A Caipirinha in Miami

For a weekend in Miami, what with warm breezes, shirtsleeves in the evening, and sidewalk cafes, cocktails seemed more appropriate than whiskies. Of course, there’s always the Mojito, but as good as they are down here, they seem almost a cliché these days. Everyone serves Mojitos, even in coldest part of winter in upstate New York. And stopping for a drink one night in South Miami, I had my obligatory Mojito, and was not at all disappointed.

Last night we went to Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink, one of Miami’s best new restaurants. Wonderful menu, which apparently changes with great frequency, as our Mike wanted us to taste frogs’ legs, which could no longer be found on the menu. We had about three courses of little plates, tapas style, highlighted by grilled octopus, liver crostini, and a persimmon salad, and then finished the evening with a terrific strip steak. It’s tough to impress us with a steak, because our benchmark has become the Chophouse on Monroe Avenue, whose steaks surpass all but the very best we have found in other cities (Keen’s porterhouse, for example, being one of the few that matches up). But Michael’s strip, in a peppercorn and brandy reduction, was wonderful.

Michael’s bar featured a credible selection of malts, and I was intending to find something a bit off the beaten path, but before I got there, I noticed that the menu contained a listing of classic cocktails. For example, the Negroni, introduced to us by John, with its combination of Campari and sweet vermouth, the same combination found in the Americano, another classic, yet perhaps less discovered taste.

But as we were in Miami, I ordered a Caipirinha, a cocktail that cannot be found in most northern locations, and has not yet reached the ubiquitous status of, for example, the Mojito. Caipirinhas are made with Cachaca, another sugar cane based spirit, not unlike white rum, but a spirit that cannot often be found outside of a city with a big Latin population. The taste of a Caipirinha is tart from the lime, and sweet from superfine sugar (or simple syrup if you want to take shortcuts), but more concentrated than a Mojito, as the cocktail is not diluted in any way. So it’s slower drinking, better for the evening hours than an afternoon barbeque. Despite the high alcohol content, still very refreshing.

That was pretty much the weekend’s recipe – warm breezy days, great food, cocktails, a Cuse victory over Providence. Only thing missing was John.

Sox Redux

Game Four began with Jon Lester on the mound, and who better to represent these new Sox, these teams that never give in, that never surrender, that always fight back? What’s a three-one deficit in the ALCS, compared to the adversity Lester faced? And pitching in his first-ever post-season game, the twenty-three year old Lester tossed five and two-thirds innings of shutout ball, and turned over a 2-0 lead to the bullpen.

I liked the Rockies and their big crowds; I liked the spectacle that opened every game, with fireworks, and balloons, and a huge American flag spread across the outfield. Only why do the National League teams always find these country singers for the anthem and the seventh inning? OK, so they don’t have James Taylor, or Ashanti, but isn’t there some Latino singer who could do the anthem with a touch of soul? Every NL team drags out these cookie cutter country singers, many of whom can’t even carry a tune, and all of whom look alike. Another thing about Colorado was the white towels. What’s up with that? I saw a sign in Boston during one of the first two games announcing that we don’t wave white flags in Fenway. Point well taken.

So Lester delivered the game to Delcarmen in the sixth after Atkins had walked, and Manny D got a big strikeout to end that inning. The bullpen didn’t really distinguish itself in Game Four, allowing the Rockies to make a game of it, but they did the job when they had to. Timlin had two big Ks in the seventh, again with a man on board. And after Okajima gave up a home run to Atkins in the eighth, Papelbon entered, needing five outs for the win. Fitting that it should come down to Papelbon in 2007. And although Pap wasn’t dominant – one of the five outs went all the way to the wall in left center – he retired all five batters he faced, and in the end he struck out Seth Smith; the Sox had won their second championship in four seasons.

I had to wait almost forty years for the first one, and of course many in New England waited far longer, some the full eighty-six years, so it seemed a dream to be repeating only a few years later. John e-mailed me the next day, in fact, asking if it was a dream. And somehow it was more satisfying this time around. No more ghosts to exorcise; no more curses to reverse; and no debate about who had the best team in baseball this past year. Plus, many of the post-season stars were homegrown. Theo had brought in Beckett from the outside, with Lowell being a throw-in, imagine that! But Pap, Pedroia, Ellsbury, Lester, all of them had come up through the minors. The RedSox were doing it the old fashioned way.

That’s it; the season is officially over. All you haters can relax, because I’ve watched all the DVDs; I’ve revisited the entire season; and we’ll not be posting about 2007 any more. Instead, in a month, when spring training starts, we’ll begin talking about 2008. Will Dice-K step up, having adjusted to life in the American League? Will Papi’s knee be strong again? Will Schill and Wake stay healthy for one more season? Stay tuned because all those questions, and many others, will be answered right here.

Lowell Steals Third

Game Three is best remembered for the contributions made by the rookies, Pedroia and Ellsbury. Between them, seven for ten with seven runs produced, four RBIs and three runs. Not just setting the table, but setting it first and then clearing it later. And we need to make some mention of Dice-K’s two RBIs. This game took place during the Monday morning rush hour in Japan, which may not have been much of a rush hour after all, with everyone glued to their TVs. First time a Japanese player had started a World Series game; first time win, and first time RBIs. All in the same game.

But the Game Three moment I am selecting to memorialize here on mannymontaigne is neither of the above; it’s perhaps one thing from Game Three that no one much discussed in the game’s aftermath, or even after the Sox had taken the championship trophy home to Boston. But it’s a snapshot of 2007, and Boston’s own MVP, Mike Lowell.

Top of the ninth, Sox are back to a four-run lead, and really, with Pap coming out for the ninth, the game’s final run didn’t affect the outcome. Still, the Rockies continued to battle, and the bottom of the eighth had ended with two runners on base, and Matt Holliday flying to left. The point being, that even with a four-run lead, the Sox were not necessarily home free. So Mike Lowell singled to lead off the ninth, and moved to second on a bunt. Then he stole third. Lowell is not the fastest guy on the team, but he might be the most heady. And when none of the Rockies held him close on second, he simply took off for third. Varitek brought Lowell home with a sac fly, and the Sox had their tenth run (the fourth double-figure run production in the last five post-season games). When the game ended 10-5, Pap once again not allowing a run, Lowell’s steal became a non-event. But remember Game Two? Lowell scored the tying run in that game, after he had taken third on Drew’s single to right.

And looking ahead to tomorrow night, Game Four, Lowell will not only homer, but once again will score a run with great baserunning. He’ll come from second base on a single by Varitek, and his wide slide will avoid the tag. He batted .400 for the series; he knocked in the game-winner in Game Two; he homered in Game Four; but his baserunning made a huge difference in both of the one run games in the Series. It was every bit as important as his hitting.

At the end of the year, after all those games, what made the difference that put the Sox into the post-season? As we said about Okajima and Game Two, it’s hard to point to any one guy or any one game that made the difference. But it’s also hard to picture the Sox having the success they did in 2007, especially with Papi and Manny banged up, without Mike Lowell. Thanks God (as Manny likes to say) that we signed him up for the next three years.

Oki!

Over the course of an entire season, 162 games, plus the fourteen the Sox played in the post-season, it’s hard to say that any one player made the difference. Subtract any one of a number of guys from the summer’s games, and you can envision a different outcome for the season. Where would the Sox have been without Beckett, or Lowell, or Papelbon? But if one player seemed to make a difference that hadn’t been anticipated, that no one had expected last April, it had to be Okajima, who came to Boston with no fanfare; who was reportedly signed just to keep Dice-K from getting too homesick; and who flew into Fenway entirely under the radar screen.

Same is true for the post-season. Any one of a number of moments can be singled out, pointed to as having made a difference, having made the difference: Drew’s grand slam; Pedroia’s huge Game Seven; Beckett’s dominant performances; Manny’s walk-off. Subtract any one, especially those from the ALCS, and perhaps there is a different outcome in October. But if I’m going to pick out a single post-season performance, which carried the Sox to their second championship in the last four seasons – and a performance that seemed to capture the entire 2007 season – I’m selecting Okajima’s relief appearance in Game Two.

Schilling looked good from the second through the fifth innings, and had only allowed the Rockies a single run, but in the meantime, the Sox had only put two on the board. So when Schill walked Helton after Holliday had singled with one out, that put the tying run in scoring position, and the winning run on base. Enter Okajima. It was the sixth inning, only one out, as early as he had entered any game all season. And as critical a moment as he had faced all season, because there was absolutely no margin for error. A hit, almost any hit, would tie the game. And if the Rockies won, they would steal home field advantage, and head west with the sense that the Sox could be beaten. Beyond that, it was the first time a Japanese pitcher had thrown in the World Series, ever.

Between then, and the top of the eighth, Oki faced seven Rockies. He retired all seven. Four of the seven, including the final three he faced, struck out. The three batters who made contact hit into two ground outs, and a weak ass pop fly to right. No one laid a glove on Oki in Game Two; he was untouchable. He threw only twenty-eight pitches. Two-and-one-third innings, as long an outing as he had all year. (In fact, only twice all year had Okajima pitched for two innings.) By the eighth inning, as he struck out Tavares, and his countryman, Matsui, all of Fenway was chanting: Oki! Oki! Can you imagine how that played in Japan?

In the end, Pap gave up a single to Holliday, but then picked him off; and then he retired the side in the ninth, giving the Sox a 2-1 win, a 2-0 lead in the series, and the confidence that they could win games with their bats, or with their pitching. It wasn’t quite over yet, and I give the Rockies props for battling in Games Three and Four. Still, because of Okajima’s seven outs, the Sox were on the verge of another championship.

I know, who cares? And the answer this time is, everyone in Sox nation, as well as the nation of Japan.

Not in Kansas Any More

The Rockies were on fire as they entered the Series. 21 wins in the last 22 games. No team had entered the post-season that hot in a long time, if ever. Late inning comebacks; walk-off wins; that incredible rally against the Padres in the bottom of the 13^th, down two and scoring three off Trevor Hoffman, the all-time saves leader. The first team to sweep through the Division series, and the League Championship series. 7-0 coming into Fenway.

But all that success disappeared quickly in their collective rear view mirror, once they came to Boston, and had to deal with Josh Beckett. Four straight strike-outs to start Game One. And those Ks were interrupted by Pedroia’s lead off home run, followed by two more runs in the bottom of the first for good measure. Just to serve notice that this was not a National League game. By the fifth inning, it was all over. 13-1; the most lopsided Game One in the history of major league baseball (there’s that phrase again). Most of the country was probably bored by the game, but I found it fascinating. No drama; no uncertainty about the outcome; but a ton of great numbers.

Beckett ran his post-season to 4-0, with two walks, and thirty-five strikeouts. The second post-season walk came in the fifth, when Spilborghs got not just one, but two gifts, leading to Beckett’s second free pass, one that really should have gone for a K. Not that it mattered in any way; just that he was so perfect this October, the umps had to give the Rockies this walk, so they could have a base runner. Beckett’s 2007 post-season ERA was 1.20; his career post-season ERA dipping to 1.73, third lowest all time (that means in the history of major league baseball).

Then consider this: from the seventh inning of Game Seven, ALCS, through the fifth inning of Game One of the Series, the Sox outscored the opposition 21-1. Talk about hot. Twenty-one runs and Josh Beckett on the mound for much of that. Colorado never had a chance. I know, who cares? Oki and Pap had held the Indians scoreless over the last four innings of Game Seven, until the Sox opened the floodgates; but in Game One, we were so far in front that Eric Gagne got to close out a winning World Series game. You know it’s no contest if Gagne was on the mound at the end.

And then of course there are these numbers: over the four game stretch from Game Five through Game One -- Sox 43, opposition 6. 43-6. Against the best teams in both leagues. So the one thing I agree with the haters about is this: there was no drama, but who cares?

Who Cares?

The haters have raised a question, and as the principal author of this blog, I feel an obligation to my readers – a responsibility at least to address the question, even if I can’t fully answer it. I’ve been posting about the ALCS, as I’ve rewatched games 5 through 7. And for those with a short memory, those were the three games where the Sox staved off elimination, outscored the Indians 30-5, won the American League pennant, and earned the right to face the red hot Rockies in the World Series. After I gave the Indians credit for a much closer and more competitive ALCS than the scores would indicate, the haters have asked this question – Who cares? And as I think about it, this is a question worth considering. Who does care?

First of all, who cares that the Yankees left the post-season again, with little more than a whimper? Who cares that since 2004, when they had the Sox down three games to zero in the ALCS, they have won a grand total of four post-season games. That’s only double the number of MVP awards they’ve managed somehow to win in that same time. Two MVPs and four post season games. Who cares that the Yankees are the only team in the history of major league baseball, in the hundred plus years of post-season play, to ever lose a series after leading three games to Zero? Not even the Cubs or the Phillies ever managed that. But really, who cares? And who cares that since that epic collapse, they have barely showed up in a single October? I mean they managed to win a couple games from the Angels, making the 2005 ALDS respectable, but in the two most recent years, they won a single game each year, and then folded up their tents, so they could get ready for spring training. And who cares that they haven’t won the series since twenty-zero? Who cares that we haven’t had to see Johnny Damon wearing pinstripes, with his cheesy new look, jumping around the infield, celebrating with A-Rod? Actually, that’s probably something that everyone does care about. Probably most people in America, and certainly everyone in Japan, is glad they haven’t had to watch A-Rod celebrating anything other than a meaningless walk-off home run in May. It’s one thing to watch a guy like Derek Jeter celebrate a championship, but A-Rod? Spare me. So anyway, except for the A-Rod thing, who care that the Yankees have sucked in all these recent Octobers?

And on the other hand, who cares that the Sox have swept the last two series they’ve played in? Who cares that they’ve won the last seven elimination games they’ve faced? Who cares that Josh Beckett is practically unhittable in October? Or that Pedroia and Ellsbury, a couple rookies (In fact, Ellsbury wasn’t even officially a rookie. He had so few at-bats in 2007 that he will be a rookie next year, in 2008.) went seven for ten in Game Three of the series? Or who cares that Jonathan Papelbon appeared in seven post-season games, pitched over ten innings, and had an ERA of zero point zero (0.00). For those who do care, that ERA means that he gave up zero runs, no runs, in all of the post-season. The Sox called on Pap to close seven games, and he never gave up a run. Who cares about that? By the way, these guys that I’ve mentioned, including Beckett and Pap, they’re all in their twenties. A couple aren’t even shaving yet. Who cares about that? Who cares that Manny Ramirez is now, as I write, the career post-season home run leader? I know the haters don’t care about that, because they really love to hate on Manny. He disrespects the game; he doesn’t play it right; he only gets all those assists because the monster is so shallow in Fenway. Except that in the history of major league baseball (there’s that phrase again), he is seventh all-time in RBI-to-at-bat ratio. Only six guys in the history of major league baseball (there it is again), guys like Williams, and Ruth, and Greenberg, and Gehrig, had more RBIs per at-bat. So who cares if Manny stands in the box and admires his home runs? Ten years from now some guy will take out a sharpie and autograph his bat before he rounds the bases.

Anyways, it’s only a game. So who really cares if the Sox are the only team to repeat as champions in the new millennium? Who outside of RedSox Nation, that is.

An ALCS to Remember

Because the Sox outscored the Indians 30-5 over the last three games of the ALCS, it’s easy to forget just how close that series was. Years from now, folks will look at the final scores of Games five through seven, 7-1, 12-2 and 11-2, and think that the Sox ran away with the series. Not true; not even close.

The only game that was a blow-out was Game 6, once Drew hit that grand slam in the bottom of the first, and then the Sox tacked on another six runs in the third. Poor Carmona looking lost on the mound; it reminded me of his first visit to Fenway in 2006, when he was the closer, and Papi schooled him twice with walk-offs in a three-game series. Given a big lead, Schilling threw strikes, and Cleveland never got up off the mat. It was even enough of a lead for Gagne to pitch the ninth. That became his role in the post-season – close out games where Sox had a monster lead, and give all the other relievers some rest.

But Games 5 and 7 were a totally different story. Five was a 2-1 game into the seventh inning, and only broke open once Youkilis hit that triple that tailed away from Sizemore. In hindsight, Game 5 seemed like it was an easy win, because Becket was on the mound, and because he was so dominant throughout the post-season. But that Game really didn’t get out of reach until the very late innings, and one mistake by Beckett could have led to a different outcome.

Even more so in Game 7, because Beckett wasn’t on the mound, Dice-K was. Dice was great for three innings, shutting the Indians down the first time through the line-up. And although the Sox had eight hits through the first three innings, they only scored three runs, in large part because they were regularly hitting into double plays. First Drew and then Pedroia hit into inning enders with plenty of guys on base. Keep those two names in mind, however. By the end of Game 7, the Sox had set the ALCS for hitting into most double plays for a series. An ignoble accomplishment.

The Indians starting getting to Dice-K in the fourth, but luck was still with the Sox. Garko hit a huge shot to left center that went high off the monster. In any other park, home run. But this was just a double, and although it knocked in a run, Garko never scored. In the fifth, Lofton singled off the monster and then was called out at second on Manny’s throw. Replays showed Lofton might have been safe, and that would have been another run for Cleveland. Then Westbrook settled in and threw a couple perfect innings, but he had spent himself because of his early trouble, and couldn't pitch past the sixth. More luck for the Sox in the top of the seventh, when Lofton was held up at third on a play where he could have scored easily. Of course, Lofton was on base only because Lugo had misplayed a pop-up in shallow left, so really the luck just evened out. Still, on balance, Sox were enjoying the benefits of most of the luck.

The came the bottom of the seventh, when the ALCS decisively turned for the Sox. Enter Betancourt, and the Sox rookies. Up until that point, Betancourt had been unhittable, but Ellsbury reached on an error, and after advancing on Lugo’s bunt, came home courtesy of Pedroia two-run homer. Atonement for the earlier double play. Then of course, in the bottom of the eighth, after Drew had knocked in his sixth run of the final two games, bases were loaded for Dustin. First pitch off Betancourt, a shot to the gap in left-center. The bases were cleared; the Sox led by seven; Youk then hit the Coke bottle; and the celebration began. Lost in the night’s other accomplishments was the fact that Pap tossed his first six-out save. Game Seven was Dice-K, Okajima and Pap. Think we’ll see them again in 2008?

The other great story coming out of the ALCS was the unlikely heroes who sprang up for the Sox. Papi and Manny, after entering the ALCS on fire, were uncharacteristically quiet. Youk, Pedroia and J.D. Drew accounted for most of the fireworks during the comeback. And Ellsbury gave us a hint of what was about to come, by often lighting the fuse. This was a lineup that contributed all the way from one through nine.

Anyway, years from now, when you tell your grandkids about the great ALCS comebacks; when the Sox won seven elimination games in a row; when it will be easy to recall Papi’s walk-off hits in Games 4 and 5 in 2004; don’t forget how great the ALCS was in 2007. Tell them how the pennant wasn’t really decided until the last couple innings of Game 7.

Orange and Red

First the Orange: Before tonight, I’d watched the Orange win their last six, including the first two conference games of the year. And there’s much good news to report: a gradually improving defense – at least we’re not surrendering 100 points a game any more; an offense that can put points on the scoreboard in a hurry; fewer turnovers, especially from the guards; and some wonderful all-around play by Paul Harris and Jonny Flynn. Despite all the talk about Green jumping to the NBA (I don’t see how he’s ready.), these two guys are playing the best ball for the Orange, and may have the most talent of anyone. At the same time, it’s not all good news. They’re a young team, and they often play that way, making some foolish mistakes; they have a tendency to settle for the three-point shot too often (In fact, it’s always a bad sign when Donte hits his first couple threes, because he then stays out of the paint, and seems to play too soft.); they’re not deep, without Devo and Rautins, and are often going to find themselves in foul trouble; and Donte Green thinks he’s the second coming of Lebron. So he brings the ball up court too much, making bad passes, and generating silly turnovers. And most troubling, they seem to fall asleep at times. That was the big problem with the Nichols/Roberts gang; they would go to sleep for eight ten minutes, giving the other team the chance for a big run. With those guys we had no go-to guy who could carry the team when everyone got cold. As good a shooter as Nichols was, he didn’t have the intensity to carry the rest of his team. If Harris could shoot better, he’d be better able to put the team on his back. But right now, they are vulnerable to cold spells, and that was what killed them tonight, scoring only 7 points over the last 11 minutes of the first half.

But having said all that, this bunch are really fun to watch. The most fun of any team since Sherman Douglas and Billy Owens. Everybody gets up and down the court. Flynn and Jardine can really handle the ball, and they seem to inspire everyone to value passing over shooting. Of course, that’s partly the influence of PH. But wherever the inspiration came from, it’s great to see guys distributing the ball. And AO can really play in the middle; he is becoming an offensive force – learning to use that big body, and developing a soft touch around the hoop.

The Big East is really tough this year, and Cuse will have a tough time making it to the tournament. Next couple weeks may let us know. We need to win some on the road; we need to beat the teams we should beat; and we might need to steal a game here and there.

Next the Red, Sox that is. I know it’s the dead of winter, and spring training is still at least six weeks away, but I’m reliving all of October, and much of the summer, thanks to the wonders of digital media. First I got the NESN DVD – Champions Again. I’m nominating it for an Oscar, best documentary feature. It’s actually a better movie than the mlb production. Mlb focuses on the post-season, primarily the series. (Of course, it’s called the 2007 World Series DVD.) But NESN covers the whole year; and was that a great year or what? Just a few highlights here, but I’d like to encourage my readers to contribute their own suggestions for this list:

אּ - Okajima’s coming out party -- the first game against the Yankees, when the Sox scored five in the bottom of the eighth to come from four down, and Oki tossed a hitless ninth, because Pap was spent from two long appearances;

בּ - Back to back to back to back. The NESN DVD contains the entire live feed of that great event, which by the way, erased a three run deficit;

גּ - The Mother’s Day Miracle – six runs in the bottom of the ninth, after the Orioles had taken a 5-0 lead.

דּ - Schilling’s one-hitter. My sister Jill broke that one up, when she joined us in the bottom of the ninth, with two outs, and had to kiss and hug everyone, making us get up from our seats, disturbing the cosmic forces, and depriving Curt of his first no-no.

הּ - Lester’s return out in Cleveland – a win in his first appearance after beating back cancer.

וּ - Buckholz. A no-hitter in his second major league start. And he’s only 21.

זּ - Pitching. It’s really a story about pitching. Beckett all summer long (not to mention October); Dice-K starting so strong; Wake having a couple shut-out appearances; the Sox with the fewest runs allowed in all of baseball. Can that be possible, that we’re looking back on a season of RedSox highlights, and we see mostly pitching?

So anyway, feel free to chime in with your additions to my list.

And before I quit, I need to move on to October, because yesterday, my collector’s edition, post-season 2007, eight DVD set arrived in the mail. All seven games from ALCS Game 5, through the Series clincher in Denver. Seven in a row. (Plus another copy of the mlb World Series production.) And I know I posted on this before, but I’ve got to revisit this topic, because watching all of Game 5 again, start to finish, confirms the impression I had when it ended. That was the night when the luck changed. The Sox were a great team, but they were losing to Cleveland because the Indians were getting all the luck. But once that changed, the ALCS was over in a flash. The Indians had no chance.

In Games 2 through 4, all the bounces (as McCarver called them) were going Cleveland’s way. That continued early in Game 5. First inning, Sizemore scores after doubling down the left field line. But the double was really a pop fly that fell along the line, too far out for Lugo, too far in for Manny, in the one spot where no one could get to it. It was the Indians’ only run against Beckett – really, the game should have been a shutout. In the fifth, Sizemore got on base again with a seeing-eye grounder to the right of the mound. Lugo deflected it away from Pedroia, and the Indians threatened again on another cheapass hit. Beckett got out of the inning with a strikeout. When the Sox batted early on, they were missing runs by inches. In the third, Manny hit that ball off the top of the wall; it could have been called a homer, but it went for a single. Later in the fifth inning, Lowell hit a line drive into the left field corner, two inches foul. Another run, maybe two, were erased.

But then, in the top of the seventh, everything changed in an instant. Youk hit that liner that tailed away from Sizemore. He might have had it; or maybe he could have left it for Gutierrez; but as it happened, it went off his glove for a triple; Pedroia scored; and the floodgates were open. Next inning, with one out and a man on first, Coco hit a comebacker to Perez. Should have been a double play and the inning over. But Perez threw the ball in the dirt; everyone was safe; and by the time the inning had ended, three more runs had scored. So from then on, the Sox were both good and lucky, and that’s a combination that’s hard to beat. Stay tuned; we’ve got another six games to watch and relive.