Pre-2004, I'd have the sharp objects hidden over this Red Sox collapse. Now, they have no pitching, very little heart and if they somehow sneak in the playoffs they will be lucky not to get swept. Tampa is dangerous if they get in, but they have the great equalizer in Farnsworth, the white Armando Benitez. If I'm the Phillies, I don't want the Cardinals in the first round.
I'd love to point and laugh at the Red Sox for being this historically bad, but considering that my Angels had EVERY OPPORTUNITY to be among these teams and kept dropping games to the Orioles, A's, and Blue Jays means I have to spend another offseason with my head in my hands.
EDIT: I won't derail this thread any further with my homerism, so I'll simply add to the post I've already made. Big Bad and graves, sending Napoli to Toronto was a TERRIBLE offseason move and made that much worse when the Jays immediately turned around and sent him to the Rangers, where he could come back to haunt the Angels right away. Oddly enough, I didn't even factor this in when thinking about the Angels' woes.
There's a lot of blame to go around, but one of the guys I point the finger to is Jordan Walden and his ten blown saves, including blowing a 5-2 lead on Sunday, which is just inexcusably bad when in a crucial playoff race. The fact that he was named to the All-Star team at all is still an unexplainable travesty.
Leroy, I am with you that things are going to get a lot better next year. I envision Trumbo and Trout having huge sophomore campaigns, the pitching nucleus returning intact, a Prince Fielder signing, and a valuable Kendrys Morales trade chip leading to a playoff spot...assuming this team can finally solve its closer issues and finally find a halfway decent successor to Francisco Rodriguez. Yeah, this year was supposed to be a rebuilding kind of year. But then again, that's what this season was supposed to be to the Rays and looking at what they pulled off, I can't help but be a bit disappointed.
Having said that, considering Walden's ten blown saves, Vernon Wells' LVP caliber season, the general lack of bullpen support, and no real power bat to speak of, the fact that Mike Scioscia had this team in contention until the final week really was a hell of an accomplishment.
Originally posted by It's FalseI'd love to point and laugh at the Red Sox for being this historically bad, but considering that my Angels had EVERY OPPORTUNITY to be among these teams and kept dropping games to the Orioles, A's, and Blue Jays means I have to spend another offseason with my head in my hands.
Half empty. The half full part is there are some amazing rookies that showed a great deal of promise this season. I would have LOVED to make the post-season, but you got to give the Angels credit - they proved to be lot tougher than anyone thought they'd be.
Originally posted by It's FalseI'd love to point and laugh at the Red Sox for being this historically bad, but considering that my Angels had EVERY OPPORTUNITY to be among these teams and kept dropping games to the Orioles, A's, and Blue Jays means I have to spend another offseason with my head in my hands.
That Napoli for Vernon Wells trade sure worked out no? Scoscia loves Jeff Mathios who is probably the worst hitting catcher of all time.
Yeah, Mike Napoli would've easily made the difference for the Angels in the wild card and/or divisional races. So many managers carry baggage from their playing careers into the dugouts....Scioscia, a former catcher, couldn't stand the idea of having a poor game-caller behind the plate, offense be damned. Cost his team a playoff spot.
"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." --- Bart Giamatti, on baseball
What an exciting set of games for the teams completing for playoff spots! New York/Tampa Bay in extra innings, Philadelphia/Atlanta in extra innings, and Boston/Baltimore in a long rain delay.
Hahahahaha, epic comeback by the Rays and epic choke by the Red Sox. Hahahaha. Hey Simmons: Can't wait to see the ESPN documentary on THIS one. Something tells me we'll never see it considering the WWL's lips are firmly planted on Boston's ass. Oh well, at least I have it on DVR.
Originally posted by Reverend J ShaftHahahahaha, epic comeback by the Rays and epic choke by the Red Sox. Hahahaha. Hey Simmons: Can't wait to see the ESPN documentary on THIS one. Something tells me we'll never see it considering the WWL's lips are firmly planted on Boston's ass. Oh well, at least I have it on DVR.
I also like to call this karma for that most recent issue of ESPN the Magazine that was pretty much just one giant Boston blowjob.
This should emphatically put an end to the Theo Epstein Era in Boston. He's all yours, Cubs fans (and thecubsfan)!
Man, what crappy luck does Carl Crawford have. He goes to the Red Sox for the big contract and a better chance to win because (rightfully, IMO) he thinks the Rays couldn't maintain the high level of playing they had the last couple of years when they're losing a good amount of their top players (Pena, Soriano, etc.). He ends up having a terrible season and gets trashed by the Boston media for it. And on the day they need him the most to perform, he stinks up the plate AND misplayed the game-winning hit. Meanwhile, the team he left goes on to win and take the playoff spot he and the Sox surely thought was locked on earlier this month.
I almost felt bad for Crawford. Then I remember he willingly went to Boston. I can't wait to hear the Beantown radio guys tee off on him in the coming hours.
CARDS IN THE PLAYOFFS, I NEVER GAVE UP ON THEM(ok, so I did maybe a bit in late August)!
Even if my team hadn't been involved on the winning side, that would have been one of the most exciting, intense days of baseball I'd have ever watched. My remote is smoking right now from overuse.
Originally posted by supersalvadoranMan, what crappy luck does Carl Crawford have. He goes to the Red Sox for the big contract and a better chance to win because (rightfully, IMO) he thinks the Rays couldn't maintain the high level of playing they had the last couple of years when they're losing a good amount of their top players (Pena, Soriano, etc.). He ends up having a terrible season and gets trashed by the Boston media for it. And on the day they need him the most to perform, he stinks up the plate AND misplayed the game-winning hit. Meanwhile, the team he left goes on to win and take the playoff spot he and the Sox surely thought was locked on earlier this month.
I almost felt bad for Crawford. Then I remember he willingly went to Boston. I can't wait to hear the Beantown radio guys tee off on him in the coming hours.
Don't forget that the Rays got two picks for Crawford and called up a prospect in Desmond Jennings who's a better hitter than Crawford already. Talk abouyt win-win
Who gets savaged more in the Boston sports media tomorrow?
-Terry Francona (for overseeing one of the biggest collapses in history) -Theo Epstein (for putting together a near-$200 million dollar payroll of choking dogs) -Marco Scutaro (for stopping on his way home, which led to him getting thrown out at the plate) -Carl Crawford (for not catching the game-winner) -Jonathan Papelbon (for the blown save)
On the other end of the spectrum, I take no joy in Atlanta's collapse. Chipper Jones deserves better than to be continuously haunted by that pop up that he lost in the lights.
Originally posted by It's FalseWho gets savaged more in the Boston sports media tomorrow?
-Terry Francona (for overseeing one of the biggest collapses in history) -Theo Epstein (for putting together a near-$200 million dollar payroll of choking dogs) -Marco Scutaro (for stopping on his way home, which led to him getting thrown out at the plate) -Carl Crawford (for not catching the game-winner) -Jonathan Papelbon (for the blown save)
On the other end of the spectrum, I take no joy in Atlanta's collapse. Chipper Jones deserves better than to be continuously haunted by that pop up that he lost in the lights.
(edited by It's False on 29.9.11 0056)
I don't really see a scapegoat when you have a month long collapse, but a few more John Lackey outbursts might change that.
... or you could blame the steroid soaked championship teams for bringing about bad karma
Originally posted by supersalvadoran Don't forget that the Rays got two picks for Crawford and called up a prospect in Desmond Jennings who's a better hitter than Crawford already. Talk abouyt win-win
Also don't forget that Jennings is just as fast as Crawford and probably a better fielder.
Originally posted by supersalvadoran Don't forget that the Rays got two picks for Crawford and called up a prospect in Desmond Jennings who's a better hitter than Crawford already. Talk abouyt win-win
Also don't forget that Jennings is just as fast as Crawford and probably a better fielder.
I never made that quote. Please get your info correct before I have to go to the head honchos on you.
As a Yankees' fan this is better than winning the Series. I can't wait for Boston to implode on what could be a great team. If only the Bruins lost in Game 7, it would make this year even sweeter.
(edited by lotjx on 29.9.11 1131) The Wee Baby Sheamus.
Twitter: @realjoecarfley its a bit more toned down there. A bit.
Thread ahead: 2011 MLB League Championship Series Schedule & Predictions Next thread: 2011 MLB League Division Series schedule and predictions Previous thread: Francona (expected) out in Boston
The only thing I can say with 100% certainty is that there's no way in hell this series will end in Houston. It's going at least six and is probably going seven. That's how evenly matched these two teams are.