The current meme out of RSN is that they're losing games because they're resting for the playoffs but that's a partial truth at best.
Matsuzaka's had one start pushed back and Okajima's been shelved for awhile, but that's it. Youkilis and Manny are hurt. Everyone else is playing. If they were really resting people, the one who needs it the most, Ortiz, would sit a few games. Also, I think Okajima's troubles are more to the fact that he's a bad pitcher, rather than a good one that's overworked.
The sox are losing because their bullpen is playing like shit and their offense is just not good without Manny in it.
Resting players does not cause Gagne to give up 4 runs, or for Papelbon to blow it twice in the last week.
Sox fans are now acting like none of this matters. (not body88 - in fact, for future reference, all my tirades at RSN exlcude body88, except when specified). For a team with such drastic home/away splits, you'd think they'd be more concerned about losing home field advantage.
The Yankees are actually resting and setting up for the playoffs as well, yet they continue to win. They have a six man roatation, the Joba rules are still in place, and they've been rotating Matsui/Damon/Gimabi/Melky etc every few days.
Of course, anything can happen come playoff time, but if the sox somehow manage to blow a 14.5 game division lead, it's still pretty significant.
Sox now have TB while the Yankees play four against Toronto. In theory, the sox should be able to add a game or two their 1.5 lead.
