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— Where Thinking Red Sox Fans Obsess about the Sox

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Clinch!

The Red Sox finally clinched a postseason berth with their 92nd win. It’s satisfying even if a bit short of the goal of a division title. This year more than any other has been a testament to the importance of depth. After losing major time from Schilling, Dice, Beckett, Lowell, Ortiz, and Lugo, and losing some time from many other starters, the Sox were able to remain a contender because they had players like Casey, Lowrie, Bowden, Masterson, and others ready to step in and contribute. Another good regular season has run its course in Boston. On to the postseason and let’s win there!

Darren Posted: September 23, 2008 at 09:59 PM | 58 comment(s)
  Related News: Boston

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   1. Darren Posted: September 23, 2008 at 10:34 PM (#2952349)
31-17 since the Manny/Bay trade. Great job.
   2. Hugh Jorgan Posted: September 23, 2008 at 10:45 PM (#2952371)
Against the best performing starter this year with their #4 guy on the hill, how very Soxish. The club has been great this year, most of us predicted a 95 win season and that's where they'll sit. Well done to the Rays for getting more then that and that div. banner will be nice to hang on their walls.

However, this club's focus every year of the Theo era is the major prize and that's where the FO has once again taking a longer term view for this season.

BTW, wasn't Paps struggling or is that all past us now? A nice 4 out, 2K on 10 pitches save tonight...very, very effective.
   3. Darren Posted: September 23, 2008 at 10:47 PM (#2952374)
Pap looked awesome! And Papi looks locked in. All systems go.
   4. tfbg9 Posted: September 23, 2008 at 10:47 PM (#2952375)
BUUUUUUURRRRRRRRPPPPPPPP!!!!!!! HIC!!!

Good job Tito, Theo.
   5. Chip Posted: September 23, 2008 at 10:49 PM (#2952382)
Pap looked awesome!


Swings and misses on the fastball for the first time in weeks, or so it seemed. Touched 97 on the gun, too. Maybe he just had a dead arm period recently?
   6. OCD SS Posted: September 23, 2008 at 10:51 PM (#2952385)
Let's get Pedroia a little rest, try and get Lowrie straightened out, and above all, let's get healthy, boys.
   7. Smiling Joe Hesketh Posted: September 23, 2008 at 10:51 PM (#2952386)
Maybe he was just super amped for the clincher.

The depth of this club this year was amazing.
   8. Darren Posted: September 23, 2008 at 10:53 PM (#2952389)
yes, great depth. It finally paid off.
   9. Darren Posted: September 23, 2008 at 10:54 PM (#2952390)
The celebratory cigars are pretty gross and unnecessary. I won't be surprised when they're banned like champagne.
   10. The Piehole of David Wells Posted: September 23, 2008 at 10:54 PM (#2952392)
Maybe he just had a dead arm period recently?


Or maybe, just maybe, you were all pissing your pants just a little bit.

Just sayin....
   11. Elevate Phil Coorey Later Posted: September 23, 2008 at 10:57 PM (#2952397)
I'll take it...

When you look back it is amazing what the team has accomplished in the face of many obstacles...

But it has been a ride that has given me the shits for the most part.
   12. The Piehole of David Wells Posted: September 23, 2008 at 10:57 PM (#2952399)
I'd also like to point out that TO said it all a long time ago.


This might not come as a great shock considering the Red Sox just won the World Series for the 2nd time this decade, but ZiPS sees the Red Sox as the best team in the AL. Well, technically, I haven't done the Orioles yet, but I'm taking a wild guess that the Orioles aren't going to look better than the Sox on e-paper.
No real suprises here. It's a deep team.
   13. Darren Posted: September 23, 2008 at 10:59 PM (#2952405)
Wow, that's a gutsy call by the TO. No one else was calling the Red Sox the favorite this year. :)

Fun to watch the Yanks win meaninglessly, including a blown call at the plate.
   14. The Piehole of David Wells Posted: September 23, 2008 at 11:00 PM (#2952407)
Fun to watch the Yanks win meaninglessly, including a blown call at the plate.


Take that back. It's never fun to watch them win.
   15. Darren Posted: September 23, 2008 at 11:00 PM (#2952408)
The Rays, OTOH, are scary good.
   16. Darren Posted: September 23, 2008 at 11:01 PM (#2952409)
Take that back. It's never fun to watch them win.


Oh no, this one was fun.
   17. Templeusox has Red-State Street Cred Posted: September 23, 2008 at 11:01 PM (#2952410)
TO also just came out with a fitness books, says the NESN bottom line. Anyway, his baseball insight is fairly spot on.
   18. Darren Posted: September 23, 2008 at 11:11 PM (#2952427)
Also, TO was wrong. The Sox will finish behind LA and almost certainly finish behind Tampa.
   19. Darren Posted: September 23, 2008 at 11:12 PM (#2952429)
Wakefield wins the clincher and tells TFBG9 to STFU.
   20. tfbg9 Posted: September 23, 2008 at 11:17 PM (#2952436)
The celebratory cigars are pretty gross and unnecessary.


You're a big huge weenie-geek.

Wake deserves a payoff roster spot as the long guy/jumper cable.
   21. Darren Posted: September 23, 2008 at 11:19 PM (#2952442)
You're just mad because Wakefield (again) showed his intestinal fortitude.
   22. Hugh Jorgan Posted: September 23, 2008 at 11:23 PM (#2952449)
Or maybe, just maybe, you were all pissing your pants just a little bit.

A truer thing was never spoken before. This is like last year when yee all were losing faith when NY go to within 2 games and I fired a rocket up everyone's arse to stop wetting yourselves.

Face it, the FO and manager know what they are doing. 2 titles should get you all to shut the f*ck up and calm down.

We are the 800 pound gorilla in the playoffs room, everyone else had better watch out.
   23. tfbg9 Posted: September 23, 2008 at 11:31 PM (#2952460)
I'd feel like a heavier ape if Lowell and Drew weren't crippled by injuries.

1967, 1975, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008.

13th time since I was conceived. Each time's still a pretty big deal to me.

/sniff-sniff
   24. Darren Posted: September 23, 2008 at 11:32 PM (#2952462)
Yeah, you're a genius! :) Anyone who has any concern about anything is a pantspisser. Also, no one said that Pap's struggles would cost them a playoff spot.

Where was the 800-lb gorilla in 05?
   25. NJ in DC loathes his classmates and the law Posted: September 23, 2008 at 11:34 PM (#2952464)
Congrats.
   26. tfbg9 Posted: September 23, 2008 at 11:35 PM (#2952466)
You're just mad because Wakefield (again) showed his intestinal fortitude.


Bah! Wake was wearing the same catheter the Burt Reynolds uses in Semi-Tough!

I was dissapointed Tito didn't have Timlin on the bump for the last out. :-)
   27. Chip Posted: September 23, 2008 at 11:44 PM (#2952475)
I think Beckett and Wake must have switched bodies between last night and tonight. Which guy would anyone have predicted would have the inning that included, in sequence, a 2-out double, HBP, HBP, and a walked-in run?
   28. Vaux, A.B.D. Posted: September 23, 2008 at 11:56 PM (#2952488)
Yet they both got the same eventual result, which they both pitched better than.
   29. Darren Posted: September 23, 2008 at 11:58 PM (#2952491)
Most important result here: the last series of the season with the Yankees has been rendered meaningless. Meaningless!
   30. tfbg9 Posted: September 24, 2008 at 12:04 AM (#2952493)
Just about...but you never know.
   31. Vaux, A.B.D. Posted: September 24, 2008 at 12:04 AM (#2952494)
Yep. We can even root for Mussina to get his 20th win.

Well, maybe not.
   32. Monty Posted: September 24, 2008 at 12:11 AM (#2952496)
Most important result here: the last series of the season with the Yankees has been rendered meaningless. Meaningless!


I hope ESPN gets that memo.
   33. The Piehole of David Wells Posted: September 24, 2008 at 12:20 AM (#2952499)
Yeah, you're a genius!


thanks, man. if i can help even one person keep their pants dry for even just a few games, then i have made the world a better place.

so let's all say it together: "we pee in the potty, and not in our pants!"

no more diapers forever!
   34. Darren Posted: September 24, 2008 at 12:26 AM (#2952501)
At least until next year.
   35. Hugh Jorgan Posted: September 24, 2008 at 12:27 AM (#2952502)
Anyone who has any concern about anything is a pantspisser. Also, no one said that Pap's struggles would cost them a playoff spot.

No reason to get snarky about it mate. My point is that yourself and a few others made a couple of bad outings by paps sound like the downfall of the roman empire. We were just trying to point out that some of you tend to overreact a little quickly and need to have a bit of faith in both the management and performanceof the players at the club.

They've built a juggernaught since 2003 and I for one am pretty effing happy about it. Like tfbg9, I watched this team f*ck it up since the 60's and now they've finally got it right. As for 2005, you can't expect to win it all every year. I'm more then happy to win it every 3-4 years.
   36. Elevate Phil Coorey Later Posted: September 24, 2008 at 12:30 AM (#2952506)
Yep. We can even root for Mussina to get his 20th win.

Well, maybe not.


I hope he gets it.
   37. Hugh Jorgan Posted: September 24, 2008 at 12:30 AM (#2952507)
BTW, the Rays are good I agree. Scary good? No not yet, they need to prove it to me first by winning it all.
Right now if I had to be my house on it, I'd still stick with our guys.
   38. Darren Posted: September 24, 2008 at 12:42 AM (#2952516)
No reason to get snarky about it mate.


How is my comment any snarkier than suggesting that someone is wetting himself? If you're going to say such things, you've got to have thicker skin when people reply in kind. Seriously, what do you think an appropriate response to "you're a pantspisser" is? (I'm giving you and Pie Hole the benefit of the doubt and assuming such comments are meant in good fun--which is how my replies were meant.)

My point is that yourself and a few others made a couple of bad outings by paps sound like the downfall of the roman empire. We were just trying to point out that some of you tend to overreact a little quickly and need to have a bit of faith in both the management and performanceof the players at the club.


I don't see how I made it sound that dire. I said it was a concern and something that I hoped they would work on. I also acknowledged that it might just be a "blip." I have faith in the club but I don't think they're infallible.
   39. John DiFool2 Posted: September 24, 2008 at 12:56 AM (#2952520)
Just get everybody healthy, and in a week we can throw out all SSS trends from this season and start anew.
   40. Hugh Jorgan Posted: September 24, 2008 at 01:20 AM (#2952526)
Darren,
Yep, Piehole and I are always taking the piss out of you mate.

I've got the thickest skin you'd can ever want, and its right where its needed.

All kidding aside, I suppose Piehole and myself just don't seem to get to concerned as easily as you do. But seriously, the postings about paps sounded a little dire, whereas myself and quite a few others just figured the bloke is human and is entitled to a few bad outings. Sure the peripherals were leaning that way also, but that was screaming small sample size, so I tend to disregard those things.
Now if you want to discuss something dire, how's Drew's progress going? Lowell?
   41. Elevate Phil Coorey Later Posted: September 24, 2008 at 01:37 AM (#2952533)
Why pants pissing?? If anything I thought that by now I have established 'having the shits' to describe dire circumstances!

My tirade on coco today in chatter should confirm that....
   42. Hugh Jorgan Posted: September 24, 2008 at 01:41 AM (#2952535)
Phil, I get "the shits" about things also...must just be a southern hemisphere thing.
   43. IronChef Chris Wok Posted: September 24, 2008 at 01:43 AM (#2952536)
Where was the 800-lb gorilla in 05

Some people shot it to sell its gall bladder in Chinatown
   44. Biff, Red Sox Jinx Posted: September 24, 2008 at 04:36 AM (#2952556)
The Rays, OTOH, are scary good.

Meh. Division title or not, we're better than they are. And we're better than the Angels, and I look forward to beating them in the playoffs yet again.
   45. Elevate Phil Coorey Later Posted: September 24, 2008 at 04:46 AM (#2952557)
Phil, I get "the shits" about things also...must just be a southern hemisphere thing.


I've had them for a long time!! Courtesy of being a Souths fan since May 23, 1975.
   46. kevin Posted: September 24, 2008 at 06:34 AM (#2952561)
I'm dying to see what the banners say in Fenway this weekend. Just dying.
   47. The Piehole of David Wells Posted: September 24, 2008 at 08:20 AM (#2952582)
Why pants pissing?? If anything I thought that by now I have established 'having the shits' to describe dire circumstances!


you get the shits when things are actually going bad. you piss your pants when you only think they are.

and yes, darren is right. all in slightly inappropriate good fun. if you saw me watching games at home you'd think i was a pants pisser too. :)
   48. Answer Guy Posted: September 24, 2008 at 08:29 AM (#2952585)
Going to the postseason again, fourth time in five years. Hard to complain about that kind of record, whatever happens from here on out.

It's unfortunate that we couldn't catch Tampa since they're going to get to play whoever actually wins the AL Central instead of the Angels. Of course I don't think the Angels wanted to play the Red Sox in the first round either, especially given how those playoff series have gone historically.
   49. Joe Bivens, Lightning Rod Posted: September 24, 2008 at 08:30 AM (#2952586)
A little respect and attribution, please, when you invoke the term or idea "pants pisser". I have it trademarked. Somewhere.
   50. Templeusox has Red-State Street Cred Posted: September 24, 2008 at 08:39 AM (#2952590)
Your failure to police your own mark has caused it to become genericized.
   51. bunyon Posted: September 24, 2008 at 08:52 AM (#2952598)
Hang on. They've banned champagne? WTF? Are people not allowed to have fun anymore? I mean, I can't stay up late enough to watch a celebration anymore but I was hoping to live vicariously through those younger than me. I suppose they should all put on business suits and talk about their team having solid fundamentals.
   52. Mattbert Posted: September 24, 2008 at 09:07 AM (#2952607)
Of course I don't think the Angels wanted to play the Red Sox in the first round either, especially given how those playoff series have gone historically.

I'm feeling pretty good about this matchup, despite the drubbing we took from them in the regular season. You know the last couple postseason meetings are going to be in the back of their minds. If the Angels drop the first game of the series at home, I think they'll have some mental obstacles to overcome in addition to the other team on the field.
   53. bunyon Posted: September 24, 2008 at 09:55 AM (#2952652)
I really wish they'd drop the part where you can't play a team in your own division in the first round. It makes no sense to "reward" the Angels with the Red Sox when the AL Central team is sitting there.

They should make each round best of 7 and just seed the silly thing 1-4.
   54. John DiFool2 Posted: September 24, 2008 at 10:32 AM (#2952681)
It's unfortunate that we couldn't catch Tampa since they're going to get to play whoever actually wins the AL Central instead of the Angels


Everybody seems to assume that the Angels are some sort of unstoppable worldbeater, and the Central champ a collection of hapless putzes:

BBPro W3 winning %
-------------------
Angels .522
Chisox .544
Twinks .510

The Angels' strategy has to involve winning all the close games (via their closer), or else they will have a very short October.
   55. Answer Guy Posted: September 24, 2008 at 10:41 AM (#2952696)
I was also thinking that the White Sox were somewhat banged up, and that both the ChiSox and Twins have been struggling for a while now. If the Indians had only gotten off to a better start, the race could have been a lot more interesting...
   56. Golfing Great Mitch Cumstein Posted: September 24, 2008 at 10:45 AM (#2952699)
Hang on. They've banned champagne? WTF?

The kid in the middle brought his own?
   57. Josh Posted: September 24, 2008 at 11:00 AM (#2952715)
They missed 50+ games from their starting:

SS
3B
RF
DH

The #3/4 starter missed the entire season.

The #5 should have.

The #6 made ~a dozen starts.

The #7 was moved to the bullpen.

The pen was remarkably healthy, but remarkably inconsistent. (They finished above average for the year, and most of their dreck doesn't pitch anymore.)

And there was Manny.

A wild year.
   58. Hugh Jorgan Posted: September 24, 2008 at 10:29 PM (#2954055)
I've had them for a long time!! Courtesy of being a Souths fan since May 23, 1975

Geez mate, that's some seriously dire barracking going on. I was a Norths fan, but alas they turfed them out. Now, believe it or not, I'm a Storm fan(he says ducking...) Just couldn't bring myself to support another Sydney side or a Queensland team.
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