Why The Sox Missed The Playoffs

We all saw the Red Sox pull off the greatest regular season collapse in Major League Baseball history. The Rays, Orioles, and Yankees all played a very small part in history but it truly was the Sox who let it all get away. A miserable start to the season and miserable end erased what was a very successful middle. For the second straight year the Red Sox will not be in the postseason. Their last playoff win was back in the 2008 ALCS.

I won't bore you with a play-by-play account of last night's action, which all of you were watching or following anyway. Instead here are the main reasons that the Red Sox will be watching when the Yankees face the Tigers and the Rays meet the Rangers in the ALDS.

Start the year 0-6; 2-10

End the year 7-20

Go 2-5 vs. the Orioles in the final week + of the season

Allow Robert Andino to be the hero... again. (Andino hit .273-3-10 vs. BOS

In year 1 of Carl Crawford's $136 million deal he finishes the season: .255-11 HR-55 RBI & 18 SB... that's 18 steals! He is on pace to make a little over $1 million for every bag he steals. Wow. Also as we found out, he sucks in the outfield.

Right Field... enough said

Jonathan Papelbon (who was great all season) still blows a save in the biggest spot. Anyone else remember the 2009 playoffs?

Beckett & Lester crapping in their pants in September

(I won't blame injuries, but might as well mention Buchholz and Youkilis missing a lot of time, hello training staff.)

John Lackey: 12-12, 6.41 ERA. Also apparently is getting divorced from his cancer stricken wife. Yikes. Least he will have the opportunity to make up for it next year, or 2013, or 2014, or 2015...

Bobby Jenks.

Terry Francona allowing his players to think its ok to have an excuse for every single loss.

Going 10-8 in Interleague, when they normally clean-up, and bitching the entire time they played in an NL park.

And perhaps most important in this 2011 vacuum...

Losing 12 of 18 to the Rays... you know, the team that overcame you on the final night of the season.

Maybe it shouldn't be as much of a surprise that the Sox failed to make the postseason once again. You look at all of that and it really was an up hill fight. I'm sure I'm missing plenty of other great reasons, but this is all I got right now. Another season in the books. Now on to Patriots, Bruins, Celtics (hopefully), and the UFC.

Side bar: I do still believe that Jacoby Ellsbury (.321-32-105, 119R, 39SB, .928OPS) is the American League MVP. We shall see.


-Keefe

Podcast: Red Sox Problems

Rich Keefe talks about the awful month of September for the Red Sox, the possible play-in game, and the A.L. MVP race.

Red Sox by Keefe21

Excited For Hockey? Not This Much.

-Keefe

First Pitch, Dark Side Style

Looks like Ani-can't throw. Boom.

Where is Admiral Ackbar when you need him?



-Keefe

Keefe Talks Sox With J.T. The Brick

Rich Keefe was back on the nationally syndicated Fox Sports Radio show J.T. The Brick to talk about the struggling Red Sox. (Skip ahead to the 15:00 minute mark)

Opey - My Sunshine

Congrats to our buddy Opey who just got married this past weekend. This is the song he wrote about his beautiful bride. For those of us in attendance we were fortunate enough to hear this one live.




-Keefe

Jaworski Swears on MNF

Ron Jaworski lets a cuss word go during last night's Patriots-Dolphins game. Come on, we're not at a bar Jaws, clean it up.



He later apologized for the profanity, but if you missed it you were probably just wondering what the hell he said.

On another note, Tom Brady threw for 517 fuckin' yards.

Keefe's 2011 Fantasy Football Teams

I am in 3 fantasy football leagues this year. The long standing Gentlemen's Club which features Besse, my father, and friends from both high school and college, a part timer 98.5 The Sports Hub league, and the third is a group of guys that did/do work at WGAM in New Hampshire. The WGAM league is a 3-player keeper, you'll see an * next to who I kept.

Looking at the rosters, you can probably see the draft strategy. Hey if I like a guy on Tuesday nights draft, I'm going to like him on Wednesday as well. Bottom line is I really should only do 1 league... None of the leagues are point per catch, WGAM/98.5 is 2RB, 2WR, and a flex, while Gentlemen's Club is 2RB, 3WR... also passing TD in 98.5 are only worth 4 points.

One Man Wolfpack (WGAM)

QB: Matthew Stafford, Kerry Collins

RB: Ray Rice*, Jamaal Charles*, Ahmad Bradshaw, Cedric Benson, James Starks, Ronnie Brown

WR: Brandon Marshall*, Santonio Holmes, Michael Crabtree, Mike Sims-Walker

TE: Jimmy Graham, Tony Gonzalez

K: John Kasey

D/ST: Titans (vs. Jags week 1)


The Rich Keefe Project (98.5)

QB: Sam Bradford, Kerry Collins

RB: Ahmad Bradshaw, Beanie Wells, James Starks, Pierre Thomas

WR: Andre Johnson, Calvin Johnson, Santonio Holmes, Chad Ochocinco, Donald Driver, Danny Amendola

TE: Jimmy Graham, Dustin Keller

K: Mason Crosby

D/ST: Titans


Smell the Glove (Gentlemen's Club)

QB: Matt Schaub, Matthew Stafford

RB: Ray Rice, Cedric Benson, James Starks, Jonathan Stewart, Ben Tate, Delone Carter

WR: Calvin Johnson, DeSean Jackson, Brandon Marshall, Danny Amendola, Donald Driver

TE: Zach Miller

K: John Kasey

D/ST: Lions


Notice some similarities? I'm either going to have 3 great teams, 3 average teams, or 3 crap teams...

-Keefe

Gentlemen's Club Draft Results

I believe it is Year 7 of the Gentlemen's Club, maybe longer. Besse and I have been competing against each other in fantasy football for well over a decade, but this same group has been together for awhile now. It was a late draft, but here is how it went down.

Rich Keefe = Smell the Glove
Tristan Besse = Team Besse (for now)

Round: 1
(1) LandSharks Champ - Adrian Peterson RB
(2) Straight Cash Homey - Chris Johnson RB
(3) Team Bailey - Jamaal Charles RB
(4) Team Hennekey - Aaron Rodgers QB
** (5) Smell the Glove - Ray Rice RB
(6) Team Besse - LeSean McCoy RB
(7) Tusken Raiders - Arian Foster RB
(8) The Odd Couple - Andre Johnson WR
(9) Canton Slampigs - Michael Vick QB
(10) Domination Station - Maurice Jones-Drew RB
(11) Laces Out - Roddy White WR
(12) NY SackExchange - Rashard Mendenhall RB

Round: 2
(13) NY SackExchange - Drew Brees QB
(14) Laces Out - Greg Jennings WR
(15) Domination Station - Steven Jackson RB
(16) Canton Slampigs - Frank Gore RB
(17) The Odd Couple - Tom Brady QB
(18) Tusken Raiders - Philip Rivers QB
(19) Team Besse - Michael Turner RB
** (20) Smell the Glove - Calvin Johnson WR
(21) Team Hennekey - Vincent Jackson WR
(22) Team Bailey - Mike Wallace WR
(23) Straight Cash Homey - Larry Fitzgerald WR
(24) LandSharks Champ - Peyton Hillis RB

Round: 3
(25) LandSharks Champ - Hakeem Nicks WR
(26) Straight Cash Homey - Matt Forte RB
(27) Team Bailey - Ahmad Bradshaw RB
(28) Team Hennekey - Miles Austin WR
** (29) Smell the Glove - DeSean Jackson WR
(30) Team Besse - Mike Williams WR
(31) Tusken Raiders - DeAngelo Williams RB
(32) The Odd Couple - Darren McFadden RB
(33) Canton Slampigs - Knowshon Moreno RB
(34) Domination Station - Dwayne Bowe WR
(35) Laces Out - LeGarrette Blount RB
(36) NY SackExchange - Marques Colston WR

Round: 4
(37) NY SackExchange - Ryan Mathews RB
(38) Laces Out - BenJarvus Green-Ellis RB
(39) Domination Station - Dez Bryant WR
(40) Canton Slampigs - Reggie Wayne WR
(41) The Odd Couple - Santonio Holmes WR
(42) Tusken Raiders - Jeremy Maclin WR
(43) Team Besse - Tony Romo QB
** (44) Smell the Glove - Matt Schaub QB
(45) Team Hennekey - Felix Jones RB
(46) Team Bailey - Peyton Manning QB
(47) Straight Cash Homey - Antonio Gates TE
(48) LandSharks Champ - Steve Johnson WR

Round: 5
(49) LandSharks Champ - Joe Flacco QB
(50) Straight Cash Homey - Ben Roethlisberger QB
(51) Team Bailey - Wes Welker WR
(52) Team Hennekey - Jermichael Finley TE
** (53) Smell the Glove - Brandon Marshall WR
(54) Team Besse - Brandon Lloyd WR
(55) Tusken Raiders - Percy Harvin WR
(56) The Odd Couple - Mario Manningham WR
(57) Canton Slampigs - Kenny Britt WR
(58) Domination Station - A.J. Green WR
(59) Laces Out - Anquan Boldin WR
(60) NY SackExchange - Johnny Knox WR

Round: 6
(61) NY SackExchange - Jason Witten TE
(62) Laces Out - Matt Ryan QB
(63) Domination Station - Dallas Clark TE
(64) Canton Slampigs - Marcedes Lewis TE
(65) The Odd Couple - Shonn Greene RB
(66) Tusken Raiders - Eli Manning QB
(67) Team Besse - Jahvid Best RB
** (68) Smell the Glove - Cedric Benson RB
(69) Team Hennekey - Fred Jackson RB
(70) Team Bailey - Vernon Davis TE
(71) Straight Cash Homey - Austin Collie WR
(72) LandSharks Champ - Chad Ochocinco WR

Round: 7
(73) LandSharks Champ - Stephen Gostkowski K
(74) Straight Cash Homey - Santana Moss WR
(75) Team Bailey - Pierre Garcon WR
(76) Team Hennekey - Ryan Grant RB
** (77) Smell the Glove - James Starks RB
(78) Team Besse - Jimmy Graham TE
(79) Tusken Raiders - Rob Gronkowski TE
(80) The Odd Couple - Malcom Floyd WR
(81) Canton Slampigs - Lee Evans WR
(82) Domination Station - Josh Freeman QB
(83) Laces Out - Mark Ingram RB
(84) NY SackExchange - Plaxico Burress WR

Round: 8
(85) NY SackExchange - Mike Sims-Walker WR
(86) Laces Out - Tim Hightower RB
(87) Domination Station - Sidney Rice WR
(88) Canton Slampigs - Mike Tolbert RB
(89) The Odd Couple - Beanie Wells RB
(90) Tusken Raiders - Roy Williams WR
(91) Team Besse - Daniel Thomas RB
** (92) Smell the Glove - Jonathan Stewart RB
(93) Team Hennekey - Reggie Bush RB
(94) Team Bailey - Julio Jones WR
(95) Straight Cash Homey - Brandon Jacobs RB
(96) LandSharks Champ - Ravens D/ST D/ST

Round: 9
(97) LandSharks Champ - Marshawn Lynch RB
(98) Straight Cash Homey - Steelers D/ST D/ST
(99) Team Bailey - LaDainian Tomlinson RB
(100) Team Hennekey - Packers D/ST D/ST
** (101) Smell the Glove - Zach Miller TE
(102) Team Besse - Eagles D/ST D/ST
(103) Tusken Raiders - Lance Moore WR
(104) The Odd Couple - Owen Daniels TE
(105) Canton Slampigs - Braylon Edwards WR
(106) Domination Station - Joseph Addai RB
(107) Laces Out - Aaron Hernandez TE
(108) NY SackExchange - Jets D/ST D/ST

Round: 10
(109) NY SackExchange - Jay Cutler QB
(110) Laces Out - Hines Ward WR
(111) Domination Station - Steve Smith WR
(112) Canton Slampigs - Sam Bradford QB
(113) The Odd Couple - Pierre Thomas RB
(114) Tusken Raiders - Bears D/ST D/ST
(115) Team Besse - Davone Bess WR
** (116) Smell the Glove - Danny Amendola WR
(117) Team Hennekey - James Jones WR
(118) Team Bailey - Kevin Kolb QB
(119) Straight Cash Homey - Jacoby Ford WR
(120) LandSharks Champ - Greg Olsen TE

Round: 11
(121) LandSharks Champ - Robert Meachem WR
(122) Straight Cash Homey - Jordy Nelson WR
(123) Team Bailey - Patriots D/ST D/ST
(124) Team Hennekey - Mason Crosby K
** (125) Smell the Glove - Matthew Stafford QB
(126) Team Besse - Mark Sanchez QB
(127) Tusken Raiders - C.J. Spiller RB
(128) The Odd Couple - Mike Thomas WR
(129) Canton Slampigs - Neil Rackers K
(130) Domination Station - Ryan Torain RB
(131) Laces Out - Danny Woodhead RB
(132) NY SackExchange - Kellen Winslow TE

Round: 12
(133) NY SackExchange - Michael Bush RB
(134) Laces Out - Matt Cassel QB
(135) Domination Station - Donovan McNabb QB
(136) Canton Slampigs - Willis McGahee RB
(137) The Odd Couple - Saints D/ST D/ST
(138) Tusken Raiders - Nate Kaeding K
(139) Team Besse - Michael Crabtree WR
** (140) Smell the Glove - Donald Driver WR
(141) Team Hennekey - Kevin Walter WR
(142) Team Bailey - Ronnie Brown RB
(143) Straight Cash Homey - Kyle Orton QB
(144) LandSharks Champ - Jason Campbell QB

Round: 13
(145) LandSharks Champ - Deion Branch WR
(146) Straight Cash Homey - Thomas Jones RB
(147) Team Bailey - Bernard Berrian WR
(148) Team Hennekey - Ryan Fitzpatrick QB
** (149) Smell the Glove - Ben Tate RB
(150) Team Besse - Brandon Pettigrew TE
(151) Tusken Raiders - Mike Williams WR
(152) The Odd Couple - Giants D/ST D/ST
(153) Canton Slampigs - Ricky Williams RB
(154) Domination Station - Tony Gonzalez TE
(155) Laces Out - Steve Smith WR
(156) NY SackExchange - Alex Henery K

Round: 14
(157) NY SackExchange - Chargers D/ST D/ST
(158) Laces Out - Dustin Keller TE
(159) Domination Station - Jacoby Jones WR
(160) Canton Slampigs - Jerome Simpson WR
(161) The Odd Couple - Chris Cooley TE
(162) Tusken Raiders - Randy Moss WR
(163) Team Besse - Emmanuel Sanders WR
** (164) Smell the Glove - Delone Carter RB
(165) Team Hennekey - Jerome Harrison RB
(166) Team Bailey - Steve Breaston WR
(167) Straight Cash Homey - Nate Burleson WR
(168) LandSharks Champ - Todd Heap TE

Round: 15
(169) LandSharks Champ - Jonathan Baldwin WR
(170) Straight Cash Homey - Josh Brown K
(171) Team Bailey - Brent Celek TE
(172) Team Hennekey - Donald Jones WR
** (173) Smell the Glove - Lions D/ST D/ST
(174) Team Besse - Sebastian Janikowski K
(175) Tusken Raiders - David Garrard QB
(176) The Odd Couple - Roy Helu RB
(177) Canton Slampigs - Falcons D/ST D/ST
(178) Domination Station - Rob Bironas K
(179) Laces Out - Titans D/ST D/ST
(180) NY SackExchange - Mohamed Massaquoi WR

Round: 16
(181) NY SackExchange - Toby Gerhart RB
(182) Laces Out - Adam Vinatieri K
(183) Domination Station - Chiefs D/ST D/ST
(184) Canton Slampigs - Montario Hardesty RB
(185) The Odd Couple - Billy Cundiff K
(186) Tusken Raiders - Darren Sproles RB
(187) Team Besse - Earl Bennett WR
** (188) Smell the Glove - John Kasay K
(189) Team Hennekey - Nick Folk K
(190) Team Bailey - Matt Bryant K
(191) Straight Cash Homey - Anthony Armstrong WR
(192) LandSharks Champ - Roscoe Parrish WR