The Official 2013 Boston Red Sox Thread

Man what a wild and entertaining game. In what would have been the worst loss of the year turned into probably the best and biggest win of the year. This team has tons of heart to be able to get up like that and get to Rivera after that stomach punch in the 7th. It was great to get a blown save out of Rivera and give Joba the big L.

One thing that Farrell has done a lot this year is bringing back a SPer back out for the next inning only to let him put a batter or 2 on then pull him. I hope he learns from it, Peavy looked done after the 6th. I'm almost sick of seeing Thorton now. Not sure how you can trust him in a big spot in the playoffs.

Anyway, last night was a good night all around with both TB and Oakland losing. Sox up 6.5 games in the AL East. Magic number to win the East is 16 games. Just keep winning series.

And hey Clay Buchholz comes back next week!

Some quick standing numbers:

Red Sox are now 85-57 with 20 games left to play, if they go 10-10 they will be 95-67. For TB to win 95 games, they need to go 18-5, for the Yankees they need to go 20-2, Baltimore has to go 21-2.

With a Red Sox win and Blue Jay loss tonight, the Jays will officially be eliminated from the AL East.

Again just keep winning series. The Sox control their own destiny and don't have to worry about chasing anyone right now. The Sox are also up 3 games on the Tigers for the best record in the AL and home field advantage for all of the playoffs. Although the Tigers have a cupcake schedule the rest of the year playing the White Sox 6 times, KC 6 times, Seattle 3, Minnesota 3 times, and finish the season in Miami for 3.

EDIT: If the Indians get hot, they have a small shot at that 2nd wild card spot. They play the Mets for 3, KC for 6, White Sox for 6, Houston for 4 and Minnesota for 4.

Another win the Sox just powered out. I see the Yanks up 8-4 come back in an hour and it's 10-8. I love the relentless lineup and the tools on the bench they have this year.

Even with the lead the Sox do need to keep winning. The 3 at home vs the Jays the only games you could call favorable. I am super excited about this team though.

"GreenMonster wrote:

Another win the Sox just powered out. I see the Yanks up 8-4 come back in an hour and it's 10-8. I love the relentless lineup and the tools on the bench they have this year.

Even with the lead the Sox do need to keep winning. The 3 at home vs the Jays the only games you could call favorable. I am super excited about this team though.

This team just doesn't quit. Even down all those runs they continue to grind out at bats, take pitches, make the pitchers work and captialize on mistakes. This is starting to feel like a special year. And Victorino has simply been outstanding.

With TB's loss last night the Sox are now 7.5 games up. I don't want to get greedy because I said before the series I would have signed up for a split but I'd like to take one of the next 2 games against the Yankees.

You're right the schedule still isn't great, still have to play TB at Tampa and even though they've been playing bad they're still a good tough team and still have to play the Yankees 5 more times. Baltimore will be looking for blood too. You're right the Jays and possibly the Rockies, even if it is in Colorado, are the only favorable match ups right now. The final 19 games are going to be tough.

I do wonder if it will be Doubront or Dempster that gets taken out of the rotation when Buchholz comes back. Even though Doubront has been pretty bad lately I think moving Dempster to the pen is the smart play since it will give the Sox another possibly RHP arm out there. But man Workman looked great last night shutting down the middle of the Yankees' order.

Please don't let Ellsbury go down like that. I'm just not ready to say goodbye to him yet.

I'm officially in love with Xander Bogaerts.

It was nice to see JBJ and Lavarnway do well yesterday too. Allen Webster has also been called up to pitch out of the pen for the rest of the season.

I also think it's typical that Lackey, before yesterday, has gotten the worst run support (or at least close to it) so of course when the Sox finally score big for him he has an awful game.

Anyway playing with house money today. If they win great, if they lose whatever. I'm beyond shocked at how bad TB is playing lately. They're 8.5 games back now. So even if the Sox lose and TB wins they head into Tampa up 7.5 games so all they really have to do is win 1 game. Even if they get swept they'll still be up 4.5 games with 14 to play. Again that's worst case. Also TB's only day off comes tomorrow followed by 20 straight games.

Magic number to clinch the AL East is 14 games.

I look forward to scoring 12+ again today. I am a pretty happy Sox fan at this point.

Xander has been great and now hitting. That barehanded grab was nice also.

Any news on Buchholz. Something in my head says even if he comes back he doesn't get a playoff start.

"GreenMonster wrote:

I look forward to scoring 12+ again today. I am a pretty happy Sox fan at this point.

Xander has been great and now hitting. That barehanded grab was nice also.

Any news on Buchholz. Something in my head says even if he comes back he doesn't get a playoff start.

Buchholz is starting Tuesday. As far as a playoff start it all depends on how he throws. Right now Doubront and/or Dempster don't give me much confidence in a playoff start.

Sox are skipping Doubront's turn in the rotation to give him some extra rest since he's been struggling a bit in his past few starts. The Sox plan to give the other guys extra rest to keep them fresh between now and the end of the season.

Great article on Xander Bogaerts:

http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/alex-speier/2013/09/07/im-really-trying-hard-become-something-great-a

Can't wait to watch this kid play for the Sox for, at least, the next 6 years. He's got a real chance to be a superduperstar.

"Ray Finkle wrote:

Great article on Xander Bogaerts:

http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/alex-speier/2013/09/07/im-really-trying-hard-become-something-great-a

Can't wait to watch this kid play for the Sox for, at least, the next 6 years. He's got a real chance to be a superduperstar.

Wish i was able to get him on more fantasty teams... Glad i traded for him on the team i did though. Going to suck playing against players like Bogaerts and Machado for years.

"LiferYank wrote:

Wish i was able to get him on more fantasty teams... Glad i traded for him on the team i did though. Going to suck playing against players like Bogaerts and Machado for years.

I already hate playing against Machado, he's killed the Sox for the past 2 years.

Good article on the state of the Sox rotation:

http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/alex-speier/2013/09/09/blueprint-deep-deep-deep-october-how-red-sox-a

"LiferYank wrote:

Wish i was able to get him on more fantasty teams... Glad i traded for him on the team i did though. Going to suck playing against players like Bogaerts and Machado for years.

Myers?

Question Ray, I haven't gotten a chance to see much of Bogaerts since he came up, has he been struggling with off speed stuff?

"Nappy Roots wrote:

Question Ray, I haven't gotten a chance to see much of Bogaerts since he came up, has he been struggling with off speed stuff?

Not really, no. But to be fair, the Sox have really picked and chose favorable match ups for him pitching wise when he starts. He hasn't faced any real top or "good" pitchers yet, the best pitcher he's faced would probably be Bud Norris or Ryan Vogelsong.

His plate discipline at 20 is really eye opening though. He's not a hacker up there by any means. His swing kind of reminds me of a mix between Manny Ramirez and Hanley Ramirez. And listening to him talk about baseball in the interviews he's giving makes him seem like he really understands the game, which again for his age is rare.

"Ray Finkle wrote:

Not really, no. But to be fair, the Sox have really picked and chose favorable match ups for him pitching wise when he starts. He hasn't faced any real top or "good" pitchers yet, the best pitcher he's faced would probably be Bud Norris or Ryan Vogelsong.

His plate discipline at 20 is really eye opening though. He's not a hacker up there by any means. His swing kind of reminds me of a mix between Manny Ramirez and Hanley Ramirez. And listening to him talk about baseball in the interviews he's giving makes him seem like he really understands the game, which again for his age is rare.

I think he looks like a cross of BJ Upton and Matt Kemp swing wise. I haven't been able to watch him yet so I haven't been able to break down his swing like Id want to. I just see the highlight of his HR. That is it. So my opinion should be taken with a grain of salt at this point. But I think he may struggle with off speed pitches a tad if he continues to swing the way he did in the HR. Again, I don't know if that is an every day sequence because I haven't seen enough. Just pointing it out. But the kid is a stud. Like LifeYank said, I am not to thrilled with having to face him for years to come.

"Nappy Roots wrote:

I think he looks like a cross of BJ Upton and Matt Kemp swing wise. I haven't been able to watch him yet so I haven't been able to break down his swing like Id want to. I just see the highlight of his HR. That is it. So my opinion should be taken with a grain of salt at this point. But I think he may struggle with off speed pitches a tad if he continues to swing the way he did in the HR. Again, I don't know if that is an every day sequence because I haven't seen enough. Just pointing it out. But the kid is a stud. Like LifeYank said, I am not to thrilled with having to face him for years to come.

I don't remember ever reading anything about him struggling with offspeed stuff in the minors, but he's in the big boy league now so we'll see. Much different in the MLB then Triple A.

Alex Speier has a good article about the Sox potential playoff roster:

http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/alex-speier/2013/09/10/red-sox-postseason-roster-v-10-whos-whos-out-o

Great start by Clay tonight, and the offense finally got to Price.

My only surprise by the playoff roster is Bogaerts, but the Sox don't really have a better option.

Go Red Sox! Division is pretty much a reach so hope you guys sweep

"GreenMonster wrote:

Great start by Clay tonight, and the offense finally got to Price.

My only surprise by the playoff roster is Bogaerts, but the Sox don't really have a better option.

Yeah Clay looked pretty good. His fastball command was off a bit but his change up was as sick as ever. It was a huge win by the Sox especially after the performance by Price. Like I said all the Sox had to do was win 1 game so they get out of TB up 6.5 games no matter what with 14 to play. Magic number is now down to 10 games. I would love to take another game this series though and try to knock TB out of the playoffs as they would still be a dangerous team.

Bogaerts probably on the roster because he can play SS and 3B and well, and has pop in his bat. Much better option then McDonald and/or Holt.

Gotta say if Buch holds up the Sox are going to be mighty tough to beat in October.....you have go to think they would be the favorites....

"finyank13 wrote:

Gotta say if Buch holds up the Sox are going to be mighty tough to beat in October.....you have go to think they would be the favorites....

In the AL, them or Detroit. Still think Oakland and TB would be dangerous too. Even Texas if they get their pitching squared away.

Good E:60 piece on Gomes:

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=9655381&categoryid=2378529

I must say I wasn't a huge fan of his before he came to the Sox, I thought he was a punk mainly due to the Sox/Rays brawl in 2008, but he really changed my perspective on him. He seems like a really good guy.

And good article from Jonah Keri on the Sox FA signings last offseason and how they turned out:

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/74155/how-a-handful-of-mocked-and-minimized-signings-propelled-bostons-worst-to-first-comeback