So the Sox lost to the Yankees today. Tough outing all around. Sabathia was on his game after he settled down. John Lackey was relatively ineffective once again. So is it the end of the world for the Red Sox, who drop to 6 games back in the division? Here's an excerpt from Boston's most popular blog site, Barstool Sports.
"It’s hard to say a 162 game season can boil down to one game, but I feel real comfortable saying today is a do or die game for the Sox. If Lackey can beat Sabathia today the Sox are right back in this thing despite all the injuries and everything that has happened. All they’ll need to do is split one of the next two which they should do at worst. But if they lose today and it’s pretty much lights out in my book. It’s time for John Lackey to earn his paycheck."
-Dave Portnoy, aka El Presidente.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm a Stoolie. I read it all the time and some hilarious stuff goes up there every day. But El Pres might as well stop trying to analyze sports. Maybe I'm the one who's wrong, but I think this is just plain crazy to say. A do or die game today? With 52 games left in the season? 8 of them still against the Yankees? If you looked at this four-game set with NYY, what was the worst pitching matchup for Boston? Lackey vs. Sabathia. So is El Pres trying to say that a sweep was mandatory for us to make the playoffs? Come on, man. So let's look ahead. Beckett pitches for us tomorrow. He's been our best pitcher along with Buchholz of late. Lester pitches the last game. He's been struggling, but has still been our second-best pitcher this year overall. If we win the next two games, we're 4 games behind New York (and who knows how close we are to the struggling Rays) with 49 games left. 49 games! And 6 more against the Yankees. 6 more against the Rays, too. How on earth was today's game do or die? That just doesn't make any sense at all. Tampa gave up 17 runs (8 homers) to Toronto today. The Sox are 4.5 behind them. With 51 games left. Really El Pres? We're done now? Is that really what you think? I mean, he's a hilarious guy. Fantastic smut blogger. Great marketer. He's built an empire over there at Barstool. I never expect to steal that market away from him. The Stoolies are loyal to him. But I just can't admit that the guy knows his sports. Because he just doesn't.
Anyway, the Sox keep hauling forward tomorrow night when Beckett takes the mound against ex-teammate AJ Burnett. Start time is 8:00 PM EDT. All it will take is a little stretch of victories strung together for everything to be good and well in Red Sox Nation once again.
He's not the only one saying the sox are done... listening to the radio all day at work i've found that just about every sportswriter thinks the season is all but over... clearly that wasn't based on a single game. thats pretty stupid to say, its not the final weekend of the season. However, most analysts think the season is over for the sox.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I mean, I respect it if you think the season's over. That the injuries have been too much and all. I disagree, but I understand that. But this is basically saying that they would be right back in it if they won today, and completely done if they lost today.... which I find to be a ridiculous concept. If he just said they were done already I wouldn't be arguing against him.
ReplyDeleteOh I don't give a shit about the sox... 162 games is far too redundant for me to stay interested... I was just pointing out that most respected sports writers think their season is over... But, I agree that makes a season, one game does not.
ReplyDeleteHahaha 162 games is quite redundant... but yeah, I mean I'm an optimist and always have been when it comes to Boston sports... but I definitely see why people think they're done, and that's fine. But yes, 1 game doesn't make the season. Agreed.
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