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.

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ALCS Game 1 Thoughts

Posted by jayman |  October 11, 2008 – 9:20 am

Did that game really happen last night?  I’m still in disbelief.  Did Dice-K really take a no-hitter into the 7th inning? 

It just seems so unplausable to me.  I’ll admit that midway through the first inning, when Dice-K was walking the bases loaded, I was thinking “Sox are destined to lose this one by 5 or 6 runs” and “I’m never watching a Sox game in which this guy starts ever again.” 

Wow, did Dice-K ever come through.  In inning 2 to 7, I understood why the Sox wanted him so much.  I’m also completely conviced that the key to his starts is Varitek quickly figuring out which of his 87 pitches are working that night and how to use them.  Sometimes, it takes an inning for that to happen.  Sometimes, it takes a few.  The key is that it happens and that when it happens it’s not too late.  Nor has it taken a pitch count of 72 in the third inning.

Meanwhile, the Rays did something I didn’t think they would in this series.  They made a mistake, no I’m not talking about the green light swinging on 3 and 0 counts (managers don’t do that enough anymore in my opinion), I’m talking about Crawford misplaying a ball in the outfield.

Lastly, a shout out to the Sox set up man and Terry Francona.  Tito knew exactly which buttons to push in the 8th inning.  Yeah, we were all petrified when he brought in Okie with a few guys on base, but it worked perfectly.  Okie to get one guy out with runners on can work.  It has to work for the sox to win.  I think we will be seeing Okie brought in to pitch just to Pena, then follwed up with Masterson or Delcarmen to face Longoria a few times in this series.

Still… can’t …. believe  that Dice-K did what he did last night.  With Beckett and Lester going the next two games, this series has the potential to be over really fast.  Almost as important, it takes the pressure off Beckett to be 2007 Beckett.  Still need a quality start, but he’s not pitching with his back against the wall.  The pressure is squarely on the Rays.  No way can they go down 2-0, having to beat Lester at Fenway.

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Beating the Rays

Posted by jayman |  October 10, 2008 – 11:22 am

I actually don’t dive into stats very much, but a couple have jumped out at me while I’ve been surfing the web and thinking this series.

Total runs scored: In head-to-head matchups, the Rays won 10 of 18 games, but the Red Sox scored 20 more total runs than Tampa in those games.  Rays won 6 games by 1 run.

Rays top 2 starters: Check out how the Rays starts and games 1 and 2 fared against the Sox this year.

James Shields – 2-2, 5.85 ERA vs. Boston
Scott Kazmir – 0-2, 9.00 ERA vs. Boston

 

What’s all that mean?  It means we definitely need to win at least one of these first two games.  The matchups favor us.  And we need to win a couple games with a cushion.  Not much in the winning formula is different than the best formula to beat the Angels.  Solid starting pitching.  Two out RBIs.  Productive outs to advance runners into scoring position.  This is what wins in the postseason.

But against the Rays, I would add stellar defense.  The Rays, quite simply, will not beat themselves like the Angles did.  They may not have the most all-star laden roster, but there is  no doubt that they are well coached and very well prepared.

And finally.  Pedroia.  He has been the straw that stirs the drink all year for this team.  A repeat of his performance against the Angels would mean doom.

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Some last thoughts on the ALDS

Posted by jayman |  October 9, 2008 – 11:13 am

Let’s be honest.  The Red Sox did not beat an Angels team playing at their best.  Game 4 offered a lot of evidence to support that.

  • Howie Kendrick still looked totally overwhelmed by the moment
  • Bad baserunning by Torri Hunter
  • And the fatal blow, the failed squeeze play

I give Scoscia tons of credit for trying the squeeze play.  I like that kind of aggressive baseball and thats’s the way his team plays.  I think it was a good call.  Sure, there were other ways of getting that run in from third, but he had the right players in the right spot to execute that play.  It’s not like he was asking Garrett Anderson to get a bunt done.

Quite honestly, if you’re an Angels fan looking for blame…blame it all on Erick Aybar.  C’mon now…you have to get a bat on the ball on that situation.  Even hitting it off the bat into your face is better than missing outright with a guy charging in from third.

But enough with the Angels.  There’s a lot to feel good about from game 4.  Benching Lowell and moving Youk to third is the right thing to do.  Especially after seeing what Kotsay can do at first.  Lowrie getting the game winning hit and Bay scoring the game winning run seems fitting.  Those two improved (arguably) two major weak spots in the Red Sox roster.  Do you think Lugo would have come through with that hit?  Would Manny have made that great slide to score the winning run?  Or would have lost time rounding third while geting rid of his helmet?

Nevertheless, can’t  help but think that the Sox got away with one in this series.  They got zilch from Pedroia and Ortiz.  But they still won.  Beckett was not Beckett.  But they still won.  In the beginning, If I had said that Pedroia, Ortiz, and Beckett really weren’t going to perform like they are capable of, would you believe that they could win this series?  Me, neither.

In 2004, one of the best things about the championship run was that it took the entire roster to make it happen.  The 2008 run is shaping up that exact way. 

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ALDS Game 3 – That sucked

Posted by jayman |  October 6, 2008 – 11:30 am

Well, that game was a bummer.  Did the Sox deserve to win that game? Probably not.  Did the Angels deserve to lose it?  Absolutely.

From Bad News Bears-esque fielding to baserunning blunders, the Angels looked for every way they could to lose this game.  Why Howie Kendrick is still in the Angels lineup is bizarre to me.  He’s looks very intimidated out there.  Quite honestly, this game could have easily been a shut out victory by the Angels, but nevertheless the Sox saw 80 pitches that could have allowed them to walk off as series winners, including plenty of pitches where a simple base hit would have done it.

As I said in the beginning, long outings by starting pitching and 2 out RBIs was going to win the series.  Sox didn’t get enough of either last night.  Beckett was a disappointment, but give him credit for battling through 5 innings that kept the Sox in the game. 

The bullpen? Wow, didn’t expect them to shut the door like they did last night.  Manny Delcarmen was arguably the most impressive pitcher the Sox threw out there last night. Finally, someone figured out how to work the middle of the Angels lineup (hint: throw the ball 98 mph)

Tonight is now a must win game, in my opinion.  And Lester takes the mound and it feels good.  He can cement himself as the Red Sox version of 90s era Andy Pettitte by closing out the Angels tonight.  Heaven forbid, this team has to play a game 5 in Anaheim with Dice-K starting that game.  As much as I believe in Josh Beckett, there is no better scenario for the Sox to close out this series vs. the Angels than with Jon Lester pitching at Fenway.

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