The Official 2021 ALCS Thread

[YastrzemskI]

The 2021 Boston Red Sox have defeated the Tampa Bay Rays to advance to the ALCS. It has been an amazing season and it is not over yet!!! We await the winner of the White Sox and Astros. I don’t care who we play.. as long as we win!!!! 😆 😂

 

Go SoX!!!!!

[kenmeister]

I'm very curious to see what our starting rotation will be. How do you not start Chris Sale? Yet, without his changeup, he's not effective. Hopefully he rediscovers it soon. They do have some time off this week for him to work hard at it.

 

Lineup looks locked in.

[moonslav59]

I'm very curious to see what our starting rotation will be. How do you not start Chris Sale? Yet, without his changeup, he's not effective. Hopefully he rediscovers it soon. They do have some time off this week for him to work hard at it.

 

Lineup looks locked in.

 

Sale will likely get a shot, but it might not be until game 3 or 4.

 

Eoavldi should go game 1, and ERod can go game 2 on normal rest. Then, a day off and Houck or Sale for game 3 or 4.

[jacksonianmarch]

I keep saying this team gives me 2013 vibes. Sum is way better than their parts. No quit. Playing well above talent level but now only 8 wins from the title

[Thunder]

Do we give Pivetta a start? I think he's earned it but if Cora wants to keep him as the long guy in the pen I totally get it as well

[Thunder]

I keep saying this team gives me 2013 vibes. Sum is way better than their parts. No quit. Playing well above talent level but now only 8 wins from the title

 

Yeah when you mentioned that the other day it started feeling like 2013 to me. Not nearly as good as the 2018 team, but the path to a potential title would be similar. 100 win AL East team in the ALDS, and the Astros (presumably) in the ALCS

[moonslav59]

I keep saying this team gives me 2013 vibes. Sum is way better than their parts. No quit. Playing well above talent level but now only 8 wins from the title

 

I agree with the first part, but I don't agree with the second.

 

We had good health, for the most part. The COVID surge hit us hard, but not many players had years way out of line with their trends, and several players under performed or did crap for us.

 

The other part about the "well above their talent level" is compared to what?

 

Did other teams really look all that much better than us, on paper?

 

Every AL team had major flaws. Some were better than us in one area but not in another. Some had more injuries or bunched their runs too much. Some relied on timely hitting, which we know is not a sustainable skill, and it caught up to them.

 

We deserve to be where we are, because, as of right now, we had the better team than who we were facing.

 

This is not the same team that lost it's first 3 to the O's. It's not the same team as the one that surged after those 3 losses- winning come-from behind win after wins. We are actually better, now.

 

We have the bext GM and manager.

 

We have the grit and confidence, without being cocky.

 

Right now, we are the best. We are not playing above our talent level. This is who we are.

 

Get used to it. We should be even better, next year!

[moonslav59]

Do we give Pivetta a start? I think he's earned it but if Cora wants to keep him as the long guy in the pen I totally get it as well

 

I forgot all about him!

 

YES! He should start (game 3?) or play a major role in long relief.

[Thunder]

I forgot all about him!

 

YES! He should start (game 3?) or play a major role in long relief.

 

Game 3 is perfect. I want him starting a home game

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Whatever the planned rotation for the ALCS, it will inevitably change due to 2021 strategies. In Boston postseasons under Cora, there are almost no more "starters" or "relievers"; just pitchers.

[jacksonianmarch]

I agree with the first part, but I don't agree with the second.

 

We had good health, for the most part. The COVID surge hit us hard, but not many players had years way out of line with their trends, and several players under performed or did crap for us.

 

The other part about the "well above their talent level" is compared to what?

 

Did other teams really look all that much better than us, on paper?

 

Every AL team had major flaws. Some were better than us in one area but not in another. Some had more injuries or bunched their runs too much. Some relied on timely hitting, which we know is not a sustainable skill, and it caught up to them.

 

We deserve to be where we are, because, as of right now, we had the better team than who we were facing.

 

This is not the same team that lost it's first 3 to the O's. It's not the same team as the one that surged after those 3 losses- winning come-from behind win after wins. We are actually better, now.

 

We have the bext GM and manager.

 

We have the grit and confidence, without being cocky.

 

Right now, we are the best. We are not playing above our talent level. This is who we are.

 

Get used to it. We should be even better, next year!

 

Without major additions you won’t be better next year. More likely you’ll be worse since it’s pretty rare to avoid major injury for the entire season and it’s also rare that you only see career years or on par years from nearly the whole team. There’s always some major performer that has a rough or injury plagued year, that’s how baseball goes. The Sox have been able to rely on their core for most of the season (Kike is the only one who had a protracted absence) while cobbling enough pitching together to win games. Cora is the master assembler here putting the right pieces in the game at the right time and Bloom pushed all the right buttons acquiring guys, but just as 2013 led to a crash, going into 22 with the same roster will do the same. Very rare to overachieve two years in a row

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Without major additions you won’t be better next year. More likely you’ll be worse since it’s pretty rare to avoid major injury for the entire season and it’s also rare that you only see career years or on par years from nearly the whole team. There’s always some major performer that has a rough or injury plagued year, that’s how baseball goes. The Sox have been able to rely on their core for most of the season (Kike is the only one who had a protracted absence) while cobbling enough pitching together to win games. Cora is the master assembler here putting the right pieces in the game at the right time and Bloom pushed all the right buttons acquiring guys, but just as 2013 led to a crash, going into 22 with the same roster will do the same. Very rare to overachieve two years in a row

 

They're not going to crash. What's more likely is Bloom improves the depth, the Sox' record improves, but unpredictable bad hops or bad calls go the other way and they won't go as far. It happens.

[kenmeister]

Without major additions you won’t be better next year. More likely you’ll be worse since it’s pretty rare to avoid major injury for the entire season and it’s also rare that you only see career years or on par years from nearly the whole team. There’s always some major performer that has a rough or injury plagued year, that’s how baseball goes. The Sox have been able to rely on their core for most of the season (Kike is the only one who had a protracted absence) while cobbling enough pitching together to win games. Cora is the master assembler here putting the right pieces in the game at the right time and Bloom pushed all the right buttons acquiring guys, but just as 2013 led to a crash, going into 22 with the same roster will do the same. Very rare to overachieve two years in a row

 

Honestly not thinking about next year at all, but there's too many variables to consider at this point if I were. Do they resign E-Rod and Schwarber? Does Chris Sale regain his command? Do any of our hitters exercise their opt-outs? Do we make a big free agent splash, like a closer? Do we retain Iglesias somehow (always liked him)?

[Thunder]

Without major additions you won’t be better next year. More likely you’ll be worse since it’s pretty rare to avoid major injury for the entire season and it’s also rare that you only see career years or on par years from nearly the whole team. There’s always some major performer that has a rough or injury plagued year, that’s how baseball goes. The Sox have been able to rely on their core for most of the season (Kike is the only one who had a protracted absence) while cobbling enough pitching together to win games. Cora is the master assembler here putting the right pieces in the game at the right time and Bloom pushed all the right buttons acquiring guys, but just as 2013 led to a crash, going into 22 with the same roster will do the same. Very rare to overachieve two years in a row

 

You're not wrong and I don't disagree, but can't you just shut up and let us enjoy this ride?

[jacksonianmarch]

They're not going to crash. What's more likely is Bloom improves the depth, the Sox' record improves, but unpredictable bad hops or bad calls go the other way and they won't go as far. It happens.

 

That's what I expect as well. Bloom will improve the team and likely add more depth. I am just saying that this team, as is, would not be able to replicate their current success.

[jacksonianmarch]

You're not wrong and I don't disagree, but can't you just shut up and let us enjoy this ride?

 

Do you think I am enjoying this ride?

[kenmeister]

Do you think I am enjoying this ride?

 

Wait, you are saying that when the Yankees are eliminated, you don't switch to rooting for their sibling team the Red Sox?

[jacksonianmarch]

Biggest thing for the sox right now is opponent. The Astros are a beast with pitching and hitting. They are your more traditional team that doesnt rely on matchup and manager. But they are also helmed by Dusty Baker, who is a perennial choke artist in the playoffs. You won't have the luxury of facing a pen game every game. Valdez, McCullers, Garcia and Urquidy are a pretty talented top 4 and that lineup destroys pitching and knows how to play in October.

[Thunder]

Do you think I am enjoying this ride?

 

"Us" didn't include you.

[notin]

Without major additions you won’t be better next year. More likely you’ll be worse since it’s pretty rare to avoid major injury for the entire season and it’s also rare that you only see career years or on par years from nearly the whole team. There’s always some major performer that has a rough or injury plagued year, that’s how baseball goes. The Sox have been able to rely on their core for most of the season (Kike is the only one who had a protracted absence) while cobbling enough pitching together to win games. Cora is the master assembler here putting the right pieces in the game at the right time and Bloom pushed all the right buttons acquiring guys, but just as 2013 led to a crash, going into 22 with the same roster will do the same. Very rare to overachieve two years in a row

 

It's also pretty rare to see half the team down with COVID, but apparently that doesn't count...

[sk7326]

It's also pretty rare to see half the team down with COVID, but apparently that doesn't count...

 

A self inflicted wound which is still hard to unsee.

[sk7326]

It's baseball. Any team can win 4 of 7 against another. Obviously the Astros are a real concern - the best team in the league at putting the ball in play against a team that ... uh ... lets a lot of balls put in play hit the ground.

[mvp 78]

A self inflicted wound which is still hard to unsee.

 

100%

[moonslav59]

Without major additions you won’t be better next year. More likely you’ll be worse since it’s pretty rare to avoid major injury for the entire season and it’s also rare that you only see career years or on par years from nearly the whole team. There’s always some major performer that has a rough or injury plagued year, that’s how baseball goes. The Sox have been able to rely on their core for most of the season (Kike is the only one who had a protracted absence) while cobbling enough pitching together to win games. Cora is the master assembler here putting the right pieces in the game at the right time and Bloom pushed all the right buttons acquiring guys, but just as 2013 led to a crash, going into 22 with the same roster will do the same. Very rare to overachieve two years in a row

 

We will be replacing Perez, Richards, Ottavino, Marwin & Santana with something that almost can't be worse. They don't need to be "major additions," just better than those clowns.

 

We may have more injuries, but Sale, Houck, Kike and Arroyo for the full season may make up for them. Plus, we likely won't have a COVID catastrophe, next year.

 

You can keep calling this an over-achieve and the Yanks an under-achieve all you want, but repetition does not make it any more true.

 

This "career year," and it's good to see you now added "on par years" is just not true. This is not like 2013. Since when is having an "on par" season in the meat of your prime years something unexpected?

 

Career Years:

Eovaldi

Renfroe

Kike (very close to 2018 season, but I'll give you this one)

Arroyo (out so much, it barely mattered)

 

On Par:

Bogey (Better in 2019) in the middle of peak prime

Devers (Better in 2019) entering meat of prime

JD (one could argue he did below a normal age curve projection)

Pivetta (Close to career year)

Schwarber

Plawecki

Taylor

DHern

Barnes

Perez

 

Down or below expectations:

ERod (in a big way)

Vazquez (150 points below '19-'20 OPS)

Verdugo (50 points below '19-'20 OPS)

Marwin (150 points below his career OPS)

Richards

Ottavino

Sale

Santana

Cordero

Chavis

 

Too early to know:

Whitlock, Houck (better in '20), Dalbec, Duran

 

Even if you put Pivetta in the over achieve category, I'm not seeing anything close to what you are.

[moonslav59]

That's what I expect as well. Bloom will improve the team and likely add more depth. I am just saying that this team, as is, would not be able to replicate their current success.

 

It won't be easy. Look at 2019.

 

My point is that we should be able to vastly improve on the players we are losing (Richards, Perez, Ottavino, Marwin & Santana.) Replacing Schwarber and Iggy might not be easy. The ERod situation is tough to call.

 

I don't see any reason to think Bloom will make bad choices, this winter. I'm going to assume he keeps doing what he always does: make more good moves than bad.

 

Any Rule 5 guys you might want to hand to us, this year?

[sk7326]

Rodriguez is a decent bounceback candidate - just because he pitched a lot better than his results. Vazquez is a decent bounceback candidate as well. Verdugo is a solid starter. Schwarber is worth looking into re-signing. Dalbec is not a starter - but as a guy who gets a bunch of PAs against lefties spelling the corners? Sure, why not. 2B is the position where the team could stand to upgrade most directly.

 

And of course Bloom will undoubtedly keep trawling the bottom of the oceans for arms. I'd re-sign Rodriguez myself, and perhaps hope the last couple of cursed years gets a mild discount. Sale-Eovaldi-Rodriguez is a good starting 3 ... and then you find at least one more starter.

 

This team winning 92 was overachieving - but not by THAT much. Overachieving was having an 8 game lead in the division.

[YastrzemskI]

I'm very curious to see what our starting rotation will be. How do you not start Chris Sale? Yet, without his changeup, he's not effective. Hopefully he rediscovers it soon. They do have some time off this week for him to work hard at it.

 

Lineup looks locked in.

 

Cora seems to be pushing all the right buttons so I’m curious how he manages this. Our starters Nathan notwithstanding, have been spotty yet we just won the ALDS. Let that sink in for a moment. A lot of “ifs” going into the ALCS but we had those same “ifs” going into the ALDS and won that series 3 games to 1. Gotta give Cora some credit here.

[sk7326]

Cora seems to be pushing all the right buttons so I’m curious how he manages this. Our starters Nathan notwithstanding, have been spotty yet we just won the ALDS. Let that sink in for a moment. A lot of “ifs” going into the ALCS but we had those same “ifs” going into the ALDS and won that series 3 games to 1. Gotta give Cora some credit here.

 

The thing that Cora has done is been ruthless with his pitching changes. ERod and Sale got off to horrible starts - but Cora has not let guys sit there and harm the team (to whatever degree possible).

[S5Dewey]

Do you think I am enjoying this ride?

 

Not my problem!

[Maxbialystock]

I agree with the first part, but I don't agree with the second.

 

We had good health, for the most part. The COVID surge hit us hard, but not many players had years way out of line with their trends, and several players under performed or did crap for us.

 

The other part about the "well above their talent level" is compared to what?

 

Did other teams really look all that much better than us, on paper?

 

Every AL team had major flaws. Some were better than us in one area but not in another. Some had more injuries or bunched their runs too much. Some relied on timely hitting, which we know is not a sustainable skill, and it caught up to them.

 

We deserve to be where we are, because, as of right now, we had the better team than who we were facing.

 

This is not the same team that lost it's first 3 to the O's. It's not the same team as the one that surged after those 3 losses- winning come-from behind win after wins. We are actually better, now.

 

We have the bext GM and manager.

 

We have the grit and confidence, without being cocky.

 

Right now, we are the best. We are not playing above our talent level. This is who we are.

 

Get used to it. We should be even better, next year!

 

Agree. The 2021 Sox right now have a ferocious lineup that blew away an excellent Rays pitching staff. If jacksonianmarch had read the NY Times today, he would have seen an article saying the Sox overturned the adage, "good pitching beats good hitting." The Rays had the lowest ERA in the AL and before them the Yankees had a good team ERA and their ace Cole on the mound. Facing Schwarber, Kike, Devers, Bogey, Verdugo, JDM, Renfroe, Vazquez, and Arroyo these days is daunting. And the defense is adequate as long as Renfroe chooses his moments when unleashing that arm.

 

Target hit on this year's overall and on the field management, but especially Cora.

 

That said, the 2013 postseason Sox ERA was 2.59, and I don't see this team doing that. On the other hand, these Sox have the lowest postseason ERA in the American League and did it against the Rays (2d most runs scored in AL this year) after having to play the Yankees in the wild card game.

 

Come Friday, the pitching staff will be rested, and four Sox pitchers--Eovaldi, Houck, Pivetta, and ERod--have demonstrated in this postseason they can pitch 4 or 5 good innings against good hitting.