How Deep Into October Do the Sox Have to Go For You to Consider '18 to Have Been a Success?

How Deep Into October Do the Sox Have to Go For You to Consider '18 to Have Been a Success?


  • Total voters
    340

Sandy Leon Trotsky

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 11, 2007
6,347
Voted for a competitive WS series. It'd break my heart but I think this group will be right there and possibly better next season. I think Swihart will break in as the main catcher and will be heads above the Vazquez/Leon combo. Benintendi and Devers will also both get better. If they don't win a WS within 3 seasons I'll be disappointed, but a tough, fight.. say 6 games losing in the WS will be tough.... but I'll step back a week later and feel like it was still an overall success with more in the near future
 

drbretto

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 10, 2009
12,073
Concord, NH
I don't think this question is that easy to answer (except for that it's obviously been a huge success with 108 wins). If they end up in a super exciting, well played dogfight in 7 games against Houston in the ALCS and get beat, there would be nothing to hang your head about. If they go three and out against Oakland in the ALDS and show no signs of fight, then it would be a pretty black mark on the season.
 

normstalls

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 15, 2004
4,486
The AL is a complete grinder this year - 5 very good teams. I think if the Sox make the ALCS and play competitively in it, there is no shame in that and I could easily live with that.
 

charlieoscar

Member
Sep 28, 2014
1,339
There are those who say this is the greatest Red Sox team of all time but can that really be if they do not win it all?
 

chrisfont9

Member
SoSH Member
There are those who say this is the greatest Red Sox team of all time but can that really be if they do not win it all?
No they can't, but that may say more about people putting too much stock into regular season wins. For starters, they were #2 in expected win-loss, five games behind Houston. Lots of their record performances can be explained by the Orioles.

I think they've been great, and if they put up a fight in the ALDS and show they are on par with the three other best teams (after being brushed aside the last two Octobers) then it's a meaningful improvement. I'm not demanding a title; at some point in a short series it comes down to luck and/or health.
 

BornToRun

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 4, 2011
17,312
Just don’t lose to the MFY and if you happen to make it to the Fall Classic, don’t you dare lose the damn thing.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 23, 2009
20,676
Maine
Just don’t lose to the MFY and if you happen to make it to the Fall Classic, don’t you dare lose the damn thing.
Yeah, that's where I am. Win the Series if they get there, but if they don't, just be sure to make it further than the Yankees. If they go down to the Astros in the ALCS in 6-7 games, I don't really think there's much shame in that.
 

BornToRun

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 4, 2011
17,312
Yeah, that's where I am. Win the Series if they get there, but if they don't, just be sure to make it further than the Yankees. If they go down to the Astros in the ALCS in 6-7 games, I don't really think there's much shame in that.
It’s where I was at in 2013. Don’t lose to Tampa and don’t lose in the World Series. I would’ve been okay with them falling to Detroit. Thankfully we got a much happier ending.
 

j44thor

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2006
10,961
Yep they are probably slightly better than a coin flip to win in the ALCS purely due to HFA.
If they lose in 6-7 games that is well within the realm of expectations. Get out of the ALDS and play competitively in the ALCS and I'll be quite happy.
 

drbretto

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 10, 2009
12,073
Concord, NH
On second thought I just remembered I put my life savings (at the time) down on the Sox to Win it all in the beginning of the year. Bout to turn those $20 into $180, baby!
 

Blue Monkey

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 23, 2006
5,353
Reading
Yeah, that's where I am. Win the Series if they get there, but if they don't, just be sure to make it further than the Yankees. If they go down to the Astros in the ALCS in 6-7 games, I don't really think there's much shame in that.
So you be cool getting swept out of the ALDS by the A’s??
 

snowmanny

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 8, 2005
15,667
There are 30 teams. The playoffs are to some degree a crapshoot. I think any pro sports team that makes it to the final four has had a successful season.

I think losing in the ALDS again would be a relative failure. Losing to the Yankees in the ALDS would make me jealous of Orioles fans.

Obviously I'm disappointed with any year that ends without a title. But 2003 and 2008 were really good teams having really good seasons. Of course I can look back at those teams with some fondness because of the 2004 and 2007 titles, so the broader issue is what if this current Red Sox run (2016 - whatever) ends without a title or at least a World Series appearance?
 

charlieoscar

Member
Sep 28, 2014
1,339
I think they've been great, and if they put up a fight in the ALDS and show they are on par with the three other best teams (after being brushed aside the last two Octobers) then it's a meaningful improvement. I'm not demanding a title; at some point in a short series it comes down to luck and/or health.
Maybe it does come down to luck, but does anyone consider the 1906 Cubs or the 2001 Mariners the greatest team ever?
 

snowmanny

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 8, 2005
15,667
There are those who say this is the greatest Red Sox team of all time but can that really be if they do not win it all?
The Celtics team that had the best record (1972-73) didn't win but they weren't the greatest. The greatest Patriots team didn't win. And I promise you that the greatest Bruins team anyone ever saw (1970-71) didn't win.
 

Philip Jeff Frye

Member
SoSH Member
Oct 23, 2001
10,229
The season has already been a huge success. A bad week in October shouldn't change that. Losing to the MFYs would leave a bad taste in the mouth though, that's for sure.
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
SoSH Member
Oct 31, 2013
72,432
Duck boats.
Unless they lose in 6 or 7 to a team that starts with a Br.

I will break things if they lose in the AL or to the Rockies. If they lose to the Cubs or Dodgers I will break a lot of things.
 

Sampo Gida

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 7, 2010
5,044
Cant take away those 108 Wins.

Not getting past the LDS would be disappointing though, more so if it means the Yankees move on.

I guess we just take what comes and hope for the best. One game at a time.
 

brienc

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 26, 2005
1,302
Shakedown Street
Anything short of Duck Boats would be heartbreaking after this season. I would reflect and appreciate the great moments that have filled the last six months eventually, but damn I want Duck Boats. This season has already been a success, but it’s to be determined if it will end up being satisfying.
 

Savin Hillbilly

loves the secret sauce
SoSH Member
Jul 10, 2007
18,783
The wrong side of the bridge....
I would be truly let down if this team doesn't at least advance to the ALCS, because it's clearly a better team than the last two and its story should have a better ending. But once we get to the ALCS, we'll be playing either Houston or Cleveland, and damn, those are good teams, especially the former. Losing to either will be disappointing, but not enough to make me feel the team underachieved.
 

Rasputin

Will outlive SeanBerry
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Oct 4, 2001
29,421
Not here
There is no reasonable way to say this team isn't a success. It's won more games than any in team history, has seen some tremendous individual accomplishments, and we're likely to see individual awards. It's been a ridiculous amount of fun to watch. Mookie has catapulted himself into the neighborhood of the pantheon if not actually into it. Xander Bogaerts has turned into the player we all thought he could be.

If we don't win the World Series, calling what I feel disappointment will be an understatement of Brobdingnagian proportions.

I need the Red Sox to win in a way that I really never have before.
 

bankshot1

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 12, 2003
24,651
where I was last at
This has already been a great season, and a success, but we've known since the 17-2 start, there was going to be a post-season for this team. Heading into the post-season, there are five legitimate contenders in the AL, all capable of winning, but all with flaws. I would rank them roughly Astros Sox, MFY, Tribe, As.

I would say an ALDS loss would be disappointing. A loss to the MFY would be very bitter. But a hard contested ALCS (6-7 games) against the Astros is my expectation. And if the Sox lose to a team I think is better in a close series, I can't be that upset. But I will be.

And the 1972-73 Celts were better than the MF Knicks, losing that series in 7 games mostly because John Havlicek got mugged by Bradley and DeBuschere, dislocated his shoulder, missed the better part of three games and played the 7th in a sling, as a one-armed man.
F'ing Knicks.
 

snowmanny

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 8, 2005
15,667
And the 1972-73 Celts were better than the MF Knicks, losing that series in 7 games mostly because John Havlicek got mugged by Bradley and DeBuschere, dislocated his shoulder, missed the better part of three games and played the 7th in a sling, as a one-armed man.
F'ing Knicks.
And the refs handed the Knicks one game in NYC. Bob Ryan's article the next day where he basically called the game and the league fixed was something else.
 

Al Zarilla

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 8, 2005
58,870
San Andreas Fault
I want to see the if the Sox can win a World Series without Big Papi. He was the common denominator, and he ain’t coming back. This may be their best chance. Duckboats.
 

RedOctober3829

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
55,298
deep inside Guido territory
It's World Series or a disappointing season in my eyes. It's going to be really tough to get out of the AL, but with as good as they were all season it would be kidding ourselves if we were happy with anything less than a championship.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

Found no thrill on Blueberry Hill
SoSH Member
Sep 9, 2008
42,273
AZ
I enjoy the summer even when they're shitty. I enjoyed this year. There's really nothing that can undo that.

Now, it's just another season. Either they'll win it or they won't. If they do, it will be awesome. If they don't it will suck. If they are to lose, whether they lose in game 3 or game 19 isn't all that significant to me, other than 19 means I get to watch more baseball. But, if they do lose, it won't change what already happened.
 

Salem's Lot

Andy Moog! Andy God Damn Moog!
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
14,462
Gallows Hill
Any season that you win your division and have a chance to win a championship is a successful season. This isn’t the NHL where more than half the league makes it. It really doesn’t matter if you make it with 90 wins or 110. I really enjoyed watching this team every night this summer, and no matter what happens this month I will look on this club fondly.

That being said, the playoffs are a total crapshoot. Any of the ten teams alive could get hot and win the whole thing. The AL in particular is stacked. The Red Sox happen to be one of those stacked teams. It’s not going to matter to me when or who they’re playing, I’m going to be disappointed after they play their last game.
 

soxhop411

news aggravator
SoSH Member
Dec 4, 2009
46,275
The number of times that the teams with the best record in MLB actually won the WS:

 

mikeysox

New Member
Jul 15, 2005
45
The great thing about 2004 is that I now enjoy the team in a non-psychotic way (2007 and 2013 helped).

I am going to be aggravated if they lose without making it to the series; bummed if they make it to the series but lose. But no matter what, I am going to be happy with the season. 108 wins is amazing and they did it in style.
(losing to the Yankees would be tough to handle, however. Just thinking about it makes me kind of angry)
 

Tharkin

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 11, 2006
1,450
Maine
For me it's already been a successful season, and a really fun one. I can't remember a regular season team that was this interesting and enjoyable all the way through. Going out in the ALDS would be pretty disappointing finish--and extremely annoying if it's to the Yankees--but it wouldn't make me say the season was a failure. I voted a strong showing in the ALCS though, because that's the point where it'd be hard for me to say we really *should* have gone further.
 

SemperFidelisSox

Member
SoSH Member
May 25, 2008
31,084
Boston, MA
Anything less than a championship would put the 2018 team in the same class as the 2001 Mariners, 2007 Patriots, the 73 win Warriors. All time great teams that fell short. You never want to end up on one of those Top 10 countdown shows on MLB Network.

Losing in the first round would be a choke worthy of the Boston Mt. Rushmore of chokes. ‘86 Red Sox, Bruins blowing a 3-0 lead, Too many men on the ice.
 

JohntheBaptist

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 13, 2005
11,399
Yoknapatawpha County
There is no reasonable way to say this team isn't a success. It's won more games than any in team history, has seen some tremendous individual accomplishments, and we're likely to see individual awards. It's been a ridiculous amount of fun to watch. Mookie has catapulted himself into the neighborhood of the pantheon if not actually into it. Xander Bogaerts has turned into the player we all thought he could be.

If we don't win the World Series, calling what I feel disappointment will be an understatement of Brobdingnagian proportions.

I need the Red Sox to win in a way that I really never have before.
Hey, Mr. 100 Wins, you're starting the first game thread, right? If not I'm nominating you.
 

scottyno

late Bloomer
SoSH Member
Dec 7, 2008
11,304
Anything less than a championship would put the 2018 team in the same class as the 2001 Mariners, 2007 Patriots, the 73 win Warriors. All time great teams that fell short. You never want to end up on one of those Top 10 countdown shows on MLB Network.

Losing in the first round would be a choke worthy of the Boston Mt. Rushmore of chokes. ‘86 Red Sox, Bruins blowing a 3-0 lead, Too many men on the ice.
They're going to be something like 60% to win the first round, it's nowhere close to an all time choke if they lose to a 100 or 97 win team in a short series. It's closer to the pats losing in the division round to the jets or ravens, and even those were probably bigger "chokes" if you want to call them that.
 

jaytftwofive

New Member
Jan 20, 2013
1,182
Drexel Hill Pa.
I voted for WS title. 108 wins you are the favorite. But the fact is the Astros are just as good a team in many ways, so losing to the defending champs is not the worst thing(103 Wins pretty good, pretty good). However losing to MFY would be a nightmare. Their fans wouldn't stop rubbing it in. To me this would be as bad as the Lakers tying the Celtics for most NBA titles. Hope it never happens.
 

brs3

sings praises of pinstripes
SoSH Member
May 20, 2008
5,200
Jackson Heights, NYC
Beginning Friday I will probably be insane and be disappointed with anything besides a World Series win. Being a few days away from that, I'm still level headed and feel this might have been the most entertaining team day in, day out. Between the comeback wins, the fun west coast trip, stomping on the Yankees necks when they came close, and setting a franchise record while they were at it? I don't care to guess whether they are the best Red Sox team of all time. They've been the most entertaining, for me, since at least 2013. They might be the most fun team since 2004.
 

jaytftwofive

New Member
Jan 20, 2013
1,182
Drexel Hill Pa.
Beginning Friday I will probably be insane and be disappointed with anything besides a World Series win. Being a few days away from that, I'm still level headed and feel this might have been the most entertaining team day in, day out. Between the comeback wins, the fun west coast trip, stomping on the Yankees necks when they came close, and setting a franchise record while they were at it? I don't care to guess whether they are the best Red Sox team of all time. They've been the most entertaining, for me, since at least 2013. They might be the most fun team since 2004.
Agree. They won 108 games. Let's enjoy it.
 

sean1562

Member
SoSH Member
Sep 17, 2011
3,620
I say at least get to the WS. Please don't lose to NY in the ALDS. I dont want to say that it would ruin the year but it would be a pretty big black mark on the season, and I will have to hear about it from my two yankees fans through next season at least
 

jaytftwofive

New Member
Jan 20, 2013
1,182
Drexel Hill Pa.
Don't get me wrong,losing to the A's would suck also but......obviously not the same. Question???? Not to start a poll or anything but is anyone actually rooting for the Yanks to beat the A's so we can play them and beat them??? Not me !!!!! Deep down we don't want to play them because. one...it's fun when they lose but no. 2 we don't want the chance of losing to them. Admit it.
 

jaytftwofive

New Member
Jan 20, 2013
1,182
Drexel Hill Pa.
I say at least get to the WS. Please don't lose to NY in the ALDS. I dont want to say that it would ruin the year but it would be a pretty big black mark on the season, and I will have to hear about it from my two yankees fans through next season at least
Couldn't have said it better. If we beat MFY but lose to the Stros it would be disappointing but not a nightmare.
 

timlinin8th

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 6, 2009
1,521
108 wins will always be something I will remember, this season has been wonderful - HOWEVER an ALDS exit will absolutely sting after riding high all season long, especially if it is to the MFY which as others have already said would be gross.

A total drubbing in the ALCS would be a bad look too, but staying competitive against either of Cleveland or Houston, while not the outcome I want, is far from shameful. I equate it with 2008 - really enjoyed that team, made it to the ALCS, got beat by an excellent Tampa team, was able to tip my cap to them and feel good about that season. (Yes I know having won it in ‘07 helps, but then the dream of back-to-back was very real too and losing kinda stunk in that regard).
 

jaytftwofive

New Member
Jan 20, 2013
1,182
Drexel Hill Pa.
This has already been a great season, and a success, but we've known since the 17-2 start, there was going to be a post-season for this team. Heading into the post-season, there are five legitimate contenders in the AL, all capable of winning, but all with flaws. I would rank them roughly Astros Sox, MFY, Tribe, As.

I would say an ALDS loss would be disappointing. A loss to the MFY would be very bitter. But a hard contested ALCS (6-7 games) against the Astros is my expectation. And if the Sox lose to a team I think is better in a close series, I can't be that upset. But I will be.

And the 1972-73 Celts were better than the MF Knicks, losing that series in 7 games mostly because John Havlicek got mugged by Bradley and DeBuschere, dislocated his shoulder, missed the better part of three games and played the 7th in a sling, as a one-armed man.
F'ing Knicks.
Didn't Hondo play in Game 5??? I remember the sling.