I was actually talking about the ALCS in that post :) but the NLCS looks pretty darn good too.
These games are tense --Red Sox -Rays was 1-0 most of the way with both teams threatening many times and then getting shutdown over and over which makes for a lot of pacing, strange antics and superstition from me..and its only game ONE....
These teams are pretty evenly matched and although the Red Sox have a slight leg up at the moment --it could very well go 7--
I love love love the emotional intensity of playoff baseball,
If I get charged and maybe go a little over the top during this period you'll know why.
well yea good to watch----worst managed game of the year from a Red Sox standpoint though.
No way Beckett should have been in there as long as he was while giving up 8 runs--
It was easy to see in the first inning that Playoff Beckett certainly wasnt there, Reg Season Beckett wasnt even there--That was injured Josh out there--and if he's hurtin he generally gives up 8 -Why stake 8 Runs before you make a move when you could come close to putting the series away?
Theres a fifth starter (Paul Byrd) who isnt scheduled in the series who could have stepped in before it got out of hand...
Francona also made the exact same bullpen moves in the 3rd game ALCS loss to the Angels--leaving extra innings to Mike Timlin who is about as old as me==who lost again....
...bottom of the lineup was also terrible...
It was a good game---but I'd feel a lot better being up 2-0 ---and the chance was there---the game wasnt tense enough I had to go through the torture of Chip Caray's incessant Rays cheering through the whole game which added to the whole thing and annoyed the hell out of me.
Kotsay getting called out on a pitch 16 inches outside in the 9th and 400 Viva! Viagra! commercials didnt help either
O well---just another day in October.... we got us a series---we get 'em tomorrow---
now now... you've gotta take the good with the bad... you can't sing the praises of Francona all year and now doubt him... remember, it's "my team right or wrong" time!
I could see perfectly good reasons for leaving Beckett in... 1) TB hadn't stopped your bats yet 2) injured Josh or not at his best Josh is still probably better than Byrd or anyone else you had out there
I could probably come up with more but I think you get the idea... these aren't your fathers Devil Rays...
(and of course, I know you're just letting off steam)
now it's time for hiway's team... they need to get a win tonight
yea I know I cant bitch, I wanted to come out 1-1 and they did--It could have been different-- 8 runs should be enough to win any game---especially a playoff game---I like Francona, but that was frustrating--so far Playoff Francona, Playoff Beckett and Playoff Ortiz are all MIA---I can live (well not without some anxiety) without Beckett and Ortiz although its tough but Francona needs to be 'there' ....
I wasnt the only one apparently--
I read around 25Soxblogs and news articles this AM calling it the worst managed game of the year
I'll chalk it up to emotional intensity of these games and wont (cant) dwell on it-- gotta get em tomorrow afternoon.
Its a best of 5 now with the first three at Fenway I wouldve liked it to have been different but thats still a pretty good place to be....
Just got in and the Dodgers are up 6-1--still early--did I miss a brawl?
The Phillies spoiled an otherwise perfect night, in the awful eighth.
A win would have been great, but it was still an amazing night. Great game that I thought the Dodgers had put away-sometimes I have to remind myself that this is baseball, where anything can happen, and usually does.
It was awesome just being at a playoff game, where every pitch is magnified. The only downsides ( and I'm stretching here), are the looong waits between innings, so the network can run commercials, the lines to the restroom that seem to stretch half way around Chavez Ravine, and the intense 'jock culture' present. It seemed like every guy there weighed at least 250, with no neck.
But the atmosphere, the fun of being there, the complete involvement with the game was great.
I thought Torre should have kept Lowe in longer, and that he pulled Kuo too soon. My biggest gripe with Torre in Yankee playoff games, was his throwing everyone in the bullpen out there, until one of them ruins it. I lost count of the number of pitchers , but it was at least 2 to many.
Barring a miracle, that's it for me at Dodger Stadium this year. It will be an interesting winter, for sure.
oh-another thing that surprised me was the number of mound meetings allowed. I lost count of the meetings on both sides, and the umpire was real slow in breaking them up. I understand it's a playoff game, but this was so opposite of a regular season.
Glad you got to go. There is nothing like playoff baseball--The highs are higher and the lows are lower---and being in that atmosphere--where everybody knows exactly what is going on at every pitch is something that is incredibly exhilirating........after the disappointing meltdown on this side of the country earlier in the day and being awake late for the better part of two weeks I wasnt in much of a mood to stay through to the end of your game...I was very surprised when I woke up expecting the series to be tied out there.
We both have some uphill battles to go through now.. Its happened before but I dont see it happening out here again this year unless lightening strikes a third time and that better be in a hurry. The Sox are playing listlessly with way way too many gaping holes and TampaBay is hot and hungry.
I knew they were good....I wonder what even $20 on them to go to the WS in March would bring you today. 10k? probably more...
Its not quite over....
First they have to get through our 435 year old knuckleballer Tim Wakefield who hasnt thrown a pitch in about a month,
Francona has to shake up the lineup tonight--Last year Ellsbury came in in Game 5 and injected life in a dead lineup--they gotta get him out now or drop him to ninth--put Crisp and Lowrie back in and hope Varitek and Ortiz wake up, maybe move Bay up
Well I got my first wish --- a new lineup tonight--
Looks like Playoff Francona wokeup this mornin!
I like this line up!
1. J.D. Drew, RF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
5. Jason Bay, LF
6. Mark Kotsay, 1B
7. Coco Crisp, CF
8. Kevin Cash, C
9. Jed Lowrie, SS
Terry Francona made the changes throughout the Red Sox lineup tonight out of urgency. Typically loyal, he decided it no longer made sense to bat a player in an 0-for-20 funk at the top of the order. "We're not looking for consistency," Francona said. "We're looking to win tonight. We've got a day off tomorrow. We're hopefully going to get to the destination we want. We may have to go through a couple different cities."
First, he batted Coco Crisp seventh, not first, because he feels Crisp is best when he can be a free-swinger, which the Sox wouldn't want him to be as a leadoff hitter. Second, he batted Drew leadoff because his .408 on-base percentage is best on the team. "We don't want him to change his approach," Francona said. Rays starter Andy Sonnanstine has allowed only one base to be stolen while pitching this season, so Francona reasoned speed is not a necessity. "This guy's so good that doesn't probably doesn't come into play," Francona said.Third, and most obviously, Francona sat Ellsbury because of his 0 for 20 slump. "Scuffling," is the word Francona used. Ellsbury has negated his speed – which he can typically use for getting cheap hits – by hitting fly balls and pop-ups.
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mstar1
Sorry bout that Tom-
moot point now
DiceK worked out of the 7th--
Im gonna have to go run a marathon to calm down after this game........
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Tom Strange
sorry... I thought that'd get a rise out of you!
good performance by both Shields and DiceK (although I don't know how he does it) tonight...
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mstar1
Doctor Zen----no one knows how he does it----he just does
top of the ninth---its still too early for me to breathe yet----
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mstar1
OK----
I can breathe again--I think thats the first breath Ive taken in about 3 hours
That was intense---
I cant believe I have to do this all over again tomorrow----
BUT
I'll take it..... :)
This is going to be a great tough series!!
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Rocky
Indeed, Manny was emotionally into the game... getting a pitch BEHIND him would do that to most players, I bet.
But as much as he did for his team, there just wasn't enough Manny to beat them Phillies.
Maybe the NLCS will go 7... that would make for a good series. I still remember the 2001 post-season fondly. That WS was awesome.
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mstar1
I was actually talking about the ALCS in that post :) but the NLCS looks pretty darn good too.
These games are tense --Red Sox -Rays was 1-0 most of the way with both teams threatening many times and then getting shutdown over and over which makes for a lot of pacing, strange antics and superstition from me..and its only game ONE....
These teams are pretty evenly matched and although the Red Sox have a slight leg up at the moment --it could very well go 7--
I love love love the emotional intensity of playoff baseball,
If I get charged and maybe go a little over the top during this period you'll know why.
October baseball is like Christmas morning for me
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Rocky
My mistake... I was actually referring to your FWIW point here as opposed to the quote I did enclose when I said that about Manny.
OKAY... so I'd rather see BOTH LCS's go seven and be good serieses.
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mstar1
*******g r o a n*********
If any of you see Terry Francona can you please tell him theres a ballgame he is supposed to be managing tonight in Tampa.
It would be a big help if he shows up.
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Rocky
I dunno... seemed like a pretty good game to me. TB 9-8 in 11 with a walk-off sac fly by BJ Upton.
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mstar1
well yea good to watch----worst managed game of the year from a Red Sox standpoint though.
No way Beckett should have been in there as long as he was while giving up 8 runs--
It was easy to see in the first inning that Playoff Beckett certainly wasnt there, Reg Season Beckett wasnt even there--That was injured Josh out there--and if he's hurtin he generally gives up 8 -Why stake 8 Runs before you make a move when you could come close to putting the series away?
Theres a fifth starter (Paul Byrd) who isnt scheduled in the series who could have stepped in before it got out of hand...
Francona also made the exact same bullpen moves in the 3rd game ALCS loss to the Angels--leaving extra innings to Mike Timlin who is about as old as me==who lost again....
...bottom of the lineup was also terrible...
It was a good game---but I'd feel a lot better being up 2-0 ---and the chance was there---the game wasnt tense enough I had to go through the torture of Chip Caray's incessant Rays cheering through the whole game which added to the whole thing and annoyed the hell out of me.
Kotsay getting called out on a pitch 16 inches outside in the 9th and 400 Viva! Viagra! commercials didnt help either
O well---just another day in October.... we got us a series---we get 'em tomorrow---
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Tom Strange
now now... you've gotta take the good with the bad... you can't sing the praises of Francona all year and now doubt him... remember, it's "my team right or wrong" time!
I could see perfectly good reasons for leaving Beckett in... 1) TB hadn't stopped your bats yet 2) injured Josh or not at his best Josh is still probably better than Byrd or anyone else you had out there
I could probably come up with more but I think you get the idea... these aren't your fathers Devil Rays...
(and of course, I know you're just letting off steam)
now it's time for hiway's team... they need to get a win tonight
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mstar1
E-6
double clutch post
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mstar1
yea I know I cant bitch, I wanted to come out 1-1 and they did--It could have been different-- 8 runs should be enough to win any game---especially a playoff game---I like Francona, but that was frustrating--so far Playoff Francona, Playoff Beckett and Playoff Ortiz are all MIA---I can live (well not without some anxiety) without Beckett and Ortiz although its tough but Francona needs to be 'there' ....
I wasnt the only one apparently--
I read around 25Sox blogs and news articles this AM calling it the worst managed game of the year
I'll chalk it up to emotional intensity of these games and wont (cant) dwell on it-- gotta get em tomorrow afternoon.
Its a best of 5 now with the first three at Fenway I wouldve liked it to have been different but thats still a pretty good place to be....
Just got in and the Dodgers are up 6-1--still early--did I miss a brawl?
lets make this one a series
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Rocky
sorta...
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mstar1
Good Luck out there today Hiway
Whats the LA perspective?
I would think that the city is humming right about now and that Lowe better have his good sinker today
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hiway29
The LA perspective is that for the first time in ages, the Dodgers have a real shot at it.
I'm heading to Dodger Stadium this afternoon, and only hope tonight's game is as fun as last nights. Well, it was fun if you're a Dodger fan.
An added bonus is having Nomar and Furcal healthy just in time.
The day is starting extremely windy. If that keeps up, I have no idea how it will affect the game.
Home runs in Dodger Stadium don't come easy. If Lowe's sinker is working, he should be fine.
Hey, I'm going to a real deal play off game today ! Life is good.
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mstar1
Bravo!! Enjoy! these things just dont come everyday.
Ive been tempted to drive over to Fenway just to hang outside,
but Im opting for home and TV this afternoon
Im full up on game food/ munchies/ things to drink/ comfy chairs...and...plenty of room to pace
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mstar1
...hmm...
well---
the only good news is in a few days I may never ever have to hear Chip Caray or Buck Martinez ever announce another game
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hiway29
The Phillies spoiled an otherwise perfect night, in the awful eighth.
A win would have been great, but it was still an amazing night. Great game that I thought the Dodgers had put away-sometimes I have to remind myself that this is baseball, where anything can happen, and usually does.
It was awesome just being at a playoff game, where every pitch is magnified. The only downsides ( and I'm stretching here), are the looong waits between innings, so the network can run commercials, the lines to the restroom that seem to stretch half way around Chavez Ravine, and the intense 'jock culture' present. It seemed like every guy there weighed at least 250, with no neck.
But the atmosphere, the fun of being there, the complete involvement with the game was great.
I thought Torre should have kept Lowe in longer, and that he pulled Kuo too soon. My biggest gripe with Torre in Yankee playoff games, was his throwing everyone in the bullpen out there, until one of them ruins it. I lost count of the number of pitchers , but it was at least 2 to many.
Barring a miracle, that's it for me at Dodger Stadium this year. It will be an interesting winter, for sure.
oh-another thing that surprised me was the number of mound meetings allowed. I lost count of the meetings on both sides, and the umpire was real slow in breaking them up. I understand it's a playoff game, but this was so opposite of a regular season.
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mstar1
Glad you got to go. There is nothing like playoff baseball--The highs are higher and the lows are lower---and being in that atmosphere--where everybody knows exactly what is going on at every pitch is something that is incredibly exhilirating........after the disappointing meltdown on this side of the country earlier in the day and being awake late for the better part of two weeks I wasnt in much of a mood to stay through to the end of your game...I was very surprised when I woke up expecting the series to be tied out there.
We both have some uphill battles to go through now.. Its happened before but I dont see it happening out here again this year unless lightening strikes a third time and that better be in a hurry. The Sox are playing listlessly with way way too many gaping holes and TampaBay is hot and hungry.
I knew they were good....I wonder what even $20 on them to go to the WS in March would bring you today. 10k? probably more...
Its not quite over....
First they have to get through our 435 year old knuckleballer Tim Wakefield who hasnt thrown a pitch in about a month,
Francona has to shake up the lineup tonight--Last year Ellsbury came in in Game 5 and injected life in a dead lineup--they gotta get him out now or drop him to ninth--put Crisp and Lowrie back in and hope Varitek and Ortiz wake up, maybe move Bay up
Yup its going to be an interesting winter----
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Rocky
And apparently quite talented.
I was able to make one of the NLDS games in 2001 as well as game 1 of the WS that year.
And having been at game 6 of the NBA finals the year the Bulls beat the Suns, I can tell you it's IMMENSELY more fun when your team wins.
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mstar1
Yea thats a big one--Winning is always fun
and no doubt Tampa is very talented and hungry---
These series take so much out of me its like the emotional rollercoaster of an entire season condensed into one week..its emotionally brutal...
I dont know what the heck it is with the Red Sox and the ALCS =--its just never ever ever comes easy
1986 - Win first game, but go down 3-1 to the Angels before coming back and winning in 7
1988 - Swept
1990 - Swept
1999 - Down 2-0 to the Yanks, out in five
2003 - Win first game, but never lead the series again, lose 7th game in 11th
2004 - Not be outdone by '86, decide to go down 3-0 before coming back
2007 - Down 3-1 to Cleveland , win in 7
2008 - Um, haven't I seen this movie before?
I mean, jeez, they can't stand being up more than a game.
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mstar1
Well I got my first wish --- a new lineup tonight--
Looks like Playoff Francona wokeup this mornin!
I like this line up!
1. J.D. Drew, RF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
5. Jason Bay, LF
6. Mark Kotsay, 1B
7. Coco Crisp, CF
8. Kevin Cash, C
9. Jed Lowrie, SS
Another good article on Francona from ESPN HERE
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Rocky
Knuckleball stayed high, so they let it fly... for 5 runs off of the Wakemeister.
As I type this, the RedSox are now on the board...
... as Yogi said, it ain't over...
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