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AL East
Sept 16, 2011 16:11:08 GMT -5
Post by Allen Wiener on Sept 16, 2011 16:11:08 GMT -5
I agree, Paul. I never thought they had all that it takes this year and the Yanks have just been more consistent, dang them. But now, we are seeing a collapse unseen since the infamous "Bucky Dent Playoff Homer" season, a day that lives in infamy around Fenway. Tampa Bay can all but take over the lead in the wild card race this weekend.
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AL East
Sept 19, 2011 14:06:52 GMT -5
Post by Hiram on Sept 19, 2011 14:06:52 GMT -5
It's that time of year, when diehard fans start to root selectively for teams they normally despise. Red Sox Nation will be "bleeding pinstripes" tonight as the Yankees face the Rays.
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AL East
Sept 19, 2011 16:32:52 GMT -5
Post by Allen Wiener on Sept 19, 2011 16:32:52 GMT -5
The Sox just blew the first of 2 with Baltimore today, and if they lose the nightcap (probable with Loser Lackey starting), they'll be even with T.B. in the loss column. T.B. has a shot at dislodging Boston from the playoffs altogether and taking the wild card slot. However, the Rays have unfortunately drawn the Spankees the next few days, so their odds just went way down - the schedule is working against them. Right now, the Sox are just plain bleeding and it would probably be a mercy to spare them the humiliation of being blown out in the playoffs, which is very probable if they should manage to limp in. Meanwhile, as I feared prior to opening day, the Orioles retain their lock on last place and were never in danger of losing it.
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AL East
Sept 20, 2011 14:53:03 GMT -5
Post by loucapitano on Sept 20, 2011 14:53:03 GMT -5
These last two weeks had to be scheduled by a maniac with connections in Las Vegas. Does anyone have the computational skills to see all the "magic number" possibilities in the AL East. Today, it's Yankees, Red Sox and Rays. Rays win and hurt the Sox. Yanks win and help the Sox. And this could continue til the end of the season. What could be more perverse? That's why we love it! By the way, I watched Mariano Rivera pitch win #602 yesterday. What a class act and what an astounding achievement. I wonder what impact he will have on these next crucial games and, hopefully the playoffs?
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AL East
Sept 20, 2011 22:04:28 GMT -5
Post by Allen Wiener on Sept 20, 2011 22:04:28 GMT -5
Right now, the Yankees look unstopable. Both the Sox and Rays seem like neither even wants it (another disastrous loss to Baltimore by the Sox, while the Yanks made child's play of the Rays tonight). Alphonse and Gaston. I don't know if the Phils have suddenly taken a nose dive, or if they are just going through the motions to stay healthy for the playoffs. Still rooting for Milwaukee-Detroit longshot Series!
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AL East
Sept 22, 2011 11:08:23 GMT -5
Post by loucapitano on Sept 22, 2011 11:08:23 GMT -5
The Yanks locked it up last night - nothing left but Home Field Advantage (and staying healthy.) Can you believe AJ may not make the starting rotation? The YES network showed the entire locker room celebration. Mariano was a howl with the champagne. Good Luck to them all! Don't count out the Angels for a Wild Card. They can be nasty when aroused and a real terror in a 5 game series. signed: Lou (the revived Yankee fan)
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AL East
Sept 22, 2011 11:57:43 GMT -5
Post by Allen Wiener on Sept 22, 2011 11:57:43 GMT -5
Come on, Lou; was there any doubt? It is written in the stars, I tell you. I hate to say it, but it would somehow be unjust of the Yanks get bumped out of the playoffs. I've always thought the two best teams ought to go to the World Series for it to really be a true contest for the best team of the year. Nonetheless, we live in an era of multi-tiered playoffs in every sport, which has become a kind of second season and also something of a crapshoot. Anything can happen and the best teams do not always make it to the final round. Right now, the Rays and Sox do not deserve to play in the post season and are not even in the same league as the Yankees. Frankly, the Angels look far more deserving of the wild card slot than either of those teams and they are in striking distance of it. I'd love to see a dark horse series between Detroit and Milwaukee, but back in the good old days, the Yanks and Phils would be heading directly to the World Series (as they should be). If those two do get there, it could be quite a show.
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AL East
Sept 22, 2011 12:24:54 GMT -5
Post by Paul Sylvain on Sept 22, 2011 12:24:54 GMT -5
Somehow it seems only fitting that the Red Sox end the season much they way they started, by winning one game out of 60 (okay, slight exageration, but you get the idea). This season is a lot like most other seasons, which always seem to be scripted like a cyclicle soap opera. How many years have we seen the Yankees start out really, really slow? And, how many years do we see the Sox pretty much own the Yankees for about the first half of the season? Okay ... and every year, the Sox begin their slow and inevtiable slide from the top just as the Yankees hit their stride (usually late MNay to early June). From that point on, the Yanks never look back, and the Sox are praying for a Wild Card berth at best.
It's as predictable as the tides and lunar cycle. This year is not a whole lot different.
Oh, and did I read it right the other dayt when I saw that Tito planned no changes in the Sox strategy? Stick a fork in them, turn them over, they're done.
Let's Go RANGERS!
Paul
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AL East
Sept 22, 2011 14:49:20 GMT -5
Post by Allen Wiener on Sept 22, 2011 14:49:20 GMT -5
That's pretty accurate, Paul. It's not just Francona but the entire Sox organization that seems to have gone to sleep after the 2 W.S. wins. More than a year ago we were talking about how badly they need to shore up pitching, get rid of dead wood like DiceK, Lackey, and Wakefield, sign someone - anyone - new. The bullpen looked good much of the year, but has been so sporadic lately that I wonder about all of them. There's some sort of drive or momentum that just isn't there; they literally can't beat anybody and all Francona can say is "stay the course" He sounds as goofy as the Congress. Gotta give the Yanks credit; they come up with what they need; their players seem to rise to the occassion. Right now, I'm banking on L.A. ousting Boston from the wild card slot and, frankly, L.A. deserves it a lot more than Boston right now.
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AL East
Sept 23, 2011 5:06:24 GMT -5
Post by Paul Sylvain on Sept 23, 2011 5:06:24 GMT -5
I fully agree with you, especially on your assessment of the Yankees. It seems that even in those years that they start horribly bad, they manage to "take care of business" and get the things fixed (trade, move people, etc.) they need to get fixed to turn it around. What was the stat I heard the other night -- this is something like the 16th out of the past 17 years that they gone to the playoffs. And, as those of us in "Red Sox Nation" know all too well, most of those years have seen the Yankees go into the playoffs as the divisional winner, not the Wild Card.
So, yes, I despise and hate the Yankees "just because", but I never -- NEVER -- ever chime in on the "Yankees suck" chorus. The Yankees might be a lot of things, but the certainly do not "suck."
Paul
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AL East
Sept 23, 2011 8:07:20 GMT -5
Post by Allen Wiener on Sept 23, 2011 8:07:20 GMT -5
Must agree, hang it all! Right now, I wonder if ANYONE but the Yanks want to win it. The Phils have been worse than the Sox since they clinched the division. They can't beat anyone either. The wild card slot is still up in the air in both leagues, although time is running out. L.A.has a chance, but lost in extra innings last night; so did St. Louis, which is in striking distance of Atlanta.
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AL East
Sept 23, 2011 12:05:51 GMT -5
Post by loucapitano on Sept 23, 2011 12:05:51 GMT -5
Paul and Allen, I guess one can't appreciate a team when you're too close to it. You always think your team is gonna blow it. From a distance, you can get a better perspective. You guys saw the Yanks' in the playoffs months ago. I didn't because I was too close and prone to negative influences. Paul, I see what you mean about the Red Sox. They're a complete shock to me. Tonight Yanks play them at home. I wonder which team will show up. The scrappy "never say die" fighters, or the current disappointments. One thing for sure, DO NOT REPLACE Francona! Just give him a team not made up of retreads and make some smart winter moves and you'll be right back in it. Trust your Farm System! Lou PS: Football: For what it's worth, the Jets are getting all the publicity thanks to Ryan. But I fear The Pats more than ever this year.
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AL East
Sept 23, 2011 13:45:47 GMT -5
Post by Allen Wiener on Sept 23, 2011 13:45:47 GMT -5
I feel your pain, Lou. Whenever my team is in the post season, it's nerve wracking; games are typically close and everything can change on one pitch. I recall the horrible Game 7 in 1979, when the O's had blown a 3-1 lead in games over Pittsburgh and had pretty much stopped hitting. They staked Scotty McGregor to a 1-0 lead and then promptly went back to sleep. I forget the inning, but McGregor uncharacteristically walked someone; and the next batter was Stargell. That was it. It wasn't Stargell's homer; it was that darn walk!
I also would not fire Francona, although I find him exasperating at times (although my idol, Earl Weaver, had the same effect on me at times). His worst fault is leaving pitchers in too long, especially those he already knows are palookas, like Lackey. By the time he yanks them, the game's already out of reach. Nonetheless, he was the guy who took Boston out of its long-suffering pergatory and brought them, not one but TWO world championships over 4 years. Actually, since 2004, the Sox have more World Series wins than the Yanks, which we often forget. It just ain't that easy to win it all anymore. The Yanks have lost 2 of the last 3 Series they played in, although they won an astounding 4 out of 5 between 1996 & 2000, appearing in all 5 of those series, to the point where the rest of us were apoplectic. They also played in the 6th consecutive series in 2001 and again in 2003, missing only the 1997 & 2002 Series over that period -- that's 6 World Series appearances over an 8 year period, with the Yanks winning 4 of them. I'd say they pretty much dominated the game over those years and may be on the verge of doing it again. Honestly, none of the other teams is all that impressive.
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AL East
Sept 23, 2011 20:28:58 GMT -5
Post by Allen Wiener on Sept 23, 2011 20:28:58 GMT -5
Just read a stat that really says it all for the Sox: their record for September (so far) is 5-21. NY Times noted they are within range of becoming the first team to blow a nine-game lead going into the final month of the season. However, the Red Sox still lead the American League wild-card standings. Hope springs eternal.
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AL East
Sept 24, 2011 14:28:19 GMT -5
Post by Paul Sylvain on Sept 24, 2011 14:28:19 GMT -5
Actually I think it's 5 and 16. Today's the 24th and we're talking 26 games with 5/21. Allowing for a couple of days off (hell, they've been "off" all month), 5/16 is about right.
Paul
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