The Sox closed out the favored Angels in dramatic fashion. It’s been a while since we’ve seen a walkoff win of that magnitude. Let’s hope it just getting started…You could say the baseball gods were smiling down on the Sox after the botched suicide squeeze, but it was simply poor execution. The replay clearly shows the out call was correct. The inning before, a passed ball allowed the tying run to score on a single. And in the ninth the ball took an Angels bounce into the stands on an all or nothing dive, which could have turned into an inside the park homer. Even the pop up that allowed 3 runs to score in game 3 didn’t blow it for the Angels .
No curses. No controversies. No excuses.
The Angels simply didn’t execute as well as the Sox on either side of the ball. When you are 8 for 40 with runners in scoring position combined with an ERA over 4, you aren’t going to pull off
many series wins. And boy were they pissed after game 4. Lackey proclaimed the better team lost, then proceeded to throw teammates under the bus for his shortcomings. Classy guy. Hey Lackey, your only win came in a 12 inning dogfight caused by your team's 3 run gaffe. In what way were you better you mental midget?
The Sox were clearly the better team in every facit. Lester was masterful, yielding only 1 unearned run in 14 innings. The bullpen was very good and the defense was solid. And could you be any happier to say “Manny who”? Jason Bay was simply awesome hitting over .400 with 2 homers and 5 RBI’s, including the huge double to help wrap up the series. The Sox didn't make any major mistakes and the Angels did, bottom line.
You can also thank the Yankees. Yup, I said it. All those wars and grind em out games have given this team a real grit and swagger. They just don’t get rattled and no matter what happens, they keep coming at you. Contributions come from up and down the lineup. Theo also gets a pat on the back for his deadline & waiver pickups.
The amazing thing is that only 5 years ago we were waiting for the other shoe to drop, especially late in games. Now with 2 championships under their belt, we’re waiting to see the other teams fold under the pressure. Don’t believe? Ask the Cubs who were head and shoulders above the NL all season.
many series wins. And boy were they pissed after game 4. Lackey proclaimed the better team lost, then proceeded to throw teammates under the bus for his shortcomings. Classy guy. Hey Lackey, your only win came in a 12 inning dogfight caused by your team's 3 run gaffe. In what way were you better you mental midget?The Sox were clearly the better team in every facit. Lester was masterful, yielding only 1 unearned run in 14 innings. The bullpen was very good and the defense was solid. And could you be any happier to say “Manny who”? Jason Bay was simply awesome hitting over .400 with 2 homers and 5 RBI’s, including the huge double to help wrap up the series. The Sox didn't make any major mistakes and the Angels did, bottom line.
You can also thank the Yankees. Yup, I said it. All those wars and grind em out games have given this team a real grit and swagger. They just don’t get rattled and no matter what happens, they keep coming at you. Contributions come from up and down the lineup. Theo also gets a pat on the back for his deadline & waiver pickups.
The amazing thing is that only 5 years ago we were waiting for the other shoe to drop, especially late in games. Now with 2 championships under their belt, we’re waiting to see the other teams fold under the pressure. Don’t believe? Ask the Cubs who were head and shoulders above the NL all season.
Up Next, The Rays...
I think the winner of this next series is going to win it all. It should be a great series and more than likely will go to 7 games. There is going to be much debate about the Sox starters and who goes when – before the game starts on Fri. But when you break it down it actually seems simple.
There is no reason to run any pitcher out there on less than normal rest, which eliminates Lester from game 1. It probably also makes sense to give Beckett additional rest based on his last outing and recent oblique injury. Using that logic you open with Dice-K who will be on 6 days rest already. He was very effective last season with extra rest and holding off until game 3 would be 9 days. Beckett gets an extra 3 days, and Lester goes on normal rest.
Here’s the schedule:
Game 1 – Fri the 10th - Dice K (6 days rest)
Game 2 – Sat the 11th - Lester (normal rest)
Game 3 – Mon the 13th - Beckett (7 days rest)
Game 4 – Tue the 14th - Wake/Byrd
Game 5 – Thur the 16th - Dice K (5 days rest)
Game 6 – Sat the 18th - Lester (6 days rest)
Game 7 – Sun the 19th - Beckett (5 days rest)
If you believe the people who have been around the game for years like Remy or Schilling, home and road records get tossed out the window. So save the “he pitches better at home” mantra.
There is also the issue of flexibility to consider. If the Rays manage to make game 5 an elimination game, Lester can go on normal rest and Beckett can follow in game 6 on normal rest. Dice K then follows with all hands on deck in game 7.
So the only real debate is game 4. Wake has more upside but his poor postseason record is scary. Byrd is the safer option based on last years ALCS at Fenway. But it may come down to the wind. If it’s blowing out you would likely see Wake (similar to conditions of his dominating performance at Yankee Stadium). Otherwise I'd expect to see Byrd with Wake as backup.
Prediction? I like the Sox in seven. What it comes down to is which version of Beckett we’ll see. I think that he will right the ship especially if they give him the extra rest. Lester will continue to dominate, similar to the postseason Beckett enjoyed last year. That leaves Dice-K to win one of his two starts and Beckett to grind it out in game 7.
Expect to see some heated battles during this one. There will be some spill over from the regular season. The only downside is that we will see the replay of Coco charging the mound more times than the mention of the curse before 2004.
Buckle up campers, this will be a good old fashioned grind em out series. Hope you’re prepared to see midnight.
There is no reason to run any pitcher out there on less than normal rest, which eliminates Lester from game 1. It probably also makes sense to give Beckett additional rest based on his last outing and recent oblique injury. Using that logic you open with Dice-K who will be on 6 days rest already. He was very effective last season with extra rest and holding off until game 3 would be 9 days. Beckett gets an extra 3 days, and Lester goes on normal rest.
Here’s the schedule:
Game 1 – Fri the 10th - Dice K (6 days rest)
Game 2 – Sat the 11th - Lester (normal rest)
Game 3 – Mon the 13th - Beckett (7 days rest)
Game 4 – Tue the 14th - Wake/Byrd
Game 5 – Thur the 16th - Dice K (5 days rest)
Game 6 – Sat the 18th - Lester (6 days rest)
Game 7 – Sun the 19th - Beckett (5 days rest)
If you believe the people who have been around the game for years like Remy or Schilling, home and road records get tossed out the window. So save the “he pitches better at home” mantra.
There is also the issue of flexibility to consider. If the Rays manage to make game 5 an elimination game, Lester can go on normal rest and Beckett can follow in game 6 on normal rest. Dice K then follows with all hands on deck in game 7.
So the only real debate is game 4. Wake has more upside but his poor postseason record is scary. Byrd is the safer option based on last years ALCS at Fenway. But it may come down to the wind. If it’s blowing out you would likely see Wake (similar to conditions of his dominating performance at Yankee Stadium). Otherwise I'd expect to see Byrd with Wake as backup.
Prediction? I like the Sox in seven. What it comes down to is which version of Beckett we’ll see. I think that he will right the ship especially if they give him the extra rest. Lester will continue to dominate, similar to the postseason Beckett enjoyed last year. That leaves Dice-K to win one of his two starts and Beckett to grind it out in game 7.
Expect to see some heated battles during this one. There will be some spill over from the regular season. The only downside is that we will see the replay of Coco charging the mound more times than the mention of the curse before 2004.
Buckle up campers, this will be a good old fashioned grind em out series. Hope you’re prepared to see midnight.
