Red Sox (Bennett) vs Rangers (Gore): 09/16/26, 8:05 PM

[notin]

14 minutes ago, vegasbob said:

Be honest . It is fully possible to slip to #3 WC.  This team is as bad as it gets right now

And go to Houston to play that 76-75 team? Is that really the worst outcome?

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Just now, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

A fairy tale season is turning quite Grimm.

Feel free to use the above. It's public domain.

[vegasbob]

2 minutes ago, notin said:

And go to Houston to play that 76-75 team? Is that really the worst outcome?

Houston will beat Red Sox at  their place

How can so many be missing the teamwide slump. I guess the assumption is they will break out just in time and run to the WS scoring 9 runs a game

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

22 minutes ago, vegasbob said:

Sox pitchers never throw a teaser pitch on 0-2 to induce a chase.

Oppo pitchers do it to the stiffs we send up

That's because the Sox pitchers are playing fair and the oppo pitchers aren't.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

1 minute ago, vegasbob said:

Houston will beat Red Sox at  their place

How can so many be missing the teamwide slump. I guess the assumption is they will break out just in time and run to the WS scoring 9 runs a game

I can actually see that happening. It'll be as rare as an average baseball team going 32-5.

[notin]

4 minutes ago, vegasbob said:

Houston will beat Red Sox at  their place

How can so many be missing the teamwide slump. I guess the assumption is they will break out just in time and run to the WS scoring 9 runs a game

Houston has lost 6 of their last 9 games.  Boston isn’t the only team slumping.

In fact, wuth only a one game lead over Texas now, Houston’s chances of making the postseason at all are slipping since they would need to catch Chicago to make it as a wild card…

[notin]

18 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

I can actually see that happening. It'll be as rare as an average baseball team going 32-5.

Or a team going 32-46 and following it up wuth a 32-5 stretch

[notin]

15 minutes ago, notin said:

Houston has lost 6 of their last 9 games.  Boston isn’t the only team slumping.

In fact, wuth only a one game lead over Texas now, Houston’s chances of making the postseason at all are slipping since they would need to catch Chicago to make it as a wild card…

Apparently Cleveland has that third WC slot, but the Guardians and White Sox will be fighting this one out to the end.  Winner gets a first round bye. Loser plays on the road for every series.  Weird…

[moonslav59]

3 hours ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Good chance that Duran could have caught it.

is 1% a good chance?

[NHNative]

I kept thinking they were gonna rally and pull it out...nope.

Disappointing, but that's baseball. Tonight is another game.

[mvp 78]

9 hours ago, vegasbob said:

Be honest . It is fully possible to slip to #3 WC.  This team is as bad as it gets right now

I have been told that there are studies that show that hot or cold streaks in September have little to no impact on playoff outcomes. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Red Sox batters are not slumping. They're following front office orders and resting.

The last thing they need before the postseason is for someone to swing too hard and pull an oblique or wristfinger. And every time a batter gets on base and has to run, he risks pulling a hammy, quad or calf...

(but not a fawn, because no one on Boston's roster runs like a doe)

But don't worry! In 10 more games they'll just push a button and try again.

[NHNative]

4 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Red Sox batters are not slumping. They're following front office orders and resting.

The last thing they need before the postseason is for someone to swing too hard and pull an oblique or wristfinger. And every time a batter gets on base and has to run, he risks pulling a hammy, quad or calf...

(but not a fawn, because no one on Boston's roster runs like a doe)

But don't worry! In 10 more games they'll just push a button and try again.

Interesting theory.

[notin]

2 hours ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Red Sox batters are not slumping. They're following front office orders and resting.

The last thing they need before the postseason is for someone to swing too hard and pull an oblique or wristfinger. And every time a batter gets on base and has to run, he risks pulling a hammy, quad or calf...

(but not a fawn, because no one on Boston's roster runs like a doe)

But don't worry! In 10 more games they'll just push a button and try again.

It really does seem Tracy is more interested in bringing Story, Anthony and (maybe even) IKF up to speed.  And also in not burning up his staff.

The chances of passing the Yankees are almost nil.  The chances of either Cleveland or Chicago passing Boston are pretty slim (although Cleveland, with 3 games left vs Boston, has the significantly better shot), and really, not exactly disastrous.  And the chances of the Sox falling completely out of the postseason are extremely low as well.  So what exactly are they playing for?

 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

22 minutes ago, notin said:

The chances of passing the Yankees are almost nil.  The chances of either Cleveland or Chicago passing Boston are pretty slim (although Cleveland, with 3 games left vs Boston, has the significantly better shot), and really, not exactly disastrous.  And the chances of the Sox falling completely out of the postseason are extremely low as well.  So what exactly are they playing for?

Money.

Seriously, for most it's just a job right now. For a few, they're playing for a job.

I like to pretend at least in the backs of their minds, they feel like they're doing whatever it takes to prepare for games that will matter again really soon.

And they'll all have fun competing and winning because they care as much as we do... (delusion's just another word for no brain cells left to lose).

[notin]

35 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Money.

Seriously, for most it's just a job right now. For a few, they're playing for a job.

I like to pretend at least in the backs of their minds, they feel like they're doing whatever it takes to prepare for games that will matter again really soon.

And they'll all have fun competing and winning because they care as much as we do... (delusion's just another word for no brain cells left to lose).

They get paid win or lose.

But how bad do you think the injuries to Contreras, Rafaela and Guerrero really are/were?  Are these serious injuries or just bumps and bruises and the Sox figured “give them some time off so they’re as healthy as possible for the postseason?”  And it gives the Sox opportunity to figure out who makes to the roster in the first round.  Gasper looked like a long shot a month ago.   Now he’s all but a lock and Wong might be outside looking in.  Monasterio is on the fringes while Sogard has all but cemented a spot in that first series.  Eli White was getting chances to prove he should or should not go before he went down. (And now there’s talk of Braiden Ward being included.  Probably not a coincidence)…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

39 minutes ago, notin said:

They get paid win or lose.

But how bad do you think the injuries to Contreras, Rafaela and Guerrero really are/were?  Are these serious injuries or just bumps and bruises and the Sox figured “give them some time off so they’re as healthy as possible for the postseason?”  And it gives the Sox opportunity to figure out who makes to the roster in the first round.  Gasper looked like a long shot a month ago.   Now he’s all but a lock and Wong might be outside looking in.  Monasterio is on the fringes while Sogard has all but cemented a spot in that first series.  Eli White was getting chances to prove he should or should not go before he went down. (And now there’s talk of Braiden Ward being included.  Probably not a coincidence)…

The injuries were serious enough to negatively affect performance, so the time off is worth the risk of return rust.

It's different than rushing Rutschman into the line-up when they did, since his catching skills (and meshing with the pitchers asap) were deemed more important than his batting.

If Ward is coming, I say make it happen now and immediately play a game where the entire batting order is given the bunt sign, the fake bunt sign and the slash sign, with mass suicide and safety squeezes.

Let's not wait until an actual playoff game and have to watch Rafaela dive into the lefty batter's box trying to lay down a sweeper just to move a runner up one base.

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, notin said:

So what exactly are they playing for?

I agree for the most part with everything you posted. Vibes just feel off right now though. 

They need to play until the vibes get back. 

[mvp 78]

43 minutes ago, notin said:

They get paid win or lose.

But how bad do you think the injuries to Contreras, Rafaela and Guerrero really are/were?  Are these serious injuries or just bumps and bruises and the Sox figured “give them some time off so they’re as healthy as possible for the postseason?”  And it gives the Sox opportunity to figure out who makes to the roster in the first round.  Gasper looked like a long shot a month ago.   Now he’s all but a lock and Wong might be outside looking in.  Monasterio is on the fringes while Sogard has all but cemented a spot in that first series.  Eli White was getting chances to prove he should or should not go before he went down. (And now there’s talk of Braiden Ward being included.  Probably not a coincidence)…

The Rafaela injury was just maintenance. Guerrero had really fallen off. I think they were giving him time off to see if his stuff would return. Contreras is a bigger concern to me. He has struggled since the concussion. 

Pre-concussion 943 OPS

Post-concussion 762 OPS

[drewski6]

What do they have to play for? Everything.  Id bench Roman for Gasper.

[drewski6]

If a player thinks he can just flip a switch and play at a higher level, prove it to me and flip the switch now.

[mvp 78]

13 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

What do they have to play for? Everything.  Id bench Roman for Gasper.

Roman 6'3"

Mickey 5'9"

[drewski6]

10 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Roman 6'3"

Mickey 5'9"

Every decision should be made case-by-case.  When it comes to a battle between two guys for a playoff roster, one of the things that I would prioritize is who is hot.  Who has momentum.  I am not a believer that a guy ice cold just magically snaps out of it because the playoffs arrive.  And I am not a believer that someone who is red hot will immediately revert to crap just because the playoffs have arived.

[mvp 78]

14 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Every decision should be made case-by-case.  When it comes to a battle between two guys for a playoff roster, one of the things that I would prioritize is who is hot.  Who has momentum.  I am not a believer that a guy ice cold just magically snaps out of it because the playoffs arrive.  And I am not a believer that someone who is red hot will immediately revert to crap just because the playoffs have arived.

Roman has a 741 OPS since coming off the IL.

Mickey has a 754 OPS since the start of the BAL series. 

The only thing we can note is they have both been making great contact and the results may just be small sample size variance. I personally wouldn't start Duran against FB heavy Schlittler or Cole. Would probably even need to sit him against LHP Fried. 

Roman starts all 3 in NYC. Jones vs LHP. Mickey vs RHP. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

57 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Roman has a 741 OPS since coming off the IL.

Mickey has a 754 OPS since the start of the BAL series. 

The only thing we can note is they have both been making great contact and the results may just be small sample size variance. I personally wouldn't start Duran against FB heavy Schlittler or Cole. Would probably even need to sit him against LHP Fried. 

Roman starts all 3 in NYC. Jones vs LHP. Mickey vs RHP. 

2026 SSS Special :

Plate Appearances Gasper 206, Anthony 205

On Base Percentage Gasper .376, Anthony .337

K/BB Gasper 26/31, Anthony 26/56

... would it make more sense to bat Mickey 1st and Ant 2nd (or Jones 1st vs. lefties; his Boston OBP is .464)? If a healthy Ceddanne 2nd, Roman hits 3rd.

Another option: Durbin leadoff: 389 OBP in the second half, .400 in September. Tied with Duran for most stolen bases, but leads in Pitches Per PA with 4.5 (everyone else is around 4; Duran sees 3.6). Time to optimize opportunities.

 

[drewski6]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

Roman has a 741 OPS since coming off the IL.

Mickey has a 754 OPS since the start of the BAL series. 

The only thing we can note is they have both been making great contact and the results may just be small sample size variance. I personally wouldn't start Duran against FB heavy Schlittler or Cole. Would probably even need to sit him against LHP Fried. 

Roman starts all 3 in NYC. Jones vs LHP. Mickey vs RHP. 

I agree. I picked a bad example , but this shows what guys have to play for.  If ROman hit .560 since coming off IL, then wed prob run with Duran in LF and Gasper at DH.  I dont think that it would be safe to assume that a .560 in september guy will just become superstar in october just because of pedigree.

[notin]

1 hour ago, drewski6 said:

Every decision should be made case-by-case.  When it comes to a battle between two guys for a playoff roster, one of the things that I would prioritize is who is hot.  Who has momentum.  I am not a believer that a guy ice cold just magically snaps out of it because the playoffs arrive.  And I am not a believer that someone who is red hot will immediately revert to crap just because the playoffs have arived.

Joe Kelly in 2018 didnt convince you?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

2 hours ago, notin said:

Joe Kelly in 2018 didnt convince you?

He convinced me with a great interview on NESN this summer. To screw up the Dodgers' advance scouting and their strict preparation, he totally changed his repertoire and threw change-ups and two-seamers. 

Five games: 6 IP, 10 Ks, 0 BB, 0.00 ERA, ring.

This was back when LA trusted their analytics so much that they benched their top 3 home run hitters in the first two games because they were lefty swingers and the Sox started southpaw pitchers. Thank you very much!

[moonslav59]

20 hours ago, notin said:

Houston has lost 6 of their last 9 games.  Boston isn’t the only team slumping.

In fact, wuth only a one game lead over Texas now, Houston’s chances of making the postseason at all are slipping since they would need to catch Chicago to make it as a wild card…

Heard today HOU is 29th in runs scored in the last 100 days (or games?)

[notin]

24 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Heard today HOU is 29th in runs scored in the last 100 days (or games?)

The Astros do suck.  They just suck less than the rest of the AL West…