I am a huge Cora fan, and I believed going in that he would be a difference maker in our season this year. Also, I owe him an apology for my criticism towards batting Kike in the leadoff spot.
That said, my vote would probably go to Kevin Cash.
I was really hoping the Yankees would get beat out by the Jays.
As baseball fans, you have to love how tight the AL WC race was going into the last week of baseball.
Now we get a one game playoff series with the hated Yankees. It doesn't get much better than this.
I'm not sure my nerves can take it.
Even though the Jays are behind us in the standings, I am pulling for them 100%. That does require the Sox to have to win their games to stay ahead of the Jays.
I hope the Jays and the Rays take it to them this week. Regardless, the Sox have to take care of their own business. We control our destiny into the playoffs. I like our chances.
ERod ended up being somewhere in the middle of those 2 scenarios. I know the pen hasn't been good, but as with most of the Sox losses, I am more frustrated with the offense than with the pitching. Scoring 3 runs a game just isn't going to cut it.
As I'm sure you know, the Mariners are an astounding 14 games better than their Pythagorean W-L. The fine folks at Baseball Reference have poked fun at this by posting a "Fun Differential +90" alongside their run differential. Regardless of the ultimate outcome, I imagine that it's been a very fun season for you.
It seems to me that whenever the Sox have a chance to put the nail in the Yankees' proverbial coffin, they can't get it done. I hate losing to the Yankees. Hate it.
Even if the Sox lose today (they better not), they will still have a 1 game lead for the second WC game (thank you Twins) with the scheduling advantage in our favor. I am confident that the Sox will make the playoffs. I just don't want the Yankees to make it too. I am hoping for the Jays to sweep them.
I understand that baseball is a business. I don't like it though. I know it won't happen, but I'd love to see other considerations take priority over money. It's not like any of these people are going to struggle to make ends meet. IMO, players and owners should show a little more loyalty to each other and to the fans.