It’s just not what you come to expect from the Boston Red Sox, is all.
Even in this new world order of being the favorites and having the starting pitching encessary to win a short series, you just expect the worst. You expect them to make it difficult. Crush C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona? Ok, but hold on while we lose three straight. Win eight straight postseason games? Sure, but not before we nearly get swept by the Yankees.
So not only were we not expecting the Red Sox to annihilate the Rockies in such convincing fashion last night, we’re not really expecting a repeat tonight. Curt Schilling has been up and down, even in the postseason, and the Red Sox all year long have had trouble with rookie pitchers with decent stuff — which is exactly what the Rockies are throwing out there tonight.
So we’re cautiously optimistic that the Rockies might still be fighing the rust, Schilling will still have what he had in ALCS Game 6, and the bats won’t be ready to settle down. The pressure’s squarely on Colorado. They simply can’t afford to be down two heading home.
Without further ado, comment away!
| Colorado Rockies | ||
| No. Player | Bats | Pos |
| 3 Willy Taveras | R | CF |
| 7 Kazuo Matsui | S | 2B |
| 5 Matt Holliday | R | LF |
| 17 Todd Helton | L | 1B |
| 27 Garrett Atkins | R | 3B |
| 11 Brad Hawpe | L | RF |
| 2 Troy Tulowitzki | R | SS |
| 8 Yorvit Torrealba | R | C |
| 19 Ryan Spilborghs | R | DH |
| Starting Pitcher | ||
| 38 Ubaldo Jimenez | RHP |
| Boston Red Sox | ||
| No. Player | Bats | Pos |
| 15 Dustin Pedroia | 2B | |
| 20 Kevin Youkilis | R | 1B |
| 34 David Ortiz | L | DH |
| 24 Manny Ramirez | R | LF |
| 25 Mike Lowell | R | 3B |
| 7 J.D. Drew | L | RF |
| 33 Jason Varitek | S | C |
| 46 Jacoby Ellsbury | L | CF |
| 23 Julio Lugo | R | SS |
| Starting Pitcher | ||
| 38 Curt Schilling | RHP |
Ellsbury and Lugo have flipped lineup slots, I see…
This can only be a closer game, to state the obvious. How much closer is the question. 135 more minutes of suspense.
Intriguing tidbit from the chat with CHB (Dan Shaughnessy) today:
“Something seems to have happened with Tavarez and it doesn’t seem to be baseball-related. He was not at the workout Tuesday when they set the roster. And based on performance and ability to take the ball long and often, would seem to have been a better option than the other two [Gagne and Snyder].”
Hmmm.
Shaughnessy had a great line in his column about Speier’s performance last night. Something about Eddie Cicott not doing as badly in 1919, and he was trying to lose. Made me chuckle.
I can’t believe I’m still stuck at work. My lab is doing quarterly analysis for the state, and I have an abundance of samples yet to finish digesting.
I’m hoping for 8:15 and home by game time.
Probably not though.
If the Rockies have any heart (and their streak to get to the series suggests they do), I worry about them against Schilling tonight.
Last night was such a humiliation for Colorado, they have major incentive to roar back tonight and at least get some pride back.
Plus while Curt has been a big Game 6 pitcher for Boston, he dropped his first appearances in the 2004 and 2007 ALCSes.
Of course this is all the figurative talk of a fan; I suspect most of the players don’t think in such terms, or at least they all say they don’t… They just take it one pitch/inning/game at a time, right?
But surely attitude does matter, and it will be interesting to see if the Rockies come back looking sheepish or defiant…
I’m betting on defiant with an undercurrent of self-doubt, Hudson. I’m sure the Rockies have both the talent and the motivation to make this an interesting series, but getting the sort of welcome to the AL that they did last night has to make them a tiny bit anxious.
I just heard the sweetest words ever from my boss:
Her: Isn’t there a game tonight?
Me: (Annoyingly) Yes.
Her: Well what are you doing here?
Me: Trying to finish this stuff…
Her: Brad, this stuff will be here tomorrow…go enjoy the game.
woohooo.
Later Boys.
Awesome boss, Brad. Are you a scientist also? (digesting samples?)
Schilling career in the World Series is 3-1 2.11 with 39/8 K/BB ratio in 42.2 innings
Brad I think the boss gets a box of chocolates on the next Boss Appreciation Day huh? :p
Tony Massarotti had some errors in his MSNBC.com story that was posted just past 2am… He said Boston set records with 9 doubles and 10 extra base hits.. I emailed him around 2:30 this morning telling him he was wrong, Boston never got the 9th double…. He never responded or bothered to have the story corrected on MSNBC.com
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21464548/
I hate blowouts to start a series, regular- or post-season. Sure, my anxiety last night was alleviated early but it feels like it ratcheted up today. Scoring 11 more runs than our ace needed to win is cool and all, but I’ve spent the whole day wondering about how much of this four-game pace the Sox will need to keep going to win three more.
And I don’t think I agree with the idea that the pressure is all on the Rockies tonight. Being down 0-2 is not the best place to be, but the “pressure” should always be on the home team until someone breaks serve. The Sox don’t need to win tonight, but they should, or they go into Colorado in the same place they flew into Cleveland in.
Basically, if the hard-earned (or All-Star Game-earned) home-field isn’t defended, then the series gets “interesting”, as they say. So the pressure isn’t squarely on Colorado – a big chunk is, with plenty left over for Boston.
I don’t want to sound like a nervous nellie, and we certainly have a damn fine team (at home, to boot), but Schill wasn’t sharp in game two of the ALCS, and the Rockies should be getting their sea legs. This one, to me, is a nailbiter, big time.
FSP:
I agree, to some extent, about the pressure, but the real pressure for the Sox won’t truly show up until game four, if they are down 2-1. The Rockies, on the other hand, can’t like the idea of going to Denver down two. The Sox going away at 1-1 just isn’t nearly as dire.
I’d say the pressure is oddly but squarely on Boston tonight.
The Sox dropping Game 2 to Cleveland is what made that series harrowing.
Split here, and they face the same high-stakes pressure as the ALCS. Which turned out nicely, but was not fun for a little while there.
Win 2, and the pressure for the next three games falls squarely on Colorado, which is already showing signs of weakness.
Tonight’s the night to break their back.
but was not fun for a little while there
Not fun for US. This team doesn’t seem to mind.
There’s obviously pressure on both teams, but I can’t see how going home down 2-0 is less scary than going on the road tied and hence I think more is at stake for the Rockies. The Sox can’t possibly face the former, the latter is the worst case scenario for them.
Watching the BC/VTech game while waiting for the boys to start. The oddest thing was that Papelbon just introduced the BC Eagles defense.
Love in the air for all the Boston teams.
Papelbon back to introduce the Eagles offense.
SF – You’re right about that, for sure. I’m not implying that Boston has their proverbial backs against a literal wall. But this is how I think about a seven game series, from the road team’s perspective:
zero wins – the expected outcome; no need to panic
one win – the rational goal; now to win it on our turf
two wins – the outrageous result, boy this supposedly superior team really blows.
based on this handy flow chart, the Sox “need” to get the expected result: sending the Rockies home to hope for the best.
I’ll beg for drama the next time we see a Padres-Twins world series. For now, I’d be content with breathing easy.
zero wins – the expected outcome; no need to panic
See, to me that means you have to win four of five, including at least one of two on the road in addition to a home sweep. I think a team should never expect that to be the expectation, to use a redundancy.
I hear what you’re saying. Still, we are talking about only two games here, so there aren’t a lot of different permutations to ascribe these nuances to. I guess there’s two ways to look at a split: trouble for the home team or requirement for survival for the road team.
I only have one thing to say at the moment.
WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Sox, of course)
Okay, if the Sox won four of five and (knocking on wood) I am just following the conversation, then they would have to take more than ONE road game…
Brian, I was only looking at it from the Rockies’ perspective, about going down 2-0 tonight.
Jamey Carroll doing a horrible job on the lineup announcement.
Ah, the Rockies perspective, that explains it…
If you are the road team and expect to lose all 4 road games, then you expect to lose the series. I doubt that is the Rockies approach.
Yeah, sorry, that was my fault for framing it with the road team. I confused myself back there.
I could have been at this game.
Well, sort of.
START IT ALREADY.
Well, I doubt members of any team look at an impending series in the abstract terms I was using there. They expect to win the first four games of the series, home or away. But we were talking about “pressure” (I always feel the need to put that in quotes for some reason) going into Game this or Game that. Purely fan topics…
Y’know Tim McCarver is just like hearing the guy next to you projectile vomit all over the place. And Buck ain’t much better.
I just wish the ESPN radio feed was synched to the game instead of live unlike friggen fox!
Underway, foul ball by Willie to start.
Ahhh I meant synched to the telecast
Damn, Willie gets a scrape on the hand.
Take your base.
Harris’ hbp looked like a strike.
One of my least favorite non-enforced rules is the “no real effort to get out of the way of a pitch about six inches off the plate it’s not a HBP” rule.
Matsui flies out to left.
I’m even less of a fan of the “kinda made that ball hit him” HBP non-enforcement.
Not that I saw what happened to Willy, since I’m at the office, a circumstance that will be remedied very shortly.
I agree SF, players are to make an effort to get out of the way. It would seem hard to though when the ball is coming in at a rather fast rate of speed.
I have no clue if it hit him – the ump’s word is good by me, since he was right there and made the call quickly. But the ball almost appeared over the plate, no more than a couple inches off, though high.
I agree SF, players are to make an effort to get out of the way. It would seem hard to though when the ball is coming in at a rather fast rate of speed.
Dammit. Schilling late to third to backup Lowell. Allows Tavares to get to third and Hooliday to get to 2nd.
Ugly.
Deficit, that was quick. And due to poor fundamentals. That’s very frustrating.
Helton grounds to Youk. Tavares scores.
Could have been out of the inning perhaps if Schilling backs Lowell up.
Should be interesting tonight. Been awhile since we trailed in a game.
Let’s go bats.
The Sox haven’t been behind in a World Series since 1986.
Jimenez, the “stud” as Fox called him, hasn’t gone 7 innings since August. His road era for the regular season was 5.01. His Sepetember era was 4.70.
I think the Rockies are going to need more than 1 run to win this game.
Dewey giving the lineups!!
Jimenez, the “stud” as Fox called him, hasn’t gone 7 innings since August. His road era for the regular season was 5.01. His Sepetember era was 4.70.
I think the Rockies are going to need more than 1 run to win this game.
Let’s hope. Let’s put a nice big crooked target on the scoreboard for them to try and hit. Come on, Dusty!
Pedro swings for the fences, pops up. Aggressive, one pitch one out.
Well hit by Youk, bad spot in the park, deep fly to center. Two quick outs. Not a good start.
Jimenez with 4 pitches through 2 batters.
6 pitches for Jimenez. Not exactly what I was thinking.
Awful.
Six minutes until the Troy Tulowitzki ballwashing session begins.
That inning was a bad precedent. Set them down quick, Curt, no more early runs.
both me.
(doesn’t this guy walk a lot of hitters?)
What about some patience with the kid in a pressure spot?
Schilling seems to be getting hit.
Sox seemed a little too aggressive in the 1st. They need to make this guy throw strikes.
Schilling showing signs of sucking tonight.
Leadoff single.
Not good, Curt.
I agree SF, make the kid throw pitches. We took that approach with Francis last night.
Make the kid throw, we definately saw the ugly underbelly of thier bullpen last night.
Are they washing his balls with Jeter scented soap?
Then again, if Curt is going to stink it’s not likely to matter what approach we take.
“Tulo” strikes out on a splitter.
Tulo Ks. Good work.
Nice job to get the DP to end the inning.
Double Play! Excellent!
Yes! Way to go, Schill.
Good, set ’em down, now let’s make this spring chicken throw some pitches. Work the count, draw some walks, and hammer anything he leaves in the zone.
Go Sox!
WORK THE COUNT.
Can someone please take more than two pitches?
WTF? Make this kid work, for f*ck’s sake.
So Jimenez is going to throw about 11 pitches in two innings. Nice job, fellas.
3 pitch AB by Lowell.
Another no-name pitcher giving us problems early in a game.
Really, this is a terrible way to approach this game, considering this kid’s tendencies.
Now THAT’S a hit-by-pitch.
Hope JD is ok.
Wow, Drew hit just above the ankle. I know that shit hurt.
This is exactly what I was afraid of, and i too am at work.
The conundrum: The sooner I finish this story, the sooner I go home and watch the game. But the game’s already in progress, distracting me from writing the story and delaying my ability to actually watch the game!
*head explodes*
Take the friggin bat off your shoulder Tek!!!
So…the “Barenaked Ladies” are a group? A musical act? Thanks, Joe Buck!
A terrible at-bat from Tek, striking out staring.
The offense has been putrid, not exactly what might have been expected. Bad approach, bad results, though, so nobody to blame but themselves.
Need Curt to really hold them again, no multi-run deficits.
This night has “massively frustrating” written all over it.
We’ve seen this with the Sox bats and young pitchers with decent stuff before. They completely forget to take pitches. What causes this? Is it the lack of video, the lack of experience facing this pitcher? But if simply not having seen a guy is reason to start flailing away, that’s pretty sad…
It’s early, so no reason to panic, but the game has certainly started off in as poor a fashion as one could expect, fundamentally poor defense and a terrible approach at the plate. Hopefully they can make some adjustments, get the kid off his game while Curt holds the line.
This night has “massively frustrating” written all over it.
Has potential early bed time written all over it.
OK, two down pretty quickly. One more and let’s get those sticks going.
Nice curve to start Matsui off.
And a good changeup, 0-2.
Nice fastball on the inside black. Stellar inning from Curt there.
Matsui strikes out. Schill starting to get into this pitcher thing tonight.
Not asking for a big inning (though that would be nice), just looking to scratch out a run, tie this puppy up. Go from there.
That was a great changeup on 2-1 to Ellsbury.
Jimenez looks good so far.
Well, the Ellsbury-in-the-lineup thing seems like a coincidental situation to the Sox’ success. He’s really been quite poor so far.
Lugo grounds weakly to Matsui.
This is a brutal showing by the offense, just brutal.
Agree on that SF
There we go, Dusty. Base on balls. Come on, YOUK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pedroia walks.
No hits for the Sox still, though…
Strike zone growing, and growing, and growing…
I don’t think there is a real strikezone tonight.
Full to Youk. And…
foul ball.
Again…
a walk!
Papi up, 1/2.
Youk walks…Papi up. Now would be a nice time to retake the time again.
No hits, two BB, a hit batsmen. Make him pay for this, Tizzle.
Jeezus, what was that first strike call? 10 inches off the plate by the overhead replay.
The concerto is starting in the bullpen.
What a tease. Foul ball, clearly.
DAMN!!!! I thought he got that.
Clearly, but only by a few inches.
Grrr.
Ortiz Ks. Nice stones by Jimenez to get that out, but at least signs of life. Papi misses the dinger by maybe 6 inches.
Dammit….Ortiz goes around on the check swing. I thought he got screwed on that call until I saw the replay.
Wasted opportunity.
Thankfully, meatsicle’s pitch count is now over Schillings.
Again, “massively frustrating” rears it’s head. Add “terribly unlucky” to it as well.
This has the makings of a really frustrating game. However, it often seems like Schill pitches better when he’s trying to keep the team in the game, so the sadness of the offense might not be ALL bad.
He pitches better, Jackie, until he gives up the home run that ultimately proves the difference in the game. Happens ALL… THE…. TIME…
I’m trying not to think about that, Paul, but thanks for the reminder. :P
the home plate ump is annoying – Schill’s 0-1 pitch was as good as several strikes called last inning, but called a ball.
I don’t care if the zone is wide, just call it consistently.
Leadoff man on…….again.
Schill gets burned, a hot single by Holliday to lead off the inning.
400 foot fly to the wall in center, but in the park. One down. Eek.
The strikes zone is definately moving around tonight.
Two scorchers, there.
Fly to Manny for the second out on one pitch, not a good one, not sure how Tulo missed it – it was a serious hanger.
9 pitch inning from Schilling.
And another first pitch pop to Lugo. Interesting. Schill made some poor pitches but got away with them.
3 consecutive first pitch fly outs. That’ll work, although Helton gave it a ride.
Curt 4IP, 1ER. Can’t complain about that line so far.
No baseknocks for the Sox is, ultimately, going to make someone famous and a legion of fans downtrodden.
ok time for some hits and runs…
what happened to the Hood blimp???
Let’s go Manny! Get us going this inning.
Baseball is so funny. You can’t look at it cumulatively, though you HAVE to look at it cumulatively sometimes. In this case, the Sox’ pitchers have gone 13 innings, given up 2 runs, the offense has 13 of their own, but right now the Rockies can hold the line and end up even, depsite these differences. Such a great game.
An HDTV blimp? I wonder how many pixels are on that screen.
K, I’m going home. Yesterday, after I started watching the game, the Sox scored nine runs. So, don’t worry, I’ll be there in about 10 minutes, then we can watch the fireworks begin ;-)
Manny looking a bit confused.
Manny pops to third. Very bad at-bat for Manny.
Manny with a rare swing at a bad pitch
i smell a no-hitter….
perhaps we’re hung over from last night
Lowell walks.
Time for Drew to pay meat back.
old man lowell with some wheels!!!
Drew with a single, aggressive base running by Lowell to get to 3rd.
JD! Rip to right, Lowell hesitates but makes it to third on a close play.
TIE THIS FUCKER UP NOW.
Drew! Good base running
Sorry about that no-hitter.
Nice call by the ump, not an easy one.
tek did his job, tied game
Tek deep fly to center, scores Lowell, Drew to 2nd.
1-1
Tek deep to center, tie game on the sac fly. Good hitting, Cap!
ump f-d it ump…but you got it right sf….sheesh
The Sox are looking much better the second time around. Let’s keep it going.
rookie v. rookie
bullpen doing the tribal drum beat
Come on, kid…
Kid Ells, that is.
Ellsbury walks.
Time to send him and get me my DAMN TACO!!
Fourth walk. Jimenez is looking a little shaky.
there was a no-hitter when i posted ed…i like ellsbury, but sf is a shit
Lugo close on the shot down the line, another nice call by the ump on a tight play. Foul.
i like ellsbury, but sf is a shit
Um, what?
GOT MY TACO!!!
WE GOT OUR TACO!!!!!
Taco Bell tacos give me heartburn.
enough headhunting. Jesus.
how did that NOT hit him?
Jimenez is going to end up hitting someone again.
well it’s tied, thanks lugo
i like our approach, looking better each inning
Did anyone seriously expect anything else from Lugo?
I had hope for Lugo there, perhaps he should have ducked less.
but sf is a shit…oops, was that out loud?…love you buddy, just wanted to get your attention…. ;) i do love ells…he’s the real deal…and you…seriously, congrats on last night’s game…tonight seems like more of a nail-biter….
lead off walk… this ump’s zone is pretty freakin small
Leadoff walk to the #7 hitter. That’s hideous.
Torrealba drops a sac bunt, advances Tulowitzki to 2nd.
I didn’t get a chance to write this before, but can I please mention how much I detest Julio Lugo?
0-2. Gut it out, Curt.
YES!
K. One more HUGE out, Curt.
Spilborghs struck out looking.
Willie grounds out on the qst pitch to Lugo, inning over.
Fantastic, grounder to Lugo.
Let’s take that lead back.
Schilling is really pitching a very nice game so far. 66 pitches through 5 innings.
So far my nerve level has been modest, more surprisingly towards low/middle then middle/high. But after that top of the fifth they shot up, for some reason, and I am feeling incredibly antsy. Tie game, we have three extra outs. Not a bad spot.
RUNS PLEASE!
Jimenez really does have good stuff when he locates. He had Pedroia flummoxed at 1-1 with a changeup, a beauty of a pitch.
Good solid D by the Rox there, 5-3. I have the sound off, but I imagine Buck/Tim thought that was an INSANELY GREAT PLAY, not just a good one. Am I right?
come on rox!!!!!!
hi sf ;)
He’s definitely thrown some nice pitches, like the curve he just started Youk off with.
shiiiiiit… Solo HR from Ortiz right here
God their pitching coach is… it’s like little league. Only more patronizing.
Youk lines one, not quite solidly enough, to Tavares on the run. Just didn’t get enough of it, though he had a pitch to drive. Two down. Very frustrating, as Jimenez is making a good number of mistake pitches now.
The Rockies pitching coach sounds like he’s talking to a little kid.
Why does Buck talk SO MUCH… at least McCarver shuts up once and awhile
Oof, a hanger to Ortiz that he wasn’t looking offspeed, and it’s tapped foul. That was a really mediocre pitch, frankly, gotten away with.
Ortiz walks, chance for Manny to help get us back in the lead.
Time to PAY for the BB’s.
Ortiz walks. Manny coming up. Can we PLEASE punish this guy for his wildness?
Manny hasn’t looked very good tonight, though.
Manny, pretend this is K-Rod on the hill…
Affeldt up and throwing for the Rockies.
Damn, this guy is pitching Manny TOUGH.
manny looks sloppy tonight at the plate…
lazer single… iron mike is up
manny looks sloppy tonight at the plate…
And there’s the single. Nice work, Ed!
Manny with a grounder past Atkins.
Come on Lowell!
I guess Manny always looks sloppy (lol)
no prob!
Jimenez at 89 pitches.
freaking W I L D
2-0. Look for one to drive, Mikey…
Man, that 2-0 pitch was OUTSIDE.
generous call mr penguin
yes IRON MIKE!!! Manny almost out at third, yikes
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lowell doubles to the corner, 2-1 Sox.
Lowell with a line drive down the third base line. Ortiz scores, Manny to 3rd, Lowell with a double.
ortiz looks like he’s in some serious discomfort :(
Manny with the mandatory base running helmet flip.
Jimenez pulled for the lefty Affeldt with Drew coming up.
Do it for Paul and me, JD, two of your 346 total supporters who remained that way throughout the entire season!
Gotta think that if Jimenez stays healthy and develops, he’s going to be a stud. His good pitches were great, he’s just totally erratic.
Wow, what a friggin’ stop by Torrealba, saving a run. Awesome D.
2-0 to JD. Look for one to drive, dude!
Affeldt has George Michael facial hair.
3-1 to JD. See comment at 10:22, #1.
Full.
JD chant in full effect here in Brooklyn.
And the pitch…
Walk. Plugged up for Tek, hitting righty.
no way tek comes up big here
Drew draws the walk.
Tek up. Drive one Cap. Time to blow this baby wide open.
Tek with the bases loaded: not, um, good.
Affeldt yanked for Hertges, I believe.
“George Michael facial hair”
SF – it’s funny to me that you are making fun of Affeldt’s facial hair when Helton and Youkilis are in the same game…
Tek’s BA with the sacks full is a whopping .222, career, in 202 PA. He’s got only 2 slams and a measly .347 slugging percentage.
This inning is, reasonably thinking, over.
Just observing, RBF, not ragging.
1-0.
1-1, Tek fouls a good hitter’s pitch.
2-1.
Remember, Jason – my mom is your neighbor. And she’s vengeful.
Can of corn to left. Grrr.
Squander. We’ve left a LOT of men on base.
way to go captain, reverse jinx didn’t work out that time
And the inning is now over.
inning over. But that was a lot of action after they already had 2 outs…
Might as well have been Lugo there. Nice try at the reverse jinx there, SF.
SF, your Mom live down near Atlanta?
8 left on through 5. Frustrating as hell.
No, Tek lives in suburban Boston, less than a half a mile away from my folks.
Nice try at the reverse jinx there, SF.
Needed Ed there. He had the reverse jinx mojo going. Ed, come on!
OK…during the offseason he has a house down near Atlanta. My Father-in-law landscapes his house there.
Holliday now 3-3 tonight.
OK, blogging will be sporadic from here on out…
off to web-less bedroom.
GO SOX!
Royce must really like tacos.
i’d rather eat one of them stinkin’ tacos than listen to the god awful sox-lovin’ from mac-buck…they are shameless….but go sox anyway…the nl stinks
I tried the reverse jinx damn it
Royce was pimping Ellsbury to get him a free Taco.
Helton walked.
Francona headed to the mound. It’s Oki time.
short hook for schill… wow
didn’t look too happy coming out, oh well, oki time
Schilling didn’t look too happy getting lifted there.
Oki coming in in the 6th inning!
huge ovation for fake-bloody sox boy…last time in sox uni?…next stop yankees?…ugh…macbuck in overdrive
dc – you want him in pinstripes?
Short hook for Schill but infinitely preferable to leaving him in for a 3 run HR, yeah?
Oki-Dokey
Absolutely the right move. God I love Okajima.
Okajima pitches us out of the inning.
“…way to go captain…”
yep, somehow i think v-tek will get way too much credit for this season regardless how it turns out…sox fans will assuage their disappointment if necessary with the notion that their captain is the man
Francona of the postseason is BACK
v-tek never gets thrown under the bus, some of it is legit, he manages pitchers well, but at the plate he can be atrocious
I agree, that was a smart hook there by Francona. I was surprised, but Tito’s pitching management has really been looking good.
nope…those are your words tom…trying to dump him?
it’s the right move when it works jackie…where’s the oki from late in the season…i think that was the one the rox wanted to see…
way to go navajo warrior
Leadoff hitter on! More runs!
Hey, you brought it up, dc.
Lugo sac’s Ellsbury to 2nd.
it’s true, dc, but Schill has been prone to giving up the long ball at the exactly wrong spot. And Okajima’s been performing much better since he got well-rested in September.
Ells should steal here
“…Hey, you brought it up, dc….”
get in the game ed…i’m not the one who started that rumor…just repeating it…
rox part of the conspiracy…that idiot pitcher had ells dead at 2nd….oi
dc passing the buck…
2 outs.
Yanks rotation next year – Clemens, Moose, Schill, Pettite?
What a great AB by Youk.
i’m confused… what’s going on???
Pitching change for Papi.
papi time
For the BC Eagle fans here, hell of a game against Virginia Tech tonight. BC scored 14 points in the last two minutes to come from behind and defeat VT.
not a BC fan (Went to Holy Cross), but they’re putting together a magical year
OKI strikes out Spilborgh to end the inning.
Boyz to Men looking like Skinny to Fat.
they are kind of hurting my ears
My 13 year old son does a better job singing in the shower.
Drew facing Fuentes right now.
Drew with a single through the right side of the infield.
tek you are horrible
The black hole known as Tek strikes out to end the inning.
well, no more jinxes for tek, he just sucks at the plate
Okajima out to start the 8th….
Hey, you brought it up, dc.
tommie come lately…like i said, get in the game buddy…that ain’t my rumor…are you a band-wagon sox fan, or are you just new to baseball?…
Okajima gets Tavares looking on a pitch to the inside corner.
what is this “rumor” you speak of? I’m confused
dc, you are descending into trolldom. Go ahead and wallow, while you “root” for the Sox.
Matsui K’s to end the inning.
Francona to the mound to get Papelbon.
okajima’s money in this postseason… paps in for the 4 out save
Okajima this postseason:
9.2 IP
5 H
3 BB
9 K
0.00 ERA
Anyone else surprised that Okajima pitched 2.1 innings? Worked out well, but definitely an unorthodox move.
i think francona’s going for the throat, definitely wants this one going to the oddity that is the rockies stadium
Francona is trying to keep the cleat on the throat.
Doesn’t look like Papelbon tried to get out of the way. Looked like he tried to snag it.
Pedroia okay after rolling his wrist.
HAHAAAAAAAAAAAA love it
Paps with the pick off!!
Papelbon picks Holliday off at 1st. Holliday was not even close to getting back to the bag. Great job by Youk on the swipe to take his arm out.
where’d everyone go?
Ellsbury flies out to center.
lugo you really are a special one
Love the pickoff. Hate Lugo (still).
Probably to sleep Ed.
Lugo called out on a bunt that came up and hit him in fair territory.
Ed, I don’t know about anyone else, but the site has been dodgy for the last 20 minutes or so.
Lugo really does look like a deer in head lights
4 am wake up is coming soon…
4 am wake up is coming soon…
Eastern time zone? Ouch
Corpus trying to get Colorado out of the inning.
way to go frodo
Yes EST…not going to be pretty. I will be hitting the crack in a can (full throttle) tomorrow.
Pedroia singles to right.
you going out hunting rob?
No Ed, regular work.
Youk feels the need to supply some souvenirs.
I see all the hunters heading out to thier spots in the morning.
We definately need runs. Would make things a lot safer.
Youk grounds to 2nd, inning over.
three more outs…
well Rob, hopefully Paps will send you off soundly into the night
“never date a girl with a dragon tattoo”
I sure hope so Ed. I really miss watching games when I lived on the left coast.
98 on the gun to strike out Helton.
1 down.
filthy
Atkins flies out to Ellsbury.
2 down.
sleep well rob, sleep well
AWESOME YES BEAUTIFUL
Hawpe K’s to end the inning.
Game, 2-0 lead for the Sox.
Off to slumber folks.
sleep well rob, sleep well
Hawpe K’s to end the inning.
Game, 2-0 lead for the Sox.
Off to slumber folks.
Thanks Ed..see you here in a few days.
wooohooo.
YES! Great job by Schill tonight, and the pen was fantastic! Oki really is benefitting from that rest!
2 to go!
I have to say that in over 40 years of being a Red Sox fan, that was the most embarassing caught of first I have ever seen…
Awesome boss, Brad. Are you a scientist also? (digesting samples?)
Yes, Jackie. I’m a chemist. You?
My stupid internet was down all night.
Go Sox.
caught OFF
Holy crap that type of game is just no good for my health
Schilling is a friggin Houdini to go that far and only give up one run.
AND of course Okajima and Paps, what the HELL were they thinking… Gagne????
Yeah Brad, biologist. Grad student though so my hours are… flexible. :) At least during the playoffs.
Love that we won a close one and a blowout… feel like we should have gotten more off of Jiminez but the pitching was nails. Good enough for me.
Okijima and Paps all year long, the hell with Gagne
I want to offer an apology to all the Sox fans on this thread
Earlier in the year every time I wore my Red Sox gear out in Public, like my St. Patties day Ortiz uni. or my Schilling 04 WS jersey, the next game the Sox got creamed
I therefor instituted a ban on wearing Red Sox gear for the remainder of the season
I held fast to the ban until the Sox got down 1-3 to the Indians. Then I broke out my Green Ortiz jersey and my 04 WS cap for the 5th game
What. A. Game.
Watched most of it on my cell at work (boss and I made a deal. I can call out free of write ups for any and all clinch-possibilities, but all the rest of the games.. if Im scheduled I have to work), and got home ot catch the last three outs.
Anyway, thnaks to Jacoby, I’m off to get my free taco!
When they won that game I vowed I’d wear that exact combo every game, and I even wear the same watch, and sit in the same chair
TONIGHT I lost track of time and I then decided I’d watch the start at my computer when Schlling started going bad I freaked out when I looked down and I wasn’t wearing my Soxstuff!!!
THANK god I only screwed up that inning….
can you guys forgive me?
uhhh Dio you aren’t getting a free taco tonight
it’s only being offered on the 30th and only between the hours of 2 in the afternoon and 5 in the evening
You are forgiven, Brian. You are forgiven.
Anyone else hear how the Sox are sending Lester and Buchholz to Beckett’s ranch during hte off-season? To study him and learn from him?
I dont knwo whether to be terrified or elated
oooooh. I seeee.. but I still get it right? Just.. at that time?
Oh my god. I’m not sure the world can handle three Josh Becketts. It’ll be hilarious though.
Texas Gal said they should send a NESN camera crew and make a reality show out of it.
I agree
Just got back.
Now that was a good old-fashioned ballgame.
I concur re: reality show and would buy the DVD of the series plus outtake footage.
How about a Bullpen Band Music Video as an extra on the DVD?
P.S. That pickoff was brutal, and sealed the game, killing the Rockies’ last serious chance at winning this one. I agree with the poster above who said that s/he’d never seen someone caught so far off first. Wasn’t even close.
Also, Oki came up HUGE.
4 Ks, no baserunners in 2.1 tense innings, with no room for error.
Amazing. What a great pickup he was.
Looking again at the video on MLB.com, Schilling looked mighty pissed when he was yanked. Pretty much shouldered past Francona.
Last comment of the night… This is stating the obvious, but Colorado is in a giant hole now. Yeah, they’ve got three games in their very odd home park. But the Sox have Beckett, and the Rockies will be using several dubious pitchers (one of whom has not pitched in couple of months).
I like DiceK’s chances, Lester has a shot, and Beckett looks like a lock. The chances of this ending in Denver seem mile high now; and if they don’t, Schill gets to suit up in Sox whites one more time.
Something just occurred to me…even if things go absolutely the best they can, I can only watch the Sox win, at most, two more baseball games this year.
That makes me a little sad. I’ll take the wistful with the World Series victory in tow, though, thanks.
When I saw Schilling doff his cap to the crowd (and again in the replays) it never really occurred to me that this could be his last Fenway home game. I don’t know if that’s because I figure the series will come back to Boston, or if I believe Curt will be back next year or if I just don’t mind a bit either way. Whatever the result, Curt’s been and will be a great Red Sox.
Yeah, Schill was fairly begging Tito not to take him out. Which only makes me more convinced that it was the right move… I thought the ESPN postgame guys were a bit unkind in saying that he had “nothing” all night but he was starting to labor and Okajima was completely lights out.
But I think it is safe to say that no matter the outcome (in the rest of this series and the off-season) Curt’s place in Sox history has been assured.
The ESPN postgame guys may have been a bit unkind in saying that Schilling had “nothing” all night, but to be honest Schill did not have tremendous stuff. He DID however locate really well early on, and good pitch selection, that’s gonna get you through a bunch of innings unscathed. Much as Schilling hated getting pulled at the end there, I was just praying he didn’t give up a two run or three run bomb because he really was gassed. In my mind he wasn’t far away from that result, and if it had been the Indians up there getting some of those pitches (or the friggin Yankees), things might not have gone so well for Curt.
Everyone has talked about our offense over the last week, but our pitching needs to be commended. We’ve allowed 7 total runs in our last 5 games, with our bullpen pitching 12.2 straight scoreless innings. Timlin, Okajima and Papelbon have been fantastic, especially Okajima, whose late-season rest is really paying off now.
Two best signs of the night:
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/gallery/10_24_07_game1_scene?pg=26
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/gallery/10_24_07_game1_scene?pg=32
I, like everyone else, marveled at Okajima earlier in the year, in the first half he was simply untouchable, lights out, but there was one pitch he threw consistently then that practically disappeared from his arsenal. He used to throw a laserbeam fastball for a strike low on the outside corner to righthanded hitters. I hadn’t seen him throw it in a long while, he threw one to Hawpe last night and it was just as pretty as I remembered it. Okajima, what a set-up man, Gagne can do mop up duty just fine.
Oki for Series MVP? If this keeps up, it’s not inconceivable…
LOL @ “I like baseball!” Fantastic stuff. Thanks, Atheose.