The Post-Season
Some time next week, the Sox will open a playoff series, probably against the Angels. If so, it will be the third time they've played the Angels in the ALDS in the last five years. The last two series were Boston sweeps, both of them on the way to World Series championships. Can they do it again? Can they take three out of five from the team with the best record in baseball, without the home field advantage?
Last year, when Boston made quick work of LA, they had Beckett and Schilling at the top of their games, and the Angels were really playing at less than full strength. I know Lester and Dice-K have filled in admirably this summer, but as yet, no one has shown that he can match Schilling's consistent dominance in October. And even though Beckett has been throwing well of late, he hasn't been overpowering anyone. I don't know if he's still suffering from the nagging injuries that bothered him earlier in the season; or if he just hasn't dialed in yet. We'll have to see. But the other part of it is that this year, the Sox are banged up, not the Angels. Drew was back in the lineup tonight, for a couple at-bats, but his disc remains herniated, and its unlikely that he'll perform at one hundred per cent. Same for Lowell, who's had a nagging injury all through the second half of the season. Now I know that other guys have done a good job filling in - Kotsay in the outfield; Casey at first base, when Youk is at third; or Lowrie playing third with Cora at short. Still, Drew and Lowell each played huge roles in last fall's run through the playoffs and series; not to mention that Manny no longer has Papi's back. I know Manny was a distraction; and he didn't play the game the right way and all that, but remember that Manny owns K-Rod, and we're sure to see K-Rod at some point in this ALDS.
Anyway I give the advantage to the Angels. Their pitching is great; and their lineup is stronger, especially with Tori Hunter batting behind Vlad. (By the way, how'd he get that name down in the Dominican?) Anderson is healthy, unlike last year; Figgins gives us fits. They're a tough team.
Enough about the Angels; where have the all the haters gone? I mean, I know the Yankees went home and everything, but how come I don't have haters jumping in any more, talking trash on the Sox? Most of my readers were haters, but since Manny went west, and the Yankees went south, the haters have pulled a collective Houdini act. They're disappeared. You know, maybe it's my theory about A-Rod and the new curse. The Chokeback curse. Maybe it's too terrifying for any of them to confront. Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe D, Yogi, Mickey Mantle, Reggie, Mariano, Jeter, and now, A-Rod. Here's a question for baseball fans - which name doesn't belong on that list? Who's the one guy with a single RBI in his last sixteen post-season games? Who's batting around .140 over that same span? And who gets paid about thirty million dollars a year to perform at that high level? I'm telling you, this guy brought bad karma to the Bronx. And Hank can have all the luxury boxes he wants next year, but if he doesn't find someone who won't choke in October, all you haters are going to be watching football for many Octobers to come.
One more point, go back and read my posting from October 10 of last year, Pinstripe Advice. And after you read that, tell me if I wasn't giving you good advice? Maybe you should have listened to me. On the other hand, maybe you guys aren't privy to all the new shit, who knows? In any event, we'll see you at Keen's.
Last year, when Boston made quick work of LA, they had Beckett and Schilling at the top of their games, and the Angels were really playing at less than full strength. I know Lester and Dice-K have filled in admirably this summer, but as yet, no one has shown that he can match Schilling's consistent dominance in October. And even though Beckett has been throwing well of late, he hasn't been overpowering anyone. I don't know if he's still suffering from the nagging injuries that bothered him earlier in the season; or if he just hasn't dialed in yet. We'll have to see. But the other part of it is that this year, the Sox are banged up, not the Angels. Drew was back in the lineup tonight, for a couple at-bats, but his disc remains herniated, and its unlikely that he'll perform at one hundred per cent. Same for Lowell, who's had a nagging injury all through the second half of the season. Now I know that other guys have done a good job filling in - Kotsay in the outfield; Casey at first base, when Youk is at third; or Lowrie playing third with Cora at short. Still, Drew and Lowell each played huge roles in last fall's run through the playoffs and series; not to mention that Manny no longer has Papi's back. I know Manny was a distraction; and he didn't play the game the right way and all that, but remember that Manny owns K-Rod, and we're sure to see K-Rod at some point in this ALDS.
Anyway I give the advantage to the Angels. Their pitching is great; and their lineup is stronger, especially with Tori Hunter batting behind Vlad. (By the way, how'd he get that name down in the Dominican?) Anderson is healthy, unlike last year; Figgins gives us fits. They're a tough team.
Enough about the Angels; where have the all the haters gone? I mean, I know the Yankees went home and everything, but how come I don't have haters jumping in any more, talking trash on the Sox? Most of my readers were haters, but since Manny went west, and the Yankees went south, the haters have pulled a collective Houdini act. They're disappeared. You know, maybe it's my theory about A-Rod and the new curse. The Chokeback curse. Maybe it's too terrifying for any of them to confront. Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe D, Yogi, Mickey Mantle, Reggie, Mariano, Jeter, and now, A-Rod. Here's a question for baseball fans - which name doesn't belong on that list? Who's the one guy with a single RBI in his last sixteen post-season games? Who's batting around .140 over that same span? And who gets paid about thirty million dollars a year to perform at that high level? I'm telling you, this guy brought bad karma to the Bronx. And Hank can have all the luxury boxes he wants next year, but if he doesn't find someone who won't choke in October, all you haters are going to be watching football for many Octobers to come.
One more point, go back and read my posting from October 10 of last year, Pinstripe Advice. And after you read that, tell me if I wasn't giving you good advice? Maybe you should have listened to me. On the other hand, maybe you guys aren't privy to all the new shit, who knows? In any event, we'll see you at Keen's.
posted by pops | 8:58 PM
1 Comments:
To all the participates of the 2008 wager:
As a Yankee fan it was a disappointing season but 13 post season appearances is a great run with 4 WS Championships. It would have been nice to have playoff games in the last year of the 'Stadium' but things don't always work out to scrip. We simply did not have adequate starting pitching. Other injuries and personalities played in but if we had gotten 5 combined wins out of Hughes/Kennedy this weekend in Boston would have mattered.
As a Yankee fan I know this will only motivate the organization to evaluate, re-tool and start a new streak in the 'New Stadium'. BTW the 'ghosts' have already moved across the street and are awaiting for the Yankee haters and nay sayers. There will be salary relief for the starting rotation, 1st base and CF. Some of the young guys will fit in better and hopefully challenge the great performance of the redsox farmhands.
Berg - your recount of redsox successes with Beckett and Schilling at the top of their game is true in much the same way the Yankees accomplished success in the 90's. Now the natural cycle rears it ugly head. The Angels have steadily improved and the redsox have plateaued. We all know what is at the end of a plateau a 'cliff'. If the redsox do not perform a 'Thelma and Louise' I will be impressed. The redsox go into the ALDS as underdogs having only won a game out of 9 games played this season. Welcome to the world of a Yankee fan where getting into the post-season is expected and early exits do not provide satisfaction. Berg, I ask you you what will hurt more? Losing to a very strong LAA team or being beaten by last years worse AL East Rays (last year Devil Rays). If the redsox navigate that mine field that will impress otherwise enjoy your car ride until you hit the canyon floor.
Bring on the 2009 season and the beginning of our new streak in the 'new stadium'.
See you at Keen's for trash talk, great food, whisky and hopefully an Obama victory. In either case we drink heavily.
G-man
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