Wild Card It Is

Well even with another great win by the Sox last night, with end of August pickup Mark Kotsay driving in the winning run and the bullpen actually holding on for the win, the Sox look destined to be the Wild Card. The Ray’s magic number is one at this point, so like I said yesterday the Sox should be resting guys and getting the rotation set for the playoffs.

My thought is that you go Beckett, Dice-K (undefeated on the road), and Lester. That’s it. A three man rotation. With the Sox having questions marks with Wakefield and Byrd I say the team goes with an 10 or 11 man pitching staff and have the extra bats off the bench. With all the days off in between games and days off for TV and the other playoff games, the three man rotation works in the ALDS.

Should the Sox make the ALCS, then they can go to a four man rotation, hopefully after a sweep so they can line up their rotation again. I know I wrote in this column that I fear going to Anaheim, but with Beckett leading the charge against whoever the Angels throw gives me confidence. Beckett is plain nasty in the post season. With Dice-K undefeated on the road, that could line up for a Sox sweep pitching Lester in game three at Fenway.

I say they leave Timlin at home. Even though he’s a veteran, who I’ve heard is a great leader in the bullpen, we all know his struggles and almost 6.00 ERA on the season. I also say that JD Drew is left off the ALDS roster unless you go with the short pitching staff and can waste a roster spot. If he shows this weekend that he’s ready to play, he gets a spot. If the team leaves Wake off the roster, it’s another slap in the face for the team’s longest serving member, but that will make back up catcher interesting. Ross and Cash both suck, so why not put Ross on the roster if Wake’s left off? Just a thought.

Anyways, this will be interesting to see how the team plays out the string, getting guys rest, setting up the rotation, and prepping for a trip out west. I don’t think we should see too many shockers when the playoff rosters come out. We’ll see soon enough. All I ask is that the MLB schedule makers don’t have a 1PM game in Anaheim. 4PM is perfect out West. Keep the Sox fans in Prime Time, Fuckers!