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Top 10 Moments of 2007: #8, JD Drew's Grand Slam

[editor's note, by Randy Booth] This is moment No. 8 in OTM's "Top 10 Red Sox Moments of 2007." No. 7 will be posted on Monday, Jan. 28.


JD Drew delivers one into the night during the ALCS.

It wasn't only the most improbable grand slam in Red Sox history. It wasn't only the most improbable home run in Red Sox history. In fact, it may go down as the most improbable hit in Red Sox history.

JD Drew's first inning grand slam off Fausto Carmona in game six of the ALCS was the proverbial dagger in the Indians' heart. After being down three games to two, the Red Sox obviously had to fight back in a big way. Every single member of Red Sox Nation knew the baseball Gods were watching over our team when Drew hit the ball.

When the ball left the bat, we knew we were safe. We knew what was in the Sox's future, because, hey, Drew couldn't have done that on his own.

Could he?

After Curt Schilling earned a 1-2-3 inning to start the game, the Sox took their strides at the plate. Dustin Pedroia got it all started with a single through the right side. Kevin Youkilis did the same except through the left side. After Carmona's struggles earlier in the series, the Indians decided to walk David Ortiz to load the bases for Manny Ramirez. Sounds similiar to our No. 10 best moment of the Sox season, doesn't it?

But it wouldn't finish the same. Ramirez struck out on seven hard-fought pitches. Following him came Mike Lowell who couldn't do much better by flying out to right field. When things looked bad, it just got worse when Drew stepped to the plate.

I remember exactly what was going on around me at this time. I was in a hotel room in Washington, D.C. with a bunch of my fellow journalists, watching the game. A couple of people in the room (including both Red Sox and Yankee fans) knew it was over at that moment. Drew? He was a bust of course. He couldn't come in clutch when the Sox needed a boost. Of course not.

I was confident though. I knew Drew was due for something good, so why not now? I was probably one of two people in the room that "Had the Faith" despite numerous Red Sox "fans" that surrounded me.

I kept telling myself that Drew was a good hitter. A professional hitter. All we needed was a single to be the least bit satisfied and even our slumping right fielder could produce that.

He did me one better. Actually, he did me four better. On the fifth pitch of the at-bat, Drew was able to stroke a grand slam thanks to his gorgeous swing that seems to float cross the strike zone without a hiccup to disturb it. The ball was quickly in the seats; blowing up Boston in the process.

Needless to say, I was jumping for joy. Also needless to say, we had a noise complaint moments later. I guess we were the only people in the hotel from New England that night.

Drew finished both the ALCS and the World Series in fantastic form. He ended up batting .360 in the ALCS after 25 at-bats. Outside of Youkilis and Ramirez (.500 and .409, respectively), Drew was the star of the show with the wooden scepter in his hand during the ALCS. The World Series was just as good: .333/.412/.467 in four games for the World Champion Red Sox.

Drew reminds me a lot of Derek Lowe during his post-season effort in 2004. Lowe was really bad during the regular season, pitching to a 5.42 ERA in over 182 innings. But in the post-season he proved his worth by winning three games, each one being the clincher of the series. Lowe only gave up four runs in 19.1 post-season innings.

Drew took a page out of Lowe's book by struggling during the regular season and resurrecting himself during the post-season. Any Sox fan will tell you: we'll take it. We want our players to be studs all-year 'round but that just doesn't happen all the time.

Who knows what will happen with Drew and his future with the Red Sox. He's here today, but will he be here tomorrow? While Drew may not retire in Boston lore, his grand slam will always be remembered as a pivotal key to the Red Sox's 2007 Championship season.

0 recs | Comment 12 comments

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Re: Top 10 Moments of 2007: #8, JD Drew's Grand Sl
Drew was struggling for much of the season, but I don't think his travails compare to those of Lowe. The former heated up in the last month of the season (by which point most people had formed negative opinions of him), to finish with a respectable .270/.373/.423 line. Lowe saved his best for the playoffs.

As I recall Drew got ahead 3-1. With the bases loaded, all I expected from him was a walk, the one thing he was able to do all season.

Drew's slam was critical, because it put the Indians in an immediate hole. Carmona was looking off that night, to my eyes, but there was the possibility of him finding his groove, and taking control of the game.

by 0157H7 on Jan 25, 2008 2:29 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Sox the Favorite?
Jim Callis at Baseball America has the Sox as the favorite again in 2008.
http://mlbfleecefactor.com/2008/01/25/q-a-with-baseball-america-jim-callis/

by ET90210 on Jan 25, 2008 3:30 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Top 10 Moments of 2007: #8, JD Drew's Bomb
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/071023

This is a really great article. if it doesn't work than just google "$14 million grand slam"

I was in a hotel also when it happened. JD, who had went to Florida State ( I live in Tallahassee) I remember was a great player, one of the best ever to go there. When he was at bat, i was thinking, come on JD, show some of that clutch that you always showed in college.

He sure did.

You know, a lot of people say they didn't want to die until the Red Sox won the World Series. Well, there could be a lot of busy ambulances tomorrow.

by BoSox415 on Jan 25, 2008 9:19 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Top 10 Moments of 2007: #8, JD Drew's Bomb
Thanks, B415, that article was a really fun read.

by Devine on Jan 26, 2008 3:16 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Top 10 Moments of 2007: #8, JD Drew's Grand Sl
I was watching on TV... wearing my "Life is Good" Sox shirt that says 7 on the back. #7 hit a grand slam, to force game 7, to pave the way for the Sox to win their 7th world championship.

Needless to say, I wore that shirt a lot the following weeks.

by Liza on Jan 25, 2008 10:13 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Top 10 Moments of 2007: #8, JD Drew's Grand Sl
This was a top three moment for me.
Manny Ramirez is a bad man

by tommy.otm on Jan 25, 2008 11:14 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Top 10 Moments of 2007: #8
Yeah, personally I felt this moment was higher on the list, for sheer unexpectedness and the amazing lift it gave the team (especially after Manny K'ing and Lowell fruitlessly flying to right with the bases loaded).  This was a moment where suddenly it was possible for them to actually win this ALCS.  The crowd's reaction is priceless.

by Devine on Jan 26, 2008 1:57 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Top 10 Moments of 2007: #8, JD Drew's Grand Sl
Great moments in time.
"SK: Hey, imagine what Steinbrenner's statue'll be doing. SO: Cast in bronze with his wallet out."

by mmmsox on Jan 28, 2008 6:34 AM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Top 10 Moments of 2007: #8, JD Drew's Grand Sl
"SK: Hey, imagine what Steinbrenner's statue'll be doing. SO: Cast in bronze with his wallet out."

by mmmsox on Jan 28, 2008 6:34 AM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Top 10 Moments of 2007: #8, JD Drew's Grand Sl
Not that I had any doubt about the Red Sox this year-- I bought the MLB package so I could watch every game of this historic season-- but this Drew home run sealed the deal that the Sox were this years destiny's child.

I was thrilled for Drew and his family, proud that Varitek stood up for him, and hope the fans go a little easy on JD this season.

It was a team effort for sure. Let's not forget the improbable Hinske home run.

my lawd

xxCRACKxx flies the ball into the cool October night...

by mpieretti on Jan 28, 2008 2:19 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Top 10 Moments of 2007: #8, JD Drew's Grand Sl
ah, scratch that
improbable Bobby Kielty home run
I need to take some grounders
xxCRACKxx flies the ball into the cool October night...

by mpieretti on Jan 28, 2008 2:28 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Top 10 Moments of 2007: #8, JD Drew's Grand Sl
coughcough Number seven? coughcough
Bottom 9th B:1 S:0 O:0 With Bill Mueller batting, Dave Roberts steals (1) 2nd base.

by britsoxfan on Jan 29, 2008 4:03 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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