Comments on: Take a deep breath (Searching for positives edition)

by: miles44

Thu, 31 Aug 2006 14:14:46 +0000

With all these statistics showing how bad the Sox have been in August, SportsCenter has been obsessed lately with the fact that the Red Sox have great records vs. the NL & Baltimore, but a less-than-.500 record vs. everyone else. First, it’s bizarre because the vague implication is that if Boston hadn’t done so well against Baltimore, they might be viewed as a better team. But second and more importantly, those numbers tell us nothing about the team. As Mark Twain once said, “Facts are stubborn things, but statistics are more pliable.”

As just one example … Detroit may SEEM like they’re tied for the best record in baseball. But Detroit is 26-4 vs. the NL and Kansas City. Against everyone else, they’re just 57-46, a winning percentage of .553. That wouldn’t even get them the wild card! What frauds.

by: james

Wed, 30 Aug 2006 20:16:06 +0000

It’s sad, but a little funny too, to think that [1] Pap might not make it to the Rookie saves record because the Sox might not win enough games between now and the end of the season and [2] the PawSox might have a stronger lineup on Friday than the Redsox.

by: max

Wed, 30 Aug 2006 19:10:47 +0000

It’s a good thing you’re heartened by Pena’s defense, because you’ll need the fortification for his ABs. I’ve been rooting for the guy since the A’s called him up, but he’s not a big-league hitter.

by: Ogie Oglethorpe

Wed, 30 Aug 2006 16:41:51 +0000

Good call. No need to add insult to injury. Literally.

by: chargeMEup31

Wed, 30 Aug 2006 16:36:37 +0000

Well said about the standing O. Although, if i were at the game, id probably boo because hell, i am paying the same amount and am watching a minor-league club.

by: yazdog8

Wed, 30 Aug 2006 16:26:04 +0000

I was at the Coliseum last night to cheer on the Sox.

You missed a couple of positives:

1 - Josh Beckett. Now this is the guy I thought we were getting in the off season instead of the guy that was absolutely horrid through early August. Josh knew that the lineup posted would be lucky to scratch together a run and threw an excellent game. Had it not been for both corner outfield positions being manned by first basemen, he just might have won the game 1 to 0.

2 - Pedroia. I already love watching this kid play. He’s got a bit to learn at the ML level, but I am excited about the future of 2B for the Red Sox in the near future.

3 - Manny Delcarmen. Looks like he’s starting to come into his own. Not quite ready to be a FT setup man yet, but you can see a big difference in his confidence level (or at least I could) from the last time he was in Oakland.

Even though the Sox had a patchwork lineup together (Carlos Pena has the LONGEST swing I have ever seen) they never quit fighting. Small consolation at this juncture, but they’re out there still duking it out despite having no bodies available.

This year is pretty much gone, time to start preparing for next….and hoping that the Dodgers are stupid enough to trade Matt Kemp to us for Wells…