Boston Red Sox, 2004. World Series Champions. No R Needed.

ProfZodiac · Aug 31, 2004

And at the start of this thread, 8/31, the Sox are currently 3.5 games back of the Evil Empire. Yankees lost this evening to the Cleveland Indians, 22-0, the worst loss in franchise history, the most lopsided loss in AL history, and tied for the worst shutout in ML history (the other was in 1900).

However, the Red Sox blow a nine-run lead into a save situation when Myers gives up four straight hits, the fourth being a grand slam. Schilling still gets the win, but Foulke has to pitch in a game in which he should not have had to pitch.

Rosters expand tomorrow.

I'm really liking this team right now.

B1 · Aug 31, 2004

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It got a bit tense in that ninth. That being said, Mike Myers is a lefty specialist, and faced four righties. They may be the last righties he sees all year. Foulke having to pitch doesn't bother me in this one. He hasn't pitched since Friday, this allowed him to get some work in. He has said himself that he needs to pitch, and he was already throwing when the inning started. I thought they might have started Mendoza in the ninth instead of Myers. 22-0... That's something isn't it!

johnh00 · Sep 1, 2004

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I am really going to enjoy listening to Mike and the Mad Dog this afternoon.

Achtung · Sep 1, 2004

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New temporary avatar.

RedDevil13 · Sep 1, 2004

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Youkilis and Nixon should be back soon. Hope springs eternal.
I hope the NYY continue losing and Sox win the division, and an AL West team wins the wild card.

Then what will Steinbrenner do?

otterulz · Sep 1, 2004

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Man, I thought my baseball season was pretty much until the playoffs now that the Mets are officially dead. But I can't wait to get back to Providence and start watching some Sawwx games on NESN.

B1 · Sep 1, 2004

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B1 said:

That being said, Mike Myers is a lefty specialist, and faced four righties. They may be the last righties he sees all year. QUOTE]

Well my prediction that they wouldn't let him pitch to righties lasted all of three innings. Arroyo was off, but it was good to see the bullpen gut it out. This team is just on fire. Nice to see that the A's and Rangers also lost. Texas seems to finally be doing the fade I though they would do two months ago.
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DoctorJones24 · Sep 2, 2004

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On the other thread, I speculated that if the Yankees' pitching woes continued (and I think they will), they could find themselve looking UP at the Wild Card race before long.

But with the Red Sox beating up on Anaheim, they are in effect helping out the Yanks at the same time. So even if the Sox pass them for the Division title, which now seems quite possible, maybe even likely, it's crazy to think they'd lose their current 7 game lead in the WC race, given the difference in opponent quality between the Yankees and the West coast teams the rest of the way.

Which is actually quite good news. The Yankees' lack of quality starting pitching or middle relief makes them an ideal opponent in the playoffs.

Achtung · Sep 2, 2004

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Well whaddya know, Derek Lowe can provide a quality start. And the bullpen can hold it together. Cabrera and Mientkiewicz keep paying dividends. I'm almost becoming one of those "we can beat these fvckers" fans.

ProfZodiac · Sep 3, 2004

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I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop now. The Sox will not go undefeated the rest of the way. I half-want them to lose one so they can start another 9, 10-game streak. But in anticipation for that inevitable loss, I fear losing a game puts us back another to the Yankees, and that's just not cool.

I'd be OK is Wakefield lost his next start. Pedro and Curt win the ends of the Texas series, and Wake loses a close one that was never really in doubt. Then we go west and take 2 of 3 from Oakland, before beating up on Seattle.

biggyv · Sep 3, 2004

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ProfZodiac said:

I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop now. The Sox will not go undefeated the rest of the way. I half-want them to lose one so they can start another 9, 10-game streak. But in anticipation for that inevitable loss, I fear losing a game puts us back another to the Yankees, and that's just not cool.

I'd be OK is Wakefield lost his next start. Pedro and Curt win the ends of the Texas series, and Wake loses a close one that was never really in doubt. Then we go west and take 2 of 3 from Oakland, before beating up on Seattle.
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I don't believe in all that stuff. Just go out each night and try to win. Obviously, we're not going to win them all. I thought tonight would have been one that we would drop. Nice performance by Lowe. I thought he'd sorta fall apart after the rough start.

Mike Marshall · Sep 3, 2004

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Actually, the way both teams are are playing recently, I'd be disappointed if they don't sweep Texas. Especially given the pitching matchups:

Friday:
Pedro Martinez (14-5, 3.69) vs. John "Way Back" Wasdin (2-2, 7.01)

Saturday:
Tim Wakefield (11-7, 4.38) vs. Chris Young (0-1, 5.40)

Sunday:
Curt Schilling (17-6, 3.39) vs. Ryan Drese (11-7, 3.77)

Drese is the only decent starter we'll see from Texas, but I honestly think he's been something of an overachiever this year. Some of his peripheral numbers and season splits are very shaky.

The Rangers have lost 7 of their last 11, while the Red Sox have won 9 in a row, and 15 out of 16... I'm thinking it'll be 18 out of 19 come Sunday.

...on the other hand, I'd be satisfied if we took one out of three in Oakland. The A's are TOUGH at home, and the pitching matchups seem to favor them.

Jeff · Sep 3, 2004

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Mulder pitched Tuesday, so unless he's on an extra rest day, we're missing him anyway.

BenReilly · Sep 3, 2004

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Who is writing this script? It gets better and better. Pedro & co. shutout the Rangers (virtually knocking them out of the WC race), the Yankees lose, and Kevin Brown goes beserk and breaks his hand!

NY Yankees 83 51 .619 --
Boston 80 53 .602 2.5

Jeff · Sep 4, 2004

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It's not his throwing hand, but still ..... how is he going to be able to catch the ball thrown back to him by the catcher, never mind field his position if/when comebackers are hit? My guess is the 15 day DL, couldn't happen to a nicer jackass. NOT.

Achtung · Sep 4, 2004

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Jeff said:

It's not his throwing hand, but still ..... how is he going to be able to catch the ball thrown back to him by the catcher, never mind field his position if/when comebackers are hit? My guess is the 15 day DL, couldn't happen to a nicer jackass. NOT.
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Yeah it all depends on how severe the break is, and how far up his hand the cast needs to extend. If it can distract the batter, he's not allowed to pitch.

Absolutely hilarious.

ProfZodiac · Sep 4, 2004

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Toldya. Sox lose in a close game that was never really in question. Now Curt goes out there and starts the next long series of wins.

It's about the Law of Averages - no team can win forever, and until they inevitably lose one, it's just waiting for the other shoe to drop. Dropped today. It happened that Mike Mussina and the Yankees were 2-hit by Baltimore today, so no ground was lost (except in the Wild Card, but I don't know how many people still consider that a race anyway.)

Curt, baby, get the next ten-gamer going.

Jeff · Sep 5, 2004

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Well an Anaheim win would cut the WC lead to 3 1/2. While unlikely, a Sox slump could put them back out of the playoffs. But I don't think that will happen, the roll will pick back up tomorrow.

Jeff · Sep 5, 2004

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Whew. That was close in the ninth. But it's still a win, still 2 1/2 behind NY, 4 up in the WC.

Achtung · Sep 7, 2004

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Arroyo kept us up with a quality start last night, and the Sox broke it open in the 9th against baseball's best home team. Still 2.5 back of NY and 4 up on Anaheim.

BenReilly · Sep 8, 2004

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Assuming we make the playoffs, we have to seriously consider putting Arroyo in the four man rotation. I'd drop Wakefield.

BenReilly · Sep 8, 2004

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Achtung said:

Arroyo kept us up with a quality start last night, and the Sox broke it open in the 9th against baseball's best home team. Still 2.5 back of NY and 4 up on Anaheim.
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And 2 1/2 up on Oakland. Remember, both Oakland and Anaheim have to pass the Red Sox for us to fail. In fact, we can look at this as a four team division with the Yanks, Red Sox, A's, and Angels. The top three make the playoffs (everything else is about home field advantage).

Achtung · Sep 8, 2004

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Yeah and unfortunately of those four teams, the Yankees hold the lead, so while its possible they could completely self-destruct and miss the playoffs, it seems unlikely at this time. Either way, the Sox should just focus on winning and not watching the scoreboard. If we can win the division, great. But it's not going to be a day and night difference.

DoctorJones24 · Sep 9, 2004

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Be honest, who here thought we'd go 8-1 through that 9 game stretch agaisnt the AL WC contenders?

Jesus, the Cards aren't even looking very scary anymore.

RedDevil13 · Sep 9, 2004

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I agree with Aroyyo over Wakefield. What is going on with the hair styles on the Sox? Arroyo sporting the cornrows and beads, Nixon with the mohawk, Johnny Damon with the long hair. Geez, and years ago I thought Rod Beck's hair was wild.

It almost seems like they are making a statement, being the anti-yankees , who are so clean cut.

I never would have imagined they would go 8-1 against those teams. Let's see if they can keep it rolling out in Seattle.

WHAT CURSE???