Boston’s misfortunes present an opportunity

By On September 10, 2011 · 6 Comments · In General Musings

As expected, the race for the AL East looks to be going right down to the wire, with the second-place finisher virtually assured a wild card berth.  Yesterday, I discussed how it didn’t make sense for the Yankees to go all-out to win the division given the brutal schedule that faces them over the next few weeks.  There is definitely some controversy as to how much emphasis should be placed on winning the division versus backing into the wild card (discussed yesterday by friend of the blog and general rapscallion Stephen R.), and the relative importance of rest versus momentum is also somewhat opaque.

While the Yankees are holding on to a small lead in the division after some tough losses, their main competitor is also encountering its share of difficulties.  Boston has recently lost several key players to injury (though for how long is unclear), including ace Josh Beckett with an ankle and 3rd baseman Kevin Youkilis with a hip injury.  The Sox are holding on for dear life against the surging Rays, who are making the division and wild card race increasingly exciting.

There is no question that Boston is still a tremendously dangerous team even with the losses of Beckett and Youkilis, and cannot be counted out as a threat to overtake the Yankees for the division lead.  This is especially true with several head-to-head matchups remaining, and a Boston sweep would put them back in position to take the division.  Nonetheless, the injuries to Boston may give the Yankees an extra edge that will give them the ability to win the division without going all-out with their regulars, and get a chance to give them some extra rest.  It is unclear how these injuries will affect Boston’s strategy.  They may still need to play their regulars as often as possible to hold off the Rays, but it is also possible that once they clinch a playoff berth they may look to rest regulars, helping the Yankees’ division chances.

At this juncture I’m definitely advocating resting regulars over going all-out to win the division, but the injuries to Boston may allow the Yankees to accomplish the latter without sacrificing the former.  At least that’s the plan, although you know what they say about the best laid plans.

 
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6 Responses to Boston’s misfortunes present an opportunity

  1. says:
    September 10, 2011 at 6:58 pm

    I resemble that remark!

    Reply
  2. roadrider says:
    September 10, 2011 at 7:48 pm

    My stomach still turns at the fact that the wild card system provides disincentives to compete and, worse, can even provide incentives to not to compete (last year’s Yankees clearly gamed the system because they wanted to play the Twins in the ALDS).

    And no, I don’t think that either Commissioner Bud’s idea to double down on a bad idea (adding another wild card) or eliminating the divisions and turning the regular season into a tedious 6-month long seeding process are the answer.

    Baseball was better when there were real, winner-take-all pennant races. The only way to get back to that is to go back to two divisions per league with ONLY division winners advancing to the post-season. It seems to me that that system worked quite well from 1969-1993. The only reason it changed was a bald-faced money grab by MLB from the additional playoff round.

    Reply
    • smurfy says:
      September 10, 2011 at 10:01 pm

      I’d say no, duh, my ideal would be three geographic divisions, made up of ten teams each, a melding of the leagues in favor of natural rivalries, with the top two in each division competing. The saving grace of the wild card is that dominant teams won’t be excluded. The same relaxation of races would be available, but if the league insists on 161 games, I want good, fair baseball in the playoffs. With rested players, who can compete as they can, at best.

      Reply
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    September 11, 2011 at 8:41 am

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  5. smurfy says:
    September 11, 2011 at 2:39 pm

    I’m thinking that the Yanks should go a little farther. The custom is to let the guy sit on the bench once in a while, and that will rest his aching bones, and let him avoid a game’s considerable stress; but by September both body and spirit may need a rest.

    Seems better, with the ten days or so before they need “to wind it up” and get their rotation on turn and four days’ rest (ref RAB Radio show, Mike A.), that they give each regular a couple real days off. We have virtually locked a playoff position, so figure who subs and how it would work, and let the guys have staggered breaks where they are encouraged to go to a resort, stay home and sleep, don’t bother to keep in contact, unless you want to.

    About the 20th or so, everybody’s back, better refreshed from golf, a beautiful woman, kids, a hike in Yosemite, whatever, ready for rock and roll!

    Reply

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