Luck
It’s the ALCS, Game Six; the Sox are down 3-2; Schilling will be on the mound, after having had a disappointing start earlier in the series. Does this have a familiar ring to the Nation?
The big story last night was, of course, Beckett. Another dominant post-season start. This one eight innings, one run, eleven Ks. In three post-season games this year he has 26 Ks, and only a single walk. His ERA is 1.17.
But the story everyone overlooked, and perhaps the bigger story – we won’t really know until we see what happens in Game Six, and whether there is a Game seven – was how the luck changed. Through the first four games, and even the first few innings last night, the Indians had all the luck. Now don’t misunderstand me; their pitchers were really stepping up; their hitters up and down the lineup were getting good at-bats; they were clearly playing well. But they also had all the luck. A couple examples: Game Three – Lofton’s home run is inches over the wall in right; last night early, before the change, Manny’s hit is an inch short of over the wall in right, and a run never goes up for the Sox. Or Game Four, in the fifth inning – the only inning when the Indians scored – that line drive glances off Wake’s glove. If Wake catches it, double play. If he never touches it, Pedroia gets the double play. Either way, we’re out of the inning with one run in. But as it happened, the inning blew up, and Cleveland scored seven.
But by the seventh inning of last night’s game, alhough we didn't know it yet, the luck was starting to change. In the top of the seventh, Youk lined to the gap in right. It tailed away from a diving Sizemore, and glanced off his glove. Had Sizemore left it for Gutierrez, it looked like an out. But it dropped in and led to two Boston runs. And if that weren't proof enough, in the eighth inning, with one on and one out, Coco predictably hit a double play ball back to Perez – the inning should have been over. Until Perez threw into the dirt and everyone was safe. Then Lugo bunted his way on; Mastny threw a wild pitch; a couple walks followed; and by the time the inning had ended, the Sox had scored three more, and led 7-1. I watched every highlight reel; I read all through the Herald; but no one really picked up on the blown double play. And perhaps it was only last night. Perhaps it won’t mean anything on Saturday. But if the luck has changed, and we’ve got Schilling going in Game Six, anything is possible. The Sox are a good team this year, but if they’re also lucky, they’re an even better team.
The big story last night was, of course, Beckett. Another dominant post-season start. This one eight innings, one run, eleven Ks. In three post-season games this year he has 26 Ks, and only a single walk. His ERA is 1.17.
But the story everyone overlooked, and perhaps the bigger story – we won’t really know until we see what happens in Game Six, and whether there is a Game seven – was how the luck changed. Through the first four games, and even the first few innings last night, the Indians had all the luck. Now don’t misunderstand me; their pitchers were really stepping up; their hitters up and down the lineup were getting good at-bats; they were clearly playing well. But they also had all the luck. A couple examples: Game Three – Lofton’s home run is inches over the wall in right; last night early, before the change, Manny’s hit is an inch short of over the wall in right, and a run never goes up for the Sox. Or Game Four, in the fifth inning – the only inning when the Indians scored – that line drive glances off Wake’s glove. If Wake catches it, double play. If he never touches it, Pedroia gets the double play. Either way, we’re out of the inning with one run in. But as it happened, the inning blew up, and Cleveland scored seven.
But by the seventh inning of last night’s game, alhough we didn't know it yet, the luck was starting to change. In the top of the seventh, Youk lined to the gap in right. It tailed away from a diving Sizemore, and glanced off his glove. Had Sizemore left it for Gutierrez, it looked like an out. But it dropped in and led to two Boston runs. And if that weren't proof enough, in the eighth inning, with one on and one out, Coco predictably hit a double play ball back to Perez – the inning should have been over. Until Perez threw into the dirt and everyone was safe. Then Lugo bunted his way on; Mastny threw a wild pitch; a couple walks followed; and by the time the inning had ended, the Sox had scored three more, and led 7-1. I watched every highlight reel; I read all through the Herald; but no one really picked up on the blown double play. And perhaps it was only last night. Perhaps it won’t mean anything on Saturday. But if the luck has changed, and we’ve got Schilling going in Game Six, anything is possible. The Sox are a good team this year, but if they’re also lucky, they’re an even better team.
posted by pops | 7:37 AM
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