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September 14, 2005
The Five Spot
On Sunday, I said that the Yankees could only afford to lose five more times this year. Today, I'm even more convinced of it.
On August 14th of this season, the Red Sox caught a break on a rainout. Since that time, they've played to the clip of a 16-13 record. That's .552 baseball.
Let us assume that Boston continues to play .552 baseball for the rest of their season. That would lead them to an overall record of 94-68 for the year.
Given the Yankees current record, New York would need to go 14-5 in their remaining games to pass the Red Sox. Can this be done?
If the Yankees can sweep the Devil Rays, by winning the next two games, then this would allow them to have one game lost in each of their next five series (@ Toronto, the O's and Jays at NY, and then @ Baltimore, and @ Boston).
The big stepping stone here is that the two series with the O's are four-game sets - and, it's hard to win a four-game series. They're like what Jim Kaat always says about doubleheaders: "They're hard to win, easy to lose, and most of the time, you split."
But, it is possible that the Yankees could win 14 of their next 19. And, if they do, then a .750-finish in their last 20 games would make up for the 9-11 start that they had in their first 20 games of the season, in my opinion.
The plan is simple: Sweep Tampa Bay and then win every series that you have left to play. And, if you cannot sweep the Devil Rays, then they need to get another sweep somewhere in those other five series - preferably before the last one in Fenway.
It should be fun.
Posted by Steve Lombardi at September 14, 2005 10:42 AM
Comments
I'd like to see one game out, with three to play @ Fenway.
If that happens, I'm taking the Fung-Wah bus, and spending a weekend in Boston
Posted by: Raf at September 14, 2005 11:24 AM