Rick ############# Porcello!

Nothing like a "the Sox have seen the starting pitching struggle" reverse jinx to start the series!

Hahaha! NESN studio broadcasters noted that before the game Buck Showalter was whining about how games against the Red Sox take forever. So Porcello goes out and pitches a complete game with only 89 pitches. Problem solved, Buck!

I'm getting greedy, I'd really like one more win in this series, really put the Orioles to bed. They've got this series with Arizona this weekend so I want them finished off.

I'm getting greedy, I'd really like one more win in this series, really put the Orioles to bed. They've got this series with Arizona this weekend so I want them finished off.

Meanwhile, remember how we kept expecting Toronto to flip the switch at some point this season? They are kicking Seattle in the teeth. This division is like the friggin' hydra.

Yup. It's far from over at this point.

Just a gut feel, we need five more wins to get there. If we do that then Toronto would need to go 9-2 just to tie and Baltimore 10-1. The fact that those two teams play each other for three games next week I think is really key for us at this point.

Dave O'Brien really gets on my nerves with his habit of discussing during the game standings/GB/magic numbers as if the game was already over.

The magic number for the division is 8, right? Am I doing the math correctly?

I think Jose's right--I think 5 more wins (5-6 in last 11) probably gets us there, as it seems unlikely either Toronto goes 9-2 or Baltimore goes 10-1. But winning the next 2 against BAL would essentially take them out unless they ran the table and we lost almost every remaining game. Tonight and tomorrow's SP matchups are probably washes, so I'd hope we'd at least split the next 2, which would still probably be enough to knock BAL out of the division race for good.

Personally, I'd really prefer having the division put to bed before the final series. I'd hate to have to get 1 win from the last 3 if TOR is still technically in the division race; it would let them set up the rotation the way they want, avoid the WC game, etc.

And while it's likely not going to happen, home field throughout the playoffs is still in play--they're only 2.5 in back of TEX with a game in-hand. I mean, granted: they play the Angels, A's, Brewers, and Rays from here on out, but it's not outside of the realm of possibility they could go 5-5 while we go 8-3... As we split the season series 3-3 with TEX, what's the next-level tiebreaker for home field? AL-only record? (looks) Hm. If that was the case, TEX has the advantage there, as our interleague record is better than theirs, so they have a better AL-only record...

Dave O'Brien really gets on my nerves with his habit of discussing during the game standings/GB/magic numbers as if the game was already over.

Dave has been scoreboard watching since May. It's really annoying. I liked him a lot as radio guy but I haven't enjoyed him nearly as much on TV. I didn't think there would be any drop off from Orsillo but I really miss Orsillo.

Personally, I'd really prefer having the division put to bed before the final series. I'd hate to have to get 1 win from the last 3 if TOR is still technically in the division race; it would let them set up the rotation the way they want, avoid the WC game, etc.

Agreed. Plus the added benefit that clinching in the Bronx would be kind of fun.

The magic number for the division is 8, right? Am I doing the math correctly?

You got the correct answer. It is 8.

Tonight and tomorrow's SP matchups are probably washes

Last 7 starts Tillman is averaging 5.1 IP and an ERA over 5. Price is averaging 7 IP and an ERA below 3.

Re: Price and Kimbrel - Both guys have been pitching as advertised the last couple of months. A friend and I were talking last night and despite that neither guy gives us confidence. It's entirely a "feel" thing but I just don't feel confident with either guy.

Re: Price and Kimbrel - Both guys have been pitching as advertised the last couple of months. A friend and I were talking last night and despite that neither guy gives us confidence. It's entirely a "feel" thing but I just don't feel confident with either guy.

I feel confident in any bullpen that has Barnes pitching the way he is and yet 5th on the depth charts.

Betts has now hit 8 HRs at Baltimore this season. In 37 PAs in 8 games he's gone 16/31 with a .516/.595/1.290 for a 1.885 OPS.

If Betts, Ortiz, and Ramirez are going to hit like this for the next three weeks or so, they are going to win the World Series, because they are crazy right now.

Add to that Uehara is looking like 2013 Uehara again for the 8th innings, and Kimbrel is lights out for the 9th, and Ziegler has generally been very good for the 7th inning. It means they've got to figure out what Kelly, Barnes, Ross, Hembree, Bobby Scott, and Abad (who has been a-awful) can give in the 6th inning, or if we've used the big three relievers too many nights in a row.

Man, if Boston the Cubs make the World Series, the ratings are going to be so good, that it will rival...a typical NFL game.

From the pessimistic standpoint the worst 11 game stretch this year was 4-7 (many times) which would get us to 91-71. Conversely, the best 11 game stretch was 9-2 which would be 96-66. I would prefer the latter.

From the pessimistic standpoint the worst 11 game stretch this year was 4-7 (many times) which would get us to 91-71. Conversely, the best 11 game stretch was 9-2 which would be 96-66. I would prefer the latter.

I'm a pretty optimistic fan but even I wouldn't have suggested this was a 94/95 win team at the start of the season. I would be very happy with the division no matter how many wins it takes.
Not sure why your concerned with Price, he's really been quite solid lately. Porcello has been amazing for quite awhile now and that seems to be pretty much his default setting now. You get your 7 innings and he gives up 3 runs and you go with that.

If Betts, Ortiz, and Ramirez are going to hit like this for the next three weeks or so, they are going to win the World Series

Agreed. With the OBP of the guys hitting in front of them pretty healthy and the lineup being solid even at the bottom the team simply just gets enough guys on base for someone to eventually homer or hit a gapper and knock in a couple every time.

Funnily enough, with Cleveland's SP injury issues and Texas consistently relying on winning 1 run games, I fancy our chances against either of those 2 in a series right now. If Toronto comes through the wildcard however, they scare me.

The stakes aren't the same obviously but Buchholz these last couple of starts has a Derek Lowe 2004 vibe to him.

So these last two series have gone well.

I like the Red Sox that win every game. They should keep doing that.

Im a bit worried they're peaking to early, but this team looks really good. The pre-deadline team was solid despite huge problems in LF, the bullpen, and rotation. They've made big improvements in all those areas, while the good stuff has mostly stayed good.

I like that Farrell has managed to rest key top-of-the-order hitters (Pedroia, Ramirez) in consecutive games with the postseason in sight and the offense hasn't missed a beat.

Im a bit worried they're peaking to early, but this team looks really good.

Right now they are just feasting on crappy Oriole pitching. With Clay pitching well of late(yeah, I just typed that) the rotation has 3 really good SP at the front end. Or course E-Rod and Pomeranz can also spin the occasional nice game.
The pen has settled nicely so regardless of what the lineup does, they are always going to be competitive in just about every game. When you are only giving up 3.5 runs a game, you are always in it with this lineup.

Should I dare say it, but the Red Sox are actually a good team now. Maybe not 105 wins in a season good, but good enough to win a playoff series or 3 if they continue doing what they are doing.

Only a game back of Texas and Cleveland in the loss column now for best record.

I am pretty confident they will get to 89 wins now. ;-)

I'd rather NOT have best record and play the Jays or Orioles or Tigers in a five game series. Gimme Cleveland!! Or at least with Rangers I can drive to see some games.

I like the Red Sox that win every game. They should keep doing that.

They do seem to have found a recipie for success. "Win. Every. Game. ...hmmm."

This has been fun. Even Betts's plate discipline, which had been a nagging worry, is improving. What fantastically fun player he is.

Quick notes about the bullpen:

Kimbrel came back from the DL in early August, and needed a few appearances to knock the rust off. Since then: 14 IP, 5 hits, 0.00 ERA, 23 Ks, 4 BBs.

Uehara came back from being injured in early September, and since his return, has done this: 8 IP, 0.00 ERA, 4 hits, 10 Ks, 0 BBs.

Kelly came up from Pawtucket in late August, and has been given increasingly important innings to pitch. Since he came back up: 7.2 IP, 6 hits, 0.00 ERA, 11 Ks, 3 BBs.

I'm not bullish on Barnes, at least not in 2016, and Ross and Hembree are question marks. But Kelly appears poised to play the role the team imagined Carson Smith was going to play. If they get reliable 6th/7th inning bullpen support on the days when Price and Porcello aren't pitching, it is going to be very difficult to beat Boston in a playoff series.

Haven't been around much, but I'm quite glad to have been wrong about this team. The last month or so has been incredible; I really thought this team would muddle along and hopefully get the 2nd WC spot with ~87 wins.

Is Porcello going to win the CY? He's gotta be the favorite now right?

I'll never understand why it took so long to convert Kelly to short relief.

I think it was going to happen last summer but Porcello got hurt and Kelly was great the last two months.

So... 11-0. Clinched a playoff spot. Commanding lead in the division. Two games out from having best AL record. Not bad.

For those who are wondering... If Boston and Texas tie for best record, the first tiebreak is head to head record. They have split the season series. Second tiebreak is record within their own division. Texas is 47-29 against the AL West. Boston is 42-28 against the AL East. Boston would need to win all their remaining games to win the second tiebreak. Of course, the second tiebreak is only invoked if Texas ties with them, which if Boston went 6-0 the tiebreak would only happen if Texas went 5-1 in their remaining games.

Texas would also have to go 6-0 to invoke the second tiebreak.

Yeah, you're right. I remember discussing this with my son yesterday, but I thought we'd already taken Sunday's games into account when thinking that Boston was one behind Texas (and two behind sole possession of best record). Apparently we hadn't.

The simplest path to the best record is to win more games in the next week than Texas does. The Rangers are playing Milwaukee and Tampa Bay, while Boston plays NY and Toronto. I didn't say it would be the easiest path, just the simplest.