Who do you want in the ALDS?

[Lose Remerswaal]

Sox haven't clinched home field yet, but they should be hosting the Wild Card winner.

While the A's *could* catch the Astros, we know that's unlikely, but I will make Houston an option.

 

[sheamonu]

Out of those three I believe there is only one that we have swept in a four game series this year, only one that is battling through significant injury problems, only one that has a closer that has been consistently snakebit against us all year long, only one with a first year manager that has not been able to play over .550 since the all star break (despite massive amounts of talent) and only one that really deserves to get their ass kicked.

 

[canyoubelieveit]

YED can never happen soon enough. I hope they lose the Wild Card game 20-0. If that meant that we'd have to play the ALDS against the American League All-Star team so be it...I'd still root against the Yankees.

For me, the emotional high of defeating the Yanks in the ALDS does not offset the potential risk of the low of losing to them. Despite their flaws and our relative records this season, a best-of-five is still little more than a coin-flip, and I'd much rather flip that coin against Oakland (or Houston).

 

[Sam Ray Not]

Oakland for sure.

1. Talent level with MFY is probably a push.
2. MFY winning nearly 100 games only to be eliminated in a single-game play-in would be glorious, and would add meaning and delicious flavor to our divisional crown.
3. Our odds in either series are likely no better than 60-70%, and losing to the scrappy A’s would be a zillion times less horrible than losing to the MFY.

 

[Rovin Romine]

YED can never happen soon enough. I hope they lose the Wild Card game 20-0. If that meant that we'd have to play the ALDS against the American League All-Star team so be it...I'd still root against the Yankees.

For me, the emotional high of defeating the Yanks in the ALDS does not offset the potential risk of the low of losing to them. Despite their flaws and our relative records this season, a best-of-five is still little more than a coin-flip, and I'd much rather flip that coin against Oakland (or Houston).

I am fully in agreement with sheamonu, and yet I completely endorse this post. Put a stake in 'em.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Have to go with the least talented team out of the choices and that’s Oakland.

 

[timlinin8th]

Oakland for sure.

1. Talent level with MFY is probably a push.
2. MFY winning nearly 100 games only to be eliminated in a single-game play-in would be glorious, and would add meaning and delicious flavor to our divisional crown.
3. Our odds in either series are likely no better than 60-70%, and losing to the scrappy A’s would be a zillion times less horrible than losing to the MFY.

This one right here. After all year listening to Yankee fans proclaim "HOWD WINNING THE DIVISION WORK OUT FOR YA LAST YEAR, THE SUX GOT BOUNCED IN THE FIRST ROUND!!!" I want the Yankees to win 100 games and then get bounced in the play-in game.

 

[Clears Cleaver]

The Yankees at full strength are as good or better in a short series than Boston. Series is a tossup. A’s lost so much key pitching that the Red Sox have a material advantage. The best chance Boston has at advancing to the WS is to get through the alds is four games or less and have Houston and Cleveland go five tough games. Best chance of that is against Oakland.

 

[JimD]

Oakland. Have D-Lowe throw out the first pitch.

 

[uncannymanny]

Give me the MF Yankees.

 

[bsj]

Every time I say I want X and we get X then X beats us. So not picking X.

What I will say is, living in yankees country, my life would be immeasurably easier if we aren’t playing the yanks in the playoffs this year, and even better than that if they lose before we do

 

[BaseballJones]

The Yankees at full strength will be a colossally difficult out. If Severino, Tanaka, and Happ are right, that's a very tough threesome at the top of the rotation, and we all know that Sabathia has had some very good games against Boston. And their bullpen, despite crapping their pants last night, is very very very good, made better as Chapman shakes off the rust.

I'll be nervous against any of these teams, but frankly, I just want the Yankees eliminated; I'd rather not have to deal with that, though knocking them out would be incredibly delicious.

 

[TheoShmeo]

Oakland. As satisfying as last night was, I can live just fine without the psychodrama of a Sox-Yankees series.

Both teams will be challenging as both are quite good. So will the winner of Houston-Cleveland.

To me, it has nothing to do with Xs and Os and is only about avoiding another MFY series. I got my fill of turnabout in 04.

 

[bosockboy]

It sounds ridiculous but I want the A’s if only to avoid losing to the Yanks on a wiffle ball homer into the RF front row. I’ve had enough of it. The A’s present challenges but I’ll go with them.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

I just enjoy beating the Mother Fucking Yankees too much.

And watching them figure out who will close against the Sox will be fun.

 

[JimD]

The last thing I want to see is another record-breaking winning season come to an end with a loss to a f****** New York team.

 

[Ale Xander]

Really sad that this system created a situation where the 5th best team will likely play the 3rd best team, and the best 2 teams will likely play each other.

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

The only argument I can see in favor of preferring the Yankees is to avoid the transcontinental flights. Otherwise, to me the clear inferiority of Oakland's pitching is decisive. I want a crack at that staff and its 4.48 road FIP.

Also, what SamRayNot said.

 

[Papelbon's Poutine]

Don't care. Bring em on, knock em down.

 

[SirPsychoSquints]

Really sad that this system created a situation where the 5th best team will likely play the 3rd best team, and the best 2 teams will likely play each other.

I think you're saying the Yankees are better than the Astros? The Astros have the better record (by 2 wins), better run differential (by 10 wins), better 2nd order (by 7 wins), and better 3rd order (by 8 wins). Any schedule differences seem minor, if they're even in the Yankees favor, given the difference in the bottom of the divisions.

 

[Flunky]

If regular season Boone was bad, playoff Boone will be worse.

 

[AB in DC]

Otherwise, to me the clear inferiority of Oakland's pitching is decisive. I want a crack at that staff and its 4.48 road FIP.

Who will also be missing their best starter (Manaea).

That seals it for me.

 

[BigSoxFan]

Who will also be missing their best starter (Manaea).

That seals it for me.

Yup. When in doubt, follow the SP.

Fiers
Cahill
Jackson

Or

Severino
Tanaka
Happ

A’s are an easy choice for me.

 

[reggiecleveland]

YED can never happen soon enough. I hope they lose the Wild Card game 20-0. If that meant that we'd have to play the ALDS against the American League All-Star team so be it...I'd still root against the Yankees.

For me, the emotional high of defeating the Yanks in the ALDS does not offset the potential risk of the low of losing to them. Despite their flaws and our relative records this season, a best-of-five is still little more than a coin-flip, and I'd much rather flip that coin against Oakland (or Houston).

 

[geoduck no quahog]

Let's have a look at the potential lineups in order:


BETTS vs Semien vs McCutcheon
CHAPMAN vs Judge vs Benintendi
MARTINEZ vs Lowrie vs Gregorius
DAVIS vs Stanton vs Bogaerts
OLSON vs Moreland vs Sanchez
HICKS vs Piscotty) vs Kinsler
ANDUJAR vs Canha vs Nunez
VOIT vs Lucroy vs Dreck
TORRES vs Bradley vs Dreck

Considering where the A's play, I'd say that's a scarier lineup than the Yankees. What's odd is that, batting position by position - the Red Sox don't look as powerful as the other 2, except that Betts and Martinez are in another universe.

The A's bullpen looks to be in the same strata as the Yankees - head and shoulders above the Red Sox.

Yankee starters are certainly better than the A's, but relying on starters in a short series only takes you so far...unless you're the Astros.

Then of course there's benches...and defense...and speed (all to the Red Sox favor followed, I'm guessing, by the A's)

The A's trouble me more than that flawed team from NY. I'd take the Yankees.

 

[donutogre]

My gut said the Yankees. It's delicious to beat them, and we've done pretty well against them this year.

Then I read this thread and everyone reminded me of the terrible lows that come with losing to the Yankees, particularly after a record-setting year like this. And then I'm not sure. My head says we want to play whichever team is most vulnerable / we match up with the best... and the Yankees' power definitely concerns me.

I'm pretty confident in this team against any potential opponent, but there's no doubt that the Yankees adds an extra level of stress to everything.

 

[nvalvo]

The Yankees match up well against Price, which really undermines our advantage of having the best top-two starting pitchers (if we emphasize Price's second half, which is admittedly a bit of cherry picking) among the AL contenders, along with the best offense.

Verlander-Cole is very good, also, as is Bauer-Kluber. I'm not saying it's some huge difference. But Sale is the best single pitcher of any of these, and Price's recent results put him on par with most team's #1 — except, for whatever reason, against NY. Any path that allows us to avoid NY suits me.

 

[Remagellan]

A healthy Red Sox team playing its best. If we get that, the opponent won’t matter.

 

[ookami7m]

My gut says that Oakland is the less dangerous team but there’s also a part of me that thinks that Mookie and Co are in the MFY heads.

So long as the WC game is at Oakland I’m good with it.

 

[Muppet]

 

[soxin6]

Oakland is the least talented, but the Yankees are playing the worst. The Sox have played better against the Yankees, especially in Fenway. It is probably the As, if for no other reason than it means that the Yankees lost the wildcard game.

 

[Humphrey]

It sounds ridiculous but I want the A’s if only to avoid losing to the Yanks on a wiffle ball homer into the RF front row. I’ve had enough of it. The A’s present challenges but I’ll go with them.

I might be able to live with giving up the wiffle ball homer if it isn't preceded by a bunch of walks, which kept happening the past 3 games.

 

[Wallball Tingle]

Don't care. Ain't no easy teams, beat whoever shows up.

 

[Pozo the Clown]

YED can never happen soon enough....the emotional high of defeating the Yanks in the ALDS does not offset the potential risk of the low of losing to them.

...MFY winning nearly 100 games only to be eliminated in a single-game play-in would be glorious, and would add meaning and delicious flavor to our divisional crown....losing to the scrappy A’s would be a zillion times less horrible than losing to the MFY.

...The best chance Boston has at advancing to the WS is to get through the alds is four games or less and have Houston and Cleveland go five tough games. Best chance of that is against Oakland.

Another 1st round ouster would be a terrible result for the 2018 Red Sox. An ouster at the hands of the MFYs would be the worst possible outcome.

A Wild Card loss for the MFY would be a disastrous result for that odious franchise and its heinous fan base. It would make the hiring of Boone look like a huge mistake. This would be fantastic!!!

Having attended Games 6 & 7 of the 2004 ALCS, to me, that glorious high of vanquishing the MFY on their own soil is a memory that I do not want to ever be diminished by a potential ouster at the hands of the MFYs after a 100-plus win regular season.

Give me the...

 

[lapa]

It’s the Yankees or As. How is there any other answer than ‘The As’

 

[NJ_Sox_Fan]

Oakland ... They're not nearly as good as the Yankees, and it means the Yanks are eliminated

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

It’s the Yankees or As. How is there any other answer than ‘The As’

Some prefer the straightest road; others the most glorious. I'm a straight-road guy myself, but I get the appeal of the other approach.

 

[Al Zarilla]

There’s a different kind of stigma if you lose to the A’s. Their low budget, their crappy ballpark, a top tier team should never lose to them. This is a tough one for me.

 

[Rasputin]

Oakland for sure.

1. Talent level with MFY is probably a push.
2. MFY winning nearly 100 games only to be eliminated in a single-game play-in would be glorious, and would add meaning and delicious flavor to our divisional crown.
3. Our odds in either series are likely no better than 60-70%, and losing to the scrappy A’s would be a zillion times less horrible than losing to the MFY.

This plus we've played Houston and NYY recently and variety would be nice.

 

[InsideTheParker]

It is probably the As, if for no other reason than it means that the Yankees lost the wildcard game.

Yes.

 

[Al Zarilla]

Watching the A’s champagne and beer celebration. Man, I don’t know what any of these guys look like except the old vets they brought in like Lucroy and Rodney. OK, Jed Lowrie, Khris Davis. Semien, Cahill. So many young guys that look like they’re off an Ivy League varsity bus. Go A’s, beat NY and Sox take care of the unknown A’s.

 

[dbn]

I'll root against the MFY in the WCG because I am physically unable to not root against the MFY, but at the same time I want the Red Sox to face them in the ALDS. Red Sox vs the MFY is the epitome of why we watch sports.

 

[CantKeepmedown]

I fear the "be careful what you wish for" karma (what year was it when the MFY, or fans at least, really wanted to match up with Detroit, only to get bounced by them?), but it has to be the A's. While we're nowhere near the 2003-2008 levels of NY/Bos drama, I'm all set having to deal with them for a 5 game series.

 

[MakeMineMoxie]

YED can never happen soon enough. I hope they lose the Wild Card game 20-0. If that meant that we'd have to play the ALDS against the American League All-Star team so be it...I'd still root against the Yankees.

For me, the emotional high of defeating the Yanks in the ALDS does not offset the potential risk of the low of losing to them. Despite their flaws and our relative records this season, a best-of-five is still little more than a coin-flip, and I'd much rather flip that coin against Oakland (or Houston).

This.

I voted A's but the AL playoffs are going to be a war no matter who you draw. Some really good teams will be losers.

 

[Ale Xander]

Where's the choice for Orioles or Royals?

 

[InsideTheParker]

Watching the A’s champagne and beer celebration. Man, I don’t know what any of these guys look like except the old vets they brought in like Lucroy and Rodney. OK, Jed Lowrie, Khris Davis. Semien, Cahill. So many young guys that look like they’re off an Ivy League varsity bus. Go A’s, beat NY and Sox take care of the unknown A’s.

I don't know why not knowing these guys is a knock on them. They are young and talented. Do you think many Oakland fans have memorized Devers' face? OK, a lot of these guys are white* and clean cut. That's a knock on them? The point is that they have vastly outperformed expectations and budget. Where's the admiration for that? I'd like the Sox to face them because injuries have decimated their starting pitching, and facing the NYYs makes me a nervous wreck. But I wouldn't assume that the As are a vastly inferior team.

* while their fans seem to include far more people of color than the Sox fans. Maybe this is due to the price of seats? Don't know, but when I watched part of one of their home games the other day, it was very noticeable.

 

[BaseballJones]

Every one of the teams in the AL is a beast. Boston will likely finish with 108 wins. Houston is maybe the best team in baseball and will finish with 100+ wins, and oh, they're the defending champs. Cleveland doesn't have as many wins but they're excellent, have a great rotation, and can thump. NYY - well, when they only use their best pitchers, they're incredibly tough to beat. And Oakland might reach 100 wins, or at least high 90s.

A great team is going to come out of the AL. But four great teams won't. There will be NO shame at all in losing to ANY of these teams, should the Sox get eliminated. Of course, on the flip side, just making it to the World Series will be one hell of an accomplishment for whichever team gets out of the American League bloodbath.

 

[mauidano]

Oakland for sure.

1. Talent level with MFY is probably a push.
2. MFY winning nearly 100 games only to be eliminated in a single-game play-in would be glorious, and would add meaning and delicious flavor to our divisional crown.
3. Our odds in either series are likely no better than 60-70%, and losing to the scrappy A’s would be a zillion times less horrible than losing to the MFY.

I'm down with this exactly.

 

[drbretto]

Yanks.

Last thing I want to see is a plucky up and coming team to blow in all confident like. Bring me the Yankees. They already know they're not the better team. Let's show em the door.

 

[Al Zarilla]

It’s not a knock on the A’s that I don’t know them. It’s more how did they get so good with such a huge turnover in the team? I do have great respect for Bob Melvin though. As for how they’ll do in the PS, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them do well, wouldn’t be surprised to see them flame out quick (widest range of expections for them of all AL teams).

As for the demographics of the A’s fans, Oakland is about a quarter white, a quarter black, a quarter Hispanic and the rest Asian and other. So, you do see a pretty diverse distribution of ethnicity in their fan base. Their tickets are cheaper and they also have a lot of cost saving promotions. Surprisingly, in spite of price and promotions, they are 27th out of 30 teams in home attendance this year. They sorely need a new stadium.