Just checked the box scores. He got mugged in the 3rd game, missed game 4, and after that was basically a decoy, as he couldn't shoot, putting up an average of 7 shots the last 3 games. versus 22 shots per game in the first 3 games..
How Deep Into October Do the Sox Have to Go For You to Consider '18 to Have Been a Success?
- Thread starter Pozo the Clown
- Start date
They are better than any National League team by a long shot, so if they get there, I will be very disappointed if they don’t win it. They have to win at least the first round or the 108 wins means nothing to me. Just another season if they go out in the first round. The tough task will be getting through the American League. I don’t think there is much separating the Yankees, Cleveland, or the Astros from the Sox , given the Sale situation.
Go A’s. I couldn’t take losing to the Yankees.
Go A’s. I couldn’t take losing to the Yankees.
This thread pisses me off. The absolute peak of the MLB is a heated Sox and Yankees series. The fact that people in this thread and on this forum want to avoid that for the possibility of losing to a rival is ridiculous. This is what we live for. This is why we post thousands of times. Sports successes and failures take our emotions from 0 to 10 like nothing else. You want a WS by beating Oakland? How about one by beating NYY and Hous? Because I know damn well this will be sweeter if we get a WS by beating Boston and taking revenge on Houston. Bring. It. On.
There is unfinished business here. Fuck you for 04. Fuck Keith Foulke. Fuck Dave Robertson. Fuck Steroid Ortiz and Manny and Sox fans living in a universe where their teams were clean. Your stupid picture of Manny hitting a homer with all the fans hands in the air. This is Sox and Yankees. Let’s not forget that. Oakland....come on guys. I’d rather lose to the Sox any day of the week and take shit from Sox fans than being beat by Trevor “maybe he’ll stay healthy this year” Cahill and Brad Pitt GM.
Grow a pair SOSH. Sox and Yankees is what we need.
There is unfinished business here. Fuck you for 04. Fuck Keith Foulke. Fuck Dave Robertson. Fuck Steroid Ortiz and Manny and Sox fans living in a universe where their teams were clean. Your stupid picture of Manny hitting a homer with all the fans hands in the air. This is Sox and Yankees. Let’s not forget that. Oakland....come on guys. I’d rather lose to the Sox any day of the week and take shit from Sox fans than being beat by Trevor “maybe he’ll stay healthy this year” Cahill and Brad Pitt GM.
Grow a pair SOSH. Sox and Yankees is what we need.
I like the enthusiasm, but if things were reversed, I’d also be rooting hard for the A’s.
As long as they don’t lose in one of those ‘shitty’ series where it’s like everyone is totally helpless and after 2 innings you can see it’s not happening it’ll be fun.
No duck boat would be a shame but they’ve had a great season regardless. Very interesting to see what happens in the next year or two
AL playoffs look so tasty so going to a deciding game in DS CS and WS would be great (if cardio stressful )
Losing to the Yankees would probably the only really suck ass outcome
No duck boat would be a shame but they’ve had a great season regardless. Very interesting to see what happens in the next year or two
AL playoffs look so tasty so going to a deciding game in DS CS and WS would be great (if cardio stressful )
Losing to the Yankees would probably the only really suck ass outcome
First off, his name is Dave Roberts. You may not recall the name perfectly, but I know for damn sure you recall his face. And his celebration.
Secondly, you should worry about the A's before getting this uppity. Also, fuck Jeter, fuck mystique, fuck being clean shaven, and fuck Brett Gardner's weird-ass dome that makes even Peyton Manning's look normal.
I came in this thread thinking this season was already a success, I mean, 108 wins, and they completely took their foot off the gas the last 3 weeks? Money in the bank, right?
After a bit of thought...not so much. Take it down. There's no shame losing a hard fought series to the Astros, but there would be going down to anyone else, especially a (vastly) inferior divisional rival.
Put me down with playing well in the ALCS.
The AL is so tough that while I would of course be disappointed I wouldn't call it a failure if they didn't make it out of the ALCS.
If they do make it to the WS then they should win and I'd be very surprised if they didn't.
The AL is so tough that while I would of course be disappointed I wouldn't call it a failure if they didn't make it out of the ALCS.
If they do make it to the WS then they should win and I'd be very surprised if they didn't.
How do you have the Yankees as ‘vastly inferior’ they’ve got a similar run diff to us and handily won the season series.
Inferior maybe, vastly? Come on that’s nonsense
Pretty sure 10-9 isn't "handily" winning anything. And the Sox were the team with 10 wins in that series.
I voted Championship.
Although I will add, conversely, if they do not achieve that goal I do not consider this season a failure. While the regular season was an amazing success, that end result would put them right around the average of expected outcomes, and for me somewhere in between those two qualifiers.
Now having said that, as I’m typing I realize the “how” as it pertains to how things play out in October could also shape my perception of things. So let’s just keep things simple, win a championship, and proclaim the season a success!
Although I will add, conversely, if they do not achieve that goal I do not consider this season a failure. While the regular season was an amazing success, that end result would put them right around the average of expected outcomes, and for me somewhere in between those two qualifiers.
Now having said that, as I’m typing I realize the “how” as it pertains to how things play out in October could also shape my perception of things. So let’s just keep things simple, win a championship, and proclaim the season a success!
As a clarification, I never said I didn’t want to face the Yankees. I agree, Sox-Yanks in the post-season is the pinnacle of sports. I said LOSING to the Yankees would be some bitter taste. Conversely, BEATING the Yankees will be sweet as homemade apple pie.
I'm torn on this. On the one hand, I think the Astros are a better team right now, and it feels wrong to say an ALCS loss wouldn't be a success just because one other team was a smidge better. On the other hand, there are a shitload of players who will likely be gone after 2019. To go through 2016-2019 without a single title, for a team this talented, would be a travesty. And this is by far their best shot. So I feel like it's Duck Boats or bust.
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I waited my whole life for something I thought would never happen. Nothing will ever top 2004. It made 2007 almost anticlimactic. And I was totally surprised by 2013 which seemed like some sort of dream sequence. With an already overflowing cup and this banner team, it will take a WS championship to surpass any of those past three. So I suppose you can put me in the "jaded" category for this remarkable year which I have enjoyed immensely.
A 6-7 game ALCS loss to Houston would upset me but since I always thought Houston was more talented, I would be ok. A loss to Cleveland would be not acceptable
I think somebody asked Trotsky to do it and he accepted. Either way, someone needs to figure it out.
I don't want this 108 win team to be an anecdote akin to the 2001 Mariners. They really need to win their ALDS series, especially given the failures of the past couple of seasons in this round. Their opponent is either going to be a 100 win Yankees team or 97 win A's team so there'd be no shame in losing to either but I would still be very disappointed, particularly if it were the Yankees. I work in Manhattan so that wouldn't be fun.
Losing in the ALCS is tough but I can deal with it. I have no real animosity towards Houston or Cleveland. Only bothersome part of losing in ALCS is that the NL isn't very good this year. Every AL playoff team with the exception of Cleveland has a better record than the Brewers. I would go into any hypothetical World Series matchup expecting the Red Sox to prevail.
From an individual player standpoint, I really want Mookie to have a Papi-esque postseason. He is a bonafide superstar but I feel like he needs some October heroics to really reach the next level. Additionally, I want Price to finally pitch a gem so that he can unlock whatever mental block he has in the postseason. I remain quite concerned about the status of Sale's shoulder.
Losing in the ALCS is tough but I can deal with it. I have no real animosity towards Houston or Cleveland. Only bothersome part of losing in ALCS is that the NL isn't very good this year. Every AL playoff team with the exception of Cleveland has a better record than the Brewers. I would go into any hypothetical World Series matchup expecting the Red Sox to prevail.
From an individual player standpoint, I really want Mookie to have a Papi-esque postseason. He is a bonafide superstar but I feel like he needs some October heroics to really reach the next level. Additionally, I want Price to finally pitch a gem so that he can unlock whatever mental block he has in the postseason. I remain quite concerned about the status of Sale's shoulder.
Great! I hope you remain pissed off all Post-Season (nothing personal). I hope you're pissed off at Boone's sure-to-be-lame, obnoxiously nasal, post-game presser after a non-competitive loss on Weds night. I hope you're pissed off at each and every Sox post-season win. I hope your pissed off by the Duck Boats.
Agreed! Fuck David Robertson. Fuck Dellin Betances. Fuck Zach Britton. Fuck Aroldis Chapman. Fuck the entire Yankees' roster!
Correction: it's what YOU (and your ilk) need as the only alternative is tee times for the Bronx Bummers on Friday morning.
Mad props for an honest man!!!
Duckboats.
Otherwise, this team becomes the 1906 Cubs, 1954 Indians, 2001 Mariners, and the 1969 Orioles: great teams, historically so, that didn't win the World Series. Not winning the World Series doesn't diminish the accomplishments of the season, but if they win the World Series, they will have completely earned it. The A's/Yankees are both good teams, and the Astros historically good, though the record doesn't reflect it.
This is the dream season, the season that happens once in a generation, or even once in a lifetime for a team. We thought the Red Sox would be good, but not 108-54 good. The only appropriate conclusion is duckboats. Anything less than that is a disappointment, but we'll all get over it. This team has the potential to be even better than the 2002-2011 mini-dynasty, and is already better in subtle ways.
Otherwise, this team becomes the 1906 Cubs, 1954 Indians, 2001 Mariners, and the 1969 Orioles: great teams, historically so, that didn't win the World Series. Not winning the World Series doesn't diminish the accomplishments of the season, but if they win the World Series, they will have completely earned it. The A's/Yankees are both good teams, and the Astros historically good, though the record doesn't reflect it.
This is the dream season, the season that happens once in a generation, or even once in a lifetime for a team. We thought the Red Sox would be good, but not 108-54 good. The only appropriate conclusion is duckboats. Anything less than that is a disappointment, but we'll all get over it. This team has the potential to be even better than the 2002-2011 mini-dynasty, and is already better in subtle ways.
It is difficult to win 3 consecutive series. If the Sox hadn't won the World Series in 100 years, I would put myself firmly in the "Duck Boats or else" column.
In this case, I just want them to win the first 2 series. Maybe it's because I've seen 3 Sox titles in recent years. Or maybe it's because getting out of the AL would be a huge accomplishment, given that the other 4 teams in the tournament are really strong teams.
An ALDS loss would be disastrous. A sweeping loss in the ALCS only slightly less so. It's time for the core of this team to take it to the next level.
In this case, I just want them to win the first 2 series. Maybe it's because I've seen 3 Sox titles in recent years. Or maybe it's because getting out of the AL would be a huge accomplishment, given that the other 4 teams in the tournament are really strong teams.
An ALDS loss would be disastrous. A sweeping loss in the ALCS only slightly less so. It's time for the core of this team to take it to the next level.
The problem with this thread is that there is only one true definition of success but varying degrees of failure:
Success - Winning the World Series
Disappointment - Making the World Series but losing, or losing a tough 6 or 7-game ALCS
Severe disappointment - Getting swept in the ALCS
Disaster - Losing in the ALDS
Unmitigated disaster - Getting swept by the Yankees
Success - Winning the World Series
Disappointment - Making the World Series but losing, or losing a tough 6 or 7-game ALCS
Severe disappointment - Getting swept in the ALCS
Disaster - Losing in the ALDS
Unmitigated disaster - Getting swept by the Yankees
This is where I am too. Mike Felger is almost entirely full of shit, but I agree with him on one thing: if you make the final four of your league, it's a successful season.
But ultimately, just beat the Yankees.
Priority 1 is to have the Sox go as deep as possible in the postseason. Priority 2 is to minimize the wins the Yankees get in the postseason. I couldn't care less about the routes to achieving both.
I will accept ALCS. That means they either beat the Yankees, or the Yankees lost and they won a series.
I'm really not seeing any unfinished business. I'd be fine with the Red Sox winning a World Series by beating the Royals, the Angels, and the D-Backs.
The Red Sox and the Yankees are good major market teams that spend a shit load of money. They are going to meet in the playoffs from time to time. It's not really that avoidable. So, all that will take care of itself in the future. The only way that the Yankees and Red Sox can play this year is if the Yankees beat the As and I cannot imagine a world where in any sense I was rooting for those repulsive hairless jerks to win against anyone when there is a YED on the line. I hope they lose in excruciating fashion in front of their home fans in that gimmick of a ballpark.
Because through all our own injuries, we were well and comfortably ahead of them statistically and in the standings the entire year, even after taking our foot off the gas the last month?
If maui started game 162, he should start the first playoff game.
My first instinct was just beat the MFY, but if they manage that then an ALCS win would start to be believable. And if that happened, then I would be incredibly disappointed if they lose to any of the NL teams.
So duckboats it is.
So duckboats it is.
It was the greatest of the Havlicek, Cowens,Jo Jo era. Better then the title teams of 74 and 76. Also that record 68-14 was the greatest Celtic regular season record. And IMO the 78 Red Sox were the best team of my lifetime. I'm 61. Just no bench and a bad 3 weeks in late August and early September.
Yes the 1981 Reds Finished with the best record but because of the split season they finished a close 2nd the first and second half. That sucked. bad decision by Kuhn.
I cant see how it can be called anything other than a success after the season they have had. Yes it will be disappointing if they fail to make a run at the World Series but for me the pleasure in watching this team over the last 6 months will last long in the memory.
The World Series is nice to crow about but give me a team that plays good/great baseball all season every time!
The World Series is nice to crow about but give me a team that plays good/great baseball all season every time!
I’m petty and small. A decent showing in the ALCS means we went deeper than the MFY. That’s important to me. We may have eliminated them which feels great. It’s also important to not get beaten badly in any series. 3-2 in the DS to Oakland or 4-3 in the CS against Tito or the reigning champions is acceptable. A sweep or an ass handing could have bad repercussions.
I will be disappointed by anything less than a WS victory. If they do not have a parade however, I will get over it in about 10 minutes so long as the last game is not a loss to the mfy...that is really the only unacceptable outcome.
Ok i didn’t fact check but I think the Yankees took 3 of the what 7series which we lost ALL year we just swept (luckily in some ways) he 4-0
Not sure how you think your comeback changes my point that the Yankees are not ‘vastly inferior’ divisional opponents
I voted WS win. The deciding factor for me is the uncertainty going into the offseason on what the bullpen will look like and whether the starting rotation can be improved given the loss of Pomeranz (not that he contributed this year), Sale having durability concerns, and Price being OK-to-great but inconsistent.
The window is getting tighter absent a couple of free-agent splashes, and that ratchets up my expectations.
The window is getting tighter absent a couple of free-agent splashes, and that ratchets up my expectations.
That should make the list of most fun mess-ups MFY fans have ever made here.
I doubt anyone agreed that they're vastly inferior, I actually thought the poster who wrote that was trying to be funny.
Wasn't trying to counter your argument about whether the Yankees are "vastly inferior" or not (they're not). Was only fact checking you with tongue firmly planted in cheek.
What makes this season a success and what I’ll be happy with are two different things. I’ve enjoyed this season immensely and will remember it fondly — Mariners fans still remember 2001 fondly after all — but success can only mean one thing.
Competitive ALCS. I'll remember the season fondly no matter what, but an ALDS exit would be a real bummer.
FWIW, I’ve seen two MLBN shows where they’ve rated the AL teams chances and they all (three “analysts” each show) had the Red Sox third or fourth best. All with Chris Sale concerns.
Hopefully this goes right up there with "Let's face it: they're not good anymore."
Yeah, I suggested either of the season's 2 longest win streak game thread starters before they won Mauidano's game, so I guess it's his to continue.
USA Today had seven writers rank MLB teams and only one had the Red Sox advancing past the ALDS.