Here’s the dilemma.
As I see it, the Red Sox have a better than 50 percent chance of winning this thing, with the starters over the next five games (if necessary) mostly favoring the Sox:
- Westbrook
- Byrd
- Beckett
- Carmona/Schilling (advantage Tribe)
- Westbrook
Win three of those five — a .600 winning percentage the Sox have bettered since April 1 — and we’re headed to the World Series.
But baseball doesn’t work that way. The Red Sox scored six runs against a combination of Fausto Carmona and Rafael Perez, arguably the two best pitchers Cleveland could throw at them. Yet they lost. Is losing a game you didn’t expect to win, but losing it by destroying your opponents’ best pitchers, a victory in some sense? I’d say yes. After all, the onus is on the Indians to win with their best two pitchers. Beyond them they haven’t got much.
But the moment we start dismissing Jake Westbrook (who somehow has an ERA one run better at home despite being hit much harder) and Paul Byrd (who was Sabathia-like in sucking yet still getting the win against the Yankees) — that’s the moment they pitch gems. That’s the moment Daisuke Matsuzaka and Tim Wakefield both fail to get out of the fourth in consecutive games, while the bullpen withers under the workload.
I think it’s safe to say this game is a must-win for both sides, and leave it at that.
Comment away!
Red Sox
1. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
2. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Manny Ramirez, LF
5. Mike Lowell, 3B
6. J.D. Drew, RF
7. Jason Varitek, C
8. Coco Crisp, CF
9. Julio Lugo, SS
SP – Daisuke Matsuzaka
Indians
1. Grady Sizemore, CF
2. Asdrubal Cabrera, 2B
3. Travis Hafner, DH
4. Victor Martinez, C
5. Ryan Garko, 1B
6. Jhonny Peralta, SS
7. Kenny Lofton, LF
8. Trot Nixon, RF
9. Casey Blake, 3B
SP – Jake Westbrook
578 comments… add one
Maybe it’s me, but I don’t understand this?
1Westbrook
2Byrd
3Beckett
4Carmona/Schilling (advantage Tribe)
5Westbrook
huh? if the sox are favored, why is there only 1 sox there?
I don’t wish to discuss saturdays game, but, yet again, Gagne blew it. I really hope they don’t resign him.
I’m putting that out of my head because that game is over, i just hope the red sox learn to stop putting him in when games are close/tied.
Good luck to the boys tonight!
I’m listing the pitchers that make me believe the Sox are favored. In three cases, it’s who they’re facing. In one, it’s who they’re pitching. The Carmona/Schilling battle is a question mark because each threw what we have to assume is an anomalous game, thus giving the edge back to the Indians.
The problem with calling this a five-game series is that (obviously) it is really a “first to four wins” series.
So, for example, while it sounds advantageous that the Sox would face Westbrook *twice* in a five-game series, if they don’t take this to seven games, it’s really only once…
Assuming Francona sticks to his plan of pitching Wakefield in Game 4 no matter what, in many ways our season is now in many ways on the shoulders of DiceK, in this sense: We’re almost certain to see Beckett and Schilling each one more time, and to win at least one of their outings — and, in a long series, to see DiceK twice…
Paul: without knowing the matchups, it’s a bit hard to comment, and in any case the sample is so small as to make the matter moot. Beckett’s been so great, and with the dyamic duo of Papi and Manny really rolling, I think Boston’s really the team to beat. On the otherhand, it’s baseball, so…..does anyone know Papelbon’s ERADAGA (Earned Run Average During A Gnat Attack)?
It’s somewhat of a push for me to pick between Matsuzka and Westbrook tonight as a battle of starters, but I’m more inclined to think we’ll see the eminently hittable Westbrook tonight. No surprise to me if both are out by the fifth. Byrd was the very definition of Craptastic (or the definition of Genius/Hump-Getter-Overish, if one agrees with Caray/Brenley) in his outing against New York. I find it impossible to believe he can yet again run around in a downpour and not get wet. Look at his game log to close this season. Look at the box score in game four. I’ll count it as a mild shocker if the Sox don’t pound both these guys and take the first two in Cleveland.
Gerbs, you’re trying to jinx us, right?
Hudson, if I possessed such powers, I hope that I would use them to combat the forces of Evil by snark-blogging congressional/presidential elections. Besides, the animosity I hold towards the Tribe is on par with the animosity I hold towards Boston. Truthfully, it’s leaning a bit more towards Cleveland at _this_ particular moment. In any case, I’m a bitter, small man.
Can we stop blaming Saturday on Gagne? He pitched in the 11th inning of a game that the Sox had five legitimate chances (innings) to score a single run. Gagne was Tito’s third-to-last option, only before Jon Lester (there to eat long innings in a blowout, not to pitch in a tight late-game spot) and Lopez (who is mostly a one or two-batter pitcher). Gagne didn’t pitch well, there’s no excuse-making here, but he gave up two baserunners and got one out. He left a tie game intact for relief pitchers who followed. The seven runs all came after those guys who followed him did nothing to prevent runs. And had they even just limited the damage to a run or two (instead of SEVEN) the Sox would have had something of chance against Borowski, who would have at least had to pitch with the pressure of a man getting on base meaning a tie game could be had via a longball. Gagne was bad, but blaming him for the loss is just plain stupid.
I’m on a bathroom break from a looooong job interview and just realized these nitwits expext me to stay here for another couple hours so I’ll miss part os the game. Down side of the west coast. this is gonna kill me.
Awww, we’re sorry RBF :-(
Goddamnit, there’s Joe Buck’s voice. I was hoping he had a car accident this morning or something.
a must win game indeed… time to shut up those cleveland indian terrible towl knock offs
Joe Buck looks constipated
Hey SF, I AGREE with you about Gagne.
Wonders never cease! :)
Gagne isn’t 100% to blame, but he’s still to blame. He shares about 50% of the blame, Lopez shares 15%, and the offense shares the remaining 35%.
Gagne used to be lights-out. Since coming to Boston he’s a different person.
Damnit Pedroia!
Underway….
Pedroia down already.
Gagne isn’t 100% to blame, but he’s still to blame. He shares about 50% of the blame, Lopez shares 15%, and the offense shares the remaining 35%.
Gagne used to be lights-out. Since coming to Boston he’s a different person.
Damnit Pedroia!
Bah, my bad for the double post. Joe Buck just called Youkilis “A big guy” and it messed up the internet gods.
Youk draws the walk.
The Greek God of Asskicking does what he does best! Man on first for Ortizzle.
Pedroia, under .200 as a lead off hitter… gulp
Ortizzle hits into the DP. Garko somehow stays on the bag.
damn it, bad luck there
Wow, Ortiz hits a great shot into the gap but they pull the double play… even though the first baseman was [maybe] pulled off the bag.
Oh well, time for Daisuke to show everyone that he’s wearing the extra-large cup tonight.
stupid shift, way too easy of an inning for westbrook… ok Dice K, no walks this inning!!!!
Asdrubal was lucky that ball hit the lip of the grass and bounced up. Papi got unlucky there, that ball was smoked.
definitely was smoked, oh well, we’ll get him next inning
tight zone tonight, gotta deal with it Dice K
HOLY SHIT Lugo with the webgem to rob Sizemore of a hit.
what an awesome defensive play
Great play by Lugo.
“Pedroia, under .200 as a lead off hitter… gulp”
How do you figure? This season in 122 AB, .328 /.393/.492.
If you’re just talking about the playoffs, SSS, and he’s getting on at .333, which is more important for a leadoff hitter than avg.
Dice with the K. Pronk up.
Strikes out Cabrera.
you’re right zulu, that just jumped off at me that’s all, i thought he was hitting around .270 for some reason
Yeah Zulu, but .333 isn’t that good of an OBP for a lead-off hitter.
Is Questec turned off for the postseason?
Dice K be lookin sharp!!!!!
Daisuke K’s Pronkey!
Time for some Mannycenter–all Manny, all the time.
Hafner down looking.
Dice looked pretty good that inning. Don’t recall seeing any pitch looking terribly flat or hanging. One of the better 1st innings I have seen him throw in quite some time.
Agreed, Rob. He looks very sharp. Was painting the corner perfectly.
Geez, Manny was swinging for Lake Eerie on that first pitch.
i concur, lots of movement on the ball, if he keeps that movement on the fastball he should fare well, how funny would it be if westbrook and dice-k gave us the pitcher’s duel we’ve been hearing about for the last week! Almost as funny as if Byrd vs. Wakefield was a duel
Ed, don’t jinx it!
Manny’s swinging for the yard, yikes
Would be interesting Ed.
no jinxes, and another walk for Jake
Manny draws another walk.
it would be baseball! here we go Iron Mike
Manny gets himself a walk. I can see the flies already buzzing around a few heads.
Time for Mike “RBI-factory” Lowell to show us why we should resign him.
Lowell with a grounder back up the middle. Manny holds at 2nd.
Lowell singles through the middle with a wormburner. 2 men on, no outs for Drew, who is hitting .286 in this series. Not bad, all things considered.
Come on JD!
talk about luck, just as easily could’ve been a double play! Baseball is truly a fickle game!!!! Here we come, JD Redemption on its way
Oh it’s a fickle fickle game!!!!!!!
SWEET! Drew’s ground-out would have moved the runners over, but instead he gets on base.
Wow. Drew grounds one to Garko and the ball hits the heel of glove and gets away. Drew probably would have been out, but would have advanced the runners.
Tek…
Varitek up. Anything but a DP please.
at bat: “death with the bases loaded”
come on!!!!!!!!!
Tek with a fly out to shallow left field that does not drive in Manny.
Tek flies out, Manny doesn’t tag. Bases juiced with 1 out for Coco, who is hot this post season.
Coco is overdue for an RBI in this series.
fuckin Tek… we need to capitalize on use… and McCarver rubs it in (Yankee fan at heart indeed)
Anything but a DP please.
Well, there you go.
So, does Coco bunt here?
Tek: useless. Fucking useless.
let’s do this Coco!
look for the fast ball right here
You gotta be kidding me, talk about giving them the momentum right back
ZOMBIE-JESUS-GODDAMNIT
COME ON.
Thanks Coco. Westbrook looking like a DP machine getting out of the inning. This could be a long night if the Sox keep this shit up.
Come on Daisuke, we need a 1-2-3 inning here to make sure the crowd doesn’t get into this.
Glad I wasn’t watching that live.
Everyone remember that vile performance later in the game when they want to blame Tito or the bullpen for screwing up.
Honestly, can Varitek just go the fuck away? He’s garbage at the plate. Bat him tenth, for fuck’s sake. He’s Coco and Lugo without the speed.
Be glad Devine. Made my stomach roll.
If we are going to load the bases with nobody out against Jake fucking Westbrook and not score, you know what? We deserve to lose.
Tek’s “mastery behind the plate” will always save him, but he really should be batting ninth
SF, we’ll get him next inning, as putrid as that just was!!!!
I agree SF. The bats have to start knocking in runs or we are going to be in a shit sandwhich later.
That last half-inning was a perfect reiteration of why I was so down on the team for a deep playoff run during the regular season.
Stupid Garko.
no attempt to catch that Dice K?
Gark with a liner back up the middle. Dice with a half effort to try and get it.
Dice officially hangs his first pitch of the night.
DICE K: THROW MORE OFF SPEED PITCHES
One can complain about Dane Cook, Sox fans, but one thing I never see in Fenway? Face paint. Thank God.
those off speed pitches are looking great
I am already insanely surly because of this game. I guarantee those aren’t the last three batters that Tek will leave on tonight.
He’s been my #1 candidate for offseason hatred for about three months now, and he’s not doing anything to help his cause.
Buck: “You’re right, I’ll be ok” What an idiot
Peralta strikes out looking.
Wow, that pitch was right down the middle and the ump almost called it a ball.
Sox fans are too hardcore for facepaint.
SF you’re going to bring all of my supressed rage out against v-tek!!!!
Kenny no power lofton you gotta be shitting me
Kenny Lofton just hit a homer. I quit.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
Wow. The sad thing was that that wasn’t a half-bad pitch.
Yeah, he killed us too. Unbelievable.
Curtain call for the second inning jack. Classy.
FUCK!!!!
Oh wait, it WAS a bad pitch. Tek was set up way outside.
Wow. The sad thing was that that wasn’t a half-bad pitch.
That was a nothing pitch, a fat fastball.
Man, I hate Lofton…
screw these fans, we’re going to eat westbrook for dinner next inning
Lofton nails it to right center. Dice hangs one there.
Btw, Drew with a pretty decent effort there to try and grab it. I don’t rememeber seeing Drew jump that high before.
And the bases loaded, no runs driven in is already hainting us.
Hitting a homerun in the postseason warrants a curtain call. Regular season? No.
you got it Rob, just deplorable
Due to the fact that my blood pressure is already too high, I am cutting out for a brief dinner.
Another sweet snag by Lugo.
That’s the thing I hate about squandering potential scoring situations… not only do we not get the runs, but it always seems like the other team comes right back and gets a couple. Every damn time.
I hate the bottom of our order.
we HAVE to answer back RIGHT NOW… COME ON SOX
That was a nothing pitch, a fat fastball.
Yeah, at first glance it looked like it was pretty far down and in. My mistake.
Lugo with another webgem to end the inning. 2-0, Indians, with Lugo leading off.
SF, I hear whiskey has a natural soothing agent in it.
Someone tell Josh Beckett he should be doing his best “Game Four domination” visualization thing.
i’m really just shocked Lofton hit a homerun there, how many does that clown have on the season?
ok, I just went outside and screamed, we have eight innings to kick some ass, let’s do it
whoops, seven innings
Can we DH for Tek?
Lofton had 7 HRs
Lugo grounds out.
Technically no SF, however if we do go into a softball league we could EH him.
Way to be patient, rook. Gah.
And none of KL’s HR’s were with Texas. None with Cleveland.
Way to answer back, Julio, Dustin!
Or not. Man, I am so fucking angry right now. That second inning was everything I feared about the Sox’ regular season emerging in the playoffs. AWFUL.
7… ugggh… let’s just give him a 1-2-3 inning guys
Pedroia grounds out on the 1st pitch.
so much for coming right back
scuse me, all w/ Texas.
Bah, 1-2-3 inning. And the worst part? Ortiz has to lead-off next inning.
Youk flies out to right.
Inning over, beautiful response to the Indians offensive showing.
Nice, like six pitches, three outs, and nothing. We have now sucked for nine straight innings.
Hey guys – finally here; good luck to the Sox – least it seems there isn’t any major bleeding (no horror inning) – more than enough time for you guys to take control.
Well looks like it is time to start hitting the Jameson’s.
nice job sox coming right back to score
No, the worst part is that he only threw like four pitches to get all three outs.
This is one of those games where anything not nailed down in my apartment is in danger of being destroyed. Check that: everything (but the kids and wife) are in danger of being destroyed, even the shit nailed down.
Bah, just saw this article:
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071015&content_id=2267227&vkey=ps2007news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
I doubt they’ll throw Beckett out for Game 4 now.
Come on Daisuke, we need you to not make mistakes like that again. You’re looking very sharp, minus that one pitch.
Rob SF – Don’t be like me man (scotch only seems like your friend; then it becomes an angry ex the next morning!) lol.
bases loaded, no outs… no freakin excuse… Dice K is looking good here, keep us in the game grasshopper
I heard his breaking stuff is what needed to be on (seems to be working) – it was just a fastball mistake wasn’t it?
I know, he’s looking very sharp right now, despite this TIGHT strike zone
Maybe tomorrow we’ll see a little Jacoby. Put him at leadoff, sit Coco perhaps, move Dustin down to #9. Something to shake this up, please. Pedroia looks lost right now, swinging at first pitches way too often.
Seems to be on this inning (good pitches)
nice job clayton! You screwed us!!!!
Ahhh fox – you can somehow find a way to make everything in baseball seem stupid.
Scotch has taken a few years off my life a few times.
I way the odds, years lost due to Jameson or the way the Sox are plating right now stealing years from me.
it was just a fastball mistake wasn’t it?
Yep. A brutal mistake.
way = weigh.
Rob SF – I took at least a year off with my scotch after the Yankees lost – so again don’t be like me.
Pedroia definitely swinging at every freakin pitch, we have to reward Dice-K here, this is a very strong start aside from that one mistake
Yeah, Pedroia is a horrible lead-off hitter right now. Too much pressure on himself, most likely.
I would definately start Jacoby tomorrow. With Wake pitching we may need to generate runs the old fashioned way and he has the speed to make an impact.
When they show a closeup of Tek I expect to see burnt edges, maybe a few sesame seeds or oats on his skin.
He’s so fucking toast. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.
LOL Rob.
How is his pitch count? He seems to be getting close/going full a lot.
I know generally his pitch count never seemed to matter earlier in the season – but have the Sox grown more concerned with pitch count as the season has progressed?
good pitch, good swing
Bah, Cabrera golfs a very good breaking-ball pitch into center field.
Rob, wasn’t the drinking game that night a result of Byrd? For every mention of crafty or veteran, there was a requirement to drink?
My wife just walked in the room and made the comment about Dice K; “there’s our money man.”
i don’t think he’s thrown many pitches…
Dice at 49 pitches.
Daisuke is at 50 pitches right now. Westbrook is at 35.
He’s at 49 pitches… but he seems okay with a higher pitch count (120 is his upper limit, I think).
God, a two-out single, now Hafner up and a 2-0 count.
How many errors have Buck and McCarver made already??? My god
YES, Hafner called swing by the home-plate ump. 2-1, still a dangerous count.
Ahh ok – well all the same not a terrible pitch count at 50 – and again he has such a high ceiling.
Rob SF – lets just hope your money man doesn’t make you poney up money for aspirin at the pharmacy tomorrow lol.
gotta pound the zone with the off speed
Jackie, I read an article earlier this week that said his pitch-count ceiling is 140, assuming he’s not pitching horribly.
Daisuke walks Hafner. Not a bad idea on a 3-1 count.
Walks Hafner. VMart up..help me Ricky Bobby.
Just wondering – any Yankees fans in here or is it just me?
Don’t mind – actually kind of nice to just watch a game semi-dispassionately.
“Crafty” drinker here. I keep Motrin and Goodies in stock.
It’s amazing – I watched the first nine innings of Saturday’s game and felt almost no frustration, even in the loss, despite the bats going dead and the seven run thing. But tonight I am completely seething already, and it’s Jake Westbrook on the hill and, for the moment, only two runs.
That second inning bases-loaded-no-runs thing has me completely annoyed, it just seemed so damn predictable with Tek coming up. It’s already soured me on this team, which I know is totally irrational.
man what a zone tonight, this ump better be consistent
WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THAT PITCH?!
This is definately a tight strike zone tonight.
gotta pound the zone with the off speed
Ed, he needs to get ahead in the count with his fastballs first, or the offspeed stuff looks like batting practice.
And wow, this ump sucks.
GO OFF SPEED
SF – happens to the best of us – that “what have you done for us lately” isn’t just confined to the owners/GMs
Especially easy when you ponder how much these guys are getting paid.
he was ahead though!!!
Daisuke behind in the count to Martinez, who will be swinging for the fences here. Crap.
Sure, the ump should be consistent, but the Sox aren’t letting any pitches get to the catcher, so he doesn’t have to call balls and strikes when they are up.
Meanwhile, Daisuke is falling apart again.
yeah, Gameday shows that second pitch right down the fucking middle. Ridiculous. And a bit discouraging given Matsuzaka’s history of getting rattled by bad calls.
He can’t seem to find his “strikeout pitch” every time he goes to something offspeed he tends to overshoot (to the side, up, low). That’s a dangerous sign.
Throw a strike has been lost in translation the last few batters.
He does swing for the fences, but misses. Thankfully. Full count.
Dice with a nasty breaking pitch to strike out VMart.
Thank god.
YES! YES! YES!
Daisuke showing that he has balls the size of cantelopes.
FUCK YEAH!!!! Other than that fastball to lofton he’s looking good. Time for the real Westbrook to show up
Time for Ortiz and Manny to counterattack. This inning will be a huge test for Westbrook, who has only thrown 35 pitches.
Next year the key to Matsuzaka improving, at least for me, is his missing “better”. Watching him this season it seems like his biggest problem (even with the 200+ Ks) is that his “waste” pitches aren’t close, so they don’t create enough uneasiness in his payoff pitches.
This is clearly related to his control (either that or it is a fear of making a mistake when ahead in the count), and if Daisuke can just improve that part of his game I think he’s going to be a much better pitcher. If he can improve anything else he’s going to be scary good. Without that “good miss” ability, he’s already pretty decent.
Dice showing his value there. Yanks couldn’t get through Martinez. Brilliant pitching to get him down.
The worst thing that can happen is a 1-2-3 inning – especially if your pitcher is struggling.
But with the meat of your order up I figure you’ll hit him around some.
Even if you don’t score as long as you don’t start a momentum of “Dice-K gets hit around and Westbrook strikes us out” – you’ll be good.
Papi with a leadoff double.
nice start here!!!!
YES! Ortiz answers with a double off the wall.
Way to be, Papi!
SF – I don’t know I always found Dice-K overrated – I felt the Sox offense saved him a lot more than he saved them.
Yes he has 4 Ks – but all the same he’s dangerously close to letting the inning fall apart.
Maybe it’s the team I root for (so want him to do poorly) – but I haven’t thought he’s been worth the $$ or the hype…Yet (figure he’s going to meet that bar next year after getting accustomed to the USA)
I’m confused Rob, please clarify?
PS – Good job Ortiz (just what you needed)
This ump sucks. Manny should be gone.
definitely strike 3
This zone is super tight tonight.
hey, he’s been squeezing us as well, as long as he’s consistently shitty i’m fine with it
Ortiz, what are you thinking?????????
Dodgeball!
Wow. I don’t know what to say. This is truly the regular season Sox: no clutch hitting, bad baserunning.
Ortiz hit with the ground ball.
Can we have anything else go wrong?
Ortiz is gonna be singing Soprano tonight…
I should say, the worst part of the regular season Sox: the regular season Sox were damn good.
one swing of the bat changes this very quickly
Ed – Sorry just think he’s been pitched (har har) as some god-send to pitching, when I think he hasn’t been as good as the hype has made him out to be.
Maybe my beef is more with the hype than his performance. But whenever I’ve watched I’ve always felt he’s always teetering on this line between success and failure. Like he’s only one pitch away from becoming rattled and letting an inning get away from him.
And often he allowed enough runs (in one of his crazy innings) to lose a game if he had a regular offense – but with the power of the Sox he was able to eak out more wins than his pitching had earned.
Sorry – I’ll shut up (since this is a game-post)
Lowell just misses a 2 run jack.
oh baby…
Heh – again Lowell was forced on the Sox.
Un-be-liev-able.
Can we have anything else go wrong?
Papi or Manny could get hurt, a liner could careen into the dugout nailing Beckett, Lowell could hit a ball that looks like a homer but goes foul…
point taken Rob…
SF – shhh – if any of that happens I think you’ll have people with torches at your door.
Rob, I called him “pretty decent”. If you want to start a big argument about Dice, whether he was worth it, can you wait til the offseason, or tomorrow, or another thread?
hit and run with manny… interesante
Foul ball homer, then weak tapper to third. Mighty predictable. Now Drew can tap to second.
Or look at strike 3.
Wait, I know: Manny can get thrown out at home for the third out! That’s another thing that could happen that would make us all curse!
fooled out of his drawers
SF – once I was done said I’d shut up – just wanted to reply to Ed.
wow that’s a great ratio of first pitch strikes (14 of 15)
Drew with another grondout.
Or Cleveland can make a good defensive play…
Again, if we lose to Jake Westbrook in this series (or Byrd), we’ll deserve just what the Yankees got, and the Indians will deserve to go to the Series.
why is this game so freaking frusturating?
And JD sets the postseason record for weak ground balls to the right side. Absolute garbage.
we’re only down two runs for christsakes
Ten innings without a run. I am running ou of words for “pathetic”.
Always hate the commercials – you’ll get all hyped up during the game and then have to freak out for 3-4 minutes before the game comes back on.
Especially when you’re behind – I remembered not knowing what to do when I wanted to race through an inning to get my team back up to bat.
This team has gone ten innings without a run against Indians pitchers not named “Sabathia” or “Carmona”. How can that possibly be?!
SF, if we lose to Westbrook and Byrd we deserve the yankees fate, if we lose to one or the other, I don’t think it’s so bad
What do you do when you know your commentators don’t know baseball and are in fact complete idiots?
Give them idiotic facts to recite to at least keep them from saying anything else (ND reference)
Everyone can go away until the sixth inning: Tek, Crisp, Lugo up next half. Hopefully Daisuke can hold the line until then.
What do you do when you know your commentators don’t know baseball and are in fact complete idiots?
Don’t turn the sound on, at all. I have been watching in silence and it’s actually not bad.
Hey McCarver, thanks for telling us all how to spell “Gyro”. Idiot.
did McCarver just spell out Gyro? God I hate these guys
I’m glad we jump on the same stuff Atheose, haha
Daisuke with a great K.
nasty pitch, can our offense please knock a run or two in!?!?!
Anyone think Jacoby would have got to Lofton’s HR if he was in right?
I am going to try something different:
Blue skies. Puffy clouds. Beer. Bunny rabbits. Juicy cheeseburgers. Runs for the Sox.
The power of positive thinking. It just hit me. Come on, SOX!!! WE CAN DO IT!! WE’RE BETTER THAN THEM!!! Let’s GO!!!!
I like that SF! Two runs aint nothing!!!! Here we come boys!!!
Nice inning, Dice. Let’s go, offense!!!!
Good inning by Dice-K – hopefully that (plus getting to Westbrook a bit last inning) will make the Sox realize they’re having problems with WESTBROOK.
Which will piss them off enough to go on a hitting tear.
YAAAAAAAAY!!!!
no, to quote Major League, Drew “needs a rocket up his ass to catch that one.” Drew played it well and he hustled as best he could, all he could have possibly done better was perhaps try to cleat up the wall a la andruw jones (seen him do it before), but I don’t think he had time
I FEEL SO HAPPY!!!!
Just tried this on a language translator, seeing what Dice might be saying as he reaches the dugout:
Results for ‘Come on, it’s JAKE WESTBROOK. Are you kidding me?’
English to Japanese:
Come on, it\’s JAKE WESTBROOK. Are you kidding me\?
Nothing found
Come on, Tekky! YOU CAN DO IT!!!!
Two runs? Shoot, Manny and Ortiz will both have that many RBI’s before the night is over.
Daisuke is pitching like an Ace, minus that one pitch to Kelly Lofton.
Ed – remember what I told you about the scotch?? lol.
“Westbrook could not be pitching any better” Well he could be pitching a no hitter, or have no walks… or not loaded the bases with no outs…
Am I crazy or did fox just come back from commercial with a montage set to lcd soundsystem’s daftpunk is playing in my house? if so, um, i now love fox.
Dah – I thought Tek would’ve had that (at least looks like they’re getting wood on the ball)
Wow, could this ump suck any more? Tek just got a pitch called a strike that was maybe a FOOT off the plate, worse than the prior pitch in a similar spot called a ball.
And now the dribbler. RETIRE, JASON.
So much for the PoPT.
vtek, trying his best to bring out the hatred
Ok, Tito: it’s Jacoby time.
One… two…
When a sinker-pitcher is on – he’s on. (I still have nightmares of Lowe pitching that Game 4)
Is this going to be another six pitch inning?
On the bright side, at least they’re not doing anything different with the bases empty.
THREE
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand the ugliness continues.
SF – Might have been 8?
Ok, so that “power of positive thinking” thing was a miserable failure. Back to being a misanthrope.
What patience! I hate this game.
Eleven innings without a run. Eleven innings with FOUR guys in scoring position, one who was eliminated by a batted ball, two who were stranded on a popup and a double play, the other left by Youk in the ninth on Saturday. Not going to cut it, against any team, much less a really good squad like the Tribe.
I’m not sure if his sinker is on or whether we just blow right now… we have some solid hits and solid contact… man oh man
The ONLY good thing that comes out of a possible loss tonight is that we are only down one game, and it’s not even an elimination game. I have to keep reminding myself this.
And then I remember that Wake is starting tomorrow. And everything falls apart for me.
We’re going to win tonight. I can feel it. Either that or a zipper on our couch cushion is digging into my left asscheek.
Who do you put Jacoby in for? The only guy I think should absolutely be out is Vtek…
Shouldn’t all you Sox fans call the Indians fans losers for stopping their sell-out streak? lol.
Ok, who are the assholes having a glass of white wine at a tableclothed two-top INSIDE the Jake? Those people should be mocked, and then maimed.
I would consider subbing Ellsbury for Drew.
GREAT pitch from Dice there for the K. Nas-tee.
I hope Wake has a big game in him, though I’m not giving up on this yet, perhaps we take the win against Borowski crushing their momentum???
I’d sub Ellsbury for Coco.
SF – Probably should have the same thing happen to them as Ben Affleck et al who somehow “need” a TV in front of their seat that’s in the first row. (correct me if I’m wrong but I swore I saw that)
Dice-K seems more on – might have finally settled in
one mistake buck, really just the one
Have we all as baseball fans ever really needed/wanted to know the information they put in a player profile? Even if they are your team?
nice stop varitek, all on your shoulders
Come on, Tek, hold that pitch. Not a good pitch, but jeez, if you aren’t going to hit worth shit at least field your position.
RETIRE ALREADY.
walking grady wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world… I guess…
How many more years do we have tek for?
NICE pitch to Sizmore (was it really the Gyro – since our commentators said it was I instinctively doubt it)
double play…
Daisuke hasn’t pitched badly, but he hasn’t been consistently good either – way too many 3-1, 3-2 counts.
this ump gives the pitchers jack shit on the inside
That wasn’t a strike??!?
fuck you Vtek, leave him to his own
Dice at 94 pitches.
This strike zone is shit. Why have we not seen the Questec results?
maybe they know how ridiculous the zone is?
This ump might suck but at least he’s fair – I assure you he’s pissed off two cities tonight.
But all the same – ugh – his strike zone is awful.
Ok, this game is getting much closer to being over…
Dice with another half-hearted fielding attempt.
I give up.
that was actually a good pitch… shiiiiiiiit, sizemore at third now
man this ump blows
Starting pitching, starting pitching. Sox’ starters games two/three: 9 innings, 9 runs.
That was incredible defense – I want to see a replay.
Hafner with every right to bitch about that call.
Pedroia with a hell of an attempt there.
Good call by the first base ump, sadly. 4-0.
nice play by pedroia, look like the ump got it right… why don’t you get yourself ejected Francona?
::clapping for Pedroia::
none of this matters because the sox HAVE NOT SCORED A SINGLE RUN
Martinez is just swinging for the fences to be a hero – should be a strike out
that’s just ridiculous, transcends luck
Time for the hook, Terry.
Bottomline, Dice K pitched much better than schilling, and should not be lifted here, big mistake
Jeez, what can you do. Dice makes a bad/good pitch to Martinez who flares it to left for a hit. Oh well. Tito out to get Matsuzaka.
Won’t matter if the Sox score no runs, though.
Daisuke out. The Indians chased him little bloopers and bleeders. I’m pissed off.
Hopefully Westbrook’s arm is getting cold right now.
this means wake must go deep into the game tommorow (oh christ)
Tough to get on Daisuke there, really. He made good pitches, and the Tribe got some improbably singles.
Ed – Think Dice-K should’ve been left to finish the inning? Into the 6th?
improbable rather.
he pitched better than Schilling, hands down, this loss, if we do lose, lies on the offense, whole different ballgame if we capitalized on that bases loaded no out situation
If Timlin does 2.1 innings (finish this inning, pitch the 6th and 7th) then we can use one more pitcher for the 8th (if we’re losing) and not pitch the 9th. I guess we won’t be too worn out.
So who is the inning soaker in case this game gets away from you? Timlin?
absolutely, I would let him finish the inning, he looked good to me, just was unlucky there, then again Garko was 1 for 2 on him, I don’t know anymore
Timlin looks like shit right now…
Lester should be the inning sponge.
now he’s found it
I can understand anything on the field McCarver (even check swings); I can’t understand YOU
Wide plate on the 2-1.
Lester’s the innings sponge for tommorow (unless Wakefield shows up and pitches deeeeeeeeep)
Garko suckered on a slider.
What a surprise – Cleveland Rocks (wow Fox the surprises keeeeeeeeep on coming)
ok, we don’t score this inning we’re in deep… come on guys
Yeah, Lester is the mop-up for tomorrow. Timlin coming in now shows that we’re saving Lester for Wakefield tomorrow.
why can’t fox at least find a decent version of Cleveland rocks? they’ve somehow mangaed to find a horrible rendition
RALLY TIME!!!!!
Which I think is the right move Atheose. Maybe Wake will surprise us all and mow down this team… the indians definitely have shown vulnerability for offspeed stuff, which I think a knuckleball consists of
I feel like the real Red Sox are still wandering around the basement of Shank Hall looking for the stage. Where have they gone!?
Pedroia has just been brutal this postseason. Tito should drop him, lead off Drew or something. I know that’s no great shakes either, but Pedroia looks toasty at the plate.
Ed – Good point – I don’t think Wake is as big a worry as you guys think. As a Yankees fan I always dreaded facing him. Even more than your power-arms.
Pedroia, not looking comfortable
NO WAY! A HIT!!! A HIT!!! A HIT!!!!!!
here comes the boom
Youk gets a base hit. Thank you jesus, someone is on base ahead of Ortiz/Manny.
Come on guys, let’s hit him hard here.
I was thinking it was a potential rally time – hinged on Youk (if he got on I thought something good would be coming).
As a Yankees fan I always dreaded facing him. Even more than your power-arms.
Why? Wake has been about the worst starter the Sox have had against the Yankees for nearly three seasons now. Your fear is totally misplaced.
Who is the guy in drag next to Shapiro?
Tizzle just missed a meatbizzle.
“I’m very surprised that the 3-0 hit sign was on for David Ortiz”
McCarver, you idiot. David Ortiz always has the green light.
At last Borowski is explained! (represented by the GMs dad)
Haha, SF you made my night just a bit more tolerable, Manny time
Ok, Tiz free pass. Manny, hit one hard and shut up the bitter Clevelanders, now.
good call Rob, how unbelievable is that???? No conflict of interest my ass
I’m sensing HR and Sox back in it.
Keep nibbling, Jake. Walk Manny. Do it. You know you want to. Lowell will make you pay.
I think. Or hit into a double play, or pop up, or whiff…
everyone except 3-5: one hit
Wow this umpire sucks. Lucky for us.
green light?
One more ball and the game could be tied with one swing. Can’t ask for much more than that as an opportunity, right?
Wow – this ump….
I’m just waiting for a sniper to take him out.
Wha? Wha? THAT was a strike??!?!
Wow, make-up call there.
HA! BLATANT BALL, this umpire sucks ass
Can’t figure out this ump’s zone.
WHAT IS THIS UMP SMOKING? Who is this guy? He’s truly terrible, both ways. Worst I have seen almost all year, and he’s umping the ALCS?
That was not a strike. This ump sucks.
that was his pitch right there boy…
Manny pissed at himself for chasing that 3-1 sinker.
westbrook’s living dangerously here
missing rather, not chasing.
Wow – way to not only not get a hit but loaf your butt down the base line Manny.
Sigh. Manny GIDP.
Fuck this ump. That should have been bases plugged, instead the inning is over. Really, that’s terrible.
Manny hitting into a DP is just as bad, though.
This game is history, and so am I…sack time.
could be game right there, the irony is Sox is praying to God the sox win this or their precious ratings take a nose dive
“Sox” should say “Fox”
Now I’m concerned.
If the Sox were to lose this game, I’d have to hang it around the necks of Tek and Coco, who left three runners stranded with no outs in the 2nd… That was crucial to the game so far.
Instead of playing with a lead, and with Westbrook shaken, the Sox have helped this guy look like an ace that he is not.
and Manny did indeed loaf
funny….i wasn’t gonna drink tonite.
Just what everyone needs to recover from a bad inning – Dane Cook’s innane ass.
Just makes you want to vomit more when your team isn’t doing well.
Oof, not looking good. Almost time to root for the Rockies.
So off on Matsuzaka’s effectiveness tonight. My bad.
(Manny should be his own ump. His eye is better than theirs. If he doesn’t swing, it’s not a strike.)
It’s weird he didn’t hustle there.. last game in the top of one, he was seriously on his horse on the DP ball, which he hit exactly the same way.
Couldn’t agree more Hudson, it’s all on Tek and Coco, it didn’t help that Manny just GIDP either
innane = inane
Still trying to figure out how the umpire called that 3-0 pitch a strike. It’s one thing to give the borderline, outside the black area to a pitcher, it’s entirely another thing to call a ball that is a clear 12 inches, maybe more, off the plate a ball. That was game-altering, there.
Manny didn’t help himself after the bad call, for sure, but this umpire has been dreadful all night, and I wouldn’t be too disappointed to see Tito bust a nut on this guy, let some spit spray right through his facemask while “arguing”.
attack – his general sense of it being his decision to do something hard or not is what has always frustrated me with him as a baseball fan. I just look at his talent and go “man if he went full speed all the time – dear God!”
of course Manny had ball four
hudson- your words from earlier today are ringing more true 7 hours later….
Could someone club me over the head or slip a mickey…
I haven’t given up yet, but that last DP really took my wind. If they lose today, I’ll try not to be too upset.
Reserving that for if they lose tomorrow.
Paul Byrd looks like Dwight Schrute.
SF: I agree with you on the inconsistency. I haven’t been able to figure out what’s a strike with this guy all night. One moment he’s squeezing, the next he’s generous. That’s the worst.
Praying for the rain-out tomorrow…
Timlin doing a nice job so far.
Imagine if tommorow is rained out, BAD news for the Indians
Well, we’ve got to wait until the ninth inning to score any runs, so this game is complete history. 5-6-7-8-9 in the seventh and eighth. This game is, on paper, over.
I think at this point the batters know just not to trust anything with this ump and just zero in on a pitch to hit.
Well done, Timmah.
Good job by Timlin – he’s doing a great job at stopping the bleeding.
This game has done everything but play out as it should on paper, so maybe we have a pleasant surprise coming up here
Timlin’s keeping us in it, if we score even one run in the seventh it’s a very different ballgame, we need to score a run here
Ed – good point – if you’re the Indians you at least wanted a long half of the inning there.
Keep it positive guys – your team is far from out.
Lowell first pitch popup. Say good night, Gracie.
Drew gets a hit!
Drew with a single, which most Red Sox fans will forget, then blame him for everything later on, even though JD doesn’t pitch.
Hmm wonder when they pull Westbrook – they have arms warming up, but he started the inning off well.
Drew’s putting together a decent game here, here comes the natural
Toast owes us a home run here. Seriously.
OK, Tek, make me believe again. Because if you don’t, I am sending my Mom over to your house (just a few blocks away, actually), with brown bags dipped in gasoline and full of dog poo.
thanks Rob, tommorow, if we play with the inclement weather, will however indeed be a must win, I REALLY don’t want to deal with a 3-1 hole… we’ll see what happens
Vtek is disgusted with himself, as he should be
Ed – least I can do to try and give you guys some positive vibes (you’re as they say “good people”)
And can I say if Tek wants to show his anger at doing poorly – can he just swing at the ump with his bat? Just one strike on the head – who’s with me?
YES!
OH MY FREAKING GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TEK DID IT!
ALL (or most) IS FORGIVEN!
Yes!!
The fear of flaming bags of dog doody scare Tek into resurgence!!!
Toast strikes back!
toasty.
Told ya! (inner Yankee: @#$(*&@#$)
OK, here we go.
Rob, you’re one of the “good ones” too, Let’s do this boys!
Hrm – surprised they don’t bring in relief but I guess it would be harsh to pull Westbrook for just one bad pitch.
this umpire is just really really horrible
Is Drew Carey the home plate umpire tonight?
Come on, Coco, you should know better than to walk to first when the pitch is only nine inches off the plate…
Another horrible call which would have been ball 4.
Coco at least making Westbrook work hard for the end of his night.
Coco battling here, but unfortunately he just fought off a total meatball right down the middle.
And Coco strikes out. Thanks, ump.
Bah, JLug whiffs.
I’d rather see Timlin come back for at least a couple batters than to go straight to Lopez…
Sit down, Coco, and stay sat down for the entire next game. Ellsbury time.
Coco momentum killer Crisp
Look at the bright side – if it goes to the 9th Borowski is forced to come in.
Lugo looks unbelievably lost
What’s with these stupid towels? Do people realize they look like total buffoons waving them?
a blown save would be so sweet
(Sorry, that was CCri whiffing.)
Holy crap, Margaret Thatcher in the house!
Lugo gets an infield single, after getting behind 0-2.
This game ain’t over, folks.
Nice Hustle!!!!!
Tying run at the plate in the form of the Dustin PeVOIDa, who has been lost at the dish. Now would be a good time for a patented Dusty double, which might score Lugo.
Julio beats out an infield single.
Westbrook done.
Margaret Thatcher in the house? Like, seriously? Former Prime Minister?
Or is this some joke I’m missing?
He deserves the applause – one heck of a pitching game.
Wedge goes to the bullpen. Interesting since Lugo really didn’t do anything there, and Westbrook has totally handled Dustin. Why not give him one last batter?
I love Pedroia, but I would consider pinch hitting Jacoby, but that would really be unfair to Dustin… he’s due isn’t he???
Can Ellsbury PLEASE sub for Coco? Please?
Margaret Thatcher in the house? Like, seriously? Former Prime Minister?
No, Fox showed some old bat that looked just like Thatcher.
SF, let’s hope Wedge finally makes a decision which haunts him!
Cleveland is bringing in a pitcher named after a store that sells cheap futons.
HA!!! that really does look like her, what was her knickname again?
Jensen Lewis looks like and has a name just like many guys at college who I detested.
come on Dustin!!!!
Hudson, that store is much more than cheap futons!
Dusty quickly behind. What a terrible postseason for the kid. Hopefully just “first-time” nerves.
Dustin – Good eyes – ignore the reality of where the ball is and guess where the Ump THINKS it’ll be.
Doing a good job making this other rookie work – if nothing else making the Indians continue to worry.
Pedroia Ks after fouling off a bunch of balls out of the zone.
That was a sick pitch – can’t blame Pedroia for getting out on that.
Rookie jitters indeed
I’m not buying it, Pedroia’s had a bad post season
This is why Tito gave Pedroia all those inexplicable days off during the season, so he’d be fresh for the playoffs.
He’s wearing one set of the team’s goat’s horns, along with Curt and Dice right now.
mostly Curt and Pedroia, Dice is a distant third right now
Pedroia did put together a good at bat there though, it was indeed a good at bat
Any bets that Tito plays Cora tomorrow and sits Dustin, but doesn’t sub Ells for Coco? So we get the lesser of the second basemen, and possibly the lesser hitter of the center fielders. Any takers?
Tito sending Okajima out there, I guess he thinks we can still win this one.
Come on Oki, we need a 1-2-3 inning.
Oh lord….
no, no cora tommorow, no freakin way
Why do Indians fans think “Midge Masks” will do anything to the Sox? That’s so dumb I can’t even verbalize how dumb it is.
The SOX WEREN’T INVOLVED IN THE MIDGE THING, DUMBASSES!!!!
SF, I’d bet that Tito stands pat with the regulars at both positions.
Beautiful curve by Oki.
I like the Oki move, we have youk, ortiz, manny up next, this is a must inning for us
Come on, Oki, let’s hold them here and deflate the crap out of this stadium in the next inning.
Wicked strong throw by Lugo.
Again with the head movement – McCarver – get a new point to make.
Wait, Oki doesn’t look at the plate when he throws? No WAY!
Someone tell McCarver that we landed on the moon.
Oki gets Sizemore, but it was a long long fly to center.
Makes me appreciate how far Tek hit that HR.
// Someone tell McCarver that we landed on the moon. //
Also, that the Red Sox came back from a 3-0 deficit in the 2004 ALCS. He might have erased that one from his memory.
Tek definitely took it for a ride
Nice, Oki gives the big guys a chance to get us back in this game.
Critical inning – Manny better not loaf it out this time (probably the key to the game coming up)
ok, this is it baby, this is our inning
Borowski is sweating bullets, I wish we were facing him in the 8th, but I feel good vibes all of a sudden
OK, time to tie this muthahfuckah up.
Pardon my french, but if ever there was a time to throw out an MF bomb, this is it. Let’s go SOX!!!!
C’mon, Youks. Work the count on this guy, wear him out for MannyOrtez.
Keep it positive Ed – remember Youk is up (don’t think you could have a better guy up there to start off a critical inning)
McCarver trying to jinx Youks by touting his “ability to foul off strikes.”
Rob, stop with the reverse jinxes, please!!!!!
Sweat just dripping….
The man does like to battle…though you keep swinging to stay alive…and the pitcher start s to play.
who makes a mistake first?
DAMN YOU ROB
It worked. He Ks on 8 pitches on a very low pitch.
But at least he wore Btncrt down.
Youk K’s after a long at bat. Great fight.
Tough pitch there on Youk.
Too bad A-Rod isn’t on our team to lead off this inning
Papi hits a wicked liner but right at Gutierrez.
Ortiz SMOKES a ball but right to the right fielder.
Great fight.
I am sick of “great fights”. I want a few FUCKING HITS.
And Papi laces one to the warning track. Bad luck. This game is OVAH.
How unlucky can you be
Ok geez – Ortiz pops out.
(ok that was what I was writing when he hit the ball – I am totally not at fault)
//But at least he wore Btncrt down.//
First pitch out by Ortiz. 9 pitches into the inning. Good scouting by the Tribe to position the fielder where he was.
Sinking feeling here… C’mon, Manny.
Who pitches the 8th? MDC? Lopez? Oy.
I can’t seem to remember a recent Manny at-bat that didn’t start 0-2.
Just think, in all likelihood tomorrow night we’ll be down by four even faster than tonight.
G’night, everyone. If the Sox are going to come back it’s going to be while I am in a computerless bedroom. Adieu.
Manny flies out.
Pop-up by Manny.
We’re sunk, unless lightning strikes.
MDC time, bases loaded, not a soul was out… well, here’s hoping we can keep the two run deficit going into the ninth with Borowski
::looking around:: is it safe to come out?
At least I was happy to have Fox not play Cleveland Rocks again.
Rob, please comment on how Borowski is a big game pitcher :)
Two-inning appearance by Oki.
We need a rain-out tomorrow more than ever.
why are we burning oki this game? No Oki tommorow i guess…
Borowski sucks.
Triple reverse jinx?
I ain’t saying nothing
So is Oki a 2-inning pitcher? I always thought he was good for just one.
Ok people are already answering my question – I was wondering why Oki was still out (did seem odd)
even if we lose tonight, which seems to be the case, I’m not hitting the panic button. For that to happen we need to lose tommorow night.
^ me
(I don’t know what the point of signing in with TypeKey is, it rarely works.)
Okajima is pitching a 2nd inning? Hmmm.
So tomorrow we’ll have Delcarmen and Papelbon. Not sure who else.
Oki has pitched two on a number of okasions.
Wow, gameday says he swung at the first pitch, and it shows the next pitch as right down the middle. This umpire’s strikezone is ever changing.
It’s moot because Wakefield is going to pitch an 8 inning gem
Was that Gagne warming?!?!
(Oki’s done it three times this year, says Tim McBloviator.)
He walks VMart.
I know he has, Hudson, but it’s rare. I also didn’t expect it tonight, because it almost guarantees that he will be unavailable tomorrow.
And now Oki is being pulled for Delcarmen. Geez.
MDC in.
Haha, wishful thinking Rob? That was MDC… I think!?!
Ed – no really I only saw for a second (and heck I only know your guys from when you play the Yankees – so don’t know what they all look like) and saw a slight beard and wondered if it was him.
maybe Gagne was massaging MDC’s feet?
anybody else notice gagne is not wearing the pullpen pullover everybody else is? man alone.
Glad for you gusEd – be happy I’m wrong (course I assume Gagne was left in his hotel-room today)
well, on the positive side, our relief has done it’s job very admirably tonight
no, gagne is out in the pen… fiddling with sunflower seeds
MDC lookin gooooooooooooooooooooooood
Beautiful job by MDC, two Ks.
To the top of the 9th against Blow-ski.
Nice job in relief – and again you have to face Borowski (not a bad deal)
Delcarmen grabs 2 K’s. Good stuff.
Okay Lowell, Drew and Varitek. Borowski is the worst closer in baseball. Let’s remind everyone of that.
let’s see if Borowski can do his job here… How sweet would it be if we deflated the entire crowd and team right here… come on boys!!!
Someone needs to chloroform Gagne in the elevator and drive him overnight to a remote cabin in Saskatchewan.
This is my commentary on the upcoming inning: ….
happy now? :-P
Gagne is proof that sometimes the best move is to make no move – or at least that those late trade deals are as much miss as hit
Blow-ski.
Blow-ski.
Blow-ski.
“There are no atheists in a game where the Sox are down 2 in the ninth.”
Hudson, that wouldn’t be enough, we need him to come up lame, not just dissappear…
Rally cap time.
LOWELL:
* Ball
* Pop-up
One out.
Lowell pops up weakly. 1 down.
harmless pop up, 2 outs
left
what size is Byrd’s hat?
Nancy…Nancy….Nancy (reverse jinx?)
Hey Fox? Screw you with your late local news notice.
Drew flies out to center. ‘Tek up.
DREW:
* Foul
* Foul
* Ball
* Foul
* Fly-out
Actually wait – it’s Drew – you could slaughter a goat on an altar before his at-bat and it wouldn’t make a difference
If Tek reaches, I want to see Jacoby.
Borowski may get the save tonight, but man his stuff stinks
WHOA, high strike.
Whoever commented on it – those people witting behind the glass with white table-clothes
You were right…they are really kinda silly…
Yup, his stuff does sink, but he’s been getting saves all year. He has some wicked mojo.
Best not to pinch-hit Jacoby for Coco. Too intense for a rookie.
Even if Tek doesn’t hit – he’s making it more likely if tomorrow you’re in the same position the Sox can get a hit off a tired closer.
TEK:
* Ball
* Strike (outside?)
(Cleveland crowd acting as if this were a clinch-the-world-series at bat)
* Ball
* Strike (high?)
* Foul
(C’mon, Tek)
* Ball
(Count full)
* Foul
(Crisp on deck, no JEll)
* Foul
(I feel a K on a high fastball coming on)
* Foul
(Jeepers)
* Pop-up
Game ovah.
Tough game to watch – sorry Sox fans the bats just seemed to freeze up. Hopefully they’ll get them started tomorrow and Wake will pitch well.
That bases-loaded-no-outs squander in the 2nd killed this game.
tribe does it’s job… we win tommorow it’s a whole new series again… lets see what happens
beware the byrd.
“All the little chicks in crimson lips say Cleveland rocks!! Cleveland rocks!!”
Call me a troll, call me whatever you want; that was entertaining
no carlos, beware the knuckle baller… and Carlos, you wrote so artfully about the yankees, how about something for the sox right now, ugly or not
i’ll take a 2-1 deficit in the ALCS to reading articles about who my teams coach will be next season and that my owners sons are taking over! And yes, it was entertaining!!
anyone watching nesn? Francona looks extremely pissed off, in a good way I think… looking forward to tommorow’s game
That was pathetic. :(
I don’t agree Jackie, I saw a lot of positives in that game, Our offense was crap but maybe Tek’s turned a corner and our relief rebounded well from saturday
All comes down to bases loaded nobody out… nobody get too down on the boys, we’re down ONE game and we win tommorow it’s a whole new series with Boston regaining homefield advantage!
Ha, we had more hits than the indians tonight, son of a bitch
has everyone else gone to bed? If so, sleep well and i’ll see you guys tommorow night (I’ll miss the first hour because I have a night class, hopefully i’ll come home to a HUGE sox lead!
Lousy. Just lousy. That second-inning squander by Tek and Crisp was just unbelievable. Ellsbury had better be our starting CF next year. At least he can give us quality, PATIENT at-bats.
Ah, well. Down 2-1 > Down 3-0. I refuse to be pessimistic until we’re looking at three losses.
Do what I do. Blame Lofton.
Holliday just hit a 3-run homer. Looks like the Rockies will be in the World Series.
Took the words out of my keyboard, Atheose. lots of 2 out runs for the rox.
man that sucked. do we want it to rain tomorrow?
Holliday had better get the MVP. The Rockies don’t even get to the one-game playoff against the Padres if not for him down the stretch.
By the way, did TBS purchase any microphones? The crowd sounds silent, despite appearing to go crazy when Holliday hit that homer to dead-center.
Rain would mean Beckett pitches Game 4 on Wednesday, instead of Wake. Right now that doesn’t sound like a bad idea.
Don’t get me wrong–I love me some Wake. But he’s a crapshoot, a coin-flip. I don’t want the only thing between us and a 1-3 deficit to be whether or not a 40+ year-old can summon a pitch that is as fickle as a teenage girl.
Why not throw Becks tonight, then if he doesn’t seem to have it, you pull him early and insert Wake. If the Sox can’t score 4 or 5 runs against Byrd (or Westbrook) they don’t deserve to win.
And throwing Delcarmen in the 8th last night? Gee, if only they had thought of that in June…
Another night of playoff baseball and another night I go to bed surprised. This game is strange. The Rockies are baffling enough, but to see the Indians win again with Westbrook pitching makes my head spin. At this point I can’t even pretend that I understand. Yorvit Toreealba…