What was so promising on Thursday night blew up today. A charitable presentation: a group of older, scared people simply cannot see what the possibilities are. They are captives of a world view that is drawing down. I have come to see life as a diamond (of course; I am a baseball fan). We spend the early part of our lives growing out into the world from the little point that is our entry into the world. Everything expands until somewhere in mid-life, we turn the corner. Usually it's not even perceptible to us when we make the turn. But from that moment on, our world begins to draw down again, until advanced age or illness or some brand of dementia or a combination of them all makes our world very small again. Some of these poor folk are well down the road of life's reduction. Perhaps the younger folk, who haven't to this point participated in meetings, will learn their lesson from this.
The paperwork has been requested to make a change of scenery. Didn't want to. Don't look forward to it. But I can't afford this anymore, in any of the ways "afford" can be interpreted. Such is life.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
D-Day, Part 1, Part 2
So, the fateful meeting got put off a week...what's a few days amongst friends?
Tonight we got down to business. And they looked at the situation, discussed it, and did everything that needed to be done. As we are so Methodical, there are additional steps for the various aspects of the results. But that said, my committee stepped up and our church grew up a little bit tonight. They are making a very positive salary proposal. They are making an extremely positive staffing request. They are proposing a goal for the new year that is brilliant. They flatly rejected the continuing complaints of the one household (required in each church-and you're really lucky if it's only one) that is unhappy with the current shepherd. In fact, in my 24th year at this task I have never, ever, had a committee take such a strong position against frivolous complaints, and in favor of affirming my work. Their generosity-financial and in spirit-is an energizing experience for the new year.
I had hoped and prayed for the opportunity to stay and work in this community with these good people. We ain't there yet, but we're way down the road in that direction!
Resolution number one comes Sunday afternoon. Stay tuned...
Tonight we got down to business. And they looked at the situation, discussed it, and did everything that needed to be done. As we are so Methodical, there are additional steps for the various aspects of the results. But that said, my committee stepped up and our church grew up a little bit tonight. They are making a very positive salary proposal. They are making an extremely positive staffing request. They are proposing a goal for the new year that is brilliant. They flatly rejected the continuing complaints of the one household (required in each church-and you're really lucky if it's only one) that is unhappy with the current shepherd. In fact, in my 24th year at this task I have never, ever, had a committee take such a strong position against frivolous complaints, and in favor of affirming my work. Their generosity-financial and in spirit-is an energizing experience for the new year.
I had hoped and prayed for the opportunity to stay and work in this community with these good people. We ain't there yet, but we're way down the road in that direction!
Resolution number one comes Sunday afternoon. Stay tuned...
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
PEDs, Again
Performance Enhancing Drugs. Perhaps the most complicated issue that has ever invaded the game of baseball. Six days after the Mitchell Report was released, the matter has only gotten more complicated. Let's start with the statistics. Baseball is, after all, more about the numbers than any other game. Numbers are history. They define the legends, the very goods, the adequates and the Chico Esquelas (I saw a picture of Garret Morris this week, in honor of his turning 70 this year!). Now that we know that the pitchers were gluteus maximus-deep in the steroid pool as well as the hitters, are we to have more respect for the home run totals? Should we just disqualify those numbers beyond age 37 or 38 (standard decline time for over 125 years of baseball) that saw individuals getting better into their mid-40s? Should every user be Joe Jacksoned or Pete Rosed? But even those banned for life still have their numbers in the record books...and the numbers are what's cooked with PEDs.
Mentioning Pete, I don't want to hear from him about this. If Pete had any integrity, he would have owned up to betting on the Reds in 1989, owned up to an addiction, asked for baseball's help in getting through treatment. If he had done those things, he might still be banned, unable to work in baseball, but I'd bet (pun intended) that his placque would hang in Cooperstown today. Americans love nothing more than the fall of the high and mighty, followed by the phoenix-like rise of the fallen. I'm so skeptical of Pete at this point that it wouldn't surprise me if we someday found out that he really didn't bet on baseball, and only admitted doing it to get another book contract (My Prison Without Bars, $24.95 at a bookstore near you! Surely remaindered for $.99 by now.) For all of that, he is right, however. PEDs skew the on-field result. They mess with the game in a way that he never did. And yes, no known steroid user can possibly be inducted at Cooperstown ahead of Pete Rose.
Another issue: we still don't know the extent of the matter. Apparently all the teams have Kirk Radomskis, and most of the players have one or more Brian McNamees. And with the movement of Free Agency Era players, names and phone numbers of eager, willing assistants have obviously been passed from millionaire and would-be millionaire to the next 250 of the same. There can be no possible accurate accounting of how many of who did what when it comes to PEDs. This may be the reason that Senator Mitchell advocated the amnesty that he recommended. Since you can't name them all, how can you selectively punish some? Bud? Are you listening? Anyone? Anyone?
As for individuals, how bad does Andy Pettitte's confession make Roger Clemens look? In fact, the more people who own up to McNamee's role in their behavior, the more the Rocket looks like he has a faulty fuse. But I don't want to let Pettitte off the hook just yet. Baseball players are pretty smart as professional athletes go, and it is clear that the new crop of identified users has studied up on the idiocy of the original crew. Only Clemens seems to be reenacting Raphael Palmeiro's finger-wagging, "I never did it" routine. No one has suffered Mark McGwire's amnesia or Sammy Sosa' misplacing of his English. Instead, Pettitte, Brian Roberts and Fernando Vina (trying to hold onto his ESPN gig) have each acknowledged, and framed, their usage. Pettitte and Vina tell stories of using to get well, to be able to get back from injury to help their teams, and allowing bad judgement to aid their recoveries. Brilliant! How much better would Big Mac be remembered if he had said that as his foot-woes became worse in his late 30s, he felt he owed it to the good fans of St. Louis to try to play every day as people drove in from all over the Mid-West, spending their hard-earned money to see him hit. And it was wrong, and he wished he hadn't done it. I'll tell you what would have happened: Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn would have had a big, redheaded third at last July's induction ceremonies. The agents and publicists have these guys much more prepared to respond to the embarassment and fear of being exposed in 2007.
Then there is Bonds. Again, Barry isn't under federal indictment because he used steroids or HGH. He is facing trial and jail time because when he was asked by the feds about his behavior, he lied to them. As with Marion Jones, learn the lesson: tell the cops what you did. None of the current crop of baseball players is going to be stupid enough to lie to the authorities like Bonds did. Even Clemens will tell the truth if some special prosecutor puts him on the stand under oath. After all, Jason Giambi may have gotten booed in Yankee Stadium and everywhere else after his grand jury testimony, but the Giambino will never see the inside of Leavenworth over steroids.
At the same time, Bonds' performance has regained some amount of credibility. If only hitters had been using, and the poor pitchers were all under assault by these swelled-headed, hulking, testicularly-shrunken louts, then nothing's been a fair fight since about 1990. But if the pitchers were shooting up with something resembling the same amounts and frequencies, then the hitters weren't so far ahead of them. As the old saw holds, you can't compare the numbers of different eras; never more true than today.
The numbers also raise the issue of awards. Curt Schilling wrote today on 38pitches.com that Clemens should forfeit the 4 post-1997 Cy Youngs if he was a user. Here's the best example I know of. (At this moment, a disclaimer is needed: Albert Pujols has not been publicly accused. That's all that can be said.) In 2001, Pujols finished fourth in NL MVP voting. He finished behind Bonds, Sosa and Luis Gonzalez, three men widely associated with PEDs. Albert was second to Bonds in 2002 and 2003. He was third in 2004 to Bonds and Adrian Beltre, another widely suspected player. Albert won the MVP in 2005. Now, there's an argument to be made about who would have gotten the votes if these guys hadn't been in the running, but it certainly is a possibility that Albert Pujols would have won the National League MVP award in each of his first five seasons if the illegal substances had not been in play. What would such an incredible accomplishment have meant to a guy who is not known (today) to be dirty? How do you undo the injury he has suffered? The Olympics have a history of awarding medals to the highest finisher who didn't cheat. Should baseball do the same? It makes a good deal of sense.
No matter how ready I am to see this settled and done, we are a long, long way from that point. And it sure looks to me like this will remain the biggest story in baseball for another year or two, minimum.
Mentioning Pete, I don't want to hear from him about this. If Pete had any integrity, he would have owned up to betting on the Reds in 1989, owned up to an addiction, asked for baseball's help in getting through treatment. If he had done those things, he might still be banned, unable to work in baseball, but I'd bet (pun intended) that his placque would hang in Cooperstown today. Americans love nothing more than the fall of the high and mighty, followed by the phoenix-like rise of the fallen. I'm so skeptical of Pete at this point that it wouldn't surprise me if we someday found out that he really didn't bet on baseball, and only admitted doing it to get another book contract (My Prison Without Bars, $24.95 at a bookstore near you! Surely remaindered for $.99 by now.) For all of that, he is right, however. PEDs skew the on-field result. They mess with the game in a way that he never did. And yes, no known steroid user can possibly be inducted at Cooperstown ahead of Pete Rose.
Another issue: we still don't know the extent of the matter. Apparently all the teams have Kirk Radomskis, and most of the players have one or more Brian McNamees. And with the movement of Free Agency Era players, names and phone numbers of eager, willing assistants have obviously been passed from millionaire and would-be millionaire to the next 250 of the same. There can be no possible accurate accounting of how many of who did what when it comes to PEDs. This may be the reason that Senator Mitchell advocated the amnesty that he recommended. Since you can't name them all, how can you selectively punish some? Bud? Are you listening? Anyone? Anyone?
As for individuals, how bad does Andy Pettitte's confession make Roger Clemens look? In fact, the more people who own up to McNamee's role in their behavior, the more the Rocket looks like he has a faulty fuse. But I don't want to let Pettitte off the hook just yet. Baseball players are pretty smart as professional athletes go, and it is clear that the new crop of identified users has studied up on the idiocy of the original crew. Only Clemens seems to be reenacting Raphael Palmeiro's finger-wagging, "I never did it" routine. No one has suffered Mark McGwire's amnesia or Sammy Sosa' misplacing of his English. Instead, Pettitte, Brian Roberts and Fernando Vina (trying to hold onto his ESPN gig) have each acknowledged, and framed, their usage. Pettitte and Vina tell stories of using to get well, to be able to get back from injury to help their teams, and allowing bad judgement to aid their recoveries. Brilliant! How much better would Big Mac be remembered if he had said that as his foot-woes became worse in his late 30s, he felt he owed it to the good fans of St. Louis to try to play every day as people drove in from all over the Mid-West, spending their hard-earned money to see him hit. And it was wrong, and he wished he hadn't done it. I'll tell you what would have happened: Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn would have had a big, redheaded third at last July's induction ceremonies. The agents and publicists have these guys much more prepared to respond to the embarassment and fear of being exposed in 2007.
Then there is Bonds. Again, Barry isn't under federal indictment because he used steroids or HGH. He is facing trial and jail time because when he was asked by the feds about his behavior, he lied to them. As with Marion Jones, learn the lesson: tell the cops what you did. None of the current crop of baseball players is going to be stupid enough to lie to the authorities like Bonds did. Even Clemens will tell the truth if some special prosecutor puts him on the stand under oath. After all, Jason Giambi may have gotten booed in Yankee Stadium and everywhere else after his grand jury testimony, but the Giambino will never see the inside of Leavenworth over steroids.
At the same time, Bonds' performance has regained some amount of credibility. If only hitters had been using, and the poor pitchers were all under assault by these swelled-headed, hulking, testicularly-shrunken louts, then nothing's been a fair fight since about 1990. But if the pitchers were shooting up with something resembling the same amounts and frequencies, then the hitters weren't so far ahead of them. As the old saw holds, you can't compare the numbers of different eras; never more true than today.
The numbers also raise the issue of awards. Curt Schilling wrote today on 38pitches.com that Clemens should forfeit the 4 post-1997 Cy Youngs if he was a user. Here's the best example I know of. (At this moment, a disclaimer is needed: Albert Pujols has not been publicly accused. That's all that can be said.) In 2001, Pujols finished fourth in NL MVP voting. He finished behind Bonds, Sosa and Luis Gonzalez, three men widely associated with PEDs. Albert was second to Bonds in 2002 and 2003. He was third in 2004 to Bonds and Adrian Beltre, another widely suspected player. Albert won the MVP in 2005. Now, there's an argument to be made about who would have gotten the votes if these guys hadn't been in the running, but it certainly is a possibility that Albert Pujols would have won the National League MVP award in each of his first five seasons if the illegal substances had not been in play. What would such an incredible accomplishment have meant to a guy who is not known (today) to be dirty? How do you undo the injury he has suffered? The Olympics have a history of awarding medals to the highest finisher who didn't cheat. Should baseball do the same? It makes a good deal of sense.
No matter how ready I am to see this settled and done, we are a long, long way from that point. And it sure looks to me like this will remain the biggest story in baseball for another year or two, minimum.
Monday, December 17, 2007
D-Day Part 1
Thursday is Decision Day, Part 1. The immediate course of the old career will be determined. The committee that deals with little things like salary proposals will convene to make the 2008 recommendation. I pushed this as close to the end of the year as is possible in our system, so that the financials will be about as complete as they can be. Results: the third straight Best Financial Year Ever for our little arm of the Lord's Work. Now, it's really put up or shut up. I have done the missional, serve-at-a-discount thing for three years. That's ok. But now, we're looking down the barrel of three kids in college at the same time this fall, and the options are gone. After two salary cycles, we're still $12,000 behind the old assignment, which was a dying, no-hope type of situation. It is time for this thriving, growing, rolling in dough place to act like what it has become.
I cannot claim that I'm a big enough person that last year's disappointment hasn't been hard to carry around at times. When you have a double digit surplus, and they moan that 4% is absolutely all they can afford, they just aren't telling the truth. But thie time, another inadequate sharing of the proceeds of good work will mean a change of venue. I can't see how they won't step up, but then again, I thought the same thing last year. Last year's 12% budget surplus has become about 22% this year. Last year's decision to stick it all into a savings account will not fly this year. And what has become a financial emergency for me is turning into a tragedy for the church. They just can't afford any more to hang around that starter or never-made-it type of salary, given the church that they now are. And I don't know if they get that or not.
Pardon an ego moment here, but the growth in the town predates my arrival by a good 8 years. Why didn't the church grow before? Why didn't the membership rise? Why didn't the attendance swell? Why didn't the program grow? Why didn't the giving increase (18% in new dollars this year)? The people in the pews didn't suddenly begin to be friendly. They didn't conjure up a new, shiny space in which to worship. An immodest evaluation: only the guy in the pulpit changed. They really need to understand that I came down about three salary levels to serve here. They cannot afford to return to the level they are paying for. If they don't come up, I'm out, and they are out of luck. It seems a very, very simple fix: just turn loose of some of what we've accomplished together, and we can keep going.
Please! I don't want to go anywhere! Give me the option of staying!
I cannot claim that I'm a big enough person that last year's disappointment hasn't been hard to carry around at times. When you have a double digit surplus, and they moan that 4% is absolutely all they can afford, they just aren't telling the truth. But thie time, another inadequate sharing of the proceeds of good work will mean a change of venue. I can't see how they won't step up, but then again, I thought the same thing last year. Last year's 12% budget surplus has become about 22% this year. Last year's decision to stick it all into a savings account will not fly this year. And what has become a financial emergency for me is turning into a tragedy for the church. They just can't afford any more to hang around that starter or never-made-it type of salary, given the church that they now are. And I don't know if they get that or not.
Pardon an ego moment here, but the growth in the town predates my arrival by a good 8 years. Why didn't the church grow before? Why didn't the membership rise? Why didn't the attendance swell? Why didn't the program grow? Why didn't the giving increase (18% in new dollars this year)? The people in the pews didn't suddenly begin to be friendly. They didn't conjure up a new, shiny space in which to worship. An immodest evaluation: only the guy in the pulpit changed. They really need to understand that I came down about three salary levels to serve here. They cannot afford to return to the level they are paying for. If they don't come up, I'm out, and they are out of luck. It seems a very, very simple fix: just turn loose of some of what we've accomplished together, and we can keep going.
Please! I don't want to go anywhere! Give me the option of staying!
Friday, December 14, 2007
The Mitchell Report
Today has been a day of great heat, but little light in the world of Major League Baseball. Former Senator George Mitchell of Maine, director of the Boston Red Sox, member of the board of the Walt Disney Company (the parent of ESPN), the arbiter of the peace in Northern Ireland, is also a former federal prosecutor, former Federal judge, and most importantly, former Majority Leader of the United States Senate. He was tapped almost two years ago by Allan H. (Bud) Selig to investigate the presence of performance enhancing drugs in baseball.
We already knew that steroids had changed the landscape of baseball permanently. We knew that Mitchell had at least the appearance of at least two conflicts of interest. Would he name Red Sox players? He serves the team as a director. Would he damage the value of ESPN's relationship with MLB? He is on the Disney board. Could he get anything done? He did not have subpoena power. And all of the loudmouths are being heard now. What good did it do? What did we get out of this? He went too far, or not far enough. He encouraged Selig to do everything possible to avoid punishment for past behavior, opting instead to push for using the knowledge of past mistakes to shape a cleaner future. Ken Rosenthal is upset over the Mitchell Report, which pretty well guarantees it was a good thing to undertake.
All of the wind and fury misses the point. This project wasn't about getting Roger Clemens' name out of the rumors and into the record. It wasn't about further burying Barry Bonds, or covering his enhanced anatomy by putting 75 others in the boat with him. It wasn't to solve all of baseball's problems. No, not all of them. Just the biggest one: Congress.
Bud and MLB President Bob Dupuy have been summoned to Capitol Hill again; they will appear next week. One congressman has already called for Bud's oily head. (Now that's a real demonstration of what Mick Foley used to call "testicular fortitude": a member of the United States government telling anyone else that they should resign their position due to incompetent performance.) But the Kommisar-for-Life and his right-hand guy are going to swear to tell the truth, look warmly at the members of the committee, and tell them, over and over and over, "We are serious about steroids and all the rest now! See? We hired your guy to investigate it all!"
Members of Congress want TV face time. They want to look like they are protecting the youth and children of America. They like to lecture the powerful who have been dragged in and turned into whimpering puppies by congressional subpoenas. But they do not insult, attack or belittle their own. Especially not one of their own as prominent as George Mitchell. Bud's people were either prescient enough, or just plain lucky enough, to benefit from the change in congressional majorities in the last election. If anyone was going to attack Mitchell's work, it surely won't be the members of his own party who now run the show. You should expect to see the small, mousy Selig (so close to Zelig) hide in the long, broad, dignified shadow of the former Democratic leader of the Senate.
This is why Mitchell was chosen. This is sportswriters' screaming about imagined conflicts of interest doesn't matter. Because those who can compel testimony, take away the anti-trust exemption, regulate, regulate, regulate, and force the owners to open their books will take George Mitchell's word for it that the truth has now been told, and the corner of enforcement has been turned. No one in congress will attack George Mitchell's integrity. No one in congress will accuse George Mitchell of ineptitude. No one in congress will throw dirt on one of their own. That's why Bud hired him. That's why Bud was on TV this afternoon telling one of his questioners that it really didn't matter how expensive this investigation has been. Because he knows that when he sits before the members of congress next week, he's bringing protection with him. Kind of like Michael Corleone walking into the committee room to hear Frank Pantangeli's testimony in Godfather II, with Pantangeli's older brother, fresh off the plane from Italy, on Corleone's arm. Frankie Five Angels proceeded to forget that he'd ever even heard of Michael Corleone.
When Bud shows up with the Honorable George Mitchell on his arm, all of those congressmen/women who have expectations of having big law firm/lobbying jobs when their terms are ended will promptly forget that they ever heard of Winstrol or HGH or McNamee or Radomski. And then, Bud will have gotten his money's worth.
We already knew that steroids had changed the landscape of baseball permanently. We knew that Mitchell had at least the appearance of at least two conflicts of interest. Would he name Red Sox players? He serves the team as a director. Would he damage the value of ESPN's relationship with MLB? He is on the Disney board. Could he get anything done? He did not have subpoena power. And all of the loudmouths are being heard now. What good did it do? What did we get out of this? He went too far, or not far enough. He encouraged Selig to do everything possible to avoid punishment for past behavior, opting instead to push for using the knowledge of past mistakes to shape a cleaner future. Ken Rosenthal is upset over the Mitchell Report, which pretty well guarantees it was a good thing to undertake.
All of the wind and fury misses the point. This project wasn't about getting Roger Clemens' name out of the rumors and into the record. It wasn't about further burying Barry Bonds, or covering his enhanced anatomy by putting 75 others in the boat with him. It wasn't to solve all of baseball's problems. No, not all of them. Just the biggest one: Congress.
Bud and MLB President Bob Dupuy have been summoned to Capitol Hill again; they will appear next week. One congressman has already called for Bud's oily head. (Now that's a real demonstration of what Mick Foley used to call "testicular fortitude": a member of the United States government telling anyone else that they should resign their position due to incompetent performance.) But the Kommisar-for-Life and his right-hand guy are going to swear to tell the truth, look warmly at the members of the committee, and tell them, over and over and over, "We are serious about steroids and all the rest now! See? We hired your guy to investigate it all!"
Members of Congress want TV face time. They want to look like they are protecting the youth and children of America. They like to lecture the powerful who have been dragged in and turned into whimpering puppies by congressional subpoenas. But they do not insult, attack or belittle their own. Especially not one of their own as prominent as George Mitchell. Bud's people were either prescient enough, or just plain lucky enough, to benefit from the change in congressional majorities in the last election. If anyone was going to attack Mitchell's work, it surely won't be the members of his own party who now run the show. You should expect to see the small, mousy Selig (so close to Zelig) hide in the long, broad, dignified shadow of the former Democratic leader of the Senate.
This is why Mitchell was chosen. This is sportswriters' screaming about imagined conflicts of interest doesn't matter. Because those who can compel testimony, take away the anti-trust exemption, regulate, regulate, regulate, and force the owners to open their books will take George Mitchell's word for it that the truth has now been told, and the corner of enforcement has been turned. No one in congress will attack George Mitchell's integrity. No one in congress will accuse George Mitchell of ineptitude. No one in congress will throw dirt on one of their own. That's why Bud hired him. That's why Bud was on TV this afternoon telling one of his questioners that it really didn't matter how expensive this investigation has been. Because he knows that when he sits before the members of congress next week, he's bringing protection with him. Kind of like Michael Corleone walking into the committee room to hear Frank Pantangeli's testimony in Godfather II, with Pantangeli's older brother, fresh off the plane from Italy, on Corleone's arm. Frankie Five Angels proceeded to forget that he'd ever even heard of Michael Corleone.
When Bud shows up with the Honorable George Mitchell on his arm, all of those congressmen/women who have expectations of having big law firm/lobbying jobs when their terms are ended will promptly forget that they ever heard of Winstrol or HGH or McNamee or Radomski. And then, Bud will have gotten his money's worth.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Who Is He?
A tale of two seasons:
2-0; 34 games; 16 saves; 33 1/3 IP; 23 hits; 8 runs, all earned; 12 BB; 29 K; 2.16 ERA
2-2; 20 games; 0 saves; 18 2/3 IP; 26 hits; 14 runs, all earned; 9 BB; 22 K; 6.75 ERA
Two seasons, but only one pitcher: Eric Gagne. The first half, as closer of the Texas Rangers, he was good enough to return a package that included a promising 25 year old pitcher, Kason Gabbard, and a fast 26 year old outfielder, David Murphy. Upon his arrival in Boston, Gagne blew up. He was terrible. Granted, his role changed. He wasn't about to be put in Jonathan Papelbon's spot, so he became a setup man, the 8th inning guy. Even that was problematic: Hideki Okajima was wicked awesome pre-Gagne, merely very good upon being pushed back to the 7th after Eric's arrival. No one, including Gagne, can ever argue that Tito Francona didn't give him a chance. Terry kept running him out there long past the time the Fenway Faithful began to boo with a passion normally reserved for the MFYs.
All of this reflection is, of course, occasioned by the decision by the Milwaukee Brewers to sign Mr. Gagne to a one-year $10 million contract. I'm going to let that sink in for a moment. Now I'm going to say it again: Eric Gagne has 10 million extra-extra-large coming for 2008.
The problem: who is he? Is he the capable, surgically restored closer that the Rangers had prior to July 31? Or is he the ticking time bomb who always seemed to explode about the time he reached the mound for the Red Sox? Gagne will be 32 the first week of January. He had three great seasons as the closer for the Los Angeles Dodgers. But he is now two major surgeries and three seasons removed from those dominating days. And right now, with the cash falling out of the pockets of Major League Baseball's owners, it is apparently even within the reach of smaller market teams to spend questionably, if not downright foolishly. Doug Melvin has said that he paid more money to avoid more years on the deal. If that isn't a plain proclamation of the economic state of the game today, then I don't know what is.
I have a very warm spot in my heart for Ned Yost, and Bob Uecker is one of the great figures of the game, so I hope this move doesn't blow up on the Brewers, but if I were a betting man...well, I know where my money would be. And it wouldn't be on Gagne. Or in his pocket.
2-0; 34 games; 16 saves; 33 1/3 IP; 23 hits; 8 runs, all earned; 12 BB; 29 K; 2.16 ERA
2-2; 20 games; 0 saves; 18 2/3 IP; 26 hits; 14 runs, all earned; 9 BB; 22 K; 6.75 ERA
Two seasons, but only one pitcher: Eric Gagne. The first half, as closer of the Texas Rangers, he was good enough to return a package that included a promising 25 year old pitcher, Kason Gabbard, and a fast 26 year old outfielder, David Murphy. Upon his arrival in Boston, Gagne blew up. He was terrible. Granted, his role changed. He wasn't about to be put in Jonathan Papelbon's spot, so he became a setup man, the 8th inning guy. Even that was problematic: Hideki Okajima was wicked awesome pre-Gagne, merely very good upon being pushed back to the 7th after Eric's arrival. No one, including Gagne, can ever argue that Tito Francona didn't give him a chance. Terry kept running him out there long past the time the Fenway Faithful began to boo with a passion normally reserved for the MFYs.
All of this reflection is, of course, occasioned by the decision by the Milwaukee Brewers to sign Mr. Gagne to a one-year $10 million contract. I'm going to let that sink in for a moment. Now I'm going to say it again: Eric Gagne has 10 million extra-extra-large coming for 2008.
The problem: who is he? Is he the capable, surgically restored closer that the Rangers had prior to July 31? Or is he the ticking time bomb who always seemed to explode about the time he reached the mound for the Red Sox? Gagne will be 32 the first week of January. He had three great seasons as the closer for the Los Angeles Dodgers. But he is now two major surgeries and three seasons removed from those dominating days. And right now, with the cash falling out of the pockets of Major League Baseball's owners, it is apparently even within the reach of smaller market teams to spend questionably, if not downright foolishly. Doug Melvin has said that he paid more money to avoid more years on the deal. If that isn't a plain proclamation of the economic state of the game today, then I don't know what is.
I have a very warm spot in my heart for Ned Yost, and Bob Uecker is one of the great figures of the game, so I hope this move doesn't blow up on the Brewers, but if I were a betting man...well, I know where my money would be. And it wouldn't be on Gagne. Or in his pocket.
Friday, December 07, 2007
A Wonder Autumn Night
I have seen, and more to the point, heard, most all of the significant artists of the rock and roll era. Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, U2, REM, The Eagles, and Don Henley as a solo, James Taylor, Billy Joel, ZZ Top, BB King, Buddy Guy, Van Morrison, Al Green, Paul Simon, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Bob Dylan more times than I can count anymore (14, I believe), are all among the performers/bands that I have seen on multiple occasions. One glaring omission on my concert resume was Stevie Wonder. Stevie is, of course, one of the towering figures of American music. He is our Paul McCartney in terms of his prolific command of melodies and lyrics, and our John Lennon in his use of his platform to change the course of history through protest.
He is universally admired for his refusal to be limited or defined by his blindness. That complete and total lack of self-pity was instilled by his mother. She would not abide anyone (including Stevie himself) treating her son differently from any other child, and through that insistance she enabled him to accomplish everything that he has done. He has won 25 Grammy awards, sold more albums (eleven top tens) and singles (29 top tens) than can be counted, and been a reliable performer for more than 40 years now. When Paul Simon won the Album of the Year Grammy in 1976 for Still Crazy After All These Years, he thanked Stevie Wonder for not putting out an album that year. Stevie had won Album of the Year in 1974 for Innervisions, and 1975 for Fulfillingness' First Finale; he would win again in 1977 for Songs In the Key of Life.
I had never seen Stevie perform until his visit to the FedEx Forum last Sunday night. He walked onto the stage, guided by his daughter, Aisha. She was the little girl giggling and splashing in the bathtub as the subject of Isn't She Lovely, now grown, and one of her dad's backup singers. He began by introducing his daughter, and talking about how all of the men in the audience were probably ogling the very attractive Miss Morris. He told us to be careful, as, "I carry a shotgun. Blind man with a shotgun, yeah; Bang! Hah, Steve, you missed me. Bang!" That was his line. He has always put others at ease about his blindness. If it's not a problem for him, why should it be for anyone else?
He explained that this tour started on May 31, 2006, with the death of his mother. After the worst day of his life, he decided that he wouldn't play, write or perform any more. Then, he saw her come to him in a dream between her death and the funeral. She said to him, "Boy, you better get your ass up and get to work!" And the tour started. Stevie said that he was traveling the country to thank everyone who had supported his music, and allowed him to give his mother a better life than she could ever have had otherwise. It was truly a sweet moment. He than sat down and played.
And played, and played, and played. For the next two hours and 45 minutes, Stevie told stories, had fun, and played that spectacular music that he has shared with the world since the early 1960's. There were only two songs in the whole show whose lyrics I didn't know. We all know Stevie Wonder, but when you sit in his audience, listening to him go from hit to hit to hit, it is stunning. He performed two 45 minute medleys with everything a major song following major song. One of those sets:
My Cherie Amour
Uptight (Everything's Alright)
I Was Made to Love Her
For Once in My Life
Do I Do
Sir Duke
I Wish
You Are the Sunshine of My Life
Superstition
The other lengthy medley was just as impressive.
And it was fun. I don't know that I have ever had more fun at a concert than on Sunday last. The first McCartney show I attended, at the Liberty Bowl in 1993, was close, but an evening with Stevie Wonder is a blast. Even when he preached a far better sermon during the song Visions (from Innervisions) than I had delivered that morning, it was fun. And how great is it to see someone who has been famous all his life, and still lives up to the image in person that he has carried all those years. His audience reflected his universal appeal, with equal numbers of black and white in attendance. The only down note of the night: Memphis' notorious indifference to musicians was on full display, as the house was barely more than half full. Even that didn't affect Stevie, as he acknowledged our traditions with a talkbox medley of Soul Man, Shaft and Return to Sender, followed later by Sitting On the Dock of the Bay. He also threw in a little nod to the dear and departed Godfather of Soul, with Say It Loud-I'm Black and I'm Proud. Anybody who can conjure up Sam and Dave, Isaac Hayes, Elvis, Otis Redding and James Brown in the middle of his show is plenty good enough for me!
Do yourself a favor: if you ever have the chance, get thee to a Wonder show! He will lift your spirits; he will challenge your conscience; he will entertain you; he will play a significant portion of the soundtrack of your life; he will insist that you sing along with him, and, at points, instead of him. And unless you are very, very careful, he may even have you up dancing!
He is universally admired for his refusal to be limited or defined by his blindness. That complete and total lack of self-pity was instilled by his mother. She would not abide anyone (including Stevie himself) treating her son differently from any other child, and through that insistance she enabled him to accomplish everything that he has done. He has won 25 Grammy awards, sold more albums (eleven top tens) and singles (29 top tens) than can be counted, and been a reliable performer for more than 40 years now. When Paul Simon won the Album of the Year Grammy in 1976 for Still Crazy After All These Years, he thanked Stevie Wonder for not putting out an album that year. Stevie had won Album of the Year in 1974 for Innervisions, and 1975 for Fulfillingness' First Finale; he would win again in 1977 for Songs In the Key of Life.
I had never seen Stevie perform until his visit to the FedEx Forum last Sunday night. He walked onto the stage, guided by his daughter, Aisha. She was the little girl giggling and splashing in the bathtub as the subject of Isn't She Lovely, now grown, and one of her dad's backup singers. He began by introducing his daughter, and talking about how all of the men in the audience were probably ogling the very attractive Miss Morris. He told us to be careful, as, "I carry a shotgun. Blind man with a shotgun, yeah; Bang! Hah, Steve, you missed me. Bang!" That was his line. He has always put others at ease about his blindness. If it's not a problem for him, why should it be for anyone else?
He explained that this tour started on May 31, 2006, with the death of his mother. After the worst day of his life, he decided that he wouldn't play, write or perform any more. Then, he saw her come to him in a dream between her death and the funeral. She said to him, "Boy, you better get your ass up and get to work!" And the tour started. Stevie said that he was traveling the country to thank everyone who had supported his music, and allowed him to give his mother a better life than she could ever have had otherwise. It was truly a sweet moment. He than sat down and played.
And played, and played, and played. For the next two hours and 45 minutes, Stevie told stories, had fun, and played that spectacular music that he has shared with the world since the early 1960's. There were only two songs in the whole show whose lyrics I didn't know. We all know Stevie Wonder, but when you sit in his audience, listening to him go from hit to hit to hit, it is stunning. He performed two 45 minute medleys with everything a major song following major song. One of those sets:
My Cherie Amour
Uptight (Everything's Alright)
I Was Made to Love Her
For Once in My Life
Do I Do
Sir Duke
I Wish
You Are the Sunshine of My Life
Superstition
The other lengthy medley was just as impressive.
And it was fun. I don't know that I have ever had more fun at a concert than on Sunday last. The first McCartney show I attended, at the Liberty Bowl in 1993, was close, but an evening with Stevie Wonder is a blast. Even when he preached a far better sermon during the song Visions (from Innervisions) than I had delivered that morning, it was fun. And how great is it to see someone who has been famous all his life, and still lives up to the image in person that he has carried all those years. His audience reflected his universal appeal, with equal numbers of black and white in attendance. The only down note of the night: Memphis' notorious indifference to musicians was on full display, as the house was barely more than half full. Even that didn't affect Stevie, as he acknowledged our traditions with a talkbox medley of Soul Man, Shaft and Return to Sender, followed later by Sitting On the Dock of the Bay. He also threw in a little nod to the dear and departed Godfather of Soul, with Say It Loud-I'm Black and I'm Proud. Anybody who can conjure up Sam and Dave, Isaac Hayes, Elvis, Otis Redding and James Brown in the middle of his show is plenty good enough for me!
Do yourself a favor: if you ever have the chance, get thee to a Wonder show! He will lift your spirits; he will challenge your conscience; he will entertain you; he will play a significant portion of the soundtrack of your life; he will insist that you sing along with him, and, at points, instead of him. And unless you are very, very careful, he may even have you up dancing!
Monday, November 19, 2007
Glavine, ARod and Bonds: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
In inverted order:
I take no joy in Barry Bonds' indictment. I see no persecution in Barry Bonds' indictment. It was inevitable, not racist, and just sad. I have written before about my childhood experience of Barry's dad, Bobby Bonds. I won't rehash the whole episode here, but whatever problems arose later, Bobby Bonds was a good man, a great player, and good for baseball. His son could have been all of that and more, but has chosen to be sullen, difficult and needlessly hard-headed. He also appears to have lied to a federal grand jury. Jason Giambi bit the bullet and owned up to what he had done before the same grand jury, and he has never been charged with anything except being a dope. Barry is not under indictment because he's black. He's not under indictment because he's a jerk. He is facing jail time because he is arrogant enough to have believed that he was above the whole process. He will now learn in painful, expensive detail that he isn't. I am looking for a ton of lawyerly posturing, then a Vick-style plea. There won't be any 30 years' jail time, but he will serve a brief term that will be intended to teach other athletes that they better cooperate and tell the truth in doing so when the feds come calling.
I take a great deal of joy in seeing superagent Scott Boras slapped down so publicly. In case you've been out of the country, Mr. Boras informed Tweedle Dee Steinbrenner and Tweedle Dum Steinbrenner that they had to bring $350 million to the table to get to talk to his client. And that was after furthering the perception that ARod is a money grubbing jerk like no other, by announcing the opt-out during Game 4 of the World Series. In a rare moment of lucidity, the Sons of George invited Mr. Boras to go look for his vast fortune somewhere else. When said quest was undertaken, the bane of sports owners everywhere couldn't find a bidder. And why in the world would anyone else bid so stupidly when the Yankees had announced, "Not us, boys!" Boras has been a terrorist-like presence in Major League Baseball for a long time. He has gotten his way far, far too often. For crying out loud, he got $70 million for J.D. Drew! But this time he screwed up. Badly. So when Prince Hal Steinbrenner told the press that ARod could come home to the Yankees, but Boras couldn't be part of the process, Alex came running with his tail tucked between his legs. Or between his mistress' legs. Sorry, Mrs. ARod; please don't aim your vulgar tshirt at me. Alex will sign a 10 year, $275 million contract with the MFYs this week. That just doesn't sound like suffering or punishment to me. But kicking Boras out of the negotiations after he so publicly misread the market is totally wonderful. And then Kenny Rogers fired him. And hopefully other players and other owners will go and do likewise. The world becomes a better place.
Finally, it appears that Tom Glavine is going home. Not in the Southern Baptist, ultimate sense, but in baseball terms. This is extremely good news! The Atlanta Braves have an atrocious record of letting their legends leave. John Smoltz may retire after an entire career in the Braves uni, but Hank Aaron didn't, Dale Murphy didn't, Phil Niekro didn't, Andruw Jones won't, and, five years ago, they let Tom Glavine leave. I don't know if Glavine's work in the MLBPA had anything to do with it. John Schuerholz has a long and detailed memory, and Tom's role as the Players' Association's face during the '94 strike made a lot of management-types angry. And that's apart from their little dustup over the details of Tom's departure for the Mets. But Schuerholz moved up to club president, and Frank Wren took over as GM. And now, it appears that Glavine will go home to finish his Hall of Fame career. He won't be the pitcher he was before he left, but it appears that he will have to be no more than the #3 behind Smoltz and Hudson. If Mike Hampton's Fall League workouts turn into a productive year, Tom can be the 4, and even at 42 he will match up well with every other National League 4. He will post his last wins with the Braves. They should all have been for the Braves, but he will be a 300 game winner pitching for the team that he led for 15 years previously. That feels like good karma to me.
I take no joy in Barry Bonds' indictment. I see no persecution in Barry Bonds' indictment. It was inevitable, not racist, and just sad. I have written before about my childhood experience of Barry's dad, Bobby Bonds. I won't rehash the whole episode here, but whatever problems arose later, Bobby Bonds was a good man, a great player, and good for baseball. His son could have been all of that and more, but has chosen to be sullen, difficult and needlessly hard-headed. He also appears to have lied to a federal grand jury. Jason Giambi bit the bullet and owned up to what he had done before the same grand jury, and he has never been charged with anything except being a dope. Barry is not under indictment because he's black. He's not under indictment because he's a jerk. He is facing jail time because he is arrogant enough to have believed that he was above the whole process. He will now learn in painful, expensive detail that he isn't. I am looking for a ton of lawyerly posturing, then a Vick-style plea. There won't be any 30 years' jail time, but he will serve a brief term that will be intended to teach other athletes that they better cooperate and tell the truth in doing so when the feds come calling.
I take a great deal of joy in seeing superagent Scott Boras slapped down so publicly. In case you've been out of the country, Mr. Boras informed Tweedle Dee Steinbrenner and Tweedle Dum Steinbrenner that they had to bring $350 million to the table to get to talk to his client. And that was after furthering the perception that ARod is a money grubbing jerk like no other, by announcing the opt-out during Game 4 of the World Series. In a rare moment of lucidity, the Sons of George invited Mr. Boras to go look for his vast fortune somewhere else. When said quest was undertaken, the bane of sports owners everywhere couldn't find a bidder. And why in the world would anyone else bid so stupidly when the Yankees had announced, "Not us, boys!" Boras has been a terrorist-like presence in Major League Baseball for a long time. He has gotten his way far, far too often. For crying out loud, he got $70 million for J.D. Drew! But this time he screwed up. Badly. So when Prince Hal Steinbrenner told the press that ARod could come home to the Yankees, but Boras couldn't be part of the process, Alex came running with his tail tucked between his legs. Or between his mistress' legs. Sorry, Mrs. ARod; please don't aim your vulgar tshirt at me. Alex will sign a 10 year, $275 million contract with the MFYs this week. That just doesn't sound like suffering or punishment to me. But kicking Boras out of the negotiations after he so publicly misread the market is totally wonderful. And then Kenny Rogers fired him. And hopefully other players and other owners will go and do likewise. The world becomes a better place.
Finally, it appears that Tom Glavine is going home. Not in the Southern Baptist, ultimate sense, but in baseball terms. This is extremely good news! The Atlanta Braves have an atrocious record of letting their legends leave. John Smoltz may retire after an entire career in the Braves uni, but Hank Aaron didn't, Dale Murphy didn't, Phil Niekro didn't, Andruw Jones won't, and, five years ago, they let Tom Glavine leave. I don't know if Glavine's work in the MLBPA had anything to do with it. John Schuerholz has a long and detailed memory, and Tom's role as the Players' Association's face during the '94 strike made a lot of management-types angry. And that's apart from their little dustup over the details of Tom's departure for the Mets. But Schuerholz moved up to club president, and Frank Wren took over as GM. And now, it appears that Glavine will go home to finish his Hall of Fame career. He won't be the pitcher he was before he left, but it appears that he will have to be no more than the #3 behind Smoltz and Hudson. If Mike Hampton's Fall League workouts turn into a productive year, Tom can be the 4, and even at 42 he will match up well with every other National League 4. He will post his last wins with the Braves. They should all have been for the Braves, but he will be a 300 game winner pitching for the team that he led for 15 years previously. That feels like good karma to me.
Monday, November 12, 2007
More Money than Sense
Foxsports.com is reporting that the MFYs have re-signed Jorge Posada for 4 years at $52 million. Jorge Posada is a good guy. He handles a pitching staff well. He is also 36 years old. When was the last time you saw a 40 year old catcher making $13 million? Me, either. He had a great year last year, no doubt about it. He hit almost 70 points higher than his pre-2007 lifetime average. That's called a career year. Except for the fact that his RBI total merely matched his average of the last 6 seasons, and his homer total was 3 below the average of his last 7 seasons. Career year? Hardly. Posada has never been the offensive player that Mike Piazza was, and Piazza was basically done as an everyday catcher at age 37.
While there will surely be changes, the MFYs are now looking at fielding this team:
Jorge Posada, catcher, 37
Jason Giambi, first base, 37
Robinson Cano, second base, 25
Derek Jeter, shortstop, 33
Wilson Betemit, third base, 26
Hideki Matsui, left field, 34
Melky Cabrera, center field, 24
Bobby Abreu, right field, 34
Johnny Damon, dh, 34
I make that two guys, Cabrera and Cano, whose best days are in front of them, and Cano is said to be the one piece that the Twins will require in a deal for Johann Santana with others to be negotiated. Betemit is a suspect. And the rest of them have played their most productive years already. 31.5 is a very old average age for a successful Major League Baseball team, one that is expected to win the World Series every year. They are believed to be offering a gold mine for three years to their 38 year old closer, the great Rivera, who already has his biggest problems with that rival to the north east. Clemens, 45, has begun his personal services contract with the Astros. Pettitte, 36, has turned down his '08 option. Mussina will be 39. Cashman is right: it's time for the generational change. But George's boys apparently didn't get the memo. Signing the old guys to long contracts for big money doesn't just delay the inevitable; it makes the downturn longer and uglier.
Enjoy!
While there will surely be changes, the MFYs are now looking at fielding this team:
Jorge Posada, catcher, 37
Jason Giambi, first base, 37
Robinson Cano, second base, 25
Derek Jeter, shortstop, 33
Wilson Betemit, third base, 26
Hideki Matsui, left field, 34
Melky Cabrera, center field, 24
Bobby Abreu, right field, 34
Johnny Damon, dh, 34
I make that two guys, Cabrera and Cano, whose best days are in front of them, and Cano is said to be the one piece that the Twins will require in a deal for Johann Santana with others to be negotiated. Betemit is a suspect. And the rest of them have played their most productive years already. 31.5 is a very old average age for a successful Major League Baseball team, one that is expected to win the World Series every year. They are believed to be offering a gold mine for three years to their 38 year old closer, the great Rivera, who already has his biggest problems with that rival to the north east. Clemens, 45, has begun his personal services contract with the Astros. Pettitte, 36, has turned down his '08 option. Mussina will be 39. Cashman is right: it's time for the generational change. But George's boys apparently didn't get the memo. Signing the old guys to long contracts for big money doesn't just delay the inevitable; it makes the downturn longer and uglier.
Enjoy!
Monday, November 05, 2007
This Great News Just In...
The Boston Herald is reporting that the Red Sox and Curt Schilling are nearing agreement on that one year deal that Schill said after the World Series he'd like to sign before walking away after next season. That is great news.
You can read elsewhere on this blog (two posts down) that I have come to believe in the Sox' business model, namely, no multi-year deals beyond 35th birthdays. That's why this will be a good move for the team. Curt doesn't want even the second year on this deal. He'll be 41 a week from Wednesday. He seems to have come to grips with the fact that he can't be the ace anymore. But he doesn't have to be; he and the Sox have Josh Beckett. Curt can't be the number 2 anymore. But he doesn't have to be; he and the Sox have Daisuke Matsuzaka. Can he be the number 3? Again, he doesn't have to be; he and the Sox watched Jon Lester light up the radar gun in the mid-90's in his World Series Game 4 start.
So Curt and Tim Wakefield can comfortably be the 4 and 5 guys. They can be the elder statesmen. They can advise and suggest. They can lead. Curt can deal with the press, and continue to provide some cover for the younger guys. And he loves to do that. Schill and Wake can glory in their roles of making the Red Sox winners again. And Curt should never again have to worry about matching up with C.C. Sabathia or Fausto Carmona. Hey, wouldn't you feel better about adding to your Hall of Fame argument if you're going against Jake Westbrook or Paul Byrd? Or missing Lackey and Santana for whoever's behind them in the Angels' rotation? Me, too.
For one more year, the risk of injury isn't that great. And the pitcher that emerged at the end of the year is fun to watch, much like Maddux or Glavine. He doesn't have to be Smoltz anymore. And, when he leaves the mound in his final start next fall, perhaps in the World Series, he will walk right into that place where Red Sox legends live forever in the hearts and minds of all New England, and all the far reaches of Red Sox Nation.
Curt is going to stay. And that's great news!
You can read elsewhere on this blog (two posts down) that I have come to believe in the Sox' business model, namely, no multi-year deals beyond 35th birthdays. That's why this will be a good move for the team. Curt doesn't want even the second year on this deal. He'll be 41 a week from Wednesday. He seems to have come to grips with the fact that he can't be the ace anymore. But he doesn't have to be; he and the Sox have Josh Beckett. Curt can't be the number 2 anymore. But he doesn't have to be; he and the Sox have Daisuke Matsuzaka. Can he be the number 3? Again, he doesn't have to be; he and the Sox watched Jon Lester light up the radar gun in the mid-90's in his World Series Game 4 start.
So Curt and Tim Wakefield can comfortably be the 4 and 5 guys. They can be the elder statesmen. They can advise and suggest. They can lead. Curt can deal with the press, and continue to provide some cover for the younger guys. And he loves to do that. Schill and Wake can glory in their roles of making the Red Sox winners again. And Curt should never again have to worry about matching up with C.C. Sabathia or Fausto Carmona. Hey, wouldn't you feel better about adding to your Hall of Fame argument if you're going against Jake Westbrook or Paul Byrd? Or missing Lackey and Santana for whoever's behind them in the Angels' rotation? Me, too.
For one more year, the risk of injury isn't that great. And the pitcher that emerged at the end of the year is fun to watch, much like Maddux or Glavine. He doesn't have to be Smoltz anymore. And, when he leaves the mound in his final start next fall, perhaps in the World Series, he will walk right into that place where Red Sox legends live forever in the hearts and minds of all New England, and all the far reaches of Red Sox Nation.
Curt is going to stay. And that's great news!
How the Terrorists Really Win
The nominee for Attorney General of the United States of America has declined to repudiate torture in any shape, form, or fashion. And there is a discussion about how many senators will support his nomination?
We have heard over the last six years many formulations that conclude with "then the terrorists win." The first was by the Moron-In-Chief who bravely declared that if we didn't go on with our lives, going to the mall and shopping, then the terrorists win. It has become a refrain for supporting whatever cockamamie pet hobby/observance/practice any given speaker enjoys, believes in or wants to advocate for. Like, if you don't attend the Memphis in May Barbeque contest, then the terrorists win. Or, if you don't mark Clergy Appreciation Month (all month in October), then the terrorists win. (Ok, the last one really matters. If you're an insecure goof. Imagine the Hallmark section on Clergy Appreciation Month: Dear Preacher, Thanks for being there when Aunt Matilda died, and having the good taste to stay as far away from us the rest of the year as possible; or, Dear Clergy Member, I guess we're grateful for your work at our church, but it means so little to us that we haven't been there since Labor Day; or, Dear What's Your Name, thanks for not making us feel bad about your salary, as I needed to make the boat payments this year. But I digress.)
Here's how the terrorists really win: we behave as badly as they do. That's what this is all about. If they can entice us into forfeiting our character and our freedoms in the name of a little neurotic grab at security, they they have what they really want in the first place. We've now joined the list of the hideous who have instigated unprovoked wars. Now, we're up in the air about whether or not it's alright for our chief law enforcement officer to be ok with torturing prisoners. The problems are obvious, almost too much so to name: 1) if we torture, we have no right to tell others they better not torture our soldiers or citizens when they become prisoners, and 2) when you torture people, they will tell you anything you want to hear just to make you stop. Remember that little problem with faulty intelligence before the Iraq War? No, not the President's faulty intelligence; that that was provided by the CIA's wonderfully named "inside man", Curveball. It was all a load of crap. And we never laid a hand on him, or him on a water board.
We don't get to run around the world advocating for our superior way of life if we make human life as cheap as they do. We have no moral upper hand when we make people believe that we are about to do the equivalent to them of what was done to Daniel Pearl and other poor unfortunates captured by the wretched people who believe that beheading one's opponents is a good way to go about your day.
The moral corruption of the Bush administration knows no bounds. And this one isn't about no bids handed out to Halliburton and Blackwater so that they could misplace our billions of tax dollars in the "rebuilding" of Iraq. Where they still have no reliable electricity or water. Nice job. It's no longer about Cheney accusing people who question the war strategy of being agents of Al Qaeda. No, this is about rejecting two hundred and thirty years of striving to live up to the principles on which our nation was founded, and acting no better than the Hitlers, Stalins, Pol Pots, bin Ladens and Husseins of the world.
We were supposed to be better than that.
Ben Franklin's still right: Those who would sacrifice liberty to have security deserve neither.
And the terrorists win. Again.
We have heard over the last six years many formulations that conclude with "then the terrorists win." The first was by the Moron-In-Chief who bravely declared that if we didn't go on with our lives, going to the mall and shopping, then the terrorists win. It has become a refrain for supporting whatever cockamamie pet hobby/observance/practice any given speaker enjoys, believes in or wants to advocate for. Like, if you don't attend the Memphis in May Barbeque contest, then the terrorists win. Or, if you don't mark Clergy Appreciation Month (all month in October), then the terrorists win. (Ok, the last one really matters. If you're an insecure goof. Imagine the Hallmark section on Clergy Appreciation Month: Dear Preacher, Thanks for being there when Aunt Matilda died, and having the good taste to stay as far away from us the rest of the year as possible; or, Dear Clergy Member, I guess we're grateful for your work at our church, but it means so little to us that we haven't been there since Labor Day; or, Dear What's Your Name, thanks for not making us feel bad about your salary, as I needed to make the boat payments this year. But I digress.)
Here's how the terrorists really win: we behave as badly as they do. That's what this is all about. If they can entice us into forfeiting our character and our freedoms in the name of a little neurotic grab at security, they they have what they really want in the first place. We've now joined the list of the hideous who have instigated unprovoked wars. Now, we're up in the air about whether or not it's alright for our chief law enforcement officer to be ok with torturing prisoners. The problems are obvious, almost too much so to name: 1) if we torture, we have no right to tell others they better not torture our soldiers or citizens when they become prisoners, and 2) when you torture people, they will tell you anything you want to hear just to make you stop. Remember that little problem with faulty intelligence before the Iraq War? No, not the President's faulty intelligence; that that was provided by the CIA's wonderfully named "inside man", Curveball. It was all a load of crap. And we never laid a hand on him, or him on a water board.
We don't get to run around the world advocating for our superior way of life if we make human life as cheap as they do. We have no moral upper hand when we make people believe that we are about to do the equivalent to them of what was done to Daniel Pearl and other poor unfortunates captured by the wretched people who believe that beheading one's opponents is a good way to go about your day.
The moral corruption of the Bush administration knows no bounds. And this one isn't about no bids handed out to Halliburton and Blackwater so that they could misplace our billions of tax dollars in the "rebuilding" of Iraq. Where they still have no reliable electricity or water. Nice job. It's no longer about Cheney accusing people who question the war strategy of being agents of Al Qaeda. No, this is about rejecting two hundred and thirty years of striving to live up to the principles on which our nation was founded, and acting no better than the Hitlers, Stalins, Pol Pots, bin Ladens and Husseins of the world.
We were supposed to be better than that.
Ben Franklin's still right: Those who would sacrifice liberty to have security deserve neither.
And the terrorists win. Again.
Hot Stove: Red Sox
Red Sox Nation is clamoring for the return of Mike Lowell. I wrote in my previous post that Mikey's return should be the first item on Theo's To Do List. That said, the brain trust should keep faith with their principle: you don't give multi-year contracts that extend beyond the 35th birthday.
There was anger, heartbreak and gnashing of teeth when Pedro Martinez was allowed to walk after the 2004 victory, Johnny Damon, Bill Mueller and Kevin Millar after the 2005 season, and Trot Nixon after 2006. They were integral parts of the 2004 Championship, and many of us wanted them to stay forever. The truth is that while Pedro went 15-8 with a 2.82 ERA for the 2005 Mets, he made only 23 starts for 132.2 IP, a 9-8 record, and a 4.48 ERA at age 34 in 2006, and barely pitched in 2007, posting 5 starts and 28 IP coming off of surgery at age 35. Bill Mueller was in the Dodgers' front office until pressed into service as their hitting coach last year. Damon can hardly play the outfield any more, spending significant time at DH, and dropping off precipitously in his offensive production:
2004: 20 HR, 94 RBI, .304 AVG, .857 OPS
2005: 10 HR, 75 RBI, .316 AVG, .805 OPS
2006: 24 HR, 80 RBI, .285 AVG, .841 OPS
2007: 12 HR, 63 RBI, .270 AVG, .747 OPS
That is, obviously, a dramatic fall. Johnny will turn 34 tomorrow.
Millar is a great guy, but he's hardly a full time player anymore. Trot is a wonderful human being, still a major part of the Jimmy Fund's efforts, but he only started two games in the ALCS for the Indians. At age 33 this year, he only had a half season's at bats, 3 HR and 31 RBI.
This is all to say that whatever the emotion has made the loss of these guys feel like, in business terms letting them go has been the right decision in every instance.
There are two Boston-caliber 3rd basemen available this off-season. Even for the Red Sox, shelling out for Alex Rodriguez would so limit the team in other areas, it just isn't worth it. Combine that with the ample evidence that the man just can't deal with postseason pressure, and he's nowhere near what we want or need at the hot corner.
That leaves the incumbent and World Series MVP, Mike Lowell. The Yankees will certainly bid big and long for their former farm hand. Mike had his career year at age 33 in 2007. He should be very good next year. But do we want the office to abandon a proven approach because we all love Mikey? If it takes a 4, or certainly a 5, year contract to keep him, I just can't see it (and by the way, ARod is only two years younger than Lowell). At that many years, the reasonable and wise approach becomes a shifting of Youkilis back to third and addition of another first baseman. No disrespect intended, but firstsackers are much easier to come by than third basemen.
So, to recap, just as we are better off with Jacoby Ellsbury in center rather than Johnny Damon, with Josh Beckett leading the staff instead of Pedro Martinez, Youk at first instead of Kevin Millar, Mikey Lowell at third instead of Bill Mueller, and even with the predictably disappointing JD Drew in right instead of Trot Nixon, so would we be better off over the next 4 to 5 years with Kevin Youkilis at third instead of a 37 and 38 year old Mike Lowell by the end of such a contract.
I'd hate to see Lowell walk, especially if he's walking into pinstripes. But truth be told, Johnny Damon helped the Red Sox much more this year by wearing a Yankees uniform than he ever could have in a Sox uni. The clock and the calendar march on, and neither of them care a whit about our emotional attachment to these guys who have done so much for Red Sox Nation. The business model can feel harsh, but it has delivered two World Series victories in four seasons after the celebrated 86 years with none to be found. Work the plan! It will keep us in contention.
There was anger, heartbreak and gnashing of teeth when Pedro Martinez was allowed to walk after the 2004 victory, Johnny Damon, Bill Mueller and Kevin Millar after the 2005 season, and Trot Nixon after 2006. They were integral parts of the 2004 Championship, and many of us wanted them to stay forever. The truth is that while Pedro went 15-8 with a 2.82 ERA for the 2005 Mets, he made only 23 starts for 132.2 IP, a 9-8 record, and a 4.48 ERA at age 34 in 2006, and barely pitched in 2007, posting 5 starts and 28 IP coming off of surgery at age 35. Bill Mueller was in the Dodgers' front office until pressed into service as their hitting coach last year. Damon can hardly play the outfield any more, spending significant time at DH, and dropping off precipitously in his offensive production:
2004: 20 HR, 94 RBI, .304 AVG, .857 OPS
2005: 10 HR, 75 RBI, .316 AVG, .805 OPS
2006: 24 HR, 80 RBI, .285 AVG, .841 OPS
2007: 12 HR, 63 RBI, .270 AVG, .747 OPS
That is, obviously, a dramatic fall. Johnny will turn 34 tomorrow.
Millar is a great guy, but he's hardly a full time player anymore. Trot is a wonderful human being, still a major part of the Jimmy Fund's efforts, but he only started two games in the ALCS for the Indians. At age 33 this year, he only had a half season's at bats, 3 HR and 31 RBI.
This is all to say that whatever the emotion has made the loss of these guys feel like, in business terms letting them go has been the right decision in every instance.
There are two Boston-caliber 3rd basemen available this off-season. Even for the Red Sox, shelling out for Alex Rodriguez would so limit the team in other areas, it just isn't worth it. Combine that with the ample evidence that the man just can't deal with postseason pressure, and he's nowhere near what we want or need at the hot corner.
That leaves the incumbent and World Series MVP, Mike Lowell. The Yankees will certainly bid big and long for their former farm hand. Mike had his career year at age 33 in 2007. He should be very good next year. But do we want the office to abandon a proven approach because we all love Mikey? If it takes a 4, or certainly a 5, year contract to keep him, I just can't see it (and by the way, ARod is only two years younger than Lowell). At that many years, the reasonable and wise approach becomes a shifting of Youkilis back to third and addition of another first baseman. No disrespect intended, but firstsackers are much easier to come by than third basemen.
So, to recap, just as we are better off with Jacoby Ellsbury in center rather than Johnny Damon, with Josh Beckett leading the staff instead of Pedro Martinez, Youk at first instead of Kevin Millar, Mikey Lowell at third instead of Bill Mueller, and even with the predictably disappointing JD Drew in right instead of Trot Nixon, so would we be better off over the next 4 to 5 years with Kevin Youkilis at third instead of a 37 and 38 year old Mike Lowell by the end of such a contract.
I'd hate to see Lowell walk, especially if he's walking into pinstripes. But truth be told, Johnny Damon helped the Red Sox much more this year by wearing a Yankees uniform than he ever could have in a Sox uni. The clock and the calendar march on, and neither of them care a whit about our emotional attachment to these guys who have done so much for Red Sox Nation. The business model can feel harsh, but it has delivered two World Series victories in four seasons after the celebrated 86 years with none to be found. Work the plan! It will keep us in contention.
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Hot Stove Beginnings
Joe Torre made the only move that made sense for him. Pinella and Guillen are, at least for the moment, entrenched with the two Chicago teams. Mike Scioscia isn't going anywhere. Tony LaRussa reupped with the Cardinals. And the Giants are going to be horrific next year. The Dodgers have more than enough talent to win the NL West next year, and, sadly, it just isn't that hard to get to represent the National League in the World Series these days. And as the Cards proved in 2006, once you get to the Series, anything can happen. Although as the 2004 Red Sox, 2005 White Sox, the 2006 Tigers and 2007 Red Sox all proved, your pitching staff will have to channel the Keystone Kops in the field to allow a National League team to win. The Rockies might not have been swept by all of them, but I don't see Colorado having beaten the Indians, Angels, Yankees or Tigers if any of them had found their way to the Fall Classic. Anyway, Joe made the right move, as at 67 he probably didn't need to sit out a year. If he still wanted to manage, no need to raise questions about distance from the game as he approaches 70.
Newsflash time: Scott Boras is bottom-feeding scum, and loves it. And Alex Rodriguez is worse for allowing his agent to behave in such a manner. First, it's the middle of Game 4 announcement of the opt-out. The subsequent apology said, in essence, "Gee, was the World Series going on? I didn't realize that. So, so sorry!" Right. Then, the story gets out that the Yankees actually wanted to give this loser a five year extension at $30 million per. That $150 million, combined with the $81 still owed him totals in excess of $230 million. And Boras, carrying pure brass in his jockeys, told them that they were $120 million short of even having the conversation. I didn't think it was possible to make Mr. May-through-September any more despicable, but I was wrong! Oh, so wrong! How great would it be if the Yankees kept their word and refused to talk further with Team ARod, and every other MLB owner rented the integrity to avoid him at those prices. Yeah, I know some knucklehead like Artie Moreno will ask how high when Boras says jump, but the fantasy is nice. I do believe that the Red Sox have wised up since the attempt to send Manny to the Rangers for Rodriguez a few years ago.
The Sox need to resign Mikey Lowell, although the Yankees will make that harder if they really are done with Alex.
Newsflash time: Scott Boras is bottom-feeding scum, and loves it. And Alex Rodriguez is worse for allowing his agent to behave in such a manner. First, it's the middle of Game 4 announcement of the opt-out. The subsequent apology said, in essence, "Gee, was the World Series going on? I didn't realize that. So, so sorry!" Right. Then, the story gets out that the Yankees actually wanted to give this loser a five year extension at $30 million per. That $150 million, combined with the $81 still owed him totals in excess of $230 million. And Boras, carrying pure brass in his jockeys, told them that they were $120 million short of even having the conversation. I didn't think it was possible to make Mr. May-through-September any more despicable, but I was wrong! Oh, so wrong! How great would it be if the Yankees kept their word and refused to talk further with Team ARod, and every other MLB owner rented the integrity to avoid him at those prices. Yeah, I know some knucklehead like Artie Moreno will ask how high when Boras says jump, but the fantasy is nice. I do believe that the Red Sox have wised up since the attempt to send Manny to the Rangers for Rodriguez a few years ago.
The Sox need to resign Mikey Lowell, although the Yankees will make that harder if they really are done with Alex.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
World Series Postgame
The Commissar-for-Life is presenting the trophy to John Henry, Tom Werner, Lucchino, Theo Epstein and Terry Francona. Mr. Henry is his usual, gracious self. He has made all of this happen. Camera Lights Larry is horning in on the owners. That guy stinks.
Mikey Lowell gets the MVP! That's outstanding! He gets cars, he gets a trophy, and he's going to get one heck of a contract somewhere. I just hope it's in Boston. What a year for Lowell.
It took the Fox jerks about 37 seconds to spoil the celebration and ask about his contract. They stink.
Tito's on tv. They have to make him one of the highest paid managers, and extend him for a long time. It is amazing how he handled that clubhouse this year. Not a word all summer. Remarkable.
Jon Lester, indeed, caps his miracle season with a win in the World Series clinching victory. Absolutely awesome for that young man, who is such a big part of the Sox' future. A year ago, we didn't even know if he had a future. Couldn't be any happier for him.
The Boston Red Sox have their seventh World Series title. The first great era was from 1903 to 1918 when they won the Series five times. The second is right now. The 2004 title and tonight's make the Sox the best team and organization in the game today. Two sweeps just make it that much sweeter.
Clint Hurdle is being interviewed, and he is quite a guy. No excuses, respect for the winners, joy in this year's accomplishment and determination to finish the job. Good man. They should be very proud to have him in charge of their team.
If Curt Schilling is done in Boston, he has ensured his place in Red Sox Nation forever. Curt's arrival before the 2004 season announced that John Henry was serious about bringing a title to Boston. Curt did for the Sox what Terry Pendleton's arrival did for the Atlanta Braves in 1991. He made them winners, by his credibility, by his reputation and accomplishment, and by his work ethic. Curt has a big mouth and likes the media attention more than anyone else in the game, but he has earned that position. Thanks, Curt, for everything. You had a tremendous hand in making all of this happen.
David Ortiz. This is Big Papi's team. He is the guy who keeps it loose, makes it fun, deals with problems, reins Manny in, and so many other things, before you ever get to the field. And what he does on the field! He is a ferocious presence in the batter's box. and no team can face the Sox without recognizing his importance to and ability in our lineup. He is rapidly building a Hall of Fame career. And the Minnesota Twins couldn't find a place for him. God bless you, Twins. Papi makes us a great team.
The future is incredibly bright. When the Series ended, there was a rookie in left field, a rookie at second base, a second year player on the pitcher's mound, a second full season player at first, the win went to a second year player, Beckett is 27, Dice K is 27, Clay Buchholz is 23, and Breslow and Hansen and all the others are on the way. Combine that with the demonstrated willingness to spend well and wisely, and this team will be in contention for the next decade. What a time to be a Sox fan! My wife's dad lived his entire 85 years in between Red Sox World Series wins; we've been blessed to see two in three year's time. There should be more to come.
Usually when the season ends my thoughts turn to Bart Giamatti's Green Fields of the Mind, but this will all be extended a bit for the celebrations to come in Boston. I'll get around to reflecting on the late Commissioner's beautiful essay after the Duck Boats are parked.
It's been a great season, with record attendance for Major League Baseball and many individual clubs. And it should just get better next year as, hopefully, some resolution is achieved on the issue of steroids and other supplements. With the labor peace that's been achieved with the last two CBA's, the enhancement issue is the only dark cloud hovering over the game at this moment.
More on that stuff later, but tonight, we celebrate! The Sox have won again!
Mikey Lowell gets the MVP! That's outstanding! He gets cars, he gets a trophy, and he's going to get one heck of a contract somewhere. I just hope it's in Boston. What a year for Lowell.
It took the Fox jerks about 37 seconds to spoil the celebration and ask about his contract. They stink.
Tito's on tv. They have to make him one of the highest paid managers, and extend him for a long time. It is amazing how he handled that clubhouse this year. Not a word all summer. Remarkable.
Jon Lester, indeed, caps his miracle season with a win in the World Series clinching victory. Absolutely awesome for that young man, who is such a big part of the Sox' future. A year ago, we didn't even know if he had a future. Couldn't be any happier for him.
The Boston Red Sox have their seventh World Series title. The first great era was from 1903 to 1918 when they won the Series five times. The second is right now. The 2004 title and tonight's make the Sox the best team and organization in the game today. Two sweeps just make it that much sweeter.
Clint Hurdle is being interviewed, and he is quite a guy. No excuses, respect for the winners, joy in this year's accomplishment and determination to finish the job. Good man. They should be very proud to have him in charge of their team.
If Curt Schilling is done in Boston, he has ensured his place in Red Sox Nation forever. Curt's arrival before the 2004 season announced that John Henry was serious about bringing a title to Boston. Curt did for the Sox what Terry Pendleton's arrival did for the Atlanta Braves in 1991. He made them winners, by his credibility, by his reputation and accomplishment, and by his work ethic. Curt has a big mouth and likes the media attention more than anyone else in the game, but he has earned that position. Thanks, Curt, for everything. You had a tremendous hand in making all of this happen.
David Ortiz. This is Big Papi's team. He is the guy who keeps it loose, makes it fun, deals with problems, reins Manny in, and so many other things, before you ever get to the field. And what he does on the field! He is a ferocious presence in the batter's box. and no team can face the Sox without recognizing his importance to and ability in our lineup. He is rapidly building a Hall of Fame career. And the Minnesota Twins couldn't find a place for him. God bless you, Twins. Papi makes us a great team.
The future is incredibly bright. When the Series ended, there was a rookie in left field, a rookie at second base, a second year player on the pitcher's mound, a second full season player at first, the win went to a second year player, Beckett is 27, Dice K is 27, Clay Buchholz is 23, and Breslow and Hansen and all the others are on the way. Combine that with the demonstrated willingness to spend well and wisely, and this team will be in contention for the next decade. What a time to be a Sox fan! My wife's dad lived his entire 85 years in between Red Sox World Series wins; we've been blessed to see two in three year's time. There should be more to come.
Usually when the season ends my thoughts turn to Bart Giamatti's Green Fields of the Mind, but this will all be extended a bit for the celebrations to come in Boston. I'll get around to reflecting on the late Commissioner's beautiful essay after the Duck Boats are parked.
It's been a great season, with record attendance for Major League Baseball and many individual clubs. And it should just get better next year as, hopefully, some resolution is achieved on the issue of steroids and other supplements. With the labor peace that's been achieved with the last two CBA's, the enhancement issue is the only dark cloud hovering over the game at this moment.
More on that stuff later, but tonight, we celebrate! The Sox have won again!
WS Game 4 Bottom 9
Jonathan Papelbon is out to win the World Series. He allowed us to get to this point by deciding during Spring Training to forget about starting and being the closer. It was all for this moment...
Pap will start with Yorvit Torrealba. There's a whole lot of hard chewing going on in both dugouts. Pap goes with a 95 mph heater for called strike one. Torrealba couldn't stop his swing; strike two. He grounds to Pedroia, Dustin's up and throws to Youk for the first out. Two to go.
Jamey Carroll's up. The same 95 mph fastball for a called strike to him. Foul to the right, strike two. Carroll drives Jacoby Ellsbury to the fence, but he hauls it in for the second out. Manny doesn't get that ball. Tito did it again. One more!
Seth Smith hits for Corpas. Foul for strike one. Low for ball one, 1-1. Pap bounces one up for ball two. Pulled foul along first for strike two, 2-2. Last strike time! Pap throws it by him for the Championship!
The Boston Red Sox are the first team to win two championships in the new millenium! Terry Francona has yet to lose a World Series game!
Pap will start with Yorvit Torrealba. There's a whole lot of hard chewing going on in both dugouts. Pap goes with a 95 mph heater for called strike one. Torrealba couldn't stop his swing; strike two. He grounds to Pedroia, Dustin's up and throws to Youk for the first out. Two to go.
Jamey Carroll's up. The same 95 mph fastball for a called strike to him. Foul to the right, strike two. Carroll drives Jacoby Ellsbury to the fence, but he hauls it in for the second out. Manny doesn't get that ball. Tito did it again. One more!
Seth Smith hits for Corpas. Foul for strike one. Low for ball one, 1-1. Pap bounces one up for ball two. Pulled foul along first for strike two, 2-2. Last strike time! Pap throws it by him for the Championship!
The Boston Red Sox are the first team to win two championships in the new millenium! Terry Francona has yet to lose a World Series game!
WS Game 4 Top 9
Manny Corpas continues.
Strike one, called, to Lowell. If the Yankees are serious about being done with Rodriguez upon the opt-out, the Sox could have a much harder time retaining Lowell's services. Mike skies the second pitch to Holliday toward the line in left. One down.
Drew's up. Ball one. Ball two, low. Drew's last shot to extend a nine game postseason hitting streak. He won't get it, as he grounds to Carroll at second. Two down.
Tek will give Corpas a look. Strike one, called, low and away. Tek swings for strike two. Ball one, away; 1-2. Tek hits a slow roller, by Corpas, but fielded by Carroll and on to first for the third out.
Corpas was outstanding; Pap will have to be the same with only a one run lead.
4-3 Sox, to the bottom of the ninth!
Strike one, called, to Lowell. If the Yankees are serious about being done with Rodriguez upon the opt-out, the Sox could have a much harder time retaining Lowell's services. Mike skies the second pitch to Holliday toward the line in left. One down.
Drew's up. Ball one. Ball two, low. Drew's last shot to extend a nine game postseason hitting streak. He won't get it, as he grounds to Carroll at second. Two down.
Tek will give Corpas a look. Strike one, called, low and away. Tek swings for strike two. Ball one, away; 1-2. Tek hits a slow roller, by Corpas, but fielded by Carroll and on to first for the third out.
Corpas was outstanding; Pap will have to be the same with only a one run lead.
4-3 Sox, to the bottom of the ninth!
WS Game 4 Bottom 8
Okajima comes on with other changes I'll get to momentarily.
Foul to Holliday. Ball, 1-1. Called strike two. Foul to the right side. Matt grounds to Pedroia. One down!
Now Helton. Called strike one. Called strike two. And a foul back to the left. Ball, 1-2. Helton singles past Lowell into left. One on, one out.
Called strike to Atkins. Alex Rodriguez has opted out of his contract. Scott Boras is Satan. Film at 11. Ball one. Ball two. Ball three. Oki is on fumes at this point. Pap is warming. Atkins makes it a one run game with a homer to left. 4-3 Sox. Papelbon will be appearing momentarily. Here's Tito, and the call to the pen. The Man is in. And he'll have to be perfect tonight. No room for error.
Spilborghs will face Pap first. Foul along third, 0-1. A Meriwether ball, better known to everyone else as a strike down the middle, 1-1. A strike called at 96 mph. A foul back, still 1-2. Foul again. Ball two, according to the ump; 2-2. Spilborghs grounds the 7th pitch of the at bat to Lugo, on to Youk for the second out.
Hawpe's turn. Strike one called, 95 mph. Another 95er gets a weak swing for strike 2. Low and away for ball one. A foul keeps it at 1-2. He whacks one to deep center, and Coco tracks it down for the third out. Done, finally.
To the ninth, 4-3 Sox. Three outs to go, and Pap's in to get them.
Foul to Holliday. Ball, 1-1. Called strike two. Foul to the right side. Matt grounds to Pedroia. One down!
Now Helton. Called strike one. Called strike two. And a foul back to the left. Ball, 1-2. Helton singles past Lowell into left. One on, one out.
Called strike to Atkins. Alex Rodriguez has opted out of his contract. Scott Boras is Satan. Film at 11. Ball one. Ball two. Ball three. Oki is on fumes at this point. Pap is warming. Atkins makes it a one run game with a homer to left. 4-3 Sox. Papelbon will be appearing momentarily. Here's Tito, and the call to the pen. The Man is in. And he'll have to be perfect tonight. No room for error.
Spilborghs will face Pap first. Foul along third, 0-1. A Meriwether ball, better known to everyone else as a strike down the middle, 1-1. A strike called at 96 mph. A foul back, still 1-2. Foul again. Ball two, according to the ump; 2-2. Spilborghs grounds the 7th pitch of the at bat to Lugo, on to Youk for the second out.
Hawpe's turn. Strike one called, 95 mph. Another 95er gets a weak swing for strike 2. Low and away for ball one. A foul keeps it at 1-2. He whacks one to deep center, and Coco tracks it down for the third out. Done, finally.
To the ninth, 4-3 Sox. Three outs to go, and Pap's in to get them.
WS Game 4 Top 8
Brian Fuentes relieves Affeldt.
Bobby Kielty pinch hits for Timlin. And HOMERS ON THE FIRST PITCH! We got that run right back! 4-1 Sox. We didn't have a pinch HR all season, and what a place for the first one!
Ellsbury takes ball one. And a called strike. Ball two. At 2-1 Jacoby has an infield single between Atkins and Tulo.
Dustin's up with one in and one on. Fuentes threw to first and Dustin slid his hand up the bat, indicating bunt. Another throw over, and no indication this time. Dustin bunts foul, back into the seats. Pitchout for ball one, Jacoby's not running. A full swing this time, same result; foul back into the seats; 1-2. Another foul. Ball two, way inside. Ball three, same spot. Full count. Dustin grounds into a 6-4-3 DP.
Papi takes ball one. Youk will come in for him in the bottom of the inning. Ball two. Ball three. At 3-0 the courtesy strike is called. Papi walks at 3-1. Coco comes on to run for him. Corpas will come in to pitch to Manny. Strike one, swinging. Strike two, called. Ball one. He goes down swinging to end the inning.
Good one, though, courtesy of Bobby Kielty. 4-1 Sox to the bottom of the 8th.
Bobby Kielty pinch hits for Timlin. And HOMERS ON THE FIRST PITCH! We got that run right back! 4-1 Sox. We didn't have a pinch HR all season, and what a place for the first one!
Ellsbury takes ball one. And a called strike. Ball two. At 2-1 Jacoby has an infield single between Atkins and Tulo.
Dustin's up with one in and one on. Fuentes threw to first and Dustin slid his hand up the bat, indicating bunt. Another throw over, and no indication this time. Dustin bunts foul, back into the seats. Pitchout for ball one, Jacoby's not running. A full swing this time, same result; foul back into the seats; 1-2. Another foul. Ball two, way inside. Ball three, same spot. Full count. Dustin grounds into a 6-4-3 DP.
Papi takes ball one. Youk will come in for him in the bottom of the inning. Ball two. Ball three. At 3-0 the courtesy strike is called. Papi walks at 3-1. Coco comes on to run for him. Corpas will come in to pitch to Manny. Strike one, swinging. Strike two, called. Ball one. He goes down swinging to end the inning.
Good one, though, courtesy of Bobby Kielty. 4-1 Sox to the bottom of the 8th.
WS Game 4 Bottom 7
Delcarmen remains in the game.
Hawpe takes a ball, up and in. And another, 2-0. A strike on a terrible pitch. Meriwether strikes again. Hawpe fouls one to the left side, 2-2. A ball to fill the count. It's 3-1 as Hawpe smacks one to the right field seats. If the Rockies were going to score, that's exactly the way we wanted it to happen. A solo home run isn't a rally.
Torrealba takes a ball. And another. The infield comes to the mound to either threaten Delcarmen's life or give Okajima a second to warm up. Strike one, called; 2-1. He drives one to JD Drew at the foul line. One down.
Corey Sullivan pinch hits for Affeldt. He takes a called first strike. And ball one. High for ball two. He hits a solid single between Pedroia and the bag. Man on first, one out. Tito's headed out of the dugout. He will bring Mike Timlin into the game. Good call. Oki had to throw a lot of pitches last night. Tim can handle the situation.
Matsui's up. This will be an interesting confrontation. Ball one. And a called strike. Tim makes him look bad swinging at strike two. Tim got him! A weak swing at an inside pitch. Two down.
Now Tulo. Called strike one on the outside corner. Ball one. Ball two on a better pitch than strike one was. A legit ball three. Tim comes back with a called strike two. Tulo fouls it straightback; we'll do it again. TIM GETS HIM SWINGING! That's huge-the old guy came in and struck out Matsui and Tulo. Holliday will lead off the bottom of the 8th with the Sox at least two up. Healthy!
After 7, 3-1 Sox. Six outs away.
Hawpe takes a ball, up and in. And another, 2-0. A strike on a terrible pitch. Meriwether strikes again. Hawpe fouls one to the left side, 2-2. A ball to fill the count. It's 3-1 as Hawpe smacks one to the right field seats. If the Rockies were going to score, that's exactly the way we wanted it to happen. A solo home run isn't a rally.
Torrealba takes a ball. And another. The infield comes to the mound to either threaten Delcarmen's life or give Okajima a second to warm up. Strike one, called; 2-1. He drives one to JD Drew at the foul line. One down.
Corey Sullivan pinch hits for Affeldt. He takes a called first strike. And ball one. High for ball two. He hits a solid single between Pedroia and the bag. Man on first, one out. Tito's headed out of the dugout. He will bring Mike Timlin into the game. Good call. Oki had to throw a lot of pitches last night. Tim can handle the situation.
Matsui's up. This will be an interesting confrontation. Ball one. And a called strike. Tim makes him look bad swinging at strike two. Tim got him! A weak swing at an inside pitch. Two down.
Now Tulo. Called strike one on the outside corner. Ball one. Ball two on a better pitch than strike one was. A legit ball three. Tim comes back with a called strike two. Tulo fouls it straightback; we'll do it again. TIM GETS HIM SWINGING! That's huge-the old guy came in and struck out Matsui and Tulo. Holliday will lead off the bottom of the 8th with the Sox at least two up. Healthy!
After 7, 3-1 Sox. Six outs away.
WS Game 4 Top 7
Lowell takes ball one. Mikey homers on the second pitch! 3-0 Sox! The fat lady is warming up.
Hurdle is out to remove Aaron Cook. He has nothing to apologize for. Great effort by him. The Rockies should contend for several years to come. Just not this year for a championship. They've run into the best team in the game.
JD fouls off Jeremy Affeldt's first offering. And takes the second for ball one. A swinging strike two. Foul, keeping it at 1-2. Way inside for a skip the rope, 2-2. Ball three, in again. Drew takes a Little League swing for strike 3. He just stinks. One out.
Tek takes a hook for a called strike. The Captain drives the second pitch through the left side for a single.
Lugo stands in. He fouls the first. And the second. And a grounder to Helton for an unassisted double play, forcing Lugo first and then tagging Tek.
At the stretch, Sox lead 3-0.
Hurdle is out to remove Aaron Cook. He has nothing to apologize for. Great effort by him. The Rockies should contend for several years to come. Just not this year for a championship. They've run into the best team in the game.
JD fouls off Jeremy Affeldt's first offering. And takes the second for ball one. A swinging strike two. Foul, keeping it at 1-2. Way inside for a skip the rope, 2-2. Ball three, in again. Drew takes a Little League swing for strike 3. He just stinks. One out.
Tek takes a hook for a called strike. The Captain drives the second pitch through the left side for a single.
Lugo stands in. He fouls the first. And the second. And a grounder to Helton for an unassisted double play, forcing Lugo first and then tagging Tek.
At the stretch, Sox lead 3-0.
WS Game 4 Bottom 6
Matt Holliday inexplicably pops to Papi on the first pitch. What's he thinking? He's down 3-0 and 2-0 for the World Series, and he swings at the first pitch! Amazing!
Helton's up. Ball one. Ball two, and three. The obligatory 3-0 strike is called. At 3-1, Helton slices one to left, and Manny is up to the task. Two down.
Garrett Atkins will try. Ball one. A big swing for strike one. Ball two, 2-1. Foul, 2-2. He works it full. Jon gives up his third walk of the evening, and Tito's headed to the mound. He makes the changes. Lester leaves at 92 pitches. Great effort for the kid!
Manny Delcarmen's headed in to pitch to Spilborghs. Ball one. Ball two. A fast strike down the middle, 2-1. Swinging strike two. Manny gets him swinging! Out of the inning with the lead intact.
2-0 Sox after 6! Nine outs to go.
Helton's up. Ball one. Ball two, and three. The obligatory 3-0 strike is called. At 3-1, Helton slices one to left, and Manny is up to the task. Two down.
Garrett Atkins will try. Ball one. A big swing for strike one. Ball two, 2-1. Foul, 2-2. He works it full. Jon gives up his third walk of the evening, and Tito's headed to the mound. He makes the changes. Lester leaves at 92 pitches. Great effort for the kid!
Manny Delcarmen's headed in to pitch to Spilborghs. Ball one. Ball two. A fast strike down the middle, 2-1. Swinging strike two. Manny gets him swinging! Out of the inning with the lead intact.
2-0 Sox after 6! Nine outs to go.
WS Game 4 Top 6
Pedroia leads off. A ball to Dustin. He pulls the second foul. Ball two. At 2-1 Cook makes a good play on a shot back to the box. On to Helton for the out.
Papi pulls a foul for strike one. High for ball one. Papi grounds to Tulo to the right of second base. He throws to Helton for the out. Two down.
Manny just misses a double, foul along the third base line. He dribbles a swinging bunt to Atkins, and across for the third out.
Cook couldn't have done much better for them under the circumstances.
Inning: Nine pitches, six strikes; Game: 68 pitches, 46 strikes.
Papi pulls a foul for strike one. High for ball one. Papi grounds to Tulo to the right of second base. He throws to Helton for the out. Two down.
Manny just misses a double, foul along the third base line. He dribbles a swinging bunt to Atkins, and across for the third out.
Cook couldn't have done much better for them under the circumstances.
Inning: Nine pitches, six strikes; Game: 68 pitches, 46 strikes.
WS Game 4 Bottom 5
Yorvit Torrealba takes a called strike. And a ball, 1-1. He swings and misses for 1-2. A burner, foul, along first. Another, fouled at the plate; still 1-2. Torrealba pops to Lugo in shallow left, one out.
Cook will bat for himself. He pulls the first pitch foul along third. Cook bunts for a single, past Lester and in front of Pedroia. Good move. Well done.
Matsui bluffs a bunt, and takes ball one. New strategy? We'll see. A big swing for strike one. At 1-1 Matsui also pops to Lugo. All night long, boys, all night long.
Tulo will take a crack. He rips the first pitch to Mikey, and on to Pedroia for the force on Cook. Three outs.
Sox, 2-0.
Inning: 12 pitches, ten strikes; Game: 80 pitches, 54 strikes. Lester's doing great. Probably one more inning for him.
Cook will bat for himself. He pulls the first pitch foul along third. Cook bunts for a single, past Lester and in front of Pedroia. Good move. Well done.
Matsui bluffs a bunt, and takes ball one. New strategy? We'll see. A big swing for strike one. At 1-1 Matsui also pops to Lugo. All night long, boys, all night long.
Tulo will take a crack. He rips the first pitch to Mikey, and on to Pedroia for the force on Cook. Three outs.
Sox, 2-0.
Inning: 12 pitches, ten strikes; Game: 80 pitches, 54 strikes. Lester's doing great. Probably one more inning for him.
WS Game 4 Top 5
Mikey Lowell doubles to left center to start the 5th.
JD Drew will fail to advance him any minute now. Ball one. The idiot taps back to Cook, failing to move Mike over. One down.
Tek should do better. He takes ball one in what may turn into an intentional unintentional walk. They screw up and throw Tek a strike and he pulls it through the right side, scoring Lowell. 2-0 Sox. Tek stops at first.
Lugo drives the first pitch back up the middle for another single, Tek to 2nd. Two on, one down.
Lester will most likely bunt them over for Ellsbury. He misses the first attempt. A strikeout is much better here than a double play. Brilliant insight! That's what I'm here for! Ball one. Lester wants to give them an out; they don't want to take it. Ball two. Another attempt, another miss. 2-2. Ball three to fill the count. He finally strikes out. No reason for that to take 6 pitches to Lester. Two down.
Ellsbury fouls the first pitch. A ball, 1-1. Ball two. A foul into the third base seats, 2-2. Jacoby strikes out on a bad pitch, down and in. The inning is over.
2-0 Sox halfway through.
Inning: 17 pitches, 10 strikes; Game: 59 pitches, 40 strikes. Cook's spot is due second; he could be through.
JD Drew will fail to advance him any minute now. Ball one. The idiot taps back to Cook, failing to move Mike over. One down.
Tek should do better. He takes ball one in what may turn into an intentional unintentional walk. They screw up and throw Tek a strike and he pulls it through the right side, scoring Lowell. 2-0 Sox. Tek stops at first.
Lugo drives the first pitch back up the middle for another single, Tek to 2nd. Two on, one down.
Lester will most likely bunt them over for Ellsbury. He misses the first attempt. A strikeout is much better here than a double play. Brilliant insight! That's what I'm here for! Ball one. Lester wants to give them an out; they don't want to take it. Ball two. Another attempt, another miss. 2-2. Ball three to fill the count. He finally strikes out. No reason for that to take 6 pitches to Lester. Two down.
Ellsbury fouls the first pitch. A ball, 1-1. Ball two. A foul into the third base seats, 2-2. Jacoby strikes out on a bad pitch, down and in. The inning is over.
2-0 Sox halfway through.
Inning: 17 pitches, 10 strikes; Game: 59 pitches, 40 strikes. Cook's spot is due second; he could be through.
WS Game 4 Bottom 4
Helton takes a called strike. And a ball. Ball two. Ball three. Meriwether is umpiring creatively again. Todd chases a bad pitch and grounds it to Pedroia. The Rockies are pressing now. One out.
Atkins lines softly to Lugo on another outstanding play. Julio has been the shortstop that the Sox thought that they were getting throughout the postseason.
Spilborghs takes ball one. And a called strike. A foul for 1-2. Ball two. High to fill the count. Half the time I want to call this guy "Spielberg" and the other half I think he's a Star Trek Next Generation character. Ball four and the walk.
Hawpe takes a big cut for strike one. A ball, 1-1. Fouled back for 1-2. He flies to Ellsbury in right center for the third out.
Still 1-0 Sox, after 4.
Inning: 16 pitches, 8 strikes; Game: 68 pitches, 44 Strikes.
Atkins lines softly to Lugo on another outstanding play. Julio has been the shortstop that the Sox thought that they were getting throughout the postseason.
Spilborghs takes ball one. And a called strike. A foul for 1-2. Ball two. High to fill the count. Half the time I want to call this guy "Spielberg" and the other half I think he's a Star Trek Next Generation character. Ball four and the walk.
Hawpe takes a big cut for strike one. A ball, 1-1. Fouled back for 1-2. He flies to Ellsbury in right center for the third out.
Still 1-0 Sox, after 4.
Inning: 16 pitches, 8 strikes; Game: 68 pitches, 44 Strikes.
WS Game 4 Top 4
Pedroia takes a ball to start. At 2-1 he grounds to Helton, Cook covering. One down.
Papi's up. He takes a strike at the knees. And another, 0-2. A foul to the left side, still 0-2. Ball one. At 1-2 Papi pops to Tulo. Two down.
Manny takes strike one. And a ball. A swinging strike two. At 1-2 Manny rips one on a line to Holliday.
Another fast inning.
Inning: 13 pitches, nine strikes; Game: 42 pitches, 30 strikes.
Papi's up. He takes a strike at the knees. And another, 0-2. A foul to the left side, still 0-2. Ball one. At 1-2 Papi pops to Tulo. Two down.
Manny takes strike one. And a ball. A swinging strike two. At 1-2 Manny rips one on a line to Holliday.
Another fast inning.
Inning: 13 pitches, nine strikes; Game: 42 pitches, 30 strikes.
WS Game 4 Bottom 3
Cook leads off. He takes strike one. And swings for strike two. He fouls one back, still 0-2. Ball one. At 1-2, Cook flies to Drew in medium right. One down.
Back to the top of the order, and Matsui. He takes strike 1. A slow breaking ball entices Kaz to swing for strike 2. He fouls one in self-defense, still 0-2. Now a double over Manny's head; Manny did everything he could have done on that one. Man on second, one out.
Tulo stands in. Foul to the right side. Another foul, back to the screen; 0-2. Ball one. Another ball, 2-2. He strikes out swinging, failing to move Matsui. Two down.
Matt Holliday gets a shot. Low for a ball. He's way behind, swinging for strike one. Ball two, down and in. He swings at one on the ground, 2-2. Foul, still 2-2. Holliday can't catch up to the 94 mph gas! The inning is over.
Inning: 20 pitches, 15 strikes; Game: 52 pitches, 36 strikes. Still running a little high. St. Leo would call this four innings pitched.
1-0 Sox. Time for the bust out inning.
Back to the top of the order, and Matsui. He takes strike 1. A slow breaking ball entices Kaz to swing for strike 2. He fouls one in self-defense, still 0-2. Now a double over Manny's head; Manny did everything he could have done on that one. Man on second, one out.
Tulo stands in. Foul to the right side. Another foul, back to the screen; 0-2. Ball one. Another ball, 2-2. He strikes out swinging, failing to move Matsui. Two down.
Matt Holliday gets a shot. Low for a ball. He's way behind, swinging for strike one. Ball two, down and in. He swings at one on the ground, 2-2. Foul, still 2-2. Holliday can't catch up to the 94 mph gas! The inning is over.
Inning: 20 pitches, 15 strikes; Game: 52 pitches, 36 strikes. Still running a little high. St. Leo would call this four innings pitched.
1-0 Sox. Time for the bust out inning.
WS Game 4 Top 3
Lugo takes strike one to start the top of the third. And a foul for 0-2. Lugo's out, grounding to Matsui.
Lester can't have batted many times as a Major Leaguer. He takes strike one. And ball one. He puts it in play, grounding to Atkins. Two down. He didn't look too bad out there.
Ball one to doubles machine Jacoby Ellsbury. Ball two. A swinging strike, 1-2. Jacoby's bat explodes as he grounds to Matsui.
Cook has been as economical with hit pitches as anyone I've ever seen.
Inning: 10 pitches, 7 strikes; Game: 29 pitches, 21 strikes. That's for three full innings. Or little more than 2 on the Mazzone-meter.
1-0 Sox.
Lester can't have batted many times as a Major Leaguer. He takes strike one. And ball one. He puts it in play, grounding to Atkins. Two down. He didn't look too bad out there.
Ball one to doubles machine Jacoby Ellsbury. Ball two. A swinging strike, 1-2. Jacoby's bat explodes as he grounds to Matsui.
Cook has been as economical with hit pitches as anyone I've ever seen.
Inning: 10 pitches, 7 strikes; Game: 29 pitches, 21 strikes. That's for three full innings. Or little more than 2 on the Mazzone-meter.
1-0 Sox.
WS Game 4 Bottom 2
Foul, strike one to Helton. Ball, 1-1. Helton is late on a 93 mph fastball, foul down the left side. Ball, 2-2. A ball to fill the count. And Helton doubles to left center.
Atkins will try to advance him, if not get him in. I might bunt Atkins, but he takes strike one instead. He fouls the second to the right field seats. On the third pitch he grounds to Lugo; Helton can't advance, and Papi made a fine short-hop grab for the out. One on, one out.
Spilborghs fouls the first pitch past first. On the second, he flies to Ellsbury. Helton tags and moves to third, but with two out.
Ball one, outside, to Hawpe. Hurdle hasn't been afraid to make moves, taking Taveras out of the lineup yesterday, and dropping Hawpe a spot in the order tonight. Strike called, 1-1. Ball two. Ball three. A close pitch is called ball four by the totally unpredictable Chuck Meriwether. Two on, two out.
Torrealba gets a chance. And watches strike one break down and in on him. Now a swinging strike two. Lester's been strike one on four of the five batters this inning. That's a nice ratio to shoot for on the night. A foul, back into the seats, still 0-2. Greetings to the insurance man in southern California. Be careful out there; you are going to be older on Tuesday. On the fourth pitch of the at bat, Torrealba grounds to Lugo, on to Papi, and the inning is over.
Still 1-0 Sox.
Inning: 20 pitches, 13 of them strikes; Game: 32 pitches, 21 strikes.
Atkins will try to advance him, if not get him in. I might bunt Atkins, but he takes strike one instead. He fouls the second to the right field seats. On the third pitch he grounds to Lugo; Helton can't advance, and Papi made a fine short-hop grab for the out. One on, one out.
Spilborghs fouls the first pitch past first. On the second, he flies to Ellsbury. Helton tags and moves to third, but with two out.
Ball one, outside, to Hawpe. Hurdle hasn't been afraid to make moves, taking Taveras out of the lineup yesterday, and dropping Hawpe a spot in the order tonight. Strike called, 1-1. Ball two. Ball three. A close pitch is called ball four by the totally unpredictable Chuck Meriwether. Two on, two out.
Torrealba gets a chance. And watches strike one break down and in on him. Now a swinging strike two. Lester's been strike one on four of the five batters this inning. That's a nice ratio to shoot for on the night. A foul, back into the seats, still 0-2. Greetings to the insurance man in southern California. Be careful out there; you are going to be older on Tuesday. On the fourth pitch of the at bat, Torrealba grounds to Lugo, on to Papi, and the inning is over.
Still 1-0 Sox.
Inning: 20 pitches, 13 of them strikes; Game: 32 pitches, 21 strikes.
WS Game 4 Top 2
Mike Lowell takes a called strike. And grounds out to Atkins on the second pitch. One down.
JD Drew takes a called strike. And pops to Matsui on the second. Two down. Hey, boys, let the guy pitch for crying out loud.
Tek takes ball one. And a called strike. Another ball, 2-1. Ball three. And a foul down the left field line. With the count full, Tek grounds to Matsui. Another very fast inning for Aaron Cook.
Inning: 10 pitches, 7 strikes; Game: 19 pitches, 14 strikes. Minimal effort, still trailing 1-0.
JD Drew takes a called strike. And pops to Matsui on the second. Two down. Hey, boys, let the guy pitch for crying out loud.
Tek takes ball one. And a called strike. Another ball, 2-1. Ball three. And a foul down the left field line. With the count full, Tek grounds to Matsui. Another very fast inning for Aaron Cook.
Inning: 10 pitches, 7 strikes; Game: 19 pitches, 14 strikes. Minimal effort, still trailing 1-0.
WS Game 4 Bottom 1
Jon Lester is high and away from Matsui for ball one; he follows with a strike down the middle. Matsui pops on the infield, taken by Lester at the mound. One down.
Tulo fouls one off for strike one. Lester won't break the radar gun, but his command is normally excellent. Ball one. Great, prove me a liar. Ball two, 2-1. Strike, swinging. Foul to the right field seats, still 2-2. Tulo swings and misses, and on the pitch in the dirt, is tagged by Varitek. Two out.
Here's Matt Holliday. He's been good in the postseason. Ball one. Strike, swinging. At 1-1, Holliday grounds to Pedroia.
Three up, three down. Good inning for Lester.
Inning: 12 pitches, 8 of them strikes.
1-0 Sox after 1.
Tulo fouls one off for strike one. Lester won't break the radar gun, but his command is normally excellent. Ball one. Great, prove me a liar. Ball two, 2-1. Strike, swinging. Foul to the right field seats, still 2-2. Tulo swings and misses, and on the pitch in the dirt, is tagged by Varitek. Two out.
Here's Matt Holliday. He's been good in the postseason. Ball one. Strike, swinging. At 1-1, Holliday grounds to Pedroia.
Three up, three down. Good inning for Lester.
Inning: 12 pitches, 8 of them strikes.
1-0 Sox after 1.
WS Game 4 Top 1
From the Fox shot, it appears that Aaron Cook is warming up somewhere in a forest. Or a pine air freshener factory.
At 7:31 cdt, Jacoby Ellsbury takes ball one, low and away. Ellsbury doubles into the left field corner on the second pitch. A rookie? Really?
Dustin Pedroia bunts foul on the first pitch. On the second, a squibber to the third baseman advances Ellsbury to third with one out.
David Ortiz will score Ellsbury. Hurdle brings the infield in! Wow, that's no confidence in your offense at all. Papi singles between Helton and Matsui, 1-0 Sox! That didn't take long, and Rockies fans are booing.
Manny Ramirez takes ball one. Manny takes a big rip to even the count. A foul goes down the right side, 1-2. Manny pulls a grounder to Atkins, to Matsui for one and on to Helton for the double play.
Sox take the early lead, 1-0.
Cook: 9 pitches, 7 strikes. So you can get in trouble with just a few pitches.
At 7:31 cdt, Jacoby Ellsbury takes ball one, low and away. Ellsbury doubles into the left field corner on the second pitch. A rookie? Really?
Dustin Pedroia bunts foul on the first pitch. On the second, a squibber to the third baseman advances Ellsbury to third with one out.
David Ortiz will score Ellsbury. Hurdle brings the infield in! Wow, that's no confidence in your offense at all. Papi singles between Helton and Matsui, 1-0 Sox! That didn't take long, and Rockies fans are booing.
Manny Ramirez takes ball one. Manny takes a big rip to even the count. A foul goes down the right side, 1-2. Manny pulls a grounder to Atkins, to Matsui for one and on to Helton for the double play.
Sox take the early lead, 1-0.
Cook: 9 pitches, 7 strikes. So you can get in trouble with just a few pitches.
World Series Game 4 Pregame
The whole pregame story is the pitchers.
Jon Lester was undergoing treatment for cancer one year ago. His rookie season had been cut short by his diagnosis, which only took place because he happened to be on a road trip to Seattle, which is his hometown. When his dad met him at the airport it was obvious that his son wasn't right. Yes, dad made son go to the doctor. And saved his life. How cool would it be for Jon Lester to clinch a World Series victory for his team?
About the same as Aaron Cook getting the win to let his team live another day. Cook hasn't pitched since August 10. He pulled that treacherous oblique muscle on that day. He's just now well. This is the longest a World Series starting pitcher has gone between starts since 1955. And that isn't even a third of the story. In 2004 Cook left a game dizzy and disoriented. He was suffering a pulmonary embolism. The first surgery, including the removal of a rib, cleared the blood clots and saved his life. The second, in December of that year, restored normal bloodflow and eventually let him resume his career. He went back to the minors and rebuilt his life and his career.
Look no further for the human interest, up close and personal stories tonight. It's all about the pitcher's mound.
Jon Lester was undergoing treatment for cancer one year ago. His rookie season had been cut short by his diagnosis, which only took place because he happened to be on a road trip to Seattle, which is his hometown. When his dad met him at the airport it was obvious that his son wasn't right. Yes, dad made son go to the doctor. And saved his life. How cool would it be for Jon Lester to clinch a World Series victory for his team?
About the same as Aaron Cook getting the win to let his team live another day. Cook hasn't pitched since August 10. He pulled that treacherous oblique muscle on that day. He's just now well. This is the longest a World Series starting pitcher has gone between starts since 1955. And that isn't even a third of the story. In 2004 Cook left a game dizzy and disoriented. He was suffering a pulmonary embolism. The first surgery, including the removal of a rib, cleared the blood clots and saved his life. The second, in December of that year, restored normal bloodflow and eventually let him resume his career. He went back to the minors and rebuilt his life and his career.
Look no further for the human interest, up close and personal stories tonight. It's all about the pitcher's mound.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
WS Game 3 Postgame
Well, here we are again. The Red Sox lead the World Series, 3 games to none. They have now beaten the Rockies in a blowout; in a tense, well-played game; and in a real mess of a game. What else is there? When you've taken a team down in both parks and in all sorts of ways, you've taken the wind out of their sails. I don't know if the Sox will sweep tomorrow night, but even if they don't, Josh Beckett is looming for Monday night. The Rockies will say all the right things, but they know in their hearts that this is over.
The kids were the story tonight. Ellsbury had four hits, three doubles among them. He scored two and knocked in one. Pedroia was on base via three hits, one of his a double. He scored one and knocked in two. Representing the old guys, Lowell added two hits, two runs and two rbi. Just the total team offense that we've seen all season. The articles may all talk about Papi and Manny, but they only had one hit and one walk between them tonight. This team is loaded from top to bottom, and they showed that tonight. But don't ever think you're hearing me disrespect the big boys. Papi knocked in the first run tonight; he's almost always lighting the path, showing the way.
Again, Matsuzaka was good enough for long enough. Okajima, Delcarmen and Lopez had their troubles tonight, but, as always, once they got to Pap it was over. Jonathan only threw 15 pitches tonight in getting his four outs, so he'll be ready to finish the game tomorrow night, if he gets the chance.
Jon Lester will start tomorrow night. How great an ending to his comeback would it be to get the World Series-clinching win? I'll be rooting for that, but the pen is in pretty good shape behind him. And, again, with Beckett ready for Monday, there really is very little pressure in tomorrow night's game.
So, tomorrow night from Coors, for perhaps the last time this year.
The kids were the story tonight. Ellsbury had four hits, three doubles among them. He scored two and knocked in one. Pedroia was on base via three hits, one of his a double. He scored one and knocked in two. Representing the old guys, Lowell added two hits, two runs and two rbi. Just the total team offense that we've seen all season. The articles may all talk about Papi and Manny, but they only had one hit and one walk between them tonight. This team is loaded from top to bottom, and they showed that tonight. But don't ever think you're hearing me disrespect the big boys. Papi knocked in the first run tonight; he's almost always lighting the path, showing the way.
Again, Matsuzaka was good enough for long enough. Okajima, Delcarmen and Lopez had their troubles tonight, but, as always, once they got to Pap it was over. Jonathan only threw 15 pitches tonight in getting his four outs, so he'll be ready to finish the game tomorrow night, if he gets the chance.
Jon Lester will start tomorrow night. How great an ending to his comeback would it be to get the World Series-clinching win? I'll be rooting for that, but the pen is in pretty good shape behind him. And, again, with Beckett ready for Monday, there really is very little pressure in tomorrow night's game.
So, tomorrow night from Coors, for perhaps the last time this year.
WS Game 3 Bottom 9
Papelbon will earn this one. He'll face Helton, Atkins and Hawpe in the bottom of the ninth.
Todd stands in. A 94 mph fastball is in for a called strike. Just outside at 88 for ball one. At 1-1 Helton flies to Jacoby Ellsbury in right center. One down.
Atkins is up. Another first pitch strike called on a 94 mph fastball. A change pulled foul along third, 0-2. Some kind of floater was just high, 1-2. He gets one in on Atkins' hands, and it is dribbled out to Lowell, on to Youk. Two down.
Hawpe is the last Howpe. Ball, high. Gas for strike one, swinging. Gas again, strike two swinging. Last strike time. A ball, just inside; 2-2. Hawpe pulls his hands in and lines one between Youk and the bag, and it evades Ellsbury in the corner. Brad pulls up at 3rd with a triple.
Torrealba gets a chance to make the last out. He takes a called strike. Another broken bat, another grounder to Lugo, and the Boston Red Sox are one win from their second championship in four years!
Daisuke Matsuzaka gets the win; Fogg takes the loss; Papelbon gets the save.
3-0 Red Sox!
Todd stands in. A 94 mph fastball is in for a called strike. Just outside at 88 for ball one. At 1-1 Helton flies to Jacoby Ellsbury in right center. One down.
Atkins is up. Another first pitch strike called on a 94 mph fastball. A change pulled foul along third, 0-2. Some kind of floater was just high, 1-2. He gets one in on Atkins' hands, and it is dribbled out to Lowell, on to Youk. Two down.
Hawpe is the last Howpe. Ball, high. Gas for strike one, swinging. Gas again, strike two swinging. Last strike time. A ball, just inside; 2-2. Hawpe pulls his hands in and lines one between Youk and the bag, and it evades Ellsbury in the corner. Brad pulls up at 3rd with a triple.
Torrealba gets a chance to make the last out. He takes a called strike. Another broken bat, another grounder to Lugo, and the Boston Red Sox are one win from their second championship in four years!
Daisuke Matsuzaka gets the win; Fogg takes the loss; Papelbon gets the save.
3-0 Red Sox!
WS Game 3 Top 9
LaTroy Hawkins is on to pitch. Lowell singles, on the first pitch, to left.
Cora sacrifices back to Hawkins on the first pitch. Matsui takes the throw. Lowell to second.
Tek takes strike one. As he takes ball one, speed merchant Lowell steals third! Another taco? Ball two. Ball three. Tek can score Lowell on just about anything here. Tek gets the Sac Fly to Spilborghs, Lowell scoring from third. 10-5 Sox. Two down.
Ball one to Lugo. And on the 1-0 he bounces one to his counterpart, Tulo. On to first for the third out. Nice insurance!
10-5 Sox to the bottom of the ninth. Three outs to a 3-0 lead!
Cora sacrifices back to Hawkins on the first pitch. Matsui takes the throw. Lowell to second.
Tek takes strike one. As he takes ball one, speed merchant Lowell steals third! Another taco? Ball two. Ball three. Tek can score Lowell on just about anything here. Tek gets the Sac Fly to Spilborghs, Lowell scoring from third. 10-5 Sox. Two down.
Ball one to Lugo. And on the 1-0 he bounces one to his counterpart, Tulo. On to first for the third out. Nice insurance!
10-5 Sox to the bottom of the ninth. Three outs to a 3-0 lead!
WS Game 3 Bottom 8
Manny Delcarmen will start the 8th. Pap is warming up. Ball one to Spilborghs. At 3-1 he fouls out to Ellsbury down the right field line. One down.
Willy Taveras will pinch hit. Let's see, he lost his starting spot because he couldn't hit; now he's pinch hitting in the bottom of the 8th. OK. Ball one. Manny goes 3-1 on him. Hey, Manny: he can't hit! Throw him a strike! He does, a foul for 3-2. He lashes the 3-2 to Pedroia on a line. Two down.
Matsui has two hits in 4 trips. Ball one. At 1-1 Matsui singles up the middle for his third hit of the game.
Ball one to Tulo. And ball two. We're about two more balls from Papelbon. Farrell comes out to talk with Delcarmen. I believe that's his first trip tonight. Everybody's nodding together. Then let's get this guy out. Strike one! Farrell's a genius! Ball three. Genius doesn't last long. He walked him. I can't believe it! Let's see if that gets Pap in. It'll apparently be another double switch. Tito is conferring with Barrett. I believe he waved Manny Ramirez in. No, it's going to be Cora in for Pedroia. And Papelbon for Delcarmen. Okajima had been put in Drew's spot when he came in, and that slot is due up 2nd in the top of the ninth. That's where Cora goes.
Pap stares in at Tek. He has the sign. Holliday pops the first pitch to Manny Ramirez in medium left. The inning is over.
9-5 Sox, after 8. Super Pap does it again!
Willy Taveras will pinch hit. Let's see, he lost his starting spot because he couldn't hit; now he's pinch hitting in the bottom of the 8th. OK. Ball one. Manny goes 3-1 on him. Hey, Manny: he can't hit! Throw him a strike! He does, a foul for 3-2. He lashes the 3-2 to Pedroia on a line. Two down.
Matsui has two hits in 4 trips. Ball one. At 1-1 Matsui singles up the middle for his third hit of the game.
Ball one to Tulo. And ball two. We're about two more balls from Papelbon. Farrell comes out to talk with Delcarmen. I believe that's his first trip tonight. Everybody's nodding together. Then let's get this guy out. Strike one! Farrell's a genius! Ball three. Genius doesn't last long. He walked him. I can't believe it! Let's see if that gets Pap in. It'll apparently be another double switch. Tito is conferring with Barrett. I believe he waved Manny Ramirez in. No, it's going to be Cora in for Pedroia. And Papelbon for Delcarmen. Okajima had been put in Drew's spot when he came in, and that slot is due up 2nd in the top of the ninth. That's where Cora goes.
Pap stares in at Tek. He has the sign. Holliday pops the first pitch to Manny Ramirez in medium left. The inning is over.
9-5 Sox, after 8. Super Pap does it again!
WS Game 3 Top 8
Brian Fuentes relieves Herges, and gets a called strike on Tek. At 1-1, a broken bat grounder to the fine Rockies' shortstop; Tulo on to Helton for out number one.
Ball to Lugo. At 3-1, Lugo walks. One on, one out.
Crisp will bat for the first time, having come in on the double switch in the bottom of the seventh. Coco takes strike one. Coco singles softly to center at 1-1. First and second, one out.
Ellsbury has had a good night, 3/4. Ball one is way outside, great stop by Torrealba. He has saved his pitchers several times throughout the Series. Ellsbury doubles down the right field line, scoring Lugo. Crisp to third. What a night for Jacoby! 7-5 Sox. What's the best way to turn momentum? Score more runs after the other team gets close. Just what the Sox are doing.
Strike one to Pedroia. Hurdle has his infield in. Nothing but help for a smart kid like Dustin. Dustin doubles to right also! Two more runs score! How 'bout these kids? 9-5 Sox!
Youk bats for the first time and takes ball one. At 2-2 Youk grounds to Atkins; Dustin stays at 2nd.
Manny is up. They will pitch to him. Sort of. Ball one, well outside. Ball two, way inside. Strike one, called; 2-1. Manny skies one, a Major League pop up, to Holliday for the third out. Great inning!
Going to the bottom of the 8th, 9-5 Sox.
Ball to Lugo. At 3-1, Lugo walks. One on, one out.
Crisp will bat for the first time, having come in on the double switch in the bottom of the seventh. Coco takes strike one. Coco singles softly to center at 1-1. First and second, one out.
Ellsbury has had a good night, 3/4. Ball one is way outside, great stop by Torrealba. He has saved his pitchers several times throughout the Series. Ellsbury doubles down the right field line, scoring Lugo. Crisp to third. What a night for Jacoby! 7-5 Sox. What's the best way to turn momentum? Score more runs after the other team gets close. Just what the Sox are doing.
Strike one to Pedroia. Hurdle has his infield in. Nothing but help for a smart kid like Dustin. Dustin doubles to right also! Two more runs score! How 'bout these kids? 9-5 Sox!
Youk bats for the first time and takes ball one. At 2-2 Youk grounds to Atkins; Dustin stays at 2nd.
Manny is up. They will pitch to him. Sort of. Ball one, well outside. Ball two, way inside. Strike one, called; 2-1. Manny skies one, a Major League pop up, to Holliday for the third out. Great inning!
Going to the bottom of the 8th, 9-5 Sox.
WS Game 3 Bottom 7
Matsui has a bunt single on Timlin's first pitch.
Tulo takes ball one. Strike one, as Matsui steals 2nd. At 1-2 Troy singles past Lugo up the middle. Matsui had gone back to the bag, thinking Tim might field the ball, so he only gets to third. First and third, nobody out.
Tito comes out to make a double switch. Timlin leaves for Okajima; Coco takes over in center, and Ellsbury moves to RIGHT. Oki is in Drew's spot; Manny's still in the game. I wonder if Hinske will come in at right after Manny bats.
Oki to Holliday. Matt Holliday makes it a one run game with a homer to center field. 6-5 Sox, still nobody out.
Helton takes strike one. Ball one. Ball two, 2-1. Foul, strike two. Another foul. Helton will fight, we all know that. Ball three, full count. Todd singles to left.
Atkins takes strike one. Ball. Foul ripped down by third, 1-2. Foul. Foul again; still 1-2. Ball, 2-2. Oki gets him, swinging, on the 7th pitch of the at bat. One down, Helton still on 1st.
Hawpe is up. Big curve for strike one, looking. Ball one. Foul to the third base seats, 1-2. Hawpe pops one foul, into the third row behind the plate. Foul tip to the backstop, still 1-2. Ball, 2-2. Ball three. Hawpe strikes out swinging on the 8th pitch of the at bat. Two down.
Oki's coming back now.
Torrealba stands in. That curve for another strike one. Ball, 1-1. Curve for strike two, called. Ball two. Foul down the right side, still 2-2. Torrealba taps back to Oki, he throws to Youk, and the inning is finally over.
6-5 Sox after 7.
Tulo takes ball one. Strike one, as Matsui steals 2nd. At 1-2 Troy singles past Lugo up the middle. Matsui had gone back to the bag, thinking Tim might field the ball, so he only gets to third. First and third, nobody out.
Tito comes out to make a double switch. Timlin leaves for Okajima; Coco takes over in center, and Ellsbury moves to RIGHT. Oki is in Drew's spot; Manny's still in the game. I wonder if Hinske will come in at right after Manny bats.
Oki to Holliday. Matt Holliday makes it a one run game with a homer to center field. 6-5 Sox, still nobody out.
Helton takes strike one. Ball one. Ball two, 2-1. Foul, strike two. Another foul. Helton will fight, we all know that. Ball three, full count. Todd singles to left.
Atkins takes strike one. Ball. Foul ripped down by third, 1-2. Foul. Foul again; still 1-2. Ball, 2-2. Oki gets him, swinging, on the 7th pitch of the at bat. One down, Helton still on 1st.
Hawpe is up. Big curve for strike one, looking. Ball one. Foul to the third base seats, 1-2. Hawpe pops one foul, into the third row behind the plate. Foul tip to the backstop, still 1-2. Ball, 2-2. Ball three. Hawpe strikes out swinging on the 8th pitch of the at bat. Two down.
Oki's coming back now.
Torrealba stands in. That curve for another strike one. Ball, 1-1. Curve for strike two, called. Ball two. Foul down the right side, still 2-2. Torrealba taps back to Oki, he throws to Youk, and the inning is finally over.
6-5 Sox after 7.
WS Game 3 Top 7
Matt Herges gets a called strike one on Manny Ramirez. Herges has been good in the postseason for the Rockies. At 2-2 Manny can't catch up to Herges' fastball. One down.
Lowell will give him a whirl. Breaking ball for strike one. Lowell strikes out on three pitches.
Drew's in. Timlin will, apparently, pitch the bottom of the seventh. Ball one to Drew. He works it full. He swings and misses. Herges strikes out the side, and continues the Rockies' momentum. This is a dangerous moment. Tim needs to be sharp here.
Herges: 14 pitches, 9 strikes.
Phillip Bailey sings showtunes. Better than the Idol child.
Lowell will give him a whirl. Breaking ball for strike one. Lowell strikes out on three pitches.
Drew's in. Timlin will, apparently, pitch the bottom of the seventh. Ball one to Drew. He works it full. He swings and misses. Herges strikes out the side, and continues the Rockies' momentum. This is a dangerous moment. Tim needs to be sharp here.
Herges: 14 pitches, 9 strikes.
Phillip Bailey sings showtunes. Better than the Idol child.
WS Game 3 Bottom 6
Strike one to Holliday. Youk has taken over at first. At 2-2 Holliday grounds sharply to Lowell.
Helton takes strike one. He works it full, and walks on the 8th pitch of the at bat. Todd has seen 24 of the 97 pitches Dice K has thrown tonight.
Ball one to Atkins. Garrett walks on four straight, and that'll do it. With first and second and one out, Tito comes to get Dice K. He wants to stay, but he's done a great job tonight.
Counts, Inning: 18 pitches, only 8 strikes; Game: 101 pitches, 66 strikes.
Javier will pitch to Hawpe; probably be Timlin for Torrealba, and then the seventh.
Hawpe is in the box. He has a first pitch single into left center and Helton comes around to score. 6-1 Sox, men on first and second with one out.
Ball one to Torrealba. Timlin should be in here. The odds would favor Tim against Sullivan more than they do Lopez versus Torrealba. Yorvit knocks in Atkins with a single to Manny. Hawpe stops at second. Still first and second and one out, now 6-2 Sox. That'll get Timlin into the game, as Spilborghs is announced as the pinch-hitter.
Leaving Lopez in for Torrealba may be the first decision that Tito Francona has made that hasn't worked in this World Series.
Timlin throws strike one on a foul tip to Spilborghs. Ball one. Jacoby goes as far as he can to dead center to haul in out number two.
Jeff Baker will hit for Affeldt. A big swing and a miss for strike one. And the same for strike two. Ball one, 1-2. Foul, off to the right side, still 1-2. Ball two. Lugo jumps as high as he can go to snag a liner ticketed for left. Three down. Whew! That saved at least one more; if it had gone to the wall, it'd be 6-4.
Still 6-2, Sox, after 6.
Helton takes strike one. He works it full, and walks on the 8th pitch of the at bat. Todd has seen 24 of the 97 pitches Dice K has thrown tonight.
Ball one to Atkins. Garrett walks on four straight, and that'll do it. With first and second and one out, Tito comes to get Dice K. He wants to stay, but he's done a great job tonight.
Counts, Inning: 18 pitches, only 8 strikes; Game: 101 pitches, 66 strikes.
Javier will pitch to Hawpe; probably be Timlin for Torrealba, and then the seventh.
Hawpe is in the box. He has a first pitch single into left center and Helton comes around to score. 6-1 Sox, men on first and second with one out.
Ball one to Torrealba. Timlin should be in here. The odds would favor Tim against Sullivan more than they do Lopez versus Torrealba. Yorvit knocks in Atkins with a single to Manny. Hawpe stops at second. Still first and second and one out, now 6-2 Sox. That'll get Timlin into the game, as Spilborghs is announced as the pinch-hitter.
Leaving Lopez in for Torrealba may be the first decision that Tito Francona has made that hasn't worked in this World Series.
Timlin throws strike one on a foul tip to Spilborghs. Ball one. Jacoby goes as far as he can to dead center to haul in out number two.
Jeff Baker will hit for Affeldt. A big swing and a miss for strike one. And the same for strike two. Ball one, 1-2. Foul, off to the right side, still 1-2. Ball two. Lugo jumps as high as he can go to snag a liner ticketed for left. Three down. Whew! That saved at least one more; if it had gone to the wall, it'd be 6-4.
Still 6-2, Sox, after 6.
WS Game 3 Top 6
Jeremy Affeldt throws ball one to Ellsbury. At 1-2 he is retired for the first time tonight, Atkins to Helton. One down.
Pedroia takes ball one. At 2-2 Dustin pops to Sullivan. Two down.
Ball one to Papi. David strikes out, swinging at 2-2.
Quick inning for Affeldt. 16 pitches, 11 strikes.
Pedroia takes ball one. At 2-2 Dustin pops to Sullivan. Two down.
Ball one to Papi. David strikes out, swinging at 2-2.
Quick inning for Affeldt. 16 pitches, 11 strikes.
WS Game 3 Bottom 5
Yorvit leads off the bottom of the 5th with a first pitch single between Pedroia and the bag.
Called first strike to Sullivan. At 1-2, he flies to Manny at the track. One down.
Seth Smith pinch hits for Morales. He takes strike one. And JD Drew gives him a single by not hustling at all on a pop to right. First and second, one out.
Matsui takes ball one. At 2-2, Lugo and Lowell make outstanding plays, turning a hit into the hole into a force out at third. Matsui to first, Smith to second, Torrealba out at 3rd. Two down.
Ball one to Tulo. At 2-0, he pops to Lugo, inning over.
Dice K, Inning: 15 pitches, 10 of them strikes; Game: 83 pitches, 58 of the strikes.
6-0 Sox after 5!
Called first strike to Sullivan. At 1-2, he flies to Manny at the track. One down.
Seth Smith pinch hits for Morales. He takes strike one. And JD Drew gives him a single by not hustling at all on a pop to right. First and second, one out.
Matsui takes ball one. At 2-2, Lugo and Lowell make outstanding plays, turning a hit into the hole into a force out at third. Matsui to first, Smith to second, Torrealba out at 3rd. Two down.
Ball one to Tulo. At 2-0, he pops to Lugo, inning over.
Dice K, Inning: 15 pitches, 10 of them strikes; Game: 83 pitches, 58 of the strikes.
6-0 Sox after 5!
WS Game 3 Top 5
Drew the Idiot takes strike one. Guess who the only Sox batter who hasn't been on base tonight is? That's right. Hey, he makes a liar out of me! A double off the left center field wall.
Tek will move him up, if not score him. A foul bunt on the first pitch. At 1-2 Tek strikes out swinging, a seven pitch at bat.
Lugo takes ball one. With the count full, Lugo flies to Hawpe. Two down.
Renowned slugger Diasuke Matsuzaka comes to the plate. Ball one. At 2-2, Dice K grounds to Matsui.
Morales pitched much better tonight than in Game 1. Maybe they should have started him.
Inning: 23 pitches, 16 of them strikes. Game: 35 pitches, 23 of them strikes.
6-0 Sox after 4 1/2.
Tek will move him up, if not score him. A foul bunt on the first pitch. At 1-2 Tek strikes out swinging, a seven pitch at bat.
Lugo takes ball one. With the count full, Lugo flies to Hawpe. Two down.
Renowned slugger Diasuke Matsuzaka comes to the plate. Ball one. At 2-2, Dice K grounds to Matsui.
Morales pitched much better tonight than in Game 1. Maybe they should have started him.
Inning: 23 pitches, 16 of them strikes. Game: 35 pitches, 23 of them strikes.
6-0 Sox after 4 1/2.
WS Game 3 Bottom 4
Holliday fouls the first pitch into the right field seats. At 1-2, Papi makes a fine play on a sharply hit ball, taking it to the bag himself. One down.
Ball one to Helton. With a full count, and on the 12th pitch of the at bat, he throws a big hook to Helton for a called strike three. Two down.
Strike one, called, to Atkins. Garrett works it full and draws a walk.
Hawpe pops out to Lugo in short left on the first pitch.
Inning: 26 pitches (again, 9 two strike fouls in this inning!), 18 of the strikes; Game: 68 pitches, 48 of the strikes.
6-0 Sox after 4.
Ball one to Helton. With a full count, and on the 12th pitch of the at bat, he throws a big hook to Helton for a called strike three. Two down.
Strike one, called, to Atkins. Garrett works it full and draws a walk.
Hawpe pops out to Lugo in short left on the first pitch.
Inning: 26 pitches (again, 9 two strike fouls in this inning!), 18 of the strikes; Game: 68 pitches, 48 of the strikes.
6-0 Sox after 4.
WS Game 3 Top 4
Morales goes strike one to Papi on a big breaking ball. At 1-1 Papi grounds out, Tulo to Morales covering. One down.
Here's Manny. It should be noted, after some of the criticism of Manny earlier, that he made a really nifty slide at the plate in the third. Foul, strike one. It should be noted that the Fox boys think Barrett made the right call on Manny in the third. Manny works Morales to 3-1, and then chases Sullivan to the wall. Two out.
Lowell is up. Strike one, called. Mike taps back to Morales for the third out. Easy inning for Franklin Morales, 10 pitches, six of them strikes.
6-0 Sox.
Here's Manny. It should be noted, after some of the criticism of Manny earlier, that he made a really nifty slide at the plate in the third. Foul, strike one. It should be noted that the Fox boys think Barrett made the right call on Manny in the third. Manny works Morales to 3-1, and then chases Sullivan to the wall. Two out.
Lowell is up. Strike one, called. Mike taps back to Morales for the third out. Easy inning for Franklin Morales, 10 pitches, six of them strikes.
6-0 Sox.
WS Game 3 Bottom 3
Now, the job for Dice K: throw strikes, and keep throwing them. That's all.
The pitcher's spot is due first, and Morales will hit. They'll need a few innings from him. Strike one. At 1-2, Morales strikes out swinging.
Matsui stands in. Strike one, called. Matsui is staging one terrific at bat. Full count, 8 pitches. And on the ninth, he swings and misses. Two down.
Strike one to Tulo. At 0-2 he grounds to Lugo, and Papi holds the bag, making a long stretch to get a throw to the plate side of first. Everything's working!
After 3, 6-0 Sox.
Inning: 18 pitches, 14 of them strikes; Game: 42 pitches, 30 of them strikes. Incredible ratio. Like Game 7 against the Indians, the pitch count is a little higher than it should be due to the incredible number of two strike fouls the Rockies have hit--5 of them just in the 3rd.
The pitcher's spot is due first, and Morales will hit. They'll need a few innings from him. Strike one. At 1-2, Morales strikes out swinging.
Matsui stands in. Strike one, called. Matsui is staging one terrific at bat. Full count, 8 pitches. And on the ninth, he swings and misses. Two down.
Strike one to Tulo. At 0-2 he grounds to Lugo, and Papi holds the bag, making a long stretch to get a throw to the plate side of first. Everything's working!
After 3, 6-0 Sox.
Inning: 18 pitches, 14 of them strikes; Game: 42 pitches, 30 of them strikes. Incredible ratio. Like Game 7 against the Indians, the pitch count is a little higher than it should be due to the incredible number of two strike fouls the Rockies have hit--5 of them just in the 3rd.
WS Game 3 Top 3
Ellsbury lines a double down the left field line on the first pitch.
Pedroia takes ball one. At 1-1, he attempts to sacrifice, but it turns into a bunt single! Ellsbury to third, no one out.
Papi lines the first pitch for a double to right. Ellsbury scores, Pedroia to third. 1-0 Boston! We are about one hit away from putting this thing out of reach.
Clint Hurdle is sober, so they are walking Manny intentionally.
Lowell can make them pay, and pay big. Ball one. Ball two. The 2-0 strike on the inside corner was Fogg's 50th of the game. Mike drives the 2-1 back through the box for a two run single. 3-0 Sox, first and second, nobody out.
Drew takes a called strike one. Ball one, 1-1. He pops the third pitch to Tulo. Idiot.
Tek will try to do some business here. Ball one. Tek lines a single to left, and Manny's coming to the plate, and Barrett blew the call. Manny slapped the plate as he was sliding by, but Barrett called him out. Two down, first and third.
Lugo walks on 4 straight. At least he flipped the lineup again.
Dice K LINES THE FIRST BALL THROUGH THE HOLE AT SHORT FOR TWO RUNS! It's his first ML hit, his first ML rbi! Can you believe it? 5-0 Sox!
Ellsbury takes ball one. At 3-1 the KID LINES A DOUBLE TO LEFT CENTER! Lugo scores, Dice K to third. Still two out, but that never matters with this lineup. They just don't care. They have knocked Fogg out of the game with a (so far) 6 run third.
Pedroia is the 11th batter of the inning, the first for Franklin Morales, who got beat up in relief in Game 1. No kidding, he enters with an ERA of 94.50. No misprint! Ball one. Dustin rips a screamer to Atkins, who fields and throws across to Helton.
The inning is over, but what an inning! 6-0 Sox, going to the bottom of the third.
It was a 28 pitch inning for Fogg before his departure, putting him at 67 pitches in 2.2 innings. Mind boggling!
Pedroia takes ball one. At 1-1, he attempts to sacrifice, but it turns into a bunt single! Ellsbury to third, no one out.
Papi lines the first pitch for a double to right. Ellsbury scores, Pedroia to third. 1-0 Boston! We are about one hit away from putting this thing out of reach.
Clint Hurdle is sober, so they are walking Manny intentionally.
Lowell can make them pay, and pay big. Ball one. Ball two. The 2-0 strike on the inside corner was Fogg's 50th of the game. Mike drives the 2-1 back through the box for a two run single. 3-0 Sox, first and second, nobody out.
Drew takes a called strike one. Ball one, 1-1. He pops the third pitch to Tulo. Idiot.
Tek will try to do some business here. Ball one. Tek lines a single to left, and Manny's coming to the plate, and Barrett blew the call. Manny slapped the plate as he was sliding by, but Barrett called him out. Two down, first and third.
Lugo walks on 4 straight. At least he flipped the lineup again.
Dice K LINES THE FIRST BALL THROUGH THE HOLE AT SHORT FOR TWO RUNS! It's his first ML hit, his first ML rbi! Can you believe it? 5-0 Sox!
Ellsbury takes ball one. At 3-1 the KID LINES A DOUBLE TO LEFT CENTER! Lugo scores, Dice K to third. Still two out, but that never matters with this lineup. They just don't care. They have knocked Fogg out of the game with a (so far) 6 run third.
Pedroia is the 11th batter of the inning, the first for Franklin Morales, who got beat up in relief in Game 1. No kidding, he enters with an ERA of 94.50. No misprint! Ball one. Dustin rips a screamer to Atkins, who fields and throws across to Helton.
The inning is over, but what an inning! 6-0 Sox, going to the bottom of the third.
It was a 28 pitch inning for Fogg before his departure, putting him at 67 pitches in 2.2 innings. Mind boggling!
WS Game 3 Bottom 2
Matsuzaka starts the inning bouncing one off Atkins' left shoulder, right at his head. The gun had it at 93, but Garrett barely reacted to it.
Strike one to Hawpe. He strikes Hawpe out on 3 pitches, the last up to 94. One down with a man on first.
Yorvit Torrealba's next. Yorvit. I like that. If I'd had a boy, I might have named him Yorvit. One more reason, Bryce, to count your blessings! Ball one. On the second pitch, Manny answers the bell for the first time, chasing the ball down on the track. Two down.
Now Sullivan. He didn't play in Boston. Ball one. At 1-1, Sullivan grounds to Lugo, and into a 6-4 force, Atkins out at second.
Another good inning for Dice K. Now let's just see if he can avoid putting the leadoff man on in the third.
Inning: 9 pitches, 6 strikes; Game: 24 pitches, 16 strikes. He hasn't thrown as many as Fogg did in the top of the first.
Strike one to Hawpe. He strikes Hawpe out on 3 pitches, the last up to 94. One down with a man on first.
Yorvit Torrealba's next. Yorvit. I like that. If I'd had a boy, I might have named him Yorvit. One more reason, Bryce, to count your blessings! Ball one. On the second pitch, Manny answers the bell for the first time, chasing the ball down on the track. Two down.
Now Sullivan. He didn't play in Boston. Ball one. At 1-1, Sullivan grounds to Lugo, and into a 6-4 force, Atkins out at second.
Another good inning for Dice K. Now let's just see if he can avoid putting the leadoff man on in the third.
Inning: 9 pitches, 6 strikes; Game: 24 pitches, 16 strikes. He hasn't thrown as many as Fogg did in the top of the first.
WS Game 3 Top 2
JD Drew follows up his outfield error by grounding the first pitch to Matsui for the first out. Idiot.
Tek stands in. He looks at strike one. At 0-2, his bat explodes, and the barrel goes right between Fogg's legs, as Tulo fields and, according to the very poor umpire, Meriwether, (and how did that guy get the WS assignment? Especially when, for one, Tim McClelland is sitting home?) gets him at first. Bad call.
Strike one to Lugo. At 2-1, Julio doubles to right center.
Dice K is up. At least Lugo flipped the order for the third. This could be ugly. Strike one. Tito may have told him not to swing. At 1-2, he actually takes a cut. My late grandmother could have looked better.
Inning: 12 pitches, 9 of them strikes; Game: 39 pitches, 24 strikes. Clearly, a much better inning for Fogg.
No score, headed to the bottom of the second.
Tek stands in. He looks at strike one. At 0-2, his bat explodes, and the barrel goes right between Fogg's legs, as Tulo fields and, according to the very poor umpire, Meriwether, (and how did that guy get the WS assignment? Especially when, for one, Tim McClelland is sitting home?) gets him at first. Bad call.
Strike one to Lugo. At 2-1, Julio doubles to right center.
Dice K is up. At least Lugo flipped the order for the third. This could be ugly. Strike one. Tito may have told him not to swing. At 1-2, he actually takes a cut. My late grandmother could have looked better.
Inning: 12 pitches, 9 of them strikes; Game: 39 pitches, 24 strikes. Clearly, a much better inning for Fogg.
No score, headed to the bottom of the second.
WS Game 3 Bottom 1
Matsuzaka takes the hill.
Matsui winds up on second with a first pitch single, and fielding error on JD Drew.
Tulo takes ball one. Troy strikes out, swinging, with the count full. One on, one out.
93 mph first pitch strike to Matt Holliday. In spite of what happened in Game 2, I'm very impressed with this guy. Holliday grounds into a 1-4-5 Fielder's Choice. Not very well executed. Dice K ran right at him, like he's supposed to, but he threw too fast, then Pedroia threw to Lowell too fast, but Mikey handled it correctly to get the tag on Matsui. One on, two out.
Foul, strike one to Helton. At 1-2, Helton grounds into a more traditional 5-4 FC.
Dice K really came back nicely after the man on 2nd, none out situation.
Inning: 15 pitches, 10 of them strikes. Very good inning for his first in the Series.
Matsui winds up on second with a first pitch single, and fielding error on JD Drew.
Tulo takes ball one. Troy strikes out, swinging, with the count full. One on, one out.
93 mph first pitch strike to Matt Holliday. In spite of what happened in Game 2, I'm very impressed with this guy. Holliday grounds into a 1-4-5 Fielder's Choice. Not very well executed. Dice K ran right at him, like he's supposed to, but he threw too fast, then Pedroia threw to Lowell too fast, but Mikey handled it correctly to get the tag on Matsui. One on, two out.
Foul, strike one to Helton. At 1-2, Helton grounds into a more traditional 5-4 FC.
Dice K really came back nicely after the man on 2nd, none out situation.
Inning: 15 pitches, 10 of them strikes. Very good inning for his first in the Series.
WS Game 3 Top 1
Jacoby Ellsbury takes ball one at 7:36 Real Time. Awesome! The kid works the count full. He has a swinging bunt single up the third base line.
Pedroia steps up. Ball one. At 2-2, Pedroia gets an infield single to the hole at short. Two on, Papi up! 11 pitches, no one out yet.
Swinging strike one on a terrible pitch to Ortiz. At 2-2 Papi strikes out swinging. That can be an enormous out for Fogg if he follows it well.
Manny's turn. He's at .500 for the Series. Ball one. At 2-2, Manny flies to Holliday in left. Two down. 21 pitches so far.
Mike's up. Ball one. Only one first pitch strike to the first five batters. With the count full, Lowell flies to Sullivan.
Castiglione will call this a squander, but it was a productive inning. Josh Fogg was under pressure the entire inning, and had to make 27 pitches, and 16 of them were made with runners at first and second. That has already shortened his time in this game. Mazzone Measure: he pitched two innings in the top of the first.
Inning: 27 pitches, 15 of them strikes.
Pedroia steps up. Ball one. At 2-2, Pedroia gets an infield single to the hole at short. Two on, Papi up! 11 pitches, no one out yet.
Swinging strike one on a terrible pitch to Ortiz. At 2-2 Papi strikes out swinging. That can be an enormous out for Fogg if he follows it well.
Manny's turn. He's at .500 for the Series. Ball one. At 2-2, Manny flies to Holliday in left. Two down. 21 pitches so far.
Mike's up. Ball one. Only one first pitch strike to the first five batters. With the count full, Lowell flies to Sullivan.
Castiglione will call this a squander, but it was a productive inning. Josh Fogg was under pressure the entire inning, and had to make 27 pitches, and 16 of them were made with runners at first and second. That has already shortened his time in this game. Mazzone Measure: he pitched two innings in the top of the first.
Inning: 27 pitches, 15 of them strikes.
World Series Game 3 Pregame
Daisuke Matsuzaka was not nearly as effective away from Fenway Park as he was at home this year. That makes perfect sense to me, for, while he had to learn Boston, he had no opportunity to acclimate to any other place i North America. I remember the old Dick Vitale analysis of college hoops freshman: "By tourney time, baby, they aren't freshmen any more!" Dice K has had the season, but no time in Denver. I have no idea what the elevations are in Japan, but I will assume that he hasn't pitched in the mile high environs. Then again, he throws hard, and that should help him. Most of the pitchers who've had terrible trouble at Coors Field have been the finesse, Denny Neagle-types of guys.
Tito has bumped Ellsbury into the leadoff spot. If he keeps it on the ground, Jacoby could be a force in this huge yard. Youk won't do any chirping about being out of the lineup. Plus, if the Sox lead, he'll be in at the end. Papi is a huge man who is not accustomed to playing in the field. As John Calipari so often says, "It is what it is." Will the Rockies suddenly decide to have everybody try to bunt up the first baseline? Oh, I hope so! But I'm not holding my breath.
I know nothing about Josh Fogg. I'm a bit surprised that Hurdle has dropped Willy Taveras in favor of Corey Sullivan.
The Sox presented John Williams and the Boston Pops and James Taylor to perform the national anthem. The Rockies have produce one of these American Idol dopes. And so it goes.
The Game is afoot!
Tito has bumped Ellsbury into the leadoff spot. If he keeps it on the ground, Jacoby could be a force in this huge yard. Youk won't do any chirping about being out of the lineup. Plus, if the Sox lead, he'll be in at the end. Papi is a huge man who is not accustomed to playing in the field. As John Calipari so often says, "It is what it is." Will the Rockies suddenly decide to have everybody try to bunt up the first baseline? Oh, I hope so! But I'm not holding my breath.
I know nothing about Josh Fogg. I'm a bit surprised that Hurdle has dropped Willy Taveras in favor of Corey Sullivan.
The Sox presented John Williams and the Boston Pops and James Taylor to perform the national anthem. The Rockies have produce one of these American Idol dopes. And so it goes.
The Game is afoot!
Thursday, October 25, 2007
WS Game 2 Postgame
If we turn to Schilling again, we don't need one bit more from him than he gave us tonight. He did the job as the grizzled veteran that he is. No, he can't reach back and burn anymore like Beckett and Papelbon do, but he knows things that they don't know. And Jimenez may have lit up the radar gun, but the old guy was around longer, and beat the kid. At this point in their respective careers, Curt has forgotten more about pitching than the younger man knows, and he used it all tonight.
Tonight revealed other differences in these clubs. The veteran Lowell takes the extra base, and scores on Tek's Sac Fly. The youngster Holliday gets picked off first with his team trailing by a run in the 8th. Mike made an error, but Schilling picked him up. Later, Mike atones by driving in the winning run. That's experience; that's what it means to have been there before. Schilling has, with the Phillies, D'backs and Sox, and Lowell's been to the top with the Marlins. Nobody on the Rockies has that kind of experience, and it's showing.
The other side of the coin is that the Sox' young guys are special. Dustin Pedroia is a rookie, but plays like a veteran. He even looks like those guys in the photos from the 1920's and 1930's. Jacoby Ellsbury is the greenest of rookies, but gives no indication of anxiety or nerves, starting in the World Series. Okajima and Matsuzaka are new to the country, but performing very well. Their Japanese Leagues experience is helping, but only so far. They obviously don't have any 3,000 mile road trips in Japan. I also have read that they don't even change time zones in their travels. What an adjustment, and that doesn't even address the language, food, culture, distance from family and all the rest of it. Papelbon is a baby, just a big goofy kid. If you're not sure about that, look on YouTube for his performances in the three clinching celebrations so far. He's a maniac. But on that mound, he is General Patton, and he's marching on your village. Don't forget, this is the first season when he has been a closer who's going to stay a closer. He is what Mariano Rivera was a decade ago for the Yankees.
Next up, it'll be Dice K against Josh Fogg in Denver on Saturday night. I don't think it will be a sweep. I think the Rockies will win at least one in their park. But it wouldn't surprise me if Sunday night saw the end of the season.
Tonight revealed other differences in these clubs. The veteran Lowell takes the extra base, and scores on Tek's Sac Fly. The youngster Holliday gets picked off first with his team trailing by a run in the 8th. Mike made an error, but Schilling picked him up. Later, Mike atones by driving in the winning run. That's experience; that's what it means to have been there before. Schilling has, with the Phillies, D'backs and Sox, and Lowell's been to the top with the Marlins. Nobody on the Rockies has that kind of experience, and it's showing.
The other side of the coin is that the Sox' young guys are special. Dustin Pedroia is a rookie, but plays like a veteran. He even looks like those guys in the photos from the 1920's and 1930's. Jacoby Ellsbury is the greenest of rookies, but gives no indication of anxiety or nerves, starting in the World Series. Okajima and Matsuzaka are new to the country, but performing very well. Their Japanese Leagues experience is helping, but only so far. They obviously don't have any 3,000 mile road trips in Japan. I also have read that they don't even change time zones in their travels. What an adjustment, and that doesn't even address the language, food, culture, distance from family and all the rest of it. Papelbon is a baby, just a big goofy kid. If you're not sure about that, look on YouTube for his performances in the three clinching celebrations so far. He's a maniac. But on that mound, he is General Patton, and he's marching on your village. Don't forget, this is the first season when he has been a closer who's going to stay a closer. He is what Mariano Rivera was a decade ago for the Yankees.
Next up, it'll be Dice K against Josh Fogg in Denver on Saturday night. I don't think it will be a sweep. I think the Rockies will win at least one in their park. But it wouldn't surprise me if Sunday night saw the end of the season.
WS Game 2 Top 9
Jonathan Papelbon is seeking to lock down a 2-0 lead in the 2007 World Series. He will face the meat of the Rockies' order to get it done.
Todd Helton's first. He was at the plate when Holliday was picked off in the 8th. Strike one, foul. Ball, 1-1. Strike two, swinging. Tito is showing some of his thinking. Manny's still in the game, as he's due up second if we need the bottom of the ninth. Ball, 2-2. Foul, still 2-2. Helton strikes out on one low and away. One down, two to go.
Ball one to Atkins. Strike, called, 1-1. Atkins lines to Ellsbury, two down, one to go.
It's down to Hawpe. Foul, strike one. A swing and a miss at 97 mph. Down to their last strike. Jonathan looks in. Mr. Henry has his fingers in his ears, it's so loud at Fenway. Ball, in the dirt, 1-2. Another 97 fastball ends the game!
Final: 2-1 Red Sox!
Sox lead the series, 2-0. Another dominating performance by the Sox bullpen, this one in a very tight game. We can win either way.
Fox names Oki the Player of the Game, richly deserved.
Curt Schilling is now 11-2 in the postseason.
Now, a day off, and we play in Denver. The Fenway celebration will go a while tonight--the Nation knows this may be the last home game this season.
Todd Helton's first. He was at the plate when Holliday was picked off in the 8th. Strike one, foul. Ball, 1-1. Strike two, swinging. Tito is showing some of his thinking. Manny's still in the game, as he's due up second if we need the bottom of the ninth. Ball, 2-2. Foul, still 2-2. Helton strikes out on one low and away. One down, two to go.
Ball one to Atkins. Strike, called, 1-1. Atkins lines to Ellsbury, two down, one to go.
It's down to Hawpe. Foul, strike one. A swing and a miss at 97 mph. Down to their last strike. Jonathan looks in. Mr. Henry has his fingers in his ears, it's so loud at Fenway. Ball, in the dirt, 1-2. Another 97 fastball ends the game!
Final: 2-1 Red Sox!
Sox lead the series, 2-0. Another dominating performance by the Sox bullpen, this one in a very tight game. We can win either way.
Fox names Oki the Player of the Game, richly deserved.
Curt Schilling is now 11-2 in the postseason.
Now, a day off, and we play in Denver. The Fenway celebration will go a while tonight--the Nation knows this may be the last home game this season.
WS Game 2 Bottom 8
You're a game down in the World Series, and trailing 2-1 in the top of the eighth. A future Hall of Famer is in the box, and you get yourself picked off? That just cannot happen!
Strike one to Jacoby; Fuentes is still in. At 1-1, Ellsbury flies to Taveras. One down.
Lugo fouls...no, Laz Diaz rules that the bunted ball hit him out of the batter's box. Two down. A mild argument, but it looks like Diaz had it right to me.
Manny Corpas, the Rockies' closer, will relieve Fuentes to pitch to Pedroia. He just needs some work. Ball one to Dustin. At 2-0 he singles to right. One on, two down.
Youk gets another chance. He's hitless tonight, but with two walks. Ball one. At 1-2, Youk grounds into a 4-6 Fielder's Choice, with Dustin out at second.
We'll go to the Ninth, Sox up 2-1.
Strike one to Jacoby; Fuentes is still in. At 1-1, Ellsbury flies to Taveras. One down.
Lugo fouls...no, Laz Diaz rules that the bunted ball hit him out of the batter's box. Two down. A mild argument, but it looks like Diaz had it right to me.
Manny Corpas, the Rockies' closer, will relieve Fuentes to pitch to Pedroia. He just needs some work. Ball one to Dustin. At 2-0 he singles to right. One on, two down.
Youk gets another chance. He's hitless tonight, but with two walks. Ball one. At 1-2, Youk grounds into a 4-6 Fielder's Choice, with Dustin out at second.
We'll go to the Ninth, Sox up 2-1.
WS Game 2 Top 8
Oki's still in, with Pap warming. Strike one, called, to Taveras. And at 0-2, a called strike 3. One down.
Strike called to Matsui. Oki is rolling. And in other understatements, it's a little cooler to today, and the sunrise might happen in the East. Will Pap come in for Holliday? With the count full, Matsui strikes out swinging. Two down.
And Tito comes to the mound. Oki was great again tonight. And Pap will finish it off.
Strike one, gas, 97 mph to Holliday. Another 97, and he didn't have a chance. Strike two. Holliday singles back through the box, knocked down by Pedroia. One on, two out.
Holliday has been the whole offense for the Rockies tonight, four for four. And PAPELBON PICKS HIM OFF!!! The inning ends with Helton in the batters box! What a move! A great one by Pap, a terrible, disastrous move by Holliday!
2-1 Sox after 7 and a half.
Strike called to Matsui. Oki is rolling. And in other understatements, it's a little cooler to today, and the sunrise might happen in the East. Will Pap come in for Holliday? With the count full, Matsui strikes out swinging. Two down.
And Tito comes to the mound. Oki was great again tonight. And Pap will finish it off.
Strike one, gas, 97 mph to Holliday. Another 97, and he didn't have a chance. Strike two. Holliday singles back through the box, knocked down by Pedroia. One on, two out.
Holliday has been the whole offense for the Rockies tonight, four for four. And PAPELBON PICKS HIM OFF!!! The inning ends with Helton in the batters box! What a move! A great one by Pap, a terrible, disastrous move by Holliday!
2-1 Sox after 7 and a half.
WS Game 2 Bottom 7
Fuentes continues, and a called strike to Manny. At 2-2 Manny grounds to Tulo.
On the first pitch, Lowell flies to Hawpe. Two down.
Drew takes strike one. At 1-1, JD rips one through the right side.
Varitek to the plate. Ball one. At 1-2 Tek strikes out swinging.
Fuentes was impressive.
2-1 Sox after 7.
On the first pitch, Lowell flies to Hawpe. Two down.
Drew takes strike one. At 1-1, JD rips one through the right side.
Varitek to the plate. Ball one. At 1-2 Tek strikes out swinging.
Fuentes was impressive.
2-1 Sox after 7.
WS Game 2 Top 7
Oki shoots a strike to Tulo, and on the second pitch he pops to Drew in shallow right. That's one.
Torrealba takes a strike. At 1-2, Yorvit grounds to Lugo, on to first for out number 2.
Spilborghs takes a ball. At 2-2, Oki nails him for a called third with the gas.
At the stretch, it's 2-1 Sox.
Oki's been great. Inning: 11 pitches, 8 strikes; Game: 18 pitches, 13 strikes. Will he go another?
Torrealba takes a strike. At 1-2, Yorvit grounds to Lugo, on to first for out number 2.
Spilborghs takes a ball. At 2-2, Oki nails him for a called third with the gas.
At the stretch, it's 2-1 Sox.
Oki's been great. Inning: 11 pitches, 8 strikes; Game: 18 pitches, 13 strikes. Will he go another?
WS Game 2 Bottom 6
Herges breaks one off for a called first strike to Ellsbury. And the kid singles to center on the 0-1. His first World Series hit.
Lugo gets a chance. Ball one. Julio bunts, and Herges had a great shot at Ellsbury, but turns and throws to first. Sac Bunt; one out, man on second.
Pedroia has an RBI chance. That curve again, for strike one. Just how much pressure is Clint Hurdle feeling in this game? Brian Fuentes is warming up in the sixth, with Papi lurking two spots down. Pedroia fits right in on this team; it's 2-2, with a couple of two strike foul balls already. A six pitch at bat working. Another foul. On the 8th pitch he grounds to Tulo, with Jacoby moving to third. Two down.
Youk needs to get Ellsbury in. Strike one, called. Swinging strike two. Juuuust a bit outside. Another ball, high; 2-2. And after 0-2, the Greek God of Walks works it full. Foul. Foul again. After the next, the first two men in the Sox order will have seen 40 pitches tonight, just the two of them. Another ripped foul. He's all over Ellsbury and Hale with these fouls. Helmets, helmets, helmets! Hey Bud, wake up and do something useful. Mandate the helmets. Ball four. First and third, two out, for Papi. And, indeed, Herges will leave for Fuentes. In the sixth.
Papi stands in. Ball one. On the second pitch Papi flies deep to Taveras. Fuentes did his job.
2-1 Sox after 6.
Lugo gets a chance. Ball one. Julio bunts, and Herges had a great shot at Ellsbury, but turns and throws to first. Sac Bunt; one out, man on second.
Pedroia has an RBI chance. That curve again, for strike one. Just how much pressure is Clint Hurdle feeling in this game? Brian Fuentes is warming up in the sixth, with Papi lurking two spots down. Pedroia fits right in on this team; it's 2-2, with a couple of two strike foul balls already. A six pitch at bat working. Another foul. On the 8th pitch he grounds to Tulo, with Jacoby moving to third. Two down.
Youk needs to get Ellsbury in. Strike one, called. Swinging strike two. Juuuust a bit outside. Another ball, high; 2-2. And after 0-2, the Greek God of Walks works it full. Foul. Foul again. After the next, the first two men in the Sox order will have seen 40 pitches tonight, just the two of them. Another ripped foul. He's all over Ellsbury and Hale with these fouls. Helmets, helmets, helmets! Hey Bud, wake up and do something useful. Mandate the helmets. Ball four. First and third, two out, for Papi. And, indeed, Herges will leave for Fuentes. In the sixth.
Papi stands in. Ball one. On the second pitch Papi flies deep to Taveras. Fuentes did his job.
2-1 Sox after 6.
WS Game 2 Top 6
Curt had a nice break in the bottom of the 5th. Things like that matter after one's 40th.
Matsui takes strike one. At 2-2 he pops to Lugo.
Holliday takes ball one. And singles sharply to left.
Helton's scary. Strike one. He works it full, only the 3rd for Schilling tonight. Ball four. The second walk for Curt.
Curt Schilling leaves the mound at Fenway Park for what may be the last time. He gets a tremendous ovation, and, as he always does, he acknowledges the fans. If that's it, it has been an historic relationship.
Hideki Okajima has been our best non-Papelbon reliever all season. He's in now, with two on and one out, and a one run lead.
Atkins takes ball one. At 2-1 he grounds to Youk, unassisted; the runners each advance a base. Second and third, but now two out.
Hawpe check swings too far for strike one. And takes a called second. AND OKI MAKES HIM LOOK BAD ON A SWINGING STRIKE THREE!!!
2-1 Sox in the middle of the 6th.
Curt, Inning: 16 pitches, 9 strikes; Game: 82 pitches, 55 strikes.
Oki, 7 pitches, 5 strikes.
Matsui takes strike one. At 2-2 he pops to Lugo.
Holliday takes ball one. And singles sharply to left.
Helton's scary. Strike one. He works it full, only the 3rd for Schilling tonight. Ball four. The second walk for Curt.
Curt Schilling leaves the mound at Fenway Park for what may be the last time. He gets a tremendous ovation, and, as he always does, he acknowledges the fans. If that's it, it has been an historic relationship.
Hideki Okajima has been our best non-Papelbon reliever all season. He's in now, with two on and one out, and a one run lead.
Atkins takes ball one. At 2-1 he grounds to Youk, unassisted; the runners each advance a base. Second and third, but now two out.
Hawpe check swings too far for strike one. And takes a called second. AND OKI MAKES HIM LOOK BAD ON A SWINGING STRIKE THREE!!!
2-1 Sox in the middle of the 6th.
Curt, Inning: 16 pitches, 9 strikes; Game: 82 pitches, 55 strikes.
Oki, 7 pitches, 5 strikes.
WS Game 2 Bottom 5
Strike one to Pedroia. At 2-2, he grounds to Atkins, and I don't know how Helton didn't pull both hammies and both groins on that stretch.
On that first pitch swinging deal, three Red Sox have put the first pitch in play in the whole game, and one of those was Varitek's Sac Fly. Five Rockies have put the first pitch in play in the last two innings, one of those being Torrealba's Sac Bunt. Keep an eye on that little issue.
Youk takes strike one. With a full count, he flies deep to Taveras. Two down.
Papi takes ball one. He works it full. Jimenez is averaging a full count per inning. Papi walks.
Manny's turn. Ball one. Fox had a graphic that showed Manny's BA as .455 for his last 22 postseason games with RISP. That's probably one hit shy of .500. 1-2 to Manny, and that makes 20 pitches for Jimenez in the inning; that's 3 straight with 20+ pitches. Manny spanks one past Atkins into left. Papi's knee will only allow for station-to-station at this point.
This has been Lowell's situation all year. 120 RBI. That's the most any Boston third baseman has ever had in a season. Ball one. Ball two. Strike one, and that's the 26th pitch of the inning, 90th of the game. In the bottom of the fifth. Mikey doubles into the left field corner scoring Papi, Manny to 3rd. Sox lead 2-1! Resign Mikey! That's Re-sign Mikey!
And Jimenez is out of the game. Too many pitches in too few innings. He was ok through two, but then things blew up. 3rd: 24 pitches; 4th: 21 pitches; 5th: 26. That's five innings' work in three innings. Can't do that and survive. Affeldt comes in to pitch to Drew.
Jimenez, Inning: 26 pitches, 14 of them strikes; Game: 90 pitches, 49 strikes.
JD takes ball one. Ball two. He can blow it open. Strike one. The high pitch count also means walks. Runners mean runs, and that's the whole point, ain't it? Ball three. Strike two. Full up. Ball four to load the bases for The Captain. But he'll face Herges, not Affeldt.
Jeremy, 6 pitches, two strikes.
Ball one from Matt Herges to Tek. Remember my Time of Game rant from the ALCS? Two hours in tonight, just past the two hour mark. The Sox are being the Sox. At 2-1 Tek just misses one, flying to Holliday.
Herges, 4 pitches, two and two.
2-1 Sox after 5.
On that first pitch swinging deal, three Red Sox have put the first pitch in play in the whole game, and one of those was Varitek's Sac Fly. Five Rockies have put the first pitch in play in the last two innings, one of those being Torrealba's Sac Bunt. Keep an eye on that little issue.
Youk takes strike one. With a full count, he flies deep to Taveras. Two down.
Papi takes ball one. He works it full. Jimenez is averaging a full count per inning. Papi walks.
Manny's turn. Ball one. Fox had a graphic that showed Manny's BA as .455 for his last 22 postseason games with RISP. That's probably one hit shy of .500. 1-2 to Manny, and that makes 20 pitches for Jimenez in the inning; that's 3 straight with 20+ pitches. Manny spanks one past Atkins into left. Papi's knee will only allow for station-to-station at this point.
This has been Lowell's situation all year. 120 RBI. That's the most any Boston third baseman has ever had in a season. Ball one. Ball two. Strike one, and that's the 26th pitch of the inning, 90th of the game. In the bottom of the fifth. Mikey doubles into the left field corner scoring Papi, Manny to 3rd. Sox lead 2-1! Resign Mikey! That's Re-sign Mikey!
And Jimenez is out of the game. Too many pitches in too few innings. He was ok through two, but then things blew up. 3rd: 24 pitches; 4th: 21 pitches; 5th: 26. That's five innings' work in three innings. Can't do that and survive. Affeldt comes in to pitch to Drew.
Jimenez, Inning: 26 pitches, 14 of them strikes; Game: 90 pitches, 49 strikes.
JD takes ball one. Ball two. He can blow it open. Strike one. The high pitch count also means walks. Runners mean runs, and that's the whole point, ain't it? Ball three. Strike two. Full up. Ball four to load the bases for The Captain. But he'll face Herges, not Affeldt.
Jeremy, 6 pitches, two strikes.
Ball one from Matt Herges to Tek. Remember my Time of Game rant from the ALCS? Two hours in tonight, just past the two hour mark. The Sox are being the Sox. At 2-1 Tek just misses one, flying to Holliday.
Herges, 4 pitches, two and two.
2-1 Sox after 5.
WS Game 2 Top 5
Tulo swings badly at the first pitch. With a full count, Troy draws Curt's first walk of the night.
Yorvit stands in. I wish my name was Yorvit. He sacrifices to Lowell on the first pitch, Tulo to 2nd, one out.
Spilborghs' turn. Strike one. At 0-2, Curt nails him for a called third. Two down. That's the way to deal with a one out RISP!
Taveras will give it a whirl...and on the first pitch, he grounds to Lugo. The contrast between these two teams couldn't be more apparent. The Rockies have made outs on first pitches about 4 times in the last two innings, blasphemy to the Red Sox' lineup. They are really helping Schilling out.
Inning: 13 pitches, nine strikes; Game: 66 pitches, 46 strikes. Excellent!
1-1 going to the bottom of the 5th.
Yorvit stands in. I wish my name was Yorvit. He sacrifices to Lowell on the first pitch, Tulo to 2nd, one out.
Spilborghs' turn. Strike one. At 0-2, Curt nails him for a called third. Two down. That's the way to deal with a one out RISP!
Taveras will give it a whirl...and on the first pitch, he grounds to Lugo. The contrast between these two teams couldn't be more apparent. The Rockies have made outs on first pitches about 4 times in the last two innings, blasphemy to the Red Sox' lineup. They are really helping Schilling out.
Inning: 13 pitches, nine strikes; Game: 66 pitches, 46 strikes. Excellent!
1-1 going to the bottom of the 5th.
WS Game 2 Bottom 4
I'm getting the idea that Fox wants us to watch House. Never seen it, never will.
Manny needs to be Manny right here. Strike one. Am I missing them, or have the Penis Pills been banished for the evening? Hallelujah! At 0-2, Manny pops to Atkins.
Lowell would be a good guy to get things started. Ball one. At 2-0 Mike bangs one off his bunion. It's Alliteration Thursday! At 3-1 Mikey walks. Maybe Drew's awake, and can do something.
JD rips a single to right, the speed merchant Lowell chugs into third, and on a dumb throw to third, Drew takes second. The Captain will score one, if not both of them, count on it.
On the first pitch, Tek flies to Taveras in deep center; Lowell scores, Drew advances to 3rd. That's why he's The Captain!
Ellsbury takes ball one. Jacoby works Jimenez to 3-1. Come on, kid. Ball 4! First and third for Lugo. Which brings Apodaca out to the mound for his first visit of the night.
Lugo didn't hit all year except when runners were in scoring position. He had 73 RBI on a .237 average. Not easy to do, unless your name is Dave Kingman. Strike one. On the second pitch, Lugo just missed a double down the third base line. 0-2. It was foul; good call, Mike Everitt. Ball one, and Ellsbury steals second. WE GOT TACOS! Visit your local Taco Bell on October 30, and demand your World Series Stolen Base Taco! Lugo dives for his life from ball two, 2-2. Ball three, full count. Argh! Roller to Helton. He's never missed one of those in his life.
Nevertheless, Schill's even. 1-1 after 4.
Jimenez, Inning: 21 pitches, only 10 of them strikes; Game: 64 pitches, 35 strikes.
He's now an inning's worth of pitches beyond Schilling. Stay the course, boys. Ugh, that sounds like the Doofus-in-Chief.
Manny needs to be Manny right here. Strike one. Am I missing them, or have the Penis Pills been banished for the evening? Hallelujah! At 0-2, Manny pops to Atkins.
Lowell would be a good guy to get things started. Ball one. At 2-0 Mike bangs one off his bunion. It's Alliteration Thursday! At 3-1 Mikey walks. Maybe Drew's awake, and can do something.
JD rips a single to right, the speed merchant Lowell chugs into third, and on a dumb throw to third, Drew takes second. The Captain will score one, if not both of them, count on it.
On the first pitch, Tek flies to Taveras in deep center; Lowell scores, Drew advances to 3rd. That's why he's The Captain!
Ellsbury takes ball one. Jacoby works Jimenez to 3-1. Come on, kid. Ball 4! First and third for Lugo. Which brings Apodaca out to the mound for his first visit of the night.
Lugo didn't hit all year except when runners were in scoring position. He had 73 RBI on a .237 average. Not easy to do, unless your name is Dave Kingman. Strike one. On the second pitch, Lugo just missed a double down the third base line. 0-2. It was foul; good call, Mike Everitt. Ball one, and Ellsbury steals second. WE GOT TACOS! Visit your local Taco Bell on October 30, and demand your World Series Stolen Base Taco! Lugo dives for his life from ball two, 2-2. Ball three, full count. Argh! Roller to Helton. He's never missed one of those in his life.
Nevertheless, Schill's even. 1-1 after 4.
Jimenez, Inning: 21 pitches, only 10 of them strikes; Game: 64 pitches, 35 strikes.
He's now an inning's worth of pitches beyond Schilling. Stay the course, boys. Ugh, that sounds like the Doofus-in-Chief.
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