September 11, 2008
Sports Redux: Wild-Card Fever Grips Hub, Again
We think we can officially admit that Tampa Bay isn't just going to go away. For weeks, while the Red Sox played very good ball, only to see the Rays blow through the rest of the AL, our mantra was always, "we've got six shots left at these guys". Now we're down to three, the Sox haven't won in Tampa Bay all year, and the half-game deficit has ballooned to two and a half. Uh oh.
The Sox at least made the Rays sweat last night, or at least work OT, as they went 14 innings until Carlos Pena crushed a Mike Timlin pitch into the Monster seats for a 4-1 lead. The Sox were hoping to do to their closer what they did to ours on Tuesday, and came close - Ellsbury doubled to lead off the 14th, and Troy Percival walked the next two guys. Rays manager Joe Maddon had seen enough, and brought in Jason Hammel, who let one run in on a sac fly, but then closed the door for the 4-2 win.
So the Red Sox aren't taking over first because of Dan Johnson and Jason Hammel. This is truly a different world we live in.
Except for Timlin's gopher ball, there's nothing to complain about regarding the Sox pitching. Josh Beckett was in form, giving up one run in six innings, and four pre-Timlin relievers did their jobs admirably. Now they have to regroup, as the suddenly terrifying Jays come to town for the weekend. The Rays are in New York, and at this point, whoever loses will make us happy.
Tom Brady's injury was clarified yesterday. He tore the ACL (which we knew) and the MCL, a double whammy that takes about nine months to recover from, after surgery. The Globe says Randy Moss is ready to step up as the offensive leader, while The Onion covers the ripple effects of Brady's injury.
If you missed it the other night, the Rockies/Braves game ended with a walk-off balk. The only way we would have loved that story more is if it had involved Eric Gagne.
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Those were three good games against Tampa Bay. Either team could have won any game.
However, I don't understand Francona not starting Ortiz in Game 2 (good lefty pitching or not, that was a game for first place), not starting one of his hottest hitter of recent days, Crisp, in Game 3 (couldn't he have sat Kotsay for the night? what has Kotsay done to deserve this start?), not sending in Ellsbury as a pinch-runner until 2 were out in the ninth on Tuesday, looking to have Varitek bunt in the 9th Tuesday when we all knew that would mean an intentional walk for Ortiz, now in the game, and especially for needlessly bringing in Papelbon in a 7-1 game on Sunday when he might have needed him to be rested for two or three games vs. TB.
On the positive side, I will admit that Manny Delcarmen pitched well last night, and it is nice to see the Yankees totally collapsing.
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i hate to disagree with the wisdom of the onion, but i feel like the injury might actually increase brady's visibility. after all, he can still model (and act!).
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Using Paplebon three straight nights looks like an error now. But, he hadn't pitched for six days before the game Sunday.
The big thing to take away from this series is the setting up of the playoff starters, well, two of them. Beckett (6IP, 1 R) and Lester (7.2IP, 0R) pitched well. Daisuke (5IP, 3R) was just okay.
Is it Dan F. Johnson yet? Shaughnessy could tell us.
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My opinion: I know that Papelbon had not pitched for 6 days before Sunday, but I still would have made it 7 since the Tampa Bay series was a biggie, and that is followed by a series with a red-hot Toronto team and then another three with TB. If it was a save situation on Sunday, fine, but a 7-1 game is a good time to let Papelbon rest one more day since they will need him more and more in the big games like these to be played down the stretch.
Also, Francona is so big on rest for Ortiz and Crisp, he should be even more interested in rest when he can get it for the right arm of his closer, Cinco Ocho.