Returning to Fenway for Game Six
For obvious reasons, I haven't been able to post over the past week, but Susan is doing better, perhaps heading home tomorrow, and I need to get one posting up while the Series is still ongoing.
Great win last night, and it's amazing that they took two out of three in St. Louis, against a terrific Cardinals team. In fact, had they not made a hundred and one mistakes in Game Three, both on the field and in the dugout, the Sox might have swept those three games. Having said that however, the Cards have a great pitching staff, and no one is conceding these final two games, even if they will be played in Fenway. Boston will not have a picnic tomorrow night, facing Wacha for the second time. And if this thing goes to Game Seven, I'm not sure who will start for Boston. Peavy? Doubront? How about Pedro or Curt Schilling?
One thing I find interesting is that, although the entire lineup has contributed in this post-season -- they wouldn't have made it past the Tigers without huge hits from Napoli and Victorino -- it's been the four guys who played in 2007 who have anchored this year's post-season run, especially in the Series. John Lester has been incredible, notwithstanding the fact that the talking heads all seemed to focus on Wainwright before last night's game. Just like the ALCS, most of the talk has been about the opposing pitching staff; Boston's rotation, as good as it has been, has been largely overlooked. Until last night. After Lester once again shut down the Cardinals, and gave up a single earned run in fifteen-plus innings, and by the way, won two games when he went head to head with their ace, now the pundits are finally giving him his due.
And speaking of incredible, what is there to say about Papi's post-season performance? Couple home runs in the Division Series; the game tying grand slam in Game Two of the ALCS, probably the biggest hit of the entire season; and all of that a prelude to his .733 batting average in the series. Check out this number: after the first five games, Papi's On-Base-Plus-Slugging is 2.017!!! Who ever heard of a number like that? I've been amazed that the Cardinals are still pitching to him. Especially last night, when first base was open after Pedroia had doubled. Why not just put him on first and pitch to Gomes? Whatever the reason, I'm glad the Cards keep testing him, and keep allowing him to add to his singular post-season resume.
Pedroia's bat hasn't been as hot as it could have been, but his play in the field has been stellar. That play at the end of Game Three, when he threw out Molina at the plate, would have gone down in Sox lore, had Salty not chosen to throw the ball away needlessly. All through the post-season, Pedroia has made one remarkable play after another, and the combination of Drew and Pedie has made the Sox a formidable defensive team. The importance of that cannot be overstated, when one considers the level of starting pitching the Sox have faced all through the post-season.
I have watched the start of every game from Susan's hospital room, although because the games typically run so late, I'm home in time for the final out. Speaking of which, didn't Koji do a great job last night? With Lester going so deep into the game, Koji gave the rest of the pen a chance to recover. Let's hope that Breslow can recover his pre-series form; maybe Farrell will help out by letting him start an inning, and not come into another pressure-cooker situation. Let's also hope that Susan gets discharged tomorrow, and that we can watch Game Six at home, in front of our TV, with a Rusty Nail close at hand. Go Sox!
Great win last night, and it's amazing that they took two out of three in St. Louis, against a terrific Cardinals team. In fact, had they not made a hundred and one mistakes in Game Three, both on the field and in the dugout, the Sox might have swept those three games. Having said that however, the Cards have a great pitching staff, and no one is conceding these final two games, even if they will be played in Fenway. Boston will not have a picnic tomorrow night, facing Wacha for the second time. And if this thing goes to Game Seven, I'm not sure who will start for Boston. Peavy? Doubront? How about Pedro or Curt Schilling?
One thing I find interesting is that, although the entire lineup has contributed in this post-season -- they wouldn't have made it past the Tigers without huge hits from Napoli and Victorino -- it's been the four guys who played in 2007 who have anchored this year's post-season run, especially in the Series. John Lester has been incredible, notwithstanding the fact that the talking heads all seemed to focus on Wainwright before last night's game. Just like the ALCS, most of the talk has been about the opposing pitching staff; Boston's rotation, as good as it has been, has been largely overlooked. Until last night. After Lester once again shut down the Cardinals, and gave up a single earned run in fifteen-plus innings, and by the way, won two games when he went head to head with their ace, now the pundits are finally giving him his due.
And speaking of incredible, what is there to say about Papi's post-season performance? Couple home runs in the Division Series; the game tying grand slam in Game Two of the ALCS, probably the biggest hit of the entire season; and all of that a prelude to his .733 batting average in the series. Check out this number: after the first five games, Papi's On-Base-Plus-Slugging is 2.017!!! Who ever heard of a number like that? I've been amazed that the Cardinals are still pitching to him. Especially last night, when first base was open after Pedroia had doubled. Why not just put him on first and pitch to Gomes? Whatever the reason, I'm glad the Cards keep testing him, and keep allowing him to add to his singular post-season resume.
Pedroia's bat hasn't been as hot as it could have been, but his play in the field has been stellar. That play at the end of Game Three, when he threw out Molina at the plate, would have gone down in Sox lore, had Salty not chosen to throw the ball away needlessly. All through the post-season, Pedroia has made one remarkable play after another, and the combination of Drew and Pedie has made the Sox a formidable defensive team. The importance of that cannot be overstated, when one considers the level of starting pitching the Sox have faced all through the post-season.
I have watched the start of every game from Susan's hospital room, although because the games typically run so late, I'm home in time for the final out. Speaking of which, didn't Koji do a great job last night? With Lester going so deep into the game, Koji gave the rest of the pen a chance to recover. Let's hope that Breslow can recover his pre-series form; maybe Farrell will help out by letting him start an inning, and not come into another pressure-cooker situation. Let's also hope that Susan gets discharged tomorrow, and that we can watch Game Six at home, in front of our TV, with a Rusty Nail close at hand. Go Sox!
posted by pops | 3:57 PM
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