You know what beats complacency.....Good Pitching. And Houston improved their Pitching from last year. They won over 100 games back to back years, and this year the Astros had a lot of injuries to their Core guys. I expect a dogfight.

 

You have to beat good pitching in the playoffs no matter what happens. Just hope this team doesn’t act like it won the whole enchilada after beating the skankees.

[jung]

Brewers Manager Counsell really backed himself into a corner when he used Hader for 3 innings yesterday making him unavailable for today. But that is not what really has him in a pickle. Wade Miley was cruising and had two outs in the 6th when he gave up a base hit pitching a shutout at about 72 pitches (I think). Had gotten 16 Dodgers in a row before that hit and Counsell pulled him regardless of knowing the sequencing in his pen always relies on Hader being available. Brewers pen promptly pukes up 2 runs in the 7th combined between Burnes with Jeffress who finally got the 3rd out. But an inning later Jeffress who probably should not have come put for the 8th, pukes up the lead as well. Jeffress was terrible yesterday and was not any better today.

 

Nobody would have blamed Counsell for staying with Miley because everybody knew Hader could not pitch today. Counsell and his insistence on pulling Miley knowing he did not have Hader a bit exposed today. LA trying to close out game 2 now.

[Hitch]

No, I actually think winning the year before makes it harder to win again.

 

No team has won back to back since '99-'00.

 

The SFG are the only team to win 2 in 3 years ('10 & '12).

 

Complacency is as real as experience- not that I'm calling the 'stros complacent, but team focus on learning ways to beat the "team to beat", and i think the Sox improved enough to beat them.

 

Teams don't win back to back very often because it's a very hard thing to do, but having the experience of doing it before is certainly an extra positive you'd be happy to be able to lean on, experience wise. Trying to paint it any other way is crazy.

[Jason33]

We should be the favorites period. We won 108 games. I know they won 103. I think the pressure is a little bit more on us more than the Astros, because of winning 108 games. Plus they won the WS last year. That said Sale can atone for last year and dominate tonight!

[Thunder]

Ok, so... I REALLY want this t-shirt. https://www.overthemonster.com/2018/10/11/17965884/red-sox-yankees-alds-start-spreading-the-news-shirt

 

I can't find the URL at the moment, but a couple days ago I came across a shirt that says Time to Party with Eck's silhouette wearing a Red Sox hat. That one's pretty slick as well

[Jason33]

Verlander looks very sharp so far and Sale looks very hittable. He just looks off period. His velocity is all over the place and he can’t find the strike zone. I say take him out and save him for game three or four. Hopefully I’m wrong and he can get some quick innings in and at least get us through the fifth. I’m tired of Verlander he’s got his ring we need to light him up.

[Jason33]

Dam Betts swinging at the first dam pitch with the bases loaded. He’s been awesome but dam Verlander just walked 3 in a row.