Could be but the fact that they really weren't seemingly in it until the end makes me think they stretched their budget far as possible and see if it would work. It did.
Sox are not relevant enough to be dragged by the national media. Even on ESPN's roundtable on Machado, they asked everyone the biggest loser of Manny signing with the Padres. Not one person said the Sox.
Who do you think was doing the leaking....it certainly wasnt the Padres. Lozano went back to the Sox and Phils. Sounds like both knew what had to be done but didnt pull the trigger for whatever reason.
The #firegarpax billboard didnt exactly achieve that goal but it did get a bunch of local and national headlines. I'd love to see something stupidly funny like that in Bridgeport.
19-16 would get them in. Anything less would be tough. I could see an argument at 18-17 with all the good wins theyd have. Going to be unlikely they get there regardless.