Countdown to Playoffs - 2019 edition

[fxkatt]

If we were in the NL, we would be in the thick of that 4-5 team wildcard race.

[vegasbob]

If we were in the NL, we would be in the thick of that 4-5 team wildcard race.

 

And JD Martinez would be playing for another team.

[harmony]

If we were in the NL, we would be in the thick of that 4-5 team wildcard race.

If the Red Sox were in the National League the Sox might not be eight games above .500.

 

Excluding games against the Orioles and Blue Jays, the Red Sox are under .500, including a 10-10 record against NL clubs.

[oldtimer]

If the Red Sox were in the National League the Sox might not be eight games above .500.

 

Excluding games against the Orioles and Blue Jays, the Red Sox are under .500, including a 10-10 record against NL clubs.

 

The Sox are playing with many of their higher paid stars injured. Hard to compete when we have severe problems in those areas.

[fxkatt]

Both the Mets and the Sox have had similarly disappointing years, but the Mets are still in the race. And given the wider parity of the NL, I think we wd be there too, even without our DH. (And maybe our starters would average 6 innings a game instead of 5.1 and thus give our rather weak BP less work)

 

No excuses, tho, this was a bad year for us in a weaker than usual AL. Hell, even the Yanks will have 106 wins (ha)

[moonslav59]

The Sox are playing with many of their higher paid stars injured. Hard to compete when we have severe problems in those areas.

 

The Yanks had 10 times the injuries we have had.

[dgalehouse]

If we were in the NL, we would be in the thick of that 4-5 team wildcard race.

 

I doubt it . Having J.D. at DH is a big part of our offense . And the N.L. is much improved and more well balanced . Not so many tanking teams to beat up on . Now , if we could play an A.L. schedule and be in the N.L. standings , it would be great .

[Bellhorn04]

If the Red Sox were in the National League the Sox might not be eight games above .500.

 

Excluding games against the Orioles and Blue Jays, the Red Sox are under .500, including a 10-10 record against NL clubs.

 

Our games against the Orioles and Blue Jays are offset by our games against the Yankees and Rays.

[moonslav59]

I doubt it . Having J.D. at DH is a big part of our offense . And the N.L. is much improved and more well balanced . Not so many tanking teams to beat up on . Now , if we could play an A.L. schedule and be in the N.L. standings , it would be great .

 

We'd have traded Beni for a pitcher, if we were in the NL.

[harmony]

Our games against the Orioles and Blue Jays are offset by our games against the Yankees and Rays.

The Yankees and Rays are a combined 73 games above .500 while the Orioles and Blue Jays are a combined 84 games below .500.

 

The Red Sox fatten their win total playing in an American League East that has a cumulative record under .500 (381-383). In contrast, the stronger and more balanced American League West has a significantly better cumulative record at 400-365.

Edited September 20, 2019 by harmony

[Bellhorn04]

The Yankees and Rays are a combined 73 games above .500 while the Orioles and Blue Jays are a combined 84 games below .500.

 

The Red Sox fatten their win total playing in an American League East that has a cumulative record under .500 (381-383). In contrast, the stronger and more balanced American League West has a significantly better cumulative record at 400-365.

 

The Red Sox have a 16-15 record against the mighty AL West.

[mvp 78]

Ban harmony.

[Bellhorn04]

The Yankees and Rays are a combined 73 games above .500 while the Orioles and Blue Jays are a combined 84 games below .500.

 

The Red Sox fatten their win total playing in an American League East that has a cumulative record under .500 (381-383). In contrast, the stronger and more balanced American League West has a significantly better cumulative record at 400-365.

 

The AL West was gifted with the Houston Astros.

[moonslav59]

The AL West was gifted with the Houston Astros.

 

They sucked, at first.

[Bellhorn04]

They sucked, at first.

 

Yep. But now they're fattening up the win total of the division.

[oldtimer]

The Yanks had 10 times the injuries we have had.

 

But they have a superior stock of backup players.

[moonslav59]

But they have a superior stock of backup players.

 

Their back-up to their back-ups blew us away.

[Bellhorn04]

Their back-up to their back-ups blew us away.

 

Greatest set of back-ups in baseball history. Yanks are having one of the weirdest successful seasons of the ages.

[fxkatt]

Greatest set of back-ups in baseball history. Yanks are having one of the weirdest successful seasons of the ages.

 

You said it... about the Yanks' season. Truly bizarre. But I'm picking Houston if they have home field advantage. Otherwise, I would prefer not to bet and won't. (I also wonder how all these mid-range players will do under playoff pressure, but the starting pitchers right now are better than ever)

[moonslav59]

You said it... about the Yanks' season. Truly bizarre. But I'm picking Houston if they have home field advantage. Otherwise, I would prefer not to bet and won't. (I also wonder how all these mid-range players will do under playoff pressure, but the starting pitchers right now are better than ever)

 

To me, the Astros & Dodgers are better, on paper.

[harmony]

Yep. But now they're fattening up the win total of the division.

So far this year the Astros have handed out 49 losses to American League West opponents. That's not inflating the division's win total.

 

The AL West, like all divisions, has a cumulative .500 record in intra-division games.

 

While the AL East had an overall cumulative losing record entering Friday's games, the AL West was 35 games above .500.

 

But, hey, the Orioles beat the Mariners on Friday.

[Slasher9]

AL East > AL West

[harmony]

AL East > AL West

In losses.

[illinoisredsox]

AL East > AL West

 

In losses.

 

For what it’s worth (as of this moment):

 

AL West has 176 wins against the East and Central

AL East has 164 wins against the Central and the West

AL Central has 147 wins against the East and West

 

I did not include inter league games because the teams aren’t playing the same slate.

 

Have to give it to the West this year. There is also no equivalent of the Tigers, Royals and Orioles in the West.

Edited September 21, 2019 by illinoisredsox

[notin]

The AL West is truly awesome. That’s why they’ve won almost as many World Series titles as the lowly Red Sox since the AL re-aligned with 3 divisions 25 years ago...

[illinoisredsox]

The AL West is truly awesome. That’s why they’ve won almost as many World Series titles as the lowly Red Sox since the AL re-aligned with 3 divisions 25 years ago...

 

That’s one way of viewing it, and if you want go over several years, sure. For an individual year, no. Are you really going to say that the best division in baseball in 2006 was the NL Central because the Cards won the a World Series after an 86 win season?

[notin]

That’s one way of viewing it, and if you want go over several years, sure. For an individual year, no. Are you really going to say that the best division in baseball in 2006 was the NL Central because the Cards won the a World Series after an 86 win season?

 

... which is why I opted for the WSC method over 25 years. You might not recognize it, but it actually is a frequent argument of harmony’s when some calls the NL weak or something...