Are you worried about the Red Sox?

Well, are you

  • 1. Not at All worried

  • 2. Just a tiny bit

  • 3. Getting there

  • 4. It's appropriate to be concerned

  • 5. Depends on the last bit of news I got

  • 6. Yeah, I'm worried

  • 7. Who needs fingernails?

  • 8. I am staying away from chicken and beer

  • 9. Fuck Bucky Dent and Aaron Boone

  • 10. Kill me now.


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pk1627

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This is not a playoff team*!!



* excepting for the very slim chance they win one more game in the remaining 18.
 

JimD

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The Astros served notice this weekend that they are still the team to beat in MLB. Rooting hard now that they hold off Oakland and win the AL West - the MFY's or A's worry me in a five-game series, but I'll take that if it means that we would only have to face one of Cleveland or Houston if the Sox make it to the ALCS (and would have seven games to deal with that team).
 

JimD

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Went 3-4 against them. The reverse in a 7-game series is not implausible.
We need Sale and EdRod to be better - both struggled in their starts against Houston. On the bright side, Price pitched well in both of his starts and Porcello could have said the same had he finished last night's game stronger.
 

reggiecleveland

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The bullpen probably sinks this team in the post season, but I have some confidence they will score runs. Porcello and Price may need to pitch 3 innings of relief on their "throw days" between starts.
 

Pitt the Elder

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The bullpen probably sinks this team in the postseason, but I have some confidence they will score runs. Porcello and Price may need to pitch 3 innings of relief on their "throw days" between starts.
You have to imagine the playoff rotation would be something like:
  1. Sale
  2. Price
  3. Porcello/Erod
  4. Erod/Porcello
My guess is they give the nod to Porcello with Erod possibly going to the pen in a short series, where he could be pretty devastating as a multi-inning lefty reliever. I also wonder if they move Eovaldi to the pen sometime in the next couple weeks to try him out in that role. For a guy that has been hitting 101, 102 in his starts, I wonder how his stuff would play if he knows he can cut loose for 1-2 innings. That could go a long way towards stabilizing the pen. I know he's had a rough month, but a guy that can hit 102 and has been good at not walking people should be good out of the pen.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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Considering the current state of their rotation, I can't imagine a scenario in which they choose to put ERod in the bullpen in order to give anyone not named Price, Sale, or Porcello a post-season start. Eovaldi, for example, would have to demonstrate a tremendous turnaround over his final few starts...a Fister-like renaissance, if you will.

I think Eovaldi is ticketed for the post-season pen. Maybe in a 2017 Price like role. Stretched out to go multiple but devastating enough stuff for a key out or a bridge to Kimbrel.
 

uk_sox_fan

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Houston and Boston played 7 games - 4 in Houston and 3 in Boston. Houston won 4 and Boston 3 - that's pretty balanced and not 'serving notice'.

If you look at it by pitching matchup and rank the starters by WAR you get...
Houston series:
BOS#8 (Pom) @ HOU#5 (McCullers) -> Hou 4-2
BOS#1 (Sale) @ HOU#1 (Cole) -> Hou 7-3
BOS#2 (Price) @ HOU#2 (Verlander) -> Bos 5-4
BOS#3 (Porcello) @ Hou #4 (Morton) -> Bos 9-3

Boston series:
HOU#1 (Cole) @ BOS#2 (Price) -> Hou 6-3
HOU#4 (Morton) @ BOS#4 (Rodriguez) -> Hou 5-3
HOU#3 (Keuchel) @ BOS#3 (Porcello) -> Bos 6-5

Again, not much to pick between them. When Houston started a guy nearer to the top of their rotation than Boston (McCullers v Pom and Cole v Price) they won; when Boston did (Porcello v Morton) Boston won and when it was even Houston won the 1v1, Boston the 2v2, Houston the 4v4 and Boston the 3v3.
We got to see all 5 Astro starters (who have collectively started 138 of the 143 games Houston has played this year) and they got to see Boston's top 4 plus Pomeranz (who have started 112 games between them) so we've had quite a good preview.
 

geoduck no quahog

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One team has their division virtually locked, their best pitcher being rested for the playoffs, another starter coming off a long DL, the best offense in baseball, great defense (absent Devers), a number 9 hitter (JBJ) that's hitting a strong .306 for the last couple of weeks (.280 and OPS'ng .840 for the last month), a manager who's auditioning players all over the place and who's smart enough to understand that not every game counts when you have an 8 game lead with 20 to go - even if the TV announcers think a particular non-divisional series is the most important one of the (ratings) year. A manager that wants, at all costs, to avoid stupid injuries in semi-meaningless games. Yes, that team also has a dysfunctional bullpen that had better quickly get its act together.

Another team is fighting to maintain its division lead and avoid the wildcard playoff, a leadoff hitter that strikes out a lot and hits .261, catchers that hit a lot like the Red Sox catchers, a right fielder OPS'ng less than .700. Their pitching staff is remarkable. Thing is, that staff will need to perform well over the next couple of weeks because they don't have a big cushion.They also play half their games indoors and (despite their w-l record) have a slight advantage there over teams that may play in 50-degree weather in September.

I agree that the Astros are a better team, based solely on their pitching, but I think the Red Sox' ability to run and hit and get on base (and catch the ball) shouldn't be discounted.

Despite what ESPN idiots say, I don't think this was a "crucial" series. Hell, some managers may not even have pitched their best starter against a likely playoff opponent (albeit, another manager has 4 "best" starters)
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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The Astros served notice this weekend that they are still the team to beat in MLB. Rooting hard now that they hold off Oakland and win the AL West - the MFY's or A's worry me in a five-game series, but I'll take that if it means that we would only have to face one of Cleveland or Houston if the Sox make it to the ALCS (and would have seven games to deal with that team).
HOU has: 3 @ DET; 3 vs ARI; 3 vs SEA; 3 vs LAA; 3 @ TOR; and 4@ BAL.
OAK has: 3 @ BAL; 3 @ TB; 6 against LAA (3 home; 3 away); 3 vs MIN; and 3 @ SEA.

Ignoring road vs home, they basically have 9 games in common: BAL = 3; SEA = 3; and LAA = 3. That leaves

HOU has: 3 @ DET; 3 vs ARI; 3 @ TOR; and 1@ BAL.
OAK has: 3 @ TB; 3 @ LAA; 3 vs MIN

HOU has a favorable schedule down the road.
 

JimD

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Records of the AL contenders since this thread was started:

BOS 10-4
NYY 7-9
HOU 12-4
OAK 10-5
CLE 8-8
SEA 5-9
 

Humphrey

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Tampa has in fact passed Seattle now; the A's are a game behind NYY.

Also, Washington is a half game behind the Phils, and is all of two games over .500. The Phillies have stunk since they played the Red Sox (8-18).
 

Savin Hillbilly

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The wrong side of the bridge....
So, we've now reached the point where the Sox can clinch by winning just one of their six remaining games against NY, even if they lose all their other games and NY wins all their other games. If the Yanks sweep this upcoming series, they get the satisfaction of having saved their dignity by preventing a Sox celebration on their turf, but that's about it.

I'm not a 1 anymore. I'm a minus infinity.
 

Sandy Leon Trotsky

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The “worry” extends into the postseason.
Sale seems on pace to be in full gear by the ALDS. The number 3 starter is worrisome but I’ll take Rodriguez or Porcello over any other teams number 3.
The pen is my main concern
 

Al Zarilla

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The “worry” extends into the postseason.
Sale seems on pace to be in full gear by the ALDS. The number 3 starter is worrisome but I’ll take Rodriguez or Porcello over any other teams number 3.
The pen is my main concern
Gammons said this morning on MLBN that with two more starts, Sale should be ready to throw 90 pitches in his first postseason start, and that that was good enough. I don’t know who he talked to on the Red Sox, but he mentioned Cora a lot. For the bullpen, Kimbrel of course, and the only other names he mentioned were Brasier and Wright, unless I missed a name. I know he didn’t say Barnes, but maybe they just ran out of time.
 
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RedOctober3829

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I know this team has been great. I know I shouldn't be panicking. However, I am worried. They are trending in the exact opposite direction as we get to the most important part of the season. We all know the struggles of the bullpen and I've chronicled them for a while now. But offensively they have not been good for a while now. Andrew Benintendi's 2nd half OPS is .693. Mitch Moreland's OPS has fallen from .910 on June 14th to .752 presently. The catcher spot is a complete black hole ranking dead last in the AL in OPS. 3rd base is 11th in the AL in OPS and 2nd base is 12th.

Now that the Yankees are healthy with Judge and Chapman back, I think they are a very formidable opponent in a 5-game series. They have 2 starters that are throwing lights out baseball in Happ and Tanaka. If Severino pitches like he did last night, that's a heck of a 3rd starter. Say Tanaka gets the WC game start and no other starters have to go in that game and they win. They'd have Happ, Severino, Sabathia, Tanaka, and Happ in a 5 game series. That matches up pretty well with the Red Sox. Their lineup with the addition of Andrew McCutchen at the leadoff spot and now a healthy Judge is a lot different than the one that got swept in Boston in August and one that I think is more dangerous than the Sox at the moment.
 

Savin Hillbilly

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The wrong side of the bridge....
I know this team has been great. I know I shouldn't be panicking. However, I am worried.
Are you gonna make somebody post the Airport priest slap?

Seriously, though, Lose framed this as a thread specifically about holding on to first place/best record. Worries about the playoffs are absolutely legitimate, because worries about the playoffs are always legitimate. It is impossible to enter the postseason with a sense of security that is not false.

But the regular season? Nope.
 

notmannysfault

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As for the division, let's just say I'm not as concerned as I was when this thread was originated.

And also very satisfied by the162ish-game investment of my time in and the emotional attention given to a child's game played by men, this being my 36th go round (full disclosure..I did not pay attention until I was six).

just :)
 

Rasputin

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This team has been remarkable in it's consistent excellence. Nothing is guaranteed in this game, but if you're worried, I kinda feel sad for you.

This team at worst the second best team in baseball and will have home field if it meets the other candidate for best team in the playoffs.

It's not a perfect team but then, there's no such thing. There is no staff this team can't score off. The bullpen is going to get shorter in the playoffs. We have every weapon. All that's left is to just fucking do this thing.
 
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uncannymanny

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I know this team has been great. I know I shouldn't be panicking. However, I am worried. They are trending in the exact opposite direction as we get to the most important part of the season. We all know the struggles of the bullpen and I've chronicled them for a while now. But offensively they have not been good for a while now. Andrew Benintendi's 2nd half OPS is .693. Mitch Moreland's OPS has fallen from .910 on June 14th to .752 presently. The catcher spot is a complete black hole ranking dead last in the AL in OPS. 3rd base is 11th in the AL in OPS and 2nd base is 12th.

Now that the Yankees are healthy with Judge and Chapman back, I think they are a very formidable opponent in a 5-game series. They have 2 starters that are throwing lights out baseball in Happ and Tanaka. If Severino pitches like he did last night, that's a heck of a 3rd starter. Say Tanaka gets the WC game start and no other starters have to go in that game and they win. They'd have Happ, Severino, Sabathia, Tanaka, and Happ in a 5 game series. That matches up pretty well with the Red Sox. Their lineup with the addition of Andrew McCutchen at the leadoff spot and now a healthy Judge is a lot different than the one that got swept in Boston in August and one that I think is more dangerous than the Sox at the moment.
Somewhere the 2004 Rockies are still talking about how they were trending perfectly entering the WS.
 

canyoubelieveit

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Not only is no team perfect, the "perfect" parts of teams are never perfect. The Yankees, for example, assembled the Best Bullpen of All Time this year, and in a game they desperately wanted to win and had a lead in the 7th, their top arms didn't exactly cover themselves in glory:

Betances and Chapman: 1.2 IP 3 H 4R 3 ER 2 BB 3 K 1 HR

Sox have a team that is as good a bet as any team in the majors to win it all, but will need enough of their players to get hot at the right time. As a fan it's the best you can hope for.
 

reggiecleveland

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When they were on a 120 win pace they were legitimately one of the best teams of all time. It was difficult to imagine anybody beating them. So I was a close to worry free as baseball can be.

I don't think they are as good right now, and most of that is Sale's absence, but also the pen.

So I was at 07 Sox going to Colorado (near absolute lock) to 08 Sox, heading into post season, where I think they are one of the two best teams, and worried about the pitching.
 

Wallball Tingle

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The idea that they're not playing well because they lost a series (on the road to a good team) is laughable. They're 7-3 in their last 10 and 14-7 since the Tampa Bay Debacle.
 

JimD

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The idea that they're not playing well because they lost a series (on the road to a good team) is laughable. They're 7-3 in their last 10 and 14-7 since the Tampa Bay Debacle.
The first two losses were concerning because of how they lost, but last night's game was pretty cathartic - coming back from losing the early lead on Stanton's big blow, Mookie snapping out of his mini-slump in a huge way, and beating up on the vaunted Yankee pen while also getting strong relief from Wright, Brasier and Kimbrel. The ensuing celebration was appropriately subdued given the team's ultimate goal, but I wouldn't be surprised if this win was almost as big a relief to the players as it was to us fans.
 

lapa

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I would be extremely surprised if the players were more than 3% as relieved as some of the nonsense in this thread
 

lapa

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Apr 20, 2018
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If you want to panic though...

Of the 11 series losses this season

3 to Yankees (probable ALDS opponent)
2 to Athletics (other ALDS option)
2 to Rays ( ALDS option 3 especially if season was one week longer)
1 to Indians, with a 2-2 tied (ALCS option )
1 to Astros, with a 2-2 tied (ALCS option)

Then flunks to twins and white sox
 

Savin Hillbilly

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The wrong side of the bridge....
So is it actually worse if most of your series losses are to good teams? We're supposed to be worried because the Sox have lost series to playoff opponents, but Yankees fans should not be worried because they're fielding a playoff team that lost series to Baltimore and Texas, or Houston fans because Texas beat them twice, or Cleveland fans because they lost one to the Royals? Not sure I get the logic there, unless it's specifically about matchups, or unless you're suggesting that the reason for this is that the other playoff teams let their guard down when playing poor teams or something, which seems implausible to me.

(Also, FWIW, when you point out that we've lost 3 series to the Yankees, it's only fair to point out that we've won 2, with one left to go -- and since both teams have won every home series so far, the most likely outcome is a season split.)

Baseball is a game of millimeters. The talent gap separating great teams from average teams is not large. Everybody can lose to anybody--and does--but superiority shows over the long haul. In the playoffs, it's all about timing.
 
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