NEsportsnation

It seemed like today was a good day to fire someone, and the Sox have, Bob McClure is gone and has been replaced by Randy Niemann for the rest of the season. Do you think this was a good idea? (I can't post any links, but you can look it up on google news for more info, there are a few articles there)

Can you imagine how much worse we would be doing if he stayed as bad as he was at the beginning of the season? Wewould have a horrible Beckett, Lester and Buccholz. I'm just happy he was able to turn it ariund this year

Seattle has gone 21-13 since the all star break, the second best record in the AL. They are currently at 58-64 (last in the AL West). They are 8.5 out of the wild card. They have won t 5 straight and have jumped over Minnesota, Cleveland and Toronto. We are next on the list. I know it is still very unlikely, but you never know what will happen in baseball.

(30=0% chance of being in playoffs, 1=Best chance of winning World Series) 30. Houston Astros 14. LA Angels 29. Chicago Cubs 13. LA Dodgers 28. Colorado Rockies 12. Pittsburgh Pirates 27. Minnesota Twins 11. Oakland Athletics 26. San Diego Padres 10. St. Louis Cardinals 25. Kansas City Royals 9. San Francisco Giants 24. Miami Marlins 8. Detriot Tigers 23. Philadelphia Phillies 7. Tampa Bay Rays 22. Cleveland Guardians 6. Chicago White Sox 21. Milwakee Brewers 5. Texas Rangers 20. New York Mets 4. Atlanta Braves 19. Toronto Blue Jays 3. Cincinnati Reds 18. Seattle Mariners 2. New York Yankees 17. Boston Red Sox 1. Washington Nationals 16. Baltimore Orioles 15. Arizona Diamondbacks

The Sox are 5.5 games back with 5 teams ahead of us. It looks really bad just looking at that stat. That tells you the Sox won't make the playoffs. But the schedule says other wise. For a while we have not been playing any teams in the wild card standings, so when we win we either don't gain ground or gain a 1/2 game. However, things are changing, we are going into a 3 game set vs the Orioles (2nd wild card leader, 5.5 ahead of us). Then 3 games against the Yanks, hopefully we can squeeze out at least one win against them. Then we play the Angels (2 games back, 3.5 ahead of us) 6 times before the month is over, 3 at home, 3 on the road with the Royals sandwiched in the middle. Then we play 3 against the A's (.5 game back, 5 ahead of us). Then we play 3 against the Mariners. After that, the final 24 games are against the AL east. The 24 includes 6 against the Jays, 6 against the Yanks, 6 against the Rays (1st wild card leader, 6 games ahead of us), and another 6 against the orioles. If the Red Sox want it, they have to start against Baltimore on Tuesday. The schedue is in place, now ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS WIN!!!!!! And yes, I know I am probably just a dreamer and I have let my optimism get the best of me. BUT A TRUE FAN NEVER GIVES UP ON THEIR TEAM!!

I would stick with Lester and lose Beckett. I know the Sox should be focused on pitching for the trade deadline and care a little less than the offense (cough cough Carl Crawford)

It is really frustrating that we are in last. I have this website that helps me put all the factors that go into the playoffs in one spot. Looking at it, it has gotten much worse over the last few days. If you want to check the site out, you can get to it out at redsoxplayoffs. webs.com.

So, the Red Sox got swept by the Jays. We are at .500 again and in last place. With most of our players back, what do we NEED TO DO to make the playoffs (for the first time since 2009).