That's it. Nothing else to report. [drops mic]
Red Sox. Boom.
- Thread starter PennSt8er
- Start date
And it only took 3X the payroll of the Rays. Super impressive, baseball sucks until they put a system in place with some parity.
Sure, that lineup sucks, as does the bullpen and starters. The whole team really sucks. In fact, not sure how they ever won a single game
I also had "modest" expectations for this year. It didn't look like they had the pitching to go far in what would be a tough division. As it turns out, you were almost right with the standings. They finished tied with the Yankees for 2nd and just a game ahead of Toronto who finished 4th. Now they are going to the ALCS!
I was lucky enough to be at the game Sunday. A walk-off HR in the playoffs is a great way to win.
Which makes what the Rays have done amazing. They play in a terrible venue; have a largely uncaring fanbase; and have little money to throw around. Very smart organization.
Need a crying towel? Pro sports = just win baby
When the old folks shell out 135 game in regular season. Let’s talk
My son was at the win over the Yankees. Interesting note...that game was played at Fenway because the Sox beat NY 10-9 in the season series. Their 10th win was a 5-4 game in NY in which they were losing 4-0 in the 8th and being no-hit! NY wins that game and the elimination game is in the Bronx. Playing with house money is how I look at things. But, I have been playing with house money since 2004!
The atoms at Fenway has been great to see the last few games. Yanks arse kicking and both games vs TB. Looks like a lot of young Sawx fans🤟
Payroll is certainly an issue in MLB. That said, the idiotic Yankees just keep getting HR hitting guys who strikeout 150 times a year and wonder why they fold like a house of cards in the postseason. When they even get there, that is. On the other hand, the Sox are outperforming their roster in a partially rebuilding year. Not too shabby.
The yankees, red sox game was kind of a glass half empty/full for me. I loved that one would lose but yet, one had to win. There are no two franchises I hate more than the Yankees and Red Sox.
Part of me wanted the Rays to win, but it's hard watching playoff baseball in a half empty concrete mausoleum where baseballs hit the roof and players can't see the ball. Give me Fenway anytime.
The Tampa Rays have an excellent ball club and they have for a while now. The problem is, despite that fact, their average attendance this year was 9,396. Absolutely pitiful. They have no business owning an MLB franchise. Team should have moved elsewhere already.
Not only is The Trop half empty but it seems like half of the fans there for the game are rooting the visiting team. There were times in this series where the cheering for the Red Sox made it sound like they were the home team.
I wouldn't be surprised if TB leads MLB in # of tickets sold to the visiting team fans.
Boonie was bitching about being loaded with RH power hitters...so Cashman goes and gets him 2 LH 40 hr guys...how did that work out! 2 years ago it was starting pitching...they get him Cole and Kluber. How about this...NY thrown out at home 22 times this year...56 times at 2nd and 3rd. This does not include caught stealing. By far the worst in MLB. Also, last in the league in sacrifice bunts(I believe). Make them play small ball, and only solo shots and you can win. Obviously, as a Sox fan, just not seeing them in the post-season makes the year a success!
Sorry, I’m not quite sure what you’re saying here. Are you talking about ticket prices?
Yeah. Big market fans spend $$$$ on their team. Cable, tickets, etc. Much different than football/hoops where they get most of their money from National contracts.
They do share some of their local revenues. Small market teams get extra draft picks. Plus, their high picks. There’s a cap on international signees. Draft and develop. Pirates stink at it. Don’t blame Yanks/Sox
Yes, the things you're describing are what allow the big markets to spend significantly more. But without parity, it kills the sport nationally.
And yes, I get it. A small market can do everything right and be competitive (usually only for a brief window, unless you're the Rays), and big markets can be a disaster and lose no matter what they spend (mets/angels). Just because there are outliers doesn't mean the system doesn't still suck. Pirates fans have to watch McCutchen leave. Royals fans get a World Series, then have to watch everyone leave and be awful again for a decade. It's hard to get kids into a team when their favorite players will inevitably leave in their prime.
Look at how huge hockey has been in Pittsburgh the past 15 years. 600+ sellouts in a row, great local tv ratings. Yet before the lockout, the Pens would've lost Sydney and Malkin in their prime and gone back to being awful. Not a lot of lifetime hockey fans created in that scenario. And I think baseball is losing a lot of those prospective lifetime fans with this current system that turns fans off in all but 8 or so markets.
