August 29, 200817 yr I ranked the American League Teams on a difficulty ranking of 1-28 based on Home/Road records 1 rays 49-19 home 2 red sox 43-18 home 3 wsox 46-22 home 4 twins 46-23 home 5 angels 40-25 road 6 angels 41-27 home 7 yankees 39-29 home 8 jays 37-29 home 9 indians 36-29 home 10 tigers 33-31 home 10 orioles 33-31 home 12 a's 35-33 home 13 rangers 33-33 home 14 rays 32-32 road 14 yankees 32-32 road 16 royals 29-29 home 17 rangers 33-36 road 18 red sox 34-38 road 19 jays 31-36 road 20 wsox 30-35 road 21 tigers 31-38 road 22 twins 29-36 road 23 orioles 30-39 road 24 indians 29-38 road 25 royals 27-38 road 26 a's 27-39 road 27 mariners 28-41 home 28 mariners 22-42 road So I broke down the remaining schedules based on the above difficulty rankings. For example: The White Sox play the redsox the next 3 games. Which is ranked #2 in difficulty so it would appear on their schedule as 2,2,2 for the next 3 games. White sox remaining schedule (29 games) 2 2 2 9 9 9 5 5 5 19 19 19 19 21 21 21 7 7 7 7 16 16 16 4 4 4 24 24 24 _________ 349 pts / 29 remaining games=12.0 next 9 games =5.3 last 20= 15.0 Twins Schedule (28 games) 12 12 12 8 8 8 21 21 21 25 25 25 10 10 10 9 9 9 1 1 1 1 20 20 20 25 25 25 ______ 394=14.0 next 9 games =123=13.6 last 19= 271=14.2 redsox schedule (29 games) 20 20 20 23 23 23 13 13 13 14 14 14 19 19 19 19 1 1 1 8 8 8 24 24 24 24 14 14 14 ________ 451= 15.5 So based on the above calculations, the toughest schedules in order would be: 1. White Sox 2. Twins 3. Red Sox I will be the first to admit the system is not perfect( you could argue the seperation between certain tiers are more difficult than others), but it is interesting to say the least. The fact that the White Sox,Twins and Red Sox have very similar Home/Road records make this more accurate. Also take note that the next 9 games for the White Sox looks to be the toughest portion of the remaining schedule. If they can get through the next 9 games they actually have a slightly easier road the rest of the way for the final 19/20.
August 29, 200817 yr It's crazy that the Angels are the only team in the AL with a winning road record...and they are 15 over .500 on the road! What are they doing that the rest of the league is not?
August 29, 200817 yr QUOTE (iamshack @ Aug 29, 2008 -> 08:31 AM) It's crazy that the Angels are the only team in the AL with a winning road record...and they are 15 over .500 on the road! What are they doing that the rest of the league is not? Have a stacked roster 1-25 and afford to have a guy making $12 Mil sit on the bench.
August 29, 200817 yr QUOTE (iamshack @ Aug 29, 2008 -> 07:31 AM) It's crazy that the Angels are the only team in the AL with a winning road record...and they are 15 over .500 on the road! What are they doing that the rest of the league is not? Winning on the road!
August 29, 200817 yr It's actually a little tougher than that though, because we play Cleveland 6 times, while Boston plays them 4 times and Minnesota plays them only 3 times. Cleveland is playing MUCH better than their record would indicate.
August 29, 200817 yr Well the Indians face the Mariners next, so hopefully the M's can beat up on them the way they beat up the Twins. Then we get a demoralized Cleveland....it could happen.
August 29, 200817 yr QUOTE (iamshack @ Aug 29, 2008 -> 06:31 AM) What are they doing that the rest of the league is not? having the best coach in the league certainly isn't hurting their dominance.
September 3, 200817 yr Author This bad stretch was very predictable. Our schedule gets slightly easier the rest of the way.
September 3, 200817 yr Not against Cleveland. There's alot of bad signs. Our guys aren't hitting and Ozzie has found it suitable to play AAA players right now over the guys who have gotten us this far.
September 3, 200817 yr QUOTE (rangercal @ Sep 2, 2008 -> 06:29 PM) This bad stretch was very predictable. Our schedule gets slightly easier the rest of the way. Seriously? Losing to one of the worst pitchers in baseball (Liz), then losing to a rookie (Bowden), and then losing a series (probably) to Cleveland was predictable?
September 3, 200817 yr QUOTE (rangercal @ Sep 2, 2008 -> 06:29 PM) This bad stretch was very predictable. Our schedule gets slightly easier the rest of the way. Why dont you gander for a minute at the numbers the sox put up against Friday nights starting pitcher Weaver. Think Johan but better. Thats how he pitches against us. Then Lackey. And then we get Halladay next week. I see easy driving ahead.
September 3, 200817 yr Author QUOTE (whitesoxbrian @ Sep 2, 2008 -> 09:30 PM) Seriously? Losing to one of the worst pitchers in baseball (Liz), then losing to a rookie (Bowden), and then losing a series (probably) to Cleveland was predictable? not sure what you thought I said. But I meant the stretch starting last Friday (vs Boston) as mentioned in the first post.
September 3, 200817 yr Author QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Sep 2, 2008 -> 10:00 PM) Why dont you gander for a minute at the numbers the sox put up against Friday nights starting pitcher Weaver. Think Johan but better. Thats how he pitches against us. Then Lackey. And then we get Halladay next week. I see easy driving ahead. The fact that the Angels have the best road team in Baseball almost throws the "home field advantage" out the window. I would be ecstatic taking 2/3 from the angels and a split from the blue jays. 7 of our remaining games are against the bitter Tigers and Indians looking to play spoiler. The Yankee series should be fun. I'm sure they are going to just roll over during their 2nd to last series before Yankee Stadium is torn down. I am just hoping we don't repeat 2003 all over again.
September 3, 200817 yr QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Sep 2, 2008 -> 06:31 PM) Not against Cleveland. There's alot of bad signs. Our guys aren't hitting and Ozzie has found it suitable to play AAA players right now over the guys who have gotten us this far. Maybe the players are a little more beat up than the team has been admitting to. I don't think Ozzie would not start them over "the guys who got us here" without a reason.
September 3, 200817 yr I think its safe to say Boston takes the Wild Card. The winner of central will come down to that series in Minnesota... Until then it would be nice to have a 1 or 2 game lead heading into that.
September 3, 200817 yr QUOTE (whitesoxbrian @ Sep 2, 2008 -> 07:30 PM) Seriously? Losing to one of the worst pitchers in baseball (Liz), then losing to a rookie (Bowden), and then losing a series (probably) to Cleveland was predictable? Don't think no one noticed that you didn't mention Carmona and Lee when you mentioned Cleveland...
September 3, 200817 yr QUOTE (iamshack @ Aug 29, 2008 -> 01:31 PM) It's crazy that the Angels are the only team in the AL with a winning road record...and they are 15 over .500 on the road! What are they doing that the rest of the league is not? Playing like winners who are on a mission
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