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Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Murray Chass on Baseball: NO RHYME OR REASON FOR RED SOX COLLAPSE

Weeee…Bruno Bettelheim just tightened another bag over his head.

More recently Epstein got Victor Martinez and Casey Kotchman. Martinez has helped; Kotchman hasn’t. It’s not easy to rebuild a team on the run, especially when you think you already built a playoff team.

The Red Sox and the Yankees have come to think they are entitled to post-season spots. The Yankees discovered last year that that entitlement no longer exists. In the past I have cautioned Red Sox fans it doesn’t exist. They don’t believe that. But here they are, as of game time Tuesday, trailing Texas in the wild-card standings.

The Red Sox became the wild-card leaders when the Yankees knocked them out of first place July 21. The Rangers ended that run Aug. 16.

Hickory dickory dock the Red Sox ran up the clock, the clock struck one and the Red Sox were done.

Or if they would prefer, It’s raining, it’s pouring the Red Sox are snoring. They went to bed with a bump on their head and couldn’t get up in the morning. Unless they escape their lethargy, the Red Sox may be in for a long winter’s nap.

Repoz Posted: August 19, 2009 at 01:28 PM | 42 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: red sox, yankees

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1. Martin Hemner

Posted: August 19, 2009 at 01:51 PM (#3297898)

Even as a Yankee fan who had to endure this type of article last season, I do not get any pleasure seeing it written about the Red Sox. It's just lazy (especially since the Red Sox "collapse" has them tied for the WC lead).

2. AROM Posted: August 19, 2009 at 01:53 PM (#3297900)

I would get a lot more pleasure if it were written after the season and they really were out of the playoffs. Don't give them ammunition.

3. JJ1986 Posted: August 19, 2009 at 01:54 PM (#3297902)

In the past I have cautioned Red Sox fans it doesn’t exist. They don’t believe that.

The team missed the playoffs 3 years ago.

4. RB in NYC (Now with New iPhone!) Posted: August 19, 2009 at 01:55 PM (#3297903)

The Red Sox and the Yankees have come to think they are entitled to post-season spots. The Yankees discovered last year that that entitlement no longer exists. In the past I have cautioned Red Sox fans it doesn’t exist. They don’t believe that.

Really? Their team missed the playoffs in 2006 and they don't believe that entitlement no longer exists?

What a stupid article.

5. TomH Posted: August 19, 2009 at 02:04 PM (#3297909)

Red Sox have gone 5 and 3 in the past 9 days. All against decent-to-good teams. But the Rangers have been hot, pushing the Sox "down" into a wild card tie, ergo the Sox have collapsed. Yeah.

6. Best Regards, Larry M. Posted: August 19, 2009 at 02:12 PM (#3297914)

Red Sox have gone 5 and 3 in the past 9 days. All against decent-to-good teams. But the Rangers have been hot, pushing the Sox "down" into a wild card tie, ergo the Sox have collapsed. Yeah.

And 5-9 in the past 15 days.

7. Designated Sitter (GGC) Posted: August 19, 2009 at 02:12 PM (#3297915)

Chass hass to keep pumping out articles for his fanbase. And yes, he has at least one fan. He's one of the local SABR guys. Has a bullhorn voice and knows who led the TIgers in batting in 1945.

8. andrewberg Posted: August 19, 2009 at 02:13 PM (#3297916)

Really? Their team missed the playoffs in 2006 and they don't believe that entitlement no longer exists?

What a stupid article.

I was thinking the same thing. Did the entitlement develop in 2007 and 2008? Maybe the team is just good at struggling to make the playoffs 2 seasons after world championships.

9. The importance of being Ernest Riles Posted: August 19, 2009 at 02:24 PM (#3297930)

You know what's interesting? The Red Sox have won only one division title this decade.

10. The Essex Snead Posted: August 19, 2009 at 02:29 PM (#3297933)

More recently Epstein got Victor Martinez and Casey Kotchman. Martinez has helped; Kotchman hasn’t.

Kotchmann is there as a defensive caddy and to give either Youkilis or Lowell a day off. Yes, he's hitting only .208, but he's had all of 27 at-bats, and the only reason he's had that many in 10 games is because of Youkilis' dopey suspension. I've seen Yahoo! Sports commenters adverse to proof-reading, grammar, & human rights do a better job connecting the dots than this Spink-Award-winning bag of hammers.

11. Drew (Primakov, Gungho Iguanas) Posted: August 19, 2009 at 02:32 PM (#3297940)

From now on, I will only say Murray's last name as though I have a lisp. Thus, Murray Chaff.

12. Tricky Dick Posted: August 19, 2009 at 02:47 PM (#3297957)

The Astros get three prospects instead of two for Pudge, if the Rangers get into the playoffs. I may have to start rooting against the Red Sox.

13. The Yankee Clapper Posted: August 19, 2009 at 02:59 PM (#3297967)

Best case scenario for the Yankess is not Boston collapsing completely, but having the wildcard race go to the last weekend of the season, with Texas winning but not well-positioned for the start of the playoffs. A tight Central Division race could provide the same advantage if Boston were to win the wildcard. This assumes the Yankees maintain the best AL record.

14. Best Regards, Larry M. Posted: August 19, 2009 at 03:03 PM (#3297972)

I feel that after several years of this I can safely say that the best-case scenario for the Yankees involves making the playoffs. Ultimately, none of that other stuff--HFA, matchups, tiredness of opponents, whatever--matters very much at all. Get in, beat the team in front of you. That's all that matters.

15. Gaelan Posted: August 19, 2009 at 03:05 PM (#3297977)

Beckett looked hurt to me last night. Topping out at 90 MPH on his fastball with what looked like a dropped arm angle. I think they are in big trouble.

16. SoSH U at work Posted: August 19, 2009 at 03:08 PM (#3297987)

I feel that after several years of this I can safely say that the best-case scenario for the Yankees involves making the playoffs. Ultimately, none of that other stuff--HFA, matchups, tiredness of opponents, whatever--matters very much at all. Get in, beat the team in front of you. That's all that matters.

I couldn't agree more Larry. The amount of time worried about unfavorable matchups or crowing over additional rest is amusing considering how often it's all out the window after Game 1.

17. Shalimar Posted: August 19, 2009 at 03:11 PM (#3297993)

I've seen Yahoo! Sports commenters adverse to proof-reading, grammar, & human rights do a better job connecting the dots than this Spink-Award-winning bag of hammers.

In his defense, he's about 40 years into his decline phase. Not that I have a clue whether he deserved a Spink Award based on his peak or he just got it for longevity.

18. Curse of the Graffanino (dfan) Posted: August 19, 2009 at 03:14 PM (#3297998)

Hickory dickory dock the Red Sox ran up the clock, the clock struck one and the Red Sox were done.

That was good to find out - it'll save me from following the last month and a half of the season.

19. The Marksist Posted: August 19, 2009 at 03:30 PM (#3298012)

Hickory dickory dock the Red Sox ran up the clock, the clock struck one and the Red Sox were done.

What a redonkulously bad line. I'd be ashamed to have thunk it up, let alone published it.

20. RB in NYC (Now with New iPhone!) Posted: August 19, 2009 at 03:36 PM (#3298019)

I feel that after several years of this I can safely say that the best-case scenario for the Yankees involves making the playoffs. Ultimately, none of that other stuff--HFA, matchups, tiredness of opponents, whatever--matters very much at all. Get in, beat the team in front of you. That's all that matters.

In 2002 I was desperate for the Yankees to face LA instead of Oakland. One ALDS spanking later, I resolved to never again root to face one team instead of another.

By 2006, I had forgotten that, and really wanted the Yankees to face the Tigers instead of the Twins. So, yeah, I'll just root for October and take my chances.

21. Bob Dernier Cri

Posted: August 19, 2009 at 03:43 PM (#3298026)

It occurs to me that Chass just forgot there's a Wild Card now. That's kinda sad, really.

22. Designated Sitter (GGC) Posted: August 19, 2009 at 03:49 PM (#3298035)

Murray had a little lamb,
His father shot it dead.
Now it goes to his basement,
Between two chunks of bread.

23. David Nieporent (now, with children) Posted: August 19, 2009 at 04:01 PM (#3298050)

You know what's interesting? The Red Sox have won only one division title this decade.

Lucky Kevin isn't here, or he'd throw a tantrum about you not counting 2005.

24. ekogan Posted: August 19, 2009 at 04:20 PM (#3298079)

Murray Chass - often wrong, never in doubt.
The mere existence of this article pretty much guarantees that the Sawx will win the wild card.
Thanks, Murray!

25. The importance of being Ernest Riles Posted: August 19, 2009 at 04:46 PM (#3298111)

Lucky Kevin isn't here, or he'd throw a tantrum about you not counting 2005.

According to the standings, they tied with the Yankees but finished second on the strength of the tiebreaker. Did Kevin really argue that 2005 "counts" as a division pennant?

26. SoSH U at work Posted: August 19, 2009 at 04:54 PM (#3298120)

According to the standings, they tied with the Yankees but finished second on the strength of the tiebreaker.]

I'd say they still finished tied for first but the Yankees were the division champions. If the league really needed to determine who finished first and second, an actual game would have been played. As it is, the clubs finished and remain tied for first, with one named division champions for seeding purposes.

And though Kevin had argued vociferously in this case, he wasn't the Sox fan who tried to weasel out of the bet.

27. David Nieporent (now, with children) Posted: August 19, 2009 at 04:57 PM (#3298127)

According to the standings, they tied with the Yankees but finished second on the strength of the tiebreaker. Did Kevin really argue that 2005 "counts" as a division pennant?

"Argue" would be one description of it. "Get hysterical about it, and insult people who didn't agree with him," would be another.

28. Designated Sitter (GGC) Posted: August 19, 2009 at 05:07 PM (#3298139)

I swear, kevin wasn't kevin when he originally started posting in '03. Something snapped at some point. I remember having some good conversations with him in the beginning.

29. The Non-Catching Molina (sjs1959) Posted: August 19, 2009 at 06:58 PM (#3298285)

IMO, the Yankees NEED Boston to win the WC. If NYY gets the #1 seed, and Boston gets the WC, then the Yankees get Detroit and the Red Sox would play the Angels, whom they have owned in the playoffs in this decade. Whereas, if Texas wins the WC, they have a tough first round opponent and then the Angels in the LCS; they are 0-2 against the Angels in this decade.

A stretch? Maybe, maybe not.

30. Srul Itza Posted: August 19, 2009 at 07:00 PM (#3298287)

Hickory dickory dock the Red Sox ran up the clock, the clock struck one and the Red Sox were done.

Or if they would prefer, It’s raining, it’s pouring the Red Sox are snoring. They went to bed with a bump on their head and couldn’t get up in the morning.

You read something like this, and you have to wonder if he is off his meds, or is in the first stage of a degenerative disease.

Because filling out space with nursery rhymes would be embarrassing would be embarrassing in a 4th grader's essay, much less from a supposedly professional writer.

31. SoSH U at work Posted: August 19, 2009 at 07:03 PM (#3298290)

A stretch? Maybe, maybe not.

See Post 14.

32. ?Donde esta Dagoberto Campaneris? Posted: August 19, 2009 at 07:04 PM (#3298291)

I swear, kevin wasn't kevin when he originally started posting in '03. Something snapped at some point.

When you spend as much time in combat as kevin did, you're bound to go through some changes.

33. Repoz

Posted: August 19, 2009 at 07:04 PM (#3298292)

There was an old not-a-blogger who lived in his mother's basement,
He had so many articles he didn't know WTF to do!

34. Danny Posted: August 19, 2009 at 07:08 PM (#3298297)

Ultimately, none of that other stuff--HFA, matchups, tiredness of opponents, whatever--matters very much at all.

But it sure is nice to face Gil Heredia in game 5 of the ALDS rather than Tim Hudson or Barry Zito.

35. jwb Posted: August 20, 2009 at 12:12 AM (#3298743)

You read something like this, and you have to wonder if he is off his meds, or is in the first stage of a degenerative disease.

Senile dementia was my first thought and it ain't a pretty thing to watch.

Because filling out space with nursery rhymes would be embarrassing in a 4th grader's essay, much less from a supposedly professional writer.

It didn't work very well for Andrew Dice Clay, either.

36. Bob Dernier Cri

Posted: August 20, 2009 at 12:32 AM (#3298794)

if Texas wins the WC, they have a tough first round opponent

Ah, Texas: 1-9 against the Yankees, constituting their entire postseason history :)

37. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: August 20, 2009 at 12:38 AM (#3298808)

The nursery rhyme schtick was common among sportswriters in the 50's.

38. AROM Posted: August 20, 2009 at 12:40 AM (#3298810)

The nursery rhyme schtick was common among sportswriters in the 50's.

And comedians in the 80's.

39. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: August 20, 2009 at 07:53 AM (#3299110)

And children in their 5's.

40. Biff isn't really an apt handle anymore Posted: August 20, 2009 at 08:26 AM (#3299115)

And though Kevin had argued vociferously in this case, he wasn't the Sox fan who tried to weasel out of the bet.

Look, I agreed to pay a couple years later to put an end to it. SJ declined.

41. Robert in Manhattan Beach Posted: August 20, 2009 at 08:43 AM (#3299118)

Kotchmann is there as a defensive caddy and to give either Youkilis or Lowell a day off. Yes, he's hitting only .208, but he's had all of 27 at-bats, and the only reason he's had that many in 10 games is because of Youkilis' dopey suspension.

LaRoche is hitting .389/.493/.741 with 6 HR for Atlanta. He plays a decent enough firstbase, why didn't you just keep him? It's not like it's a secret he turns into Jim Thome in the second half.

Didn't understand at the time, really don't get it now.

42. Joe Bivens, Idiot Posted: August 20, 2009 at 10:56 AM (#3299126)

From now on, I will only say Murray's last name as though I have a lisp. Thus, Murray Chaff.

You don't know how to lisp, do you?

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Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Murray Chass on Baseball: NO RHYME OR REASON FOR RED SOX COLLAPSE

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