Yeah Clay looked pretty good. His fastball command was off a bit but his change up was as sick as ever. It was a huge win by the Sox especially after the performance by Price. Like I said all the Sox had to do was win 1 game so they get out of TB up 6.5 games no matter what with 14 to play. Magic number is now down to 10 games. I would love to take another game this series though and try to knock TB out of the playoffs as they would still be a dangerous team. Bogaerts probably on the roster because he can play SS and 3B and well, and has pop in his bat. Much better option then McDonald and/or Holt.
Gotta say if Buch holds up the Sox are going to be mighty tough to beat in October.....you have go to think they would be the favorites....
In the AL, them or Detroit. Still think Oakland and TB would be dangerous too. Even Texas if they get their pitching squared away.
Good E:60 piece on Gomes: http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=9655381&categoryid=2378529 I must say I wasn't a huge fan of his before he came to the Sox, I thought he was a punk mainly due to the Sox/Rays brawl in 2008, but he really changed my perspective on him. He seems like a really good guy. And good article from Jonah Keri on the Sox FA signings last offseason and how they turned out: http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-t...ngs-propelled-bostons-worst-to-first-comeback
Some quick math on the schedule: Sox have 16 games left, TB has 19, Baltimore has 18 and the Yankees have 17 games left. If the Sox play .500 ball and go 8-8 they will win 96 games. For TB to win 96 games they need to go 18-1. It is impossible for either the Yankees or O's to win 96 games. If the Sox go 6-10, they will win 94 games. TB needs to go 16-3, NYY 17-0 and Baltimore needs to go 17-1. If the Sox go 4-12 they will win 92 games, TB has to go 14-5, NYY 15-2 and Baltimore 15-3. If Boston goes 2-14 they will win only 90 games. TB has to go 12-7, NYY 13-4 and Baltimore 13-5. So yeah basically the Sox probably wrapped up the division last night. Although it would make me feel a hell of a lot better if they took at least another game from TB.
I usually don't but after September of 2011 I do. I think I just need to get over that hump to be able to move on. I think a lot of it has to do with TB playing the Twins this weekend. Plus I kind of want home field for the playoffs and want TB out of the picture all together. I'm rooting hard for Cleveland to get that 2nd spot.
Yeah the Rays just look.... bad. I mean no clutch hitting, defensive and mental mistakes. Even Maddon's managing has been questionable yesterday. The wheels are certainly coming off. But hey that was another fun win last night. This Sox team is extremely likable and kind of reminds me of 2004 a bit with all the characters and personalities on it. I'm certainly rooting for a 5 team tie for that 2nd WC spot. Also don't look now but the Rangers are having another one of their September slides. Magic number is 8 to win the AL East, 6 to get a playoff spot. If the Sox go 7-8 the rest of the way, TB has to go 18-0 to force a tie. I think the AL East race might be close to over now.
Rangers slide could be huge as they could possibly miss the playoffs entirely. Most likely not but they could pull last year where the 2nd wild card who's fighting to get in knocks out the rangers again. Would be frustrating for Rangers to win first wild card back to back years but only play two games in the playoffs in a two year span. If I were a ranger fan I would be pissed and it would make the World Series loss to St Louis even worse
I can't see them missing the playoffs. I don't see who would possibly take their spot. I just don't see any team that's good enough to be honest.
That's the only reason I think they don't blow it completely. Cleveland missed big opportunity. Balt did too. Should have won the last two against ny. Yanks can get their pitching together then they are in good shape. rays are the only reason yanks are still I it. They have been playing real bad. Yanks should have been done after losing 3 to the sox but Tampa couldn't put them away
The Rangers have 17 games left. 3 at home vs. Oakland, 4 on the road vs. TB (which will be a huge series), 3 at KC, then they play 3 vs. Houston at home and 4 vs. LAA at home. But their next 10 games are pretty big with major playoff race stakes on the line. The freaking Astros might be the key/spoiler to the playoff race as their last 13 games are against potential playoff teams in the Reds (3), Indians (4), Rangers (3) and Yankees (3).
These races do make baseball exciting. I am just thankful I have a reason to watch these games. Granted I rather be in the Red Sox shoes but yanks shoes don't look to bad right now
Honestly at this point. I'm counting on the Rays blowing it. If there were two teams behind the Rangers playing well, I could see it. But there isn't.
Yeah you wouldn't think the Rangers will blow it but like my post above, their next 10 games are pretty tough. The next 2 weeks or so should be really fun. A 5 team tie would be pretty cool to see actually.
Magic number is down to 5 to win the East, I believe it's only 4 games to make the playoffs. With the sweep of the Yankees they have officially been eliminated from the AL East title, along with Baltimore. Good to see the Sox pitching rebound after a rough weekend in New York last time out. Lester looked great again and Buchholz's start was encouraging too. He still doesn't have fastball command but his other pitches look pretty sharp.
Kudos to the Sox on winning the Division, they are hitting on all cylinders right now, they will indeed be very tough to beat in a few weeks...
I just wish BigDog was still around. He had a lot of fun last year, rightfully so, digging at the team, organization, front office and ownership, it would have been fun to see him take the digs back. I will admit the fast turnaround wasn't surprising as I thought that they had a chance to be a good team in 2013 if everyone stayed healthy and they got a little bit of luck I figured maybe they would be in the race for a wild card spot but not 30 games over .500. But never thought they would be this good. Just hoping they continue to play good baseball for another month and a half.
I mean everything is working great for them right now, did you count on Carp? Nava? doing what they are? even Igeslias....the closer? but hey thats how you go about it.....I am not ashamed to admit it they are a great team and the front-runners for the crown.....if they win it all would I be pissed? yeah sure for about 5 minutes.....it isn't nearly as bad to me as if I were to watch the Pats win....my blood boils when they win a game nevermind it all....it is partly because the guys are likable and they arent douchebags...I admire the way they play the game... oh and BDH is around he posts from time to time elsewhere......it is all in good fun anyways so he should...that's why I don't talk trash, no team can obviously win it every year so at some point you are going to have to eat crow.... I will however talk an insane amount of trash when Miami finally is better than the Pats, after all the junk I take living here.....oh it is coming....
Nope on Carp or Nava and I'm still shocked the Sox were able to trade Iglesias for Peavy. Everything seems to be working right for them (minus Bailey and Hanrahan) this year after a year and a month of crap baseball and distractions. But I figured guys like Pedroia, Ortiz, Ellsbury, Lester, Buchholz to name a few, if healthy would be better than they were in 2012. And if you look back I said I think Lackey will be good this year because he's finally healthy. But again in no way did I think on September 16th that they would be the best team in baseball. I think again it just goes to show you that you don't always need the 25 best players to be a good team.
Classy classy move by the Red Sox. Gave Mo the best gifts IMO. Love them going him the visiting rubber mound
How did you feel about the "roast"? Apparently some people in the Yankee organization didn't like it. Joe Girardi definitely didn't. I thought it was harmless, if Rivera didnt have a problem with it no one else should. And I agree with you the gifts were awesome. I'm actually jealous, I want an original Fenway seat and Green Monster number. Fans also did a nice job cheer for him last night. It's a shame he might never pitch at Fenway again. I'm actually surprised with the off day today Girardi didn't let him pitch even to just one batter.
Roast are all in good fun, and I considered roast an honor. You have to be able to laugh at yourself. It was not meant to be hurtful or offensive. They obviously showed a great deal of respect to him.
Yea we might of been wrong about this missing the playoffs. I mean that was the first game in a while TB looked good in all aspects of the game. I honestly just chalked it up to playing the rangers. Sad considering they had a playoff spot all but locked up basically.
The Yanks shouldnt be bi*ching about some jokes made about an icon pitcher in the sport....this organization from the brass to the coaches have been grumpy and bi*ching about something all year.... How about "dont like" the fact you cant draft worth of **** and your farm system sucks, "dont like" the fact that because you "didnt like" to have ANY fiscal responsibility which in turn led to multiple immovable high dollar contracts....BUT could have been moved 2 years ago although didnt because the GM "didnt like" it..... How about just shut up and "dont like" the job you all are doing and fire yourselves.....
Thing is with TB, and I get you are down on them, but they will be very dangerous in the playoffs because of their pitching...All they have to do is get in and maybe they catch a little magic.....
Right the thing with me is I am always (and I know you wont agree being a hitting coach ) "good pitching always beats good hitting" kinda guy, but I will say hitting is certainly contagious, especially in the playoffs where pressure builds..... However when you can roll out DP, MM, and Cobb/Archer in a 5 game set....tough...
No I'd agree. Even good hitters only get on base 3 1/2 to 4 times max in 10 ABs. And it tends to drop some against elite pitching. So I'm on the great pitching beats great hitting bandwagon. TB can be dangerous. There is no doubt. But as of right now I'm still holding my breath and praying we get the play in game.
Just as important is to get production out people you dont expect it from... Sandovals 3 HR in game one for instance.. Or Scutaro morphing into Mantle for the playoffs.
Yeah you can tell Texas is playing extremely tight. I think a lot of it falls on Ron Washington though. Yeah the players have to produce yadda yadda yadda however in Washington's interviews he just talks like he's defeated and has no answers on how to fix things (which is probably true). I'm be surprised if Texas misses the playoffs if Washington is still around, he's really a poor manager anyway.
Regardless of injuries, which obviously hurt the team, I do think Cashman and the front office did a poor job in the offseason getting players. And you're right their farm system hasn't produced a quality minor league position player since Brett Gardner nor have they produced a solid pitcher since Ivan Nova. It's definitely a problem that they need to address. I'm pretty interested in seeing what they do this offseason and whether they spend money or not especially if they don't make the playoffs.
He resigned Ichiro to a 2 year deal and made a trade for Vernon Wells, who had 2 years left on his deal. Neither of those moves made sense. Even the guys he signed for to a 1 year deal (like Youkilis & Hafner), except for Kuroda and Pettitte, turned out to be bust moves. The one good deal the Yankees made this year in getting Soriano, wasn't even a Cashman move. I get that Cashman's hands were tied because of the luxury tax but you can argue there were problems with the roster construction anyway.
RIP Koji's incredible streak. Better it ended now then in October. Magic number down to 3 with TB loss to win the AL East, I believe it's only 1 game to clinch a playoff spot though. I would still like to see the Sox get the best record in the AL though, they're still up 2.5 games from Oakland.
