Red Sox 2011

[Redz]

so ugly

Beckett's gotta get the win tonight the way he was pitching.  They don't have a stopper on their staff right now.

Sad.

[thirstyboots18]

Rays lost the first half of the double header this afternoon.

Rays/Yankees now 2 - 2 in the seventh inning.

[PosImpos]

Bleh.

If you switched the Rays' hitting staff with the Sox, or switched the Red Sox hitters / fielders with the Rays', you'd have the best team in the AL, easily.

As they both are now?  Neither is going anywhere even if they make the playoffs.

[Redz]

...and yet I keep watching

[PosImpos]

...and yet I keep watching

Start trying to fire yourself up for a Tigers underdog post-season run, or maybe the Brewers.

Those are the only teams I see spoiling a Yankees / Phillies World Series (YUCK!).

[thirstyboots18]

The Rays have a terrific scouting system, and a good coaching staff to develop young players.  The problem is that even at this time and place in the season they don't fill the stadium.  Their good young players will go to teams that can afford them, like the Sox, as soon as they make a name for themselves.  The Rays are the farm club of baseball.

But it sure is fun to watch them grow before the glow of fame sets in...when they are still "real people" playing with heart and effort...

[Mike-Dub]

The Rays have a terrific scouting system, and a good coaching staff to develop young players.  The problem is that even at this time and place in the season they don't fill the stadium.  Their good young players will go to teams that can afford them, like the Sox, as soon as they make a name for themselves.  The Rays are the farm club of baseball.

But it sure is fun to watch them grow before the glow of fame sets in...when they are still "real people" playing with heart and effort...

Who's to say the players on the teams with the big payrolls are't playing with heart and effort?  We don't know their motivations.

[thirstyboots18]

The Rays have a terrific scouting system, and a good coaching staff to develop young players.  The problem is that even at this time and place in the season they don't fill the stadium.  Their good young players will go to teams that can afford them, like the Sox, as soon as they make a name for themselves.  The Rays are the farm club of baseball.

But it sure is fun to watch them grow before the glow of fame sets in...when they are still "real people" playing with heart and effort...

Who's to say the players on the teams with the big payrolls are't playing with heart and effort?  We don't know their motivations.

Fair enough point, Mike-Dub.  How about..."playing with the exhuberance and potential of youth" instead?  Not one of the Rays' pitchers is above the age thirty, and some are early twenties.  On a more experienced team they might not get the chance to showcase their talent.

[Mike-Dub]

The Rays have a terrific scouting system, and a good coaching staff to develop young players.  The problem is that even at this time and place in the season they don't fill the stadium.  Their good young players will go to teams that can afford them, like the Sox, as soon as they make a name for themselves.  The Rays are the farm club of baseball.

But it sure is fun to watch them grow before the glow of fame sets in...when they are still "real people" playing with heart and effort...

Who's to say the players on the teams with the big payrolls are't playing with heart and effort?  We don't know their motivations.

Fair enough point, Mike-Dub.  How about..."playing with the exhuberance and potential of youth" instead?  Not one of the Rays' pitchers is above the age thirty, and some are early twenties.  On a more experienced team they might not get the chance to showcase their talent.

I understand what you are saying thirstyboots and agree.  It is cool seeing that... I just wish they didn't have to beat my Sox all the time lol.

[thirstyboots18]

The Red Sox have not lost yet.  The Rays have not won.  The  Rays, partly because of their youth, have have pretty much stayed healthy while the Sox have been beaten up, and that has been the difference.  Other than that, experience wins "almost" always. 

[PosImpos]

Don't look now, but the Angels are threatening to overtake both the Sox and the Rays.

[thirstyboots18]

Don't look now, but the Angels are threatening to overtake both the Sox and the Rays.

   Thanks, PosImpos...I won't look!  ha ha ha.

[Donoghus]

Remaining Schedules

Boston

@NYY, @ NYY, @NYY, @ BAL, @ BAL, @ BAL

Tampa

@TOR, @TOR, @TOR, NYY, NYY, NYY

Anaheim

OAK, OAK, OAK, TEX, TEX, TEX

[Donoghus]

You could make a pretty easy arguement that the Angels have the easiest remaining schedule. Texas should have the AL West clinched by the time that series starts so you have to think the real threat is there for the Rangers to line up their playoff rotation and give everyday starters some rest. 

[Roy H.]

Remaining Schedules

Boston

@NYY, @ NYY, @NYY, @ BAL, @ BAL, @ BAL

Tampa

@TOR, @TOR, @TOR, NYY, NYY, NYY

Anaheim

OAK, OAK, OAK, TEX, TEX, TEX

Plus, Tampa has one game with the Yanks and Anaheim has one game with Toronto.

If the Sox can somehow manage to go 3-3, the other teams have to go 6-1 to tie them.  Hopefully they can pull that off.