Well, I was going to post last night after the Sox tragically failed to extend their streak of elimination game wins, but I just couldn't bring myself to sit down in front of the computer at that moment. There we were--all the way back from the near elimination in Game 5 through a truly gutsy performance by JB in Game 6 to a perfect first three innings by Lester, supported by Dusty's no-doubt blast in the 1st inning--and somehow, the Rays came back to take a lead and then expand it to 3-2 getting into the late innings. Just as in Game 2, all we needed was just one well timed single and the outcome would have been totally different. Unfortunately, the Rays' pen was equal to the task and it was not to be.
I've occasionally mentioned on this site that I like to add the LOB's of each team to the actual score and see who would have won had all the LOB's managed to score. In this case, the Sox would be going to the Fens to host the start of festivities against the most futile team in MLB (more on that later), the Phillies, on Wednesday. Had all LOB's for each team made it home, the score would have ended up Sox 9, Rays 6. Just needed one or two more hits. But, as my wife says about many things we confront in life, "it is what it is."
Let's face it--the Rays earned the pennant. This was not a cheap shot. They likely will represent the A.L. well. I'll be rooting for them, partly because there are two players on the team from the geographic region surrounding Boston. Baldelli is from Rhode Island, about an hour's drive from Fenway and their best hitter, Carlos Pena, is, as I have noted many times now, from Haverhill, Mass., a shoe manufacturing city about 45 minutes northwest from the Fens. How do I know this, you ask? Simple! After being born in Boston, the family moved to Haverhill when I was four and I grew up there and attended high school in the city.
I referred above to the Phillies historical team futility. In addition to having only won a single Series (1980), they are the only team in MLB to have lost more than 10,000 games overall since they were founded. Pretty sad.
Next year, the Sox will be back at it, and, hopefully, go to the Series. After all, after the '04 title, the Sox faced the Chisox on the latter's run to the World Championship and were swept; in '06 they missed the post-season due to a series of key injuries; and we all know what happened in '07--World Champs again!
As Jenn mentioned in her comments today, we'll sort of shut down for the off-season, but will be on if anything super important occurs.
First super important item: Mike Lowell had hip surgery today, and all, according to radio reports, went well. He's expected to be totally ready for start of Spring Training. Have a happy off-season; keep your eyes tuned here; and see you in the spring--it's only roughly 118 days away--REALLY!!
Monday, October 20, 2008
Oh Well... - Jenn
As Dad said in his previous post, the Red Sox were refusing to lose. That is until last night. Our faithful Sox put up the good fight, but in the end, those newbies from Tampa Bay simply wanted it more.
So all our players are headed home to watch the World Series instead of taking part again this year. But that's okay. The Rays made a real go of it, and as much as it pains me to say so, they deserve their chance. They just better not f*ing lose!
So what is there left to say? Well as we all weep into our coffee this morning let's look at the bright side. First that spectacular come back from being down 7 zip in Game 5. I mean, would you really have wanted to lose after just five games and by a slaughter like that? Absolutely not! That come back gave us and our team the lift we needed to head back to the Trop and give it their all.
Then in Game 6 as Dad stated, Beckett proved me wrong and showed he still had the stuff needed to keep his team in it. While he didn't have his usual speed, he had the command. And after what I'm sure was an indepth conversation with John Farrell, Beckett discovered the way to beat the Rays was with his curve ball, not his fast ball. A long overdue homer from The Captain, helped put the Sox on top and keep those spirits up for the do or die game of the weekend.
That would be Game 7. A pitching matchup of Lester and Garza. We were all hoping it would be a reverse of their last outing. One where Lester was super hot and Garza sucked. While we got the first part of that desire, we didn't get the 2nd. Both Lester and Garza were white hot last night. Unfortunately Garza was just a little hotter - limiting the Sox to just two hits through the first six innings. And that would have been fine considering one of the hits was a home run by Dustin Pedroia to put the Sox up 1-0.
But after being perfect through the first three innings, Lester faltered in the 4th and gave up three consecutive hits to the Rays to tie it. The game continued downhill from there. Things looked up in the 7th when Garza put two men on, but he got out of it unscathed. And that was the rest of the game. Just as we thought there was a chance, the Rays pitching staff slammed the door. The Sox left 8 men on base. All they needed was two of those men to come home to tie up the game and give the Sox the glory they and Red Sox Nation wanted. But it never came to fruition.
Even though the Sox are headed back to Boston, they put up a great fight and showed why their fans are so loyal. Sure they'll lose here and there, but they never give up. As I said, the ALCS had two earlier opportunities to end in the Rays favor. But the Sox held their ground and fought tooth and nail to get to Game 7. Did we all want to see them kill the Phillies in the World Series? Sure. But the fact that they made it to Game 7 and got at least one run on the board at Tropicana Field can make every member of Red Sox Nation, proud of the oldest team in baseball.
But I'm not just sad because the season has come to a close. I'm sad because the end of the Red Sox season also means the end of Duffy's Cliff - at least for a few months. Dad and I are going on hiatus. (Sorry, TV term creeping in.) But don't worry, if something major happens in the off season, like there's a problem with Lowell's recorvery... bite my tongue or The Captain is traded to another team... kill me now, Dad and I will be here to report it and keep all you rabid Sox fans up to date.
And of course once the season starts up again in April, we'll be back reporting game by game as our beloved Sox try again for those beautiful jewel-studded rings. Thank you all for joining us on our maiden voyage. We had a blast and can't wait for Spring Training. See you all in a few months.
So all our players are headed home to watch the World Series instead of taking part again this year. But that's okay. The Rays made a real go of it, and as much as it pains me to say so, they deserve their chance. They just better not f*ing lose!
So what is there left to say? Well as we all weep into our coffee this morning let's look at the bright side. First that spectacular come back from being down 7 zip in Game 5. I mean, would you really have wanted to lose after just five games and by a slaughter like that? Absolutely not! That come back gave us and our team the lift we needed to head back to the Trop and give it their all.
Then in Game 6 as Dad stated, Beckett proved me wrong and showed he still had the stuff needed to keep his team in it. While he didn't have his usual speed, he had the command. And after what I'm sure was an indepth conversation with John Farrell, Beckett discovered the way to beat the Rays was with his curve ball, not his fast ball. A long overdue homer from The Captain, helped put the Sox on top and keep those spirits up for the do or die game of the weekend.
That would be Game 7. A pitching matchup of Lester and Garza. We were all hoping it would be a reverse of their last outing. One where Lester was super hot and Garza sucked. While we got the first part of that desire, we didn't get the 2nd. Both Lester and Garza were white hot last night. Unfortunately Garza was just a little hotter - limiting the Sox to just two hits through the first six innings. And that would have been fine considering one of the hits was a home run by Dustin Pedroia to put the Sox up 1-0.
But after being perfect through the first three innings, Lester faltered in the 4th and gave up three consecutive hits to the Rays to tie it. The game continued downhill from there. Things looked up in the 7th when Garza put two men on, but he got out of it unscathed. And that was the rest of the game. Just as we thought there was a chance, the Rays pitching staff slammed the door. The Sox left 8 men on base. All they needed was two of those men to come home to tie up the game and give the Sox the glory they and Red Sox Nation wanted. But it never came to fruition.
Even though the Sox are headed back to Boston, they put up a great fight and showed why their fans are so loyal. Sure they'll lose here and there, but they never give up. As I said, the ALCS had two earlier opportunities to end in the Rays favor. But the Sox held their ground and fought tooth and nail to get to Game 7. Did we all want to see them kill the Phillies in the World Series? Sure. But the fact that they made it to Game 7 and got at least one run on the board at Tropicana Field can make every member of Red Sox Nation, proud of the oldest team in baseball.
But I'm not just sad because the season has come to a close. I'm sad because the end of the Red Sox season also means the end of Duffy's Cliff - at least for a few months. Dad and I are going on hiatus. (Sorry, TV term creeping in.) But don't worry, if something major happens in the off season, like there's a problem with Lowell's recorvery... bite my tongue or The Captain is traded to another team... kill me now, Dad and I will be here to report it and keep all you rabid Sox fans up to date.
And of course once the season starts up again in April, we'll be back reporting game by game as our beloved Sox try again for those beautiful jewel-studded rings. Thank you all for joining us on our maiden voyage. We had a blast and can't wait for Spring Training. See you all in a few months.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
GUTS!!--Peter
The title says it all! There's just no other way to describe the performance of Josh Beckett. He gets hit hard in the ALDS by the Halos. He starts game 2 in the ALCS against the Rays with a chance to put the Sox two up in the league championships--and gets lit up again. He says he's fine, just "off a little bit", but it's clear something's not right with JB. But he's such a competitor you just know he's dying for another chance to prove he's still the best post-season money pitcher anywhere.
Well, the Sox 8-7 comeback the other night in the Fens gave him that chance, and he grabbed it, held it, and basically dared anyone to try to take it away from him. There was an instant in the Tampa 1st when his situation might have again caused questions. That was when B. J. Upton once again made like Carlos Pena and drove a ball so long, hard and high that it hit off a supporting beam deep in the Tampa stadium for a home run. In trouble? Not tonight--Not JB! He bore down and got the next two hitters to end the inning. After Yoooouk tied the game in the Sox top of the 2d, JB was almost unhittable. One inning later, Big Papi doubled, sending Dusty to third, and Yooouk came through again, plating the lead run on a hard grounder.
From that point on, JB was almost untouchable. He allowed three more hits, but kept them very scattered, and hit a batter on a two strike count. While one of those final Rays hits was a solo homer, it was just a pitch that was a little too good. Stroked by the Rays weak hitting shortstop, Bartlett, it left the game knotted at two. How does a guy who gets just a single roundtripper in the entire regular season hit one in a league championship series? It could have been worse, however, as the Rays catcher, Navarro had led off the inning with a single. But the captain of the Bosox, Tek, showed why he is so valuable to this team, even if he never gets another hit. Navarro had been put in motion and Tek threw him out. The ball was so perfectly thrown that Lowrie had time to stop for a sandwich and beer before applying the tag, had he wanted to. No throwout and the Sox would have trailed after Bartlett's HR, 3-2. With the tag, the shot just tied it and left the Fenmen in position to grab the lead again.
Which they immediately did in the top of the 6th. With two already gone in their half of the 6th, Tek again provided the heroics. Already a cumulative 0-14 in the ALCS, and not doing a lot better in the entire post-season, everybody was hoping he'd get a hit and start something going. Get a hit--Did he ever! Working the count to 2-0, he got a pitch he liked and drove it on a line into the seats in right center, just over the 379 marker--Sox, three-two.
Thus spurred on, the Sox continued their recent tradition of two out scoring. Coco beat out an infield hit, and, after a pitching change, Dusty was safe on an error by Bartlett, simultaneously sending Coco to third. From there Papi singled to center and the Sox had a two run lead. As it turned out, that was all they would need for the evening.
Okajima came in, working two innings and faced only seven batters over that stretch, allowing only a full count, two out walk in the 6th. Once again, as he has done more and more recently, Oki has shown he is again the Oki of 2007.
With the 8th, the Sox brought on Masterson. Once again, a tight spot for a rookie to gain his battle experience. He started a bit tight, almost immediately hitting the first batter he faced, and then running the count to 2-0 on Iwamura. A quick visit by Sox pitching coach Farrell, and all of a sudden, he was focused and on! The 2-0 count on Iwamura quickly became a K, after which Masterson really showed who's the Master. He popped up Upton and Pena in succession, closing out the 8th.
After the Sox went quietly in the 9th, you know what happened when the Rays took their final turn at bat. Papelbon came on in all his brilliance. It was a classic matchup. The Rays had come from behind this year when trailing by two or more runs, regular season and playoffs, 31 previous times. Facing them is a pitcher with a Major League record 24 consecutive scoreless playoff innings. Less than ten pitches later, all three Rays batters were on their way to the showers and the scoreless innings record was now 25.
The way this Red Sox team refuses to die is truly inspiring! First, they stage Thursday's amazing comeback. Then, JB comes out and defines the word guts--never asking or giving any quarter. Then, the pen turns off the lights and slams the door, supporting the heroic timely at bats of the offense. They remind this writer of the expression used during Larry Bird's prime with the Celtics--they Refuse To Lose.
Six down, five to go.
Well, the Sox 8-7 comeback the other night in the Fens gave him that chance, and he grabbed it, held it, and basically dared anyone to try to take it away from him. There was an instant in the Tampa 1st when his situation might have again caused questions. That was when B. J. Upton once again made like Carlos Pena and drove a ball so long, hard and high that it hit off a supporting beam deep in the Tampa stadium for a home run. In trouble? Not tonight--Not JB! He bore down and got the next two hitters to end the inning. After Yoooouk tied the game in the Sox top of the 2d, JB was almost unhittable. One inning later, Big Papi doubled, sending Dusty to third, and Yooouk came through again, plating the lead run on a hard grounder.
From that point on, JB was almost untouchable. He allowed three more hits, but kept them very scattered, and hit a batter on a two strike count. While one of those final Rays hits was a solo homer, it was just a pitch that was a little too good. Stroked by the Rays weak hitting shortstop, Bartlett, it left the game knotted at two. How does a guy who gets just a single roundtripper in the entire regular season hit one in a league championship series? It could have been worse, however, as the Rays catcher, Navarro had led off the inning with a single. But the captain of the Bosox, Tek, showed why he is so valuable to this team, even if he never gets another hit. Navarro had been put in motion and Tek threw him out. The ball was so perfectly thrown that Lowrie had time to stop for a sandwich and beer before applying the tag, had he wanted to. No throwout and the Sox would have trailed after Bartlett's HR, 3-2. With the tag, the shot just tied it and left the Fenmen in position to grab the lead again.
Which they immediately did in the top of the 6th. With two already gone in their half of the 6th, Tek again provided the heroics. Already a cumulative 0-14 in the ALCS, and not doing a lot better in the entire post-season, everybody was hoping he'd get a hit and start something going. Get a hit--Did he ever! Working the count to 2-0, he got a pitch he liked and drove it on a line into the seats in right center, just over the 379 marker--Sox, three-two.
Thus spurred on, the Sox continued their recent tradition of two out scoring. Coco beat out an infield hit, and, after a pitching change, Dusty was safe on an error by Bartlett, simultaneously sending Coco to third. From there Papi singled to center and the Sox had a two run lead. As it turned out, that was all they would need for the evening.
Okajima came in, working two innings and faced only seven batters over that stretch, allowing only a full count, two out walk in the 6th. Once again, as he has done more and more recently, Oki has shown he is again the Oki of 2007.
With the 8th, the Sox brought on Masterson. Once again, a tight spot for a rookie to gain his battle experience. He started a bit tight, almost immediately hitting the first batter he faced, and then running the count to 2-0 on Iwamura. A quick visit by Sox pitching coach Farrell, and all of a sudden, he was focused and on! The 2-0 count on Iwamura quickly became a K, after which Masterson really showed who's the Master. He popped up Upton and Pena in succession, closing out the 8th.
After the Sox went quietly in the 9th, you know what happened when the Rays took their final turn at bat. Papelbon came on in all his brilliance. It was a classic matchup. The Rays had come from behind this year when trailing by two or more runs, regular season and playoffs, 31 previous times. Facing them is a pitcher with a Major League record 24 consecutive scoreless playoff innings. Less than ten pitches later, all three Rays batters were on their way to the showers and the scoreless innings record was now 25.
The way this Red Sox team refuses to die is truly inspiring! First, they stage Thursday's amazing comeback. Then, JB comes out and defines the word guts--never asking or giving any quarter. Then, the pen turns off the lights and slams the door, supporting the heroic timely at bats of the offense. They remind this writer of the expression used during Larry Bird's prime with the Celtics--they Refuse To Lose.
Six down, five to go.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
J.D.DOOO! And Big Papi Too!--Peter
Yes, I know JD's name is Drew, but the way he stood up in the final innings tonight--all I can say is "He really DO!" Here we were after the top of the 7th, down seven zip to the Rays. Everything the Sox did, the Rays jumped on. Pitching? From Dice-K on, the Rays hit it hard--frequently out. Hitting? Not tonight. After five, all the Hose had were a pair of harmless hits and nothing on the board to show for it. In fact, after six, the Sox were two for twenty.
As if it were the final blow to the spirit, Papelbon came on in the 7th--that's right the 7th--desperation--and immediately gave up a drive off the topo of the scoreboard on the Monster to plate two more Rays runs--7-0, Rays. Then, he became the Papelbon we know and expect--Laserman. Three quick outs.
Enter the Sox 7th. After two quick outs--more of the same, I'm disloyally thinking. Then, Lowrie leads off the inning with a double, but unfortunately is followed by a pair of outs. Not looking good. But, Crisp gets a single that puts Jed on 3d. Then, it happens! Dusty gets a hit and the Sox are on the board!
Picking up the spirit, Big Papi comes up--no home runs in 62 post-season at bats. With the count 1-0, he swings and it's a no-doubter--deep into the seats in right, no cheap shot, this. Sox now within three.
Papelbon returns for the 8th, well rested. I mean he should be--he hasn't pitched since game two--hasn't had any reason to. He's classic Laser. The death stare is exponential. In fact, it's so intense, they may license it for Hallowe'en. Three up, three dead--two of them 95 mph K's. That sound the Rays are starting to hear is the monster in the dungeon waking up and rattling its chains. But the Rays still lead ,7-4. For the moment....
Sox 8th: The Rays intentionally walk Bay, choosing to face JD. In the words of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, Big Mistake. JD takes the first pitch for a strike, then uncoils on the pitcher's next offering. It's a line shot, but no question--it's gone, and the Rays lead is now just 7-6. That monster's rattling those chains harder and harder.
After a pair of outs seem to take some of the wind from Sox sails, the late season acquisition who's playing like he's always been here, Kotsay, lines a two bagger to center. Coco comes to the plate and battles with the pitcher2-2, 3-2, pitch after pitch, foul after foul, but still hanging in there, forcing the pitcher to sweat more and more through ten pitches. Finally, on the eleventh offering, Coco strikes. A line single to right plates Kotsay, and only because of a bit of luck on the poor throw from the fielder is Coco thrown out trying to stretch it to second.
Rays 9th. Pap's replaced by Masterson. So far, the rook has show flashes of brilliance, but he's streaky. Sometimes, he's (dare I say it) as hittable as a certain Jeckyll and Hyde former member of this team. He starts off looking like Hyde. First batter, a single. After a fly out, he walks a batter and it's two men on with just one out, and I'm thinking, no, not after coming all the way back! The pride of Haverhill steps in to face him, already having a homer and another hit tonight, not to mention a couple of other HR's in the series. Not this time, Carlos. Jeckyll's returned; Masterson's the Master and Pena grounds into an inning-ending twin killing.
Sox 9th--Dusty grounds out and Papi K's. But Yooouk gets an infield hit and, on Longoria's errant throw after a brilliant pickup, is standing on second. All we need now is a hit--anything that clears the infield grass will do. But Madden sends out the order. Bay's not going to win this one--'walk him', and four pitches later, Bay's on first.
JD steps up again, fresh from his heroics of the prior inning.After watching a couple of the newest Rays pitcher's offerings, he uncoils yet again. The ball travels on a low trajectory over the head of the rapidly retreating right fielder, lands fair and it's over. SOX WIN!!!!
This is the largest post-season comeback ever in the AL, and is second only in MLB history to the Philadelphia A's recovery in 1929 from an 8-0 trailing margin against, who else--the Cubs, to win 10-8.
Five down, six to go.
As if it were the final blow to the spirit, Papelbon came on in the 7th--that's right the 7th--desperation--and immediately gave up a drive off the topo of the scoreboard on the Monster to plate two more Rays runs--7-0, Rays. Then, he became the Papelbon we know and expect--Laserman. Three quick outs.
Enter the Sox 7th. After two quick outs--more of the same, I'm disloyally thinking. Then, Lowrie leads off the inning with a double, but unfortunately is followed by a pair of outs. Not looking good. But, Crisp gets a single that puts Jed on 3d. Then, it happens! Dusty gets a hit and the Sox are on the board!
Picking up the spirit, Big Papi comes up--no home runs in 62 post-season at bats. With the count 1-0, he swings and it's a no-doubter--deep into the seats in right, no cheap shot, this. Sox now within three.
Papelbon returns for the 8th, well rested. I mean he should be--he hasn't pitched since game two--hasn't had any reason to. He's classic Laser. The death stare is exponential. In fact, it's so intense, they may license it for Hallowe'en. Three up, three dead--two of them 95 mph K's. That sound the Rays are starting to hear is the monster in the dungeon waking up and rattling its chains. But the Rays still lead ,7-4. For the moment....
Sox 8th: The Rays intentionally walk Bay, choosing to face JD. In the words of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, Big Mistake. JD takes the first pitch for a strike, then uncoils on the pitcher's next offering. It's a line shot, but no question--it's gone, and the Rays lead is now just 7-6. That monster's rattling those chains harder and harder.
After a pair of outs seem to take some of the wind from Sox sails, the late season acquisition who's playing like he's always been here, Kotsay, lines a two bagger to center. Coco comes to the plate and battles with the pitcher2-2, 3-2, pitch after pitch, foul after foul, but still hanging in there, forcing the pitcher to sweat more and more through ten pitches. Finally, on the eleventh offering, Coco strikes. A line single to right plates Kotsay, and only because of a bit of luck on the poor throw from the fielder is Coco thrown out trying to stretch it to second.
Rays 9th. Pap's replaced by Masterson. So far, the rook has show flashes of brilliance, but he's streaky. Sometimes, he's (dare I say it) as hittable as a certain Jeckyll and Hyde former member of this team. He starts off looking like Hyde. First batter, a single. After a fly out, he walks a batter and it's two men on with just one out, and I'm thinking, no, not after coming all the way back! The pride of Haverhill steps in to face him, already having a homer and another hit tonight, not to mention a couple of other HR's in the series. Not this time, Carlos. Jeckyll's returned; Masterson's the Master and Pena grounds into an inning-ending twin killing.
Sox 9th--Dusty grounds out and Papi K's. But Yooouk gets an infield hit and, on Longoria's errant throw after a brilliant pickup, is standing on second. All we need now is a hit--anything that clears the infield grass will do. But Madden sends out the order. Bay's not going to win this one--'walk him', and four pitches later, Bay's on first.
JD steps up again, fresh from his heroics of the prior inning.After watching a couple of the newest Rays pitcher's offerings, he uncoils yet again. The ball travels on a low trajectory over the head of the rapidly retreating right fielder, lands fair and it's over. SOX WIN!!!!
This is the largest post-season comeback ever in the AL, and is second only in MLB history to the Philadelphia A's recovery in 1929 from an 8-0 trailing margin against, who else--the Cubs, to win 10-8.
Five down, six to go.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Yuck Exponential--Peter
Well, as I said in the early part of the game (our first intragame post, by the way), if things continued the way they began in the 1st, it was not going to be a good night for the Hose. I got encouraged after the initial three spot that Wake gave up, when he put together a streak of six consecutive outs, taking him two outs into the 3d. If he could continue the way he was now going, we might come out of things OK. Unfortunately, the 3d out never came for Wake. He allowed another deuce in the 3d and was gone, Masterson doing a creditable job ending the inning quickly and carrying on through the 5th. Though he did surrender a run, he also K'd four Rays batters in the process. The score at that point was 6-1, Rays, the Sox run having come on a drive into the Monster seats by the Sox catcher, Cash.
Interestingly, Cash is a native of Tampa, while the Rays' first sacker is from Haverhill, Mass, a mid-sized city about thirty or thirtyfive miles northwest of Boston. Also where yours truly grew up and went to high school, but that's another story.
Anyway, as the game wore on, the carnage continued. After a brief respite in the 4th, the Rays added a run in the 5th off Masterson, although he closed out the inning with a simple grounder. Then came the 6th. The Only Manny-Delcarmen took the ball. Unfortunately, TOM also served up a one out triple, three walks and a single, leaving with the bases still jammed.
His successor, Lopez, came in and promptly surrendered successive singles and a run-scoring ground out before finally closing out the inning. That left the Fenmen on the short end of an 11-1 score and still a few innings to play. Oh, joy!
After another brief respite, neither team scoring through the Rays half of the 7th (a 1,2,3 inning by Lopez, in fact--perhaps some hope?--I don't think so), the Sox bats hinted at a smidgeon of life in their half of the 7th.
Papi, his wrist still not yet 100%, led off the inning with a long drive to right that appeared at first blush to be headed for the cheaps. As it turned out, it ricocheted off the low wall in right and caromed toward center away from the Rays' right fielder, Perez. It kept rolling farther and farther toward center while Perez gave chase. All the while Papi is running, and running, and running--first base, turn the corner and....second base; don't even slow down now....suddenly standing on third--a triple. No outs and Yoouk coming to bat. Unfortunately, he grounded out,but with Papi going on contact, the Sox got the run home, 11-2.
As son as the Rays came to bat in the 8th, they set to matching and whatever else they could do. With Jenn's favorite Sox pitcher, Timlin, now throwing, the pride of Haverhill, Pena, walked to lead things off. Then, in short order, Crawford tripled and Aybar singled, 13-2, Rays. Timlin did finally coax a double play grounder to end the inning.
It's now the bottom of the 8th and I'm thinking it doesn't look good. How's that for understatement? Well, I'm also briefly musing, the Hose could conceivably pull out the same type of inning they did this summer against the Rangers and put a nice ten spot on the board. Then they'd be within one. Likely, Not really. Not at all.
But they did show a few more signs of life. Lowrie singled to lead off, and moved to second on JD's grounder. Dusty came up and drilled a run scoring single to center, 13-3. Next up was Big Papi, who promptly K'd for the new pitcher. But it wasn't over quite yet. Yooouk drove one deep to center, plating Dusty with the Sox' fourth run. Regardless of the final result, the Sox were showing some character--they were letting the Rays know they weren't dead--they could and would still fight. Although they would score no more this evening, they continued their feisty spirit into the 9th, working a pair of free passes before finally shutting down. It's just like a rattlesnake. As long as there's still life in the snake, the degree of injuries it may have absorbed matters little--it can still bite, and you know what that means.
Tomorrow is a day off with action resuming on Thursday night, the Diceman on the mound. Assuming he carries the day, you can just picture Lester and JB chafing at the bit to each get some payback. Remember too--the last two times the Sox were in the ALCS, they were way behind, 3-1 last year to the Tribe and 3-0 to the Yankees. Both times they picked themselves off the floor and swept their way into the Series. Here's to a threepeat of that feat.
Interestingly, Cash is a native of Tampa, while the Rays' first sacker is from Haverhill, Mass, a mid-sized city about thirty or thirtyfive miles northwest of Boston. Also where yours truly grew up and went to high school, but that's another story.
Anyway, as the game wore on, the carnage continued. After a brief respite in the 4th, the Rays added a run in the 5th off Masterson, although he closed out the inning with a simple grounder. Then came the 6th. The Only Manny-Delcarmen took the ball. Unfortunately, TOM also served up a one out triple, three walks and a single, leaving with the bases still jammed.
His successor, Lopez, came in and promptly surrendered successive singles and a run-scoring ground out before finally closing out the inning. That left the Fenmen on the short end of an 11-1 score and still a few innings to play. Oh, joy!
After another brief respite, neither team scoring through the Rays half of the 7th (a 1,2,3 inning by Lopez, in fact--perhaps some hope?--I don't think so), the Sox bats hinted at a smidgeon of life in their half of the 7th.
Papi, his wrist still not yet 100%, led off the inning with a long drive to right that appeared at first blush to be headed for the cheaps. As it turned out, it ricocheted off the low wall in right and caromed toward center away from the Rays' right fielder, Perez. It kept rolling farther and farther toward center while Perez gave chase. All the while Papi is running, and running, and running--first base, turn the corner and....second base; don't even slow down now....suddenly standing on third--a triple. No outs and Yoouk coming to bat. Unfortunately, he grounded out,but with Papi going on contact, the Sox got the run home, 11-2.
As son as the Rays came to bat in the 8th, they set to matching and whatever else they could do. With Jenn's favorite Sox pitcher, Timlin, now throwing, the pride of Haverhill, Pena, walked to lead things off. Then, in short order, Crawford tripled and Aybar singled, 13-2, Rays. Timlin did finally coax a double play grounder to end the inning.
It's now the bottom of the 8th and I'm thinking it doesn't look good. How's that for understatement? Well, I'm also briefly musing, the Hose could conceivably pull out the same type of inning they did this summer against the Rangers and put a nice ten spot on the board. Then they'd be within one. Likely, Not really. Not at all.
But they did show a few more signs of life. Lowrie singled to lead off, and moved to second on JD's grounder. Dusty came up and drilled a run scoring single to center, 13-3. Next up was Big Papi, who promptly K'd for the new pitcher. But it wasn't over quite yet. Yooouk drove one deep to center, plating Dusty with the Sox' fourth run. Regardless of the final result, the Sox were showing some character--they were letting the Rays know they weren't dead--they could and would still fight. Although they would score no more this evening, they continued their feisty spirit into the 9th, working a pair of free passes before finally shutting down. It's just like a rattlesnake. As long as there's still life in the snake, the degree of injuries it may have absorbed matters little--it can still bite, and you know what that means.
Tomorrow is a day off with action resuming on Thursday night, the Diceman on the mound. Assuming he carries the day, you can just picture Lester and JB chafing at the bit to each get some payback. Remember too--the last two times the Sox were in the ALCS, they were way behind, 3-1 last year to the Tribe and 3-0 to the Yankees. Both times they picked themselves off the floor and swept their way into the Series. Here's to a threepeat of that feat.
First Inning--Not Looking Good!--Peter
Oh, boy! Here we go again! Wake's pitching game four. First inning, Iwamura--quick K. Upton, four pitch walk, followed by steal of second. The Pride of Haverhill--homer into the cheaps in center, followed by Longoria doing the same to left. Crawford--double and then stole third as the next batter K'd. Navarro walked and that's where we are now. Better get better fast or the Sox are in deep doo-doo.
Yuck! - Jenn
Last night should have been the night that the Sox started their final sweep toward the World Series. It should have been proof that the Rays really are this year's Rockies. It should have been the night that Lester extended his postseason scoreless streak to 30 or so innings.
Unfortunately "should have" doesn't help in the reality. It's a great pipe dream that Sox fans and players alike can talk about and wish upon. Then there's the reality - a thing you can't imagine, dream up, or create. It just is. And last night reality punched Red Sox Nation square in the jaw.
After a spectacular first inning from the "new ace" - one that got three outs on just five pitches, things crumbled for the lefty. Actually more like imploded. The second inning was the beginning of the downward spiral into hell. After a couple hits and a walk that should have been a strike out, the first run scored. But one run does not a game win - at least not in the second inning.
However the third was a very different story. Again 2 more Rays got on base and unlike the previous inning where Lester was able to squeak out with a minimal amount of damage, he got rocked. With 2 men on base BJ Upton stepped to the plate and crushed that ball. It didn't just go into the monster seats, but over them and landed on Landsdowne Street to give the Rays a 4-0 lead.
That was the end of the game. Maybe not literally, but mentally for Lester and every other Red Sock on that field. With Garza keeping his emotions in check, there was no way the Sox were coming back from that deficit.
It looked like there was a chance in the seventh when we had men at first and third with no one out. But after a fly out that scored the Sox only run, there was nothing left. And it wasn't any surprise. Out of the seven hits the Sox managed to scrape together, only two of them were for extra bases. But by the time the Sox got that run, I was already watching the game in fast forward, not wanting to live through the agony of any more innings or runs.
But as hard as it is to believe, the Sox and Red Sox Nation have been here before. As a matter of fact, we were down 2-1 in the ALCS in '03, '04 and '07. And in all three instances, the ALCS took seven games to complete. Now we won't discuss '03 and the Grady Little/Pedro Martinez fiasco, but in '04 we were down 3-1 and came back to kill the Yankees and sweep the Cards in the championship. Then last year, again we came back to beat the Yankees and swept the Rockies for the trophy.
So, yes, it's heartbreaking to watch a game like last night unfold. But just remember these are the Red Sox and we've been here before, we've been David facing Goliath. And just like the biblical story of the past, we've thrown that rock and knocked out the competition. This series will be no different.
Tonight Wakefield's on the mound. While he hasn't pitched yet in the off season, he's well rested and has been throwing great in his practice sessions. JD Drew's leading off the batting order and Coco Crisp is playing center. With a lineup like that we can't lose... Right?
Unfortunately "should have" doesn't help in the reality. It's a great pipe dream that Sox fans and players alike can talk about and wish upon. Then there's the reality - a thing you can't imagine, dream up, or create. It just is. And last night reality punched Red Sox Nation square in the jaw.
After a spectacular first inning from the "new ace" - one that got three outs on just five pitches, things crumbled for the lefty. Actually more like imploded. The second inning was the beginning of the downward spiral into hell. After a couple hits and a walk that should have been a strike out, the first run scored. But one run does not a game win - at least not in the second inning.
However the third was a very different story. Again 2 more Rays got on base and unlike the previous inning where Lester was able to squeak out with a minimal amount of damage, he got rocked. With 2 men on base BJ Upton stepped to the plate and crushed that ball. It didn't just go into the monster seats, but over them and landed on Landsdowne Street to give the Rays a 4-0 lead.
That was the end of the game. Maybe not literally, but mentally for Lester and every other Red Sock on that field. With Garza keeping his emotions in check, there was no way the Sox were coming back from that deficit.
It looked like there was a chance in the seventh when we had men at first and third with no one out. But after a fly out that scored the Sox only run, there was nothing left. And it wasn't any surprise. Out of the seven hits the Sox managed to scrape together, only two of them were for extra bases. But by the time the Sox got that run, I was already watching the game in fast forward, not wanting to live through the agony of any more innings or runs.
But as hard as it is to believe, the Sox and Red Sox Nation have been here before. As a matter of fact, we were down 2-1 in the ALCS in '03, '04 and '07. And in all three instances, the ALCS took seven games to complete. Now we won't discuss '03 and the Grady Little/Pedro Martinez fiasco, but in '04 we were down 3-1 and came back to kill the Yankees and sweep the Cards in the championship. Then last year, again we came back to beat the Yankees and swept the Rockies for the trophy.
So, yes, it's heartbreaking to watch a game like last night unfold. But just remember these are the Red Sox and we've been here before, we've been David facing Goliath. And just like the biblical story of the past, we've thrown that rock and knocked out the competition. This series will be no different.
Tonight Wakefield's on the mound. While he hasn't pitched yet in the off season, he's well rested and has been throwing great in his practice sessions. JD Drew's leading off the batting order and Coco Crisp is playing center. With a lineup like that we can't lose... Right?
Monday, October 13, 2008
Why We Lost - Jenn
There are two reasons we lost on Saturday. Their names are Beckett and Timlin. Since Dad gave great accounts of both Game 1 & 2, I'm just going to talk about these two Game 2 killers.
In Game 3 of the ALDS Beckett pitched five innings. He threw 106 pitches, only 59 of which were strikes. He gave up nine hits, four runs (two of which were home run shots), and four walks. He struck out six. The Sox went into extra innings and in the 12th Lopez gave up three hits which turned into the win for the Angels.
In Game 2 of the ALCS Beckett was again the starting pitcher. This time he only lasted 4.1 innings. He threw 93 pitches, only 56 of which were strikes. He gave up another nine hits, eight runs (three of which were home run shots), and one walk. This time he struck out five. Again the Sox went into extra innings and again the opposing team, the Rays, got the win.
Anyone else starting to see a pattern?
Remember Beckett pulled his oblique during a practice session before the ALDS which is why he was pushed to Game 3. Beckett says he's better and that the cortisone shot they administered has him feeling no pain. But remember the last horrible outing Beckett had during the regular season when he pitched against the Jays and only lasted 2.1 innings? He gave up eight runs there as well. It wasn't until a day or two later that the public discovered he had tingling in his fingers and then was out for the next three weeks.
According to Michael Vaccaro, another avid Sox fan and a friend of mine, of Beckett's 93 pitches on Saturday, only four of them achieved a swing and a miss. Only four out of 93 pitches. This is not the Beckett of last season. Hell, it's not even the Beckett of the regular '08 season.
Beckett may say he feels good, but his stats tell another story. Now I understand wanting to pitch in the postseason. Especially after last year's performance. But when you're injured, you're not going to have your best performance and you're going to hurt the team. It's time for Tito and/or Farrell to have a sit down with Beckett and tell him he's done until he's actually feeling better and can prove it in a practice session. He should not, under any circumstance pitch again in the ALCS. Give him the time off he needs to recover, then take another look when the Sox head to the World Series.
As for Timlin... if you've read this blog, you know how I feel about the relief pitcher, so I won't go off on him for the umpteenth time. I'll just pass on the stats that Michael passed onto me: Delcarmen, Okajima, Masterson and Papelbon all pitched for a total of 5.2 innings. They gave up only two hits - not one run and not one walk. They also each got one strike out - for a total of four K's.
Then Timlin came in. He pitched only 2/3 of an inning and gave up three walks, which eventually turned into the winning run the Rays needed for the walk-off. He didn't strike a single batter out.
Beckett's post season ERA is currently 16.62. Timlin's is 13.50. Need I say more?
Game 3 is this afternoon back at Fenway. Lester's starting, and he's been light's out at home. Here's hoping today will be the start of the Fenway sweep.
In Game 3 of the ALDS Beckett pitched five innings. He threw 106 pitches, only 59 of which were strikes. He gave up nine hits, four runs (two of which were home run shots), and four walks. He struck out six. The Sox went into extra innings and in the 12th Lopez gave up three hits which turned into the win for the Angels.
In Game 2 of the ALCS Beckett was again the starting pitcher. This time he only lasted 4.1 innings. He threw 93 pitches, only 56 of which were strikes. He gave up another nine hits, eight runs (three of which were home run shots), and one walk. This time he struck out five. Again the Sox went into extra innings and again the opposing team, the Rays, got the win.
Anyone else starting to see a pattern?
Remember Beckett pulled his oblique during a practice session before the ALDS which is why he was pushed to Game 3. Beckett says he's better and that the cortisone shot they administered has him feeling no pain. But remember the last horrible outing Beckett had during the regular season when he pitched against the Jays and only lasted 2.1 innings? He gave up eight runs there as well. It wasn't until a day or two later that the public discovered he had tingling in his fingers and then was out for the next three weeks.
According to Michael Vaccaro, another avid Sox fan and a friend of mine, of Beckett's 93 pitches on Saturday, only four of them achieved a swing and a miss. Only four out of 93 pitches. This is not the Beckett of last season. Hell, it's not even the Beckett of the regular '08 season.
Beckett may say he feels good, but his stats tell another story. Now I understand wanting to pitch in the postseason. Especially after last year's performance. But when you're injured, you're not going to have your best performance and you're going to hurt the team. It's time for Tito and/or Farrell to have a sit down with Beckett and tell him he's done until he's actually feeling better and can prove it in a practice session. He should not, under any circumstance pitch again in the ALCS. Give him the time off he needs to recover, then take another look when the Sox head to the World Series.
As for Timlin... if you've read this blog, you know how I feel about the relief pitcher, so I won't go off on him for the umpteenth time. I'll just pass on the stats that Michael passed onto me: Delcarmen, Okajima, Masterson and Papelbon all pitched for a total of 5.2 innings. They gave up only two hits - not one run and not one walk. They also each got one strike out - for a total of four K's.
Then Timlin came in. He pitched only 2/3 of an inning and gave up three walks, which eventually turned into the winning run the Rays needed for the walk-off. He didn't strike a single batter out.
Beckett's post season ERA is currently 16.62. Timlin's is 13.50. Need I say more?
Game 3 is this afternoon back at Fenway. Lester's starting, and he's been light's out at home. Here's hoping today will be the start of the Fenway sweep.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Sox Fall One Hit Shy--Peter
Well, tonight was a heartbreaker to lose. The Sox and Rays played long ball derby and swapped the lead back and forth through the first five innings, including four lead changes through five. The Sox finally tied it at eight in the 8th on a wild pitch, but kept failing to deliver the one big hit that would have salted away the game.
After Beckett was shelled from the game, leaving before the 5th was over, and charged with all eight of the Rays runs to that point, the bull pen held up remarkably well. From Lopez to Delcarmen, through two outstanding innings by Okajima (Oki looked like the Oki of '07!), through one and a third by Papelbon, the bull pen held firm. No runs were able to get home for the Rays. But, while this was going on, the offense was getting men on base, time and again--and leaving them there. They stranded thirteen for the entire game, but most seriously a pair in the 5th after already having scored with three solo shots by Dusty (his second of the game), Yooouk, and Bay; a pair again in the 6th; one each in the 8th and 9th; and a pair in the 11th.
To compound matters, in spite of his three hit evening, in the top of the 8th the Hose had two men on with nobody out and Yoouk grounded into a twin killing. Thankfully, one of the Sox runners made it to third on the play, to score a moment later on a wild pitch, tying the game at eight.
Aside from that unfortunate grounder, Yooouk was one of four Hose hitters getting three hits for the night. In fact, those four, Yoooouk, Dusty, Coco and Bay, accounted for all of the Sox' hits. One more hit in any of a number of the aforementioned key situations would have resulted in a Sox victory and a two zip series lead.
As it turned out, Jenn's favorite pitcher, Timlin, came on in the bottom of the 11th and walked the first two batters he faced. During the second of these, some of Timlin's pitches looked like strikes, particularly the second, but they were called balls by the umpire. After the count went to three and O, the Sox pitching coach, Farrell, and Tito both went out to complain to the umpire. Farrell, in particular, was really hot, and the TV pitch locator graphic showed he was correct on at least the second of the balls. All to no avail, as he returned to the dugout, he kept bitching and was tossed by the ump. This is another of the relatively recent changes that supposedly makes the game 'better' that I think are ridiculous. Can't argue balls and strikes, or you'll be run. It's right up there with no brushback pitches. For what the umpires earn, you'd think they could develop thicker skins--and maybe a few cojones.
Anyway, the two baserunners made it to second and third on a grounder to Yooouk at third, allowing the lead runner to be plated with the winning run a moment later on a shallow sacfly to Drew in right.
Back to Fenway and Lester on Monday for a day game. At least the Sox have taken home field advantage with their win in game one.
Still four down and seven to go.
After Beckett was shelled from the game, leaving before the 5th was over, and charged with all eight of the Rays runs to that point, the bull pen held up remarkably well. From Lopez to Delcarmen, through two outstanding innings by Okajima (Oki looked like the Oki of '07!), through one and a third by Papelbon, the bull pen held firm. No runs were able to get home for the Rays. But, while this was going on, the offense was getting men on base, time and again--and leaving them there. They stranded thirteen for the entire game, but most seriously a pair in the 5th after already having scored with three solo shots by Dusty (his second of the game), Yooouk, and Bay; a pair again in the 6th; one each in the 8th and 9th; and a pair in the 11th.
To compound matters, in spite of his three hit evening, in the top of the 8th the Hose had two men on with nobody out and Yoouk grounded into a twin killing. Thankfully, one of the Sox runners made it to third on the play, to score a moment later on a wild pitch, tying the game at eight.
Aside from that unfortunate grounder, Yooouk was one of four Hose hitters getting three hits for the night. In fact, those four, Yoooouk, Dusty, Coco and Bay, accounted for all of the Sox' hits. One more hit in any of a number of the aforementioned key situations would have resulted in a Sox victory and a two zip series lead.
As it turned out, Jenn's favorite pitcher, Timlin, came on in the bottom of the 11th and walked the first two batters he faced. During the second of these, some of Timlin's pitches looked like strikes, particularly the second, but they were called balls by the umpire. After the count went to three and O, the Sox pitching coach, Farrell, and Tito both went out to complain to the umpire. Farrell, in particular, was really hot, and the TV pitch locator graphic showed he was correct on at least the second of the balls. All to no avail, as he returned to the dugout, he kept bitching and was tossed by the ump. This is another of the relatively recent changes that supposedly makes the game 'better' that I think are ridiculous. Can't argue balls and strikes, or you'll be run. It's right up there with no brushback pitches. For what the umpires earn, you'd think they could develop thicker skins--and maybe a few cojones.
Anyway, the two baserunners made it to second and third on a grounder to Yooouk at third, allowing the lead runner to be plated with the winning run a moment later on a shallow sacfly to Drew in right.
Back to Fenway and Lester on Monday for a day game. At least the Sox have taken home field advantage with their win in game one.
Still four down and seven to go.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Dice Rolls The Rays--Peter
Well, here the Sox were--again opening a playoff series on enemy turf; enemy turf probably more literal than in most cases, given the stormy history these two teams have had over recent years. The Sox were at the Trop to play the Rays, who have shown that their early season success was no fluke. These guys apparently are the real thing. They had just finished shutting down the Chisox to get the right to host the Bosox, and everyone was predicting a solid battle.
Enter the Diceman. While the Rays pitching, led by Shields, did a very creditable job, it was no match for the many varied offerings of Dice-K. More than get the 'W', Dice pitched in the truest sense of the word when it really counted.
All season long, he has shown an almost uncanny ability to get out of jams, somehow avoiding surrendering the necessary hit that his opponents required when everything seemed on the verge of exploding in his face. Tonight was no different. Suddenly facing a bases loaded situation in the first inning, he bore down and denied the Rays the hit that they needed to possibly crack the game open early. Just as suddenly as the threat materialized, the inning was over and the score was still all zeroes.
The Diceman continued his brilliant performance through six, still in possession of a no-no entering the 7th. That finally ended when he surrendered a leadoff single in the 7th, but he still kept the shutout going to finish that inning.
Meanwhile, he had been given the lead in the 5th when Bay led off with a walk, moved to third on a ringing double by Kotsay, and scored on a sacfly by Lowrie. As it turned out, that would be enough for the victory, but the Sox tacked on an insurance run in the 8th when Pedroia got a single. Dusty then wasted no time, stealing second. After a walk to Big Papi, Yooouk brought him home with a solid double that the Rays outfielder made a great try for, but couldn't quite bring in.
When Dice-K gave up a pair of hits sandwiched around a wild pitch to open the Rays half of the 8th, Francona yanked him, replacing him with Okjima. Oki was OK! He quickly got the Rays' best slugger, former Sox player and the pride of Haverhill, Pena, to fly our to Drew. Job done; new pitcher. Masterson replaced Oki and took care of the rest of the 8th, getting Rays rookie star Longoria to ground into an inning-ending twin killing.
Sox 9th--and that can only mean one thing--Laserman! Papelbon came on and wasted precious little time slamming the door in the Rays' faces. Three up--three down, two of them K's. His fast ball was just exponential Papelbon, just exploding past the helpless Rays batsmen with predictable results.
Four down, seven to go.
Enter the Diceman. While the Rays pitching, led by Shields, did a very creditable job, it was no match for the many varied offerings of Dice-K. More than get the 'W', Dice pitched in the truest sense of the word when it really counted.
All season long, he has shown an almost uncanny ability to get out of jams, somehow avoiding surrendering the necessary hit that his opponents required when everything seemed on the verge of exploding in his face. Tonight was no different. Suddenly facing a bases loaded situation in the first inning, he bore down and denied the Rays the hit that they needed to possibly crack the game open early. Just as suddenly as the threat materialized, the inning was over and the score was still all zeroes.
The Diceman continued his brilliant performance through six, still in possession of a no-no entering the 7th. That finally ended when he surrendered a leadoff single in the 7th, but he still kept the shutout going to finish that inning.
Meanwhile, he had been given the lead in the 5th when Bay led off with a walk, moved to third on a ringing double by Kotsay, and scored on a sacfly by Lowrie. As it turned out, that would be enough for the victory, but the Sox tacked on an insurance run in the 8th when Pedroia got a single. Dusty then wasted no time, stealing second. After a walk to Big Papi, Yooouk brought him home with a solid double that the Rays outfielder made a great try for, but couldn't quite bring in.
When Dice-K gave up a pair of hits sandwiched around a wild pitch to open the Rays half of the 8th, Francona yanked him, replacing him with Okjima. Oki was OK! He quickly got the Rays' best slugger, former Sox player and the pride of Haverhill, Pena, to fly our to Drew. Job done; new pitcher. Masterson replaced Oki and took care of the rest of the 8th, getting Rays rookie star Longoria to ground into an inning-ending twin killing.
Sox 9th--and that can only mean one thing--Laserman! Papelbon came on and wasted precious little time slamming the door in the Rays' faces. Three up--three down, two of them K's. His fast ball was just exponential Papelbon, just exploding past the helpless Rays batsmen with predictable results.
Four down, seven to go.
Monday, October 6, 2008
A Hit By Jed; Angels Are Dead--Peter
Well, this one was a game that you hate to see anyone lose. But, there's no question I'm glad the Sox won! Tonight there were so many heroes, it's hard to single out any one player. Lester took the ball and, just as in game 1, kept the Angels off the bases. He was magnificent through seven, and left with a two zip lead, one of the runs coming on Pedroia's first (and, as it turned out, only) hit of the series. Dusty lined a shot high off the Monster and drove home a run in the 5th, getting the Hose their second run of the game. The way Lester was pitching, it was looking more and more like that would be more than enough. Not so fast.
I'm watching it on the tube and counting down the remaining Halo outs until the series is done and the Sox get to move on when, what happens, Tito yanks Lester and brings in Okajima to open the 8th. He quickly gets the leadoff, but then walks a batter with two outs, and is gone. Masterson comes on, gives up a walk to Vlad Guerrero, and then, to make matters worse--very worse, blows a sign from Tek, throws a heater about chest high over the plate when Tek called a breaking ball, and it goes to the backstop. Both Angels runners move up and now, with men on second and third, Torii Hunter, performs as he has throughout the series. He drops a sharply hit liner into right field that, even with a dead on throw can't prevent both runs from scoring, tying the score.
Masterson last just one third more of an inning, now into the 9th before being replaced by The Only Manny--Delcarmen, Who I never knew before last night, is from Boston-- a true home town boy. Manny finds himself with two outs and a runner on third, one of the Angels' fastest baserunners. Just as the TV commentators finish suggesting that a suicide squeeze is something that the Sox have to be on the outlook for, the Halos attempt exactly that. TOM throws a high heater to the third base side of the plate and here comes the baserunner. The batter attempts to provide cover by just getting his bat on the ball and putting the ball in play--anywhere at all--just get it in play. But he misses--the ball's just a bit too high for him to make contact, and the baserunner is halfway down the line on his way home with what would have been the lead run, when all of a sudden, there he is--naked to the world and dead as a doornail unless he can get back to third before Tek tags him out.
He's faster than Tek; he should win this footrace; he should be OK. But wait! Putting on a burst of speed no-one, including Tek, knew he had, Tek reaches out full extension, applies the tag before the runner can retreat to the bag, and falls ass over tea kettle. The runner is OUT! Halos manager Scoscia gives argument because after the tag is applied and Tek does his tumbling act, the ball finally falls free. Scoscia and the runner are yelling that the fact that it kicked free of Tek's glove voids the tag and means the runner is safe. The ump disagrees and replay after replay after replay, ad nauseam, backs up the umpire. The out stands as called. As this is not the NFL, no protest flag is thrown on the field.
Which brings us to the bottom of the 9th. Bay, with one out, rifles a drive to right field that the Angels fielder just comes up short of catching by inches. The Halos are lucky, however, when it kicks into the stands, limiting Bay to a ground rule double. If the ball not only gets by the fielder (it does), but stays in the field of play, Bay definitely gets to third, and very likely goes all the way around the bases for an inside the parker that wins the game right there. Kotsay comes up, having already made a couple of highlight reel fielding plays, one a going away over the shoulder grab that would have even made Randy Moss envious. He hits one right on the button; it has double to right written all over it, but it hadn't taken Texeira into account. The late season acquisition of the Halos, in his first post-season of his career, demonstrates why he was an All-Star for his former team at first base. Diving to his left at full extension, he instantly turns Kotsay's drive into just another out. Bay is still standing on second.
Up comes Jed Lowrie. He gets a pitch to his liking and bang--just inches beyond the Angels' second sacker's reach, it's into right field. Bay, running at the crack of the bat like someone's chasing him with a machete, tears around third and heads for home. The throw comes in from right--Bay slides--it'll be close. Heeee's SAFE! SOX WIN! SERIES OVER! ON TO THE LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP!
Three down, eight to go.
I'm watching it on the tube and counting down the remaining Halo outs until the series is done and the Sox get to move on when, what happens, Tito yanks Lester and brings in Okajima to open the 8th. He quickly gets the leadoff, but then walks a batter with two outs, and is gone. Masterson comes on, gives up a walk to Vlad Guerrero, and then, to make matters worse--very worse, blows a sign from Tek, throws a heater about chest high over the plate when Tek called a breaking ball, and it goes to the backstop. Both Angels runners move up and now, with men on second and third, Torii Hunter, performs as he has throughout the series. He drops a sharply hit liner into right field that, even with a dead on throw can't prevent both runs from scoring, tying the score.
Masterson last just one third more of an inning, now into the 9th before being replaced by The Only Manny--Delcarmen, Who I never knew before last night, is from Boston-- a true home town boy. Manny finds himself with two outs and a runner on third, one of the Angels' fastest baserunners. Just as the TV commentators finish suggesting that a suicide squeeze is something that the Sox have to be on the outlook for, the Halos attempt exactly that. TOM throws a high heater to the third base side of the plate and here comes the baserunner. The batter attempts to provide cover by just getting his bat on the ball and putting the ball in play--anywhere at all--just get it in play. But he misses--the ball's just a bit too high for him to make contact, and the baserunner is halfway down the line on his way home with what would have been the lead run, when all of a sudden, there he is--naked to the world and dead as a doornail unless he can get back to third before Tek tags him out.
He's faster than Tek; he should win this footrace; he should be OK. But wait! Putting on a burst of speed no-one, including Tek, knew he had, Tek reaches out full extension, applies the tag before the runner can retreat to the bag, and falls ass over tea kettle. The runner is OUT! Halos manager Scoscia gives argument because after the tag is applied and Tek does his tumbling act, the ball finally falls free. Scoscia and the runner are yelling that the fact that it kicked free of Tek's glove voids the tag and means the runner is safe. The ump disagrees and replay after replay after replay, ad nauseam, backs up the umpire. The out stands as called. As this is not the NFL, no protest flag is thrown on the field.
Which brings us to the bottom of the 9th. Bay, with one out, rifles a drive to right field that the Angels fielder just comes up short of catching by inches. The Halos are lucky, however, when it kicks into the stands, limiting Bay to a ground rule double. If the ball not only gets by the fielder (it does), but stays in the field of play, Bay definitely gets to third, and very likely goes all the way around the bases for an inside the parker that wins the game right there. Kotsay comes up, having already made a couple of highlight reel fielding plays, one a going away over the shoulder grab that would have even made Randy Moss envious. He hits one right on the button; it has double to right written all over it, but it hadn't taken Texeira into account. The late season acquisition of the Halos, in his first post-season of his career, demonstrates why he was an All-Star for his former team at first base. Diving to his left at full extension, he instantly turns Kotsay's drive into just another out. Bay is still standing on second.
Up comes Jed Lowrie. He gets a pitch to his liking and bang--just inches beyond the Angels' second sacker's reach, it's into right field. Bay, running at the crack of the bat like someone's chasing him with a machete, tears around third and heads for home. The throw comes in from right--Bay slides--it'll be close. Heeee's SAFE! SOX WIN! SERIES OVER! ON TO THE LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP!
Three down, eight to go.
Onto the ALCS - Jenn
That's right, after a little tension last night, the Red Sox dashed all doubts and squashed the Angels hopes of a pennant for the third time in as many outings. However, just like last night, it was not an easy win.
But before I get to tonight's game, let me recap Friday and Sunday.
We won.
We lost. (In 12 innings and the longest game in ALDS history at 5 hours and 19 minutes. While I was stuck working, Dad did his part and has full recaps of both games.)
Okay, now onto tonight. Again, being stuck at work, I decided to tune in. Granted I started watching in the top of the 5th, but since the score was tied at 0-0, I knew I hadn't missed anything - other than Lester being Lester and Lackey being Lackey. Another pitcher's duel similar to game one in Anaheim. But unlike game one, this time it was the Sox who scored first.
It all started with a fielder's choice by Ellsbury to plate the first run. Then Pedroia finally snapped his 0-17 streak and hit a double off the wall to plate Varitek and give the Sox a 2-0 lead and allow Lester to be the winning pitcher.
And that would have been the case if it weren't for the Red Sox phenomenal relief staff. (You may sense a note of sarcasm there.) Anyway the Sox were holding steady until the top of the 8th when Okie took over for Lester after seven great innings and 109 pitches. Things started well enough when Chone Figgins and Garrett Anderson both grounded out to 2nd. It looked as if Okie would have another 1,2,3 inning. But these are the Red Sox and just because something looks like it could happen doesn't mean it will. After two easy outs, Okie couldn't place his pitches and he walked Teixeira. Not wanting to take any chances, Francona pulled him for the even less dependable Masterson.
Now I say less dependable because you never know what you're gonna get with Masterson. Like Dad says, Masterson runs hot and cold. And unfortunately recently Masterson's been very, very cold. Well, tonight was no different. All he needed was one out. Instead he walks Guerrero then throws a wild pitch to Varitek allowing both Teixeira and Guerrero to move into scoring position. (They scored it a passed ball, but I think it was wild.) The Sox still need just one more out to maintain their lead. But Hunter lines Masterson's pitch to right, and both Teixeira and Guerrero score to tie the game.
The Red Sox couldn't answer against Shields in their part of the 8th and it's onto the 9th. After Morales doubled off the wall and Willits sac bunts to moved him to third, both myself and Red Sox Nation were starting to fear a repeat of Sunday night's game. But thankfully Varitek does what he does best and made probably the best play of the post season so far.
Willits took over for Morales at 3rd as a pinch runner because if you need to score the go ahead run, there's no one on the Angels bench that's faster. So with Aybar at the plate, the plan was a suicide squeeze. Unfortunately for the Angels, every member of the Red Sox knew it and were ready. Aybar missed the bunt and Varitek took that ball and made a bee line for Willits who was already half way down the third base line. Willits may be fast, but he's not fast enough for Varitek. The Captain tagged him about a foot off the bag, then fell, knocking the ball loose. Scioscia was quickly out to argue that Varitek didn't have control of the ball when he tagged Willits. But as instant replay clearly showed, Varitek had complete control of the ball on the tag and only lost it when his impact with the ground knocked it free. There were now two outs and Aybar's strike out makes three. Now it's the Sox turn. Maybe it'll be just like the final game of the regular season and we'll have another walk-off.
Well, clearly the Red Sox wanted that outcome as badly as "The Nation" because Bay wasted no time taking a Shields pitch and knocking it to right for a ground rule double. Willits was lucky the ball hit the dirt and not his glove because if that ball had knocked off his glove or the outfield grass, Bay would still be running. Instead Bay was stuck at 2nd with one out. Shields and the Angels bench may have believed the baseball gods were smiling down on them by bouncing that ball into the seats, but that belief was dashed when Lowrie stepped to the plate.
The young shortstop got a pitch that was down and away. But realizing the winning run was on base, Lowrie was determined to get some kind of wood on the ball. And connect he did, just enough to squeak it past the diving 2nd baseman, and into the outfield to allow Bay to score the game winning run in beautiful walk-off fashion.
Final score 3-2. Final series score 3-1. And although the Angles may have snapped their post season losing streak to Boston last night, they couldn't snap it enough to move onto the ALCS. I guess it just goes to show: doesn't matter what you do in the regular season, it doesn't mean crap if you can't follow through in the post season. See you all Friday at the Trop!
But before I get to tonight's game, let me recap Friday and Sunday.
We won.
We lost. (In 12 innings and the longest game in ALDS history at 5 hours and 19 minutes. While I was stuck working, Dad did his part and has full recaps of both games.)
Okay, now onto tonight. Again, being stuck at work, I decided to tune in. Granted I started watching in the top of the 5th, but since the score was tied at 0-0, I knew I hadn't missed anything - other than Lester being Lester and Lackey being Lackey. Another pitcher's duel similar to game one in Anaheim. But unlike game one, this time it was the Sox who scored first.
It all started with a fielder's choice by Ellsbury to plate the first run. Then Pedroia finally snapped his 0-17 streak and hit a double off the wall to plate Varitek and give the Sox a 2-0 lead and allow Lester to be the winning pitcher.
And that would have been the case if it weren't for the Red Sox phenomenal relief staff. (You may sense a note of sarcasm there.) Anyway the Sox were holding steady until the top of the 8th when Okie took over for Lester after seven great innings and 109 pitches. Things started well enough when Chone Figgins and Garrett Anderson both grounded out to 2nd. It looked as if Okie would have another 1,2,3 inning. But these are the Red Sox and just because something looks like it could happen doesn't mean it will. After two easy outs, Okie couldn't place his pitches and he walked Teixeira. Not wanting to take any chances, Francona pulled him for the even less dependable Masterson.
Now I say less dependable because you never know what you're gonna get with Masterson. Like Dad says, Masterson runs hot and cold. And unfortunately recently Masterson's been very, very cold. Well, tonight was no different. All he needed was one out. Instead he walks Guerrero then throws a wild pitch to Varitek allowing both Teixeira and Guerrero to move into scoring position. (They scored it a passed ball, but I think it was wild.) The Sox still need just one more out to maintain their lead. But Hunter lines Masterson's pitch to right, and both Teixeira and Guerrero score to tie the game.
The Red Sox couldn't answer against Shields in their part of the 8th and it's onto the 9th. After Morales doubled off the wall and Willits sac bunts to moved him to third, both myself and Red Sox Nation were starting to fear a repeat of Sunday night's game. But thankfully Varitek does what he does best and made probably the best play of the post season so far.
Willits took over for Morales at 3rd as a pinch runner because if you need to score the go ahead run, there's no one on the Angels bench that's faster. So with Aybar at the plate, the plan was a suicide squeeze. Unfortunately for the Angels, every member of the Red Sox knew it and were ready. Aybar missed the bunt and Varitek took that ball and made a bee line for Willits who was already half way down the third base line. Willits may be fast, but he's not fast enough for Varitek. The Captain tagged him about a foot off the bag, then fell, knocking the ball loose. Scioscia was quickly out to argue that Varitek didn't have control of the ball when he tagged Willits. But as instant replay clearly showed, Varitek had complete control of the ball on the tag and only lost it when his impact with the ground knocked it free. There were now two outs and Aybar's strike out makes three. Now it's the Sox turn. Maybe it'll be just like the final game of the regular season and we'll have another walk-off.
Well, clearly the Red Sox wanted that outcome as badly as "The Nation" because Bay wasted no time taking a Shields pitch and knocking it to right for a ground rule double. Willits was lucky the ball hit the dirt and not his glove because if that ball had knocked off his glove or the outfield grass, Bay would still be running. Instead Bay was stuck at 2nd with one out. Shields and the Angels bench may have believed the baseball gods were smiling down on them by bouncing that ball into the seats, but that belief was dashed when Lowrie stepped to the plate.
The young shortstop got a pitch that was down and away. But realizing the winning run was on base, Lowrie was determined to get some kind of wood on the ball. And connect he did, just enough to squeak it past the diving 2nd baseman, and into the outfield to allow Bay to score the game winning run in beautiful walk-off fashion.
Final score 3-2. Final series score 3-1. And although the Angles may have snapped their post season losing streak to Boston last night, they couldn't snap it enough to move onto the ALCS. I guess it just goes to show: doesn't matter what you do in the regular season, it doesn't mean crap if you can't follow through in the post season. See you all Friday at the Trop!
One Hit Shy--Peter
Well, as with all good things, the Sox winning streak in playoff games over the Angels came to an end last night, 5-4, in the 12th inning. The Halos got the better of Beckett in his five innings, managing to come from behind to tie and then go ahead, 4-3, in the 5th, largely due to a pair of round trippers by their catcher, Napoli. While he's not exactly a household word, he also isn't without a decent amount of power, having hit 20 homers during the regular season.
The Sox picked up a 3-1 lead on an all-time first and only in post season play, a three run SINGLE (you read that right) by Ellsbury. It wasn't that impressive a stroke, rather a simple popup that barely made the outfield grass. Three Angels fielders converged on the ball and then decided to discuss who would have the honor of making the putout. Unfortunately for them, gravity was unwilling to be on hold and the ball fell to earth safely in fair territory and while they were busy having a collective convulsion over this fact, all three Sox baserunners came home and scored.
It wasn't too long, however, before Napoli did his thing and when Beckett left, he was once again trailing. He had his velocity, but his command just wasn't there. If nothing else this proves that too much rest between starts, 13 days, in his case, is not necessarily a good thing.
In their half of the 5th, the Sox tied the score, Yooouk following a double by Jake with one of his to the wall just left of straightaway center. There things sat through the rest of regulation and into extra innings.
the Sox bullpen was holding the Angels in check, more or less, and Papelbon was doing his Laserman routine for two innings and 31 pitches (I counted 35, by the way). No difference.
In the 10th, the Hose loaded the bases, but couldn't get just one more hit or walk to bring home the winning run. In the 11th, they had a man on second, but same story. In the 12th, Lopez, having relieved Laser, they gave up a run to the Halos, making it 5-4, Angels, and then couldn't generate any reply in the bottom half. Game over.
They play again today, and, in this writer's opinion, have to do it here and now. I don't deny another Sox win in Anaheim would be beyond the bounds of the possible, but I don't wish to see the Sox have to go back in the face of renewed Angels momentum.
The Sox picked up a 3-1 lead on an all-time first and only in post season play, a three run SINGLE (you read that right) by Ellsbury. It wasn't that impressive a stroke, rather a simple popup that barely made the outfield grass. Three Angels fielders converged on the ball and then decided to discuss who would have the honor of making the putout. Unfortunately for them, gravity was unwilling to be on hold and the ball fell to earth safely in fair territory and while they were busy having a collective convulsion over this fact, all three Sox baserunners came home and scored.
It wasn't too long, however, before Napoli did his thing and when Beckett left, he was once again trailing. He had his velocity, but his command just wasn't there. If nothing else this proves that too much rest between starts, 13 days, in his case, is not necessarily a good thing.
In their half of the 5th, the Sox tied the score, Yooouk following a double by Jake with one of his to the wall just left of straightaway center. There things sat through the rest of regulation and into extra innings.
the Sox bullpen was holding the Angels in check, more or less, and Papelbon was doing his Laserman routine for two innings and 31 pitches (I counted 35, by the way). No difference.
In the 10th, the Hose loaded the bases, but couldn't get just one more hit or walk to bring home the winning run. In the 11th, they had a man on second, but same story. In the 12th, Lopez, having relieved Laser, they gave up a run to the Halos, making it 5-4, Angels, and then couldn't generate any reply in the bottom half. Game over.
They play again today, and, in this writer's opinion, have to do it here and now. I don't deny another Sox win in Anaheim would be beyond the bounds of the possible, but I don't wish to see the Sox have to go back in the face of renewed Angels momentum.
Friday, October 3, 2008
One Swing By Drew--Sox Lead By Two--Peter
The title tells you the way the Sox closed out the Angels, and it was definitely as dramatic as shots in past playoffs against the Halos by Manny and Big Papi have been. But it was not the whole story—not even close!
Facing Ervin Santana—a damn good pitcher--for the first time this year, the Sox got two outs in the 1st and then teed off. A string of singles started by Papi led to one run. Then, two men on, the count 2-2, and Jason Bay, in just his second playoff game ever, launches one. Like Game One, this was a no-doubter from the moment it left the bat. It landed on the boulders beyond the center field fence, and bounced even further away. Instantly, it was Sox four zip.
The Halos got one back in their half of the 1st, but the Sox matched it in the 4th. Ellsbury chose the moment with Cora on base to slam a long double into the outfield and the four run Sox lead was restored. Even though the Angels scratched back and matched in their half of the 4th, the Diceman was doing his thing.
If the Halos got men on base, regardless how they got there, Dice-K would turn it up a notch and close them down. True, they had eight hits and three free passes in the five innings Dice worked, but all they could show for it was three single runs. Anyone else would have at least surrendered five or six. As Buck Martinez, the commentator, mentioned with a graphic, the more trouble Dice-K gets himself into, the tougher he gets, with opposing BA’s dropping as baserunners increase.
However, these Angels are not the Halos of years past. This season, they added some strategic players in the persons of Torii Hunter and Mark Texeira, both game changers on a single swing of the bat. They won 100 games in regular season for the first time in team history. So you expect them to keep chipping away, inning by inning. Sure enough, after Dice left, leading 5-3, the Halos turned a pair of singles into a run off Okajima in the 6th—5-4, Sox.
Although Masterson held them scoreless in the 7th, he opened the 8th allowing a leadoff triple. That was all Francona had to see. He called for Papelbon and the Laser came on. He immediately got the first batter he faced on a foul pop on just one pitch. But the next batter, Texeira, who is having an awesome series, added a sacfly to his 3-3 evening and tied the game. Blown save for Pap. Pap then closed out the 8th, setting up the Hollywood finish in the 9th.
Big Papi launched one to deep center that initially looked for all the world that it was going to untie the game in one fell swoop. However, it was about a foot short, bouncing off the outfielder’s glove and leaving Ortiz standing on second with a double, his second hit of the evening. Crisp came in to run, and Youk turned over on a K-Rod slider, grounding out to third. That brought J.D. to the plate.
Now Drew hasn’t played much at all for the better part of the last two months, his last homer coming in mid-July, all due to a combination of family problems and a ruptured disc. He had gotten a double in the first, but it was on a straight heater. K-Rod’s deadliest pitches are a pair of breaking balls thrown at very different speeds that have made him almost as unhittable as Papelbon. Not tonight. On a 2-2 count, he left one of these a bit further out over the plate than he should have and Drew put it well out of reach of anyone, fans included—7-5, Sox.
Pap then came on and nailed the Angels’ coffin shut, aided for the second out of the 9th by a spectacular play by Yooouk on a foul pop. Chasing a foul pop toward the seats along the third base line, Yooouk tracked the ball as it drifted closer and closer to the photographers’ box, saw it go over the box, and then, at the last minute, leaned over a cameraman and speared it with a solid backhand grab.
This is now eleven in a row in the post-season against the Angels. Two down, nine to go.
Facing Ervin Santana—a damn good pitcher--for the first time this year, the Sox got two outs in the 1st and then teed off. A string of singles started by Papi led to one run. Then, two men on, the count 2-2, and Jason Bay, in just his second playoff game ever, launches one. Like Game One, this was a no-doubter from the moment it left the bat. It landed on the boulders beyond the center field fence, and bounced even further away. Instantly, it was Sox four zip.
The Halos got one back in their half of the 1st, but the Sox matched it in the 4th. Ellsbury chose the moment with Cora on base to slam a long double into the outfield and the four run Sox lead was restored. Even though the Angels scratched back and matched in their half of the 4th, the Diceman was doing his thing.
If the Halos got men on base, regardless how they got there, Dice-K would turn it up a notch and close them down. True, they had eight hits and three free passes in the five innings Dice worked, but all they could show for it was three single runs. Anyone else would have at least surrendered five or six. As Buck Martinez, the commentator, mentioned with a graphic, the more trouble Dice-K gets himself into, the tougher he gets, with opposing BA’s dropping as baserunners increase.
However, these Angels are not the Halos of years past. This season, they added some strategic players in the persons of Torii Hunter and Mark Texeira, both game changers on a single swing of the bat. They won 100 games in regular season for the first time in team history. So you expect them to keep chipping away, inning by inning. Sure enough, after Dice left, leading 5-3, the Halos turned a pair of singles into a run off Okajima in the 6th—5-4, Sox.
Although Masterson held them scoreless in the 7th, he opened the 8th allowing a leadoff triple. That was all Francona had to see. He called for Papelbon and the Laser came on. He immediately got the first batter he faced on a foul pop on just one pitch. But the next batter, Texeira, who is having an awesome series, added a sacfly to his 3-3 evening and tied the game. Blown save for Pap. Pap then closed out the 8th, setting up the Hollywood finish in the 9th.
Big Papi launched one to deep center that initially looked for all the world that it was going to untie the game in one fell swoop. However, it was about a foot short, bouncing off the outfielder’s glove and leaving Ortiz standing on second with a double, his second hit of the evening. Crisp came in to run, and Youk turned over on a K-Rod slider, grounding out to third. That brought J.D. to the plate.
Now Drew hasn’t played much at all for the better part of the last two months, his last homer coming in mid-July, all due to a combination of family problems and a ruptured disc. He had gotten a double in the first, but it was on a straight heater. K-Rod’s deadliest pitches are a pair of breaking balls thrown at very different speeds that have made him almost as unhittable as Papelbon. Not tonight. On a 2-2 count, he left one of these a bit further out over the plate than he should have and Drew put it well out of reach of anyone, fans included—7-5, Sox.
Pap then came on and nailed the Angels’ coffin shut, aided for the second out of the 9th by a spectacular play by Yooouk on a foul pop. Chasing a foul pop toward the seats along the third base line, Yooouk tracked the ball as it drifted closer and closer to the photographers’ box, saw it go over the box, and then, at the last minute, leaned over a cameraman and speared it with a solid backhand grab.
This is now eleven in a row in the post-season against the Angels. Two down, nine to go.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Manny Who? - Jenn
Everyone's been talking about how the Sox might be in trouble in the post season without Manny Ramirez. I mean, face it, he's the only reason the Dodgers are in the playoffs, he's probably got the best batting average in the post season of every player on the current MLB roster and our guy, Mr. Jason Bay has never seen the post season in his whole major league career.
Well, last night Bay made his presence known to Red Sox Nation and the rest of major league baseball and put any question about trading Manny to rest. Sure Manny may have gotten a solo shot last night to help the Dodgers kill the Cubs, but Jason Bay was the reason the Sox won Game 1.
It was a pitcher's duel if ever there was one last night. As Dad already said, the only run the Angels scored was because of a rare error from Jed Lowrie. That one run kept the Angels in the lead through five innings. Then in the 6th, Lackey walked Youkilis. But the Sox had already had men on base in every inning and couldn't get them home. Well, Bay, who was already 0 for 2 on the night, was tired of that. And on an 0-1 pitch that stayed out over the plate he let loose and crushed that ball to left for the 2-1 lead. As both my title and the commentator said last night -- Manny who?
But that wasn't it for the new left fielder. In the 9th with Scot Shields on the mound, Bay added some insurance to the Red Sox lead by smacking a double to right that Gary Matthews couldn't handle. That plated the 3rd Sox run and would have been enough to get the win. But Ortiz happily added some more padding when he smacked a single up the middle to plate Ellsbury for the fourth and final Red Sox run.
Bay has proved himself time and time again. Alright, so he may not be Manny Ramirez, but he's doing his part to keep the Sox in the running for that all important Championship Series. And while Bay doesn't have the stats that Manny has, he has something Manny evidently didn't all eight years he was with the Sox - happiness at being with one of the oldest teams in baseball. And in my opinion that's worth millions more than home runs or batting averages.
Jason Bay is another star in the Sox lineup. And trust me when I say we'll see plenty more from him as the post season continues. Maybe even enough for the comparisons to that other left fielder to stop altogether.
Well, last night Bay made his presence known to Red Sox Nation and the rest of major league baseball and put any question about trading Manny to rest. Sure Manny may have gotten a solo shot last night to help the Dodgers kill the Cubs, but Jason Bay was the reason the Sox won Game 1.
It was a pitcher's duel if ever there was one last night. As Dad already said, the only run the Angels scored was because of a rare error from Jed Lowrie. That one run kept the Angels in the lead through five innings. Then in the 6th, Lackey walked Youkilis. But the Sox had already had men on base in every inning and couldn't get them home. Well, Bay, who was already 0 for 2 on the night, was tired of that. And on an 0-1 pitch that stayed out over the plate he let loose and crushed that ball to left for the 2-1 lead. As both my title and the commentator said last night -- Manny who?
But that wasn't it for the new left fielder. In the 9th with Scot Shields on the mound, Bay added some insurance to the Red Sox lead by smacking a double to right that Gary Matthews couldn't handle. That plated the 3rd Sox run and would have been enough to get the win. But Ortiz happily added some more padding when he smacked a single up the middle to plate Ellsbury for the fourth and final Red Sox run.
Bay has proved himself time and time again. Alright, so he may not be Manny Ramirez, but he's doing his part to keep the Sox in the running for that all important Championship Series. And while Bay doesn't have the stats that Manny has, he has something Manny evidently didn't all eight years he was with the Sox - happiness at being with one of the oldest teams in baseball. And in my opinion that's worth millions more than home runs or batting averages.
Jason Bay is another star in the Sox lineup. And trust me when I say we'll see plenty more from him as the post season continues. Maybe even enough for the comparisons to that other left fielder to stop altogether.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Jake's Night--Peter
Well, tonight the Sox came into Anaheim to start the post-season against the heavily favored Angels, the team with the best regular season record, 100 wins, and an 8-1 record against the Hose. Ellsbury immediately took charge of the game and showed what the Sox would do. Leading off, he drove a ball high off the fence and ended up with a double, the first of three hits and five times on base for the rookie outfielder tonight. Although the Sox failed to score, it set a tone.
Lester rolled along for the evening, setting down batter after batter, and getting stronger as the innings rolled by. He gave up a single unearned in the third, when Lowrie briefly came up with a case of dead hands on a routine grounder, the resulting baserunner later scoring on a Torii Hunter single that never would have happened without the error as Hunter never would have reached the plate to bat without the error. For Lowrie, it was a very rare miscue. This year, he set a record for rookie shortstops--155 chances without an error. From that point on, Lester stayed locked in a pitcher's duel, trailing one zip until the 6th.
At that point Yoouk reached base and a couple of batters later, Jason Bay, already having struck out twice on pitches out off the strike zone, showed why the Sox felt comfortable sending Manny to LA. A Lackey heater stayed out over the plate, and Bay turned on it. The instant it left the bat, it was a no-doubter. You knew immediately it wasn't coming down anywhere close to the field of play. No--it was cheap seats for this one--and a 2-1 Sox lead.
The pitching duel resumed after that, Lackey and his successor, Oliver, frustrating the Sox every time they appeared to be about to get something going. They got the Halos into the 8th, to be relieved by Shields, who closed out that inning. But that was all he closed out.
Up came the Sox in the 9th. Ellsbury gets his third hit of the evening and promptly steals second, his second swipe of the night. The Halos catcher had no answer for Jake. Twice, Napoli made creditable throws to second. Twice, Jake made it look like the throw was suspended in a vacuum. Neither was even close.
That opened it up for the Sox to start unlimbering the lumber. Ortiz finally got a hit, extending his post-season hitting streak to a dozen games, and driving in an insurance run. A few other Sox hitters extended the rally, and then Tito handed the ball to: LASERMAN. Although he did give up a one out single to an Angels pinch hitter, more of a contact and hope liner to right, the Angels were no match for Papelbon--not even close. Outside of that prayer by the Angels, it was a trey-trey for Laser. Three batters--three K's. Everey time the camera zoomed in on his face, it was the classic Papelbon Death Stare--no Bull, no Hope, no Chance, NO WAY!
One down and ten to go!
Coming back to Jake for a moment, in addition to reaching base five times and having three hits and the pair of thefts, he also made an unbelievable catch in the later innings to rob the Angels of a sure hit, that, had it fallen in, would have led to an Angels score that would have put the Halos in the lead at the time. A short fly to second, just beyond the reach of the Sox infielders, Jake came on at full throttle, swerved slightly to his right, extended his glove and dove, snaring it just before he hit the ground and rolled over. Could he be the second consecutive rookie of the year for the Fenmen? I ask the question because although he played late last season and in the run to the World Championship, he has little enough total time from last season that he is still officially a rookie.
The pitching was fabulous. Lester,after a little rough patch in the 1st, went seven, allowing just the unearned runs and just six hits and a single free pass, while accruing seven K's, including one inning where he struck out the side. Masterson came on for an inning and, although giving up a pair of hits, held the Halos scoreless. As for Papelbon, well, we've already discussed his coffin nailing routine.
Lester rolled along for the evening, setting down batter after batter, and getting stronger as the innings rolled by. He gave up a single unearned in the third, when Lowrie briefly came up with a case of dead hands on a routine grounder, the resulting baserunner later scoring on a Torii Hunter single that never would have happened without the error as Hunter never would have reached the plate to bat without the error. For Lowrie, it was a very rare miscue. This year, he set a record for rookie shortstops--155 chances without an error. From that point on, Lester stayed locked in a pitcher's duel, trailing one zip until the 6th.
At that point Yoouk reached base and a couple of batters later, Jason Bay, already having struck out twice on pitches out off the strike zone, showed why the Sox felt comfortable sending Manny to LA. A Lackey heater stayed out over the plate, and Bay turned on it. The instant it left the bat, it was a no-doubter. You knew immediately it wasn't coming down anywhere close to the field of play. No--it was cheap seats for this one--and a 2-1 Sox lead.
The pitching duel resumed after that, Lackey and his successor, Oliver, frustrating the Sox every time they appeared to be about to get something going. They got the Halos into the 8th, to be relieved by Shields, who closed out that inning. But that was all he closed out.
Up came the Sox in the 9th. Ellsbury gets his third hit of the evening and promptly steals second, his second swipe of the night. The Halos catcher had no answer for Jake. Twice, Napoli made creditable throws to second. Twice, Jake made it look like the throw was suspended in a vacuum. Neither was even close.
That opened it up for the Sox to start unlimbering the lumber. Ortiz finally got a hit, extending his post-season hitting streak to a dozen games, and driving in an insurance run. A few other Sox hitters extended the rally, and then Tito handed the ball to: LASERMAN. Although he did give up a one out single to an Angels pinch hitter, more of a contact and hope liner to right, the Angels were no match for Papelbon--not even close. Outside of that prayer by the Angels, it was a trey-trey for Laser. Three batters--three K's. Everey time the camera zoomed in on his face, it was the classic Papelbon Death Stare--no Bull, no Hope, no Chance, NO WAY!
One down and ten to go!
Coming back to Jake for a moment, in addition to reaching base five times and having three hits and the pair of thefts, he also made an unbelievable catch in the later innings to rob the Angels of a sure hit, that, had it fallen in, would have led to an Angels score that would have put the Halos in the lead at the time. A short fly to second, just beyond the reach of the Sox infielders, Jake came on at full throttle, swerved slightly to his right, extended his glove and dove, snaring it just before he hit the ground and rolled over. Could he be the second consecutive rookie of the year for the Fenmen? I ask the question because although he played late last season and in the run to the World Championship, he has little enough total time from last season that he is still officially a rookie.
The pitching was fabulous. Lester,after a little rough patch in the 1st, went seven, allowing just the unearned runs and just six hits and a single free pass, while accruing seven K's, including one inning where he struck out the side. Masterson came on for an inning and, although giving up a pair of hits, held the Halos scoreless. As for Papelbon, well, we've already discussed his coffin nailing routine.
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