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AL East
Sept 24, 2011 20:47:54 GMT -5
Post by Allen Wiener on Sept 24, 2011 20:47:54 GMT -5
Well, I suppose I should have considered the source! That odd math had occurred to me but, HEY, it's the NY Times! If you can't trust that then. . . Oh, never mind! Yeah - except the Yanks blew them (and Lester) out today 9-1; the hole just gets deeper. Imagine how badly they'll be humiliated if they do back into the playoffs. Sad.
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AL East
Sept 25, 2011 12:03:32 GMT -5
Post by Allen Wiener on Sept 25, 2011 12:03:32 GMT -5
INteresting take on all this mess: www.cbssports.com/mlb/gametracker/preview/MLB_20110925_BOS@NYYI'm disappointed that Francona shows so little imagination or innovation in such an epic collapse. Why not, for example, start relievers in each game, give them 2-3 innings each and see what happens. No one could do worse than the useless starting rotation (even Beckett and Lester are dicey at best; Lester was shelleacked by the Yanks yesterday and didn't make it through the 3rd). I mean -- try something!! This is 1978 all over again; only Bucky Dent and hammer-head Don Zimmer are missing from the farce.
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AL East
Sept 25, 2011 17:58:29 GMT -5
Post by Paul Sylvain on Sept 25, 2011 17:58:29 GMT -5
I got a "page not found" message when I clicked on your link, Allen. Makes no difference. The Sox are sinking faster than the Titanic took on water. One half game lead over the Rays with a night-cap to go. The Rays and Sox could be tied after the second game tonight.
Honestly -- the Sox do not deserve a spot in the playoffs. They started the month with a nine-game lead over the Rays and have pee'd it away. I really hope they give it up to the Rays and let a team more deserving of the chance have a shot at it. The Sox are not a World Championship team and need to step aside.
Paul
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AL East
Sept 25, 2011 18:09:09 GMT -5
Post by Allen Wiener on Sept 25, 2011 18:09:09 GMT -5
Yeah, I see that link isn't working. You can go to the CBS website homepage to read their latest commentaries: www.cbssports.com/mlbThey also have real time, live scores for all the games every day. Lackey has started game 2 in predictable "style," yielding 3 runs in the first inning. No doubt the Sox will be tied with TB by the end of the day and probably out of this thing by season's end. It's actually a mercy, in a way, as they'd be humiliated in post season now. Poor TB has to face the Yanks the next few days to close out their season at home, while the Sox limp into Baltimore, hoping the Os play as badly as they have all year, which is probably the sole hope Boston has of surviving. But, I agree with you that they do not deserve a place in post season and have had one of the worst late season collapses I can recall. If Tampa Bay can win 1 or 2 from the Yanks and Boston continues its nosedive in Baltimore, that will actually be more just, although I don't think anyone will stop the Yanks now, including the Phillies, who hae been keeping place with the Horrible Hose since nailing down their division.
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AL East
Sept 25, 2011 19:07:09 GMT -5
Post by Paul Sylvain on Sept 25, 2011 19:07:09 GMT -5
3-1 Yanks in the sixth ... Oh, the pain.
4-4, bottom of the 9th, the sacks are jammed with Yankees, and Papelbon is coming in to pitch ... he gets the out and we go into extra innings.
Holy guacamole! So the Sox win it in the 14th ... in typical Sox fashion: with a homer. Too bad they can't grasp the concept of "small ball." They might not leave as many people on base if the did.
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AL East
Sept 26, 2011 8:49:31 GMT -5
Post by Allen Wiener on Sept 26, 2011 8:49:31 GMT -5
Yeah, I think they way out-hit the Yanks, but the Yanks had more runs to show for their fewer hits. They live to fight another day, but still look like a lost batallion stumbling around in the dark. Ellsbury was 90% of the offense. Their last hope lies in the schedule -- the Rays drew the Yanks, while the Sox face the usually hapless Orioles, but lately no one has looked as hapless as Boston. 3 More days!
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AL East
Sept 26, 2011 17:44:07 GMT -5
Post by loucapitano on Sept 26, 2011 17:44:07 GMT -5
Splitting the double-header may give new life to Boston. Then again, it's Baseball, anything can happen. Expect Tampa to fight their tails off trying to sweep the Yanks. Boston better get lucky with Baltimore. And what about the Angels? Notice how I don't even mention the National League. And now, AJ Burnett is showing signs of life. Would you trust him in a starting rotation? Pitchers and Hitters get hot and cold at the most inopportune times. Clear the decks! the second season is about to begin!!!! Lou
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AL East
Sept 26, 2011 19:52:34 GMT -5
Post by Allen Wiener on Sept 26, 2011 19:52:34 GMT -5
You're right, Lou, which is why we end up watching to the bitter end every year! Speaking of the National League, St. Louis is close to ousting Atlanta from the playoffs, so the last 3 games of the season over there are also packed with potential. And, yes, L.A. is still in the running in the A.L. In fact, with the just the right combo of wins & losses these next 3 days, we could actually end up with a 3-way tie for the wild card. How would that work? And following up on Paul's observation re: small ball, I see the O's just tied it up and the Sox have, once again, made little use of the 7 hits they've accumulated in the first 5 innings, scoring only 2 runs, one on a solo homer. The O's have tied them with only 4 hits. Update - TB & Boston now tied for second.
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AL East
Sept 27, 2011 7:30:36 GMT -5
Post by Paul Sylvain on Sept 27, 2011 7:30:36 GMT -5
Update - TB & Boston now tied for second. I saw that when I checked the standings before calling it a night last night. God spare us the added humiliation of a one-game playoff with the Rays! Paul
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AL East
Sept 27, 2011 8:11:11 GMT -5
Post by Allen Wiener on Sept 27, 2011 8:11:11 GMT -5
At this rate, we don't have to worry about that, Paul. It's back to the drawing board for the Sox. Standing pat and staying the course another year just ain't gonna cut it.
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AL East
Sept 27, 2011 22:54:02 GMT -5
Post by Allen Wiener on Sept 27, 2011 22:54:02 GMT -5
We are looking at possible one-game playoffs in both leagues for the wild card slot. Boston managed to bungle its way to another close victory over last-place Baltimore tonight, while the Rays again defeated the Yanks, leaving the Rays and Sox tied. St. Louis won while Atlanta lost and they are now tied for the N.L. wild card slot with one game left to play. Any one-game wild card playoffs will be held Thursday, with the Sox & Rays playing in St. Pete.
I think it would only be poetic justice at this point for the Sox to face the Rays in a one game showdown. I hope they both either win or lose tomorrow in order to bring that about. The Sox have hardly looked like playoff material lately, while the Rays have battled. The schedule has been on the side of the Sox since they drew Baltimore while T.B. faced the Yanks, yet have held their own.
In any case, quite a finish to the season! Stay tuned to see what happens tomorrow. Reason #5,698 why baseball is better than any other sport. It's what the Babe called it: "The only real game in the world."
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AL East
Sept 28, 2011 4:15:28 GMT -5
Post by Paul Sylvain on Sept 28, 2011 4:15:28 GMT -5
I have to agree with you, Allen. Bring it on ...
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AL East
Sept 28, 2011 11:01:24 GMT -5
Post by loucapitano on Sept 28, 2011 11:01:24 GMT -5
Two wins or two losses tonight and we get a Thursday Playoff Game in Tampa. Will BJ Upton have the spirit of Bucky Dent behind him? Or will Big Poppi save the day? We will see. As you said Paul...Bring it On!!! This is what Baseball is all about!
PS: I saw "Moneyball" yesterday. Interesting movie. I should read the book too.
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AL East
Sept 28, 2011 11:09:12 GMT -5
Post by Allen Wiener on Sept 28, 2011 11:09:12 GMT -5
Amen, brothers!! Can't wait.
Lou - even my wife says she'd like to see that film so we may go this weekend.
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AL East
Sept 28, 2011 14:49:52 GMT -5
Post by Hiram on Sept 28, 2011 14:49:52 GMT -5
It took almost the entire month of September, but the Cardinals have finally drawn even with the Braves and they will decide their own fate this evening at Minute Maid Park. This is the only thing that any fan asks for, is a chance for their team to make it to the post-season. If St. Louis falters, I can live with the knowledge that they had at least an opportunity to advance.
This is why baseball remains the great game that it is. Whatever the outcome, tonight will be memorable for eight teams (four in each league.) Even the Yankees and Phillies will be interested in the end result. To quote Kevin from The Office, "This is AWESOME!"
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