Another World Series, another sweep...2004 over the Cardinals, 2007 over the Rockies...don't get me wrong, I love the wins, but occasionally, a little drama would be nice. It's why the emotions of winning the ALCS have been higher. However, a sweep is still just as satisfying, this year in particular, knowing how much of this team is a core for the future. With that, here's 15 (Pedroia) things I think about the World Series:
1. I'm sure anyone that's ever held a bat at the plate has pictured themselves hitting a home run to win the World Series (and some like Joe Carter have gotten to experience such). However, it's still got to be a great feeling for little powerhouse Dustin Pedroia to lead off his first world series game in his rookie season with a blast over the Green Monster. Bravo to the Red Sox 2nd baseman of the present and the future.
2. It's amazing how difficult it can be at times to get that 3rd out of an inning. Just ask the Rockies as the Red Sox blew open game 1 in the 5th, with hit after hit coming with two outs. Of course, walking in 3 straight runs didn't help Colorado's cause either.
3. The youth movement of the Red Sox continues with the duo of Ellsbury and Pedroia. First time in World Series history that a pair of rookies led off a game (Games 3 & 4, with no Youkilis), and did they produce. Ellsbury is so fast it's sick, and Pedroia just always seems to know what to do, nothing phases these guys. They're both so much fun to watch.
4. Thanks to the Rockies for making a few games close (including the great Game 2), even though they still got swept. That's another good young team over there, in what is typically looking like the weaker NL at this point. Now both expansion teams from 1993 have made the World Series (and the Marlins have won 2) with the only recent expansion team that's really underperformed being, surprise, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (I mean the Rays, or whatever they're calling themselves these days).
5. Though the Sox bullpen was quality for much of the year, let's give some big accoldates to it's two studs. Hideki Okajima, fully rested after a September slow down, absolutely befuddling the Rockies hitters with the weirdest delivery this side of the Pacific. As far as Jonathan Papelbon goes, wow is he dominant, and is he ever fun to watch. Speaking of which...
6. Jonathan Papelbon should have a part in the next Batman movie where they resurrect the villian Two-Face. I can not think of a player in recent memory who appears so strikingly different from when he's on the field to when he's off it. On the mound: that death stare that could kill anybody, those eyes coming out from underneath his cap, the entrance to the Dropkick Murphys, it is so damn intimidating. Off the field: the biggest partier in the clubhouse. For those who skipped college frat parties, there's Pap to show you the correct way to have fun with an empty Bud Light box, what the appropriate attire is for post victory celebration (I'm harkening back to when they clinched the AL East and those Under Armor shorts), and how to best show the world you just got the last out in the World Series. I sat there watching Game 4 going "this has to be a strikeout just so I can see Papelbon's reaction. Thankfully, he didn't disappoint.
7. Professor Thom's was a pretty cool place to watch a Red Sox game. Quite a bit bigger than Riviera's but both are quality places. Such is life as a member of the Nation - you can live within the boundaries of the Empire and still find friendly confines to watch the game. Also, though it was good, but not totally authentic, nobody, I mean nobody, does a better Hot Dog than the city of Chicago. Screw deep dish pizza, and get yourself a Chicago style dog anytime you're in the windy city...like a cheesesteak in Philly, it's simply required dining.
8. This assumes the Red Sox are able to work out a deal with Mike Lowell, which is still pending, but have you thought about the possible Red Sox lineup for next season? I mean it really is somewhat sickening -
1. CF - Jacoby Ellsbury
2. 2B - Dustin Pedroia
3. DH - David Ortiz
4. LF - Manny Ramirez
5. 1B - Kevin Youkilis
6. 3B - Mike Lowell
7. RF - J.D. Drew
8. C - Jason Varitek
9. SS - Julio Lugo
9. Award for most improbable contribution to a game during the series belongs to Daisuke Matsuzaka. Dice-K helped his own cause in Game 3, which was close early, with a 2 RBI hit, batting only cause the game was in a National League park. Man when things are clicking, they are really just going well.
10. Props to Terry Francona, for becoming the first manager in MLB history to go 8-0 in his first 8 World Series games. The previous record had been 6-0. In four years with the Sox, the team has now made the playoffs 3 times, won a division title and two World Series Championships, with a post-season record of 22-9, a winning percentage of .710. Not bad. Add to that his ability to deal with the media and maintain team harmony, and it should be obvious - Ink this man to an extension.
11. I don't care whether it was ARod's idea or all Scott Boras' own doing, but leaking announcement of your opting out during Game 4, a possible clinching game of the World Series, is still a pretty low move and showing a total need for "me, me,me attention." If the objective was to show ARod is larger than the game, mission accomplished, it was all anyone could talk about the next day, with disgust. Want to be a singular superstar the rules all?...go to the NBA.
12. Want a good reason to keep winning more championships - simply so we can see more celebrations from Jonathan Papelbon and more "riverdance." For those interested, Pap will be leading the class at Arthur Murray's in December and January, during his off season.
13. I hadn't addressed it yet, but where was Matt Holliday during the 8th inning of Game 2. First career pickoff for Papelbon and the easiest safe/out call for an umpire to make during the entire post season. I had that happen to me once too, but I was a 14yr old playing freshman baseball, not in the World Series. Ouch.
14. One extra additional plug for the adorable hottie that is Dustin Pedroia. Can't wait for spring training.
15. Nothing will ever touch 2004 for all the build up over the previous 86 yrs, even if I wasn't around for most of that. Seemed almost like fate, that the Red Sox most recent post season heart break occurred just the year before in 2003, as one final dagger in the heart of fans before the 2004 team performed that exorcism. Now the Red Sox aren't the losers who find new ways to kill you slowly. This is a team that wins, a team that does have financial advantages (in part due to its rabid fan base & good ownership) and a team that makes smart decisions. I don't care how many more titles this group of guys wins (and hopefully there'll be a few more), it is always sweet to win. Thank you Boston Red Sox for kick starting 2007 as a year to remember for all Boston sports fans for the rest of our lives.
~SS
Wednesday, November 14
Monday, November 12
Lightning Strking
Ok, I know I've been very bad with my blog for the past month (for a variety of reasons), so you can scold me later (as long as the physical punishment isn't too painful). I'm going to get back into it with a couple posts recapping what's been an amazing past month in Boston sports, and any other funny anecdotes as I try to develop some sort of regular rhythm.
Now, with that out of the way, how's bout a lightning round recap from the sports world. With all due apologies to Peter King, here's 19 (Beckett) things I think about the 2007 ALCS:
1.How dominant is Josh Beckett. Two solidifying wins over the Indians, including the series saver in Game 5. Was there any doubt that Beckett would win that game. As I heard a commentator remark after the World Series, Beckett looked like he wanted there to be an additional round or two. Nothing touches this man in the post season.
2. Game 2's loss was very disappointing, but it wasn't devastating, as it would have been pre-2004. It was a loss, and all who know me, know that I'm not the best at losing (it's what allows wins to be so thrilling). But there was still hope with these Red Sox, cause the specter of 1918 doesn't hang over their head. As the sole team in MLB history to come back from being down 3-0 (which even most Sox fans thought impossible) here, even when down 3-1, I kept confidence up. Beckett would be lights out in Game 5 (he was), no way Schilling would lose two in one series (he didn't have dominating stuff, but it was still good behind amazing Red Sox bats), and then Game 7 is up for grabs (and it was, until it was broken open by the Sox late).
3. Could Kevin Youkilis sweat anymore when he's at the plate? Honestly, if he goes in the steam room at a gym, does he just turn into a prune surrounded by a puddle. It must be impossible for him to overheat.
4. Dustin Pedroia is such a gamer, the little guy that he is. You know he was the kid in high school that if four bullies all much bigger than him, started to give him a hard time, he woulda taken on all of them at once, eagerly. Oh, and screw that his hair is thinning, he is still so very hot.
5. I'll admit I bought all the hype, like most people, before the post season even began, about how tough it would be to face CC Sabathia and Fausto Carmona back to back. Well, in this series the two were a combined 0-3, with the only game they started that the Indians won being Game 2, the marathon extra-inning game that the Tribe took 13-6.
6. How annoying did the white towels at Jacobs Field get. Much like the rally monkey in Anaheim a few years ago, any of these "actions" fans do to rile up their teams in the post season are cute the first 2-3 times, and majorly annoying from there on out. All I typically see at Fenway Park are just cheering/screaming fans, that know their baseball, without needing many extra gimics.
7. JD Drew finally came through, in a big way, in Game 6 with that grand slam. Up until that point, during much of the year, I'm sure other Red Sox fans were also longing for the company man, Red Sox home grown Trot Nixon. And gosh did he make the team pay in Game 2 with the hit that broke that game wide open. Good job by Trot, and great blast JD, to one of the deepest parts of the park.
8. Coco Crisp is either out of here next year, or will be a bench player. However, he's still young and a good, not great player, so hopefully the Red Sox can do him well and find him a nice place to go. While his arm strength is on par with that of my own during little league...gosh can he catch. The amount of OMG/web gems catches that Crisp made this year are too many to count. Can only hope Ellsbury will be able to match up to that (he's already given strong indications). Even that catch Coco made in Game 7, running in to the wall, to seal the series...man.
9. While many of the Indians bats came up lame during the series, Grady Sizemore, apart from having a great name, showed up to play. I've heard all the great acoldates, but getting to watch him play for a bit regularly, there's another hot young star. Can look forward to hopefully seeing him in many more Red Sox / Indians contentious games over the next few years.
10. Speaking of lame Indians, I know Kenny Lofton has come so close to winning a World Series many times, and I don't have a problem if he ever gets one. The man is still fast, still can play. However, that flip/drop of the bat on ball four of an at bat has got to go. I have no problem with Josh Beckett ripping him a new one for that.
11. These 7 game series and come from behind performances are exciting, but there's part of me, that would like win a series sometime where it wasn't always so desperate, say a 6 game series or something. However, if it has to go 7 games, it is better probably to have the Sox backs against the wall rather than trying not to blow something.
12. WEPN / 1050 ESPN Radio in New York needs to find its way onto a stronger signal if possible. Driving back on a Saturday evening from Massachusetts, I had a hard time for much of the Connecticut Turnpike in trying to pick it up. Hartford's ESPN affiliate wasn't much better. The best radio I could get, plenty clearly, was WTAM 1100 from Cleveland. (Going over lineups and the field, apparently the Indians broadcasters like the small details, letting us know not only all the distances to the outfield, but how high the fence is in each area - thorough). Disney also owns WQEW 1560, for Radio Disney. While the dial position is not as desirable, it's a clear-channel signal, and much stronger. Swap them perhaps? Just a thought for the future.
13. Could the elder statesman of the Red Sox, Mr. Tim Wakefield, have a bit better luck please. He's left off the ALDS roster for health reasons (rightfully so). Pitched one game in the ALCS, and pitched well in it, but still got let down by the total lack of Red Sox offense. Yes Paul Byrd pitched even better, but Wakefield had his knuckler working wonderfully, which is tough to do in October, before giving up some hits in the 5th. I agree with Francona, Wake woulda stayed in the game longer if it wasn't the playoffs. However, all that happened the next day in much of the national media was Wakefield getting scolded about how he was the wrong choice for the game and that he was overmatched. The man deserves better, and at least I hope most Red Sox fans still love this great guy.
14.What was baseball like in the post-season back before Fox got a hold of it. Seriously, before there were 437 cameras at each game, how did we at home watch a playoff game without knowing the angst expressed on the face of each fan in the ballpark. I think I was even able to count the number of one guy's fillings when he opened his mouth, we were up so close.
15. Did I mention how hot Dustin Pedroia is, in physical appearance, but also in game attitude and work ethic.
16. Francona always just seems to be able to make the right decisions. He's stuck behind players so long, usually deservingly so. However, in Game 6, he made the switch to start Jacoby Ellsbury in Center Field instead of Coco Crisp. Crisp bat had looked awful, and Ellsbury, who hadn't even played half a season in the majors, was ready and raring to go. What great dreams Sox fans can have of the future.
17. Thank you to the Jacob's bugs for not making an appearance in this series. While I've no doubt they rattled Chamberlain in the ALDS series for NY, those are the breaks. It was nice to not have something else around to scapegoat for the result of any particular game. Bonus thanks to "Terry in Boston" for calling up WEEI's Big Show with one of the most hilarious phone calls I've heard in a while.
18. NESN will more than likely have several people ready with the bleep button next year during Josh Beckett's post-game press conferences. But admit it, he's using words we all know, and it just makes him that much more fun of a player.
19. A big thanks from all of baseball to both the Red Sox and the Indians for giving us an actual series to watch. After and Divisional Series round that featured only one game above the minimum (3 sweeps, and the Cleveland/New York series went four games), a sweep in the NLCS, and then to come a sweep in the World Series, the Red Sox and Indians showed themselves to be the two best teams in baseball, as their tied records indicated at the end of the regular season, and thus gave us a strong 7 game to enjoy.
Up next, the Championship.
Now, with that out of the way, how's bout a lightning round recap from the sports world. With all due apologies to Peter King, here's 19 (Beckett) things I think about the 2007 ALCS:
1.How dominant is Josh Beckett. Two solidifying wins over the Indians, including the series saver in Game 5. Was there any doubt that Beckett would win that game. As I heard a commentator remark after the World Series, Beckett looked like he wanted there to be an additional round or two. Nothing touches this man in the post season.
2. Game 2's loss was very disappointing, but it wasn't devastating, as it would have been pre-2004. It was a loss, and all who know me, know that I'm not the best at losing (it's what allows wins to be so thrilling). But there was still hope with these Red Sox, cause the specter of 1918 doesn't hang over their head. As the sole team in MLB history to come back from being down 3-0 (which even most Sox fans thought impossible) here, even when down 3-1, I kept confidence up. Beckett would be lights out in Game 5 (he was), no way Schilling would lose two in one series (he didn't have dominating stuff, but it was still good behind amazing Red Sox bats), and then Game 7 is up for grabs (and it was, until it was broken open by the Sox late).
3. Could Kevin Youkilis sweat anymore when he's at the plate? Honestly, if he goes in the steam room at a gym, does he just turn into a prune surrounded by a puddle. It must be impossible for him to overheat.
4. Dustin Pedroia is such a gamer, the little guy that he is. You know he was the kid in high school that if four bullies all much bigger than him, started to give him a hard time, he woulda taken on all of them at once, eagerly. Oh, and screw that his hair is thinning, he is still so very hot.
5. I'll admit I bought all the hype, like most people, before the post season even began, about how tough it would be to face CC Sabathia and Fausto Carmona back to back. Well, in this series the two were a combined 0-3, with the only game they started that the Indians won being Game 2, the marathon extra-inning game that the Tribe took 13-6.
6. How annoying did the white towels at Jacobs Field get. Much like the rally monkey in Anaheim a few years ago, any of these "actions" fans do to rile up their teams in the post season are cute the first 2-3 times, and majorly annoying from there on out. All I typically see at Fenway Park are just cheering/screaming fans, that know their baseball, without needing many extra gimics.
7. JD Drew finally came through, in a big way, in Game 6 with that grand slam. Up until that point, during much of the year, I'm sure other Red Sox fans were also longing for the company man, Red Sox home grown Trot Nixon. And gosh did he make the team pay in Game 2 with the hit that broke that game wide open. Good job by Trot, and great blast JD, to one of the deepest parts of the park.
8. Coco Crisp is either out of here next year, or will be a bench player. However, he's still young and a good, not great player, so hopefully the Red Sox can do him well and find him a nice place to go. While his arm strength is on par with that of my own during little league...gosh can he catch. The amount of OMG/web gems catches that Crisp made this year are too many to count. Can only hope Ellsbury will be able to match up to that (he's already given strong indications). Even that catch Coco made in Game 7, running in to the wall, to seal the series...man.
9. While many of the Indians bats came up lame during the series, Grady Sizemore, apart from having a great name, showed up to play. I've heard all the great acoldates, but getting to watch him play for a bit regularly, there's another hot young star. Can look forward to hopefully seeing him in many more Red Sox / Indians contentious games over the next few years.
10. Speaking of lame Indians, I know Kenny Lofton has come so close to winning a World Series many times, and I don't have a problem if he ever gets one. The man is still fast, still can play. However, that flip/drop of the bat on ball four of an at bat has got to go. I have no problem with Josh Beckett ripping him a new one for that.
11. These 7 game series and come from behind performances are exciting, but there's part of me, that would like win a series sometime where it wasn't always so desperate, say a 6 game series or something. However, if it has to go 7 games, it is better probably to have the Sox backs against the wall rather than trying not to blow something.
12. WEPN / 1050 ESPN Radio in New York needs to find its way onto a stronger signal if possible. Driving back on a Saturday evening from Massachusetts, I had a hard time for much of the Connecticut Turnpike in trying to pick it up. Hartford's ESPN affiliate wasn't much better. The best radio I could get, plenty clearly, was WTAM 1100 from Cleveland. (Going over lineups and the field, apparently the Indians broadcasters like the small details, letting us know not only all the distances to the outfield, but how high the fence is in each area - thorough). Disney also owns WQEW 1560, for Radio Disney. While the dial position is not as desirable, it's a clear-channel signal, and much stronger. Swap them perhaps? Just a thought for the future.
13. Could the elder statesman of the Red Sox, Mr. Tim Wakefield, have a bit better luck please. He's left off the ALDS roster for health reasons (rightfully so). Pitched one game in the ALCS, and pitched well in it, but still got let down by the total lack of Red Sox offense. Yes Paul Byrd pitched even better, but Wakefield had his knuckler working wonderfully, which is tough to do in October, before giving up some hits in the 5th. I agree with Francona, Wake woulda stayed in the game longer if it wasn't the playoffs. However, all that happened the next day in much of the national media was Wakefield getting scolded about how he was the wrong choice for the game and that he was overmatched. The man deserves better, and at least I hope most Red Sox fans still love this great guy.
14.What was baseball like in the post-season back before Fox got a hold of it. Seriously, before there were 437 cameras at each game, how did we at home watch a playoff game without knowing the angst expressed on the face of each fan in the ballpark. I think I was even able to count the number of one guy's fillings when he opened his mouth, we were up so close.
15. Did I mention how hot Dustin Pedroia is, in physical appearance, but also in game attitude and work ethic.
16. Francona always just seems to be able to make the right decisions. He's stuck behind players so long, usually deservingly so. However, in Game 6, he made the switch to start Jacoby Ellsbury in Center Field instead of Coco Crisp. Crisp bat had looked awful, and Ellsbury, who hadn't even played half a season in the majors, was ready and raring to go. What great dreams Sox fans can have of the future.
17. Thank you to the Jacob's bugs for not making an appearance in this series. While I've no doubt they rattled Chamberlain in the ALDS series for NY, those are the breaks. It was nice to not have something else around to scapegoat for the result of any particular game. Bonus thanks to "Terry in Boston" for calling up WEEI's Big Show with one of the most hilarious phone calls I've heard in a while.
18. NESN will more than likely have several people ready with the bleep button next year during Josh Beckett's post-game press conferences. But admit it, he's using words we all know, and it just makes him that much more fun of a player.
19. A big thanks from all of baseball to both the Red Sox and the Indians for giving us an actual series to watch. After and Divisional Series round that featured only one game above the minimum (3 sweeps, and the Cleveland/New York series went four games), a sweep in the NLCS, and then to come a sweep in the World Series, the Red Sox and Indians showed themselves to be the two best teams in baseball, as their tied records indicated at the end of the regular season, and thus gave us a strong 7 game to enjoy.
Up next, the Championship.
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