Entries Tagged 'World Series' ↓

Before Terry announces anything today, I thought I’d at least capture my thoughts on the rotation for the series:

Game 1 Beckett
Game 2 Wakefield (Do NOT want him pitching in Colorado)
Game 3 Schilling
Game 4 Dice-K

Game 5* Beckett
Game 6* Schilling
Game 7* Dice-K / Beckett

* if necessary

PEDROIA AND BECKETT AND EVEN J.D. AND OMG.

The Sox aren’t headed anywhere. They have home field advantage to play the opening game Wednesday night at Fenway Park in the 2007 World Series.

The ALCS was all about the home crowd. If you succumb to the notion of visiting teams during any regular season game that the home crowd is nice, but “we don’t need it”, then you’re fooling yourself. The crowd may not be as electric as they are in the post season, but they’re behind the team; especially in good times.

Beckett is the MVP, deservedly so, but the rest of the team including J.D. Drew, Lugo and the defensive skills of  Coco Crisp were enough to go against the other team with the best record in baseball. The difference? Boston won one more game. That’s it. What separated the entire season is one game. How amazing is it, then, that the Red Sox found themselves in the World Series based on the fact that they won the season series against Cleveland. If it had been the other way around and Cleveland was working with home field advantage, would they be headed to the Fall Classic?

Dice-K had a gutsy first three innings. Unfortunately, that’s all I can say about that specific performance. What irks me and others is the perceived lack of intensity. I believe inside he’s intense and he’s serious about winning. How else do you accomplish the level of success he’s had? You don’t. Interestingly enough, J. D. Drew shows the same perceived lack of intensity. Yes. He wants to win. Yes. He plays hard when he’s trying. But, unlike Dice-K, Drew’s intensity is measured by his bat. A pitcher has the chance for 10 strikeouts or be shown on camera pumping their fist about 100 times during a game. A fielder gets to show off if  a) the ball is hit to them or b) they get into a position where they can perform at the plate in a meaningful situation. Go back and watch J. D. Drew on any tape of any game he’s been in and you’ll see that other than when he’s at the plate, the man is playing hard. It doesn’t make me any more of a fan, but it does make me take a breath and think about his season.

Ellsbury will be a star (if he isn’t already).

Pedroia made himself heard last night and shoved a big, fat “FACE” smackdown to anyone who doubted his ability. Good for him. I’m not the tallest guy either and I can certainly appreciate where he is and what he’s been able to do.

Papelbon got his first-ever six out save AND his first-ever post season save. That dude is really good. Wow. He can dance anytime, anyplace so long as he pitches like that for us until he’s lost the gas in his tank. He will be a Hall of Famer.

And now… we wait. They need the rest. They’re tired and they’re happy. They’ll actually relax a little before the media day and the onslaught of public scrutiny hits them one more time before they get a short off-season. Let’s just hope the World Series sends them off to that short rest with a big smile.

It’s been that kind of year. The unprecedented MLB-leading standings, the AL East Division crown and now the sweep of the used-to-be-scary Angels, clinching it, no less on the Southern California AL West leader’s turf.

The Sox must win the World Series.

The team unity and passion is so strong, it’s broken Ramirez out of his season-long silence and given Papelbon a chance to express himself through interpretive dance; something we never knew he had in him.

But with all of the accolades comes the pressure to survive. This ALDS wasn’t as easy as people might think. It was still 2-0 in the 8th inning and Schilling used his defensive staff wisely by relying on a healthy diet of his new-look changeup and a couple 88 MPH fastballs.

The pitching was great from Beckett, Schilling and the Bullpen. That’s what won the ALDS. The offense was there and it was mighty, but the pitching prowess of a Cy Young contender and the best bullpen in baseball was no match for the Angels. Will it be no match for the Indians or Yankees? If the Indians hang on and win their ALDS match, will they be lined up as nicely and as perfectly as the Sox? If the Yankees take it to five games and win, will they be tired and hurt?

Regardless of whichever team happens to win the ALDS, it won’t matter. It’s only one more opponent to get to the big dance. It’s one more opponent to sharpen the teeth of the Sox offense and the biting fastball of Beckett. It’s practice for the end-game.

The Sox must take it all the way and win or they’ll just be another team. No regular season record or shower of awards will matter to the fans. This brilliant season should end the way it felt all along: potentially the best overall season in Red Sox history.