Question regarding playoffs

[thomas35forever]

Although Cleveland has cut into the Sox's lead a bit recently, it still would take a monumental collapse for the playoffs not to be in the cards. That said, I know a lot of you still have reservations about the team's troubles to beat playoff-bound teams, especially on the road. Here's my question: Knowing what we know now and assuming little if anything changes about this team's ability to beat said teams, are you still going to be excited to watch this team go to the playoffs, or will you not be able to do it because it appears the team's postseason stay will be short?

[Lipman 1]

Although Cleveland has cut into the Sox's lead a bit recently, it still would take a monumental collapse for the playoffs not to be in the cards. That said, I know a lot of you still have reservations about the team's troubles to beat playoff-bound teams, especially on the road. Here's my question: Knowing what we know now and assuming little if anything changes about this team's ability to beat said teams, are you still going to be excited to watch this team go to the playoffs, or will you not be able to do it because it appears the team's postseason stay will be short?

You watch and hope the baseball gods have mercy. Maybe next season if they play a season and if the Sox can limit injuries they'll have a real shot at better consistency against any club at home or on the road.

But even a quick four and out does nothing to change the fact they will have made the postseason in consecutive years for the first time in 120 years. It would be a disappointment though.

[34rancher]

I have three playoff worries:
1. Will we be healthy and hitting well?
2. Will the starters be sharp?
3. Can we avoid that absolute joke of a turf in Tampa? That team is designed to chop the ball and take advantage of the crazy grease the ball slides across when it's on that turf. And considering we have played 3 games on turf in 2 years now, we are not really ready for that kind of surface.

Otherwise, I think other teams should be worried about us. When 100% healthy and hitting well, this team will scare a lot of people.

[Zakath]

I think you always have to be excited when your team makes the playoffs, and in short series, who knows? Coming in with low expectations can sometimes be a blessing.

[34rancher]

I am also concerned that we just had to play in Florida and still have to play 3 in Texas. It is no secret that Covid has been going nuts in those two places. I just hope none of our players were real close with Nelson Cruz who is out for a week with a positive test.

[Lipman 1]

I have three playoff worries:
1. Will we be healthy and hitting well?
2. Will the starters be sharp?
3. Can we avoid that absolute joke of a turf in Tampa? That team is designed to chop the ball and take advantage of the crazy grease the ball slides across when it's on that turf. And considering we have played 3 games on turf in 2 years now, we are not really ready for that kind of surface.

Otherwise, I think other teams should be worried about us. When 100% healthy and hitting well, this team will scare a lot of people.

To piggyback off your three, here's mine in no particular order:

The Sox won't have any type of home field advantage at least unless there are some upsets elsewhere.

Somebody else will get seriously hurt, a key player for instance, not a bench warmer.

This "great" bullpen will somehow, someway find a way to piss away a game or two in a short series and will kill their chances.

[thomas35forever]

You watch and hope the baseball gods have mercy. Maybe next season if they play a season and if the Sox can limit injuries they'll have a real shot at better consistency against any club at home or on the road.

But even a quick four and out does nothing to change the fact they will have made the postseason in consecutive years for the first time in 120 years. It would be a disappointment though.

That's another question I have. Do you really believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that a canceled 2022 season caused by labor issues is an inevitability?

[HomeFish]

I'm far more worried about the 2022 regular season than I am about the 2021 playoffs. Cleveland and Minnesota aren't gonna be this bad again, and Detroit is on the rise. And I don't see White Sox ownership signing off on a big offensive upgrade for this team.

[Chez]

[longtimefan]

I don't agree with Kenny Williams often but on this I do. The key is to get into the playoffs. Every team has their hot spans and cold spans. What you have to do is be physically and mentally prepared for the playoffs. Then hope you are hotter (playing better ball) than your opponents.

[ChiTownTrojan]

I don't agree with Kenny Williams often but on this I do. The key is to get into the playoffs. Every team has their hot spans and cold spans. What you have to do is be physically and mentally prepared for the playoffs. Then hope you are hotter (playing better ball) than your opponents.

100%. Plenty of Wild Card teams have gone on to a deep postseason run. La Russa knows this first hand from his days with the Cardinals.

[Lipman 1]

That's another question I have. Do you really believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that a canceled 2022 season caused by labor issues is an inevitability?

Thomas: In a normal, rational world neither the owners nor the players especially after COVID, would dare run that risk. However neither side, particularly the owners, have been "rational" in labor negotiations for decades.

I think the odds are very small an entire season is cancelled. VERY small. I DO think however either a lockout or a player strike wiping out at least a part of the season has a good chance of happening.

I base this on comments from some players going back to last year talking about a strike, the owners recent tax/floor proposal which will go exactly nowhere with the union and the actions of the owners the past few years which has seen the average player salary go down for the past three seasons, the manipulation of service time and the fact that Forbes among others has published stories saying even with COVID, MLB has been making record profits.

[LITTLE NELL]

100%. Plenty of Wild Card teams have gone on to a deep postseason run. La Russa knows this first hand from his days with the Cardinals.

The 1997 and 2003 Marlins were both Wild Card teams and won the World Series. The 2004 World Series champion Red Sox were also a WC team. There might have been more but the Marlins and Red Sox are the ones I remember.

[ChiTownTrojan]

The 1997 and 2003 Marlins were both Wild Card teams and won the World Series. The 2004 World Series champion Red Sox were also a WC team. There might have been more but the Marlins and Red Sox are the ones I remember.

La Russa did it with the Cardinals in 2011. Also the 2019 Nationals and 2014 Giants.