Mariners (Miller) vs Red Sox (Sandoval): 09/02/26, 4:10 PM

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

1 hour ago, notin said:

Whether or not that’s true, it will certainly be the story if they go out early again.

I do think it’s easier to push that button if they are rested and healthy than if they’re banged up and burned out.

Who knows.

I just remember as a kid when the Orioles had one of the greatest teams of all time. In 1969 they were so far ahead in September that Earl Weaver rested all his stars. They swept the ALCS but barely won two low-scoring games in extra innings, then got totally shut down by the Miracle Mets in the World Series.

The next year with the exact same team, Weaver pushed the pedal to the metal. In the postseason Baltimore won 7 of 8 games and rings by scoring 60 runs.

To be fair, those O's had All-Stars at every position and in the rotation; not quite Worcester recruits and youngsters just getting good.

[mvp 78]

12 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

To be fair, those O's had All-Stars at every position and in the rotation; not quite Worcester recruits and youngsters just getting good.

The rotation regressing is one thing. Believing that Gasper, Sogard, et al will carry the Sox to the WS is foolish. They are bench pieces. If they are starting games, it's a problem. 

[notin]

11 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Who knows.

I just remember as a kid when the Orioles had one of the greatest teams of all time. In 1969 they were so far ahead in September that Earl Weaver rested all his stars. They swept the ALCS but barely won two low-scoring games in extra innings, then got totally shut down by the Miracle Mets in the World Series.

The next year with the exact same team, Weaver pushed the pedal to the metal. In the postseason Baltimore won 7 of 8 games and rings by scoring 60 runs.

To be fair, those O's had All-Stars at every position and in the rotation; not quite Worcester recruits and youngsters just getting good.

Think they list in 1969 due to resting players? Or maybe from running into that Seaver-Koosman buzzsaw? 
 

Also 1969 was the first year of the LCS in each league.  I could see a manager not navigating this new round correctly…

[notin]

4 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

The rotation regressing is one thing. Believing that Gasper, Sogard, et al will carry the Sox to the WS is foolish. They are bench pieces. If they are starting games, it's a problem. 

Just like it was last year in the playoffs…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

45 minutes ago, notin said:

Think they list in 1969 due to resting players? Or maybe from running into that Seaver-Koosman buzzsaw? 

The Miracles also had to beat three Cy Youngs with a batting order that was basically the 2026 Woosters and roosters that just staged the greatest comeback in the history of this summer. 

[drewski6]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

The rotation regressing is one thing. Believing that Gasper, Sogard, et al will carry the Sox to the WS is foolish. They are bench pieces. If they are starting games, it's a problem. 

Who or what a player is - isnt static. Players are who they are in that moment.  Bench players can become superstars and superstars can become bench players.  Its all fluid.

Plenty of mediocre dudes whom you would consider bench pieces have gotten red hot and contributed significantly to playoff success.

Right now, Gasper is one of the hottest hitters in baseball and he is a must start until he cools off.  And he may cool off btween now and Oct, and he may not.  

If it were May it would be different.  But right now, its about whos hot not career averages.

[drewski6]

Gasper is more likely to be Super Steve Pearce than Steve Pearce was before he caught fire and became super steve pearce.  Its a myth that talent wins out in the playoffs.  Talent is more important during the 162 where streaks come and go.  But playoffs are short samples. In short samples, its hot > good

[drewski6]

Gasper was hitting like .350 against righty pitching in AAA this year.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

1 minute ago, drewski6 said:

Gasper is more likely to be Super Steve Pearce than Steve Pearce was before he caught fire and became super steve pearce.  Its a myth that talent wins out in the playoffs.  Talent is more important during the 162 where streaks come and go.  But playoffs are short samples. In short samples, its hot > good

You just specified what posters must mean when they say playoffs are a crapshoot: those playing like crap get shot down fast. And this is why I don't like resting guys who are hot.

But if Sonny Gray needs to skip a start and not go on the IL, that's different -- the Sox did it with Pedro every summer.

Or if Rutschman is damaged goods (or bads) and you don't want to admit it, just invent another injury to give him more time to heal... let's see, what will fans buy? I know, he strained something else from swinging too hard -- like Casas and Anthony.

[drewski6]

19 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

You just specified what posters must mean when they say playoffs are a crapshoot: those playing like crap get shot down fast. And this is why I don't like resting guys who are hot.

But if Sonny Gray needs to skip a start and not go on the IL, that's different -- the Sox did it with Pedro every summer.

Or if Rutschman is damaged goods (or bads) and you don't want to admit it, just invent another injury to give him more time to heal... let's see, what will fans buy? I know, he strained something else from swinging too hard -- like Casas and Anthony.

Rosters expand in September for a reason.  Im bout that balance.  Yeah, it prob is smart for some guys who are a little dinged up/fatigued to get a little extra rest.  And in some cases, it may be wise to let a dude who is hot keep rolling, rolling, rolling.

September is for 3 things: locking up a playoff spot, getting healthy for october, getting guys hot for october.

Contreras, for example, wasnt exactly peaking before his DL.  So Im very hopeful we get him back with like a week before the playoffs (hopefully more), so we can focus on getting him hot.  If he comes off the IL and goes right into the playoff lineup, Id worry a bit.

And limping into the playoffs never goes well.  And some fans seem to think that dudes who are really good usually but have been stinking of late are just going to snap out of it because now its playoffs.  Or that players who are red hot but not usually stars are going to revert to crap just because the playoffs start.  I dont think it works that way.

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, drewski6 said:

Who or what a player is - isnt static. Players are who they are in that moment.  Bench players can become superstars and superstars can become bench players.  Its all fluid.

There is a long list of bench players that became superstars? 

[vegasbob]

6 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Well, the Mead and AR trades go fully against this idea. Both have one year left. We traded away over 20 years from the future for 1.3 years from each.

It is a balance of trying to win now following the incredible success from 6/25- through most of August. 

The fact that the commitment to Mead and AR only runs for a period through what will be a short season does support the idea th

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, drewski6 said:

Gasper was hitting like .350 against righty pitching in AAA this year.

Wow.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

15 hours ago, Randy Red Sox said:

i don't see them missing the postseason.  What I DO see is AR continuing to be a flop WHEN HE ACTUALLY PLAYS and then the lockout hits and we lose a signifigant part of 2027 and then he leaves as a FA.

Breslow stated it would take 5 years to evaluate the Rutschman trade. A snarky thing to say to take the pressure off himself.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

21 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

There is a long list of bench players that became superstars? 

Lou Gehrig comes to mind.

[mvp 78]

12 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Breslow stated it would take 5 years to evaluate the Rutschman trade. A snarky thing to say to take the pressure off himself.

Adley will be here another 4 years after this? If they win a WS this year or next, you won't need extra time. 

[mvp 78]

15 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Lou Gehrig comes to mind.

Played 125+ games as a 22 year old. The majority of time prior to that was in the minors. No significant time spent on the bench (193 G in MiLB in '23 and '24 after signing with the Yanks during the '23 season). Not a bench player.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

20 hours ago, illinoisredsox said:

Wong showing why he shouldn’t be an everyday catcher; he looks exhausted.  He’s fine as a back-up playing a couple games a week, but he should not be playing 5 a week.

I was against trading for a catcher. But I was even more against trading for an injured catcher.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

9 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Played 125+ games as a 22 year old. The majority of time prior to that was in the minors. No significant time spent on the bench (193 G in MiLB in '23 and '24 after signing with the Yanks during the '23 season). Not a bench player.

I was thinking Lou was on the bench when Wally Pipp got injured.

[mvp 78]

10 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

I was thinking Lou was on the bench when Wally Pipp got injured.

He may have been, but I don't think Lou Gehrig is an apt comparison to the guys here. He was in his early 20's and trying to earn playing time behind an All Star. He wasn't a career journeyman nearing or in his 30's. 

[drewski6]

6 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

In a short series, I like our chances if the starters are Gray, Tolle and Bennett. Suarez is really going through it right now. Sandoval will not be in the rotation. No bullpen games or Paez. 

What if that bullpen game is 3 innings of crochet?

[drewski6]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

There is a long list of bench players that became superstars? 

i kind of meant playoff hero or playoff darling over superstar.  But I think i could defend my initial comment but you would have to allow me to include guys who were more late bloomers or later career breakouts, like Joey Bats for example.  And then also allow me to include like steve pearce.  So with Joey Bats I may expanding what I meant by bench player.....and by Steve Pearce I may be expanding what is meant by superstar

But my point is that I care about career avg over recent success and who a player is when im thinking about offseason signings or trades for guys w term on their contract (not rentals).  But when we are entering the playoffs, I care about hot at least as much.

If Gasper had the month he had in August, but in May and on June 3 you were like this guy wont carry us, I would have no issue.  But right now, Gasper cannot be benched until he cools off, and if he doesnt cool off between now and playoffs (which is very possible) - hes a must start in the playoffs and yes he will bat 2nd or 4th and yes he absolutely can carry our offense or at least be one of the pieces that do.

If Contreras is back and Gasper never cools off, then someone like Duran (Anthony takes the field in left, opens up DH) or even Rutschman (if hes playing hurt) is going to have to get benched.

Gasper may be the best pure hitter in the entire organization when a righty is pitching.

[mvp 78]

12 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

What if that bullpen game is 3 innings of crochet?

No.

[mvp 78]

3 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

i kind of meant playoff hero or playoff darling over superstar.  But I think i could defend my initial comment but you would have to allow me to include guys who were more late bloomers or later career breakouts, like Joey Bats for example.  

No, you said bench players that became superstars. 

Bautista prior to 2010 breakout:

06 117 G

07 142 G

08 128 G

09 113 G

Not a bench player! 

[drewski6]

13 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

No, you said bench players that became superstars. 

Bautista prior to 2010 breakout:

06 117 G

07 142 G

08 128 G

09 113 G

Not a bench player! 

But he was one of the players that I was thinking about when I said, who a player is - is not static.