I'll be honest, I want them to trot out a field full of AAA kids who then proceed to smack the Sawx in the mouth. Even when they're bad I want to beat the piss out of them.
Lol this thread has such an awesome title. How's that run prevention thing working out Theo? In fairness, I said Mike Cameron was the worst signing of the winter back in February. I was right. But then I said Adrian Beltre was the second worst signing. And I was very very wrong. But what's going to happen to that offense next year when Papi's a year older and they don't get the benefit of an Adrian Beltre contract year? Sox have MAJOR issues heading into this off-season.
Define "try." Would I like to see it happen? Sure. Can I really bring myself to care? Not really. Do I want to see them go all out to try and get HFA? No way. Probably the tenth time I've said it, but having guys healthy/rested is so much more important than HFA.
I see the importance of rest but being only .5 back of TB, who are playing just as poorly as we are of late, makes me kind of want us to put the foot on the gas pedal. It's a lot easier to walk off in extra innings than rely on a scarily inconsistent bullpen after Rivera has been used.
I'm not really sure what you mean about it being easier to walk off in extra innings... I assume that is some reference to being able to play at home. Correct me if I'm wrong there. But I'm not sure I'd ever call an extra innings win "easy." And even if that's the case, you're only talking about one game. It's not like by losing HFA, they have to play ALL their games on the road. And it might be coincidence, but did you notice how much better A-Rod, Tex, and Jeter started playing since getting a few days off? As opposed to Cano's September (he's been playing every day)? Regardless, how has our bullpen been "scarily inconsistent"? It's been pretty damn good, and is deep as all hell between Wood, Robertson, Logan, and Joba. Hell, even Mitre has pitched really well.
No need to get all offended. Joba has been the posterchild of inconsistent this season, how do you not see that? Outside of Wood and Mo this pen has been frustrating. Robertson has been good for half and bad for half of the season, who knows which guy shows up come post season. If Mitre is in the game, our starter was probably AJ Burnett that night. I think HFA is worth it, you don't. Let's hope it doesn't matter.
First of all, who's offended? Not me. Secondly, I'll be the first to tell you that Joba has been inconsistent this year. But if you look at how well the bullpen has performed in the second half overall, you'd be hard pressed to call them "scarily inconsistent." The pen has been one of the team's biggest strengths in the second half (and that includes Joba, who's been effective far more often than not in the second half, with an ERA of 2.78, and a WHIP of 1.08). And saying it's their strength is not even doing it justice: the pen has been fantastic for most of the second half. Robertson's ERA in the second half has been 1.80. His WHIP is 1.13. Boone Logan went something like 23 appearances without giving up a run. Kerry Wood has been (almost surprisingly) lights out. Trying to disparage their pen is looking for problems where there are none. And trying to say that THAT is the reason they should go balls out for HFA - which gets you one more game at home and doesn't really do much to assuage any bullpen concerns you might have - is kind of silly, don't you think? If it's really that much of a concern, you should at least be able to name me a playoff team who has a better bullpen.
According to bullpen ERA Minnesota, Texas, San Fran, and Atlanta/San Diego have better bullpens than us. Minnesota and TB lost tonight. Were tied for the best record in the AL and I think we should go for the kill. We'll have to agree to disagree, Cap.
Yeah, but that's for the entire season. How many of those runs in the team's bullpen ERA were coughed up by Gaudin or Chan Ho Park? Besides, ERA is a tricky stat for relievers, since the goal is often to prevent other pitcher's runners from scoring. If you look at the opposition's batting average or OPS, the Yanks are third-best in the league. And, again, this is for the entire year. But even so, doesn't all of that still point toward the bullpen being a strength, not a weakness? Again, it depends on what you mean by go for the kill. Do you think it's important enough that the Yanks start CC and Hughes on short rest? Do you think Swisher and his banged up knee should be in every game? I'm not saying I wouldn't like the Yanks to win the division. It's just already been shown that it's not very important for winning it all, but having your team rested and healthy is important. So I don't disagree with your stated goal; I'd like to see the Yanks win the division. But I disagree with your reasoning. I'm hard pressed to see how someone could call this bullpen "scarily inconsistent"... especially to the point that they think it is necessary to win the division, since that single extra game on the road will be enough to expose that bullpen. It just doesn't add up to me.
I absolutely want to see them win the division. I'm not sure they will this point, even with the Rays' loss last night. I honestly think Girardi is going to rest guys because that's what his binder will tell him to do.
Id rather play Minny without home field than have to face Cliff Lee twice in a 5 game series with home field
May I recommend a fantastic concert film to you? Never mind that Minny is likely without Morneau and Rauch.
No way should they start CC or Hughes in this final series. I'm talking about the bats.... Outside of ARod I think everyone should be good to go and don't think fatigue should be an issue. Also, Cliff Lee hasn't been spectacular in the second half.
