Deja Vu All Over Again-Peter

I know, I know--the title today was first spoken by a Yankee, but since it was Yogi, I'm willing to make an exception and use it. Those must have been some conversations in the '50's between Yogi and his manager, Casey Stengel. But that's for another time and blog, NOT one for our Sox!

Tonight's game was a return matchup of last year's League Championship series, Sox vs. Indians, played in the Jake, in weather that would have generated snow if there were precipitation. Happened yesterday in the Tribe's game against the A's.

This game began well enough. Lester was cruising along through three without a single hit surrendered. The Sox picked up a single run in the first on a Youk two bagger, following a hit, really, a hit, by Papi. More on that later. So we roll into the 4th and the Indians strike. By the end of the inning we're trailing by 2-1, soon to be 4-1 an inning later.

That's the way things continued as inning followed inning, and I'm starting to think, "Christ, can't we get a winning streak longer than two games this season?" At least the middle relievers are doing an outstanding job. Tavarez throws two and two thirds shutout innings, and as if that weren't enough, gets four K's in the process. He even invoked the spirit of El Tiante at one point. Hell, he was impossible to pick up on some of his contortions! Whatever works and thanks to you Luis. All we need now is one of Tiant's thick cheroots in the clubhouse now.

This coincided with the first run in the Sox comeback. Top of the seventh, Lugo and Crisp reach and Pedroia brings home Julio. Two men on with only one out and Papi and Manny coming to bat. Something's got to happen. It did, just not what we wanted. Betancourt struck out both of them. Well, at least we're a run closer. Now if the hurlers can keep holding the Tribe at bay, who knows.

But--Who comes in to pitch with this possibility and everything hanging on the line? I'll give you a hint. I wrote about him last night, agreeing with Jenn. You got it--Timlin! Terry, what are you thinking? But tonight he wasn't the Timlin of this young season. Nosiree--he was the Timlin of 2004 and 2007, the Timlin who owns four Series rings (he got two before coming to Fenway & good or bad so far this season, the man does know HOW to pitch). Entering to open the bottom of the eighth, just after Youk in the top of the inning has brought the Sox another step closer to the Tribe with a shot that had homer written all over it the instant it left the bat, he immediately took command. No fancy flourishes, no BS, just good professional pitching. I and every member of Sox Nation quickly had our worries turn to ecstasy. The man was awesome! Mixing 92 and 93 mph heaters with curves and sliders that looked like they'd fallen off a table, he quickly disposed of the Indian batters--three up, three down, one on strikes. In one fell swoop, his 81 ERA dropped to 20.25. It's not too often you see a hurler cut almost 75% off his ERA in a single inning. But Timlin did it! Maybe I'll rethink my advice of last night. I know Jenn will take more convincing, but I'm willing to think about it. Terry, I should know better than to even consider questioning you. Sorry. Won't happen again.

Which brings us to the top of the ninth and our last three outs. In comes Cleveland's stopper, Borowski. Now you've got a guy here who led the American League last year in saves with 45, so he's not exactly chopped liver. However, he's not lights out like some other closers I can name. In fact, a good way to describe his pitching is it's an adventure--the same way that watching Manny chase down a fly ball sometimes is. Anyway, first guy he faces is Lugo who drives one to left, takes off from the batter's box like he's been scalded and doesn't even slow for the turn at first. No, he's going for two before it even gets near the Indians' left fielder. Add to the fact that said left fielder has the arm of a kid in pre-school and it's a sure thing he'll be standing on second before the dust clears. As it turns out, he makes it in a slide, pops up and is ready to advance to third should the throw-in go awry. It doesn't and Julio's on second--for a second. Crisp drops down a bunt and is barely thrown out in a bang-bang play at the bag--I'm still not sure who won that one, even after several replays. But, more importantly, it leaves Julio standing on third. A sac fly and the game will be tied.

But, at this point the Sox have become sharks with blood in the water. Sac fly? Why settle? They'll do better than that. Yes, Lugo does come home on a sac fly by Pedroia, but the fun's only beginning. Papi comes to the plate. Will he pull off one of his thousand volt shots and simultaneously electrify the citizens of Red Sox Nation and electrocute the fans of the Tribe? He swings and, for once, benefits from the exaggerated shift thrown against him. His ball drops fair into short left, a single--which brings up, who else, Manny.

Borowski throws, Manny swings and the ball is launched like something from a howitzer. Manny takes his usual pose for the requisite two seconds and begins his trot--6-4, Sox. That shot, by the way, puts him in a tie with Lou Gehrig on the all time list at 493. Not such shabby company. Looking forward, ManRam should also pass by such elite players of the past as Mel Ott, Ernie Banks and Eddie Mathews, all residents of a particular Hall in upstate New York that will one day also host Manny. The fireworks end at that point, but now it's bottom of the ninth and you know who's coming in--None Other.

Death stare in place, arm appropriately tuned up, he gets the top of the Indians order--strength versus strength. Sizemore gets the first chance. A damn good hitter; he can hurt you. Four pitches later he's a K, with the gun topping out at 97. This guy's not human. Hell, you may have to register that arm as a deadly weapon. Next guy up takes five pitches, but the result is the same. With the exception of an 89 mph slider, all pitches are 93 and up--and the batter is down, another K. Final batter is Hafner, a power hitter who will make you pay for your mistakes. A couple of balls, followed by a quick strike and the final pitch comes burning toward the plate. Hafner hits it a mile, but, unfortunately for Cleveland, a mile will leave it short of the fence and the game is over.

On reflection, I hope that Papi's slump is also over and that Sox are about to break out on a real streak. It's three in a row now, the longest so far in this short season to date. Tavarez is starting to show his ability to burn up batters as well as innings in certain situations. Crisp is hitting like he was supposed to when he came to the Fens in 2006; Drew is hitting like he was expected to when the Sox rescued him from LaLa land. One more at the Jake and then a pair at the Yankees' home park, you know--the House that Ruth Built, aka the House that Hankie Abandoned. Careful, 'Stripes, the spirit of the Shirt is lingering.
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