SawxBlog

Bill Burr "Congratulates" the Yankees on #27

Props to Krazy Kris for finding this - while I'm still forming my thoughts on what the Yankee World Series victory means to me, Bill Burr pretty much hits it out of the park when discussing the sad state that baseball is lowering itself into, throwing both the Yankees and Red Sox deservedly underneath the bus. His focus on Eric Gagne is a little weak, but still, pretty damn funny.

*Disclaimer* If Four-Letter words offend you steer clear.

Boston Loves You Too Pedro

Pedro Martinez looks extend his legacy and the Series one more game. (AP Photo)

Thank God for Pedro Martinez, and thank God we get to see him pitch again on a stage of bright lights and high expectations, for realistically - the last time ever. Game 2 was the most exciting game of this Series to watch thus far - and a very large part of that was because of Pedro Martinez. Unfortunately the Yankees ended up winning the game, but the fervor and intensity surrounding it seemed to be notched up a few levels, which when thinking about it, is quite the feat when you're talking about a World Series game - where hyperbole always seems to live at its greatest of heights. Although tonight's game will be played in a month called November, Pedro Martinez knows that he's pitching in the October of his baseball career, as his legacy now sits at the forefront on his thoughts and lips.

"I'm pretty sure my name will be mentioned. I don't know in which way. But maybe after I retire, because normally when you die, people tend to actually give you props about the good things. But that's after you die. So I'm hoping to get it before I die. I don't want to die and hear everybody say, 'Oh, there goes one of the best players ever.' If you're going to give me props, just give them to me right now."

Pedro Martinez, you're one of the best players to ever play the game of baseball. I've written this incessantly since 2004, and I'm not about to stop now. When Pedro's done, and he enters the November of his retirement years, we won't just miss the artful masterpieces he often composed on the mound, we'll also miss the naked candor he's given us before, after, and in-between the games he's pitched. There's nothing quite like a Pedro Martinez press conference or quote. Manny Ramirez, when actually speaking to the media, was always good for a quote of insane quality, however, you never felt like there was much intelligence behind his statements. Not Pedro. Pedro speaks like he pitches, with utter confidence, disdain, intelligence, and charm. Like a boxing promoter he's not afraid to embellish, and even when he sometimes says bold (some may say ridiculous) remarks, it's often done with a smile and a wink, as he trusts on your intelligence to read between the lines.

"I'm pretty sure that every Boston fan out there can feel proud that I'm going to try and beat the Yankees and I'm going to give just the same effort I always did for them. They're special fans and they will always have my respect."

Right back at you Petey, do us proud tonight, and like I said, win - lose - or draw, it's been fun having you on our side.

Pedro's Effort Valiant, However - Yanks Take Game 2

With the power of Aliens on the Yanks side, the Phillies had no chance. (FOX Screenshot)

The above picture really helps reaffirm the weirdness that the 2009 baseball season has represented for me. Major kudos to the guy on the left who's balls deep into his Cracker Jacks. He probably paid $2,000.00+ for this seat, and goddammit, he's going to eat ever last bit of his peanuts AND Crackerjacks, aliens be damned! This picture has the instant quality to entertain me each and every time I look at it. Another stellar job of cinematography by FOX.

 OK, as far as the actual game went last night, it reminded very much of a Red Sox vs. Yankee game pitched by Pedro - it was uncanny. This used to always happen to Pedro when in Boston and playing against New York. He'd scrape by six or seven innings, look totally brilliant at times & very vulnerable at others. However, Martinez would admirably hold down the Yanks to a respectfully low number of hits and runs, and then the bats wouldn't be able to generate jack in offense. Taking nothing away from the most overpaid pitcher in baseball, er I mean AJ Burnett, but this always used to happen to Pedro against the Yanks. That said, AJ was very creative out there and he pitched just the game the Yanks needed him to, so props.

Who knows, maybe I'm clutching at straws and trying to live the Series vicariously through Pedro, most likely true. Seeing him give up that jack to Matsui hurt like it always had, that's for sure. What I do know thus far are these two things:

1. This is shaping up to be one hell of a World Series where the pitching, and not the offense may be what takes the center stage - it sure has for Games One and Two.
2. A-Rod is still hitless in the World Series going an epic 0-8 with six strikeouts and one error. Ouch.

Lotta weight on the shoulders of Cole Hamels for Game 3, and we'll see if last years World Series MVP is up to the task in 2009. The Phillies did what they needed though by winning one in NY, no way around it though, Game 3's gonna be huge for both teams, but isn't that how every game is when this late in October? Either way, have been thourghly entertained with the Series so far, Let's Go Phils!

It's No Longer 'Who's Your Daddy' - It's 'For Your Daddy' - Give 'Em Hell Pedro!

Pedro Martinez hopes to get the second ring of his HOF career. (SI Photo)

Tonight should be a special night for Pedro Martinez - win, lose, or draw. Pedro has long been the number one villain of NYY fans, and it's a role he's relished for over a decade now. I give Pedro a lot of the credit for really turning around the fortunes of the Red Sox as a franchise as a whole, and this is credit he rarely receives. Ever since the Red Sox traded for him in 1997 they have erased stigmas and sterotypes that used to surround the franchise like a rotten stench. He's the player who finally gave the Sox a cockiness and confidence that got them over the World Series hump, and made players want to actually play in Boston once again. I've written it a bunch, but Pedro is one of my all-time favorite players, and in my opinion - he's the best pitcher ever to play for the Sox.

Having Pedro pitch a World Series game during the twilight of his career in Yankee Stadium seems just about right. He's been such a polarizing figure in that town, it's almost as if there's been a magnetic force continuously drawing him and his career to the city that doesn't sleeps. Add on top of this the motivation of why he's still playing the game of baseball, and it all seems downright storybook, but as we know already - Pedro's always had a flair for the dramatic. The below is from a Sports Illustrated article written by Tom Verducci and it speaks volumes:

Martinez's father, Pablo Jaime, developed brain cancer in 2008 during the last of Martinez's four years with the Mets, a tenure marked by injuries and unfulfilled expectations: Pedro won 32 games while earning $53 million. A frail Pablo told his son during one visit in July 2008, that he wanted him to continue playing baseball. Pedro flew back to rejoin the Mets. Three days later, his father was dead. "Those were his last words to me," Martinez says. "Today it's all for him and his wishes."

Sounds like some pretty good motivation to me, however - as we all know, once the game starts all the things on the peripheral don't really matter anymore. Still, it's a touching story, and one I take to heart for reasons that are too close for comfort or solace. In the end it's just a baseball game tonight, albeit a World Series baseball game, but whenever Pedro's on the mound, it always seems like it's so much more then a game - it's an event you have to watch, and we're all damn lucky to have him in the spotlight one last time, win, lose, or draw

Waking Up On the Wrong Side of the Cage - World Series Trepidation, and Hope - The Ghost of Pedro Past to Haunt Yankees Again?

Top 10 worst ways I've ever woken up in my life, hands down. (SawxBlog Illustration)

Following the 2009 MLB Playoffs since the Red Sox magnificent choke in the ALDS hasn't been the easiest of things for me to do this October. I honestly haven't watched an entire inning of baseball since that Sunday Bloody Sunday, what can I say - the hurt still stings. I mean think about this, I found myself flipping over to the ALCS only when there was a commercial for Project Runway during Game 5 (Irina is such a bitch right!?!). So obviously my state of mind is, shall we say, a little muddled.

This past Sunday I changed the channel permanently over to Football after the Yankees took a 3-1 lead in Game 6 of the ALCS - because for me at least, the writing was already on the wall, they were obviously going to win. Still, I was holding out an inkling of hope that I'd wake up to the suprise of a Game 7 in the Bronx, where the collar would get extra tight on the pinstripes. However, as I was slowly coming to the land of the living from a deep sleep Tuesday morning I heard the below come loudly over my alarm clock radio:

"....and the New York Yankees are again heading to the World Series, as their pursuit of Championship number 27 draws to a close...."

I may never fully forgive WERS for this. This is easily one of the worst ways I've woken up in the past decade. I grunted a very loud UGH as my fiancée quickly slammed the snooze button fearful that I'd launch it against the wall - and like that, the Yankees managed to ruin my day, and I was awake all but 8 seconds. World Record.

However, now that the World Series is upon us I don't think I'll be able to avoid the games anymore. Yeah - I'll probably be watching through my fingers, but still, this is shaping up to be a great series. The Phillies seem like they have a team that could give the Yanks a run for their money. They've been hitting the piss out of the ball, and have the Series experience along with pitching, which could equate to confidence for them. I went to a Sox vs. Philly game earlier this year and gained a lot of respect for their fans and city, plus - they honestly probably have the best ballpark I've ever been to that's not called Fenway Park...sorry Wrigley. Also, Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez were key contributors to me winning my fantasy baseball league this year, so I grew to love these guys, they're just dirty fun ballplayers, kinda like the Sox used to be.

Two Three Side Notes on the World Series I Find Beyond Compelling:

1. Cleveland fans must hate baseball with a deep loathing right now. Not only do they lose V-Mart this year, but they also have to watch their two prior studs BOTH start Game 1 of the World Series. Ouch.
2. I can't wait for Game 2. Seeing Pedro pitch against the Yankees in the new Stadium is going to be must see TV. I love Pedro, top three player all-time for me, and his story is great this year. The only reason Petey came out of retirement is because his Father asked him to pitch again for him on his death bed prior to passing away. Doesn't winning Game 2 over the Yankees just seem like his destiny? What a way for Pedro to go out if this is how he does it.
3. I hate A-Rod more than life - this is a known fact, how anyone can bring themselves to root for him is beyond me. Manny at least had some character, A-Rod is just the worlds largest D-Bag -Ugh, I just can't stand anything about him. Kate Hudson lost all respect from me. (I'm sure she loses sleep over this everynight) - Going from Chris Robinson to A-Rod is such a jump that there just isn't a mathematical equation to decipher. I have to admit though, his post-season has been absolutely tremendous in 2009 as he's been a complete monster. However, if he chokes in the World Series and the Yanks end up losing, everything he's worked to erase thus far would be forgotten, and it's this I'll be hoping for more than anything these upcoming games. To steal from every Yankee fans playbook prior to 2004: The Curse of the A-Rod LIVES, 2000! 2000! 2000!

OK, now back to my underground bunker, Top Chef re-runs are sure to be on.

Game 5 of ALCS at Fenway Park Tonight - That was the Plan at Least

I should have known that the ALDS wasn't in the cards for the Sox... (SawxBlog Photo)

Right before the playoffs began a small miracle of sorts occurred. I actually won the opportunity to buy Red Sox Playoff tickets for the ALCS. I've been trying to legitimately do this every year the Sox have been in the playoffs for what's now going on the better part of a decade, and I was beginning to believe these things just didn't happen to real people, and it was just some twisted type of folklore that Red Sox fans passed down to each other, kind of like our version of the Keyser Söze story. It's always somebody's buddy, or a friend of a friend who wins, but it's never actually someone you know. Turns up after all these years the devil actually does exist, as finally the stars aligned, and my chance had arrived.

I still had to actually get the tickets, and after an hour of watching multiple tabs refresh in "Waiting Room Hell" I was about to abandon all hope. Then it happened, I finally got in - purchased my two overpriced $75.00 bleacher tickets, and immediately called my fiancée to let her know we'd most likely be seeing the Sox and Yankees square off in the ALCS for the first time since 2004.

We all know the rest of the story now, Red Sox choked and the Yankees swept in their respective ALDS games as I slip into a brief baseball coma. The real kicker to all of this is that I literally got my ALCS tickets on that Sunday Bloody Sunday. They obviously came on Saturday, just didn't check until Sunday, go figure - but seemed about right. I'm saving the tickets though as a memento and reminder of how weird 2009 has been, it seemed to be a fitting way for the season to end for me, still - I should be at Fenway Park tonight. Looks like it'll be the Yanks vs. Phillies now, hope the repeat happens.

Big T's Blazin' Sports Thoughts - Trade Papelbon?

Will the Red Sox move Papelbon this off season? (AP Photo)

Good friend of SawxBlog, Tyler Lemieux offers up some of his thoughts on where the Sox are headed going into this off season, along with what could possibly help out the team moving forward. If you have a submission you'd like to be considered for posting on SawxBlog please send an e-mail to webmaster@sawxblog.com for consideration.

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You wanna know what’s really odd about what happened at Fenway Park last Sunday afternoon? No one really wants to talk about it. The Red Sox just gashed our hearts with two dreadful games out west and the definitive gut punch game, and people are ready to move on. Well, most people away. There were some who wanted to vent, and complain, and say that Papelbon should go you know what himself.

For the most part, people are ready to move on, and want to start thinking about next year.  Maybe it’s the old Sox fan in us coming out after a nice long stretch of post season success. Maybe we’re more comfortable with our place as fans of a dominant team that had a bad stretch. Maybe we’re just too hurt to talk about the past.  But I think most are just ready to rip off the band aid and move on. Which begs the question: What next?

Well, first is Jason Bay. Lead the team in homers and RBI, but also in strikeouts. Carried the team for the first two months of the season but then fell off the face of the earth in July. Is he going to be worth the $17-$18 million that he’s going to want? And who to replace him with? Matt Holliday is essentially the same player with better defense (despite taking one to the mommy-daddy button this month). Then you have the Wonderboys Ortiz and Lowell. Both rapidly aging, both making huge money, and both with injury questions. They are not the men they once were. Shortstop is also a question. They’re already going to spend $9 million on Lugo next season, can they really afford to give Gonzalez and his career sub .300 OBP $6 million?

(Yes, sub .300 OBP.  Go look it up, I’ll wait.  Back?  Okay, let’s move on)

But there are positives. 1-2-3-4 in the lineup is set, and can tangle with any other team in baseball with Ells, Pedey, Victor and Youk. J.D. Drew isn’t all that bad. Seriously, if you forget about the fact that they are paying him $14 million (!!!!!!!!!) a season and just think of him as a great on base guy who has an almost perfect swing, he’s pretty good. The starting pitching will be fine next year without the WBC messing up Dice-K and Buchholz continuing to develop. The bullpen will be as solid as ever with the core members back again.

The issue is that in the areas that need improvement (defense, timely hitting, middle relief) there isn’t much help out there. And there aren’t pieces in the bigs that can be traded yet. Except for one: Papelbon.

I know, you’re probably thinking I’m out of my mind and I’m just reacting to what I saw last. Not really.  Anyone who watched him pitched this year could see that he wasn’t as effective as he used to be. There weren’t that many 1-2-3 innings like we’re used to seeing. His fastball is still great, but didn’t it seem like he is starting to rely on one pitch too much? His value is high right now and the Sox could get something valuable back for him. Think of the teams that need closers. The Sox could address multiple issues.

Think I’m crazy?  Well, you might be right.  But isn’t a little bit of insanity all part of the healing process?

Sunday Bloody Sunday - Fear and Loathing in a Brief Postseason: Rise of the Execrable Phoenix – No Shows, Show-Offs, & Big Money – 2009: Year of the Weird is Affirmed

Jonathan Papelbon's 9th Inning on Sunday was like a bad dream. (AP Photo)It almost happened again, and like the big dumb animal in which I’ve become, I reacted in the same matter I always have. I cursed, turned off, and tuned out. After breathing deeply I immediately laid my focus on new concerns and tried to block out that ghastly last inning. Five long days a go the Red Sox 2009 season ended with a taunting swiftness that was coarse and hard to swallow. As I type these words I have still refused to talk about the game with anyone that’s still living. I’m currently on a SportsCenter ban, and haven’t watched a single minute of any sport since. I’ve been hanging suspiciously close to falling into yet another Salinger seclusion, with cobwebs instead of posts hanging around this web space, however my friend, that’s not this blogs fate just yet, and we’re all the worse off for it.

Sunday happened like all good accidents do, out of nowhere. After Papelbon’s infamous ninth inning collapse I sat on the couch like a shell shocked soldier. I was literally too stunned to complain, sitting & staring through the television set and into the past. The instant gut punch of the Sox being eliminated quickly gave way to the slow realization of enduring another stubbornly cold winter without America’s game. It’s like listening to The Tempos “See You In September” in reverse, and that’s what hurts most -- there is no more baseball, there is no more joy in Mudville.

What stings with 2009 is that the Red Sox have absolutely no excuses this time around. The Sox pitching was lined-up and rested, and their bats were healthy and deep. The 2009 ALDS was just plain disappointing, and from my perspective it was downright infuriating to watch. I basically gave up on the Series after their lackluster effort out West. But then back in Fenway Park everything seemed to be aligning again. Buchholz did his job remarkably well, the bats, after being given smelling salts from the Fenway Faithful - were finally alive, and our bullpen was holding the line like they had all season long. Visions of another improbable Red Sox Postseason comeback formed like a good dream. Once again I believed. Game 4 would be in Friendly Fenway with Jon Lester on the mound. And now that the Sox dormant bats had awoken from their sleepy eyed slumber anything seemed possible. Looking then to Game 5 we’d not only have momentum firmly seated on our side, but also the best post-season pitcher of our generation in Josh Beckett on the hill. The Red Sox were going to win the ALDS, I was certain of it, then came the ninth inning - and like a bad case of the night terrors, I screamed.

I have no firm recollection of the ninth inning except for fuzzy memories of me pacing up and down a dim lit hall, with a Narragansett Beer clutched in my hand, and worry encircled in my mind. At this point I was on auto-pilot, and unfortunately saw the finish before the final blow was even delivered. During these dark moments my mind began to race towards the beginning of the season, and more specifically, to the very first post I made in this cursed year of 2009.

Since then I’ve gone back and revisited that post, and re-reading it now I should have seen the writing on the wall. The New York Yankees are destined to win the 2009 World Series. A great majority of the post was speaking about the Yanks and their gross overspending amid the wake of the Great Depression 2.0. From my biased point of view I was chastising them for their excess, much like people were with the greed heads at banks across America. But look at what’s happening now with AIG – they get bailed out of their failure and then they proceed to hand out BILLIONS of dollars in bonuses for their ineptitude. No repercussions for their irresponsibility. Banks may cry that they were only playing within the rules which sounds very Yankee-like. While the Yanks overspending isn't nearly as evil as the likes of AIG, it certainly shows the point of ridiculousness our sport has reached. With YES and their new Stadium the money gap is going to grow at faster rates than ever now. The Yankees are an extremely well run business who invests back into their product, which is very admirable. Are the Red Sox still playing if they signed Mark Texeria? Hard to tell. They may have won the AL East though, which appears to be more important than most will admit.

I’ve been stating over and over again that 2009 is the year of the weird and nothing has happened this season to sway me from this thought. It all started with the A-Rod steroid revelations in Spring Training, followed closely by Manny and his 50 game ban, to finally be trailed by the 2003 Ortiz PED “leak”. Now these two admitted steroid users will be gushed over in the World Series and cheered as heroes instead of villains. The same would have been done with Papi for sure, and that's the problem. As fans all we care about is winning, which makes us just as guilty as them. The Yankees were awful to start the year as the Red Sox beat them like a limp fish, and then they became hot as a pistol, ending the year by smiting the Sox like annoying gnat at every opportunity presented. The Sox were the most uninteresting 95 game winner in team history, and while their chemistry wasn’t bad, it certainly didn’t seem good - and at best it was bland. 2004 never seemed so far away.

I’m rooting hard for the Angels now, not only because they’re playing the Yankees, but also because I feel like they deserve it most this year. They’ve overcome all sorts of demons and adversity and could create a storybook ending that any baseball fan would appreciate. A Philly vs. Angels World Series would be ideal, but who the hell am I kidding. We all know it’ll be the Yankees vs.Dodgers, and in the ultimate twist of the weird - I'll find myself rooting for that loathsome Manny Ramirez once again, after vowing never to do so again. Sigh - such is baseball in the wretched year of 2009 I guess.

My steam for this post is lost as it is for baseball in general right now. Any epic proportions and metaphors I hoped it to bear have vanished off into the October chill. I just don't have it in me right now, and I'm not even sure if I'll be watching any of these remaining games. I'm sure I will, and "there's always next year" for sure, I just had high hopes for this year. The disappointment is all part of being a fan I guess, it just sucks when it feels to come too soon.

Long live the Red Sox. The Red Sox are dead.

100 anni il mio amico.

Hotel California

“FAIR WEATHER FANS!!!”

“YOU AREN’T EVEN FROM BOSTON”

The jeers come from all directions… their faces twisted with hate and slathered in red war paint.  Danica and I find our left-field seats and try to make friendly gestures to nearby Angels’ fans.  Some of them aggressively slap tattoos of yellow haloed A’s and there are eyes rolled.  October is here and it doesn’t feel so good.

I thought it great fortune to find myself in southern California for the ALDS this year.  The tickets were easy to find and there was a certainty in the air that the Sox would once again steamroll the Angels, despite their lack of pep in September.  My spirits were high, indeed.

The first thing you’ll notice when you visit Angel Stadium in Anaheim is how affordable everything is.  The tickets, six rows behind the bullpens, were $40 apiece… and that was after the scalper got his buck.  Parking is $10.  Beer is $6!  After being raped at Fenway time after time for crappy seats and uneven matchups, I thought I had stumbled upon some sort of baseball Valhalla. 

There was no traffic as we approached the gates and found parking directly in front of a pair of giant red hats at the main gate.  We had arrived a couple hours early in order to tailgate and spread the Red Sox cheer.  But something was terribly wrong… the crowd was plodding towards the stadium, sans beer.  The air was clear of charcoal smoke… not a hotdog anywhere!  Then I nearly went blind: The back of our parking pass proclaimed in block letters, “NO CONSUMING OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IN THE PARKING AREA.”  “I’m frightened,” said Danica.  I assured her it would be okay.  I made up some excuse about Angels’ fans being way into BP… but underneath that steely façade, my knees quaked too.

Despite the home crowd’s blind acceptance of the rules, we were able to find a few Sox fans with whom we could slam our pregame six pack.  They were transplants to San Diego and spent their days guarding the US boarder with Tijuana.  It made perfect sense.  Who else would you have protecting our country than a handful of cocky pricks from Southie.  God Bless America.  Danica and I drank while they all smoked whatever they had recently confiscated from a rusty El Camino before we parted ways.  I was glad to have found some resemblance of sane baseball fans and the hollow feeling in my stomach had started to subside.

I travel a fair amount so whenever the Sox and me find ourselves in the same city, I must go cheer them on.  I love seeing all the different ballparks and marveling over how comfortable the seats are.  By far, the best part is witnessing the vastness of Red Sox Nation.  Whether it is Baltimore, Cleveland, or Seattle… the Sox fans consistently outcheer (if they don’t outnumber) the home team.  Being part of that family in a foreign city is exhilarating… unless, that is, if you happen to be in Anaheim.

In our section, I was the only one with a “B” on my hat that was cheering.  Actually, we were sitting next to nice Japanese couple who didn’t speak English but Danica was able to encourage them into clapping once in a while.  There were Sox fans everywhere… but they remain silent and it didn’t take long to find out why.  The Angels’ fans delighted in starting fights with us, after which, security would target the Boston fans for starting trouble and kick them out.  It happened time and time again.  I had to hold Danica down one time when they started beaning her with peanuts.  The Red Menace hit us with boom sticks… they clapped loudly near our ears… the showed yellow teeth whenever we glanced back.  Good lord… this isn’t Valhalla, it is hell.

Needless to say, we didn’t stick around for the whole game, despite the delicious hot dogs and $6 beers.  After things failed to materialize in the 6th, I thought it responsible to get the lady out of harm’s way and ‘beat traffic.’  I know, I know… pussy move.  But if game 5 comes back west, you can believe that I won’t hold back.  After this wholly crap-filled experience, I’m bringing the ruckus (It will be the second time that I get thrown out of a ballpark). 

And in a way, I think that is how the Red Sox feel.  They were pushed around in games 1 and 2… flying back east with their tail between their legs.  The team has a fine mix of playoff experience and youthful hunger for wining which make the Angels nothing more than a catalyst this year.  Between the horrible fans (I can’t believe they called Lester a fag during warm-ups… have you seen his girlfriend!?!? Plus, he beat cancer), the shitty calls, and the malevolent chip on Anaheim’s shoulder (Don’t tell me the Kazmir pickup wasn’t sold as a post-season Red Sox Killer), the Boston fire will ignite during games 3 and 4, burning hot and long all the way through October.

C. B. Bucknor Helps Out Angels - Sox Lose Game 1 of ALDS

Red Sox won't soon forget the name of C. B. Bucknor. (TBS Screenshot / SawxBlog)

When watching playoff baseball the one thing you don't ever want to do is discuss the umpiring after the game's over - and unfortunately for us, that's exactly what we have to do after Game 1 of the ALDS in Anaheim. C. B. Bucknor (interesting last name huh?) was off on at least four calls at first base last night - and these were plays, in all honesty, that weren't even close. You expect umpires to miss calls like this down in Florida during Spring Training, not in October with playoff life on the line. The missed calls aren't the only reasons why the Red Sox lost, as the umpires weren't responsible for the Sox not scoring a run, but they sure didn't help with their momentum, which is ever important in these five game series. There was a turning point last night, and this point didn't even happen in an inning where a run was scored.

This turning point was in the bottom of the third when Torii Hunter drew a walk on a nine pitch at-bat in what should have been a called strike three. Instead, Jon Lester had to throw five more pitches and more importantly, deal with the first tinges of real playoff stress and disappointment. He got out of the jam with a strike out of Vladimir Guerrero, however, seeds were planted, and Torii Hunter, who's seized the reigns as leader of this Angels team, gathered some very valuable information off of Lester, that would eventually lead to his three run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning.

From that point on you began to see Lester sway. It was as if he was a great pugilist who suddenly developed a cut above his eye, and once the blood started to flow, the fall wasn't very far behind. The whole cadence of the game went in the Angels favor, as the din of the crowd began to take an elevated height, and my pacing started to take on manic qualities.

The worst part of these five-game series is just that, they're only a five game series. Tonight the Red Sox find themselves with our embattled ace, Josh Beckett, on the mound. Am I worried? Hell yes I'm worried, I'd be insane not to be with only 54 outs now remaining on the season, that said, I truly believe we have the better team. There's no way in hell the Sox are getting shutout again, and I like our chances when Beckett's on the mound, despite the nerves I have due to his poor second half. This is a better team than last years, and more importantly, it's a healthy team. Just look at that diving stab Iron Mike Lowell made in the second inning last night. A year a go he virtually needed a walker just to get around.

So, the Sox are healthy, they have their ace on the mound, they're not going to commit three errors, and hopefully the umps stay where they're supposed to be tonight in the background. Too many things fell the Angels way last night, no way it happens again tonight. Mark it. The Red Sox are going to win tonight. Remember as the away team all they have to do is win one of the first two games on the road, then it's back to Fenway where we'll be waiting, ready to cheer them on.