The 2009 Red Sox

Posted by jayman |  March 28, 2009 – 10:28 am

OK, here we go.  Opening day is imminent.  The 25 man roster is set.  So what should we be expecting?  What should we be hoping.  Here are some thoughts on every player. 

Starting Pitchers

Josh Beckett

Man, this guy has a lot to prove.  He’s a competitor.  Probably a stubborn one, too.  At this point in his career, he want to be seen as the guy who can deliver front line pitching and 15-20 wines every single year.  Like Maddux or Smoltz or Schilling.  Honestly, I’m expecting a Cy Young caliber season fro him.

Jon Lester

He was great in 2008.  Comparisons to Andy Pettitte seem appropriate.  But can we expect him to duplicate what he did last year.  16-6 with a 3.51 ERA.  Yeah, I think so.  I’m not buying the whole “he pitched too many innings last year so expect a drop off” argument

Daisuke Matsuzaka

Now this guy.  I don’t expect as many wins.  He had the ugliest 18 win season I’ve ever seen.  He’ll probably pitch close to 180 innings and hopefully he’ll cut down on the walks.   But around 12-14 wins is what I would expect from him.  What we really need from Daisuke is a classic postseason performance.  Two years and two postseasons in and we still have yet to see that from him.

Wild card in this whole thing?  His participation in the World Baseball Classic. 

Tim Wakefield

Timmy is a warrior.  One that maxes out around 60 mph, but a warrior.  I’m glad he’s on our team, but he’s really a regular season inning eater now.  A won loss record around 10-10 is what I predict.  But his success should be measured in innings pitched this year.  If it’s around 200, then he has contributed.  That number may be impacted by the surplus of starters the Sox have.  There may be some bullpen time for him if everyone (especially Penny and Smoltz) stay healthy and productive.

But here’s the other thing.  His days of starting postseason games are over. 

Brad Penny

He’ll be starting out as the 5th starter, but he’s in the role previously filled by Wade Miller and Bartolo Colon.  If we get 10 starts out of him, then his signing will be a success.  If 7 of those are quality starts, even better. 

I will say this.  The opportunity for him is incredible.  If he can pitch all year and have an impact of around 12-15 wins, he’ll be cashing in a ton next year for someone.  And with a big raise.  If that’s not worth working for, I don’t know what is. 

John Smoltz

I can’t wait to see this guy on the mound at Fenway.  What a perfect signing by Theo.  The guy loves to talk pitching and will be the perfect role model for guys like Masterson and Bucholz.  It’s like having Schilling around but without the bag of hot air that comes with it.  What he provide the Sox this year will not be measurable.  The talk has him being on track for June.  But I hope it’s late June.  I want to see him pitching in September and October.  15 starts.  That what I would hope for.  With 4 of those starts coming in October. 

 

Relief Pitchers

Jonathan Papelbon

Just another year of 35 saves for him.  I do worry about his approach to hitters.  A little less 1st pitch fastballs (hitters will sit on it).  And he seems to have a difficult time closing guys out when he’s got two strikes on them.  Paps – it’s OK to waste one in the dirt when you’ve got the guy 0-2.  I was worried about him being fatigued last September, but when October came he was lights out again.  Still, it seems like his first half workload should be watched closely and hopefully the addition of guys like Saito will limit the need for back to back days.

I don’t expect the sox to be blowing guys out with 8 run outbursts on a regular basis.  I expect more tight one run ballgames like 3-2 and 5-4.  That meant the temptation to use Papelbon more to close out games will be tempting.  Francona will need to trust people like Saito and Okajima to close things out at least once a week.

Hideki Okajima

More 7th inning appearances for him.  There’s a lot of depth in the bullpen and he’s not exactly a make them miss kind of guy.  He’ll be used all over the place.

Justin Masterson

By the end of the year, I expect Masterson to be used mostly in the 8th inning.  But what he should really be used for is to come in and get ground balls for a key double play.  Needs to work on pitching to lefties.  Also expect a spot start or two early in the year. 

Takeshi Saito

I’d like to say he’ll give us 8 saves this year.  Closing the door once a week to give Papelbon more rest.  But honestly, I have no idea what to expect.  Of all the low risk signing made by Theo in the offseaon, this is the one that I think will continue to be injury prone in 2009.  Hope to be wrong.

Ramon Ramirez

Will be sharing the 8th inning duties with Masterson by the end of the year.  While Masterson will be the guy brought in to get a double play, Ramirez will be the guy brought in to strike someone out when there’s a runner on third with less than 2 outs. Totally thrilled by this acquisition. 

Javier Lopez

Somehow, he’s put together solid numbers over the past couple of years.  Yet, he never seems to be the lefty specialist the Sox want him to be.  It seems that whenever he is brought into face a lefty, he fears the stike zone and walks a guy.  I think bad luck catches up to him and he gets released by the all star break.  Sorry.  Would love to be wrong about him.

Manny Delcarmen

Another guy on thin ice, in my opinon.  Done waiting for him to evolve into a solid setup guy.  And quite honestly, he truly seems to excel pitching around the 6th or 7th inning.  Seems to be lacking the confidence for the 8th.  Unfortunately, modern baseball means that the bullpen is asked to pitch the 6th inning more and more these days.  Delcarmen seems to be carving out his niche there.  He’s also possible trade bait around the deadline, depending on how Tazwa and Daniel Bard progress in the early minors this year.

 

Starting Position Players

Jason Varitek

Don’t expect a huge offensive performance increase from last year.  He’s slated to catch all the non-Wakefield starts.  But I think by the end of the year, he’ll be catching 60% of the games instead of 80%.  What I really hope that he cuts down on the strikeouts and is able to move runners along, have productive outs, etc.  Very happy he is back with the Sox and his contribution is not measured in batting statistics.  But the transition to a new full time catcher needs to start this year and be completed by the end of 2010.

Kevin Youklis

He will be the Sox MVP candidate this year.  I’m expecting a HUGE year.  The power continues to come.  He’ll be in the AL top 10 of all the triple crown categories.  Combined with gold glove defense.

Dustin Pedroia

Probably can’t duplicate what he did in 2008.  But that’s more of testament to how good he was last year.  He’s the future Red Sox captain.  Will be among the lead leaders in doubles and runs scored.

Jed Lowrie

I think he’ll perform well enough to keep the starting SS job once Lugo returns.  Expecting a solid .270 type of season with lots of doubles.  Like Varitek, needs to cut down on the stikeouts.

Mike Lowell

Really, I just hope we get 140 games out of him.  No idea what to expect.  Looks like he’s being dropped in the lineup and will have excellent baserunners in Drew and Bay ahead of him. This will give him plenty of RBI chances.  If he can stay healthy (and that’s a big if) he could easily get 100 RBI’s

JD Drew

I think JD Drew gets a bad rap.  He has difficulty staying on the field, but when he’s on it…he’s good.  No one runs the bases better than him and no one has a better eye than him.  Really wish he could bat leadoff for the Sox.  That’s one of the biggest reasons I wanted the Sox to sign Teixera.  But since that didn’t happen, Drew needs to be in the middle of the lineup.  If we can get 130 starts from Drew, it will be a success.  Think he’ll pass Papi as the Sox hitter that comes through in the clutch most often.  Expect him to bat around .290 or so with a killer on base percentage.

Jacoby Ellsbury

With Crisp gone, CF is completely his.  Would really love to see him own the lead off spot, too.  But I’m not sure that’s going to happen.  It’s definitely the key to the sox offense.  60 or 70 steals isn’t out of the question for him, as long as he can draw some walks.  If he has to be dropped in the order this year, the Sox will be fighting for the playoffs (or have to make a big trade at the deadline).  If he can get on with regularity, the Sox will win the division. 

Jason Bay

Will lead the Sox in homeruns.  Around 35-40 of them.  He’s going to have a big year and the Sox will have to pay big to keep him.  His right handed bat will flourish at Fenway. 

David Ortiz

The Sox really need him to hit around 40 home runs, but I don’t see the same power of years past being there.  That doesn’t mean he can’t hit and be productive.  I just think he needs to be trying to pull the ball less.  If he’s comfortable hitting to all fields, 120 RBI’s will be easy for him.  And if Ellsbury becomes an on base machine, that RBI total will be 135.  Less homers, however.  I expect the final number to be around 25.  And it has nothing to do with Manny not being behind him.  It has to do with Ortiz getting older. 

 

The Bench

George Kottaras

Will be given every opportunity to show that he has a future role in the Sox catching solution and I think he’ll hit well enough to take some playing time from Varitek.  Handling Wake’s knuckler?  It won’t be a problem.  He seems like the kind of guy that recognizes the opportunity in Boson and will work hard to take advantage of it. 

Rocco Baldelli

I was against this signing.  And I want to be wrong about him not being able to play back to back games with regularity.  I’m OK with his signing  now that Kotsay is also back (providing another outfiled option in case Drew gets hurt).  As for what to expect – solid performance as the 4th outfielder.  Will make all the right baseball plays and when he starts, we won’t be saying stuff like “Uh-oh, they gave Bay the day off.”   Could be challenging Ellsbury for everyday time come September.  What we should hope for most with Rocco is that his health actually allows that.

Mark Kotsay

The perfect bench player for the Red Sox.  Was totally impressed with his play at 1B last year. 

Julio Lugo

A wasted roster spot quite honestly. Has some serious athletic ability.  It just doesn’t seem to translate into baseball ability.  If Ellsbury falters, he may get a chance to play everyday SS and lead off.  Perhaps the best case scenario is that situation happens, he does well enough to attract some interest, and then the Sox can package him with someone like Bowden for a future piece of the puzzle. 

But what if he CAN produce?  Sox would have the perfect roster with Lugo as the everyday (productive) SS and Lowrie as the utility guy.

 

Other names we’ll be hearing from this year

Lars Anderson

Expect only a cameo experience from him in the bigs this year.  It is best if he can spend most of the year in Pawtucket, being prepared to be a major contributor next season.

Daniel Bard

I predict he’ll be part of the roster by July.  Around the time the sox dump Lopez. I also think he’s our closer of the future

Clay Bucholz

Who knows.  In a best case scenario, he spends the entire year making starts in Pawtucket.  But we know how the season goes and how the sox like to give their starters a couple weeks on the DL in the mid season by being overly cautious with a small injury  - all designed to give arms a rest.  Given all that, he’ll probably end up making a handful of starts and I think he’ll be solid.  Maybe he’s not a future ace.  But if  he’s a future #3 starter, that will be great. 

Michael Bowden

I think he’s trade bait.  In the Sox surplus of arms, his delivery makes him the guy I would most want Theo to use in acquiring a catcher of the future or a thumper for the middle of the lineup.

Posted by jayman | Categories: 25 Man Roster | Comments (0)

Pedroia: MVP

Posted by jayman |  November 18, 2008 – 1:08 pm

On May 5, 2007, I sent an email to Crundy.  The entire contents of which were as follows

I think Dustin is finished.  Cora is playing too good to sit on bench

At the time, Dustin Pedroia was hitting something like .210.  This followed up a late 2006 callup performance where he showed …well, not too much actually.

But in a classic case of “This shows I don’t know shit about baseball and I should never manage”, Dustin Pedroia proceeded to go on a tear for the rest of 2007.  In the championship run of 07 it seemed like he was always on base.

This year, it seemed like he never missed a ball in the strike zone.  Not since the early years of Nomar, have I seen a guy who hit pretty much everything square on the barrel of the bat. 

He led the league in doubles and runs.

Tied for the lead in hits.

Stole 20 bases.  Was caught once.

Even batted cleanup for a few games and no one could get him out.

And so today, he was named AL MVP.  Less than 2 seasons after having folks like me make ill-informed, moronic statements that he should be benched in favor of playing Alex Cora on a daily basis. 

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Offseason 2008: The Varitek Situation

Posted by jayman |  October 27, 2008 – 12:39 pm

image

That photo never gets old, does it?

Let me get right to the point on this. 

The Red Sox should resign Jason Varitek.  For two years.  For whatever dollars he wants for those two years (within reason).

Forget all the stuff about how he’s he can’t hit like he used to (he can’t) and how he strikes out in key situations (he does).  What Varitek contributes to the Boston Red Sox is not completely measured with how he fills out the box score.

He is, after all, the captain.  The guy who sets the tone of professionalism in the Red Sox dugout.  He is also, in my opining, the associate pitching coach for the Sox.  There no better catcher in major league baseball at handling pitchers than Jason Varitek.  He may not drive in a hundred runs a year, but how many runs does he keep off the scoreboard because he knows how to call a game and handle the staff?  I’d bet it’s more than 100.

OK, let’s say that you’re one of those folks that thinks Tek should go.  Who do the Sox put in at catcher? Kevin Cash?  Are you sure thats an improvement?  Get a catcher in a trade or sign a free agent, you say.  OK.  If the sox end with Bengie Molina, I don’t want to hear your crying about how someone with a cane can run the bases faster than Bengie. 

Now, there’s no doubt that resigning Varitek still has issues.  The simple fact is the Sox need to be resigning Varitek for a couple years in order to properly prepare for the day he isn’t there at all. The catcher of the future does need to be brought in, whether that is Kevin Cash or someone not on the Sox roster (I’m all for any of those 4 catchers Texas has).  Tek is not a guy who should be catching 80% of the sox games.  That number needs to be closer to 50%.  He’s not everyday player anymore.  But he’s still an everyday leader.

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ALCS Game 7: End of the line for this year

Posted by jayman |  October 22, 2008 – 11:13 am

It’s a bummer that the World Series is starting tonight and our beloved Red Sox won’t be participating in it.  I remember the last time the Sox came oh-so-close to the World Series.  That was in 2003.  In that game 7 vs. the Yankees, Grady Little had a panic attack and ultimately, Aaron Boone hit a pitch off Tim Wakefield that ended in the left field stands of Yankee Stadium and stuck a dagger right into my guy.

I remember telling my girlfriend (who is now my wife) that I need to go for a walk.  So we went for a walk around the piers of downtown San Francisco…around PacBell park.  And sat on a park bench with head in hands and thinking that it could be decades before the Sox get this close to the promised land ever again.

But since that night, so much has happened.  As fans and devotees to our time, we’ve been given more than we could ever ask for.  Not one, but two world series championships.  Coming back from a 3-0 hole against are archenemies in the 2004 ALCS.  Dave Robert’s steal.  JD Drew’s grand slam last year vs. Cleveland.  Lester’s no hitter.

And even in this year’s playoffs, there was game 5.  The sox were ready to roll over and die.  They were getting crushed by Tampa Bay.  But then they showed some fight.  That’s what will be remembered from this year’s playoffs.

The truth of the matter is, that by playoff time, the Rays were the better team.  They’re younger, faster, and stronger .   The Sox were totally beat up.  If I told you that Ortiz’ wrist would be damaged, Beckett would be hurt enough to not throw a 95 mph fastball, and Mike Lowell wouldn’t even be on the postseason roster, would you think the Sox would even make it to ALCS game 7? 

Don’t even start with the whole “if you had Manny…” argument.  If Manny is on this team, the Sox don’t even make it to the playoffs.

Without question, losing game 7 was a disappointment.

But it’s not the end.  It certainly does not feel anything like the “Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty” in 2001. Read Buster Olney’s book on that.  The Yankees were about to be dismantled and dive into years of grasping at past glory.  They’re still doing it. 

Nope, the Sox are prepared to compete for years to come.  The simple fact that they were in a game 7 given the list of of walking wounded documented above is a testament to how far this organization has come.  Despite all the injuries, the Sox had a team that could compete at the highest level.  In the end, the Rays just executed a little bit better.  Sure there are some changes to be made to the Sox. There always are.  But the feeling of “we won’t get this close again for years” isn’t there.  In fact, we’ll be there next year.

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ALCS Game 6: O Captain, My Captain

Posted by jayman |  October 18, 2008 – 11:19 pm

A thoroughly enjoyable Red Sox playoff game to take in.  Depsite the fact that I couldn’t really take it in until the bottom of the first inning (with the Rays already in front 1-0) thanks to a totally ridiculous FAIL by TBS.  Can we please just let Fox show these playoff games? 

I can’t shake the thought that this game reminded me of the 2004 ALCS Game 6 vs. the Yankees.  The infamous “bloody sock” game, like Schilling in that game, we had no idea what to expect from Josh Beckett tonight.  (I can still recall Crundy’s text message from the 3rd inning of the bloody sock game - “Looks like the gimp is going to be alright”).  I, for one, was calling for Tito to start warming up Paul Byrd after watching a handful of Beckett’s fastball top out at 92 mph.  That, and seeing a replay of BJ Upton hitting the catwalk.

But in a game that involved me digging thru a closet to find an AM radio just to listen to the game, Beckett had what most of us really know as the pitch he HAS to have to be effective, regardless of whether he tops out at 92 or 192 mph.  The curveball.  And it was definitely slicing thru the strikezone tonight.

But it was really Varitek who truly stunned me tonight.  After his go ahead HR in the 6th inning, I said “I don’t know what suprised me more this series, the Sox coming from 7 runs down to win a game or Jason Varitek hitting a HR.”  One could argue that the emotional lift from that homer is greater than Papi’s “I’m not dead, yet” 3 run blast in game 5.  With Papi, you know that he’s a wheelhouse pitch away from hitting the ball to a different timezone.  With Tek, you wonder what he can do in slo-pitch softball.  Check out the tag cloud on this site.  You have to squint to see Varitek’s name there.  There just hasn’t been much to say about him this year.  Unless you want to trash him, and who wants to trash the captain?

That doesn’t mean he’s not one of the 5 most important guys on the sox roster.  He is.  But personally, I’ve come to grips that he’s a .220 hitter with little pop.  Because what else he is is the associate pitching coach on the Red Sox.  And that’s worth the $10 million he gets every year (and that I would continue to pay him next year).  Yes, he’s THAT good at that part of his job description.

But back to game 6.  Once Varitek hits that homer, its an omen for more good things.  And those good things certainly kept on rolling in…

Okie pitches two no hit relief innings as sox creep out to a 4-2 lead.

Justin Masterson, for the second night in a row, goes mano a mano with the toughest part of the Rays lineup in a late inning, pressure packed situation.

In fact, by the time we get to Papelbon, its a mortal lock that he’s shutting down the Rays in order (they hardly looked like they want to be there at this point) and we’re onto game 7.

But not without a TV close up of Scott Kazmir watching the Sox win game 6 and congratulate themselves like they just won a spring training game. Poor old Kazmier lookied like, according to crundy, “like he just walked in his wife having sex with his best friend.” 

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Finally – Reflections on Game 5

Posted by jayman |  October 18, 2008 – 8:40 am

Honestly, how does one begin to write about Game 5.  You need to see it.  Actually, you need to have experienced it live as it was happening.  You need to have hit rock bottom as a fan of the 2008 Boston Red Sox (for me, that was around the time Papelbon came in and gave up a bomb up the monster), then experienced slowly watching the impossible happen.  The experience of watching Pedroia break the ice by knocking in a run; watching Big Papi return from the dead (hopefully for good); JD Drew rip open his postseason uniform to reveal a superhero costume when it matters most; and Coco Crisp have the at bat of his life.

I write many an uneven post about the Red Sox (and plenty of other things on other blogs) and this is bound to be yet another wandering assortment of thinking.  That’s mainly because I’ve woken up for two mornings in a row still blissfully amazed that I get to watch another Red Sox playoff game Saturday night.

Game 5 will be THE moment of the 2008 postseason

Remember the ending of ‘Tin Cup’?  Kevin Costner walks off the fairway after taking about 200 strokes to finish off the 18th hole, losing the U.S. Open, but finishing with something people will never forget.  Then he has the “Oh no, I just lost the US Open” and his girlfriend explains that none of that really matters.  What people will remember 50 years from now will be how he finally holed out on the 18th.

Thats what game 5 will be like.  The Sox may not win the World Series.  They may not even win the next game.  The phillies and rays may play a 7 game world series.  But it won’t matter.  Decades from now, when people look back on the 2008 playoffs, the highlight will be a 60 second reel of the Sox clawing back and winning game 5

Where does this rank in all time Red Sox playoff games?

Can’t help but think about this.  Is this better than any of the 2004 comeback games against the Yankees?  Gonna sit on that for a while and write about it this winter.

Remember thoughts during game 5

I didn’t change the channel, but I did the “I’m going to divert my attention and defuse my anger by doing other things while watching the game” thing.  For example, I did the dishes.

But here’s what I remember from the last 3 inning of game 5.

Papelbon gives up a double:  "That’s the dagger.” 

Thoughts strayed to how sox resign Varitek.  Can we get Teixera and what we do with Youk if we did.  The TBS announcers were in full “What do the Red Sox do in the off season” mode so it was pretty hard to not look to the winter hot stove season.

Pedroia knocks in a run: “Great, they got a run.   It won’t be a total embarrament”

Ortiz hits a 3 run HR, sox down 7-4: “This (a comeback) can’t possibly happen, can it?”

Drew hits a homer, sox within one: “Holy crap. REALLY wish Paps hadn’t given up a 2 run homer.  OK, if they tie it up, I’m doing a shot”

Kotsay hits a double: “Shot of bourbon in scoring position”

Crisp having a 12 pitch AB: “Just draw a walk, Coco.  That will bring up Pedoria and NO WAY does he fail in this situation”

Crisp ties it up with a single: “SHOTS!”

Drew wins it: “That’s unbelievable. I’ve seen a lot of stuff over the years with the Red Sox and that comeback was as amazing as anything else”

Finals words from Pedroia

Walking off the field, back into the clubhouse…”That game was fucking sick.”

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ALCS Game 5: I can’t believe what I just saw

Posted by jayman |  October 17, 2008 – 11:28 am

I’ve got so many thoughts on this.  Working on a longer post.  But for now, here’s video of JD Drew’s 9th inning AB.

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ALCS Game 4: More of the same

Posted by jayman |  October 16, 2008 – 1:16 pm

There’s really not much to write about ALCS Game 4, unless I feel like writing about the Rays and I don’t. 

In short, the Sox are not doing a single thing well on the baseball field.  No pitching.  No hitting.  OK, they fielded the ball well.  But that was when the ball wasn’t sent flying out of the park by Rays hitters.

Quick thoughts:

  • They’re looking like an old team
  • There’s only 2 guys in that lineup doing anything (Pedroia and Youk)
  • Was this the very last we’ve seen of Wakefield and Timlin on the field in a Sox uniform?

But the biggest thought I have is about the last time I felt so crappy watching a baseball game.  That would be game 3 of the 2004 ALCS. The game the Yankees crushed the Sox 19-8 to take a 3-0 lead in the series.

The silver lining?  That was the last game the sox lost that year.  Dave Roberts steal second the next night and they win 8 in a row to break the course.  And last year, the Sox were down 3-1 to the Indians before running off 7 wins in a row.

So you could argue we’ve got the Rays right where we want them.

The winning formula is still the same.  Strong starting pitching and two-out RBIs.  Sox have gotten neither since Francona decided to bring in Mike Timlin in game 2.  Add to the winning formula this:  Play ahead.  If the sox fall behind, forget about it. Have to get a lead in game 5.  That was a key part of the comeback against the Cleveland.  They took early leads in all 3 games.

Is a comeback possible?  Of course it is. The sox have an excellent team that is capable.  They have not been performing the last 2 games. And they’ve got the rotation setup to make a run.  But there are questions everywhere with that rotation.

Can Dice-K repeat his magic of game 1?

Can Beckett make anyone swing and miss?

Does Lester have anything left in the tank for game 7?

Of course none of the above matters unless David Ortiz becomes Big Papi.

As for the Rays…they’re shuffling their rotation to start Kazmir tonight.  One thought on that:  WHY?

It makes no sense.  They’re cruising.  They’re more than cruising, they’re killing the Sox.  Why screw with anything? 

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ALCS Game 3: That pretty much sucked

Posted by jayman |  October 14, 2008 – 2:35 pm

I can barely bring myself to write about yesterday’s game.  It’s take my all day just to even start composing this.  I’ve avoided sports web sites and boston.com all day.  And now game 4 is a few hours away and here I am.  Writing a blog post just to get all the negative thoughts out of my system and return to the “glass is half full” outlook I prefer to have regarding the Sox.

Here’s the big problem…the two starting pitchers the Sox count on most – Beckett and Lester – have been shelled the last 2 games.  Starting pitching performance of games 2 and 3?  A combined 10 innings and 12 earned runs.  That’s not going to get it done.

And that’s not the end of the bad news

  • Papi is doing little more than pop out.
  • Varitek is doing little more than striking out.
  • Ellsbury is hitless
  • Actually, other than Pedroia, Youk, and Bay no one in the lineup is doing anything positive.

The good news?  Well, you can argue that the Sox are almost in their ALCS element.  Facing elimination is exactly where this decade’s Red Sox want to be in the ALCS. 

And that’s really the thing to focus in on.  This series is far from over.  Need proof?  Pull out your DVD box sets from the 04 and 07 playoffs.  There’s your proof.  Perhaps Wakefield isn’t the pitcher we have all the confidence in the world in, but we certainly know that he’s capable of performing with excellence.

OK.  Do I feel better?  A bit.  I’m still not opening up boston.com, though.

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Game 2 ALCS – Tito blows it

Posted by jayman |  October 13, 2008 – 9:44 am

Timlin?  Did Mike Timlin seriously make an appearance in the 11th inning of a tie playoff game?  WTF, Francona?????

As much as I was in disbelief over Dice-K’s dominating game 1 performance, I’m in disbelief that Francona brought in Mike Timlin in the top of the 11th of Game 2.  Hell, I’m even surprised that Timlin was even warming up in that situation. 

Look, Mike Timlin deserves the gratitude of Red Sox Nation.  He was a BIG part of 2004.  One day in the future after he has retired, his first return visit Fenway should result in a standing ovation.  Heck, let  throw out a ceremonial first pitch in playoff game even.  In fact, can we arrange such situation for game 3?  Thank you, Mr. Timlin for everything you have done.  Couldn’t have won all this without you, but it’s time.  You know what I mean.

Game 2 was an instant loss the moment Francona brought Timlin into the game.  What was the expectation here?  That Timlin would manage to keep the Rays scoreless in the bottom of the 11th, the Sox would get a run in the 12th and Timlin would close it out afterwards.  Six out?!?!?!  No way was Timlin going to be able to get six outs.

And exactly why is Paul Byrd on the postseason roster?  Is he simply an insurance policy in case one of the four starters blows out an elbow?  Wasn’t a tie game in extra inning with every other reliever used one of 2 situations Byrd should be brought in?  (The other being a starter can’t make it past 4 innings). 

There were other options as well.  Papelbon only threw 18 pitches and Sunday was an off day.  So send him out for another inning. 

OK, that’s enough Timlin bashing.  In all fairness, he shouldn’t have been in that position.  Francona sometimes shows too much faith in the guys who have delivered for him in the past.  This was one of those time. 

Beckett

Yup.  It’s officially worry time with Josh Beckett.  Topping out at 92 mph with his fastball is not Josh Beckett.  Something is wrong.  What exactly that is, we probably won’t know for a while.

Still, you have to give him the ball when his turn comes up in the rotation.  What better choice do the Red Sox have?  He may be hurting, but he deserves a chance to take the ball and make his start.  It’s a bit like Schilling in 2004.  As has been overly documented, Schilling was definitely injured, but letting him try was the best strategy for the Sox.  Letting Beckett try again to reach that 96 mph fastball is the best thing to do.  But if it’s not there right away, it won’t ever be there so make sure Byrd is ready to go.  Don’t panic and bring back Lester on game 6.  He’ll be needed in game 7.

Onto game 3

The real bummer about Beckett not coming through (or a Sox not getting a late inning two-out hit with runners in scoring position) is that the Sox had a definite chance to take a 2-0 lead and end this series quick.  A lot of the media attention has been about the Sox letting the Rays off the hook and back in this series.  There is some truth in that. But I think it’s being overplayed.  If you had polled any Sox fan (including this one) or player or coach that you could split the 2 games in Tampa, then return to Fenway with Lester starting, any of those people would gladly take that scenario.

So despite the disappointment of game 2, we’re exactly where we want to be.  We also know that we can win in Tampa.  After a disappointing regular season in the Trop, we came achingly close to sweeping two playoff games there.  Now it’s time to defend the Fens.

Posted by jayman | Categories: Pitching, Playoffs | Tagged , | Comments (0)