So can we stop praising and start flaming the Red Sox now?

[joeysosa]

An embarrasing outing against the Royals, an embarassing outing against the Yankees (in 5 [FIVE] games, mind you), way out of the AL East contention and are slipping out of Wild Card contention.... Can we the people, and they the media, start flaming the holy hell out of the Boston Red Sox now, please?

Now, I must say, I'm not the biggest friend of the Yankees and their fans (in fact I despise them) either, but nothing this year has put a bigger smile on my face than watching the Yankees absolutely trounce the Red Sox in Fenway. I think this is the one instance until the playoffs where I can actually celebrate along side Yankee fans.

Why is my dislike against the Red Sox fueled so heavily? Because of the media's (aka ESPN's) constant coverage and praising of them, and their extreme, almost scary, love of your "Big Papi" David Ortiz. Why can't I stand David Ortiz? That's a COMPLETELY different argument, and subject, and would probably fuel an outrageous argument from all the passive and naive baseball fans on this forum..... But make a guess anyways....

I understand that I will get absolutely flamed or even get this thread locked (which would be a perfect representation of bias, since that "To the Mets haters" post didn't get locked) because of the overwhelming amount of Red Sox fans here, but before I do, please take the time to go to MLB.com, click on "Standings", and check out where you fellas are placed.

Oh, and to add on some productivity to the constructiveness of this post: Who thinks Red Sox still have a chance?

[dkgojackets]

Re: So can we stop praising and start flaming the Red Sox now?

I cant stand the Red Sox. Yankees are just above bearable, but thats enough for me.

[Chip Douglass]

Re: So can we stop praising and start flaming the Red Sox now?

I was rooting for the Yankees' the entire series. I just can't stand the Red Sox anymore and I'm glad we won't be hearing from them in a while.

[SPTO]

Re: So can we stop praising and start flaming the Red Sox now?

If the Red Sox had any kind of middle relief they wouldn't be where they are right now. As long as you have solid middle relief you can ride out any slumps from the starting rotation. This is the same problem the Jays have been having this year.

All I can say is, at least the Jays have a shot at 2nd place for once in A LOOOONG TIME!

[Stu]

Re: So can we stop praising and start flaming the Red Sox now?

[GBrushTWood]

Re: So can we stop praising and start flaming the Red Sox now?

Not sure what the point of this thread is..

The Red Sox suck **** right now. Obviously, they are not going to the playoffs in 2006, barring an unbridled miracle. Everybody knows this.

That doesn't mean the Yankees are going to win the WS necessarily. Their starting pitching still isn't that impressive, based on this weekend and from all year long. Everybody knows that starting pitching is what wins championships in October. Does anybody here expect Randy Johnson to suddenly turn it around? After that is Mussina and Wang. Solid, but certainly not unbeatable.

It should be an interesting last month and a half, and I for one will be interested in watching how it all plays out. I will say I'd really like to see the Tigers pull it out somehow. I really like Bonderman, but after him I'm not so confident. Verlander looks terrible lately.

[ehh]

Re: So can we stop praising and start flaming the Red Sox now?

All I have to say is that anyone who doubts Derek Jeter's intangibles and "little things" that he brings to the Yankees needs to take a look at how bad the Red Sox have collapsed without their captain. It's no coincidence.

Varitek is to Boston what Jeter is to the Yanks. Ortiz and Manny can be as clutch as hell and put up all the power numbers in the world, but the team is lost without Varitek. Obviously the other injuries hurt too, but Varitek was the key blow.

[Stu]

Re: So can we stop praising and start flaming the Red Sox now?

If the Red Sox had any kind of middle relief they wouldn't be where they are right now. As long as you have solid middle relief you can ride out any slumps from the starting rotation. This is the same problem the Jays have been having this year.

All I can say is, at least the Jays have a shot at 2nd place for once in A LOOOONG TIME!

I agree good relief can help you ride out a slump but this is more than that. Their pitching staff just isn't very good. Name me one team in baseball that could lose their CF, Catcher, 3, 4 and 5 starters for significant periods of time, have their #2 starter be completely ineffective and still compete. I don't care if the Red Sox were 5.5 games UP right now, they still wouldn't win the division.

I have to laugh at the people in Boston who bash Theo for not making a deadline move. The way I see it, the Red Sox would have needed to add at least 4 impact pitchers to compete. (2 starters and 2 relievers)

[Stu]

Re: So can we stop praising and start flaming the Red Sox now?

All I have to say is that anyone who doubts Derek Jeter's intangibles and "little things" that he brings to the Yankees needs to take a look at how bad the Red Sox have collapsed without their captain. It's no coincidence.

Varitek is to Boston what Jeter is to the Yanks. Ortiz and Manny can be as clutch as hell and put up all the power numbers in the world, but the team is lost without Varitek. Obviously the other injuries hurt too, but Varitek was the key blow.

Pitching, pitching, pitching. Take away RJ, Mussina and Wang away and see how much Captain Intangibles means to the Yankees.

[SPTO]

Re: So can we stop praising and start flaming the Red Sox now?

That doesn't mean the Yankees are going to win the WS necessarily..

I'd love to see a Tigers/Yankees matchup in the playoffs. The young hungry ball team against the gritty, yet hugely overpaid vets.

I have a feeling youth will win out in that series. I just hope it's the ALCS because if it's a 5 game series I think the Yanks could take it.

[ehh]

Re: So can we stop praising and start flaming the Red Sox now?

Pitching, pitching, pitching. Take away RJ, Mussina and Wang away and see how much Captain Intangibles means to the Yankees.

I know the Sox have pitched like crap, but having Javy Lopez behind the dish hasn't helped that situation any.

[Beantown]

Re: So can we stop praising and start flaming the Red Sox now?

All I can say is I hope the Twins win the WC and keep the white sox out of the playoffs.

Mirabelli cost the red sox the game last night with his passed ball, so yes, the loss of Tek certainly cost us one of those games.

I know Lowell has tried to take over the "captain' role, calling team meetings and trying to be that veteran leader...but not having Tek out on that field calling the game def. hurt.

As Cam said...only having 1 effective pitcher in your rotation, and 1 effective pitcher in your bullpen is 10x worse.

[SPTO]

Re: So can we stop praising and start flaming the Red Sox now?

I know the Sox have pitched like crap, but having Javy Lopez behind the dish hasn't helped that situation any.

I believe Miller and Morgan mentioned that last night. I don't have the stats tho (someone does I hope?) Needless to say the pitching has suffered since Javy has been behind the plate.

[dieselboy]

Re: So can we stop praising and start flaming the Red Sox now?

I love seeing the Red Sox lose.

Especially getting swept by their biggest rival.

[BGarrett7]

Re: So can we stop praising and start flaming the Red Sox now?

An embarrasing outing against the Royals, an embarassing outing against the Yankees (in 5 [FIVE] games, mind you), way out of the AL East contention and are slipping out of Wild Card contention....

So, being 6.5 games out in the East and 4.5 games out of the WC makes them a flameworthy team? Uh, no...