Jason Being Manny - Part II
Remember August, when Jason Bay scored twice in his first game at Fenway, the second run being a walk-off in extra innings? And then remember when he stayed hot all month - scoring runs, and knocking in runs - and the Sox played their best baseball of the year? Well, that was the regular season, and while Bay was clearly helping his new team, and playing the game the right way and all that, what would he do come October? If the Sox actually managed to find themselves in the post-season, wouldn't we miss Manny's bat? And how well could Bay continue to play in the pressure-packed play-offs?
Two games into the post-season, and the answers seem to be, not too much, and pretty darn well. In his first two Boston play-off games, Bay has hit two huge home runs. Both were fairly early in the games; both staked the Sox to leads they managed to hold. Most importantly, both were on the road against the team that seemed to own the Sox all through 2008. With five RBIs, and batting over .550, he's kept us from missing Manny. More than that, he's led the Sox offense, and staked the team to an unlikely 2-0 lead in the ALDS. (A nod to JD Drew as well, who hit the game winner last night, a two-run shot in the ninth.)
Now it's back to Boston, and here's hoping that Beckett's oblique has healed. I know that Lester played the role of ace in Game One, virtually shutting down the Angels, but we need Beckett to dominate once again, if the Sox are to finish this thing off. Dice-K was inconsistent last night, again using too many pitches, and not going past the fifth inning. So as good as Lester was, he can't carry the team all by himself. We still need a healthy Beckett.
Meanwhile, Manny and Torre won two on the road, and return to LA needing only one more win to find themselves in the NLCS. Manny too has hit a couple homers, extending his all-time post-season home run record. Derek Lowe picked up the win in Game One. And while Girardi and Jeter are working on their golf games, Torre has his team poised to play for yet another pennant. I wonder if Hank is paying attention? What say you haters about that?
Two games into the post-season, and the answers seem to be, not too much, and pretty darn well. In his first two Boston play-off games, Bay has hit two huge home runs. Both were fairly early in the games; both staked the Sox to leads they managed to hold. Most importantly, both were on the road against the team that seemed to own the Sox all through 2008. With five RBIs, and batting over .550, he's kept us from missing Manny. More than that, he's led the Sox offense, and staked the team to an unlikely 2-0 lead in the ALDS. (A nod to JD Drew as well, who hit the game winner last night, a two-run shot in the ninth.)
Now it's back to Boston, and here's hoping that Beckett's oblique has healed. I know that Lester played the role of ace in Game One, virtually shutting down the Angels, but we need Beckett to dominate once again, if the Sox are to finish this thing off. Dice-K was inconsistent last night, again using too many pitches, and not going past the fifth inning. So as good as Lester was, he can't carry the team all by himself. We still need a healthy Beckett.
Meanwhile, Manny and Torre won two on the road, and return to LA needing only one more win to find themselves in the NLCS. Manny too has hit a couple homers, extending his all-time post-season home run record. Derek Lowe picked up the win in Game One. And while Girardi and Jeter are working on their golf games, Torre has his team poised to play for yet another pennant. I wonder if Hank is paying attention? What say you haters about that?
posted by pops | 7:27 AM
3 Comments:
jkqjsqJon Lester better have the game of his life tonight, I dread having to rely on Dice-K in a game five; we will need a Kol Nidre miracle.
Although, it was on Kol Nidre in 1986 that Dave Henderson hit his miracle home run in the ninth inning of game five of the ALCS in Anaheim against the Angels that lead to the Sox eventually making it into the series aganist the Mets (ouch).
And I need sleep....
Sleep? Who sleeps in October, except Yankee fans?
Thank you David, I fee less gulity now.
The other problem I potentially face though, if the Sox don't wrap it up is: Ellen will frown on my turning on the television set Wednesday night when we return from synagogue.
You know, it's been a swell marriage of 29 years and all that, but I'm going to be facing some tough choices on Wednesday: Marital peace vs. Game Five, well I guess that's a no-brainer, the Sox will need me more.
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