Boston Redsox...another September FLOP.

[maineman]

AL East NY Yankees (10) 89 63 .586 -- Boston Redsox 88 64 .579 1.0

Wild Card Cleveland (9) 90 63 -- 9 Games Left Boston Redsox 88 64 1.5 10 Games Left

Jerry Beach - Scout.com September 22, 2005 at 6:20am ET The Red Sox lost their stranglehold on first place in the AL East Wednesday, when they lost 7-4 to the Devil Rays in St. Petersburg, FL and fell a half-game behind the surging Yankees, who beat the Orioles 2-1, and a game behind the Indians, who whipped the stumbling White Sox 8-0, in the wild card race.

Considering the Sox spent just one day out of first place between June 24 and Wednesday, the big question in Boston today will likely sound something like this: How could the Sox be on the verge of such an epic collapse?

A better question: How did they spend that long in first place in the, well, first place?

If the Sox manage to recover from this current mini-funk-and they are on the outside looking in today in the AL East and wild card races due more to the blistering pace set by the Yankees (32-16 since Aug. 1) and Indians (34-12 since Aug. 1) than their own incompetence; the Sox are a not-so-shabby 29-19 themselves since Aug. 1-and make the playoffs, it will qualify as a minor baseball miracle given the tattered state of their pitching staff.

The Sox rank 11th in the American League in ERA at 4.77. According to research conducted by Manchester Union-Leader baseball writer-and Diehard staffer-Alex Speier, no team has ever won the World Series with an ERA higher than 4.76 (Yankees in 2000). Since division play began in 1969, Speier reported only two teams have ever won the World Series after finishing in the bottom half of their league in ERA-the 1987 Twins (10th in the 14-team AL) and the 1992 Blue Jays (ninth).

In addition, Tim Wakefield and Bronson Arroyo -the top two Sox pitchers in ERA and the only starters who have made yet to miss a turn in the rotation-are on pace to post a higher combined ERA than the top duos on previous pitching-challenged world champions.

Wakefield and Arroyo are 28-20 with a 4.19 ERA. Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte went 32-17 with a 4.03 ERA for the Yankees in 2000, Jack Morris and Juan Guzman went 37-11 with a 3.23 ERA for the Blue Jays in 1992 and Bert Blyleven and Frank Viola went 37-22 with a 3.47 ERA for the Twins in 1987.

Of course, those Yankees, Twins and Blue Jays did not have a wild card quite like Curt Schilling, whose struggles this season-bouncing between the rotation and the closer's role, Schilling is 7-8 with nine saves and a 5.89 ERA-have adversely affected both the rotation and the bullpen. Nobody embraces the big stage quite like Schilling, who enjoyed his best outing of the season in a must-win game against the Yankees Sept. 10 and put together another strong start in a similarly vital game against the Devil Rays Tuesday, and if he rises to the occasion like he did last year, the entire dynamic of the Sox' rotation changes.

But aside from Wakefield, nobody in the Sox rotation is a candidate to throw a complete game. And the Sox bullpen has endured its share of issues this season, as we'll discuss Friday.

[Michael.SF.]

In clicking on the link that I posted, just to confirm it worked, I saw another interesting fact on this subject:

For two of these guys it was also the only home run they ever hit!

[ONETWOONE]

Well, being a lifelong Yankee fan, it's always a good matchup between the two teams. This year I have to wonder who in MLB figured out the end of year schedule. Coming into the home stretch the Yankees get 7 games on the road and the Red Sox get their last 8 games at home. And the last 3 games against the Yankees. Anyone knowing anything is possible in baseball, but this definitely is an advantage for Red Sox. Just look at their home vs away record this year alone.

[#1CTYankee]

It ain't over yet. The Sox are not the team they were last year but the Yankees aren't all that impressive either.Let's face it, neither team's pitching is all that great. Oh you can make an argument the Yankee starers are better but look at their middle relief, it sucks! get to the bullpen aside from Rivera and maybe Gorden.
Rivera isn't bullet proof like the old days and lets face it, who gives him more fits then Boston.
The season will come down to the final 3 games against the evil empire.
Will the Yanks fold like a deck of cards as they did in their final four games last year? Probably not. Will The Red Sox manager wait too long before pulling a struggling pitcher? Yup. Will he pull one too soon only to have us watch a meltdown and no one warming in the pen? you betcha!
My point is it's a coin toss, I'll be watching, screaming and throwing things as Terry shows us time and time again why as a manager, he sucks.
Yet despite all of this I still think we have a chance despite all of our short commings.

[Living Free in NH]

Only ONE game out and you think it's over? The final three games are against the Yankees(in Boston). This is FAR from over.

And if the White Sox keep floundering, the wild card may end up in with Boston or NY.

[cliff630]

Absolutely amazing!! I really am dumfounded that there were that many. I doubt if there are that many such feats in other sports. e.g. A QB throwing a TD on his last pass on his game. (Expand that to winning in OT.) Boxers winning by KO on their last title fight. (Maybe Marciano??)

[cliff630]

Absolutely amazing!! I really am dumfounded that there were that many. I doubt if there are that many such feats in other sports. e.g. A QB throwing a TD on his last pass on his game. (Expand that to winning in OT.) Boxers winning by KO on their last title fight. (Maybe Marciano??)

[angcat]

Well why would you feel this way, I feel the Yanks are not consistent. Win one Lose One Win One. I believe we are going down the last two games of the season. I will be very exciting!

[GraniteStateConservative]

We have played about exactly how we did last year. The difference was the Yanks' record. They started playing like they should and went into 1st place as they should have been all year.

[maineman]

Yea, remember 1978?

[maineman]

Last years pitching was much better. We have 2-3 quality pitches only. This year is like the 70's...great bats, limited pitching.

[maineman]

Jim Ed Rice = HDP


Man, you got that right. And Yaz, always popped up in the 9th with runners on.

I'm a 'Sox fan since 1973, 32 years, I've seen this collapse SOOOOO many times. 1978 still makes me ill, 14 1/2 game lead in mid August....then Bucky F'N Dent. Yes they won last year BUT here we go again.

[Michael.SF.]

It is pretty amazing, but there is a technicality to be considered here regarding "last at bat". Take Tony Kubek for example, he did not know that the at bat he was having,when he hit that home run, would be his last at bat (recall he was injured later in that game and was never the same again). Others may have been cut later, and the at bat then became their 'last at bat'. What makes Williams the stand out is he knew stepping into the box that it would be his last at bat and he then hit a home run. I am not certain how many others on that list could say the same thing.

I also believe Babe Ruth hit two home runs in his last game (though not in his last at bat). That also is pretty remarkable.

[cliff630]

Mike,
Perhaps you are familiar with the HOME RUN expert.
He has been keeping meticulous records on every
home run that has been hit for GOK how many years.

I read recently where he was quoted to try and settle
an argument about the longest home run ever hit.
Unfortunately, his web site wasn't given. (Probably
to keep nuts like me from bugging him).

Maybe it was YOU. You certainly are able to come up
with facts quickly.

Thanks for sharing

[Hong Kong Expat]

We really need an NFL type salary cap in baseball

Socialist.

[Michael.SF.]

We really need an NFL type salary cap in baseball

The one thing that keeps coming back to me, regarding salaries is this:

Why do the owners keep giving them these seemingly absurd amounts of money?

The owners are not stupid men, who would drive themselves into bankruptcy (as many of the athletes do) and the owners have refused to open up their books. The only logical explanation is that the salaries paid are still in line with the revenue generated.

One exception and possible answer to the salaries question is "Billy ball".

[Michael.SF.]

Maybe it was YOU

No not me. Just a long time baseball fan going back to seeing Sandy Koufax pitch at the LA Coliseum (I was 9).

[cliff630]

I think I was about 9 when Van Dermeer(sp) pitched back to back no hitters.

A final note about Ted. Last one to hit over 400. Wasn't it 406? Also he announced beforehand that he was playing his LAST game.

He was a Marine fighter pilot in WW2. Came back after 4 years and picked up where he left off.

Then went back as fighter pilot in the Korean War.

GOK, what his numbers would have been without those years in 2 wars. He never got along with the press. Sure can't hold that against him.

My humble opinion is that Ted & Lou Gehrig were the two greatest players. Lou always played in the Babe's shadow, and Ted never got to play in the World Series.

BTW, does the SF stand for San Francisco? We return there next week after a trip to Florida.

[maineman]

Socialist.



Equality is OK in baseball. If an NFL type cap is NEVER implemented you will never see teams such as the Brewers (small market team) EVER back in the playoffs.

[Hong Kong Expat]

If a small market team can't compete, then they should move to a large market.

[maineman]

If a small market team can't compete, then they should move to a large market.




OK!