Countdown to Playoffs - 2019 edition

[Bellhorn04]

We are now 15 games behind the Yankees in the loss column. That is incredible. And when you think how decimated by injuries the Yankees are and have been , it is mind boggling.

 

We're also 6 in the loss column back of the Rays, who you said were gonna go away.

 

Crazy game.

[dgalehouse]

We're also 6 in the loss column back of the Rays, who you said were gonna go away.

 

Crazy game.

 

True . I did think they would go away . But they have not . I still think catching them is a possibility, although it's not looking like a very good one at the moment . And my personal feeling is that the second wild card is a bogus gimmick. I don't think second wild card teams deserve a shot at the brass ring . And if they get the shot , get hot ( lucky ) and win it all , it is an injustice.

[notin]

True . I did think they would go away . But they have not . I still think catching them is a possibility, although it's not looking like a very good one at the moment . And my personal feeling is that the second wild card is a bogus gimmick. I don't think second wild card teams deserve a shot at the brass ring . And if they get the shot , get hot ( lucky ) and win it all , it is an injustice.

 

I give more credence to second wild card teams than some of these division winners.

 

The 2006 Cardinals went 83-78, but made the postseason solely because the rest of the NL Central couldn’t even win 83 games. The Cardinals won on the basis of having similar geography to a bunch of shittier teams. They also got lucky in October and won the WS.

 

But because they were the least incompetent team out of 6 (yes, 6 back then) in the NL Central, they were a legitimate postseason team? The Phillies, White Sox, Angels, Blue Jays and Red Sox all won more games than the Cardinals (while playing in divisions with better teams) and missed the playoffs...

[dgalehouse]

I give more credence to second wild card teams than some of these division winners.

 

The 2006 Cardinals went 83-78, but made the postseason solely because the rest of the NL Central couldn’t even win 83 games. The Cardinals won on the basis of having similar geography to a bunch of shittier teams. They also got lucky in October and won the WS.

 

But because they were the least incompetent team out of 6 (yes, 6 back then) in the NL Central, they were a legitimate postseason team? The Phillies, White Sox, Angels, Blue Jays and Red Sox all won more games than the Cardinals (while playing in divisions with better teams) and missed the playoffs...

That is always a possibility. Sometimes it could be because of a weaker division . Or maybe just a better balanced division. But at least , after a 162 game season , they won the division. That counts for something. One wild card allows for a really good team , finishing second in a tough division, to get a shot . But two wild cards is just a means to maintain fan interest late in the season . A team could actually finish third in a five team division and still get another bite of the apple , so to speak . And we all know that anything can happen in a short series. I think it cheapens the regular season and the division races .

[jacksonianmarch]

The second wild card wasn't a gimmick. It was in response to there being almost no penalty for not winning your division. Wild card teams, at the time, had just as much or even more success in making the WS than the division winners. The extra wild card was as much about making the WC teams burn their aces and have to win a winner take all game as it was about adding a 5th team to each league

[dgalehouse]

The second wild card wasn't a gimmick. It was in response to there being almost no penalty for not winning your division. Wild card teams, at the time, had just as much or even more success in making the WS than the division winners. The extra wild card was as much about making the WC teams burn their aces and have to win a winner take all game as it was about adding a 5th team to each league

 

It may have that effect , but I don't think that was the reason for it's existence. And you could make a case that the second wild card is not fair to the first wild card team . And , in the end , they still have a chance to win it all .

[jacksonianmarch]

It may have that effect , but I don't think that was the reason for it's existence. And you could make a case that the second wild card is not fair to the first wild card team . And , in the end , they still have a chance to win it all .

 

Yes they do, but I remember the commentary at the time. Home field isn't as important as it is in football or basketball. Hockey it doesn't matter at all, but I digress. So the only detriment for a WC was they wouldn't have home field in the ALDS or ALCS and then could get home field for the WS based on the AS game result (at the time). Too many WC teams made the WS. The league used this as the means for adding the final wild card slot. That being said, by adding another WC slot, they added some intrigue to the final month of the year

[Slasher9]

48 games to go.

 

ALE:

NYY

TB 8

BOS 14.5

 

WC:

CLE +2

TB -

OAK 0.5

BOS 6.5

 

time to regroup. i dont know if WTF ever gave his team meeting speech in the bronx but he may want to bust it out now?

 

the good news is we still only need to leapfrog 2 teams to get the last WC spot.

I have almost given up on the division. not close to giving up on WC playin game.

[harmony]

48 games to go.

 

ALE:

NYY

TB 8

BOS 14.5

 

WC:

CLE +2

TB -

OAK 0.5

BOS 6.5

 

time to regroup. i dont know if WTF ever gave his team meeting speech in the bronx but he may want to bust it out now?

 

the good news is we still only need to leapfrog 2 teams to get the last WC spot.

I have almost given up on the division. not close to giving up on WC playin game.

Perhaps the Rangers and Angels have not given up on the Wild Card either.

[Slasher9]

Perhaps the Rangers and Angels have not given up on the Wild Card either.

 

no doubt. and they will make my chart if they jump ahead of the Red Sox. or not.

[Ancient_Mariner]

Maybe they could bring in a hypnotist for a team talk, take them all a year back in time Remdog mentioned this a couple of games ago........They must need a laugh right ? and so do we.....Things can't get any worse

[Kimmi]

No time like the present to start our extreme playoff run.

 

Let's go!

[OH FOY]

Rays are on a 92 wins pace. Sox have to go 31-14 rest of way to reach this. I feel 90 at least. Sox need to go 29-16 for this.

[vegasbob]

Rays are on a 92 wins pace. Sox have to go 31-14 rest of way to reach this. I feel 90 at least. Sox need to go 29-16 for this.

 

The 2019 red Sox will finish 84-78, a 24 game drop from their previous incredible regular season. The good news is that they will not lose a single playoff game this year, unlike the WS Championship year of 2018 when they lost 3 post season games. As DD syas, this is a good team.

[Slasher9]

42 games to go.

 

ALE:

NYY

TB 8.5

BOS 16.5

 

WC:

CLE/MIN +2.5

TB -

OAK 1.5

BOS 7.5

 

going in the wrong direction.

Can someone punch up the biggest drop in regular season wins for the defending champs? we have to be headed right there with one of those Marlins teams......

September is going to be extra sucky for us as we dont even have anybody exciting in the minors to bring up and see what they got.

I am now 1 million percent convinced JH will fully reset the LT next season.

Porcello will not be replaced by a high priced FA

JBj will not be offered anything.

1b, 2b, CF will come from within.

like i have said previously we should 100% trade Mookie this offseason. i am setting odds at 50/50 right now for this to happen. line will shift depending on who the new GM is......

wonder if Ben still has Boston residence???

[moonslav59]

42 games to go.

 

ALE:

NYY

TB 8.5

BOS 16.5

 

WC:

CLE/MIN +2.5

TB -

OAK 1.5

BOS 7.5

 

going in the wrong direction.

Can someone punch up the biggest drop in regular season wins for the defending champs? we have to be headed right there with one of those Marlins teams......

September is going to be extra sucky for us as we dont even have anybody exciting in the minors to bring up and see what they got.

I am now 1 million percent convinced JH will fully reset the LT next season.

Porcello will not be replaced by a high priced FA

JBj will not be offered anything.

1b, 2b, CF will come from within.

like i have said previously we should 100% trade Mookie this offseason. i am setting odds at 50/50 right now for this to happen. line will shift depending on who the new GM is......

wonder if Ben still has Boston residence???

 

Remember when we dumped CC and Beckett's contracts by including AGon in the deal to LA?

 

Those days are gone. There are no suckers like that anymore, but it would be nice to be ale to trade Price, Castillo, JBJ and Pedey with Betts and try and rebuild in one winter.

[illinoisredsox]

Remember when we dumped CC and Beckett's contracts by including AGon in the deal to LA?

 

Those days are gone. There are no suckers like that anymore, but it would be nice to be ale to trade Price, Castillo, JBJ and Pedey with Betts and try and rebuild in one winter.

 

 

How are you going to trade a guy who will never play again (Pedroia)?

[jacksonianmarch]

You could probably jettison some contracts if you include Devers. AdGon returned so much because the Dodgers were starved to win and AdGon was under contract for awhile. Becket wasn’t a stiff either and the Sox sold Crawford as a guy who needed a change of scenery. Edited August 12, 2019 by jacksonianmarch

[notin]

You could probably jettison some contracts if you include Devers. AdGon returned so much because the Dodgers were starved to win and AdGon was under contract for awhile. Becket wasn’t a stiff either and the Sox sold Crawford as a guy who needed a change of scenery.

 

 

Reportedly they’re trying to get under $200mill, not $50mill.

 

They’ll trade Betts and non-tender Bradley, Hembree, and Wright. They might even trade Barnes. I doubt they move Bogaerts, but it is possible. I doubt they have to move Vazquez or Benintendi.

 

They’ll also obviously let all the free agents walk, likely with no Qualifying Offers. Not that any would get one under any other set of circumstances...

[Larry33]

Count down to the playoffs if there's one thing for certain the Red Sox are not making it this year. If you can't beat some of mediocre teams in baseball this picture is becoming quite bleak very fast.

[harmony]

Can someone punch up the biggest drop in regular season wins for the defending champs? we have to be headed right there with one of those Marlins teams......

September is going to be extra sucky for us as we dont even have anybody exciting in the minors to bring up and see what they got.

I am now 1 million percent convinced JH will fully reset the LT next season.

Porcello will not be replaced by a high priced FA

JBj will not be offered anything.

1b, 2b, CF will come from within.

like i have said previously we should 100% trade Mookie this offseason. i am setting odds at 50/50 right now for this to happen. line will shift depending on who the new GM is......

wonder if Ben still has Boston residence???

The Florida Marlins went from 92 wins en route to a World Series title in 1997 to 54 wins in 1998:

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/FLA/

 

The 1993 San Francisco Giants won 103 games and the following year were on a 77-win pace before a strike ended the season on August 12:

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SFG/

 

The 1993 Giants failed to advance to the postseason, finishing one game behind the Atlanta Braves in the National League West.

Edited August 12, 2019 by harmony

[S5Dewey]

Count down to the playoffs if there's one thing for certain the Red Sox are not making it this year. If you can't beat some of mediocre teams in baseball this picture is becoming quite bleak very fast.

 

This writing has been on the wall for some time. In order to win a championship a team has to be able to beat the teams they can beat. IMO this team has the talent to beat (at least) most of the teams in the AL but they're not doing it.

 

Disclaimer: Before someone pounces on my post, please don't take it too literally. I recognize the conflict in it.

[Carpin]

42 games to go.

 

ALE:

NYY

TB 8.5

BOS 16.5

 

WC:

CLE/MIN +2.5

TB -

OAK 1.5

BOS 7.5

 

going in the wrong direction.

Can someone punch up the biggest drop in regular season wins for the defending champs? we have to be headed right there with one of those Marlins teams......

September is going to be extra sucky for us as we dont even have anybody exciting in the minors to bring up and see what they got.

I am now 1 million percent convinced JH will fully reset the LT next season.

Porcello will not be replaced by a high priced FA

JBj will not be offered anything.

1b, 2b, CF will come from within.

like i have said previously we should 100% trade Mookie this offseason. i am setting odds at 50/50 right now for this to happen. line will shift depending on who the new GM is......

wonder if Ben still has Boston residence???

 

you might need to add the Rangers to this list, they are only 1.5GB the Sox.

[dannycater]

This writing has been on the wall for some time. In order to win a championship a team has to be able to beat the teams they can beat. IMO this team has the talent to beat (at least) most of the teams in the AL but they're not doing it.

 

Disclaimer: Before someone pounces on my post, please don't take it too literally. I recognize the conflict in it.

 

How bout this team can't beat good AL teams or even mediocre AL teams. They have let some teams take games with low-scoring outputs by the Sox that a week later are coughing up beacoup runs*against other AL wildcard or division leaders. Sox are not a good team, they are basically average at best.

[moonslav59]

There is no countdown to the playoffs with this team.

 

To me, there is not even a countdown to elimination.

 

We were eliminated after the sweeps.

 

It's time to play the kids and boost our draft slot pick.

 

I'll never root for us to lose, but we should play the kids and let the losses come without bitching about any losses going forward.

[Slasher9]

you might need to add the Rangers to this list, they are only 1.5GB the Sox.

 

see post #100 in this thread.

[YastrzemskI]

There is no countdown to the playoffs with this team.

 

To me, there is not even a countdown to elimination.

 

We were eliminated after the sweeps.

 

It's time to play the kids and boost our draft slot pick.

 

I'll never root for us to lose, but we should play the kids and let the losses come without bitching about any losses going forward.

 

Yep. Time to start dusting ourselves off for 2020 and beyond. This season is finished as far as I’m concerned. I find it hard to even watch the games anymore. Such an inconsistent team for a sky high payroll. It’s been a tough year. Still enjoying 2018 in the back of my mind though.

[moonslav59]

Yep. Time to start dusting ourselves off for 2020 and beyond. This season is finished as far as I’m concerned. I find it hard to even watch the games anymore. Such an inconsistent team for a sky high payroll. It’s been a tough year. Still enjoying 2018 in the back of my mind though.

 

I may skip a game for the first time, in I believe, over a decade.

[redsoxrules]

Cant say I'm shocked with the start to the year they had. Regardless of the talent they have, you cant recover from that. So hopefully next spring training they learned their lesson and have them game ready when the regular season starts.

[oldtimer]

I may skip a game for the first time, in I believe, over a decade.

 

I am still a fan and will probably watch for interest sake. I still play softball and did today for 4 hours of sun filled competition. Yes, its lower level but as I approach 79, its about my speed. I see the same blunders (base running, wild throws, not hitting behind the runner, etc) that can be seen by MLers. Perhaps just a little more pronounced. Once a fan its hard to see giving it up. A lot of the kids playing today are the age of my grandsons.