The Sox have all but clinched a playoff spot. It's possible the Sox don't truly care about winning the division. After all, look what happened last year. No one gave the Cards a chance of winning a playoff series let alone the World Series. The same with the Tigers. After their 'almost' collapse down the stretch NO ONE gave them a chance vs. the Yanks. They went to the WS.
I am just not a believer in being able to turn it on and off.....And also resting a guy is not always a good thing either.....
Let's make this simple without Manny in the lineup they just aren't that good add Youklis being out and their lineup can easily be pitched too. Hopefully hose guys get healthy along with Crisp come playoff time. Anybody worried about Papelbon is nuts and hopefully Okajima gets the rest he needs to get back to form.
I am just not a believer in being able to turn it on and off.....And also resting a guy is not always a good thing either.....
I'm not a believer in turning it on and off either. I think with the Tigers last year and the Sox this year it's more about becoming complacent. Both those teams probably had/have the feeling "let's get the season over with".
We have not solidified a starting rotation......nor a bullpen.....
I do not see us beating any of the 3 teams
Yanks - Hell no...they are better
Indians - Do not want to face Sabathia twice
Angels - may have a chance but they will nickel and dime us to death
The only thing we have alot of right now is excuses.....
I think they can probably handle Cleveland IF everyone is healthy.
Cleveland is hot now, but don't forget, at one stretch they lost 7 of 8 combined to Sox and Yankees in their own home park.
Sometimes facing the same pitcher over a short period can actually be an advantage.
Above being said, if they play the way they have of late and Manny, Youk, Crisp, etc. don't get better and produce quickly, they could be eliminated real fast in the first round no matter who they play.
I think they can probably handle Cleveland IF everyone is healthy.
Cleveland is hot now, but don't forget, at one stretch they lost 7 of 8 combined to Sox and Yankees in their own home park.
Sometimes facing the same pitcher over a short period can actually be an advantage.
Above being said, if they play the way they have of late and Manny, Youk, Crisp, etc. don't get better and produce quickly, they could be eliminated real fast in the first round no matter who they play.
even with youk and crisp they were not swinging good lumber.....let's not forget if it wasn't for crazy comebacks against TB we would be now down a half game.....
This shit is nonsensical and the Manny injury is just another excuse......The Yankess never ever cry about injuries to huge thumpers and they have had em....You know what they do.....Someone else steps up.....period.....Year after year....
It is a mindset of winning....regardless..
Ours is not the same....nobody can convince me different
Boston is in a mild slump. That's all. They still have a great record and certainly want home field advantage.
It was about this time two years ago that the White Sox lost 14 of 17 and all the idiots in Chicago (led by columnist Jay Mariotti) were calling them chokers.
They went on to win eleven straight post season games including sweeps of the ALCS and World Series.
In the post-season, I give Boston the edge over the Yankees because of better starting pitching.
Boston is in a mild slump. That's all. They still have a great record and certainly want home field advantage.
It was about this time two years ago that the White Sox lost 14 of 17 and all the idiots in Chicago (led by columnist Jay Mariotti) were calling them chokers.
They went on to win eleven straight post season games including sweeps of the ALCS and World Series.
In the post-season, I give Boston the edge over the Yankees because of better starting pitching.
Bullshit bro.....Not neurotic....Everyone uses this White Sox example as if it is gospel. Can it be done. Yes, it can. I bet it is more the exception than the rule.
All the Sox fans that say "all is okay" will be changing their tune soon enough. Nothing is being solidified. No starting rotations. No bullpen. We are the only team who makes excuses from the top down.....That is all i am saying. We have a built in attitude come this time of year.
To implode like this and pretend all is well and we are still gonna get the WC is the sign of someone who is satisfied with 2nd place. I know the logic that we need to get lined up and rested and blah blah blah.......Winners do not talk like that.....Torre doesn't. Just comments about each game. Francona and the Sox think we can figure this out by planning. Fuck that......Play ball and play to win. Not pulling guy out after 64 pitches after not pitching in 3 weeks......Not doing a litmus test with Gagnes nutsack....he already has proven there are none......Sometimes you have to face the music and assign roles based on hard facts.....not on how we hope he would have pitched....
Boston is in a mild slump. That's all. They still have a great record and certainly want home field advantage.
It was about this time two years ago that the White Sox lost 14 of 17 and all the idiots in Chicago (led by columnist Jay Mariotti) were calling them chokers.
They went on to win eleven straight post season games including sweeps of the ALCS and World Series.
In the post-season, I give Boston the edge over the Yankees because of better starting pitching.
The Yanks have proven that the Red Sox pitching is merely mortal against their lefty bats.
I think the truth lies somewhere between what Tony says and what Griswold says.
Frankly, before trhe season started, I thought it would be a mediocre year.
I thought and continue to think that there are too many weak links in the lineup even when everyone is healthy, and that even if players were not injured, that they were somewhat overachievers.
Pitching(esp. Beckett) and guys like Lowell and Pedroia are the main reasons they have done as well as they have.
The post season is a crapshoot as we saw last year when a mediocre team like the Cardinals just got hot at the right time;the Cards record this year speaks for itself.
Personally with all of the ups and downs of the Yankees this year and all of the talk at one time they were finished(including me), I think right now(and it hurts me to say it) Yankees should be rated the odds on favorite to win it all(yeah I know they have the Angels to worry about, but that is the way I see it).
Here are the latest World Series odds:
I personally would rate Yanks at +250 and Red Sox at around +450.
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS +805
1901 ATLANTA BRAVES +6500
1903 BOSTON RED SOX +295
1904 CHICAGO CUBS +710
1907 CLEVELAND INDIANS +505
1908 COLORADO ROCKIES +5000
1909 DETROIT TIGERS +9000
1913 LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM +380
1914 LOS ANGELES DODGERS +6500
1915 MILWAUKEE BREWERS +915
1917 NEW YORK METS +380
1918 NEW YORK YANKEES +355
1920 PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES +1100
1922 SAINT LOUIS CARDINALS +19000
1923 SAN DIEGO PADRES +810
1925 SEATTLE MARINERS +9000
7:15 PM9 /20 /07
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