ALCS Game Four: Becks to the Wall

A bobble and a drop. Last one. I swear.
I'm not quite sure what to write here.
The Red Sox just couldn't hit any Indians pitching tonight. Yes, they hit Paul Byrd hard (hard) but it was only twice. Manny Ramirez then hit Jensen Lewis hard (hard) but it wasn't enough.
Three home runs sounds like a lot. Sounds great, actually. If you told me the Sox hit three home runs tonight before the game started, I'd probably tell you the series is tied 2-2. But home runs don't win a game. It's the hits and walks before the home run that win the game.
I'm not really happy with Terry Francona's decision to yank Tim Wakefield when he did. Wake was certainly struggling, but I really think he would have been able to get the next out. I think starters work harder than relievers (in this case Manny Delcarmen) to get the outs when it's a big jam. I'm not saying Manny D didn't try hard, I just think it's natural for a pitcher like Wake to really bare down and get the outs.
You can throw the old line at me about pulling starters when they start to struggle in the playoffs, but I just don't agree with that. Four runs is four runs, but I'd rather see Wakefield get himself out of the jam then waste a guy out of the bullpen. I honestly think Wake would have stopped the bleeding and maybe pitched another inning if Francona allowed him to go.
It doesn't matter now though. All that matters is one game. Game five. Another showdown between the 2007 Cy Young winner and the runner-up. The "do-or-die game" for the Red Sox. If the Red Sox win this game, then all that matters is the next game. Game six. Rinse. Rather. Repeat.
It's up to you, Mr. Josh Beckett. We need our ace to win this game and we're not going to look anywhere else. We can't look anywhere else. You need to bring that flaming fastball and crooked curveball. We need the stopper to bring us back into this series.
Here's another thing we need: key hits. That hasn't happened for days. Dustin Pedroia, Julio Lugo, and JD Drew, to name a few, need to start getting on-base. Everyone else I didn't note: just hit the ball.
And one more message, this one to all of Red Sox Nation: keep the faith. This series is not over.
0 recs |
22 comments
Comments
Re: ALCS Game Four: Becks to the Wall
YOU (those optimists, which was pretty much everyone) are the reason I allow Randy to control my free time.
Spank em, Beckett, and bring us home.
by Allen Chace on
Oct 17, 2007 1:03 AM EDT
reply
actions
0 recs
Re: ALCS Game Four: Becks to the Wall
by Allen Chace on
Oct 17, 2007 1:07 AM EDT
reply
actions
0 recs
Re: ALCS Game Four: Becks to the Wall
Honestly, I'd almost like to see Lester start ahead of Matsuzaka when we get further into the series after the Beckett start!
by brianzen on
Oct 17, 2007 8:39 AM EDT
reply
actions
0 recs
Re: ALCS Game Four: Becks to the Wall
I'm really happy we have a day off to regroup. I think it will do us a world of good, and then tomorrow we start from scratch and win one game at a time. We've got our best pitchers going for us.
And hey, Francona might even sub Kielty for Drew when we face Sabathia!! There is hope!
by dave in CT on
Oct 17, 2007 9:15 AM EDT
up
reply
actions
0 recs
Re: ALCS Game Four: Becks to the Wall
What? "Over"?
Did you say "over"?
Nothing's over until we decide it is!
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
Hell, no!
-Germans?
-Forget it, he's rolling.
And it ain't over now.
'Cause when the going gets tough...
(Patriotic instrumental music)
the tough get going! Who's with me?
Let's go! Come on!
(Papelbon screaming)
(Tense instrumental music)
What the f*** happened
to the Red Sox I used to know?
Where's the spirit?
Where's the guts?
This could be the greatest night
of our lives... but you're gonna let it be the worst.
"We're afraid to go with you, Pap,we might get in trouble."
(Shouting) Just kiss my ass from now on.
Not me! l won't take this!
C.C. is a dead man!
-Peralta: dead! Martinez --
-Dead.
Papelbon's right.
Psychotic... but absolutely right.
We have got to take these bastards.
We could fight them with conventional weapons.
That could take years...cost millions of lives.
In this case...I think we have to go all out.
I think this situation absolutely requires...
a really futile and stupid gesture...be done on somebody's part.
We're just the guys to do it.
Let's do it.
by BC14 on
Oct 17, 2007 11:28 AM EDT
reply
actions
0 recs
Re: ALCS Game Four: Becks to the Wall
by dave in CT on
Oct 17, 2007 3:16 PM EDT
up
reply
actions
0 recs
Re: ALCS Game Four: Becks to the Wall
by britsoxfan on
Oct 17, 2007 3:57 PM EDT
up
reply
actions
0 recs
Re: ALCS Game Four: Becks to the Wall
I am truly stunned.
"Always look on the bright side of life..."
(from Monty Python's "Life of Brian")
by BC14 on
Oct 17, 2007 4:11 PM EDT
up
reply
actions
0 recs
Re: ALCS Game Four: Becks to the Wall
RSN KARMA!
BELIEVE!
(I just sent a note off to my friend who works in the front office at Fenway). Karma!
by BC14 on
Oct 17, 2007 4:19 PM EDT
up
reply
actions
0 recs
Re: ALCS Game Four: Becks to the Wall
by dave in CT on
Oct 17, 2007 4:50 PM EDT
up
reply
actions
0 recs
Re: ALCS Game Four: Becks to the Wall
I'd never heard that bit from 2004, but it's funny and KARMIC - BELIEVE! - that it appears in a story today as we're carrying on about Animal House.
by BC14 on
Oct 17, 2007 5:43 PM EDT
up
reply
actions
0 recs
Re: ALCS Game Four: Becks to the Wall
To win a series you have to be much better or a bit lucky. So far, the big plays (save for Lowell's 2-run single in game 2) have gone Cleveland's way. Will it change in time? I hope so.
Day off to break Cleveland's rhythm and I'd still take Beckett / Schilling over Sabathia / Carmona. Look out game 7 ...
Go Sox!
Jez
by CountyJez on
Oct 17, 2007 11:42 AM EDT
reply
actions
0 recs
Re: ALCS Game Four: Becks to the Wall
by woodsmeisterLGT on
Oct 17, 2007 4:25 PM EDT
up
reply
actions
0 recs
Re: ALCS Game Four: Becks to the Wall
oh well dreaming here again.
Lets go Beck's! Lets go!!!!!!
by dumhic on
Oct 17, 2007 11:46 AM EDT
reply
actions
0 recs
Re: ALCS Game Four: Becks to the Wall
by dave in CT on
Oct 17, 2007 12:06 PM EDT
up
reply
actions
0 recs
Re: Red Sox Hitting
We brought Ellsbury up fairly early and promptly sent him right back down, even though he looked good. When he came up again in August, he essentially saved our season with his solid contribution to the team.Francona is stubborn and has stuck with his weak hitters in the ALCS. In game 2, one or two good at bats would have saved us. Tomorrow night, we will see a tough lefty, so Ellsbury won't get in for another and possibly last night of the series. Ellsbury has the potential to really help the team so why does Francona sit him out? Francona's reluctance to try something that could work, will be thhe topic of many a hot stove league.
by Longsuffering on
Oct 17, 2007 1:43 PM EDT
up
reply
actions
0 recs
Re: ALCS Game Four: Becks to the Wall
Lester showed Francona he made a VERY bad mistake in game 2.
by sportingchinwag on
Oct 17, 2007 1:04 PM EDT
reply
actions
0 recs
Re: ALCS Game Four: Becks to the Wall
But as you said, that's neither here nor there at this point. Beckett in Game 5 gives me great confidence that this is going back to Fenway. These last three games have been decided by such close plays with all the breaks going the Indians way, but sooner or later they've got to go the other way too. Being down the way the Sox are right now is a better position than the Sox were in after Game 4 back in 2004, and I still believe.
by WildYams on
Oct 17, 2007 2:13 PM EDT
reply
actions
0 recs
Re: ALCS Game Four: Becks to the Wall
The other play was "Wake's Mistake" on the bouncer up the middle - Pedroia is right behind him, ready for it.
At that point, it's like you say, just 1-0.
Breaks are favoring the Indians. Sox day is Thursday.
by BC14 on
Oct 17, 2007 2:33 PM EDT
up
reply
actions
0 recs
Re: ALCS Game Four: Becks to the Wall
by The Animal on
Oct 17, 2007 11:46 PM EDT
up
reply
actions
0 recs
Re: ALCS Game Four: Becks to the Wall
He'd have to tag and move 90 feet. As I saw it, Youk was at most 110 feet away from the same point, (home) and all he has to do is throw home.
Not that it matters...
by BC14 on
Oct 18, 2007 4:33 PM EDT
up
reply
actions
0 recs














