World Series Bound
The Red Sox took the 7th and deciding game in the American League Championship 11-2 over the Indians sending them to the World Series for the 2nd time in four years. Thoughts:
- While not dominant and seeming to tire quickly, Dice-K, knowing the entire Sox staff was ready in relief, gave the Sox exactly what they needed (5 innings, 2 runs). Before putting his performance down, remember what Chien-Ming Wang gave the Yankees during two brutal starts against the Indians (without the adjustments that Dice-K has had this year).
- Pedroia is quickly becoming the new personality of the Red Sox. He’s an absolutely fearless player. With two swings late in the game he drove in more runs than Alex Rodriguez has in his last 3 post season series. Already Yankee fans hate Pedroia, which is always a good sign.
- Josh Beckett, an easy choice, won the series MVP. Without his game one victory, the series might have ended in 4, and his game 5 victory in Cleveland took the momentum from the Indians and gave it back to Boston.
- I’m a big Terry Francona fan. Still, I was dumbfounded that he left Okajima in for a 3rd inning. What is it with Boston managers leaving relievers in past their effectiveness? With the whole staff available for relief it made little sense. With Papelbon available for 2 innings it made even less. Instead of coming in for 6 outs and a clean slate, Papelbon came in for 6 outs with the tying runner at the plate. He’s good, but there’s no need for the extra challenge.
- The Red Sox hit into a record number double plays. The Sox aren’t really a running team, but at some point it might pay to put some runners in motion, especially against a catcher with a bad arm. If Lugo steals right away during the 4th inning instead of waiting for the perfect pitch that’s one less double play right there.
- With Ellsbury batting 8th instead of Coco the offense becomes more potent. With Drew coming on strong and Varitek showing signs of life at the plate, Lugo is the only true hole in the lineup. Lugo also scares me in the field. Lugo actually scares me anywhere I see him.
- It was nice to see Crisp make the last out of the game with a great catch. It seems he’s taking the demotion well. I’m sure he’d rather be playing, but I’m also sure it feels good to take a break from the pressure that was building. I like Crisp, and it’s bittersweet watching what is probably his last few games in a Red Sox uniform.
- Lofton was safe at second, but that’s a call (the phantom tag) that’s often missed. The third base coach holding Lofton at third was also a mistake, but an understandable one made in a split second. First and third with one out isn’t a bad situation to be in.
- That said, putting the blame for the loss on either of those plays is nonsense. Not in a game that ends up 11-2, not when you’re outscored 30-5 in your last 3 games. Cleveland simply had too many players they depended on vanish against boston. Sabathia, Carmona, Sizemore, and Hafner all came up short. So how did the series go 7? I have no idea, and if Youk’s line drive drops in the 9th in game 2 the series is over much sooner.
- The Indians seemed to catch all the breaks early in the series, with the Sox having luck on their side in later games. With teams so evenly matched, breaks often make the difference.
- Speaking of luck, Fenway, as Manny promised, was magical for the Red Sox. Remember all those people that said home field in the playoffs doesn’t matter? When it comes to the Red Sox and Fenway, it does.
- The entire series Cleveland acted and looked very confident. Dare I say, overconfident. Lots of celebrating, lots of smiles early. I’m not saying they were, I’m saying that’s the vibe I got.
- Garko saying “champagne tastes as good on the road as at home”, even if taken out of context was a dumb statement. It’s not that the Red Sox needed more motivation, but it got the focus off Red Sox problems during 3 losses and back on the Indians. Add to that the printing of World Series t-shirts, and Cleveland was mocking the baseball gods.
- He can be a little much at times, but it was nice to see Kevin Millar throw out the first pitch. With Millar, Bill Mueller, and Dave Roberts returning for the series, it shows you can leave Boston and still be loved and treated with respect. Just do it the right way, not the Johnny Damon / Roger Clemens method.
- Thankfully I now do not have to choose who to root for between the Rockies and Indians. Before the series, I would have said Cleveland since their history is so marred with disappointment, but after 7 games of their racist logo, Lofton, and those god-awful towels, I might have reconsidered.
- I will miss Indians GM Mark Shapiro and his lovely wife Lissa Bockrath. I’m sure they’re wonderful people. All I’m saying is if a movie needs to fill the parts of ‘geeky guy who never had a date until he became rich’ and ‘bland, vacant, trophy wife who married for the money’ look no further.
- Tim Wakefield was left off the World Series roster due to an arm/back injury. That’s a shame, but even more concerning is that he sounded so dejected that you have to wonder if his career is over.
- I’m a little concerned with David Ortiz. Big Papi was 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts in game 7, and he didn’t look like himself. However, he looked fine jumping up and down like a kid after Pedroia’s home run, so hopefully it was just an off game.
- And on to the World Series. I like Boston’s chances if their starting pitching doesn’t collapse. However, if the Rockies can beat Beckett at Fenway, it’s going to get interesting very quickly.
The Red Sox played in 2 World Series the first 34 years of my life, only one where I was old enough to remember. In the last 4 years the Red Sox have played in 2 World Series, already winning 1.
They are simply the most well-run, successful franchise in baseball right now, a team that wins through heart, determination and relentless talent (link).
Win or lose, it’s a good time to be a Red Sox fan. As Joel told Clementine, enjoy it.
