390 replies to this topic

[4-6-3]

That was just painful to read. Don't be afraid of them.

The painful part would be having to listen to McCarver and crew's lovefest with the MFYs.

[Sox-and-Bees]

WATAH! meaningless watah, but its still nice to win.

[O Captain! My Captain!]

That was just painful to read. Don't be afraid of them.

I want the Red Sox to win. They just did. That's awesome.

Water.

[syoo8]

I still would like 95 wins, meaningful or not.

Water.

[bosockboy]

Dice-K 3-1 with a 2.22 ERA since his return. I'll take it.

[paulftodd]

There's no way they cut Tek for anything at this point even if Molina was on this team. Are they going to cut the Captain? Not. It's the "intangibles" keeping him on this team. So in a way - they "have" to have Tek on this team. The only thing they can see is the "intangibles" because he can't hit and can't throw out runners.

Yeah, and Molina is hitting 181/274/193/466 since the ASB (teks OPS is 479 in the same period). But he would be invaluable on the bench, then when we suspect a SBA attempt may be coming and we can replace V-Mart with Molina. Of course, most SBA are made when the team running is tied or ahead, so that makes about as much sense as worrying who the Red Sox backup catcher is going to be in the playoffs.

[EllisTheRimMan]

I still would like 95 wins, meaningful or not.

Water.

So would I...

[strek1]

More immediately (assuming the Tigers get in):

Verlander ≥ Sabathia.
Edwin Jackson ≥ AJ Burnett

To me that alone puts the Tigers chances of stealing the ALDS at 40-45%.

Figure the Angels at 45-50% to knock us off, and the chances of BOS/NY in the ALCS are in the neighborhood of 30%.

Personally, I'd be just about as happy with us both losing as I would having to deal with the psychological strain of meeting those fvckers in the ALCS.

But obviously, DET/BOS would be the ideal.

Edit: 水 (water)

I can relate to this. And it's not about being afraid. It's the sense that you want to beat them SO bad that it just cranks up your blood pressure to the boiling point. Extremely stressfull.

[Beomoose]

Nice getting into playoff shape dirty water

[Kull]

Sox win, Yankees lose. The simple pleasures never lose their flavor.

[luckysox]

Dice-K 3-1 with a 2.22 ERA since his return. I'll take it.

Yep, and the movement on some of his pitches is filthy, just filthy and leading to lots of swings and misses. Good sign Loving how this 4 man rotation looks. And fuck the Yankee fear in here.

[paulftodd]

More immediately (assuming the Tigers get in):

Verlander ≥ Sabathia.
Edwin Jackson ≥ AJ Burnett

To me that alone puts the Tigers chances of stealing the ALDS at 40-45%.

Figure the Angels at 45-50% to knock us off, and the chances of BOS/NY in the ALCS are in the neighborhood of 30%.

Personally, I'd be just about as happy with us both losing as I would having to deal with the psychological strain of meeting those fvckers in the ALCS.

But obviously, DET/BOS would be the ideal.

Edit: 水 (water)

Of course, MFY pitchers face Tiger hitters, and vice versa. But october CC is not very good, and Burnett has never been tested in October and has all the signs of being a choker, so I won't rule out the Tigers if they don't choke away the division. Don't forget the MFY have a catcher who can throw out runners, and the Tigers have the 12th best SB record in the AL, so thats really the key to the series. If they had Tek as backup catcher all would be lost for them and the Tigers would win, but Molina as backup makes the MFY a heavy favourite..

And how can anyone not want an ALCS with the MFY. Avoiding the best team in baseball in winning the WS renders the ring meaningless, at least to me.

[Hoser Awfulman]

Yeah, the snark was unnecessary, but in a game where individual performance is highly variable, saying that one pitcher is better than another has to carry the caveat that pitching performances are, um, highly variable. You can disagree with the rankings of pitchers, but it's really not necessary to argue semantics.

What bosockboy's post meant (to me, and I could be reading this wrong) is that the Sox have the edge in those four games, with the first matchup being even. My point was that the Sox don't necessarily have the edge going into those games, for the reasons I stated. As the omnipotent RimJobMan pointed out, Byrd or some other unexpected pitcher could shock the world and pitch a perfect game. However, playing make believe provides absolutely no useful analysis whatsoever.

If saying that some extreme outlier like a Byrd no-hitter is akin (or just semantics) to whether or not Buch has the edge over Pettitte, then yes, you are correct that it is a useless conversation. Of course individual pitching performances are not a lock, and I don't think that is what bosockboy was suggesting, just that the Sox would have the edge with those match-ups, which is not so much semantics as it is which of those pitchers on average gives their respective team the best chance to win. To that end, I disagree that the Sox have the edge in those two particular matchups.

[bosockboy]

What bosockboy's post meant (to me, and I could be reading this wrong) is that the Sox have the edge in those four games, with the first matchup being even. My point was that the Sox don't necessarily have the edge going into those games, for the reasons I stated. As the omnipotent RimJobMan pointed out, Byrd or some other unexpected pitcher could shock the world and pitch a perfect game. However, playing make believe provides absolutely no useful analysis whatsoever.

If saying that some extreme outlier like a Byrd no-hitter is akin (or just semantics) to whether or not Buch has the edge over Pettitte, then yes, you are correct that it is a useless conversation. Of course individual pitching performances are not a lock, and I don't think that is what bosockboy was suggesting, just that the Sox would have the edge with those match-ups, which is not so much semantics as it is which of those pitchers on average gives their respective team the best chance to win. To that end, I disagree that the Sox have the edge in those two particular matchups.

My point was that Clay has been much better than Pettitte down the stretch, and Pettitte isn't 100% healthy. I'll admit the experience factor is large. I do think Dice-K is the best 4th starter in the postseason now, without a doubt. I'm not budging, there.

[Snodgrass'Muff]

Of course, MFY pitchers face Tiger hitters, and vice versa. But october CC is not very good, and Burnett has never been tested in October and has all the signs of being a choker, so I won't rule out the Tigers if they don't choke away the division. Don't forget the MFY have a catcher who can throw out runners, and the Tigers have the 12th best SB record in the AL, so thats really the key to the series. If they had Tek as backup catcher all would be lost for them and the Tigers would win, but Molina as backup makes the MFY a heavy favourite..

And how can anyone not want an ALCS with the MFY. Avoiding the best team in baseball in winning the WS renders the ring meaningless, at least to me.

Wow... two of the stupidest things you've said in... well... at least a day. The backup catcher... especially Molina... has very little if any impact on the odds for the series. Are you effing serious with this?

And if the Yankees don't make the ALCS it doesn't take the shine off the ring at all. The Red Sox can't control what the Yankees do in the ALDS and it has no bearing on how legitimate another Red Sox championship would be.

Good God...

[ilol@u]

I agree with the poster ahead of me, that post about Molina and the WS being 'tainted' without facing the Yankees may be the most idiotic thing I have seen today.

[BucketOBalls]

If saying that some extreme outlier like a Byrd no-hitter is akin (or just semantics) to whether or not Buch has the edge over Pettitte, then yes, you are correct that it is a useless conversation. Of course individual pitching performances are not a lock, and I don't think that is what bosockboy was suggesting, just that the Sox would have the edge with those match-ups, which is not so much semantics as it is which of those pitchers on average gives their respective team the best chance to win. To that end, I disagree that the Sox have the edge in those two particular matchups.

The thing is, it's not just who is the better pitcher. The MFY have a better offense the Sox(esp on the road), which reduces the sox pitching advantage somewhat.

Lester vs MFY == CC vs Boston

etc..
I still think it's a winnable series though.

[Sam Ray Not]

That was just painful to read. Don't be afraid of them.

Meh, it's not really fear of losing to them so much as:

1. Living in NY and not being able to ignore/avoid them if they win.
2. Their obscene $210M payroll and the nauseating way they went out and bought the three best players on the market this offseason, virtually guaranteeing themsleves a playoff spot (while teams like KC and Pit are basically ensured of no shot till the end of eternity).
3. The lovely thought of ARod retiring without a ring.

I dunno, seeing those bastards get taken down in the first round would fill me with a malevolent joy so rich and tasty that it would almost outweigh the stress and excitement of a Yankees/Sox series. Obviously I'd much rather the Sox take them down, but with that possibility comes the concurrent and very real possibility of them avenging their 2004 ALCS loss and getting off the 21st century schneid.

OK, yeah, I'm a little afraid of them.

[donutogre]

Good God indeed. I don't give a fuck who we play as long as we win.

[EllisTheRimMan]

My point was that Clay has been much better than Pettitte down the stretch, and Pettitte isn't 100% healthy. I'll admit the experience factor is large. I do think Dice-K is the best 4th starter in the postseason now, without a doubt. I'm not budging, there.

Hold on to Clay being the best 3rd starter too. I mean why not? The only thing that can prove you wrong are the games yet to be played.

[Papelbot]

Wow... two of the stupidest things you've said in... well... at least a day. The backup catcher... especially Molina... has very little if any impact on the odds for the series. Are you effing serious with this?

And if the Yankees don't make the ALCS it doesn't take the shine off the ring at all. The Red Sox can't control what the Yankees do in the ALDS and it has no bearing on how legitimate another Red Sox championship would be.

Good God...

SARCASM DETECTOR: MALFUNCTION!

[SemperFidelisSox]

Of course, the odds that the pitching match-ups would even line up like that (#1 vs #1, #2 vs #2, etc) for a potential Boston-New York ALCS are always slim, especially if one or both division series goes 5 games.

[Snodgrass'Muff]

SARCASM DETECTOR: MALFUNCTION!

I'm not convinced of that... I hope you're right, but I'm not at all convinced.

[SoxScout]

Meaningless my ass.

Alex Gonzalez had xray on his hand says there's a liitle line on his bone, will go to hospital tomorrow for MRI.

http://twitter.com/A...uses/4570407536

[SemperFidelisSox]

That means a fracture, right?

[Brianish]

I'm gonna fucking kill Kerry Wood.

[Snodgrass'Muff]

Gonzales will be on NESN in a minute to talk about his hand.

[Hoser Awfulman]

The thing is, it's not just who is the better pitcher. The MFY have a better offense the Sox(esp on the road), which reduces the sox pitching advantage somewhat.

Lester vs MFY == CC vs Boston

etc..
I still think it's a winnable series though.

I get that too, just went with the simplified this vs that.

FWIW I absolutely believe it is a winnable series.

And if the Yankees don't make the ALCS it doesn't take the shine off the ring at all. The Red Sox can't control what the Yankees do in the ALDS and it has no bearing on how legitimate another Red Sox championship would be.

Agree 100%. I also believe that the sour grapes of "sometimes the best team doesn't win" is absolute bullshit. If the MFY doesn't make it to the ALCS, I guess they weren't the better team - just like if the Sox don't make it.

My point was that Clay has been much better than Pettitte down the stretch, and Pettitte isn't 100% healthy. I'll admit the experience factor is large. I do think Dice-K is the best 4th starter in the postseason now, without a doubt. I'm not budging, there.

Thanks for clarifying. And I want to believe this, I really do. I just wish I didn't have to double up on my valium every time Daisuke pitched.

That means a fracture, right?

I'm no doctor, but I have broken my wrist, and yes, lines are not good. With any luck though it's a situation they can tape up for a couple weeks, but his HR power will definitely be effected.

[bosockboy]

I'd be very afraid to play Lowrie this weekend now....he's suddenly very fucking important.

[Flynn4ever]

Which hand was it, throwing or glove?

[Snodgrass'Muff]

Throwing hand.

[Flynn4ever]

Thanks for clarifying. And I want to believe this, I really do. I just wish I didn't have to double up on my valium every time Daisuke pitched.

See, I want to win, too, and don't care who we go through to do it, but if it IS the MFY's, I'll have to triple my dosage. Maybe it's time to switch to Zoloft.

[Flynn4ever]

Throwing hand.

F*CK! If it were glove hand I would assume he could play through it. Wait and see.

[SoxScout]

Jose Iglesias' debut is going to be ALCS Game 1

[senzadubbio]

So...did AGonz say anything illuminating on NESN?

[Hoser Awfulman]

F*CK! If it were glove hand I would assume he could play through it. Wait and see.

Yes... And again, I'm no doctor. But where he illustrated the line was - pinky side of hand - may not be effected by throwing as much as if it had been in the thumb side.

I'm looking for ANY silver lining, no matter how insane it might sound.

[SemperFidelisSox]

[BucketOBalls]

I'd be very afraid to play Lowrie this weekend now....he's suddenly very fucking important.

Of course, he probably could use the practice.

damned if you do....

dammit!

[twoBshorty]

Terry Francona said the team's medical staff indicated the line could be something as simple as a blood vessel.

http://www.weei.com/...ooks-postseason

So we have Gonzalez's hand, then Drew's shoulder, Baldelli's hip flexor, Lowell's sore ankle (and hip), Green's disk, Lowrie's wrist, Beckett's back, and according to that link Ellsbury was stepped on at some point. We are doing fan-freaking-tastic.

[SemperFidelisSox]

Gonzalez wore a bandage over ice on his right (throwing) hand. He can move his hand and squeeze without pain, but when team medical staff touched the spot where Gonzalez was hit, between the base of the pinkie and the top of the wrist, it hurt.

"I don't feel any pain," Gonzalez said. "I feel good. I can move my fingers and hand, my wrist. But we'll find out tomorrow. I hope there's nothing big. I can use my hand, and I can squeeze."

I'm thinking it's a hairline fracture and he just tries to play though the pain during the playoffs.

[Flynn4ever]

I'm thinking it's a hairline fracture and he just tries to play though the pain during the playoffs.

That crossed my mind, but I have no idea how painful that might be. Also, I always thought that hairline fractures came from long-term wear and tear, not one blow. Last statement on this, shouldn't a Dope break this out into a thread? We have so few new threads to play with that I'm STILL posting in last night's game thread. Being 8 thousand miles away just before the playoffs makes me want more threads!