Going into the postseason I thought they would be bounced in the first round, maybe even swept by the Yanks. Going into the ALCS, I thought they would be destroyed by Houston. But then they started playing baseball like that team that destroyed the AL for 4 months, and it was fun to watch. Can't wait for the World Series.

Meandering through the Sox website, the AL Championship swag is pretty nice. I could drop a few hundred bucks without breaking a sweat.

JBJ batted .200, meanwhile Kimbrel with 3-for-3 in saves should have been the MVP... haha

As was foretold, the Sox SPs have played a big role in late-inning relief in the playoffs.

115-56 at the moment

So my gut tells me Milwaukee is the easier matchup but I also don’t know if in a 7 game series a team that will throw mostly bullpen will cause matchup issues.

Also... will we see Steven Wright? If it’s Milwaukee with the dome does he maybe come into play in Games 3-5?

I’m anxious only because I’m worried this is basically gonna be the one really good shot this group has before the window closes, and I really want to see some of these guys get a ring.

Hell of an achievement. Very happy for Price—this notion he can’t pitch in the playoffs when it’s a tiny sample size over 10 years is really insane. I do truly hate most sportswriters/TV blowhards.

I'd be shocked if we see Wright. It'd be nice but the guy hasn't pitched in a few weeks now.

Just for fun, Brasier combined this year AAA-majors-postseason: 81 innings, 1.33 ERA, 0.88 WHIP.

The worst thing about the Sox winning all these playoff series over the last several years is I gotta listen to Joe Buck call the final out.

Beats the alternative though. I'll take it.

Now, that was a pretty win.

The worst thing about the Sox winning all these playoff series over the last several years is I gotta listen to Joe Buck call the final out.

Uh, I don't think you have been listening that closely...

Just for fun, Brasier combined this year AAA-majors-postseason: 81 innings, 1.33 ERA, 0.88 WHIP.

Yeah I really wanted him for the final 3 outs last night. He's looked great.

I was semi-joking to my friend in the 9th inning that Brasier should come in for Kimbrel if he fell behind 2-0 in an at bat.

Personally--and I know YMMV--I think I'm OK with Barnes or Brasier closing next year. The $15 million or so is better spent elsewhere.

Now, that said, I very much doubt Dombrowski would ever allow something like that to happen. He practically wears a "I trade for proven closers!" light-up tie.

Gonna be nippy in Boston and very comfortable in Games 3-5 no matter the location. I wonder if that plays into how you order your pitching at all. I can see a logic to holding Sale back until LA/the dome in Milwaukee and going something like Price-Eovaldi-Sale-Porcello. Sets Sale up to maybe get into Game 1 on a throw day to shake off rust while also keeping him in line for Game 7.

I remain a bit worried about Sale... I feel like we've not been really getting the whole story with what was going on there.

Given the year he has had Porcello should play in the NL park and probably bat 6th. I'd certainly rather have him at the plate than Vazquez, Leon, Nunez or Kinsler.

What are the chances we see Mookie at 2nd or 3rd in the World Series?

I suspect we will sign a reliever or two this winter but not a big money closer. What is Ottavino likely to cost? He'll be pricey but not Kimbrel/Davis money.

What are the chances we see Mookie at 2nd or 3rd in the World Series?

I hadn't thought about it, but that's how they could keep both JBJ and Martinez in the lineup in the NL park. Although it would be 2B, not 3B.

I hadn't thought about it, but that's how they could keep both JBJ and Martinez in the lineup in the NL park. Although it would be 2B, not 3B.

Sussing this out...

Porcello is probably the guy you try to do this with, right? Because he's (I think) the most FB-prone guy who would start. But that's sort of an argument for maybe putting Martinez at 1B, isn't it? (As you'd WANT a good OF with a FB pitcher...)

Yes, I know Martinez hasn't played 1B. One of the mysteries to me all year is why they never once tried this out in ST or a game in an NL park, just to try the idea on for size. Hell, if Ortiz can do it I'm pretty sure that JD can.

Anyway, I would give long odds that they start Mookie at 2B even in just 1 game of the WS. It seems more likely that due to double-switching you'd see a scenario where he *moves* to 2B after JD bats, to keep both guys in the lineup, and then late in the game you bring in Kinsler for Martinez, pushing Betts back to RF while Martinez comes out and Kinsler plays 2B for defense. (Holt in these scenarios might be the nominal starter at 2B but then move to 3B to replace Devers after a few innings.)

Again, I really sort of doubt this will happen, because I think they're rightly very worried about Betts getting hurt at 2B even if only there a few innings... but I can definitely see scenarios where you could steal more than one AB for Martinez in NL games if they do it.

Side note: if they do this in a Porcello start and LA (if it is LA) loads up with LHB, the Sox could always with none on employ shifts that would leave Betts more in short right field and away from diving stops, etc. on the IF.

Porcello is probably the guy you try to do this with, right?

I think a bigger factor would be the opposing pitcher.

going 7-2 including an unbelievable 5-0 on the road. 

That just made me realise, the Sox had home field for the series, but ended up hosting fewer games than Houston. Kinda weird. Why I always preferred the 2-2-1-1-1 format...

My wife told me this morning that I’m not happy enough about winning the pennant. I’m happy, but I’m more relieved and bewildered. I did not expect to be through Houston like this.

Let's hope this banner doesn't fall off the back of a truck.

That just made me realise, the Sox had home field for the series, but ended up hosting fewer games than Houston.

Boston has been a special kind of evil in the playoffs this year. Fans of opposing teams spent the most money they could on their teams' home games - all games were played, none were refunded - and saw zero wins for it.

JBJ batted .200, meanwhile Kimbrel with 3-for-3 in saves should have been the MVP... haha

Gotta like that .467 ISO, though.
And we need to keep running Kimbrel out there to close - real entertainment value instead of dull 1-2-3 innings.

the Sox had home field for the series, but ended up hosting fewer games than Houston.

This only happens if you win or lose the series 4 to 1, so you can't really be blaming home-field for that.

Kinda weird. Why I always preferred the 2-2-1-1-1 format...

Works for sports with a travel day between each game, but do you really want 4 off days out of 11 in baseball, or else three consecutive cross-country flights?

This Might Be The Best Red Sox World Series Team Yet

Of course, the one thing the 2004, 2007 and 2013 Red Sox had in common was that they finished the job after reaching the World Series.

But if this year's team can do that, I'd say the headline would be justified.

Much more in the article, obviously. I only quoted that one sentence.

I'm over the moon about beating Houston in only five games.

Could the game last time possibly have gone better? Not only do they have four days off, but think about how much more confident Price, Kimbrel and Devers are from 24 hours ago.

I'm over the moon about beating Houston in only five games.

Yeah, I felt like we could win the series but man I never thought it would be a five gamer. And we did that without Sale getting a win. You can't predict baseball Suzyn.

Not only do they have four days off, but think about how much more confident Price, Kimbrel and Devers are from 24 hours ago.

Until they read what was said about them at BBTF. Cora, too. Knowing that any perceived miscue might unleash a torrent of pants pissing is a heavy burden for any team. You guys don't make it easy on the poor fellows.

Do I have to trademark "pants pissing"? And after that, "Dancing Monkey".

Speier tweeted out 20 min ago that Betts is fielding BP grounders at 2B today... that he usually takes GB in infield but usually from left side not right side.

Man it would be awesome to see him play 2B in a WS game to get Martínez in there—might only need to be 5-6 innings and then you move him to RF and bring in Holt or Kinsler. The Tigers did something like this in the 1968 WS right? Started an OF at SS or 2B because the infielder was so bad with the bat...

Mickey Stanley at SS for Ray Oyler, I think.