Rosenthal has Sox faith

by Randy Booth on Sep 21, 2007 12:07 AM EDT in News

To the doubters in Red Sox Nation, please read this:

Now, the Sox are taking steps to enhance their chances of winning the Series, even if it costs them the American League East title.

To succeed in the postseason, the Sox need to rest their pitchers and mend their position players. Finishing ahead of the Yankees is -- and should be -- a lower priority.

...

Seriously, does anyone think it would be wise for the Sox to refrain from resting pitchers Daisuke Matsuzaka, Curt Schilling and Hideki Okajima in an effort to hold off the Yankees?

Does anyone think it would be wise for them to rush back their three injured regulars -- left fielder Manny Ramirez, center fielder Coco Crisp and first baseman Kevin Youkilis?

In case anyone has forgotten, the wild card was the launching point for the Sox's run to the 2004 World Series title. The '02 Angels and '03 Marlins also won the Series as wild-card teams.

He brings up a good point, but I'm not sure if he completely understands Red Sox Nation. We want the post-season, yes, but the division is what's really pushing us Sox fan. The Sox last won the AL East in 1995 ... 1995! That's ridiculous.

I want to win the division, but I want to win a World Series more. Maybe this is the way it'll have to happen.

Tweet Comment 19 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

BC14 has faith, too, however...

"In case anyone has forgotten, the wild card was the launching point for the Sox's run to the 2004 World Series title."

...................

I doubt that any Sox fan worth a damn has forgotten that fact.

HOWEVER, those that are nervous (and I am) will also recall that in 2004, the Sox:

On August 1, 2004, their record was 56-47.
Then, they:

* - went 21-7 in August
(this included a streak of 10-0 between 8/24 to 9/3)

- went 18-10 in September
- went 3-1 in October

And finished 98-64.

In short, the Sox RALLIED to earn the wild card spot.

Read that: MOMENTUM.

They do have some momentum now, but it's not the good kind.

If we can fast-forward ourselves to the end of October, and the Sox are 2007 World Series Champions, the strategy (?) will look brilliant in hindsight.

But looking ahead, and from where things stand right now, things look a bit precarious.

BC14

by BC14 on Sep 21, 2007 1:40 AM EDT reply actions

Re: BC14 has faith, too, however...

And in 2007:

* - 16-13 in August;

* - 10-8 to date in September, with 9 games left.

I love my Sox, but I am also a realist. Things are not at all like 2004, and comparing that year with this year is like comparing apples to bicycles.

BC14

by BC14 on Sep 21, 2007 1:45 AM EDT up reply actions

RE: Momentum

"Obviously you'd like some momentum going into the playoffs, but the whole key is actually getting into the playoffs. Don't get me wrong, I want to win the division probably more than anybody. That's part of the goal is to win the division. Right now, we just need to put our sights on winning that division and go out and execute and do it."

-- Jonathan Papelbon, 9/20/2007

...............

Hey, there's that "M" word....

BC14

by BC14 on Sep 21, 2007 2:00 AM EDT reply actions

Re: RE: Momentum... Part Deux...

"It's important. You need to have momentum going into the playoffs. Every team does. Every team that doesn't, unless they really turn it on after Oct. 1, usually they stutter a little bit. You can't stutter in the playoffs."

-- Mike Timlin, 9/20/2007

BC14

by BC14 on Sep 21, 2007 2:02 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: Rosenthal has Sox faith

I don't think anyone is advocating that we avoid resting our starters, or rush injured players into action.

What some of us are advocating is that Francona stop behaving like Grady Little. Francona needs to stop throwing games away so that he can test his pitchers to see if they are ready for the post-season.

The time to see if Gagne has what it takes for the post-season was a month ago. He's done. Theo needs to acknowledge that it was a horrible trade and move on.

by dave in CT on Sep 21, 2007 6:06 AM EDT reply actions

Re: Rosenthal has Sox faith

Very good article here:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/john_donovan/09/20/redsox.slide/index.html

"Bye-bye, division title? Right now, it's sure looking that way. What's worse is that it's clear that the division crown doesn't seem to matter to the Red Sox. Winning the AL East -- which the Sox haven't done since 1995, by the way -- is nothing but icing for Francona and the Sox. They'll take it. But the cake, they insist, is the important thing.

"Ultimately," Francona said in an interview with NESN before Wednesday night's loss in Toronto, practically dismissing the notion of winning the East, "what we'd like to do is go farther than that. We want to win a World Series.""

I think Francona, et al., are seriously miscalculating here. They risk alienating a good deal of RS Nation with this strategy ...

by dave in CT on Sep 21, 2007 6:19 AM EDT reply actions

Re: Rosenthal has Sox faith

The pitching staff looks frazzled, even those hitters still playing are in slumps, Francona threw two games away, the front office didn't do the team any good during the season.

Not only won't we win the division but the momentum is gone and the Red Sox better look to next year. Front office change, managerial change?

I hope so.

by Longsuffering on Sep 21, 2007 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: Rosenthal has Sox faith

Did you consider a name change after 2004 or do you consider two years a severe fallow period for a Major League ball club?

Bottom 9th B:1 S:0 O:0 With Bill Mueller batting, Dave Roberts steals (1) 2nd base.

by britsoxfan on Sep 21, 2007 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: Rosenthal has Sox faith

Hopefully this slump is all part of perfect end-of-season timing: the Sox will right the ship just as the season is ending and go into the playoffs hot; while the Yanks will go lukewarm in time for the playoffs.

Mebbe. It could happen.

by dave in CT on Sep 21, 2007 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions

The bottom line is...

Most fans would never admit to this, but I am willing to bet that 99% of Sox fans would rather win the ALCS over the Yankees than win the World Series. Its alot easier to take a loss to a team like the Padres, than the MFY. BTW...is San Diego gets in, the AL team is going to be inn big trouble.

by Matzushocka on Sep 21, 2007 9:30 AM EDT reply actions

Re: The bottom line is...

I'll take that bet. What an extraordinary thing to claim.

Bottom 9th B:1 S:0 O:0 With Bill Mueller batting, Dave Roberts steals (1) 2nd base.

by britsoxfan on Sep 21, 2007 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: The bottom line is...

Well, I wouldn't go that far ... but I think the only thing that could wipe away the sting of losing the AL East this year would be winning the World Series ... even if we win the AL Championship by beating the Yanks, there would still be the humiliation of losing the division after a 14.5 game lead.

by dave in CT on Sep 21, 2007 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: The bottom line is...

I'm not sure I'd say that's accurate, but I'm sure winning the division is FAR more important to the fans then the FO. If we win the division and lose in the post season, hey, that's what happens. Even to good teams. If we lose the division and win the WS, everybody is happy and who gives a rip about the division. However, if we lose the division and lose in the post season, we're going to be hearing about the collapse for YEARS. Personally, I think the FO isn't placing near enough emphasis on the regular season, both for the fans and I think the "rest" is overrated.

John

by sportingchinwag on Sep 21, 2007 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: The bottom line is...

I am willing to bet that 99% of Sox fans would rather win the ALCS over the Yankees than win the World Series.

Substitute "99" for "100" and "Division" for "World Series" and you might have something. I'd take solace in beating the Yanks in the ALCS, but I want a ring.

And I'm not scared of the Padres. Peavy is nasty, but the rest of their staff is greatly assisted by their home stadium. 2.99 team ERA at home, 4.31 away.

Moreover, their offense sucks. Off the top of your head, can you name their 3 and 4 hitters? No cheating.

Their team OPS is .693 at home, .766 away, and .730 overall. So their combined offense is somewhere between Jason Varitek (.752) and Coco Crisp (.718). Dwell on that.

Just my two cents. Keep the change.

by tommy.otm on Sep 21, 2007 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Rosenthal has Sox faith

I am a redsox fan of 30+ years and I would much rather see the sox win the world series rahter than beat the Donkees. But with that said, I can't believe there could be possibly enough confidence left in all the players together to fill a gallon jug if we don't win the division. I don't care who we are resting! The reason we are losing is because of who's playing not who's resting,. Are Lugo, drew, and Crisp going to be in pressure situation sin the playoffs where we need them to come through? I thnik they are. Is Papelbon going to be needed to close out gamse int he playoffs? You bet hs is. They better start doing it now or they won't do it then. Like the ture redosx fan I am, I learned a long time ago the sox will always make it interesting. In fact until o4, I knew two things about the sox, One is even though I was completely not going to sucker again, they would still make me believe they were going to do it , and two, they would always lose in the end. I hope we are not back to the future!

by gosox on Sep 21, 2007 12:35 PM EDT reply actions