Countdown to Playoffs - 2019 edition

[Slasher9]

The 4 games series with the Yankees next weekend could be a well defining series in the Red Sox season. If the Red Sox are swept again their chances to make this year postseason is slim to none.

 

no worries. we will win 3 out of the 4 games.

[Larry33]

I don't think anyone has any illusions about catching the Yankees . The new goal has to be getting the second wild card and taking our chances from there . The games with the Yankees are no more or no less important than the other games , with the exception of the series with the Rays .

 

The Rays are playing the Blue Jays that weekend most likely the Rays will do the usual which is fairing very well against the Jays who right now are playing a mash of young kids trying to figure out who to keep for the rebuild. This series could allow the Rays surmount a bigger lead in the wildcard standing and the end it could very well be 9.5 game lead in Tampa's favor. Right now I think every game counts as crucial in the hopes of making the postseason.

[Slasher9]

28 games to go.

 

ALE:

NYY

TB 11.5

BOS 15.5

 

WC:

CLE +1.5

OAK -

TB 1

BOS 5

 

the Playoff Bus is still pretty empty but there are a few of us on board.

Just keep putting up W's baby! lets get 3 more this weekend in Cali.....

 

25 games to go.

 

ALE:

NYY

TB 9

BOS 15

 

WC:

TB +0.5

CLE -

OAK 1

BOS 5.5

 

just about "must win" time. we only need to catch 2 out of the 3.

[Maxbialystock]

13 of the 25 games left are at Fenway, where the Sox to date are .500. And 9 games over .500 on the road. I'm no doubt wrong, but have the impression that Fenway is tough on weak pitchers, which the Sox have had in abundance this season.

 

Also three tough series--3 vs. the Twins, 4 vs. the Yankees, and 4 vs. the Rays--for a total of 11 games in those 25.

 

The Sox are battling three pretty good teams--Rays, Guardians, and A's--for the two wild card slots and are 5.5 and 6 games behind the Rays and Guardians.

 

The pitching remains problematical and the next 7 games are against two of the best hitting teams--Twins and Yankees--in MLB.

 

Not impossible, of course, but almost.

Edited September 3, 2019 by Maxbialystock

[Slasher9]

avatar updated for the playoff push.

git R dun.

[Slasher9]

25 games to go.

 

ALE:

NYY

TB 9

BOS 15

 

WC:

TB +0.5

CLE -

OAK 1

BOS 5.5

 

just about "must win" time. we only need to catch 2 out of the 3.

 

18 games to go.

 

ALE:

NYY

TB 9

 

 

WC:

TB +1.5

OAK -

CLE 0.5

BOS 8

 

we are entering the miracle zone.....

[dgalehouse]

Not saying the ship is sinking , but Sweet Caroline is being replaced by Nearer my God to Thee on the next homestand .

[Kimmi]

18 games to go.

 

ALE:

NYY

TB 9

 

 

WC:

TB +1.5

OAK -

CLE 0.5

BOS 8

 

we are entering the miracle zone.....

 

Not looking good, but miracles do happen.

[Larry33]

Magic number down to 9 with 9.0 GB for the final spot in the post season and being beaten by one of the worst team in the MLB with a line up of rookies should tell you a lot on how this season is pretty much over. Other than showing up for the remaining games heck even Cora knows this he didn't even bother to play Bogaerts one of the Red Sox best player this year and where every single games is so detrimental to the race.

[oldtimer]

Magic number down to 9 with 9.0 GB for the final spot in the post season and being beaten by one of the worst team in the MLB with a line up of rookies should tell you a lot on how this season is pretty much over. Other than showing up for the remaining games heck even Cora knows this he didn't even bother to play Bogaerts one of the Red Sox best player this year and where every single games is so detrimental to the race.

 

That has been Cora's mo all season and I believe a weak spot in his style. Of course its arguable that resting players at times may improve the overall results, I just hate to see us playing with a couple of weaker players and then lose by one. My main gripe is that many on the team lack that refuse to lose mentality and parade up to the plate and back. Are we not that good? Is there a lack of drive and desire? Is that coaching sub-standard. I don't know the answers to those questions, but we certainly look very weak as a team so something is wrong.

[notin]

That has been Cora's mo all season and I believe a weak spot in his style. Of course its arguable that resting players at times may improve the overall results, I just hate to see us playing with a couple of weaker players and then lose by one. My main gripe is that many on the team lack that refuse to lose mentality and parade up to the plate and back. Are we not that good? Is there a lack of drive and desire? Is that coaching sub-standard. I don't know the answers to those questions, but we certainly look very weak as a team so something is wrong.

 

Resting players is a good strategy if you actually make the postseason. At this point, what exactly is he resting them for?

[Bellhorn04]

That has been Cora's mo all season and I believe a weak spot in his style.

 

It was his mo last year, too, but the results were a lot different.

[Slasher9]

Resting players is a good strategy if you actually make the postseason. At this point, what exactly is he resting them for?

 

It was his mo last year, too, but the results were a lot different.

 

i can 1million percent see doing this last season. we were either right there or in first place most of the season and by the time september came along we had the division on auto pilot. 2018 was a perfect season for the "rest 25 year olds" strategy.

2019 we were scrambling from the first day of the season to get back in the race. there should have been limited (very limited) "rest days" this season. IMO.

[jacksonianmarch]

i can 1million percent see doing this last season. we were either right there or in first place most of the season and by the time september came along we had the division on auto pilot. 2018 was a perfect season for the "rest 25 year olds" strategy.

2019 we were scrambling from the first day of the season to get back in the race. there should have been limited (very limited) "rest days" this season. IMO.

 

Guys are built differently now than they were decades ago. They're far more muscular, which lends them to have more power and strength. But those large muscles need rest and recovery time. Pushing guys leads to injuries.

[jung]

Guys are built differently now than they were decades ago. They're far more muscular, which lends them to have more power and strength. But those large muscles need rest and recovery time. Pushing guys leads to injuries.

 

They are not as limber and as flexible as they once were either. Frankly, for baseball, I am not convinced that the current training approach is a lick better....just different and just geared to the direction MLB wants this game to take. How is that working for them? Come on....let me hear the usual stick our heads in the sand responses.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Putting weight rooms in baseball is similar to putting screen doors on submarines.

[Slasher9]

Guys are built differently now than they were decades ago. They're far more muscular, which lends them to have more power and strength. But those large muscles need rest and recovery time. Pushing guys leads to injuries.

 

let me know what large muscles the red sox outfielders have. or the red sox shortstop.

thanks.

[jung]

let me know what large muscles the red sox outfielders have. or the red sox shortstop.

thanks.

 

Have you seen Mookie in a bowling shirt? There are now two kinds of unis being worn by MLB players and none of them resemble the unis they used to wear:

- the uber-tight "look at my guns" uni ala' Puig for example

- the uber-relaxed fit that many of the PED users preferred as a means to hide their musculature.

 

Not saying the loose fit Jersey suggests PED use. Just saying its very popular.

[jacksonianmarch]

They are not as limber and as flexible as they once were either. Frankly, for baseball, I am not convinced that the current training approach is a lick better....just different and just geared to the direction MLB wants this game to take. How is that working for them? Come on....let me hear the usual stick our heads in the sand responses.

 

You’re seeing faster and stronger players. The downside is the higher injury rates. It comes with the territory

[jacksonianmarch]

let me know what large muscles the red sox outfielders have. or the red sox shortstop.

thanks.

 

Are you honestly saying that players nowadays aren’t more muscular than in years past? If so, I’d like to sell you some wonderful swamp land in Florida

[dgalehouse]

I have been hanging in there with this team , but it might now be time to give up the ship . They show no fight whatsoever . I don't know what the problem is . Very disappointing .

[Bellhorn04]

i can 1million percent see doing this last season. we were either right there or in first place most of the season and by the time september came along we had the division on auto pilot. 2018 was a perfect season for the "rest 25 year olds" strategy.

2019 we were scrambling from the first day of the season to get back in the race. there should have been limited (very limited) "rest days" this season. IMO.

 

Betts, Bogey and Devers have had very limited rest days this year. They are all among the leaders in games played.

[jung]

You’re seeing faster and stronger players. The downside is the higher injury rates. It comes with the territory

 

And the lack of flexibility for a game that if its to maintain its multidimensionality should prefer flexibility

And the lack of sustainable effort for a sport with a 162 game regular season

 

Its not a sprint and its not designed to be a sprint. There is that and for all this speed and quickness, do we really have better base stealers than the base stealers of the past? Do we really have many fielders outrunning baseballs or even getting good jumps or are they depending on positioning to make plays?

 

Granted, you would have a hard time convincing me that those purported to be base stealers actually study the pitchers and catchers they are attempting to steal against...that has been lost in the only spreadsheets and stats that seem to matter.....pitch spreadsheets and batting spreadsheets.

 

X is a pretty decent SS. But his range is not that great for example, especially going to his glove side. God help these middle infielders if they ever have to avoid onrushing baserunners again while trying to turn a DP. Good luck with that.

 

Stronger ....sure....whoopdie ding-dong. Did that prevent Manfred from bringing in successively hotter baseballs for three years out of four resulting in the 2019 Manfred Missile, buying the damned manufacturer along the way?

[Slasher9]

Are you honestly saying that players nowadays aren’t more muscular than in years past? If so, I’d like to sell you some wonderful swamp land in Florida

 

i will repeat it for you......let me know what large muscles the red sox outfielders have. or the red sox shortstop. thanks.

[Slasher9]

Betts, Bogey and Devers have had very limited rest days this year. They are all among the leaders in games played.

 

maybe so. perhaps last night wasnt the best night to sent X-bo?

[Bellhorn04]

maybe so. perhaps last night wasnt the best night to sent X-bo?

 

Were there any good days/nights to do it though?

[notin]

Were there any good days/nights to do it though?

 

There will be a bunch of them in October...

[Bellhorn04]

There will be a bunch of them in October...

 

Hardy har har.

[Larry33]

Resting players is a good strategy if you actually make the postseason. At this point, what exactly is he resting them for?

 

Showalter not using Zack Britton.

[Bellhorn04]

Showalter not using Zack Britton.

 

Not much of a comp. Showalter's mistake was waiting till he had a lead to use his closer.