Well everyone says that he lost 5mph off his velocity in the last few weeks. I don't see any point in trying to pick the exact moment he lost his effectiveness, but go ahead.
I can never be satisfied. Can you?
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I just want to see some quality exciting playoff games that don't crush my soul. If we get a solid round or two of games I can feel good about and leaves me feeling good about next season, anything else is gravy. But good gravy, like the white sausage gravy they put on biscuits down south.
Yes! Despite the concerns about the starters they have a lot of guys who make the team go, and obviously they've had a very strong September with or without their best rotation. I'm not giving up. Only Pomeranz seems unlikely to get back to where he was. Sale, ERod, even Porcello could squeeze out another strong start or three. Bullpen is amazing. Hitting seems to happen when they need it, most nights.
I'm pretty sure the point I was making wasn't about how his 149th inning was great and then immediately he was terrible. My point was that he has shown to have limitations in both of the seasons (this and last year) where he got put into a season-long starting role. Those limitations are a bummer at the season's end when he has nothing left but shouldn't obscure how much he contributed along the way. But somehow all you saw was the number 150.
I was waaaaay too confident going into the Cleveland series last season. I thought there would be a really special October in store to send Ortiz out with a flourish. This year, I have zero expectations heading into the playoffs. Can't wait to watch and see what happens. Playoff baseball is so fun, the Sox are still alive and have as good a chance as anyone to get hot for a few weeks. Let's roll.
The Red Sox are better than the Yankees, so I'll be happy as long as the Sox last longer in the postseason. I don't think they're stacked enough for a long run, but I am really hoping to be proven wrong.
Here's a hypothetical for the group: would you rather lose to Houston in the DS, or lose to the MFY in the CS?
Nope, I saw a guy with one mediocre start in his last dozen or so before the other night, which is why I asked you if you think he lost it between that start and the one prior. I didn’t mention anything about innings, especially not in the absurd way you tried to paint it in this first sentence.
Oh, well your comment wasn't very precise. You think he was fine until his last start. I had thought that too a couple days ago, given his shutout last week, but immediately after that start the commentary (SOSH, Globe, etc) was all about how his fastball velocity has been steadily dropping off for the last month and he'd barely been scraping by. So that's why I said he'd lost it around 150 innings. That seems to be the consensus. And although I can't explain exactly what's happening, there's a strong inference of fatigue, given that he's at the same number of innings as last year where he hit the wall.
I voted win the division series. Getting to the playoffs and not winning a series is a failure to me. Only difference is instead of being pissed off for months when they get bounced, I'm over it fairly quickly now.
Honestly, I think Sale comes up huge in the ALDS, and the Sox win the series. No one has a shot against Cleveland.
Honestly, I think Sale comes up huge in the ALDS, and the Sox win the series. No one has a shot against Cleveland.
I've had a few thoughts about the postseason recently, similar to choices in this poll:
We need to win the Division
And if we do, then we gotta at least win one game,
And if we do that, well shit, I think we can win 3 out of 5 if Sale goes twice,
And if we win the DS, we can win the ALCS, because if you can take the Astors, you can take the Tribe (and vice-versa)
And shit, if we've gone as far as to get into the WS, then why not us?
But the WS itself is an utter crapshoot, so I chose make the WS. I think I will be disappointed if we are not in the last series of the season, even if it isn't rational.
We need to win the Division
And if we do, then we gotta at least win one game,
And if we do that, well shit, I think we can win 3 out of 5 if Sale goes twice,
And if we win the DS, we can win the ALCS, because if you can take the Astors, you can take the Tribe (and vice-versa)
And shit, if we've gone as far as to get into the WS, then why not us?
But the WS itself is an utter crapshoot, so I chose make the WS. I think I will be disappointed if we are not in the last series of the season, even if it isn't rational.
I view the Red Sox of the last few years the same way I view the Celtics of the last few years, which is to say all I want to see given the amount of young players and new faces is consistent improvement. Since they got swept by a very good Cleveland team last year, I'd like to see them with the ALDS this year but, as with many others, would probably be "ok" with them playing close and competitive and losing in 5. (I say "ok" in quotes because obviously I will be enraged in the moment if they actually do lose Game 5 of the ALDS - talking more about how I will feel looking back on the season in December.)
1999, 2003, and 2004 taught a lot of us not to throw in the towel when down 0-2 (or worse)...even 2007 they came back from 3-1. So we were all just thinking "get on the board with a win and we can take this series"...but alas is right, they never did get that tough first "W".
I'll be very disappointed if they get swept in the DS this year. I'll still be disappointed if they lose the series, but at least winning a game or two will make it feel like they didn't crap down their leg like last year.
Don't forget the 2008 ALCS - when they won game 5, down 3-1, with that epic comeback, I thought they were gonna pull it off
I forget what the studies say is doable...it's like 20% increase in innings YOY? Velocity has dropped in his last 4 starts, but the results don't seem to say it's a huge indicator of anything (yet) and he's not a guy who relies on blowing batters away with the FB. If he can locate as he has all year I think he'll be fine. Not sure what to make of the odd comments after the last game about holding back velocity.
I'm more worried about Sale's struggles of late. If he stinks it probably won't matter what anyone else does.
Sale hasn't seen any dropoff in velocity. Supposedly his slider is flattening out, but obviously only every other start. Seems like he can find it again. Maybe a few extra days off helps. We'll see.
None of the above? I'm dissatisfied that they underperformed in so many areas, and needed a ton of luck to get the division. At the same time, CLE/HOU are so clearly head and shoulders ahead of everyone in the AL that you just got tip your hat to them and move on to next year.
How does one need a ton of luck to win a 162 game season?
They're in first place because they're the best team in the AL-East. They've underperformed some expectations, but I don't feel like there's pretty much any scenario where you can chalk this up to luck. Even if a team needs some luck down the stretch to finish the deal, they've remained in position to be in the lead for 6 months. They're no more the beneficiaries of luck than any other team.
Id like to see this at least play out the way I feel it should. If they lose a Sale or Pomerantz game it should be close and they gave them a chance to win. I wouldn't expect anyone else to keep the Indians or Astros bats in check but it would be nice to see the offense get them a fighting chance in those games. Have at least one game where our bullpen shines. Farrell gets fired, rational or not, I'd like to move on. Tito wins the WS and then Cleveland can get back to losing for another 50 years.
All I care about is "are they playing meaningful games in September "? If they are, it was a good year. Not necessarily a great year, but a good one.
Of course I want them to advance, but just winning a game in the Division series is enough, especially if it's early. It makes you feel like your team is at least in the series and has a chance to win.It also guarantees at least 4 games to watch if in the division series. Last year, there was no feeling like that. The was no moment of joy in the playoffs so it just felt meh.
It's all gravy to me at this point having won 3 World Series in my lifetime (!). I enjoy playoff baseball, and when the Sox are in the playoffs I don't take it for granted. Being there is a big deal even in this era. I refuse to make it less enjoyable for myself by have the expectation of "win the world series or else".
Ending up the wild card and only winning the wild card game, however, would be a huge disappointment
It's all gravy to me at this point having won 3 World Series in my lifetime (!). I enjoy playoff baseball, and when the Sox are in the playoffs I don't take it for granted. Being there is a big deal even in this era. I refuse to make it less enjoyable for myself by have the expectation of "win the world series or else".
Ending up the wild card and only winning the wild card game, however, would be a huge disappointment
Right, and they didn't which doesn't reflect how awesome those games were and how exciting it was to watch them come back. What more can you ask of your team than to make it to a game 7?
Every time the 2017 Sox have gone through a rough patch, and I felt like giving up on them, they managed to put together a string of good games, often including a couple of improbable comebacks. I will be satisfied if they manage to do this one more time, winning the division and the ALDS.
Like a lot of others I'm in the win the division and snag a playoff game while at least looking like we belong there crowd.
Today is the first day in a while that I've allowed myself to even fathom a possibility that we don't take the division. If that were to happen though snagging the WC and a single game beyond that wouldn't be enough to offset the surrounding epic fail aspect I'd be feeling over the choke going in.
Today is the first day in a while that I've allowed myself to even fathom a possibility that we don't take the division. If that were to happen though snagging the WC and a single game beyond that wouldn't be enough to offset the surrounding epic fail aspect I'd be feeling over the choke going in.
16 seasons of Henry ownership.
11 90+ win seasons
9 playoff appearances
4 AL East titles
3 World Series
11 90+ win seasons
9 playoff appearances
4 AL East titles
3 World Series
If you're not satisfied with winning back to back division titles, you should maybe move to New York.
This is a team that really battled all year, gave us a ton of memorable wins and moments, and had plenty of chances to throw in the towel but never did.
With the win today, I'm satisfied. And I think they've got a shot to do some damage. The bullpen is lights out, the starters have the ability to be lights out, and if Mookie or Hanley or someone just gets really hot, watch out.
This is a team that really battled all year, gave us a ton of memorable wins and moments, and had plenty of chances to throw in the towel but never did.
With the win today, I'm satisfied. And I think they've got a shot to do some damage. The bullpen is lights out, the starters have the ability to be lights out, and if Mookie or Hanley or someone just gets really hot, watch out.
Listed like that, it looks pretty good. Not quite NEP level dominant, but definitely nothing to sneeze at.
This team had no business winning its division. Price should have gotten surgery. Porcello lost 17 games. Huge black hole at 3rd filled by a 20-year old. Pedroia couldn’t stay on the field. Sandy Leon turned into a pumpkin. To some extent, so did Hanley. No bridge to Kimbrell, personified by Matt Barnes.
Yet they stayed in first. Ninth inning comebacks and lengthy extras. The 20 year old hit a 9th inning hr off a 102 mph pitch. The stretch run was on the road without Nunez, Hanley and Pedroia, and the team went 8-1 with many come from behind wins.
I really like this team. They don’t give a damn what others think of them and their run differential. They compete. They’ll come out to play every game. This is the ultimate dirt dog team.
I’d be okay if CLE, Hou or The Nats win it all. Baseball is a joy and every city should have the moment in the sun. But all 3 of these franchises find ways to blow it in the postseason. I think the mentally tough Cubs and Sox find their way into the WS and go 7.
Yet they stayed in first. Ninth inning comebacks and lengthy extras. The 20 year old hit a 9th inning hr off a 102 mph pitch. The stretch run was on the road without Nunez, Hanley and Pedroia, and the team went 8-1 with many come from behind wins.
I really like this team. They don’t give a damn what others think of them and their run differential. They compete. They’ll come out to play every game. This is the ultimate dirt dog team.
I’d be okay if CLE, Hou or The Nats win it all. Baseball is a joy and every city should have the moment in the sun. But all 3 of these franchises find ways to blow it in the postseason. I think the mentally tough Cubs and Sox find their way into the WS and go 7.
Anyone with a passing understanding of analytics understands that the MFY are the best team in the division on paper. So how did the Red Sox win the division? By winning close games. Some of that is Kimbrel’s excellent season. Some is probably defense and baserunning— there’s growing evidence that analytics aren’t fully measuring the value of those. And some might even be shrewd in-game tactics by Farrell (wonder of wonders!). But when you finish ahead of a team whose run differential is 80+ runs better than yours, there’s unquestionably a bit of luck in the mix also.
Given that I voted for "Winning the division" I guess I'm satisfied. It's been a really enjoyable year. The team overcame serious injuries, underperformance by most of the regulars, and 45 million of more or less dead money on the payroll. It's all gravy going forward.
11-8 is a 94 win pace over 162. That's doable, strength of schedule be damned.
Apparently, I meant it when I said that I really wanted the division, since I've already bought my tee.
I would have preferred a simple "2017" to "take l7," but whatchagonnado?
I'd be completely satisfied if they win just one more game: Game 7 of the WS.
Don't care how they get there:
Become the first team to defeat 3 100-win teams
Beat the Cubs in Fenway (cause we should get home field against them)
Beat the MFY to even up our record against them in ALCSs (with Kimbrel fanning Judge with the bases juiced in the 12th inning of Game 7)
Any of those would be fine - I'm not picky.
Don't care how they get there:
Become the first team to defeat 3 100-win teams
Beat the Cubs in Fenway (cause we should get home field against them)
Beat the MFY to even up our record against them in ALCSs (with Kimbrel fanning Judge with the bases juiced in the 12th inning of Game 7)
Any of those would be fine - I'm not picky.
The Red Sox would have WS home field advantage against the Cubs or Rockies since their regular-season record is superior to those two teams. The Dodgers, National and Diamondbacks would have home field against Boston (the D'backs by virtue of having a better intradivision record).
I've never felt less enthused about the Sox playoff chances since the 90 team that had to play the A's. I'm not sure what that means, but my expectations are almost nil. LAst year I thought they could play with Cleveland (the analystics arounde tha tseries make me want to puke, Sox were very unlucky relative to Indians) and eventually match up with Cubs. this year I think they'd be lucky to win a game, nevermind a series, given the talent disparity with houston, Cleveland and NYY.
so i voted "one win" and hopes that I am as wrong this year as I was last year.
so i voted "one win" and hopes that I am as wrong this year as I was last year.
Well I'm not sticking a pin or two in Kluber's shoulder until after he beats the Yankees. Just to be safe.
Late to this... But I am happy if they win their last game of the season at this point.
So for all of you that think the Sox have no chance to advance against the Astros and Indians, I ask you - Can you not envision a Bumgarner-esque postseason for Chris Sale? Is it impossible that Pomeranz maintain his form and give the team another one of his patented 5 2/3 1R efforts that allows Price-to-Reed-to-Kimbrel to shut the door for a 3-1 Game 2 win? Is Mookie incapable of having a great run in the playoffs? Are Benny and Devers doomed to be overmatched rookies?
I think it's just as easy to see this team rise up and create their own destiny as it is to see them go meekly into the Winter. Should they be favored? Probably not. But they deserve the 44% chance to beat the Astros that most analytical sites are giving them and whilst it's not quite a coin flip it's enough to sit up and take notice and cheer them on.
I think it's just as easy to see this team rise up and create their own destiny as it is to see them go meekly into the Winter. Should they be favored? Probably not. But they deserve the 44% chance to beat the Astros that most analytical sites are giving them and whilst it's not quite a coin flip it's enough to sit up and take notice and cheer them on.
No to the Bumgarner posit. Sale is not a stud Clydesdale horse type that can pitch whenever we'd like him to. I wish...