A quick glance at MLB standings

[Atomic1]

My quick glance at the MLB standings shows all 5 teams in the AL-East with winning records. After that awful April, the last place Red Sox are only 2 1/2 games back and two games over .500. I don't think it's going to happen but it would be really fun to have a 5 team pennant race.

The NL and AL BEAST. Both divisions with winning records from top to bottom and only a few games separating first and last. Pretty amazing how the East is just destroying the rest of baseball.

In the woulda-coulda-should HAVE department , if the Red Sox had a closer, they coulda been a contenda.........

[XtremeJibber2001]

My quick glance at the MLB standings shows all 5 teams in the AL-East with winning records. After that awful April, the last place Red Sox are only 2 1/2 games back and two games over .500. I don't think it's going to happen but it would be really fun to have a 5 team pennant race.

The NL and AL BEAST. Both divisions with winning records from top to bottom and only a few games separating first and last. Pretty amazing how the East is just destroying the rest of baseball.

In the woulda-coulda-should HAVE department , if the Red Sox had a closer, they coulda been a contenda.........

Pap at 14 for 14 is looking pretty good about now, isn't he? His line is solid, too.

[Geoff]

I never imagined I'd say this but Alfredo Aceves is doing pretty well as a the Red Sox closer. Other than that batting practice pitch 2 run HR he gave up to Tampa last week, he's gotten the job done for the last month. Last year early in the season, I thought he was going to kill somebody. He was all over the place and hitting batters. Kind of ironic that Marlon Byrd is now a team mate after Aceves hit him in the face pitching against the Cubs last year. The guy's a head case but he appears to be settled in to the role. No telling if the wheels will fall off, though.

[XtremeJibber2001]

I never imagined I'd say this but Alfredo Aceves is doing pretty well as a the Red Sox closer. Other than that batting practice pitch 2 run HR he gave up to Tampa last week, he's gotten the job done for the last month. Last year early in the season, I thought he was going to kill somebody. He was all over the place and hitting batters. Kind of ironic that Marlon Byrd is now a team mate after Aceves hit him in the face pitching against the Cubs last year. The guy's a head case but he appears to be settled in to the role. No telling if the wheels will fall off, though.

His line tells a different story - 4.91 ERA, gives up nearly a hit in each inning pitched and a walk in every other inning, he's hit 3 batters in 25 innings pitched. He does strike out quite a few batters though, but throwing a lot of strikes isn't always what you want in a closer. Luckily, he hasn't given up many HR's

[Geoff]

I never imagined I'd say this but Alfredo Aceves is doing pretty well as a the Red Sox closer. Other than that batting practice pitch 2 run HR he gave up to Tampa last week, he's gotten the job done for the last month. Last year early in the season, I thought he was going to kill somebody. He was all over the place and hitting batters. Kind of ironic that Marlon Byrd is now a team mate after Aceves hit him in the face pitching against the Cubs last year. The guy's a head case but he appears to be settled in to the role. No telling if the wheels will fall off, though.

His line tells a different story - 4.91 ERA, gives up nearly a hit in each inning pitched and a walk in every other inning, he's hit 3 batters in 25 innings pitched. He does strike out quite a few batters though, but throwing a lot of strikes isn't always what you want in a closer. Luckily, he hasn't given up many HR's

You can't use ERA with a closer. The only thing you can go by is his recent history with save opportunities. Other than the Tampa game, Aceves had a great May with no blown saves. In April, Aceves was a putrid as the rest of the Red Sox pitching staff and got shelled multiple times. The guy is a head case so the wheels could come off at any moment but he's been getting the job done since the Sox started winning.

[XtremeJibber2001]

I never imagined I'd say this but Alfredo Aceves is doing pretty well as a the Red Sox closer. Other than that batting practice pitch 2 run HR he gave up to Tampa last week, he's gotten the job done for the last month. Last year early in the season, I thought he was going to kill somebody. He was all over the place and hitting batters. Kind of ironic that Marlon Byrd is now a team mate after Aceves hit him in the face pitching against the Cubs last year. The guy's a head case but he appears to be settled in to the role. No telling if the wheels will fall off, though.

His line tells a different story - 4.91 ERA, gives up nearly a hit in each inning pitched and a walk in every other inning, he's hit 3 batters in 25 innings pitched. He does strike out quite a few batters though, but throwing a lot of strikes isn't always what you want in a closer. Luckily, he hasn't given up many HR's

You can't use ERA with a closer. The only thing you can go by is his recent history with save opportunities. Other than the Tampa game, Aceves had a great May with no blown saves. In April, Aceves was a putrid as the rest of the Red Sox pitching staff and got shelled multiple times. The guy is a head case so the wheels could come off at any moment but he's been getting the job done since the Sox started winning.

I agree saves is the most important statistic and he's 13-3 in 16 opportunities. He's blowing a save 20% of the time, which isn't terrible/inexcusable, but like you said all things considered you have to be pretty pleased. Especially since he's costing Boston $1.2M compared to the $11M Pap is costing Philly.

As for ERA - I think it's still important for a closer. If Aceves has a 1.91 ERA there's a good chance he'd be 16 for 16 in save opportunities.

[Geoff]

I agree saves is the most important statistic and he's 13-3 in 16 opportunities. He's blowing a save 20% of the time, which isn't terrible/inexcusable, but like you said all things considered you have to be pretty pleased. Especially since he's costing Boston $1.2M compared to the $11M Pap is costing Philly.

As for ERA - I think it's still important for a closer. If Aceves has a 1.91 ERA there's a good chance he'd be 16 for 16 in save opportunities.

I think you miss the point. The Red Sox traded Josh Reddick and some prospects to Oakland for Andrew Bailey to be their closer. He had thumb surgery in early April. Aceves was never slated for the closer role. He was their spot starter, long reliever, rubber armed pitch several days in a row guy.

When you only pitch an inning at a time, getting shelled in 3 or 4 outings in April is going to make your ERA look crappy for months.

[XtremeJibber2001]

I agree saves is the most important statistic and he's 13-3 in 16 opportunities. He's blowing a save 20% of the time, which isn't terrible/inexcusable, but like you said all things considered you have to be pretty pleased. Especially since he's costing Boston $1.2M compared to the $11M Pap is costing Philly.

As for ERA - I think it's still important for a closer. If Aceves has a 1.91 ERA there's a good chance he'd be 16 for 16 in save opportunities.

I think you miss the point. The Red Sox traded Josh Reddick and some prospects to Oakland for Andrew Bailey to be their closer. He had thumb surgery in early April. Aceves was never slated for the closer role. He was their spot starter, long reliever, rubber armed pitch several days in a row guy.

When you only pitch an inning at a time, getting shelled in 3 or 4 outings in April is going to make your ERA look crappy for months.

You're right. I didn't know the backgroung to Aceves placement as starter.

As for the 3 or 4 outings in April, we all know come late September 3 or 4 wins can be the difference between October baseball and golf. Even though they're April, every game is important, IMHO.

[Bubba]

Even though they're April, every game is important, IMHO.

I'll let you argue this point with Atomic1. He doesn't appear to be able to grasp mathematical certainties.

[Atomic1]

Even though they're April, every game is important, IMHO.

I'll let you argue this point with Atomic1. He doesn't appear to be able to grasp mathematical certainties.

Cont rear there my dear............ I know how it works and realize the difference between making the playoffs or not could be a percentage point come Sept., but what I have learned in all my years is that how you play in the 2nd half of the season and down the stretch is what counts. How many teams have backed into the playoffs and then done anything....exactly. I've seen my share of pretenders and know the difference between a pretender or contender .
You have to have the horses to make the run and win- it or furgetaboutit.

[XtremeJibber2001]

Even though they're April, every game is important, IMHO.

I'll let you argue this point with Atomic1. He doesn't appear to be able to grasp mathematical certainties.

Cont rear there my dear............ I know how it works and realize the difference between making the playoffs or not could be a percentage point come Sept., but what I have learned in all my years is that how you play in the 2nd half of the season and down the stretch is what counts. How many teams have backed into the playoffs and then done anything....exactly. I've seen my share of pretenders and know the difference between a pretender or contender .
You have to have the horses to make the run and win- it or furgetaboutit.

The 2008 Philadelphia Phillies?

[Atomic1]

Jib-jab.. REALLY..are you sure that you are really a Phillies fan ? The Phillies finished the 2008 season going 13-3 for a final record of 92-70 and the best road record in baseball . AND by the way, Thanks for making my point !.......

[XtremeJibber2001]

Jib-jab.. REALLY..are you sure that you are really a Phillies fan ? The Phillies finished the 2008 season going 13-3 for a final record of 92-70 and the best road record in baseball . AND by the way, Thanks for making my point !.......

The Mets finished 2008 with an 89-73 record. In September the Mets lead the NL East by 3.5 games with 17 left to play. They went 7-10 down the stretch and lost the NL East to the Phillies by 3 games. If the Mets kept playing the way they did all season they would have won the NL East and there's a good chance, despite the Phillies going 13-3 down the stretch , that the Phillies would not have made the playoffs.

My point is the Phillies had to rely on a Mets collapse to get into the playoffs. That's what I consider backing into the playoffs.

[Stormchaser]

Jib-jab.. REALLY..are you sure that you are really a Phillies fan ? The Phillies finished the 2008 season going 13-3 for a final record of 92-70 and the best road record in baseball . AND by the way, Thanks for making my point !.......

The Mets finished 2008 with an 89-73 record. In September the Mets lead the NL East by 3.5 games with 17 left to play. They went 7-10 down the stretch and lost the NL East to the Phillies by 3 games. If the Mets kept playing the way they did all season they would have won the NL East and there's a good chance, despite the Phillies going 13-3 down the stretch , that the Phillies would not have made the playoffs.

My point is the Phillies had to rely on a Mets collapse to get into the playoffs. That's what I consider backing into the playoffs.

I think if the Mets still made it that season, that would be backing into the playoffs. The Phillies got in with good play and help.

[Geoff]

And a quick glance at MLB standings this morning has the Red Sox finally exiting last place, 3 games over .500, and 2 games back in the division race. Time to put on the suits and pink hats.