Most Challenging Stretch of the Year

[SilentJames]

The next two weeks are the most challenging of the year so far. Four in Toronto, Three in Boston, three against Toronto at home.

10 games against the closest and most direct competition in the East.

I will take 5-5, what say you?

[Frobby]

Yes, very challenging, especially with Manny likely to miss some of those games. I would take 5-5 as well considering 7 of the 10 on the road and Manny likely being out for some of it. But I'm hoping we can start off on a winning foot tonight and build from there. If we could come out 6-4 or better, I'd see that as a harbinger that this team is playoff material.

[mskrulz]

The next two weeks are the most challenging of the year so far. Four in Toronto, Three in Boston, three against Toronto at home.

10 games against the closest and most direct competition in the East.

I will take 5-5, what say you?

I 100 percent would take 5-5 and even would be okay with 4-6 to be honest. Anything above 5-5 tells me that we are a strong contender and will be there until the end.

[TouchemAll]

The next two weeks are the most challenging of the year so far. Four in Toronto, Three in Boston, three against Toronto at home.

10 games against the closest and most direct competition in the East.

I will take 5-5, what say you?

Yea I am in with that.

[MagicBird]

Yes, very challenging, especially with Manny likely to miss some of those games. I would take 5-5 as well considering 7 of the 10 on the road and Manny likely being out for some of it. But I'm hoping we can start off on a winning foot tonight and build from there. If we could come out 6-4 or better, I'd see that as a harbinger that this team is playoff material.

Isnt it likely that Manny would appeal thus being able to still play. I would think they appeal and hope to get Hardy back before Manny serves any time.

[Aristotelian]

I agree, we seem to have done our best against weaker opponents (MIN, LAA, NYY, TB, DET) but struggled against better teams. CLE, KC, and the first series against TOR and BOS were good wins, but both TOR and BOS are different teams now. We were lucky to get a split the last against BOS, and we looked bad against SEA, TEX, and HOU, and blew a chance to win the series vs CHW. Right now we are much better than expected, certainly in the playoff hunt, but we have yet to prove we can beat good teams consistently.

6-4 or better during this stretch would be very good. 4-6 would be disappointing. 3-7 would be alarming. 1-9 or 0-10 would be a disaster.

[Frobby]

Isnt it likely that Manny would appeal thus being able to still play. I would think they appeal and hope to get Hardy back before Manny serves any time.

I don't think the appeals take long. I'm assuming the penalty is handed down in the next day or so, Manny appeals, it is heard on Monday when the O's have an off-day, and a decision made on Tuesday. I think that's the likely scenario.

[25 Nuggets]

The seven games against Toronto are big. Bigger than the interlude at Boston atm, I believe. Go say 5-2 against Toronto and they get buried beneath the top two teams.

The Blue Jays are not performing at all as advertised. Their team OPS+ is 95. This despite six of their active position players hitting 117 or better. The lineup is feast or famine and I'm unsure who is a threat and who isn't. Who'd have thought the Jays would be pitching much better than they hit?

[MagicBird]

I don't think the appeals take long. I'm assuming the penalty is handed down in the next day or so, Manny appeals, it is heard on Monday when the O's have an off-day, and a decision made on Tuesday. I think that's the likely scenario.

:thumbsup1:

[bpilktree]

A week ago everyone was saying they would take a 7-7 record vs last Yankee game KC and the next three series. Well we got 4 so far but now it has changed to if we go 4-6 it would be disappointing. If they go 4-6 they still go 8-6 in this tough stretch.

[MagicBird]

7 of the next 10 sounds acceptable to me. 8 or 9 would be better, but anything less than 7 would be a lil disappointing.

[Frobby]

A week ago everyone was saying they would take a 7-7 record vs last Yankee game KC and the next three series. Well we got 4 so far but now it has changed to if we go 4-6 it would be disappointing. If they go 4-6 they still go 8-6 in this tough stretch.

Always looking ahead! 8-6 in this stretch would keep us in the thick of things, but I'd rather be at the top!

[El Gordo]

I don't think the appeals take long. I'm assuming the penalty is handed down in the next day or so, Manny appeals, it is heard on Monday when the O's have an off-day, and a decision made on Tuesday. I think that's the likely scenario.

Manny's bat throw appeal took a month.

[sportsfan8703]

This stretch is followed up by playing a bunch of light hitting teams basically till the AS break. .500 baseball or maybe 6-4 would be great.

[El Gordo]

TOR SP is pretty good. 40 QS. B ut the offense hasn't been, only 32 W. Usually it's the other way around. More W than QS.