10 replies to this topic

[jfar57]

Well, I think that the next week will be a very strong indicator of whether the Yanks can catch Boston or need to fight for the wild card as their only option.  We have 7 against teh Angels and Tigers (who now have Zumaya back).  Boston has the Devil Rays (who admittedly give them fits) and the White Soz, who have quit (they have 1 win in last 10).

If the Yanks can come out of the week still only 4 back in teh loss column they can put some major heat on the Red Sox in the upcoming series. 

Other than playing each other 6 times after this week, their competition is pretty similar for the rest of the season EXCEPT for the last week.  Boston has a tougher end with the A's and Twins.

If it comes down to a Wild Card fight...the Mariners have a brutal schedule with lots of games against the Angels, A's, Tigers, Yanks (in NY), Indians...not to mention squeezing in 2 make ups against Clev due to the snow outs in April.

I like the Yankees chances for October play!

[metfan4life]

i think they will make the playoffs by wining the wildcard,it all depends on how their pitching holds up,chamberlain will come down to earth soon and give up runs and rameriz to,they got to also beat good pitching to so we will see

[robbbs]

The Yankees will NOT catch the Sox. Boston has too much pitching (MLB leading 11 shutouts) and will not go into any kind of extended losing streak. Yanks will have a much tougher schedule now than in July and the first half of August and will not play 700 ball. The Yanks hope is the wild card. At the end, the Yanks will probably finish 6 to 8 games behind the Sox.

[metfan4life]

i agree

[jfar57]

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The Yankees will NOT catch the Sox. Boston has too much pitching (MLB leading 11 shutouts) and will not go into any kind of extended losing streak. Yanks will have a much tougher schedule now than in July and the first half of August and will not play 700 ball. The Yanks hope is the wild card. At the end, the Yanks will probably finish 6 to 8 games behind the Sox.

Robbbs, I would/will never debate you on a weather subject (even though I might have to issue my winter forecast  ;)), but the schedule for previous weeks and months is not as important as the look forward.  Keep in mind that Boston has had an extended run of .500 ball since the all star break.  They had a .700 streak in the first third of the season and have come back to the pack.  Since then.

All same division teams play about the same schedule.  So the fact that they have had different hot streaks in the early season kind of becomes about as material as average temps in dec are in predicting February snow.  What really becomes important the 162 game schedule is how you are playing now and what comes next.

Fact of the remaining schedule, after this week, is that the remaining games are against very similar opposition.  Mostly same division teams.  The exception is NY has seattle for 3, and Bos has Minn and Oak for 6.  Past that, arguably, identical.

While I don't think Boston will roll over, I do think that, if the yanks stay within 4 before they open the 3 game series with them in 2 weeks the race is wide open. 

This week, though, could serve to drop the Yanks back to Wild card.  Lets hope not.

[satellite_eyes]

My gut says the yanks won't catch the sox but I would not write it off completely, mainly bc of the reasons given by jfar but also bc anytime you are talking about yankees-red sox you just never know what might happen.

[devilsfan0405]

Hey, it's Red Sox/Yankees.  Aside from 2004, how many times have the Sox looked to be in command, only to let it slip away?  We've seen this happen before.  Boston was 14 games ahead in mid-July in 1978 and blew that lead also.  If it were anyone aside from the Red Sox, I'd say that they were in good shape.  I just don't trust Boston when they're going head-to-head with the Bombers.

[robbbs]

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Hey, it's Red Sox/Yankees.  Aside from 2004, how many times have the Sox looked to be in command, only to let it slip away?  We've seen this happen before.  Boston was 14 games ahead in mid-July in 1978 and blew that lead also.  If it were anyone aside from the Red Sox, I'd say that they were in good shape.  I just don't trust Boston when they're going head-to-head with the Bombers.

Sorry but the comparisons of 1978 and 2007 end with the 14+ game lead Boston had. The Yanks do not have the pitching horses to sustain them through the end of the season; the Sox have arguably the best pitching in the American League, if not the majors. Give the Yanks credit for going on a tear since the All-star break and beating up on mediocre teams when they needed. However, they dug themselves a hole so deep that despite that winning tear, they still got no closer than 4 games out (now 5). The rest of the schedule will not be as kind and the Yanks will play closer to their level. I'm a Yankees fan but I'm realistic about the team, the hole they dug, & their pitching shortcomings (not to mention that Rivera is human after years of dominance). The Sox will finish comfortably in front of the Yanks in the division and the Yanks hopes are with the wild card. 

[robbbs]

Quote

Robbbs, I would/will never debate you on a weather subject (even though I might have to issue my winter forecast   ;)), but the schedule for previous weeks and months is not as important as the look forward.  Keep in mind that Boston has had an extended run of .500 ball since the all star break.  They had a .700 streak in the first third of the season and have come back to the pack.  Since then.

All same division teams play about the same schedule.  So the fact that they have had different hot streaks in the early season kind of becomes about as material as average temps in dec are in predicting February snow.  What really becomes important the 162 game schedule is how you are playing now and what comes next.

Fact of the remaining schedule, after this week, is that the remaining games are against very similar opposition.  Mostly same division teams.  The exception is NY has seattle for 3, and Bos has Minn and Oak for 6.  Past that, arguably, identical.

While I don't think Boston will roll over, I do think that, if the yanks stay within 4 before they open the 3 game series with them in 2 weeks the race is wide open. 

This week, though, could serve to drop the Yanks back to Wild card.  Lets hope not.

Jfar57, Fair points. I'm not suggesting that there's no division race. However, my strong opinion is that the Yanks have had their run (largely fueled by a very favorable schedule since the All-star break) and that this has misled many to believe the Yanks will catch/pass the Sox. IMO the Yanks will now play decent but not great baseball, the Sox will be over their 6 week funk, and Boston will slowly add more games between them and the Yanks. The Yankee pitching is smoke and mirrors -- pitchers who are mostly well past their prime, unproven, or too young to win consistently. Add to those woes that Rivera is finally human.

[jfar57]

Well...this is why they play the games.  Who would have expected to even be having any kind of debate that included the Yanks and a playoff spot 2 months ago.  I am very realistic too and worry that the soft underbelly of the team is still in the bullpen.  What I hold on to as hope, though, is that while the sox were building a huge lead, it was against a bunch of Yank pitchers that are no longer pitching for them.  Remember we had a boatload of injuries early in the year.  We still only need to pick up a game per week as has happend since June 1.  Its clearly a long shot, but its better than no shot.

[OrangeCountyWeather06]

If the Yanks continue the way they are playing then I have to go with Wild Card. Or else, they will be in a off-season of uncertain.