Seriously, this was a great series. I might have lost a year or 2 during it but it was fun. Tip my cap to the Angels, they played hard all series and showed a lot of heart. They were tough. Something that will be overlooked will be Wiltis driving for Bay's hit. He should have let it drop and keep him at first. Hopefully we'll see the old Beckett next series, if so we'll be tough vs. the Rays. Lester was an absolute stud tonight. He's definitely proving he's a big game pitcher.
grats. GL against the Rays. You guys just come up with more clutch hits, and play solid d for 9 innings.
This series was so close, it easily could have been the Angels winning in 3 or 4, or even 5. The Angels have nothing to feel bad about, the team played with heart and hard and really gave it to the Sox. Every pitch and out was a battle.
Yes, I'm glad we at least showed up this time around, and didnt lay down like dogs once we fell behind. It was a tense series, I need a beer and a nap lol.
Well I guess it's not too early to start talking ALCS. Who pitches Game 1? IF Beckett is fully healthy I think you have to give him the ball, followed by Lester in Game 2, Matsuzaka in Game 3, probably Paul Byrd in Game 4 (only because Wakefield sucked the last time he faced the Rays but does have good numbers in Domes so it's tough). Then you have Beckett Game 5, Lester Game 6 and pray there's no Game 7. I do think there's a day off in Between Games 4 and 5, not sure if this changes anything.
I'm very nervous about this series. I can't exactly put my finger on why, but I feel like this is a really bad matchup for us. I hope this series doesn't come down to our respective bullpens, because if that is the case, we WILL lose.
A couple of quotes from an article in the LA Times today. I thought some of you might enjoy these: "We lost to a team that's not better than us," growled pitcher John Lackey, who gave up two runs and seven hits in seven innings. "We are a better team than they are. The last two days, we shouldn't have given up anything." "[Sunday] night they scored three runs on a pop fly that was called a hit, which was a joke," Lackey said, referring to Ellsbury's pop that fell between center fielder Torii Hunter and second baseman Howie Kendrick in Game 3. "[Monday] night they scored on a broken-bat ground ball and a fly ball that anywhere else in America is an out, and he's fist-pumping on second base like he did something great." "I'm [ticked], I'm upset, this one's going to be with me for a while," Hunter said. "It doesn't feel good, because we're a better team than they are. But they're moving on." Red Sox send Angels home again - Los Angeles Times I understand their frustration, but the two teams are very evenly matched (even without some of our key guys).
I'm kind of looking forward to a LA Mannys vs the Bay Sox's That would be the most interesting series.
Yeah I saw those comments from Lackey and he doesn't make himself look good. Funny he doesn't mention the past ball by Tek in the 8th or the fact that the Sox defense was solid all series while the Angels were shakey. Someone should mention to Lackey that he was one of the goats in 04 and 07.
Lackey & Hunter are a couple of sore losers. We just beat them in a 5 game series.. The team that wins the 5 game series is the better team. Period! This wasn't some 1 game fluke! How can you say that about a team who just took 3 out 4 games from you and not look like a fool?
It all ended well I know but at the time I actually thought that after walking Vlad, we should have walked Hunter to load the bases
Congratulations .....again!!! on beating us in a playoff series.I thought you guys played a good series,but I can't say the same for my Halos.I thought Kendrick's and Aybar's inexperience showed up big time in this series.
Someone should also tell Lackey that he was outpitched by Lester on both instances in which he took the ball this series.
I was surprised that Hunter had as good of a series as he did. I always thought he was a bit overrated at the plate because he was a good CFer but he showed me a lot, as he was a tough out. But he should shut his mouth. He almost was out for the season jumping up and arguing with an ump (I was shocked he could play after that, the replays looked ugly). He also dropped a fairly routine play in the OF, he didn't take charge and let Ellsbury's ball drop in front of him in Game 3 and got thrown out trying to get to 2nd in Game 3 in the 9th as well. As good as he was with the bat he was equally bad in the field and on the bases. Again they both point out to how 'lucky' the Sox got but what about Varitek's past ball in the 8th? Without that who knows if Hunter gets that hit in the 8th and even if he did the Angels would have been down by 1 run. I disagree. Masterson can be a bit wild and does tend to walk people, I'd rather him just attack Hunter and hope for the best. It didn't work out but I'd rather make the team hit the ball and beat us instead of our pitcher walking in a run and not even give the defense a chance to help out.
Wake over Byrd is a head scratcher for sure. I like going with Matsuzaka in Game 1, meaning he'll be going Game 5 (at Fenway) and thus not having to rely on him if the series shifts back to Tampa. In that case, we'll be going with our big guns if we need to have either Game 6 or Game 7 (or both).
Dice-K has been pretty good on the road so hopefully he can come through in game 1. Tito sticks with his guys so its not that surprising that Wake will get the start over Byrd.
I think the main reason for Wakefield is that it would be harder with him coming out of the pen to pitch if needed, as you'd have to take out Varitek, plus you couldn't bring Wake in with runners on or a close game because he is known to give up the long ball. Although the big negative with Wakefield is that TB is very fast so those guys will be looking to run all over the place on him. I trust the Sox in making the right choice here, they've more than earned it.
ahhhhh.... all is right in the world... (well, 'cept for that peak oil/financial collapse thing)... Red Sox right where they belong after a tough season... Dolphins on the way back... Ring 'em up, Daisuke!!!!
First, welcome back, Press.. Secondly, I want to reiterate how nervous I am about this series. IMO, all of our hopes are riding on Beckett. Dominant starting pitching can win you a playoff series, and we need both Lester and Beckett to be dominant. If Beckett isn't pitching like his former postseason-self, I just don't see how we're winning this series. Let's hope they go a combined 4-0 (if it goes 7).
The media all have a hard-on over the possibility of a Manny versus Red Sox World Series. It's disgusting how they have overlooked Tampa Bay and Philly.
Couldn't agree more. To be honest, I don't think any of the fans on this thread would say that the Red Sox, given health concerns (Ortiz, Lowell, Drew, Beckett), are a better team than the Rays at this point. Thankfully though, you don't need to have the better team to win a 7 game series. Our ace-in-the-hole is the best 1-2 punch in baseball (if healthy) at the top of our rotation. As for the NLCS, I think the Phillies take that series. Yeah, when Manny's locked in he's virtually impossible to get out... with that being said though, the rest of that LA lineup is not scaring anyone. The Phillies are the better team and will prove it during this series, IMO.
Press you finally found us. Glad to have you back in the mix. It's 0-0 in the 3rd, Dice-K is terrorizing me on an inning to inning basis, but is still hitting the corners late in the counts when he needs it.
Just a HUGE win tonight. Tomorrow we're playing with house money, as I think any Sox fan would sign up for a split. Hopefully Beckett shows everyone he's healthy. Matsuzaka was an adventure but hey he was very good tonight. No one is questioning Francona now having Dice go game 1. Masterson was great too, I really think he's going to be a stud set up guy especially because he's just 1 pitch away from a DP if runners are on. I did think the game was over once Pena swung at that 3-0 pitch from Okajima and popped out. I thought it was bad baseball on Pena's part, especially considering Longoria was on deck and Okie wasn't anywhere near the plate. Tomorrow Beckett/Kazmir, can't wait.
Huge win and I will give Dice-K props and say he pitched a great game. Hoping to see the Beckett we all know tomorrow. I thought the Sox would win in 6 hope that works out.
Big win guys... I'll be the first to admit that I was wrong about Daisuke. I hope I'm wrong about the series as a whole. Huge game tonight.
I'm sorry but Mike Timlin shouldn't have pitched over Byrd tonight. Was there anyone, anywhere that didn't think TB was going to win the game as soon as he took them ball?Timlin was very important for the Sox in '04 and '07 but he just isn't good anymore. And really he doesn't deserve to be on the roster (it was beyond funny reading all the articles about how he was pissed he was left off the roster in the ALDS). Of course none of this would have happened if Beckett was healthy.
Oh well, the Sox needed to split in TB and they did. They just have to get back on track with Lester in Game 3. Again though this is all for nothing if Beckett isn't Big Game Beckett.
I couldn't agree more. Timlin should be the absolute last option in all situations. The guy is done. Tough loss last night, Beckett was pathetic.
That was a very tough loss and the Red Sox very well could have won. Beckett pitched 1 inning too long and it cost us. Timlin is done and I felt the game was over when he came in. I was praying to see Byrd out there. The Rays also got 2 huge calls in the 12th that very well may have cost us the game.
The bottom of our lineup is a black hole in terms of production. Lowrie, Varitek and Kotsay haven't been able to get on base. Also, Ellsbury and Ortiz have been beyond poor. With the way Crisp is swinging the bat, I wouldn't be opposed to seeing him lead off and dropping Ellsbury down to 9th. We need our leadoff hitter to get on in front of Pedroia, Youkilis and Bay. It all comes down to Beckett, though. This series is going back to Tampa and we're gonna need Beckett to step up in Game 6. Whether or not he can, will determine the fate of our season.