This is the best Red Sox team...ever.
- Thread starter Kenny F'ing Powers
- Start date
A locomotive.
If such a Red Sox team existed (conditional for personal, idiosyncratic, irrational reasons) its hallmark would be brutal efficiency. Reminiscent of the best NYY teams and very similar to the Bobby Cox Braves machines.
You have a four-game series in Baltimore — we got this. No screwing around with 3-1, much less the old can’t-stand-prosperity 2-2 RS would have posted years ago. No, a fucking sweep. Because the situation demands it with the looming schedule, and because you’re playing a AAA team.
So no, “you gotta tip your cap.” Or, “they get paid too.” Or, “it’s a long season.” Or, “the disappointing split is a statistical anomaly — calm down.”
No, a fucking sweep. That’s new, it’s different for us, it’s bloodless and it’s beautiful.
Not sure where to ask this question, so I stuck it here.
Who goes down when the injured return to action?
I expect that Pedroia, Wright, and Vasquez will not return until after Sept. 1 (if at all for DP), but as I calculate it, we still have three players who could return before 9/1 for only two slots.
Swihart can take Butler's place (I guess that means DFA for loyal Dan, as I don't believe he has any options left).
ERod could take the slot of Hector Velazquez as he does have options.
But how about Kinsler? Whose spot does he take as I doubt either Nunez or Holt are going anywhere? Does he just wait until 9/1?
Or does someone get a phantom injury for a rest visit to the DL?
This team is so deep that they have a problem if everyone is healthy. It gives lots of options for a post-season roster but not a lot for the last 18 days of August.
Who goes down when the injured return to action?
I expect that Pedroia, Wright, and Vasquez will not return until after Sept. 1 (if at all for DP), but as I calculate it, we still have three players who could return before 9/1 for only two slots.
Swihart can take Butler's place (I guess that means DFA for loyal Dan, as I don't believe he has any options left).
ERod could take the slot of Hector Velazquez as he does have options.
But how about Kinsler? Whose spot does he take as I doubt either Nunez or Holt are going anywhere? Does he just wait until 9/1?
Or does someone get a phantom injury for a rest visit to the DL?
This team is so deep that they have a problem if everyone is healthy. It gives lots of options for a post-season roster but not a lot for the last 18 days of August.
I am sensing some confusion about signal versus noise. The signal is this team is awesome and has gotten me back into baseball after an 8 year hiatus.
I think we can count on the media to be insufferable douchenozzles regardless.
I guess we could face Oakland in the Division Series and Cleveland in the LCS, but I'm fairly certain none of us see that happening.
You're right; guilty as charged. The probability stuff, though interesting, probably shouldn't spoil a thread dedicated to an extraordinary season.
Mookie and JD Martinez.
A couple times I've heard announcers/radio folks mention Ortiz and Manny in the same bit... "the Red Sox haven't had two hitters performing this well in the same lineup since..."
A couple times I've heard announcers/radio folks mention Ortiz and Manny in the same bit... "the Red Sox haven't had two hitters performing this well in the same lineup since..."
1997 ALDS games 4 and 5 were great also. Rivera blew game 4 and the Tribe won game 5. They should have won that damn WS over the Marlins if they had a better closer then Joe Table.
This now-insignificant game from July 1996 was one of the most exciting that I ever attended in person. Jeff Fry with the walk off single off John Wetteland. Everyone dancing to Gloria Gaynor in the lower boxes. Good times!
https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS199607170.shtml
https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS199607170.shtml
This is rough math (and awful, but fun, logic) but if we assume that the Sox can play .500 ball from hereon out then we just need to countdown from 13 losses from the Yankees from hereon out.
This, absolutely this. It used to be infuriating how often the Red Sox would play the Yankees or another contender extremely tough, and then immediately go to Tampa or Baltimore and get shut down by some no-name scrub pitcher and lose 2 out of 3. These guys get it.
Here’s the timeline.
One month ago
Good guys: Wow this is a great team. They contest every damn game and have so many ways to win.
Models: So sorry. The Yankees will win the division. SoS, organizational depth (and they’re only a few games back in the loss column).
Now
Good guys: Everything we said above and you’d better check yer model.
Models: you know nothing about probability.
One month ago
Good guys: Wow this is a great team. They contest every damn game and have so many ways to win.
Models: So sorry. The Yankees will win the division. SoS, organizational depth (and they’re only a few games back in the loss column).
Now
Good guys: Everything we said above and you’d better check yer model.
Models: you know nothing about probability.
Here's an updated list of the past Red Sox teams' win totals that the 2018 team has surpassed or tied (new entries in blue):
1908
1910-11
1913
1918* (won WS)
1919-37
1941
1943-45
1947
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956-58
1971-72
1974
1976
1980
1981* (strike-shortened season)
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1992-93
1994* (strike-shortened season)
1996
1997
2000
2012
2014-15
1908
1910-11
1913
1918* (won WS)
1919-37
1941
1943-45
1947
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956-58
1971-72
1974
1976
1980
1981* (strike-shortened season)
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1992-93
1994* (strike-shortened season)
1996
1997
2000
2012
2014-15
Awesome way to start the magic number countdown. Will always have great memories of my favorite Sox player.
In case you or anyone else didn't already know, they named the bridge over the Mass Pike after him.
Just to refresh everyone’s memory, that 1974 team was in first place by 7.0 games the morning of August 24th*
Unbelievable that on August 14th this team has already topped that team’s win total.
*Ed:before 2011 and 1978, there was 1974.
By September 11 they were in third place, 3.5 games out of first.
Here's a modified version of a chart I found last year that was created when the Dodgers were really hot (I think it was when they were 79-32). It's a plot of wins vs. game numbers for all teams that won at least 110 games in a season, plus I added the full 2017 LAD and this year's Red Sox through tonight's PHI game.
I think it shows two things. First, you have to remain really hot to get close to those all-time records. Look at the insane end to their season that the all-time-best-record Cubs had in 1906. Second, I kind of view the Dodgers as the floor for what the Red Sox might get in wins this season (during their swoon starting around game 130, the Dodgers lost 14 out of 15 games).
I think it shows two things. First, you have to remain really hot to get close to those all-time records. Look at the insane end to their season that the all-time-best-record Cubs had in 1906. Second, I kind of view the Dodgers as the floor for what the Red Sox might get in wins this season (during their swoon starting around game 130, the Dodgers lost 14 out of 15 games).
I remember this game absolutely. Watched it on ESPN I believe. I called my dad and asked if he watched the game and to tell him how great the win was. He says to me..."Aren't you watching the news?????" It was the same night that airliner blew up over Long Island Sound. Just a wierd memory. I hadn't heard the news because I was watching the game.
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1972 remember was a shortened year. Sox were 85-70. That was the year of the pre-season baseball strike and it didn't start for over a week. And of course at that time they were the first team to lose a division or pennant by a half game because the Tigers played one more game. Totally unfair.
And because Luis Aparicio fell rounding third base.
http://www.fenwayfanatics.com/content/2007/10/02/today-in-history-base-running-blunders-doom-boston/
It was always fucking something. And too often, Yaz was there to bear the brunt of it all.
That’s why ever single day of this blessed season needs to be savored. And yes — without regard to what may come later.
Every single person heavily invested in this club for at least 15 years deserves this balm.
Man. I was just skimming the thread and saw these numbers, totally out of context. It's just that it really drove home how ridiculous this run is. 85-70 through the first 155 games is really good. That will get you in the playoffs more often than not. That's a good, solid season.
86-35, man. Just... I bet I couldn't pull that off on MLB The Show. It would have something hard-coded in the game to keep it realistic.
Not really. They played the Tigers the last 3 games of the season, needing to win twice to advance. They dropped the first two and were eliminated.
Somehow that tragedy got lost amidst the 4 runs they scored with 2 outs in the 9th
I've decided that I care a lot about:
I've had a blast following this team this season.
- 100 wins, which the team has approached a few times, but not reached in my lifetime.
- The potential to set a new franchise win record, which is a very impressive thing to do for a franchise this old and generally good.
- Finishing with a .700+ winning percentage.
- The long shot chance of matching or breaking the 1998 Yankees' 114 win total, or the 2001 Mariners' 116 win total, or the 1927 Yankees .714 winning percentage. (We currently have a .711 WP and are on a 115 win pace, but we haven't played the Tribe yet, and they're pretty good.)
- Just generally putting up a huge regular season win total.
I've had a blast following this team this season.
Personally I'm looking at 108 wins, or .667 ball. That would be a hell of an accomplishment, and in all likelihood enough for the division title. 22-19 gets us there.
Tooling around B-Ref today, I noticed 2 numbers on the Sox bullpen which has been much maligned by myself and others. They are 2nd in all of MLB with 3.69 runs allowed per game only trailing Houston. Also, their average of all bullpen leverage appearances is a higher pressure rate than all current AL playoff teams. Therefore, their bullpen has allowed the 2nd fewest runs per game while pitching at an above average leverage situation. Pretty good.
I have completely enjoyed this team and very early in the season mentioned in a couple posts how I felt this was possibly the best RS team ever. However, winning 116 games or 105 or whatever is great, but it would feel awfully hollow if it doesn't come with a World Championship. I am not a Pat fan, but I would expect that in 2007 they weren't thrilled going undefeated until losing the Super Bowl to the Giants.
I just want the historical record for most GB in the season. Of course that involves the cooperation of the Os but that is what I am looking for.
![[icon]](https://sosh-cdn.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/data/avatars/m/9/9352.jpg?1560259877){kind=avatar}
If the Red Sox shut it down RIGHT NOW, they would finish the season ahead of 17 MLB teams, and would only be a half dozen games out in the AL wildcard race. 
*Based on 538 projected win totals
*Based on 538 projected win totals
I'm not kidding myself, I *know* that I will be pissed and hurt if this team doesn't win it all. That said, it does matter how it goes down. Losing to the MFY's in the postseason - or, horror of horrors, getting caught from behind by them for the AL East title - would be a major stain on this season. Losing to anyone else in the ALDS or getting swept in the ALCS or WS would only hurt a little less. On the other hand, if the Sox were to fall in an epic Championship Series or World Series showdown to another powerhouse team, it would still royally suck but I think I'd get over it a lot more quickly.
Anything less than 117 wins and a WS title in 15 games or under would be an abject failure.
Partially serious.
No matter how I pretend, if the Sox win 110+ games or something like that and do NOT win the Series, I'll be devastated because if they DO with 112 or 115 games or some absurd number and DO win the Series, they can be compared to and have a claim to the Greatest MLB team ever.
The amount of caring I give to the CHB's opinions cannot be seen even by the world's most powerful microscope.
If the Red Sox won 118 games in the regular season and then won each of 11 straight postseason games by 10+ runs, CHB would have no trouble finding fault with the team - they would still be the colorless, boring, non-characters he actually complained about two months ago - and the fans.
"Red Sox fans - red and pink hats alike - are typically deluded if they expect the 2019 edition of Cora's Crew to be as dominating against the Tomato Cans of the AL as the 2018 champs. It's not gonna happen - no matter how much the number-crunching, cellar-dwelling nerds insist otherwise. Fans of the Olde Towne Team never get it right. Generations worried constantly about the inevitable heart-breaking loss. Now their descendants think their heroes will never lose."
I actually can't get over how much Shaughnessey he must have read and meditated upon in his lifetime to write that parody paragraph.
I mean... it's amazing...
I dunno. Sometimes I get jealous of other people's hobbies.