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Post by bluehen on Oct 31, 2018 13:45:24 GMT
I say...the Boston Red Sox have spoken
Anybody make it through that 18 inning game 3 ?
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Post by doc on Oct 31, 2018 14:08:27 GMT
119-57, 62 games over .500 for the regular and post seasons. I couldn't believe they were underdogs against both the Yankees and Astros - they clearly were the best team from start to finish. I actually think the doubts about them in the ALDS and ALCS series probably provided extra incentive to finish the whole thing off.
In contrast, the 1975 Cincinnati Reds - who I think is the best team I've ever seen - went 115-57 for the year, sweeping the NLCS and beating the Red Sox in 7 in the World Series; obviously there was no divisional series back then and the championship series was best of 5. They followed up that season by going 109-60 in '76; sweeping both the playoffs and World Series. That's 224-117 over 2 seasons.
It will be interesting to see what the Sox can do for an encore - I don't see them losing any of the key players and they're relatively young. Can they stay hungry? The one thing i'll say that plays in their favor - they put the ball in play - if you hit the ball, you're dangerous!
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Post by bluehen on Oct 31, 2018 15:27:33 GMT
Very flattering for the RED SOX to be compared with the legendary 'big red machine'
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Post by doc on Oct 31, 2018 17:50:33 GMT
Very flattering for the RED SOX to be compared with the legendary 'big red machine' The Big Red Machine was quite a team - they had great leadership and while there were a few with egos the size of a house, they kept them in check for the betterment of the team. There were 4 Hall of Famers (Perez, Bench, Morgan and Sparky Anderson), 2 that should be in the HOF - Rose and Concepcion and 'bit' players like George Foster, Ken Griffey and Cesar Geronimo (Griffey hit .300, Foster won an MVP award in '77 after finishing 2nd in '76 and Geronimo won 4 consecutive gold glove awards from '74-'77). In '75 they had 3 of the top 5 in MVP voting and in '76 they had 4 of the top 8 - Joe Morgan won both years. I was spoiled as a kid watching the Reds - due to free agency you'll never see another team quite like the Big Red Machine. And the won all those games with a rotation of Don Gullett, Gary Nolan, Jack Billingham, Freddie Norman and Pat Zachary. Pretty ordinary names but check out their ERA's - all under 4.00 - they'd get paid $150 million today. |
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Post by bluehen on Oct 31, 2018 19:41:45 GMT
Bob Howsam , the Red's GM, was the chief engineer of that dynasty. His trades firmed up the great line up and pitching staff. The Reds also looked good in that he had strict codes for wearing their uniforms correctly . He even represented the team at owners meetings. This guy, previously, was also very instrumental in starting the American Football League.
IMO the Red Sox need about 3-4 more consecutive dominant seasons and then can join the all time elite dynasty club :
96-03 Yankees 06-10 Cubs 70-79 Reds 47-56 Dodgers 42-46 Cardinals 72-75 A's
49-53 Yankees
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