Game 6

With one swing of the bat, J.D. Drew and the Boston Red Sox both had a clean slate.

In the bottom of the first, the Red Sox loaded the bases with back to back infield hits by Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis followed by a walk to David Ortiz. Carmona struck out Manny and got Lowell to pop up to shallow right field, not deep enough to score a run. J.D. Drew came up, and Carmona threw three straight balls. Drew was taking all the way and Carmona delivered strike 1. I was watching the game with my friend Jose at his place and I said "I'd have Drew take this pitch too. 3-1, walk gets a run, Drew's up? Take it. But then again, what do I know?" He agreed with me, as Drew has pretty much sucked with the exception of the back-to-back-to-back-to-back homers he was part of against the Yankees in April and that three game series in Arizona. 3-1 pitch, Drew swings and drives it to centerfield. It looked to be a low line drive, so I'm yelling for it to get over Sizemore's head, whose running back towards the wall trying to chase it. It becomes apparent he's not gonna catch it, and I'm thinking "off the wall, come on, bounce around in the triangle." But the bounce never came. It ended up in the camera well in center field for a grand slam. Everyone in the apartment complex erupted. As I stated earlier, what do I know? I would have had Drew take it.

As far as I'm concerned, that one hit makes up for anything and everything. I'd take that grand slam and his pathetic season any day over him hitting 50 homers during the regular season but striking out to end that inning. If he hit 50 homers and batted .350 and knocked in 140 and won the triple crown or whatever, what difference does that make? The Red Sox win 100 games as opposed to 96? They get the top seed in the AL without relying on the tie breaker? But if Carmona gets out of a bases loaded nobody out in a tie game situation, the games completely different. I refuse to think about it. Moral of the story is J.D. Drew has been absolved of all his sins. What I am thinking about is the fact that for the fourth time in my life, the Boston Red Sox will be playing game 7 of the ALCS.

The Red Sox also got a clean slate tonight. Their backs are still against the wall, but the Indians are too. It's not so insurmountable anymore. Jake Westbrook vs. Diasuke Matsuzaka. I suppose "and friends" should be added to each. Recent Red Sox game 7 history has taught me to expect one team to go to its bullpen REALLY early. That doesn't necessarily mean the team will lose mind you.

For the past three or four days, the Boston Red Sox have been one loss away from elimination. Now, the Boston Red Sox are one win away from the World Series.

Here goes nothing

This is what it all comes down to ladies and gentlemen. We are guaranteed one last game of Red Sox baseball in 2007. Depending on what they do with this one game, we might be fortunate enough to have another.

I wanted to buy a Schilling Jersey for the game. I went to several stores looking for one. I found the home white one and the alternate home red one. The both had "SCHILLING" on the back, which is unrealistic as the Red Sox don't put the player names on the backs of their home jerseys. Boston fans know the players by number. I didn't get either cause if I'm paying that much I want it to be realistic. Also, I really wanted the road gray one anyway, for reason I may or may not have mentioned previously.

But alas, now is not the time to discuss that. Now is the time for playoff baseball.

I love that dirty water...oh, Boston you're my home!

Game 5

I'm shipping up to Boston (woah-oh-oh)
Shipping up to Boston (woah-oh)
I'm shipping up to Boston (woah-oh-oh)
Shipping off to find my wooden leg.

No idea what that has to do with baseball, but that's the song they play everytime Papelbon starts warming up on the mound at Fenway. It's pretty surreal. As he's running in from the bullpen, they play "Wild Thing" like in Major League. Then once he gets set on the mound and comes to the set, the Dropkick Murphy's "Shipping Up to Boston" blares. Hopefully Fox'll show it Saturday Night.

So, there's so many things I wanna say, but I haven't really had time to process. Basically, it comes down to these two points:

1. Two wins in the ALCS is just as irrelevant as one win is just as irrelevant as zero wins. Nothing has been accomplished.
2. Josh Beckett is everything that Roger Clemens never was, never could be and never will be. Clemens routinely choked and was knocked around, ejected in the second inning (many think purposely cause he couldn't deal with the pressure), allegedly begged to come out of the World Series, etc. Beckett is everything Bostonians expected Clemens to be, everything Clemens could have been, everything he should have been- but wasn't. Win or lose this series, Josh Beckett is the greatest post season pitcher in Boston Red Sox history. You put Beckett on the '86 team and there is no "Curse of the Bambino." You put Clemens on the 2007 team and there is no game five, let alone game six. Someone as dominating as him deserves another shot. He's pitched too well and worked too hard to not get a crack at Colorado.

So, it all comes down to this. Fausto Carmona vs Curt Schilling. Just win this game. Seriously. I don't want Cleveland to ever win a championship. I especially don't want Kenny Loftin to ever win a championship. Don't let them go into the World Series rested. Beat them, tire them out, do whatever. Just win this game. Game six is all I ask. Just win game six.

Calm before the storm

So, this is what it all comes down to. Josh Beckett vs C.C. Sabathia.

Just win tonight. All you have to do is win tonight. If for nothing else but to tire the hell out of Cleveland. Don't let Cleveland go into the World Series fully rested. Just win tonight.

Game 4

I thought for a few minutes what to title this post. The above is the only thing I could come up with.

World Championship caliber baseball teams do not allow 7 runs in one inning. It might happen once, as a fluke, in the regular season. But to happen in the post season is disgusting. Again, perhaps we could write it off as a fluke, until it happens twice...in the same series.

I sent my friend Luke a text message after the Indians fifth. "I don't think the Red Sox are going to the World Series..." I stand by that statement.

It's quite unfortunate. Aside from those two half innings, the top of the 11th in game 2 and the bottom of the 5th in game 4, the Red Sox have played excellent. I really don't think Cleveland is that good. That could be jealousy, it could be being a sore loser, it could be whatever you wanna call it. It doesn't matter. They're not. I just can't understand how the Red Sox could melt down twice in the same series like this. I don't know.

One thing I'll say for Cleveland: I think they love and care about each other. You can tell every time they score a run or win a game just by the way they celebrate. The Red Sox celebrate in a way I would celebrate getting a problem correct with other graduate students. In a very professional and business like manner. No big deal. We did our job. Kind of the feeling I got from the Yankees from 1996 till now. Cleveland celebrates like a family would a wedding or a birth or something. Perhaps this is an X factor or whatever. Something I think Cleveland shares with the 2004 Red Sox. I don't know. It's just something I've noticed.

The last two Red Sox teams to win the American League Pennant were 1986 and 2004. In both those series, the Sox trailed 3-1. In both those series, the Red Sox were also losing game 5 in the 8th inning. Perhaps this is just the only way for the Red Sox to win a pennant. I'm pretty sure either '85 or '86 was the first year of the best of seven LCS, so we can't compare to the 1975, '67, '46, '18, '16, '15, '12, '04, and '03 teams.

At any rate, I still take Beckett over anyone. Hopefully the Red Sox win game 5. Then they're better off than the 2004 team. '04 had to win two in a row at Yankee Stadium after game 5. If the 2007 version can live to see Friday Morning, games 6 and 7 are at Fenway Park.

Beckett, Schilling, Matsuzaka. Those are the three you would have wanted in control of your destiny before the season. The 2004 version had Pedro (2004 Pedro, not automatic win Pedro from '97-2002ish), Schilling (pitching with that sutured ankle or whatever...) and cast away Derek Lowe. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Panic Button

All day, people have been calling in WEEI and demanding that Coco Crisp, J.D. Drew, and Julio Lugo are benched for Jacoby Ellsbury, Bobby Kielty, and Alex Cora. Others are demanding Josh Beckett tonight instead of Tim Wakefield. There's even demand for Julian "Automatic Win Day" Tavarez to take Gagne's spot on the post season roster. That's not legal unless Gagne gets hurt... Francona heard the same cries in 2004, when Mark Bellhorn was 0 for games 1-5 in the ALCS and fan favorite Pokey Reese was riding the bench. Francona stuck with Bellhorn who hit the game winning homer in game 6, another homer in game 7 and either the game tying or winning (can't remember) homer in game 1 of the World Series. Will Francoma magic strike again? Get it? Francoma? Cause he's not making changes...like he's in a coma? And it's working? No? Ok.

So, it's 2-1, but it feels urgent. It feels like it's an elimination night. Win or go home. The last time I remember this sense of urgency is... never. Before 2004 there was always a sense of impending doom, and usually people are reluctant to urge doom. In 2005 the Sox were eliminated by the Sox before any mass sense could settle. In 2006 the Sox were hurt and just collapsed and the Patriots started up before anyone knew what hit them.

By the way, I don't believe I've ever honored the 2004 Red Sox World Series Roster. Teams always bring back old heroes for important playoff games to set the mood. I can't really bring any of them to be guest posters or anything, but I can name them all. This seems like as good a night as any to list, from memory, as any good New England boy and girl should be able to do at a moments notice.

3 Calvin "Pokey" Reese
7 Christopher Trotworth "Trot" Nixon
11 Bill Mueller
12 Mark Bellhorn
13 Doug Mientkiewitz (spelling?)
15 Kevin Millar
18 Johnny Damon
19 Gabe Kaplar
20 Kevin Youkilis
24 Manny Rameriz
28 Doug Mirabelli
29 Keith Foulke
30 Curtis Leskanic
31 Dave Roberts
32 Derek Lowe
33 Jason Varitek
34 David Ortiz
36 Mike Myers
38 Curt Schilling
43 Alan Embree
44 Orlindo Cabrera
45 Pedro Martinez
49 Tim Wakefield
50 Mike Timlin
61 Bronson Arroyo

what now?

well, i've finally turned baseball back on. it took me a little while to deal with the pain of the phillies leaving the postseason pitifully.

i mean honestly... they really sucked it up. no offense at ALL... which is obviously VERY abnormal for them... with their nl-leading highest scoring offense.

the one thing that's offering me a bit of solace is that the rockies still haven't lost a game since, like... september. they're currently 20/21... with another win coming soon. as i write this, they're up 6-1 in the bottom of the 7th. they seem unbeatable. i'm not sure why... but they just can't lose!

so what now? well.... i hate to say it... but, i'm rooting for the indians in the al... and the rockies in the nl. it feels weird to me to root against the red sox... cuz i'm used to rooting for them in the al. however, they're on my bad side right now. so, i'm rooting for the indians.

now... as for the world series... i have NO idea what to do. it's almost a guarantee that the rockies are going to the big game... and i may root for them no matter what. i just think their streak is unbelievable and makes it worth cheering them on.

the al is up for grabs. it could go either way at this point.

five more outs for the rockies until they're officially crowned the national league champions!

ps... the greatest thing about the nl playoffs being on tbs is the frank calliendo commercials. they CRACK ME UP.

4 outs away.

there aren't many things in life that i think are better than postseason baseball.

WHOA! 3-run homer for the d'backs. 6-4. you just never know.

i love baseball!!!!

Game 3

I hate the Cleveland Indians. I was once told hate was a strong word. If I could find a stronger one I'd use it.

I'm actually more disappointed in the Red Sox. Sabathia and Carmona were proven to be no match for the Red Sox the first two games. Therefore, there is no logical explanation for why the Red Sox are down 2-1.

Wakefield takes the hill tomorrow. I guess regardless of what happens Tuesday Night, they '07 Red Sox are in just as good a position as the '04 Red Sox were.

Game 2

Well, I honestly thought I'd be blogging about how Manny was a hero again. Don't get me wrong, he was. His two run bomb not only put him in first place all time for career post season homeruns, it also tied the game at 5 and set up Mike Lowell's go ahead 1 run shot.

But, the Sox blew that lead. And Eric Gagne, who has been the biggest trade deadline bust in the history of the world, came out in the 11th inning of a 6-6 game. He had a short leash, as evidence of the fact that he was pulled after walking someone, leaving men on first and second and only having retired one batter. Javier Lopez comes in to face old friend Trot Nixon, pinch hitting. In Boston, Trot never ever got a hit off a left handed pitcher. Until Sunday Morning at 1:30 AM that is. And then Cleveland just poured on, scoring 7 which is apparently a MLB record for most runs scored in an extra inning of a postseason game.

So, the series is tied 1-1. It's exactly what Cleveland wanted before the series began. We more or less have a five game series, one in which the Indians have home field advantage.

The Red Sox obviously need to take 1 in Cleveland. Otherwise the series is over. But I'm asking for 2. Take 2 out of 3 at Jacobs field and come back to Boston up 3-2. Then everything will be fine.

Game 1

The Red Sox dominated last night, 10-3. It wasn't even funny. Manny had another good night, making two spectacular catches in left field and knocking in three runs. Beckett was in cruise control the entire night and came out after six innings with a pitch count of 80. The announcers kept talking of him coming back on short rest to pitch game four. I'd only consider that if the Sox are down 2-1. Unlike any year previous to this in my life time, the Red Sox are the clear cut best team, so it's kinda unnecessary. Right now, at this instance, I think they can win with any of their pitchers on the mound. In '99 I would have done anything to have Pedro pitch every playoff game, because he was the one shot to win. Unlike Pedro, Beckett has help. No need to risk him getting hurt.

Schilling is on the mound tonight against Carmona. I was terrified of this matchup before the series, but something about the Red Sox winning 10-3 in game one relaxes me. I think I've been lulled into a false sense of security. We shall see tonight

...in other news...

The Indians will not win the World Series. A Cleveland sports collapse is like watching a great Shakespearian tragedy: You know everyone dies at the end, but you enjoy seeing how it happens.

Also: The Patriots are overrated.

Ok, I've made my World Series champion pick....

I think the Padres are going to win it all! They've been tearing it up recently.

Who agrees with me?