What Is Becoming Evident in Playoffs

[greg775]

a.) It's becoming apparent Tampa Bay is indeed having a 2005 White Sox season and postseason. The Rays, whose pitching I feel isn't as good as it has shown and could implode next season, has been great. The squad is doing it all with speed, power, defense, everything. I picked Boston to win in five. It'd take a pretty big choke for the Rays to lose this series.

The Rays have shown they are for real.

b.) Boston doesn't deserve to advance trotting Wakefield out there to get his knuckler knocked into oblivion.

c.) The Dodgers weren't that good except for Manny. Their sweep of the Cubs is more confusing by the day. Aside from the curse, it's hard to believe they got swept. It may go down as one of the biggest chokes in sports history for those who like to throw around the word "choke."

d.) The Phillies are just another NL team about to get mauled by the Rays in the World Series.

 

The White Sox with Carlos Quetin I feel could beat Boston (if we had homefield), the Dodgers and the Phillies in a 7 game series. I will tip my cap to the Rays and now say we could not beat them even with CQ.

Edited October 16, 2008 by greg775

[Buehrle>Wood]

I think we could beat just about anyone if we didn't have to play in a stinkin' dome.

[greg775]

We truly do suck in those domes We have to change our team a bit just so we don't go 1-8 in Minnie next year again. Man that's seven under .500 rite there.

[witesoxfan]

I actually think the Phillies are the favorites right now, just because they are an NL team playing NL style ball with an AL style team.

 

I also think it's 50/50 regardless, and whoever Philly faces will make for a fascinating series.

[Kyyle23]

We truly do suck in those domes We have to change our team a bit just so we don't go 1-8 in Minnie next year again. Man that's seven under .500 rite there.

 

What would those seven games have changed in the playoffs? The Sox STILL would have faced the Rays with a record of 96-66. The only difference is the Sox would have home field advantage. And I dont think that would have any effect on how the Rays are playing right now.

 

 

I will say this, the White Sox put up a much bigger fight than the Red Sox have, one dimensional offense and all.

 

 

[almagest]

I will say this, the White Sox put up a much bigger fight than the Red Sox have, one dimensional offense and all.

Agreed. I actually felt like we were in every game, except maybe the last one. Since that last game in Tampa the Red Sox have looked flat and kind of shell-shocked.

 

[2nd_city_saint787]

What would those seven games have changed in the playoffs? The Sox STILL would have faced the Rays with a record of 96-66. The only difference is the Sox would have home field advantage. And I dont think that would have any effect on how the Rays are playing right now.

 

 

I will say this, the White Sox put up a much bigger fight than the Red Sox have, one dimensional offense and all.

 

i believe your missing the point of his post, if we did indeed win those 7 games it would have been because we play better in a dome which then would help us out when we play tampa

[daa84]

i think the phillies have a great shot at winning, especially with hamels lined up to pitch game 1...not that it means they are the better team....i would be willing to bet that if you played 100 7 game series the "better" team only ends up winning what...60 of them?

[striker]

I don't like the Phillies pitching aside from Hamels. Moyer, Myers and Blanton will all get killed by TB bats. TB has some good pitching. They are young too so they'll be around awhile.

[ThunderBolt]

I don't like the Phillies pitching aside from Hamels. Moyer, Myers and Blanton will all get killed by TB bats. TB has some good pitching. They are young too so they'll be around awhile.

Yeah, i can't see this ending well for the Phillies. Hamels and Myers are solid, but Moyer and Blanton are smoke and mirrors for the most part.

[witesoxfan]

Blanton has looked OK...he's a 7 inning, 3-4 run type of guy. If he puts that up against Tampa or Boston, Philadelphia will be feeling just fine.

 

People do need to remember that the Red Sox aren't dead yet.

[Jordan4life_2007]

a.) It's becoming apparent Tampa Bay is indeed having a 2005 White Sox season and postseason. The Rays, whose pitching I feel isn't as good as it has shown and could implode next season, has been great. The squad is doing it all with speed, power, defense, everything. I picked Boston to win in five. It'd take a pretty big choke for the Rays to lose this series.

The Rays have shown they are for real.

b.) Boston doesn't deserve to advance trotting Wakefield out there to get his knuckler knocked into oblivion.

 

This I agree with.

 

c.) The Dodgers weren't that good except for Manny. Their sweep of the Cubs is more confusing by the day. Aside from the curse, it's hard to believe they got swept. It may go down as one of the biggest chokes in sports history for those who like to throw around the word "choke."

d.) The Phillies are just another NL team about to get mauled by the Rays in the World Series.

 

The Dodgers were plenty good. They just ran into a better team. The hottest team going right now. And I seriously doubt the Phillies are going to get "mauled." Just look at that team. They're stacked. I actually think they should be favored against the Rays.

 

 

The White Sox with Carlos Quetin I feel could beat Boston (if we had homefield), the Dodgers and the Phillies in a 7 game series. I will tip my cap to the Rays and now say we could not beat them even with CQ.

 

Easy to say that now. Even with a healthy CQ, this team was too flawed and one- dimensional to win in the playoffs. We got what we had coming. And I don't think it would've been any different had we played Boston (despite what the Rays are doing to them).

Edited October 17, 2008 by Jordan4life

[Jordan4life_2007]

I don't like the Phillies pitching aside from Hamels. Moyer, Myers and Blanton will all get killed by TB bats. TB has some good pitching. They are young too so they'll be around awhile.

 

Seen what Myers has done since the break? He's been one of the best pitchers in baseball since then. Moyer and Blanton are more than serviceable #3 and #4 starters. The Phillies pitching is plenty good.

[claydude14]

I'm looking forward to the World Series, and will be cheering for the Rays. This team is going to be good for a while. The AL East should be hands down the best division in baseball next year, as I expect the Yanks and Sawx to make moves. Hopefully the Jays too, to go along with their pitching.

[joeynach]

The Rays pitching staff this year is defiantly lightening in a bottle, just like the 05 sox. The couple exceptions being Buerhrle for the Sox and Kazmir for the Rays, who I believe is a bonafied ace (less his recent struggles in Sept). Other than that I think James Shields is overrated, hes a twins like pitcher, good in his dome where other hitters and teams struggle. Sonnastine is def having a career year considering he had a 5 ERA last year. Garza isn't bad but hes still a #3 at best. I do like the Rays lineup much more than their pitching. Their bullpen is also career year USA, percival has miraculously "found it" again, who is JP Howell, same for Grant Balfour, etc.

 

That being said they are still winning the world series, its just their year. The white sox got the Angels with no Bartolo, the Red Sox with Matt freaking Clement starting game 1, and the astros with a banged up Clemens, it was just their year. The Rays have a pitching staff of career years, got to face a white sox team deprived of their best player, their everyday 3B, and one of their starters, and a Red Sox team without Lowell, Lugo, Manny, and a banged up Beckett.

 

I would be 1000000 bucks that next year the rays come no where close to 97 wins again, we saw this happen to the 06 Sox, and 07 Tigers. Point of my post, u want to make $, bet the Rays from here on out.

[Swingandalongonetoleft]

I thought Games 1 and 2 of the Sox/Rays series were 100% winnable. Tampa had a tougher time with us than with Boston.

 

Go Phillies.

[greg775]

Remarkable comeback win tonight by the Beantowners. I picked them to win the series initially in five. But Hard to imagine the Rays dropping the next 2 at home, but I guess anything's possible. Beckett was awful last time out.

[joeynach]

Remarkable comeback win tonight by the Beantowners. I picked them to win the series initially in five. But Hard to imagine the Rays dropping the next 2 at home, but I guess anything's possible. Beckett was awful last time out.

 

Hes still not 100%

[jenksycat]

A 100% healthy white sox team wins the WS IMO. We were in all 3/4 of the TB games and if we're healthy, Javi doesn't pitch and there are no 3-day rest starts.

 

TCQ

100% Crede

+Count

_________

'08 champs

[sircaffey]

The Rays pitching staff this year is defiantly lightening in a bottle, just like the 05 sox. The couple exceptions being Buerhrle for the Sox and Kazmir for the Rays, who I believe is a bonafied ace (less his recent struggles in Sept). Other than that I think James Shields is overrated, hes a twins like pitcher, good in his dome where other hitters and teams struggle. Sonnastine is def having a career year considering he had a 5 ERA last year. Garza isn't bad but hes still a #3 at best. I do like the Rays lineup much more than their pitching. Their bullpen is also career year USA, percival has miraculously "found it" again, who is JP Howell, same for Grant Balfour, etc.

 

That being said they are still winning the world series, its just their year. The white sox got the Angels with no Bartolo, the Red Sox with Matt freaking Clement starting game 1, and the astros with a banged up Clemens, it was just their year. The Rays have a pitching staff of career years, got to face a white sox team deprived of their best player, their everyday 3B, and one of their starters, and a Red Sox team without Lowell, Lugo, Manny, and a banged up Beckett.

 

I would be 1000000 bucks that next year the rays come no where close to 97 wins again, we saw this happen to the 06 Sox, and 07 Tigers. Point of my post, u want to make $, bet the Rays from here on out.

While I won't argue with the bullpen, I pretty disagree with everything you said about the rotation. I'd be careful using the phrase "career year" considering Shields is the oldest in the rotation at 26 years old. And it's Sonnanstine's sophomore season. They are going to improve. I will say that Sonnanstine's improvement was a little more than I would have thought, but not outrageous as it's just his 2nd season. All of these guys are immensely talented (Sonnanstine is a step below the others), and not doing anything unexpected. In fact, Kazmir was a disappointment this season. Their rotation is for real, and they'll add David Price into it next season. If it stays together, I think this could be one of the best rotations we've seen in years, top to bottom.

[Paint it Black]

A 100% healthy white sox team wins the WS IMO. We were in all 3/4 of the TB games and if we're healthy, Javi doesn't pitch and there are no 3-day rest starts.

 

TCQ

100% Crede

+Count

_________

'08 champs

 

Too man "if's" If the Rays hadn't lost Longoria for a month, they end up with the best record. Javy pitching like crap= less talent than the Rays basically. I actually thought we matched up well with Boston or the Angles. Did not want to see the Rays.

 

[Whitewashed in '05]

Too man "if's" If the Rays hadn't lost Longoria for a month, they end up with the best record. Javy pitching like crap= less talent than the Rays basically. I actually thought we matched up well with Boston or the Angles. Did not want to see the Rays.

I will not declare us automatic champs with CQ, Crede, and Count, but I will say there probably would not have been game #163. Which would have put us in a better situation to compete. I would say with those 3 we would be challengers for the WS.

 

You are talking about 3 vital parts to a team. When an MVP candidate, your teams best clutch hitter, and a solid starting pitcher with postseason experience goes down that severely hampers your chances. Not many teams lose big parts of their teams in each aspect of the game and win it all. Offense, Defense, and Pitching. We lost big in each department and paid for it.

 

[greg775]

I'm not a big Count fan. He's too old, injury or not.

[ILMOU]

I'm not a big Count fan. He's too old, injury or not.

 

He may be too old/injured to be an effective starter again.

 

I'm going to go out on a limb and say he becomes an effective reliever in the 2nd half of '09, helping us to our second WS this decade! He could be very tough in that role.