Playoff Eve Thread (Red Sox v Yankees)

[Brandon Glick]

For the first time in four years, the playoffs tomorrow will include the Sox.

How ya feeling? Can Crochet-Bello wrap this thing up in two? Is Aroldis Chapman gonna lock down a four-inning save just to piss off all Yankees fans everywhere?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Pretty obvious what's going to happen, because just when I think I'm in -- they pull me back out.

Crochet will get lit up, then Chapman will serve a walk-off in Game One.

A zoo of adult males in pin-striped pajamas will morph into Homer Simpson heads with jaws snapping and tongues wagging.

Then Bello will toss a gem, and with pressure mounting on the hosts in the finale, Matz and Whitlock will bail out Giolito to turn the throng from hostile to docile... and back to their cells unhappy.

Bregman and Lowe, the hitting stars with five pop-ups to right field between them, will just nod and smirk. Been there, done it again.

[bkzwhitestrican]

Looking forward to multiple four hour games filled with angst and s***** takes by broadcasters. 

[Old Red]

Like I said earlier that playing in the postseason is uncharted waters for most of these Red Sox players, and anything can happen. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Red Sox get swept, and it wouldn’t surprise me if the Red Sox do the sweeping. At any rate I’m glad it’s against the Yankees, but wished it would have been in a frenzied Fenway Park.

[mvp 78]

Wake up the Bambino and have me face him. Maybe I’ll drill him in the ass.

[Bellhorn04]

I probably won't be able to watch and will be following on Gameday.  My old man nerves can't take the kind of anxiety this series should produce LOL

One thing for sure, I'm going to have to make at least one change to my sig lines. 

[dgalehouse]

To me, the stress, anxiety and pressure ended when the " curse " was broken in 2004. Three more championships followed in the years to come, including the dominant 2018 season. Now, the pressure is off. It's all fun. Enjoy the games.  

[mvp 78]

9 minutes ago, dgalehouse said:

To me, the stress, anxiety and pressure ended when the " curse " was broken in 2004. Three more championships followed in the years to come, including the dominant 2018 season. Now, the pressure is off. It's all fun. Enjoy the games.  

It's still a little stressful, not nearly as bad though. 

[notin]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

Wake up the Bambino and have me face him. Maybe I’ll drill him in the ass.

As Pedro boldly threatens a 106 year old man…

[mvp 78]

7 minutes ago, notin said:

As Pedro boldly threatens a 106 year old man…

A zombie in a 53 year old's body that has been decaying for another 53 years. That's like a midlife crisis zombie, I think. Still has lots of brains left to go eat. 

[Bellhorn04]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

Wake up the Bambino and have me face him. Maybe I’ll drill him in the ass.

That was great, but Pedro of course also had his "Yankees are my daddy" moment.

All good after 2004 though!

[mvp 78]

Happy Bday to Sox legends: Rob Deer, Tyler Thornburg, David Hamilton, Joe Hudson, Calvin Pickering and Joe Thurston, 

[moonslav59]

I like our chances as much as NY's. The home field advantage for all games kinda sucks, but the Sox had a winning road record.

All AL teams have been up and down, so it's NY's time to be down.

[mvp 78]

15 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I like our chances as much as NY's. The home field advantage for all games kinda sucks, but the Sox had a winning road record.

All AL teams have been up and down, so it's NY's time to be down.

Sox went 9-4 against NYY this year and 4-2 @ NYY. Sox went 2-1 vs Fried and 2-1 vs Rodon. 

 

[Old Red]

26 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Sox went 9-4 against NYY this year and 4-2 @ NYY. Sox went 2-1 vs Fried and 2-1 vs Rodon. 

 

With Gio out Bello needs to step up, and come through. Who’s after him?

[mvp 78]

10 minutes ago, Old Red said:

With Gio out Bello needs to step up, and come through. Who’s after him?

In terms of who is healthy:

Harrison and Early are the only guys left

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

11 minutes ago, Old Red said:

With Gio out Bello needs to step up, and come through. Who’s after him?

 

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

In terms of who is healthy:

Harrison and Early are the only guys left

And Tolle -- that's three young lefties for match-ups. Shirley, they'll all have ice in their veins in a winner-take-all showdown in the Bronx.

Playoff Cora, who showed up Friday night, won't be afraid to use any of his righties any time for Judge and Stanton: Slaten, Kelly, Weissert, Whitlock.

Ugh... can De Leon be an opener on two days rest? He had a whole decade of rest since his last MLB W before yesterday.

[mvp 78]

 

[Nick]

I'm sitting here thinking Giolito injury may be beneficial. We can decline the mutual option and move on from his injury prone right arm. 

Quit chasing injured arms. 

I rather watch Early pitch.

 

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

With Gio injured the Sox will no longer be favored to be in the WS against the Phillies.

Only kidding. Sox are just above the Reds and Tigers with least chance of being in the WS.

The Gio injury was a surprise. I was surprised it took so long for another fragile Sox injury.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

1 hour ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

 

And Tolle -- that's three young lefties for match-ups. Shirley, they'll all have ice in their veins in a winner-take-all showdown in the Bronx.

Playoff Cora, who showed up Friday night, won't be afraid to use any of his righties any time for Judge and Stanton: Slaten, Kelly, Weissert, Whitlock.

Ugh... can De Leon be an opener on two days rest? He had a whole decade of rest since his last MLB W before yesterday.

De Leon would have 3 days rest if Thursday is necessary.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

All Sox/Yankems PO games will be televised on ESPN at 6:08 PM EST.

[Kimmi]

5 hours ago, Brandon Glick said:

For the first time in four years, the playoffs tomorrow will include the Sox.

How ya feeling? Can Crochet-Bello wrap this thing up in two? Is Aroldis Chapman gonna lock down a four-inning save just to piss off all Yankees fans everywhere?

I'm nervous as heck.  The hope (obviously) is that Crochet and Bello wrap this up in two.  My hope is also that we'll have such big leads in the games that Chapman is not needed for any saves.

[vegasbob]

Certainly feel bad for Giolito on a personal basis but he has multi-millions of JH's money for limited output . If he gets his arm well again, some GM/CBO will take a chance on him.   Where's Bloomie, St. Louis??

[Kimmi]

4 hours ago, dgalehouse said:

To me, the stress, anxiety and pressure ended when the " curse " was broken in 2004. Three more championships followed in the years to come, including the dominant 2018 season. Now, the pressure is off. It's all fun. Enjoy the games.  

I agree that 2004 took a lot of the pressure off.  I'm still nervous as heck though.  I have a hard time getting through regular season series against the Yankees, much less postseason series.

It's all good though.  It's been a fun season, either way.

[vegasbob]

I am with those above who are not overly anxious about the upcoming series in NY.  I always want to win, but the team will accomplish what it can,  and for now, just glad to be there competing.   The joy of sending the Yankees home will only be more over the top, but not going to fret about it.  

Still savoring the 0-3 to 4-3 memories that will never be dimmed, plus the 4 WS wins this century.  Maybe even looking forward to next year's action prematurely.   Yes, some slots to be plugged with stronger players, including the mound, but just consider the internal talent pool that this playoff team has compared to any recent previous season.

[Tedballgame]

This is a no pressure series for the Sox. They are underdogs and are on the road. No one outside of their clubhouse and diehard fans expect them to win. I hope they win but, aside from the grief I will get from an obnoxious Yankee fan I know, I won't be disappointed if they don't. They accomplished a lot this year and better years are coming with the young players they have. Plus, winning in 04, 07, 13 and 18 took all the pressure off any subsequent years.

[moonslav59]

And there I was thinking, "Gio is still pitching and Sale is not..."

[Maxbialystock]

8 hours ago, Old Red said:

Like I said earlier that playing in the postseason is uncharted waters for most of these Red Sox players, and anything can happen. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Red Sox get swept, and it wouldn’t surprise me if the Red Sox do the sweeping. At any rate I’m glad it’s against the Yankees, but wished it would have been in a frenzied Fenway Park.

Well said.  Cora has managed the Sox in two postseasons, both of them successful  

[Maxbialystock]

7 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

I probably won't be able to watch and will be following on Gameday.  My old man nerves can't take the kind of anxiety this series should produce LOL

One thing for sure, I'm going to have to make at least one change to my sig lines. 

They ae awfully good sig lines.