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

[mvp 78]

I guess the more likely competition for the 2nd WC spot is the Mariners at this point.

 

Maybe? Maybe Jays turn it around quickly? Can the A's step up with their ace out?

 

If the Jays blow this season after getting Semien, Berrios, Springer, Matz and Hand, they have bigger problems to fix.

[Kimmi]

We (myself excluded) sure don't have much confidence.

[mvp 78]

We (myself excluded) sure don't have much confidence.

 

If the pen wakes up and starts pitching like they were in the first half, they could make a good run.

[mvp 78]

The problem with their current starting rotation is that you have two guys that you need to baby: Sale (coming off injury) and Houck (struggles turning the lineup over). If the pen isn't solid, it's tough to squeak through those starts unless the bats are really mashing. An injury to ERod or Eovaldi would certainly sink the season.

[Bellhorn04]

We (myself excluded) sure don't have much confidence.

 

The good news is, it doesn't matter how any of us feel.

[mvp 78]

The good news is, it doesn't matter how any of us feel.

 

Does it matter which seat I sit in when I watch the games?

[Bellhorn04]

Does it matter which seat I sit in when I watch the games?

 

Well, it matters to your personal enjoyment.

[Kimmi]

The good news is, it doesn't matter how any of us feel.

 

It matters to me.

[dgalehouse]

I don't sweat the Jays. They have some hitters who can beat you up. But a lousy bullpen. And they play very poor fundamental baseball. They will beat themselves. The A's always come up short in the Money Ball era. Good team , but not good enough. It's been like that since the bash brothers were done . And the old Charley Finley bunch. Just not the same any more. The Sox have a clear path to a wild card.

[Bellhorn04]

It matters to me.

 

Sorry, I just meant the team's performance is unaffected by it.

[Maxbialystock]

We (myself excluded) sure don't have much confidence.

 

Actually it comes and goes like the tide.

 

Even the most faithful will have to agree the last month has been painful.

 

But they--you--can also point to replacing Richards and Perez with Sale and Houck, adding Schwarber to the lineup, Richards becoming a pretty good reliever (last night he pitched a clean 8th inning when the Sox clung to a 1 run lead), Dalbec maybe coming on as he certainly has in August, etc.

 

As dgalehouse says, the wild card sure looks to be the Sox destiny this season--espn says our odds are 88%--and that's pretty good given what we expected back in April.

[Maxbialystock]

Does it matter which seat I sit in when I watch the games?

 

Which seat is everything at Fenway, but not at home watching on the screen. I have been a Sox fan since 1949 and have been to just two Sox games. Both times the seats--the sightlines--were execrable. Fenway Park looks terrific on TV, but it is easily one of the 3 or 4 worst ballparks in MLB. It's over 100 years old, for crying out loud.

[mvp 78]

Which seat is everything at Fenway, but not at home watching on the screen. I have been a Sox fan since 1949 and have been to just two Sox games. Both times the seats--the sightlines--were execrable. Fenway Park looks terrific on TV, but it is easily one of the 3 or 4 worst ballparks in MLB. It's over 100 years old, for crying out loud.

 

I agree. The stadium is unique and historic. However, it's a horrible place to watch a game live in way too many seats. They should have moved to the waterfront 20 years ago.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I agree. The stadium is unique and historic. However, it's a horrible place to watch a game live in way too many seats. They should have moved to the waterfront 20 years ago.

 

I bought tickets this month on the Red Sox website based on a binoculars icon that supposedly shows the view from the actual seats you are purchasing. The picture sure looked good, showing the whole field from behind the dugout. When we got to the park our seats were behind a freaking pole and no one could see home plate.

[notin]

Which seat is everything at Fenway, but not at home watching on the screen. I have been a Sox fan since 1949 and have been to just two Sox games. Both times the seats--the sightlines--were execrable. Fenway Park looks terrific on TV, but it is easily one of the 3 or 4 worst ballparks in MLB. It's over 100 years old, for crying out loud.

 

Disagree.

 

A lot of ballparks have some bad seats. I'm a bit spoiled because growing up, my dad had access to seats halfway down the first baseline about 8 rows back. But I've sat all over that ballpark (except atop the monster) and yes, if you're towards the back it can be awful. But I've stood in the SRO areas in deep RF and enjoyed it. and sitting right next to Pesky's Pole is the best place to watch from. The back seats in the lower levels suck, but that's true for a lot of ballparks.

 

Now, I've gone to Wrigley and Comiskey/US Cellular/Guranteed Rate Field alot, too. Wrigley seating is nowhere as good as Fenway, especially in the OF. And until Theo took over and moved the scoreboard (angering the neighbors who sold roof top seats), it was not as easy to see. And GRF used to have the steepest seating in the upper levels. It was like climbing a ladder on those stairs..

[mvp 78]

I bought tickets this month on the Red Sox website based on a binoculars icon that supposedly shows the view from the actual seats you are purchasing. The picture sure looked good, showing the whole field from behind the dugout. When we got to the park our seats were behind a freaking pole and no one could see home plate.

 

When I went to more games, I'd always check with a third party site like http://www.preciseseating.com/fenwaypark2.php .

 

It's embarassing that they still sell s***** seats like that.

[dgalehouse]

I bought tickets this month on the Red Sox website based on a binoculars icon that supposedly shows the view from the actual seats you are purchasing. The picture sure looked good, showing the whole field from behind the dugout. When we got to the park our seats were behind a freaking pole and no one could see home plate.

 

In the old days, the scalpers outside Fenway always had a bunch of obstructed view seats. Some things never change , even in the Internet age.

[Bellhorn04]

When I went to more games, I'd always check with a third party site like http://www.preciseseating.com/fenwaypark2.php .

 

It's embarassing that they still sell s***** seats like that.

 

You should at least get a coupon for a beer or something.

[dgalehouse]

The Sox do have enough winnable , and almost certain win , games remaining to get a wild card berth. Then you just hope to get hot. I know , " hot streaks" are not a real thing. But it sometimes does happen like that. That has to be the goal .

[Bellhorn04]

The Sox do have enough winnable , and almost certain win , games remaining to get a wild card berth. Then you just hope to get hot. I know , " hot streaks" are not a real thing. But it sometimes does happen like that. That has to be the goal .

 

The only near certain wins are Baltimore.

[mvp 78]

You should at least get a coupon for a beer or something.

 

Every obstructed seat should go in to a lottery. The seat that wins gets an on air interview with Jahmai and they can describe now amazing it is to be at Fenway.

 

Have Eck and OB sit in obstructed seats and have them try to call the game.

[mvp 78]

The Sox do have enough winnable , and almost certain win , games remaining to get a wild card berth. Then you just hope to get hot. I know , " hot streaks" are not a real thing. But it sometimes does happen like that. That has to be the goal .

 

I'd rather miss out on the WC than lose to the Yankees in Yankee Stadium 2.

[vegasbob]

I have been calling a 20-20 record for the final 40 games , before the Covid surge, and will stick with that call. 25 to go with Erod battling (?) the TBR's tonight. Record for the first 15 of the final 40 : 7-8, generally on track for 20-20 finish. 13 more wins to enjoy, but no 90 win season this year.

 

EROD and Richards combine for a shutout over TBR. Great game for Dalbec too. Now 8-8 after 16 of the 40 . Still seeing 20-20, total 89 wins.

Edited September 3, 2021 by vegasbob

[Kimmi]

I don't sweat the Jays. They have some hitters who can beat you up. But a lousy bullpen. And they play very poor fundamental baseball. They will beat themselves. The A's always come up short in the Money Ball era. Good team , but not good enough. It's been like that since the bash brothers were done . And the old Charley Finley bunch. Just not the same any more. The Sox have a clear path to a wild card.

 

The Jays are closing in.

 

They have an incredible +136 run differential. They are better than what their record indicates.

 

That said, I am still very confident that the Sox will be in the playoffs.

[Kimmi]

Actually it comes and goes like the tide.

 

Even the most faithful will have to agree the last month has been painful.

 

But they--you--can also point to replacing Richards and Perez with Sale and Houck, adding Schwarber to the lineup, Richards becoming a pretty good reliever (last night he pitched a clean 8th inning when the Sox clung to a 1 run lead), Dalbec maybe coming on as he certainly has in August, etc.

 

As dgalehouse says, the wild card sure looks to be the Sox destiny this season--espn says our odds are 88%--and that's pretty good given what we expected back in April.

 

As a fan, I understand the emotional roller coaster. August was an extremely painful month. We just have to try not to get too high or too low when things are going great or going terribly. Easier said than done.

 

We are 1 week into September and the Sox are still playing competitive baseball. I think this is far more than what most people could have asked for when the season started.

[Kimmi]

I'd rather miss out on the WC than lose to the Yankees in Yankee Stadium 2.

 

Interesting. Tough call. Losing a WC game to the Yankees would be the worst.

 

I like our chances though.

[mvp 78]

Interesting. Tough call. Losing a WC game to the Yankees would be the worst.

 

I like our chances though.

 

Though a win in Yankee Stadium would make up for the rest of the season even if they got swept in the ALDS.

[Kimmi]

Though a win in Yankee Stadium would make up for the rest of the season even if they got swept in the ALDS.

 

100%.

 

Eliminating the Yankees from the postseason has been my dream since the season started.

[dgalehouse]

The chances of getting a wild card are still very good. Can't worry about maybe losing the play-in game to the Yanks. You have to be in it to win it.

[mvp 78]

In terms of easiest schedule, the team most likely to catch the Sox would be in order:

 

M's

A's

Jays

 

Sox seem to have the easiest remaining schedule of those 4 teams. If they miss out, it's because of how far this team has fallen.