Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory
It’s rare that I’ll claim a game is lost rather than won, but it does happen. Example 1: Detroit’s 10-9 victory over Boston.
Papelbon came on in the 9th to try and protect a 1 run lead. A check swing dribbler, a slow rolling ball barely past the pitchers mound that Lugo fumbled, a bunt, a weak grounder to 2nd, and a shattered bat bloop just beyond Lugo’s reach and just like that Papelbon had his first blown save.
Detroit’s Placido Polanco:
It tells you a lot about our team. We had some really tough at-bats against Papelbon to make something happen.
I have no idea what Placido Polanco is smoking, but I’d like some. Not a single ball was hit solidly, much less hard. The gods of baseball were smiling down on Detroit. It happens, Enjoy it, but take it for what it was; a gift.
Other thoughts:
- Lugo’s error didn’t lose the game. Bad starting pitching and middle relief had far more to do with the loss. That said, Lugo makes it difficult to want him at short. A physical mistake, fine. But Lugo needed to realize he has to get 1 out in that situation. Nonchalantly flipping the ball from his glove to throwing hand is simply inexcusable.
- It’s hard to believe Mike Lowell just recently hit his first home run of the year and yet the Red Sox are in first place. Now that he’s appears to be heating up it bodes well for the offense.
- There is no crying in baseball, but after giving up a home run recently Joba Chamberlain certainly appeared ready to shed a few tears. I almost felt sorry for him. Then I remembered: Two consecutive fastballs at Youk’s head. So screw him.
Beckett goes for the series win tonight.
