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Red Sox Career Leaders in Post Season Wins

Brothers Who Played for the Red Sox

Red Sox Career HR Leaders at Fenway

For starters, Congrats to the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals who became the 10th Wild Card team in baseball history. In doing so they eliminated the Milwaukee Brewers for the second time in the playoffs adding fuel to their rivalry. Let me also say that I love the MLB WC which has saved baseball for many fans. The 1985 Mets may have won the title a year earlier, but at 98-64 in the pre-wild card days had to watch the playoffs with the 2nd best record in ALL of baseball. The 1993 Giants won 103 games, but finished a game behind the Braves in the N.L. West AND missed the playoffs entirely. So, yes I’m really glad the wild card exists. However, I’ve long felt the road needs to be a little tougher. In 17 seasons (and 34 wild card teams) ten such teams have made it to the World Series. Many experts claim it’s because the Wild Card teams are playing do-or-die games until the bitter end and they stay sharp. Incredibly, there have been four teams to go all the way from Wild Card to World Series Champs (1997 & 2003 Marlins, 2002 Angels, 2004 Red Sox), while there have only been four seasons where both Wild Card teams were both eliminated in the LDS (1995, 1998, 2001, 2009). Clearly the road isn’t that disadvantageous.
National League
2011 St. Louis Cardinals
2010 Atlanta Braves LDS 1-3
2009 Colorado Rockies LDS 1-3
2008 Milwaukee Brewers LDS 1-3
2007 Colorado Rockies WS 7-4
2006 L.A. Dodgers LDS 0-3
2005 Houston Astros WS 7-7
2004 Houston Astros LCS 6-6
2003 Florida Marlins WS 11-6
2002 San Francisco Giants WS 10-6
2001 St. Louis Cardinals LDS 2-3
2000 New York Mets WS 8-6
1999 New York Mets LCS 5-5
1998 Chicago Cubs LDS 0-3
1997 Florida Marlins WS 11-5
1996 L.A. Dodgers LDS 0-3
1995 Colorado Rockies LDS 1-3

Overall, the N.L. has produced seven Wild Card pennants and two World Series titles. In the N.L.D.S. the WC teams are 33-34. In the N.L.C.S. they are an astonishing 33-19. However, if you’re not named the Marlins, the N.L. Wild Card team often runs out of gas by Series time going 12-21 in the Fall Classic.

American League
2011 Tampa Bay Rays LDS 1-3
2010 New York Yankees LCS 5-4
2009 Boston Red Sox LDS 0-3
2008 Boston Red Sox LCS 6-5
2007 New York Yankees LDS 1-3
2006 Detroit Tigers WS 8-5
2005 Boston Red Sox LDS 0-3
2004 Boston Red Sox WS 11-3
2003 Boston Red Sox LCS 6-6
2002 Anaheim Angels WS 11-5
2001 Oakland A’s LDS 2-3
2000 Seattle Mariners LCS 5-4
1999 Boston Red Sox LCS 5-6
1998 Boston Red Sox LDS 1-3
1997 New York Yankees LDS 2-3
1996 Baltimore Orioles LCS 4-5
1995 New York Yankees LDS 2-3
As you can see the Wild Card serves as a perfect fall back plan for the Boston Red Sox and the rest of the A.L. East. The division has won 13 of the 17 A.L. Wild Cards. The Angels won the only All-Wild card World Series in 2002, starting a three year run in which the World Series winner was a Wild Card entrant.
In the A.L.D.S. the WC team is 37-31. When it comes to the A.L.C.S. they are 24-28 while going 9-7 when they advance to the World Series.

There is talk that a second Wild Card team will be added and the two teams would meet in a single elimination game. I like this scenario especially if its played close to the division series. That way the teams will exhaust a quality pitcher and have to travel before another series. I also think the best team should play the worst regardless of which division the teams are in. The World Series should not be determined by the all-star game it should not ever be given to a Wild Card team, unless they are playing another Wild Card team in the Series. The WC team should have as few home playoff games as possible and have extra incentive to NOT be the Wild Card winner

Spoiler alert to yankee fans…Mariano Rivera is a first ballot hall of famer and we will be replaced by a run of the mill, roller coaster reliever similar to the type the rest of the league has to suffer through…hats off to Mo a true anomoly in major league baseball

Posada Needs to Get a Clu!?

The Yanks took the first leg of the Subway series two games to one and didn’t even need Luis Castillo to drop the ball. While the Yankees had no answer to “Dickey, Dickey, Dickey” they had plenty vs. Big Pelf and the ‘Mazin Bullpen. Todays loss was overshadowed by Fred Wilpon calling out Beltran, Reyes, Wright in the New Yorker. While it seems likely big changes are in store for the Mets (Reyes to Giants? Beltran to Bosox?! K-Rod to Yankees!?!) the Yankees are heading back in the right direction after the Po’ Posada L6. Posada’s days might be numbered but the Grandyman has 16 homers and heas been a vital part of the Yanks attack. One team the Yankees won’t be playing in the 2011 playoffs is the Twins. The Cleveland Indians are knocking on the doors of 30 wins without CC and Cliff Lee. The Yankees have not had great success vs. the Tribe in the playoffs. They’ve been undone by the likes of Willie Mays Hayes and a Midge attack. If the Tribe keeps this up they will have a reason for the fans to forget about Lebron James.

Julio Franco has interviewed with Charlie Sheen about the role of Pedro Cerrano in the next Major League Movie

As the Red Sox start 1-7, many of the Daily Irabu 1st place predictions seem to be falling into place. The Pirates are ahead of schedule with a 5-4 record. It appears they might not need zombies after all to reach .500 for the first time since 1992. The Baltimore Orioles (6-2) have a 5 game lead over the aforementioned Red Sox and last years division winning Rays. The Cleveland Indians (6-2) & Kansas City Royals (5-3) have not convinced their fans to show up, but they appear ready to play in April. If the Nats (3-5), D-backs (3-4), and M’s (2-6) don’t turn it around soon, The Daily Irabu will not only look foolish but might have to start up a petition to revoke their token all-star.

The Good

Try to find this one on ebay I double dog dare you.

Kansas City Royals (circra 1980′s): Bo knows that if you poke fun at his royal blue one piece he may just as well snap you in half.

The "Good Guys" knew this was an upgrade over shorts.

Chicago White Sox: If the Cubs never won a World Series than the Sox never won a fashion show. That being said these cheesy softball-esque type jerseys that they sported during the Reagan Administration helped turn the ’70′s shorts experiment from a fender bender into a full fledged train wreck.

Even on Old-Timers Day the Pinstripes make you look slimmer.

New York Yankees: Pinstripe Pride, Dignity, and that old fashion winning tradition, oh and did you know that the interlocking NY is the number one fashion accessory among active hooligans and bad guys. I guess we can overlook that as long as it continues to make Jesse Barfield relevant after all these years.

The Bad

The Rays couldn't pay Boggs enough to wear this into Cooperstown?!

Tampa Bay Devil Rays: What can possibly be worse than sharing a horse with New York City’s finest? I suppose if one were to reach the 3000 hit milestone wearing this vintage D-Ray jersey we could have an argument.

J.R. Richard in Astro Digs you can see from Space!

Houston Astros: The Daily Irabu presents “How to tarnish a Hall of Famers aura in a few simple steps”. Google search NOLAN RYAN ASTROS.

No Hall of Famers were harmed in the making of those pants.

Cleveland Indians: Ironically the hats always took the fall.. btw nice pants Eck!

The Padres

Excuse me Mr. Winfield are you sure you want to go out there !??!

God Bless the U.S. but keep the camo off the diamond !

Hazing jumps the shark when Padre rookies show up dressed as Hooter staff. So I wonder which one of these lucky tools was the wingman !?