TheKilo

...and 2.5 games out of a playoff spot.

Yes, I do. However, even with being "terrible" on the road, and with the Yankees being "very good" on the road and at home, they are still 2.5 back of the Sox. Your attempts at trolling make me laugh, I enjoy them. As for the Sox 24-32 road record, the Red Sox have lost their last 14 road decisions! You don't think there's some luck involved with that? The Red Sox haven't won a road 1-run game since April 1.

Relative to other teams, they are good on the road, but 25-24 is awfully average as a whole.

95 doesn't mean squat if his secondary pitches aren't working. Ask Josh Beckett about his 2006 season.

THE BOSTON RED SOX (64-48) [table]Date|Opponent|Series Outcome|Record 8-4/8-6|@KC|2-1|66-49 8-8/8-11|@CWS|3-1|69-50 8/12-8/14|TEX|2-1|71-51 8/15-8/17|TOR|1-2|72-53 8/18-8/20|@BAL|2-1|74-54 8/22-8/24|@TOR|2-1|76-55 8/26-8/28|@NYY|1-2|77-57 8/29-8/31|CWS|1-2|78-59 9/1-9/3|BAL|3-0|81-59 9/5-9/7|@TEX|1-2|82-61 9/8-9/10|TB|2-1|84-62 9/12-9/14|TOR|1-2|85-64 9/15-9/17|@TB|1-2|86-66 9/19-9/21|@TOR|2-1|88-67 9/22-9/25|CLE|2-2|90-69 9/26-9/28|NYY|2-1|92-70[/table] The Sox have the most home games of all teams remaining. They don't have a terrible schedule the rest of the way (I'd rather have 7 against CWS than LAA). On an unrelated, and not statistic-related, note - the team seems like it's different now that Manny is gone. Yes, they may not be as talented on paper - but it seems to be a more complete team, without a major distraction and a reduced chance of dissension in the ranks. It'll be interesting to see how the Central plays out. The Sox benefited in 2004 and 2005 from other divisions beating up on each other down the stretch. The Twins/White Sox could be the benefit of the Rays/Yankees/Sox series in September. I am not sure 92 wins is enough for the WC but I would say that it gives the Sox an excellent chance for October baseball.

THE NEW YORK YANKEES (61-50) [table]Date|Opponent|Series Outcome|Record 8-4/8-7|@TEX|2-2|63-52 8-8/8-10|@LAA|1-2|64-54 8/11-8/13|@MIN|2-1|66-55 8/15-8/17|KC|3-0|69-55 8/19-8/21|@TOR|2-1|71-56 8/22-8/24|@BAL|2-1|73-57 8/26-8/28|BOS|2-1|75-58 8/29-8/31|TOR|2-1|77-59 9/1|@DET|0-1|77-60 9/2-9/4|@TB|1-2|78-62 9/5-9/7|@SEA|2-1|80-63 9/8-9/10|@LAA|1-2|81-65 9/12-9/14|TB|2-1|83-66 9/15-9/18|CWS|2-2|85-68 9/19-9/21|BAL|1-2|86-70 9/23-9/25|@TOR|2-1|88-71 9/25-9/28|@BOS|1-2|89-73[/table] Another slow start to the season put the Yankees behind the 8-ball. The challenge for them this season was not a 14.5 game deficit, but a vastly improved division all-around. The Tampa resurgence is obvious, but Toronto has an excellent pitching staff and Baltimore is a lot better than anyone could have imagined. Still, 89 wins is not a terrible season all things considered (the loss of Wang and the non-existence of Hughes and Kennedy in the rotation have KILLED them. 89 wins will not be enough for a playoff spot, IMO - the Yankees will be on the outside looking in come October.

THE TAMPA BAY RAYS (66-44) [table]Date|Opponent|Series Outcome|Record 8-4/8-6|CLE|2-1|68-45 8-7/8-10|@SEA|3-1|71-46 8/12-8/14|@OAK|2-1|73-47 8/15-8/17|@TEX|1-2|74-49 8/18-8/20|LAA|1-2|75-51 8/22-8/24|@CWS|1-2|76-53 8/26-8/28|TOR|2-1|78-54 8/29-8/31|BAL|3-0|81-54 9/2-9/4|NYY|1-2|82-56 9/5-9/7|@TOR|1-2|83-58 9/8-9/10|@BOS|1-2|84-60 9/12-9/14|@NYY|1-2|85-62 9/15-9/17|BOS|2-1|87-63 9/18-9/21|MIN|2-2|89-65 9/22-9/24|@BAL|3-1|92-66 9/25-9/28|@DET|2-2|94-68[/table] 94 wins for the Rays? A very real possibility. Like I said before, the key to their season is 9/5 to 9/14, a nine game road trip to Toronto, Boston, and New York. I have them going 3-6 during those games, which could be on the conservative side. Basically - what I'm trying to say is this - Tampa, barring a collapse from their starting pitching and/or bullpen, will win the American League East with 94 wins.

The Yankees are an average team on the road and a slightly above average team at home. The Sox, while having some road struggles this season, have been fantastic at home. I'd take the latter and the 2.5 game lead, but that's just me.

It's amazing how you guys miss his point. There have been some moves that could be deemed questionable and in the Yankees favor. Although I really think much of Cashman's transactions can be explained because the Yanks can take the cash hit.

Another factor to consider is the three teams' pythagorean records, which are based off of the runs scored v. runs allowed for each team. (Courtesy BBref, as of yeaterday's games) [table]Team|Runs Scored|Runs Allowed|Actual Record|Pythag. Record|Difference Tampa|488|438|65-44|60-49|+5 New York|524|474|60-50|60-50|0 Boston|552|459|63-48|65-46|-2[/table] The strength of Tampa's resurgence has been their starting pitching. However, I have major concerns as to whether their young arms (specifically Garza and Shields) will be able to shoulder the load down the stretch. The Sox have room for improvement here but the big takeaway is the likelihood of a Tampa regression. Lastly, we should look at the winning percentages for the opposition of these teams down the stretch. Again, these are as of the conclusion of yesterday's games: [table]Team|Opp. Win % Tampa|.513 New York|.534 Boston|.517[/table] The Yankees have the most difficult stretch remaining (most likely due to 7 more meetings with LAA). It will be interesting to see how this all plays out. I will break down each team's schedules in subsequent posts.

I did this last year for the Sox and Yankees. I nailed the Sox prediction of 96 wins. The Yankees outperformed my expectations by four games (94 wins). This season - a new team enters the fray. The Tampa Bay Rays have been a nuisance all season to the traditional powers of the American League East, and for the moment have shown no signs of slowing down. Being an inexperienced team who have never been in a pennant race before, it remains to be seen if they can handle the pressure. How about the Yankees? Bias or not, they are the team in this stretch that improved themselves the most. Credit Cashman for getting Nady, Marte, and Rodriguez for a bunch of scrub minor leaguers and a shaky middle reliever. However, they did not improve their starting rotation. Wang is gone for the regular season and Hughes is still a few weeks away. Whether or not they can tread water with Pettitte, Mussina, Joba, and slop remains to be seen. And finally, the Boston Red Sox. Trading away an icon, a former WS MVP, a fan favorite has left many scratching their heads. However, Manny Ramirez was not going to be the key to a potential repeat - the bullpen remains the biggest question. Their starting rotation has been solid (bumps from Buchholz notwithstanding), and they still have the postseason horse, Josh Beckett. How will the final 50+ games play out? The best place to start would be the home/away splits the rest of the way for each team: [table]Team|Home Record|Away Record|Home Games Left|Away Games Left Tampa Bay|43-16|23-28|22|30 New York|36-26|25-24|19|32 Boston|40-16|24-32|25|25[/table] The Sox have the most home games of all of the three contending teams remaining. The Yankees have the least...but their home/away splits don't seem to affect them as much. The Rays have a lot of road games in September which will assuredly be the most important stretch of their season.

Sorry to break up the discussion of trades that may or may not be an example of front office bias or wrongdoings. http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=MLB&id=331

Man, I'd be happy if I was 2.5 games out of a playoff spot, too. 16 of the next 19 on the road...huge stretch for the Yanks.

He hasn't actually signed, homes.

Oh I have no doubt DiceK is the better pitcher...but Wakefield's pretty solid.

Fernando Rodney sucks.

Wakefield threw 6.1 scoreless the other night. DiceK pitched well today, but let's recap: 6.1 IP, 0 ER > 6 IP, 2 ER

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sarcasm

Whatever.

lol so gay

Yes, ZRS. Make the new thread.