Bostonist: Sports Redux: Wild-Card Fever Grips Hub, Again

VinF

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:17:21 -0500

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.

MJG

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:00:16 -0500

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.

Kerry Skemp

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:23:30 -0500

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!).

VinF

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:54:38 -0500

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.