October 6, 2008
Sports Redux: Well, It's A Series
That was a long wait for some bad news, wasn't it? The bad news is that past results are NOT indicative of future success, and apparently the Angels aren't going to go away quietly after all. Now the Red Sox have to learn from the adversity that they had to wait for until the second round in 2004 and 2007.
The blame for last night's loss, sadly, can be placed in a few different place. Certainly, Josh Beckett was anything but his usual October self: laboring, struggling, surrendering a titanic Mike Napoli home run. But when you've got the bases loaded, you ought to bring one in, even if the game is on the line and the single-season save-record holder is on the mound.
Things looked good early; even though Beckett walked in an Angels run, the Sox got three back when nobody volunteered to catch Ellsbury's pop-up, resulting in the first three-run single in playoff history. Napoli homered again, Youkilis tied it with a double, and the bullpens went to work. The Sox almost got to K-Rod again, loading the bases in the 10th before Lowrie flew out to end it. Finally, AnaheimOrWhatever broke through against Javier Lopez, and that was that.
It's too bad, because once it went to extra innings, we were prepared to say that Anaheim manager Mike Sciocia's vow ("we're not getting eliminated tonight") actually came true, assuming that they got eliminated after midnight. Oh well.
If you're inclined to worry (and we know you are), you can start now. The Angels have shaken the monkey off their back. Papelbon's been pitching overtime for two games now. In Lester we trust. We must.
The Patriots recovered from their debacle against Miami, and a shaky first quarter, to put together a solid win in San Francisco. Matt Cassel unleashed his first Moss-bound bomb, hitting Randy for a 66-yard TD pass late in the first. The Pats managed the clock well, sent Kevin Faulk in for two scores, and the defense stood tall after a couple of long 49er drives. SF only got 12 first downs, which is nice. This was the first time the Patriots had ever won at Candlestick. They'll stay out west all week before heading to San Diego next Sunday.
Photo by Elise Amendola/AP.
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I'm skeptical of the ability of the LAA to win a meaningful series. But, Boston had no business even being in that game, and it was really not a good time to not show up for a game. They'd have probably lost in nine if not for Ellsbury's unprecedented fluke of a three-RBI single.
I expect Lester to pitch well enough to win. And, Papelbon will be on the mound in the ninth if the Sox are ahead.
The Pats should beat SF.
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I agree that the Red Sox were lucky to be in the game, given the three-run popup single by Ellsbury got them most of their runs.
I also agree that when you have your chances you need to capitalize on them.
The biggest question that I have is why Francona did not send Sean Casey up to pinch hit for Cora with 2 out and 1 on in 12th. Casey hit over .300 this year (though I'm not sure how), so he CAN hit. It is not clear that Casey would have done anything more than Cora did, but why have him on your bench in the post-season if you are not going to use him in a situation like this? If Boston had tied the game Casey could have played first in the 13th, Youkilis moved from first to third, and Jed Lowrie moved from third back to short. Sigh!