Are the Rays going to catch Boston?

[MaineDolFan]

It would not seem possible three weeks ago, but that wild card lead in the American League is down to 6.5 games.  Boston is doing everything it can to impode right now.  They are losing in every way possible:  Being blown out, giving up big leads, and losing tight games.

2-6 in September, thus far.  In eight games they've give up 51 earned runs. 

Boston has to go to Tampa for three games this weekend.  They have another four game with Boston next weekend. 

Three weeks ago the Rays were 12 games out of the wild card.  They have cut that in half and leap frogged Chicago and the Angels in the process.

While no one was paying attention the Rays have gone on a mad dash.  That pitching staff is crazy ass scary. 

What say you?  Can the Rays make up 6.5 more games with just over 20 left to play?

[Sunstroke]

That is tough... I'd be more inclined to say "yes" if I believed that Boston was actually as bad as they've been playing recently, but I really don't buy that for a minute. I fully expect Boston to pull out of their recent funk shortly and hold on to the wild card.

[AZ Fins Fan 55]

^^^^
I tend to agree and think that Boston is one of the better teams in the league they just aren't clicking currently. I think they will figure it out and be well on their way to making some loud noise in the playoffs.


(slight sidenote hijack) Did anyone actually pick the Diamondbacks to win the NL West this year......I thought they would be in last or second to last because I had no faith in their ragtag pitching staff......wow was I ever wrong!!!! (end slight sidenote hijack)

[Tenshot13]

Man I hope so.  It isn't impossible and I'll be rooting like crazy until the end of the season, but even with my crazy homerism I display I think the Rays will come up just short.

[Landshark]

I tend to agree and think that Boston is one of the better teams in the league they just aren't clicking currently. I think they will figure it out and be well on their way to making some loud noise in the playoffs.

This is a bad time of the year not to be clicking. 

What say you?  Can the Rays make up 6.5 more games with just over 20 left to play?

Difficult, extremely difficult, but not impossible. 

[MaineDolFan]

I hate John Lackey. 

A lot.

Hated the guy when he was with L.A.

Hate him more now.

[EDGECRUSHER]

At the time of his signing, I said it was foolish due to his declining performance. Now? He is much worse than AJ Burnett, and that says a whole of a lot.

This is the problem with big money contracts, you essentially are forced to play the player who has one. If Boston dumped Lackey and just started a pitcher from AAA, they would probably be 6 game sup on NY instead of 2.5 games back.

At this point, Boston is just "Spahn and Sain then pray for rain". The Yankees are just Spahn however, so advantage Red Sox.

[Tenshot13]

Ok now I'm thinking it's more than possible.  Only 3.5 games back!

[EDGECRUSHER]

They definitely have the momentum and the games remaining against Boston to do it, but right now Boston has lost 10 of 13 which is crazy. For Tampa to catch them, Boston almost has to repeat that process and that will be very hard to do.

Losing 10 of 13 twice for a team like the Cubs is standard. For a team like the Red Sox? Quite unlikely.

[Landshark]

They definitely have the momentum and the games remaining against Boston to do it, but right now Boston has lost 10 of 13 which is crazy. For Tampa to catch them, Boston almost has to repeat that process and that will be very hard to do.

Losing 10 of 13 twice for a team like the Cubs is standard. For a team like the Red Sox? Quite unlikely.

Boston also has a lot of players hurt.  This is not a good time of the year to have that happening.

[MaineDolFan]

Boston also has a lot of players hurt.  This is not a good time of the year to have that happening.

No one is healthy, completely.  The injuries thing only goes so far with me.  Although, right now, Boston is running on empty in the starting pitcher department.  I never thought I would say this, but they are really missing Dice-K right now. 

Holy crap, I can't believe I just said that.

Anyway, I think we can put on thing to rest right now, the debate from this April:  I was right about the Rays.  They will win, as stated, at least 88-90 and will challenge for the wild card.

[EDGECRUSHER]

Boston kept losing, but Tampa Bay drops 2 in a row to Baltimore. Ouch.

Because of that, they need to sweep Boston in their upcoming series.

[Tenshot13]

Off to a good start with a win tonight

Boston kept losing, but Tampa Bay drops 2 in a row to Baltimore. Ouch.

Because of that, they need to sweep Boston in their upcoming series.

I can't remember, but didn't someone say that the Rays SUCK! at the beginning of the year when they lost a bunch of game in a row?  I don't REMEMBER WHO IT COULD BE!!!! that posted that.  I must be some kind of IDIOT not to remember!!!  Well whoever it was couldn't have been more WRONG!!!!  It's like that time when Polite sucked and I called it that one time when Jason Allen sucked and no one believed....oops tangent.

Even if the Rays don't catch Boston for the wildcard, they are still a pretty damn good team.

[EDGECRUSHER]

Tampa's pitching has carried them, while Boston's pitching has forsaken them. However, in Boston's defense, the injuries to their staff have really killed them.

[Sunstroke]

I can't remember, but didn't someone say that the Rays SUCK! at the beginning of the year when they lost a bunch of game in a row?  I don't REMEMBER WHO IT COULD BE!!!! that posted that.  I must be some kind of IDIOT not to remember!!!  Well whoever it was couldn't have been more WRONG!!!!

I believe you're referring to MikeO's early season Rays-hating:

MikeO: "How are those young players for Tampa working out.....ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!

That team stinks!"