tedylb

If they're going deep into October the Sox need more than Lester, Daisuke and Wake. Huge question marks with the B Boys-Byrd, Beckett, Bowden, Bucholtz and Bartolo. If Byrd and Beckett come through, the Sox are well placed.

As for the pen, they're looking better. Lopez and Masterson have been sollid, as has Pap. Timlin, Okajima and Delcarmen need to be more consistent.

With the addition of Bay and Kotsay, the offense, defense and chemistry are better without Manny. It's the pitching that will decide our fate.

What are your thoughts?

JAYHAWKS34

my thoughts are ring number 3 in 08' for this decade

patsfanofNC12

I feel we can do it, hopefully Beckett will step up after getting a clean bill of health and having had a rest, Colon pitched a solid game yesterday in Portland, overall we have what it takes to get that third ring.

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lostjumper

You only need 4 starters for the post season. Byrd was an excellant post season pitcher last year, and so was Beckett. I actually wouldn't be surprised to see Wakefield go to the pen, especially with his shoulder issues. A rotation of Dice-K, Lester, Beckett, and Byrd is very good, and incredible if Beckett can regain the magic from last post season. The pen will be dicey, and I don't want to see MDC in any high pressure situations, but I think they can be good enough.

I'm more concerned about getting Lowell and Drew back into the lineup, moving Lowrie to SS, and Lugo hopefully not getting healthy again this year.

Real World

Beckett is the key. Without Beckett it's going to be difficult. Not impossible, but difficult. I just don't trust Dice-K personally. Obviously his stats this season have been terrific though. The Sox play excellent defense, can steal a base, and have clutch hitting throughout the line-up, so they have as good a chance as any team in the playoffs, if not better. The tough thing for the Sox is that they may have to play the Angels in the 1st round, at LA.

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"The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of doubt, what is laid before him."
Leo Tolstoy, 1897

lostjumper

1 of the rules regarding post season play is that the wild card can't play a team from it's own division in the first round. Assuming the Angels stay hot and finish with the overall best record in the AL, they will host the wild card team, while the East division winner will host the Central. Hopefully the sox can over take the rays, because I'd much rather host the white sox than go play the LAAAAAAAA(in case I missed an A) out in california. The head to head games with the rays in september have huge consequences.

patriotspride

i dont think it makes a bit of difference who the sox play or who has home field. the angels had home field in 04. its all about who plays better. regular season head to head record doesnt mean a thing. if anything the angels have a mental hurdle to overcome playing the redsox. they have been swept the last two times they faced the sox in the playoffs. if you have Beckett and Lester going in game one and two the sox have a good chance at beating anybody. the division isn't anymore important than the wild card is. the important thing is to clinch a playoff spot as early as possible to get your rotation in order. I'm watching what the twins and white sox are doing . i could care less about the rays at this point. just get in.

JAYHAWKS34

Masterson has to be the savior