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!

Comments

[Faith Cardarelli]

Matsui should have never hit that "almost" DIRT BALL. Pedro is still the best of his generation of pitchers.

[Derek Hixon]

As soon as Matsui hit that the first thing I said was, "That's a Yankee Stadium HR if I've ever seen one..." - Still was a great hit, but man, couldn't believe it.

[Erik]

Faith... Kind of like pop ups to left at Fenway... or the Pesky pole with the 2 foot high fence. No cheapies at Fenway park! It goes both ways. But Matsui is clutch.

[sam]

I too believe Matsui is one of the best pitchers in the league, the Boston Red Sox will have a killer lineup next season, I suggest you stock up on novelty sports memorabilia now!