Red Sox Inch Closer to Wild Card

V-Mart & Papelbon meet as the Sox inch closer to the playoffs. (AP Photo)

As the sun sets on the 2009 regular season, the Boston Red Sox are looking to get everything in its right place for what hopefully equates to a deep playoff push. With last nights win over the Royals the Sox magic number dropped down to five games, while they also sit five games away from their yearly organizational goal of 95 total wins. I'm getting pretty excited for the playoffs to get under way, and have to admit that after the intensity of the Angels series last week, these games against the O's and Royals seem very much of the Junior Varsity variety. That said, the Sox can't let themselves be lulled into complacency and let things like their bats become sluggish.

This type of situation is actually ideal for the Sox, and is allowing them to rest those who'll need it (Iron Mike Lowell), and they can really line-up the work their pitching staff needs. For example, they could afford to have V-Mart catch Beckett last night, thus giving them some real game experience to assimilate to each other. If the Sox are battling for the Division or even Wild Card here they wouldn't be afforded this luxury. These are some of the benefits of being stuck in this end of season purgatory, and it really gives the Sox the best chance to win come October. With 11 games to go look to see who's getting playing time - and in particular who Tito's bringing in first off the bench. We already know that Joey Galloway Joey Gathright will be our speed, however who'll be our Kotsay this year, and will Casey Kotchman actually get meaningful AB's in the playoffs (I hope not)? Like everything time will tell, so embrace these meaningless games, as there's a plethora of intensity awaiting just over the horizon.

Comments

[Kris]

uh, joey gathright? as much as I'd love to see galloway stealing bags as opposed to dropping brady's passes, I think he's still playing foxborough...;)

[Derek Hixon]

Apparently the Novocaine DID go strait to my head this morning @ the dentist, doh :-)

Fixed and thank GOD Galloway's only sucking for the Patriots...

[Crusher]

Meaningless games? No no no no...if the Sox go on a tear and the Yanks go to sleep the Sox could win the division!
(yeah I know, ain't gonna happen but a guy can dream. Would love to hear what that blowhard Michael Kay would say about the wildcard slot if his team had to occupy it)

[Derek Hixon]

I've definitely given up on the Division awhile ago, it would of course be amazing to pull a miracle and and sweep them in the Bronx and then make up the other games, however I think those odds are literately set @ 0.01% - which I'm cool with, home field would be good but didn't need it in 2004 and if make the World Series we'll have it there @ least.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/ps_odds.php