No, if Boston wins one this weekend, then Cleveland would need to take three of these four in order to pass the Sox.In other words, Cleveland will have to sweep the Royals in KC plus win a game against Detroit on Monday if we can manage to win a game against Toronto this weekend. Possible, yes? Probable, unlikely.
Great question. Not sure how they'd handle it if the game meant nothing to either team. Probably then, they'd not bother. But if even one of them needed it, maybe they'd play it?Is Cleveland playing that makeup game no matter what, or will it be dependent on what the Sox an/or Tribe do this weekend?
If it matters to the postseason - either for Detroit making it or not or for Cleveland or Detroits seeding and home field - then they will play it Monday.No, if Boston wins one this weekend, then Cleveland would need to take three of these four in order to pass the Sox.
Great question. Not sure how they'd handle it if the game meant nothing to either team. Probably then, they'd not bother. But if even one of them needed it, maybe they'd play it?
http://m.indians.mlb.com/news/article/204098818/indians-rained-out-will-play-monday-if-needed/As a result of a clarification that became effective for this season, Major League Baseball requires all 162 games to be played, if a game impacts seeding or home-field advantage for the postseason. If a game would have no impact on seeding or home-field advantage, then it would not have to be played.
If a game proves necessary in any way -- for either club or for seeding purposes -- then it will be rescheduled for Monday.
For the game to matter for the Indians, they would need to be a half-game ahead of Texas or Boston through Sunday, because both the Rangers and Red Sox own a tiebreaker over Cleveland. A win would then secure home field for the Tribe for at least the ALDS. If the Indians were a half-game behind either team, playing Monday's game would not impact the postseason seeding.
Ok thanks for the info about Monday. And it looks like my gut was right. If the Sox win one game this weekend, Cleveland would need to win 2 of 3 against KC, and then would play at Detroit and would have to win THAT game too.If it matters to the postseason - either for Detroit making it or not or for Cleveland or Detroits seeding and home field - then they will play it Monday.
http://m.indians.mlb.com/news/article/204098818/indians-rained-out-will-play-monday-if-needed/
Every team that ever won clinched over 162 games. Worrying about how it happened at the one moment in time while ignoring the rest of the season is pretty silly. In the grand scheme of things, who cares? I forgot about it already.I'm sorry I invaded your safe space. It's true that the performance of the team has nothing to do with the awkwardness of NESN's forced celebration, but it's still the worst clinch I've ever seen.
Has a team ever clinched on a rainout?
Or to put it another way, every clinch that has ever occurred in the modern era has occurred in the context of a season that featured at least 36 losses. Losses are normal and routine in baseball, even for the most elite teams. And at least some of those losses will come by blowing a lead late in the game, because that too is normal and routine. That this unpleasant but normal and routine thing occurred on the night when the Red Sox' 2016 division title became a certainty is a fact whose insignificance is almost impossible to overstate.Every team that ever won clinched over 162 games. Worrying about how it happened at the one moment in time while ignoring the rest of the season is pretty silly. In the grand scheme of things, who cares? I forgot about it already.
I think I heard last night that it'll only be played if it matters. If not, they'll just cancel it.Is Cleveland playing that makeup game no matter what, or will it be dependent on what the Sox an/or Tribe do this weekend?
Well .. that's mostly media griping about media access. I don't see any evidence of internal dissent. On the contrary its very much a case of US vs. THEMYeah, and it's only one extra home game if the series goes seven. I'm 100% fine with not winning another regular season game if it's the best thing for getting guys ready for some straight-up mowing down of pricks, as they say. However, there was an interesting article in the Toronto media about the misery of the Blue Jays, so I suspect they won't come to town in great shape.
http://www.torontosun.com/2016/09/29/whats-going-on-inside-the-blue-jays-clubhouse
The criticism is a joke. I can't remember another instance of the Red Sox nailing September like this. Ever. It typically is white knuckle time -- win one, lose one, win one, lose two -- with scoreboard watching all the way. And, of course, they won a bunch in a row in Sept 1978 to square a season and force a playoff -- but they lost the playoff, and all this was after blowing a 15.5 game lead from mid-July forward.Or to put it another way, every clinch that has ever occurred in the modern era has occurred in the context of a season that featured at least 36 losses. Losses are normal and routine in baseball, even for the most elite teams. And at least some of those losses will come by blowing a lead late in the game, because that too is normal and routine. That this unpleasant but normal and routine thing occurred on the night when the Red Sox' 2016 division title became a certainty is a fact whose insignificance is almost impossible to overstate.
One thing I can't recall seeing is a swept team clinching a division and the sweeping team be eliminated. Kind of bizarre.Wednesday night:
Red Sox learn during their game that another team's loss means Boston has won AL East title
Sox proceed to lose their game
Team experiences momentary disappointment, followed by gradual elation for their achievement.
Celebration ensues.
Thursday night:
Yankees learn during their game that another team's victory means New York eliminated from postseason contention
Yanks proceed to win their game
Team experiences momentary elation, followed by gradual disappontment for their failure.
Depression ensues.
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2016/09/29/bizarre-celebration-made-for-interesting-viewing/piD8kZJmFF1m20hHqfu2qL/story.htmlBut that was nothing compared to the postgame scene in the clubhouse, the portion of the program in which Red Sox players had to briefly pretend that they were bothered by losing the game. NESN carried the scene live, and it paid off when manager John Farrell implored his team to enjoy the moment with a commanding speech that served as insight into his true strengths as a manager.
“You guys are going to enjoy tonight,’’ he said. “You marched through six straight [expletive] months. You busted your [expletive]. You defied some of the [expletive] that people will say about you. You went about . . . there are a lot of people in here that have a lot to be proud off. Guys that were knocked down, came back, busted your [expletive] and got us to this point. Do not let one inning take away from the fact that we’re sitting atop of this division as AL East champions.
“This is one stop,’’ he continued. “This is one stop. There are three more to go. This team is prepared. You’re tough. You’re smart. And more than anything you care for one another. And that’s the most important thing.”
I can't help picturing him looking straight at Hanley for this part:Is there any video of Farrell's expletive latest speech to the team after they clinched? According to Chad Finn, it sounds like it was fucking awesome:
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2016/09/29/bizarre-celebration-made-for-interesting-viewing/piD8kZJmFF1m20hHqfu2qL/story.html
You defied some of the [expletive] that people will say about you. You went about . . . there are a lot of people in here that have a lot to be proud off. Guys that were knocked down, came back, busted your [expletive] and got us to this point.
They won 11 games in a row - three series sweeps of division rivals, including a sweep of the MFYs while coming from behind in every game.The criticism is a joke. I can't remember another instance of the Red Sox nailing September like this. Ever. It typically is white knuckle time -- win one, lose one, win one, lose two -- with scoreboard watching all the way. And, of course, they won a bunch in a row in Sept 1978 to square a season and force a playoff -- but they lost the playoff, and all this was after blowing a 15.5 game lead from mid-July forward.
Here they were nails. There was a huge bag of cash in the middle of a table populated by them, the blue Jays and the Orioles, who were effectively tied. And the Red Sox just grabbed it.