Our starters will be very rested, so there's no reason to blame fatigue for any possible bad outings.
I'm cautiously optimistic we can get 5-6 from Sale and 6-7 from Price & Porcello.
When they traded Lynn, my heart sunk to a very low point. The Fisk fiasco and Burleson trade was nearly enough to turn away the staunchest of Sox fans, but I stuck with 'em.
While Kelly might have a higher ceiling, and Hembree to a lesser extent, I think the chances Poyner and Workman do better is slightly higher.
I won't be upset, if they choose Kelly and/or Hembree, but I wouldn't pick either one for the ALDS.
They could change the rules to say all 3 division winners advance, but the two wild card teams are seeded by record.
This year, it would not have been a need for division winning, one game deciders. The 2018 playoffs would have looked like this:
AL
BOS(1) vs CLE(5) @ OAK(4) play-in winner
NYY(3) @ HOU(2)
NL
CHI (1) vs ATL (5) @ COL (4) play-in winner
LAD(3) @ MIL(2)
I'm not scared of Happ and neither are Sox hitters.
There's all kinds of examples where a pitcher seems to have our number for a game or two and then BAM!
I think Sale is going to dominate. I also wouldn't be surprised if the Cy Young Porcello shows up. He's mature and experienced.
I like Price, too, and his poor PO record barely concerns me, but I like Sale & Porcello more.
Too bad ERod got hurt and hasn't returned to his previous form. The kid was near unbeatable at one point.
Yes, he could, but there was little reason to do it.
In Fenway, RF is a very important defensive position. It almost is as important as catcher and SS.
That just seems wrong. The Braves are rewarded for playing in the weakest division.
With unbalanced schedules, there will always be some sort of injustice.
I think the final pitching decision comes down to choosing 2 from (my order top to bottom)
Poyner
Workman
Kelly
Hembree
(Cuevas and Thornburg very long shots)
9 made it: Sale, Price, Porcello, Eovaldi, ERod, Wright, Kimbrel, Brasier & Barnes