Baseball season 2007

[dangnewt]

and detroits losing too! woohoo!

Holy Cow - something we can agree on.

Sorry Burk, but the sooner the Sox accomplish goal #1 - making the playoffs, the happier I'll be and if that means the Tigers lose the next 4 games, so be it.

Of course, that would mean my dream of the Yanks not making the playoffs goes by the boards, I can deal with that as well.

I wasn't able to watch or listen to game. It is clear to me that the Sox brass want to make the playoffs and are not willing to rush anyone back into the lineup just to finish ahead of the Yanks (as much as I'd like to see them finish ahead of the Yanks, I agree with them that getting in shape for the playoffs is more important). That is probably why they are giving extra rest to Oki and finally giving extra rest to Dice-K. You will not see Francona or the team panic.

That being said - we are learning things about this team as we go -
Tonight we learned
Lester is back and he is a reliable major league pitcher
Gagne is not reliable in a pressure situation - next time we see him will likely be in mopup; then maybe a close but non-critical game
The Sox offense suffers when Manny and Youk are both out.

Tomorrow we will learn if Buchholz is the real deal or not.

Drew remains a mystery, but if Manny, Coco and Ellsbury are healthy, I don't see how the Sox could start Drew in a meaningful game.

 

[dangnewt]

Cool website. I hit that one and didn't realize you could pull up standings.

What a year that was!

I didn't either until I went seaching for standings - the Boston Globe archives only go back to 1979.

1978 was a interesting year. I would like to avoid a repeat but it is shaping up to be a similar story. A large lead dwindles because one team is playing OK and the other is playing at a .700 clip for three months. Even the Yankee "collapse" at the end was the same deal with the teams reversed - the Sox actually won the previous two games so were 12-2 over the last 14.

 

[dangnewt]

Ahh, one of my favorite websites ever!

I have only begun to dig into it - but it is amazing.

 

[Johnny Fila]

Holy Cow - something we can agree on. .

Sox fans and Yankee fans quite often agree on more than what one would think. they just need to talk more.

Drew remains a mystery, but if Manny, Coco and Ellsbury are healthy, I don't see how the Sox could start Drew in a meaningful game.

I was watching that game after the Yanks game. I thought Drew had a shot at catching that ball, it just seemed to evade his glove. granted the ball was pretty smoked.......

 

[dangnewt]

Sox fans and Yankee fans quite often agree on more than what one would think. they just need to talk more.



I was watching that game after the Yanks game. I thought Drew had a shot at catching that ball, it just seemed to evade his glove. granted the ball was pretty smoked.......

Great point - it is one of the reasons I love this thread.

I haven't seen the replay of that hit. Drew's defense has been fine and is certainly light-years ahead of Wily Mo Pena. I'm thinking more about his offense (or more accurately lack thereof). Because the Sox have made such a big commitment to him and because of the way that Francona manages (with an eye to propping up a players confidence) Drew has been out there longer than other managers may have gone with him. The approach worked with Pedroia who has amply rewarded the faith that the organization had put in him. It hasn't worked so far with Drew.

More troubling is that I detect a little testiness within the team. There is some grumbling about Manny's slow return and Ortiz's reduced production; Ortiz shoots back that Manny will be back when he's ready and that he (Ortiz) can not drive every single run and he could use a little help (read: when is Drew going to start hitting). Beckett and Papelbon (both young and brash) are taking over the leadership of pitching staff from Schilling and Timlin (good-hearted blowhard and good-hearted strong-silent type). Fortunately, Tek, Lowell and Wakefield (and I think to an extent Cora, a future ML manager IMHO, and Tavares) provide a lot of veteran leadership and hold things together. It is not quite the Bronx Zoo; but there is tension.

 

[Tony G]

Where's the freakin' Red Sox offense???? Are we about to see the lead drop to 1.5 games???? :scowl:

 

[Tony G]

.....and lugo just cost the sox the tying run run...:scowl:


This thread has become my official "whine about the Red Sox during the game thread".

 

[Tony G]

...and Papelbon gives up a grand slam to lose any chance of coming back in this game. Sometimes, as a Red Sox fan, you just have to laugh at yourself.

 

[Tony G]

Alright, thats enough. Lets get this going here. It only takes one game to win a division. Anything is possible.

LETS GO SOX!!!

LETS GO SOX!!!

LETS GO SOX!!!

 

[Tony G]

ugh...I've had a long week, can ya tell? I'm just sitting here talking to myself.

 

[xshawnxearthx]

ugh...I've had a long week, can ya tell? I'm just sitting here talking to myself.

i'm with you. paps giving up a grand sam. 1.5 games.

i havent posted on this thread at all, so this will be a long one.

hopefully with the day off and the pitchers getting some rest, they wont completely blow it in the last few games.

on a side note. eric gagne < kason gabbard. theo, thanks.
jd drew....yeah thanks again theo. let's hope he comes to play in final week and hope they keep this lead and gain some more games.

also, hopefully the bj's take some games from the yanks these next few days to help with the lead. who knows though. scrub teams like the bj's always come to play and give the good teams a tough time at the end.

right now the pitching is not doing the job. best bullpen in mlb is just not doing it. ***!??!

i'm glad youk is back, but i hope manny can show up as well for the play offs and earn some of those big bucks he makes.

dice k. i knew he would start off hot and hit a slump. too many games, not enough days off. when he is on, he is on, but lately his control has been lacking. he was doing good against the yanks the other day but you know how that turned out. i hope he pulls it together in october.

 

[xshawnxearthx]

ps, i have to go get my check tomorrow at work. i hope to not get my chops busted too badly by all the yankee fans at work.

 

[Tony G]

ps, i have to go get my check tomorrow at work. i hope to not get my chops busted too badly by all the yankee fans at work.

You an me both, brother. I see you live in Jersey, and I live in NY. I feel your pain.

 

[dangnewt]

.....and lugo just cost the sox the tying run run...:scowl:


This thread has become my official "whine about the Red Sox during the game thread".

That was bad, very bad. The Sox seem to be all out of synch. Buchholz pitched well but didn't help himself on defense by throwing the ball away on that bunt and by not getting to the bag before the ball on the pitcher covering play.

I do want to see Manny and Youk and Coco back in there and then they should think about giving Papi and Lowell a little rest as well.

Don't worry about the Yankee fans; we'll either see them in the ALCS or we won't - simple as that. They have to feel good about the way Mussina is pitching and Matsui is back and hit a home run.

 

[xshawnxearthx]

You an me both, brother. I see you live in Jersey, and I live in NY. I feel your pain.

grew up in RI, but yeah, living in NJ sux for that one reason.

yeah, bucholtz is a great pitcher but lacks defense. it's a shame that things are not clicking right now.

if manny can come back and start not "being manny", it will pick up the team.

 

[Tony G]

grew up in RI, but yeah, living in NJ sux for that one reason.

Ah, I see. I have family all over New England including CT, VT, ME, and MA. My immediate family moved to NY when I was very young, so I know a virtual lifetime of criticism by Yankee Fans.

 

[dangnewt]

i'm with you. paps giving up a grand sam. 1.5 games.

i havent posted on this thread at all, so this will be a long one.

hopefully with the day off and the pitchers getting some rest, they wont completely blow it in the last few games.

on a side note. eric gagne < kason gabbard. theo, thanks.
jd drew....yeah thanks again theo. let's hope he comes to play in final week and hope they keep this lead and gain some more games.

also, hopefully the bj's take some games from the yanks these next few days to help with the lead. who knows though. scrub teams like the bj's always come to play and give the good teams a tough time at the end.

right now the pitching is not doing the job. best bullpen in mlb is just not doing it. ***!??!

i'm glad youk is back, but i hope manny can show up as well for the play offs and earn some of those big bucks he makes.

dice k. i knew he would start off hot and hit a slump. too many games, not enough days off. when he is on, he is on, but lately his control has been lacking. he was doing good against the yanks the other day but you know how that turned out. i hope he pulls it together in october.

And a fine first post it is.

The Sox are officially in line up the pitching and get people healthy mode - the division is clearly secondary. I lived in NYC for five years so I know it is not easy.

Gagne has been a major disappointment, but I thought it was a good deal at the time - Gabbard would be the 6th or 7th starter next year depending on what they do with Schill.

I agree 100% on Drew. He has been better over the past few weeks; but another major disappointment. The money and years are strange in retrospect when you see how good Ellsbury is.

The Sox are resting Oki and Dice-K. They should be OK for the playoffs. I'm pretty happy with the production of Dice-K even when you factor in the posting fee - he is at 16-17 million - that sounds about right for a solid 14-15 game winner with upside potential.

There is still a fair bit of baseball left - Gagne and Drew could find their respective grooves. Manny and Youk can heal.

Keep the faith!

 

[SoComSurfing]

Alright, thats enough. Lets get this going here. It only takes one game to win a division. Anything is possible.

LETS GO SOX!!!

LETS GO SOX!!!

LETS GO SOX!!!

I'll support this post. My Braves are done, and have been for some time now, so I'll pull for the Sox. I REALLY hope the Tigers will over-take the Yanks in the WC. Dunno about that one, though.

Based on where things are now, my ideal post-season would start like this:
National League
East: Phillies
Central: Cubs
West: Padres
Wildcard: Diamondbacks or Brewers (can't decide on this one)

American League
East: Red Sox
Central: Indians
West: Angels
Wildcard: Tigers

I DO NOT want to see any NY teams in there when things are done. Nothing against the place; I love the town, just hate the baseball teams.

 

[xshawnxearthx]

And a fine first post it is.

The Sox are officially in line up the pitching and get people healthy mode - the division is clearly secondary. I lived in NYC for five years so I know it is not easy.

Gagne has been a major disappointment, but I thought it was a good deal at the time - Gabbard would be the 6th or 7th starter next year depending on what they do with Schill.

I agree 100% on Drew. He has been better over the past few weeks; but another major disappointment. The money and years are strange in retrospect when you see how good Ellsbury is.

The Sox are resting Oki and Dice-K. They should be OK for the playoffs. I'm pretty happy with the production of Dice-K even when you factor in the posting fee - he is at 16-17 million - that sounds about right for a solid 14-15 game winner with upside potential.

There is still a fair bit of baseball left - Gagne and Drew could find their respective grooves. Manny and Youk can heal.

Keep the faith!

i'm sure it will be ok, but being a red sox fan you learn how to deal with it. i'm sure they will win the division. the yanks do have scrub teams to play, but the jays on a 3 day winning streak and could take 2 from the yanks. it's september and things like that happen. if they dont win the division, they will easily walk away with the wild card, and see the yanks again. i honestly predict a sox vs mets ws, and that will be nuts.

as far as gabbard. if they had kept him, there would be atleast a positive of 3-4 games. with the games that gagne blew, and the games that gabbard one in texas. yeah he might not work into the sox future plans for next year, but lets be honest schilling will most likely not be doing much since he has fallen off as well. pitching great for his age, but i have a feeling this year will be it. he is a great leader and is great for the rookies and beckett to have him around. same with wakefield. they have playoff and ws experience, and that is when they will shine. i know why theo went for gagne. in the playoffs oki and paps cannot pitch every game. they have some solid middle relievers but needed another paps/oki. hopefully he starts picking it up and getting saves like he was in texas. where he was 16-1 in the saves department.

jd drew is hit or miss. he either makes a great play, or he swings hard at nothing but air. i see gagne being a bigger disapointment because you kind of expect drew to either get injured or not show up to play. when they signed gagne i was really excited, but lately he has blown too many big things. lately all their closers have been hitting a tough patch.

i am happy with the amount of wins dice k has. it's impressive for his first year in the majors. i suspect next year after working on his bugs and conditioning himself to play every 5 days, and playing an extra 5-6 games he will come out with 20 wins next year.

youk will be back, and when manny gets healthy and smells that october air in boston, he will be a completely different person.

 

[dangnewt]

Even though I have pretty much given up on him; Francona hasn't. I hope he is right and Gagne finds his stuff and his confidence because the Sox could use a lights-out Gagne in the playoffs.

I like the idea of Sox-Mets; just as '04 was redemption for '03, '78 and '67. Sox-Mets could redeem '86 (one of the years I lived in NYC).

But I don't want to get ahead myself. Magic number is 3 for the playoffs.