So the Sox have proven they are pretty unbeatable (as far as series go) at the friendly confines of Fenway Park. Let us now solidify ourselves and start winning some series on the road.
Getting swept in Toronto and St. Pete was not a great sign. Excuses (Japan trip, flu) aside, it is time to take care of business.
Tonight we open up with a four game set versus the underachieving Detroit Tigers. Dice K has to set the tone with a strong performance. Seven innings would be beautiful. The AL East has too many teams bunched up and if we can go on a 8-2 tear, some separation will occur. Yes, pennants can be won in May.
Playing .700 ball at home and below .500 on the road won't get it done. Tonight and this series we establish ourselves and start to creep ahead of the division.
9 comments:
Phil, only a Red Sox fan would think a pennant can be in won in May. Good luck on your road trip.
Phil, I concur with your assertion that "Yes, pennants can be won in May."
Games played in May count just as much as those played in August & September.
Jim, I'm going to take it easy on you because of your picture of Romomentum. But Hapi and I are right pennants can definitely be won in May. Look at the Yanks last year, they got so far behind the Sox that by the time they were playing well it was far too late. Game #37 counts as much as game #162.
Last year at this time, Reggie Jackson made the comment to the NY media that games won in April don't mean very much, but games in September count twice as much.
Tell that to the '07 Yankees... yeah right...
It comes down to this, if a team can build a big enough cushion toward the end of the season they will have the luxury of resting aging veterans & showcasing some of their younger talent (i.e. '07 Red Sox)
Do you think April counts to the '08 Tigers? Now they cannot afford a 7-8 game slide later in the season, come playoff time, if they get there, they might be burnt out, ie Yanks.
Folks, the point was that there is plenty of time left in the season to lose or make up ground. Sox fans seem to live and die with every game. Every win is conquering Mount Everest, and every loss is a Greek tragedy. Lighten up; it's a long season.
Phil, if you can do anything to get rid of Yoko Romo (Jessica Simpson), I'd appreciate it. She's killing us.
Jim, no one will argue with you that there is a long way to go in the season, that there's plenty of time to lose or make up ground. I can't speak for everyone but my point was that games played in April/May do count as much as games played in August/Sep. Maybe even more so for the fact I mentioned previously about building a cushion & having the luxury of resting players, playing younger players, setting-up playoff pitching rotations (don't mean to get ahead of myself). As for your contention that 'Red Sox Nation' lives & dies with every at-bat & pitch (only speaking for myself)I would say to you that it has gotten alot better over the past past 4 years for obvious reasons. One could argue Yankee fans are just as passionate.
Jim and all -- I do see the point that games played in September are "crunch time". However, last year the Sox were able to "coast" into the playoffs.
Let us recall last year's debate as to whether or not winning the division was important or should we rest guys (Manny) and settle for the wildcard. The Sox had that luxury because they had gotten off to such a great start.
If you contend that pennants cannot be won in May, you must consider that they certainly can be lost in May! This was the point was making about the '08 Tigers.
Hapi -- I love that you are setting up the pitching rotation for the playoffs already. Sox fans have come a long, long way.
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