The exciting last month of the 2013 Boston Red Sox’s regular season is almost here! The Red Sox will enter September with just 25 games left in their regular season. Boston will hopefully still be in first place in its division, or close to it, with a potential wild card to fall back on, if needed. The Red Sox will hopefully have a win-loss differential moving towards +28.0 and a composite UBWS (#UnlessBigWinningStreak) score of about +28.0. Boston will be moving closer toward reaching its second of four initial team objectives that we mentioned in our previous article. What are these objectives? How close are the Red Sox to reaching their last three initial team objectives?
1. Beat 2012 Number of Wins (69).
Boston’s first initial team objective was to beat last year’s record of wins. On Wednesday night, August 7, the Red Sox won their game against the Houston Astros and reached that objective. Every game won thereafter adds to the 2013 record and moves them closer to the next initial team objective.
2. Beat Our Preseason Prediction for 2013 Number of Wins (81).
Boston’s second initial team objective is to beat our preseason prediction for this year’s number of wins. If the Red Sox increase their win-loss differential, currently at +22, and maintain their composite UBWS score at +28.0 or above, presently at +27.6, they could potentially tie this initial team objective at the end of August. At this moment we project that the team will reach this objective possibly on September 1 against the Chicago White Sox. In the following series against the Detroit Tigers, Boston should hopefully pass this second objective.
3. Beat 2011 Number of Wins (90).
Boston’s third initial team objective is to beat the 2011 record of wins. Some Red Sox fans, like us, may have a hard time remembering how many games the team won in 2011! After all, we probably just remember that September collapse. However, this year Boston wants to move into September, reach and surpass the 2011 number of wins, and not collapse this time! As we mentioned previously, the Red Sox can reach their second initial team objective by the end of August or early September, if the team keeps its win-loss differential moving toward +28.0 and its composite UBWS score also at +28.0 or above. If the Boston Red Sox do the same for the rest of the regular season, they can reach this third initial team objective, let’s say, by their September 21 game against the Toronto Blue Jays.
4. Reach Number of Victories Necessary to Win Division and/or American League Wild Card for 2013 Playoffs (95).
Boston’s fourth initial team objective is to qualify for this year’s playoff the best way possible. Ninety-five wins is usualy set as the number needed for the Red Sox to qualify for the playoffs. Boston wants to win the Eastern Division, but if not, at least to qualify for the playoffs! As we mentioned previously, if the Red Sox continue to maintain their win-loss differential moving toward +28.0 and their composite UBWS score at or above +28.0 for the last part of this regular season, they can reach this fourth initial team objective in late September, let’s say, in the final away series of the season against the Baltimore Orioles.
Conclusion: There are three initial team objectives left for the 2013 Boston Red Sox. We have more objectives beyond these three initial ones. However, these come first and must be met first. We shall keep the rest of our dreams to ourselves, until we get closer to seeing them become a reality.
SOMEBODY WILL SAY
Somebody will say that these last three initial team objectives just can’t be done,
but we with a chuckle reply
that “maybe they can’t,” but we will be ones
who won’t say so till our team has tried them.
So if the Sox buckle right in with a trace of a grin
on their faces, and if they have worries and they try to hide them,
and if the fans start to chant as their team tackles these things
that “can’t be done,” just maybe the Red Sox will do them.
Somebody wil scoff, “Oh, Boston will never reach these last three initial team objectives;
at least for a while the team has not reached them.”
But our players will go to the park and put on their uniforms,
and the first thing we’ll know is that they’ve owned them,
with a lift of the chin and a bit of a grin,
without any self-doubting or objections.
If the fans start to chant as their team tackles these things
that “can’t be done,” just maybe the Red Sox will do them.
There are thousands to tell you that these last three initial team objectives just can’t be done,
There are thousands to prophesy the Red Sox’s failure.
There are thousands to point out to you one by one
all the other teams that wait to assail you.
But just buckle it in with a bit of a grin.
Just put on your uniforms and go to it.
The fans will start to chant as you tackle these things
that “can’t be done,” and just maybe you’ll do them!
Let’s go, Red Sox! You can do them!
(Suggested chant for Red Sox fans, “You can do them!” )