Elias Says ...

"By Elias Sports Bureau, Inc.
Special to ESPN Insider


A daily glance inside the numbers from the world of sports:

Major League Baseball

Can we dispense with this nonsense about doubleheaders, that it's tougher to win two games in one day than it is to defeat the same opponent on consecutive days? Yes, the Red Sox will have to juggle their rotation and monitor their relievers for fatigue against Toronto. But just because Monday night's rain-out will be played as part of a day/night doubleheader Tuesday doesn't make it less likely that they will win both games -- or lose both, for that matter.

Here's the proof: Over the last 10 years, there have been 304 doubleheaders, defined here as the same teams facing each other twice on the same day. There were 155 sweeps, or 51 percent. (Hmm, doesn't sound that tough to us.) Let's compare that percentage to the first two games of each series played during those 10 years. The same team that won the first game of a series also won the second game 51 percent of the time. See our point?

So, yes, it's difficult to win two games in a row, but no more difficult to do it on the same day than it is to do it on different days. "

Come on BOSTON!

Rob

Well, it's not exactly cool that the Yankees play their last seven games on the road while the red team gets to play those final seven clutch games in Massachusetts, either. But, that's the nature of the game, I suppose.

You gotta be kidding - the sox just came off a MONTH on the road... they are tired, beat down, and with multiple injuries to some of their best players.

Who is kidding whom? If they can make the play under these conditions they deserve every damn accolade they can get; despite the boo hooing from a front running, uninjured, overpaid group from NY. Jeez, don't you guys ever let up?

Would it be more fair if they all put one hand behind their backs, got drunk, and went to St Louis on game day???

R

Ed for Sp

[ September 27, 2005, 09:26 AM: Message edited by: ITJock ]

I believe the Yankees have had plenty of injuries, particularly the starting rotation -- and seeing the amount of Boston's payroll, they're not exactly underpaid.

The Yankees--uninjured? :confused: Thanks for the good laugh today, but I guess you haven't followed this baseball season very well.

This is another good one, too.
Since August 26 through the end of the season the red team has a whopping 25 games at home and only 12 on the road. The Yankees have had 16 games at home and 20 on the road.
Sorry, no sympathy for the red team here.

...and incidentally, look at their payroll, they are not exactly filing for bankruptcy, either.

[ September 27, 2005, 10:59 AM: Message edited by: Cattledog ]