How will the regular season end for the 2021 Boston Red Sox

[mvp 78]

Place bets now!

[Bellhorn04]

Wild Card Game, after Red Sox/Yankees/Jays tiebreaker madness.

[Kimmi]

The Sox will end up as the first WC team. I will also say there is a better chance of them winning the division than there is of them going home after 162.

[mvp 78]

The Sox will end up as the first WC team. I will also say there is a better chance of them winning the division than there is of them going home after 162.

 

Fingers crossed.

[a700hitter]

I will place my vote after 1 more game of Schwarber and Sale’s debut.

[iortiz]

As I’ve been saying consistently, we will win the division.

[mvp 78]

Beating up on the O’s doesn’t move the needle for me.

[Larry Cook]

We will end this year strong.

 

Probably end up in the wild card game.

[mvp 78]

Would you rather them bow out gracefully or blow a late lead against the Yanks in the WC?

[Bellhorn04]

Would you rather them bow out gracefully or blow a late lead against the Yanks in the WC?

 

Lovely choice!

[mvp 78]

Lovely choice!

 

Is the season going to end some other way?

[Bellhorn04]

Is the season going to end some other way?

 

Might.

[mvp 78]

I just don't think there is any chance this team can win a WC game unless Sale can go 9 innings.

[a700hitter]

I just don't think there is any chance this team can win a WC game unless Sale can go 9 innings.

They will be watching it on TV.

[bkzwhitestrican]

What about the 4th option? Season gets cancelled because of new COVID Alpha variant.

[mvp 78]

What about the 4th option? Season gets cancelled because of new COVID Alpha variant.

 

Too late. They aren't turning the car around at this point.

[Kimmi]

Is the season going to end some other way?

 

The Red Sox will make the playoffs. Book it.

 

The Yankees will come back down to reality.

 

Many people had the Yankees dead in the water when they were 9-10 games out. If the Yankees can make up that much ground in 3 weeks, why do we count the Sox out when they are down by fewer games? Because we didn't make a trade acquisition?

[jacksonianmarch]

Because you weren’t that good to begin with, were playing over their head and didn’t make a big acquisition. The Sox are dead here. Their only saving grace is a light schedule, but aside from the Glory Holes, the other teams do pose a threat to take a couple games in a series. Yanks looked defeated before their additions. They got the jolt they needed but also the left handed power and defense they needed more than anything. The Sox got a good DH/LFer but nothing else and their pen went to s*** immediately after

[mvp 78]

The Red Sox will make the playoffs. Book it.

 

The Yankees will come back down to reality.

 

Many people had the Yankees dead in the water when they were 9-10 games out. If the Yankees can make up that much ground in 3 weeks, why do we count the Sox out when they are down by fewer games? Because we didn't make a trade acquisition?

 

I'm hopeful for your take, but not seeing it right now. This team isn't showing any signs of life. Beating the O's during a 14 game losing streak doesn't count.

[mvp 78]

Because you weren’t that good to begin with, were playing over their head and didn’t make a big acquisition. The Sox are dead here. Their only saving grace is a light schedule, but aside from the Glory Holes, the other teams do pose a threat to take a couple games in a series. Yanks looked defeated before their additions. They got the jolt they needed but also the left handed power and defense they needed more than anything. The Sox got a good DH/LFer but nothing else and their pen went to s*** immediately after

 

The Sox had an abnormally high winning % in 1 run games. It was clear that wasn't sustainable. The bats have cooled off. The pen has struggled.

 

I wouldn't start patting yourself on the back just yet because you said the Yanks were the best team in the division and the Jays were second best. You said the Rays would maybe have a WC chance. The Sox exceeded our expectations, but even if they go .500 the rest of the way they will have smoked yours. The "I've predicted everything that happened to this Sox team for the past 5 years" was ******** then and is ******** now.

[notin]

Because you weren’t that good to begin with, were playing over their head and didn’t make a big acquisition. The Sox are dead here. Their only saving grace is a light schedule, but aside from the Glory Holes, the other teams do pose a threat to take a couple games in a series. Yanks looked defeated before their additions. They got the jolt they needed but also the left handed power and defense they needed more than anything. The Sox got a good DH/LFer but nothing else and their pen went to s*** immediately after

 

If the Sox make the postseason, one advantage they have is they might be able to use Chris Sale twice in a short series. Really no their team in the AL has a pitcher like that. Cole could be in the argument, but he hasn’t been the same since Spider Tack Gate (a name that sounds suspiciously close to a legendary haunted cemetery in Worcester)…

[mvp 78]

If the Sox make the postseason, one advantage they have is they might be able to use Chris Sale twice in a short series. Really no their team in the AL has a pitcher like that. Cole could be in the argument, but he hasn’t been the same since Spider Tack Gate (a name that sounds suspiciously close to a legendary haunted cemetery in Worcester)…

 

He could only go 5 innings against the O's and gave up 2 bombs. What would that game have looked like against a stacked TOR lineup?

[notin]

The Sox had an abnormally high winning % in 1 run games. It was clear that wasn't sustainable. The bats have cooled off. The pen has struggled.

 

I wouldn't start patting yourself on the back just yet because you said the Yanks were the best team in the division and the Jays were second best. You said the Rays would maybe have a WC chance. The Sox exceeded our expectations, but even if they go .500 the rest of the way they will have smoked yours. The "I've predicted everything that happened to this Sox team for the past 5 years" was ******** then and is ******** now.

 

The Blue Jays went in pretty heavy at the deadline and have only gone 11-8 since, which means they are potentially just 2 Matt Barnes meltdowns away from having a losing record over that stretch. And this has been against a lot of really soft teams…

[notin]

He could only go 5 innings against the O's and gave up 2 bombs. What would that game have looked like against a stacked TOR lineup?

 

He’s made one start in the past 23 months. I think we know what he is capable of…

[Kimmi]

Because you weren’t that good to begin with, were playing over their head and didn’t make a big acquisition. The Sox are dead here. Their only saving grace is a light schedule, but aside from the Glory Holes, the other teams do pose a threat to take a couple games in a series. Yanks looked defeated before their additions. They got the jolt they needed but also the left handed power and defense they needed more than anything. The Sox got a good DH/LFer but nothing else and their pen went to s*** immediately after

 

The Yankees aren't that good either. In the month of August, the Yankees are 10-2 in one and two run games. Luck.

 

They will come back down to earth.

[mvp 78]

He’s made one start in the past 23 months. I think we know what he is capable of…

 

I guess we can ignore his 5 rehab starts then.

[mvp 78]

The Blue Jays went in pretty heavy at the deadline and have only gone 11-8 since, which means they are potentially just 2 Matt Barnes meltdowns away from having a losing record over that stretch. And this has been against a lot of really soft teams…

 

Yes, they aren't the 2nd best team in the division. Probably destined to not make the play in game. They have won several offseasons and have nothing to show for it.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Because you weren’t that good to begin with, were playing over their head and didn’t make a big acquisition. The Sox are dead here. Their only saving grace is a light schedule, but aside from the Glory Holes, the other teams do pose a threat to take a couple games in a series. Yanks looked defeated before their additions. They got the jolt they needed but also the left handed power and defense they needed more than anything. The Sox got a good DH/LFer but nothing else and their pen went to s*** immediately after

 

The thing is, few of us here, at least, have ever said the Sox were that good to begin with. The Yankees, on the other hand, were heavy favorites -- and though they improved one area that was overrated (Bronx bombing) -- they still have Sanchez behind the plate, and either a minor leaguer or Torres (when he returns) at shortstop.

 

It's obvious NY will sign a big-time shortstop this winter, and that's the reason they didn't part with prospects for one this summer... but it's also why they won't win this season.

[dgalehouse]

There surely is luck involved in baseball. Probably more so than in most sports. But a team's record in one or two run games is not entirely luck. It also comes down to the usage and effectiveness of the bullpen.

[Bellhorn04]

There surely is luck involved in baseball. Probably more so than in most sports. But a team's record in one or two run games is not entirely luck. It also comes down to the usage and effectiveness of the bullpen.

 

Usage and effectiveness of the bullpen certainly plays a role in a team's W-L record.

 

But a lot of times you win one or two run games when the bullpen does a crappy job. Sometimes the pen turns a 4 run lead into a 1 run win. Or sometimes the pen blows the lead in the top of the 9th and you score a run in the bottom of the 9th to win.