SawxBlog

Krazy Kris talks some Red Sox Playoff Baseball

Sweet Jesus. Is it really playoff time already? I have to say, this baseball season was a strange beast. The Red Sox are the defending World Champions, but I haven't really felt that it meant anything this year. Maybe it was the multitude of injuries, or just the distraction of Manny Being Douchey, but all season long I've waited for a sign that this wasn't meant to be. Yet, here we are, about to face the Angels in the ALDS once again. As El Capitan stated, we have owned the LAAAAAAAngels in the playoffs in recent years. And, even with them beating us 8 of 9 games this year, I still am excited to see the Red Sox take them on. Am I scared? Hell yes. Am I worried? A little. Do I think the Red Sox are still a good enough team to make it to the ALCS and beyond? Definitely...

Maybe it's the trauma of my beloved Patriots being knocked back down to semi-mortal status. Maybe I'm still basking in the glow of the Celtics' first NBA Championship in 23 years. I don't have any fear for the Red Sox should they lose. I guess I can always chalk it up to injuries and distractions and anything else that lets me sleep at night. However, until they actually lose, I won't believe they aren't destined to return to the World Series until the final out of the final game of that final series, whichever one that may be. They are still a very talented team, with a great offense (hello Youk-Frodo, the new Papi-Manny) and some of the best starting pitching in baseball. Yes, I'd prefer to have Beckett start in LA, and Lester start in Fenway, where he's all but unbeatable. But, the Red Sox have proven one thing to me this year, and that is their resiliency. When Papi was down, the other hitters stepped it up. When Beckett went down, Lester, Dice-K and the rest of our spot starters kicked it up and pitched effectively. They have the dedication to win despite anything the fates can throw at them...

Now, with Iron Mike and JD and his posse set to return, with Beckett awaiting his teammates' return to Fenway on Sunday, we enter the post-season. Intent on giving the Angels a rough ride through the ALDS, I believe the Red Sox can prevail and continue their quest to repeat as World Series Champs...

Just don't ask me who I want to see in the next round...

2008 ALDS - Red Sox vs. Angels - Brief Thoughts

Jon Lester looks to prove his "Ace" status tomorrow night. (AP Photo)

Well, here we are on the eve of the 2008 playoffs, and there seems to be a lot of questions and uncertainties facing the 2008 Red Sox heading in. So lets take a brief look at what the Red Sox face coming into what's most likely going to be a very tough ALDS.

Also, just as an FYI, tomorrow SawxBlog will be teaming up with The Halo is Lit (A great Angels Blog) to break down the ALDS series, so be sure to check back in.

• The Josh Beckett Dilemma -The best part about having Josh Beckett on your team is the intangibles he brings to the table come playoff time. He's arguably the best big game pitcher of his generation, and losing him in Game's 1 & 2 of the ALDS hurts, especially when it's a best of five series. No way around it, not having him pitching in two games is not desired. Some may argue Lester may actually be better suited for this, however he still needs to prove himself as a Game 1 starter.
• What's up with Iron Mike Lowell & J.D. Drew & his Posse? - According to Terry Francona, all seemed good with their workout yesterday. However it seems like every sentence mentioned by anyone affiliated with the Red Sox on them is laden with trepidation. I'm hoping them missing the time they have has them healthy enough to be out there. Plain and simple, there's no tomorrow if we lose this series, and there's a whole off season to heal. We need BOTH to win the ALDS and beyond, period.
• Road Warriors - As silly as this may sound, I think that Game 1 tomorrow may be the most important game of the series. If Jon Lester and the Sox can pull it off that'd give us the opportunity to end this series in Fenway Park. Also don't forget that Dice-K is undefeated on the road this year, I'm just saying...
• What Season is it? - The Angels have owned the Red Sox in the regular season, there's no doubt about that. They lead the season series a gaudy 8-1 however the Red Sox also have some gaudy stats of their own that involve nine games. 9-0. That's the record of the Red Sox in their last nine games against the Angels in the playoffs, which is equally impressive. I wouldn't expect another sweep (for either team), but like I said, Game 1 is HUGE. If we win that you have a comfortable Dice-K in Game 2, THEN Beckett in Fenway for Game 3.

Taking a deep breath now, 10:00pm EST is way too far away to be getting this excited. Lets Go Sox!!!

We're Talking About the Playoffs - Red Sox Clinch Playoff Spot!!!

The Red Sox celebrate their win last night. (AP Photo)

No matter which way you slice it, it's always a sweet feelings seeing the Red Sox make it to the playoffs. This is just step one in what's now a short list of goals, but getting into the dance is half the battle, and if the Sox can make it out of the ALDS I honestly like our chances to repeat. That's looking a little farther into the future then we should now, but still, we're now one of eight. I'm hoping the Red Sox organization just gives up trying to win the division because the 1.7% chance to win doesn't seem so hot. Rest the players that need it, set-up that rotation, and lets prepare to kick some Angel ass. Go Sox!

PS - Hank Steinbrenner, you're just an embarrassing train wreck. Stop your whining and crying and just do your job. You're so not your Dad and your Dad in the same breath it's laughable.

Red Sox to retire Johnny Pesky's Number

If anyone deserves his number up there, it's Johnny Pesky. (SawxBlog Illustration)

In what's truly a classy move by the Red Sox organization, Johnny Pesky's number six will be retired on Friday night. Pesky is a Red Sox lifer, and has been a staple with the organization through numerous generations. One of the most touching moments of the 2004 World Series victory was seeing Curt Schilling embrace Pesky as he was finally getting his ring. Friday should be a very touching tribute to Johhny, and it'll be a little weird (yet deserving) to see another number retired up there. Congrats Johhny!

No Party for Red Sox, Just Disappointment

Josh Beckett was not up to his ace status last night. (AP Photo)

I was hoping that last night would be a celebration of sorts for the Boston Red Sox, however the Cleveland Indians decided to deviate from the script as they topped Boston 4-3, in what turned out to be a bummer of a movie. The stars seemed to be aligned as the Red Sox were back in the confines of Fenway with their clutch pressure pitching ace, Josh Beckett, on the mound. The Boston air just seemed to posses the postseason bite that we've come to know and love in recent years, and a party almost seemed inevitable.

As Beckett's control was nil in the early innings it looked like the game was going to be of the horror flick variety, however the game soon gained the potential momentum to turn into a feel good movie. As leading man David Ortiz put on his postseason face, he looked to will the Red Sox to victory once again under a September sky. All the right players were up to bat in the bottom of the ninth, and things seemed to be taking a turn for the storybook type of ending we've almost come to expect this time of year. Pedroia, Papi, and Youk were to lead it off.

Pedroia and Papi were unceremoniously out in four pitches, but Youk gave the faithful some hope, and Jason Bay continued the good vibe. However it all ended with a swing and a miss as Jed Lowrie made a touch night at the plate, and even harder pill to swallow. Even though this scene ended poorly, this was my absolute favorite part of the night, and it's one of the more beautiful things about baseball.

Here we were, bottom of the ninth in Fenway Park, with runners on second and third. A base hit could potentially win the game, and up at the plate was a rookie who no one thought would be in this position back in April. With a base hit the rookie could have sent his team to the playoffs, and a city into celebration. The script wrote itself there, and it's probably an at-bat he's replayed in his head a bunch already. Like I said, swing in a miss, but the beauty of baseball was most certainly at its pinnacle with that at bat.

With the Red Sox loss and the St. Pete Devil Rays win the AL East is most definitely lost, but a I'll take a ticket to the postseason any year, and would love to punch that ticket in tonight, Cliff Lee or not. Either way you look at it, this movie's just begun, and there's sure to be plenty of drama ahead.

Matsuzaka Strong, Big Papi Stronger - Magic Number = 1

Daisuke Matsuzaka is now an impressive 18-2 with a 2.80 ERA. (AP Photo)

As frustrating as Daisuke Matsuzaka has been to watch (at times) this season, you cannot deny the numbers that are in his possession. Maybe Matsuzaka is just a mold of pitcher we've never seen pitch before, either way, his results are good for the Sox. Upon first entering the league last season all you heard about was the gyroball and how he pitched 1,234,595 innings in one game in high school. And aside from the wide array of pitches that he can throw, I think his cerebral approach to the game is vastly underrated. His mind always appears to be at work, and he seems more then content to walk a batter then throw the pitch the hitter wants.

He is consistently the aggressor while on the mound, and the tempo is normally controlled by him. Imagine if Josh Becket (who's ERA this season is a whole point higher then Dice-K's) took this approach in 2006 when first joining the Red Sox. Instead of being stubborn and giving up 36 HR's, maybe a few more walks wouldn't have been so bad? The walks weren't a problem for Dice-K yesterday afternoon however, as he only gave up two free passes, and cruised on to his 18th victory. 18-2. I know a pitchers winning record is often vastly overrated, and that he truly only has control over his K/BB ratio, and HR's given up, but I keep going back to Dice-K's mental toughness.

It's the reason Jerry Remy has given him the nickname of Houdini. Often times Matsuzaka looks like a magician on the mound in the most pressure packed of situations. It's almost Pedro-like. Also when you start looking at the fact that he's undefeated on the road this season it makes you wonder if it'd be a smart idea to bump Jon Lester to the #3 spot in the postseason roster if we face off against the Angels in the ALDS. Just a thought, I'd have to look up Lester's home splits, but if I remember correctly they're pretty damned good.

Also, what is it about the fall weather that brings out the best in David Ortiz? If you haven't taken notice yet, you should start, because Big Papi has put on his postseason face.

In Big Papi's last six games he's hit four HR's and had 10 RBI. He seems ready to allow the team to climb back on his back, and if Papi has his October Swagger on, I like the Red Sox chances in any game, against any team in the playoffs.

Keep an eye on Ortiz, pay close attention, because he's kicked it into another gear, and that's nothing but good news for the Sox. Tonight we try to clinch a playoff spot with a win over the Indians as Josh Beckett takes the hill. Lets hope there's some champagne popping tonight, as the Sox take their first step to try and repeat for the first time since the 1915-16 season. John McCain remembers it like it was yesterday.

Goodbye Giant

Goodbye Giant
    Your History cannot be ignored
    Together through the years
    You were both feared and adored

Goodbye Yang
     You're no doubt my rival kin
     And never would I desire
     To be anyone else's yin

So Long Titan
     With your monuments and facade
      They made you less a stadium
      And more a pantheon God

So Goodbye Giant
     You've had one hell of a run
     I take my hat off in honor
     With your setting sun

Paul Byrd Looks to Stifle Blue Jays Tonight

Paul Byrd takes the hill tonight against the Toronto Blue Jays in what what will officially become his first real audition to be on the Red Sox postseason roster. I for one would rather have him on the mound rather then Tim Wakefield just for the pure fact that you wouldn't have to worry about:

• Past Balls
• Taking V-Tek out for a weaker hitter (yes I just wrote that)
• The threat of the stolen base decreases a lot.
• Wakefield although giving a lot of inning and being an admirable starter for the Sox, has seemed to fizzle towards the end of the year.
• Plus Wake's last start against the Rays put the fear in me.

Only 1.5 back of the Devil Rays now, but we still only have a 21.4% of winning the division, but who knows stranger thing have happened.

Lets just hope Byrd can get us the win tonight, one at a time, one at a time.

How the East was Lost - SawxBlog on ESPNews

Derek briefly gets to talk about the Red Sox on ESPNews!;

Click the above to see my brief appearance on ESPNews, wish I had something better to say!

Well last night was pretty much an utter disaster for the Red Sox as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays smoked the Sox 10-3 in what ultimately will be the deciding game in the AL East race. I was fortunate enough to be contacted by ESPN during the day to give an "in game update" on ESPNews and...well...lets just say the circumstances I was facing weren't very favorable! As I was on hold waiting for David Amber to cue me in the score was at 6-2, and I was just trying to think of a way to sound optimistic, which honestly, wasn't too easy. You can view a ghetto video take of it above, hopefully next time it doesn't have to be so brief :-)

As far as the game went it looked like the only person who actually cared or showed up to play was Big Papi (OK Jacoby too) as the entire rest of the team looked F-L-A-T. The Sox basically have to make up 3 games out of 10 to win the East due to them losing any tiebreaker that could occur with the Devil Rays. The off day today seems more of a necessity then anything, and any and all momentum the Sox did have going into this series currently seems to now be at a standstill.

The Red Sox have to leave this game behind them, and maybe they should just concede the East over to the Devil Rays now. We'll clinch the Wild Card in a matter of days, and everything should now be designed to get players ready and healthy for what's going to be a very difficult ALDS against the Angels.

Either way, this game will always be remembered by me as the "ESPN Game". As I was waiting for the call the outlook grew to become more and more dim, and the pages of notes in front of me became about as useful as a helicopter with an ejection seat. The humor was there for sure, but it was a worst case scenario for my "ESPN Debut". My verdict for now is that Bill Simmons job is safe :-)

Hopefully the Sox can end this season healthy and ready, today seems best reserved for some wound licking. All I'll say is Jason Bay, Mike Lowell, and J.D. Drew sure would have looked nice in the lineup last night...

Just Out of Reach - Rays Pull Back Ahead of Red Sox

Jacoby Ellsbury is just out of reach of Carlos Peña's HR last night. (AP Photo)

My hat is completely off, and my head is bowed. Complete and utter props are being sent to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the unreal season they're having. Each and every time they've been tested they seem to either rise to the occasion, or have the ability to bounce back, a trait normally reserved for a veteran team. When looking at this season for them almost every single game they've played since the All-Star break has been the biggest game in their franchises history. Their ability to deal with that pressure, or not feel it, has been rather uncanny.

Last night was another perfect example of being able to stand with the lions and come out on top. They faced Josh Beckett, arguably the greatest big game pitcher of his generation, at the top of his game and came out on top. Unbelievable. I watched the first five innings with Krazy Kris and Josh in Somerville before heading over to Charlestown for a softball game (a 36-6 win by the way) and you could just see by the look in Devil Rays pitcher Andy Sonnanstine that he was not going to bend, and neither were the Devil Rays.

The obvious is to point a finger Justin Masterson's way, but that just seems lazy and unfair to me. We can't expect too much from this kid too soon, I mean geez, he's technically not even supposed to be pitching at this level yet. Yesterday was most definetly the most pressure packed game HE'S ever pitched in and I'll chaulk it up to experiance. Our hitting, in the end, is what held us back last night.

Hopefully Papelnuts can pitch tonight, and it's now up to our ol' reliable, Tim Wakefield, to bring us into a tie again with the Devil Rays. The ultimate showing of old vs. new. Two games up at this point could be too much to make up with so few games, bringing it to a tie again on the other hand will make this last 100m of the regular season an all out sprint.

Damn...this really is fun to watch, and hat's off again to the Devil Rays, you deserve a better city to play in where the fans actually will show up to watch you play for a pennant...