And Earl, I wrote a post lauding GYS, and the link on my site, and I ran the standings you posted. I hope I was not out of line, and if I was, PLEASE let me know. I mean that...Peter
Thanks for putting this together Earl. I was wondering the same thing myself this morning. We thought the Mets were the proof in the pudding. Who would have thought it's the D-rays.
Sox against Baltimore...8-1 Sox against D-Rays...7-5 That's 15-6 against the "weak" teams in the division.
Sox v. Yankees...5-5 Sox v. Toronto...4-7 (this is the three game difference).
That's 24-18 in the division...
10-11 outside the division. Their opponents? Detroit (2-1), Cleveland (1-2), Texas (4-4) , Minnesota (0-3), and Seattle (3-1). All of these teams (with maybe the exception of Cleveland are in contention).
The Jays? 7-5 v the D-Rays 8-5 v the Orioles 15-10 against the "weak"
2-3 v the Yankees That's 17-13 division.
Outside? 15-10...they've played the White Sox (3-3), Twins (2-1), A's (4-2), Angels (5-2), Tigers (1-2). BUT...they opened the year against the Twins (when they sucked), the Angels aren't even better than the Mariners, yet, and their 6 against the A's all came by the second week of May (when the A's were weak, too).
The Yankees? 4-2 v. Baltimore 4-1 v. Tampa Bay 8-3 against the "weak" teams...Unfortunately for the Sox this means the Yankees have a ton of games against these two in the second half...
5-5 v. Red Sox 3-2 v. Toronto
In the division...16-10
Outside the division...(15-14) Oakland (3-3), Angels (1-2), KC (5-1), Twins (1-2), Texas (5-2), Tigers (3-1), Cleveland (2-3)...5 wins against the ROYALS...
So, what's my point? That these numbers are very close. You win divisions by beating your division opponents. Those games (*because of the imbalanced schedule) count more. If the Sox continue to win against division foes, and hold their own (.500) outside the division, they should take the East...
Wow, that's wild. Thanks for doing that - I guess I didn't realize how well the Sox do against bad teams: 32-10 against BAL, TAM, CLE, and the entire NL East.
Of course that means they're 18-21 against .500 and better teams. And as you pointed out, postseason success relies on beating the good teams as well.
WOW. I knew this, but to see it in print, right in front of my face. Scary. Let's turn it around tonight as we ready for the ChiSox.
ReplyDeleteAnd Earl, I wrote a post lauding GYS, and the link on my site, and I ran the standings you posted. I hope I was not out of line, and if I was, PLEASE let me know. I mean that...Peter
ReplyDeleteFor the amount of games played, that is pretty even. It is beating up on the little guys that wins divisions.
ReplyDeleteAs for the post-season???
It is beating up on the little guys that wins divisions.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. Not getting swept by the Devil Rays would be a good first step...
Thanks for putting this together Earl. I was wondering the same thing myself this morning. We thought the Mets were the proof in the pudding. Who would have thought it's the D-rays.
ReplyDeleteSox against Baltimore...8-1
ReplyDeleteSox against D-Rays...7-5
That's 15-6 against the "weak" teams in the division.
Sox v. Yankees...5-5
Sox v. Toronto...4-7 (this is the three game difference).
That's 24-18 in the division...
10-11 outside the division. Their opponents? Detroit (2-1), Cleveland (1-2), Texas (4-4) , Minnesota (0-3), and Seattle (3-1). All of these teams (with maybe the exception of Cleveland are in contention).
The Jays?
7-5 v the D-Rays
8-5 v the Orioles
15-10 against the "weak"
2-3 v the Yankees
That's 17-13 division.
Outside? 15-10...they've played the White Sox (3-3), Twins (2-1), A's (4-2), Angels (5-2), Tigers (1-2).
BUT...they opened the year against the Twins (when they sucked), the Angels aren't even better than the Mariners, yet, and their 6 against the A's all came by the second week of May (when the A's were weak, too).
The Yankees?
4-2 v. Baltimore
4-1 v. Tampa Bay
8-3 against the "weak" teams...Unfortunately for the Sox this means the Yankees have a ton of games against these two in the second half...
5-5 v. Red Sox
3-2 v. Toronto
In the division...16-10
Outside the division...(15-14)
Oakland (3-3), Angels (1-2), KC (5-1), Twins (1-2), Texas (5-2), Tigers (3-1), Cleveland (2-3)...5 wins against the ROYALS...
So, what's my point? That these numbers are very close. You win divisions by beating your division opponents. Those games (*because of the imbalanced schedule) count more. If the Sox continue to win against division foes, and hold their own (.500) outside the division, they should take the East...
Oops...sorry...I blew it with the Blue Jays division stats...It should read:
ReplyDeleteThe Jays?
7-5 v the D-Rays
8-5 v the Orioles
15-10 against the "weak"
2-3 v the Yankees
7-4 v the Sox
That's 24-17 division, but with more games against the weaker opponents.
Wow, that's wild. Thanks for doing that - I guess I didn't realize how well the Sox do against bad teams: 32-10 against BAL, TAM, CLE, and the entire NL East.
ReplyDeleteOf course that means they're 18-21 against .500 and better teams. And as you pointed out, postseason success relies on beating the good teams as well.
Sweet analysis!
ReplyDeleteWe need to kick some central AL-Ass this weekend. We can still split the series with Tampa and stealing 2 this weekend would be awesome.
I would hate to lose all the momentum we gained from last weeks tear through the NL.
No such luck. 7-6 against the D-Rays.
ReplyDeleteHmmm.... this is annoying. Although Crawford stealing home is kind of cool.
ReplyDelete