Hello and happy Tuesday, folks. Hope you enjoyed your holiday.
Today’s a regular day, and it’s one where our beloved Red Sox take on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of California of the United States of North America of Planet Earth. First pitch at Fenway is scheduled for 6:45 p.m.
Here’s a question for ya, as we now sit on the brink of officially avoiding a losing season while maintaining a strong hold on a wild card spot: Where is the line between resting players ahead of postseason play and pushing for better playoff positioning?
We’re technically two games behind the Yankees as things currently stand, but that’s effectively a three-game deficit since New York holds the tiebreaker over us. Still, that’s not an insurmountable lead with just over two weeks to go in the regular season. Should the Sox put more chips on the table to contest for the top wild card seed, thus the right to host a three-game series?
As tempting as that is, the guys are probably gassed. Sure, everyone in baseball is tired after nearly 150 games, but there’s something to be said for getting fully revved up for do-or-die time, even if it means that you have to go on the road for the wild card series. Guys like Ceddy and Contreras are already on the IL, while someone such as Caleb Durbin could maybe benefit from a few extra off days.
Maybe some more consistent time off will do the clubhouse some good. On the other hand, you don’t want the guys to get rusty. On the other other hand, the schedule in front of the Sox in the coming days—paging the Angels and Royals—does not exactly feature the greatest teams the sport has ever seen. Perhaps that gives Chad Tracy a chance to get guys off of their feet. On the other other other hand, you have to respect every opponent in front of you. On the other other other other hand, Baseball Reference has us at a damn near lock to qualify for the playoffs with 17 games to go, competition be damned. On the other other other other OTHER hand, do you really want to mock the almighty Baseball Gods by tempting fate?
Well……..that’s all for me to ask and for you to answer in the comments below.
Be good to each other and go Sox.
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