Sports Redux: Here Comes That Sinking Feeling

As Northeast-centric as we are, we kind of assumed that the other LDS ended the way it did because the Yankees had porous starting pitching, a weak bullpen, an aging core, and a superstar still yet to prove himself in October ("Yankees suck", in the parlance of our times). But maybe Cleveland really is that good.

Their bullpen has matched or bettered our bullpen (and that's not even counting Gagne), their hitters are getting timely hits while we keep hitting into double plays, and Jake Westbrook, whose sinkerball flummoxed the Sox all night, looked like a guy that was worth spending millions and millions of dollars to import. While Daisuke didn't.

Daisuke, who may still be in uniform, sitting by his locker, didn't pitch horribly, but all four runs in the 4-2 Indians win were charged to him. Except for Varitek's home run, the Red Sox barely made Jake Westbrook sweat. And when they did, he induced a double play.

So it's 2-1, Cleveland, and Terry Francona is sticking with the plan of giving the ball to Tim Wakefield tonight. Terry should count himself lucky that he was in the dugout and didn't have to hear 4 1/2 innings (we counted) of lobbying by Joe Buck and Tim McCarver to start Beckett instead. Guys...that horse is dead. First of all, if you start Beckett and the unthinkable happens and Josh loses, then it's all over.

Second of all, if you are going to make any moves in the lineup, can we suggest (and we know this isn't exactly the most original idea in the world) putting Ellsbury in instead of Drew? The offense is stagnating; why not replace a stiff with a guy who can get on base and ignite a rally? Or if you think J.D.'s single yesterday is the sign he turned the corner, replace Coco, who's not doing much. This team needs the proverbial kick in the proverbial pants or we're going to start getting negative.

Congratulations to the Colorado Rockies, who have now won 1,453 games in a row and swept Arizona out of the NLCS. Now they have to wait a week before the play the Indians or the Sox in the World Series.

Go get 'em, Wake.