Entries Tagged 'Youkilis' ↓

We’ll start with Schill:

Schilling today agreed to an $8million contract and has incentives that could climb to a final $14 million contract. Not a horrible deal if he likes money, because that’s the motivation for him to drop 20 pounds of weight and gain 10 pounds of muscle in those shoulders.

Papi underwent arthroscopic surgery today to repair torn cartilage in  his knee. The release from Dr. Gill said it went fine, but I’m also worried about his shoulder. I’d be thinking rotator cuff surgery if rehab doesn’t work. If that’s the case, he’ll be out until May or June at the least.

YOUUUUUUUUUK!!! Congratulations to Mr. Defense. Youkilis is a gold-glove first baseman and he absolutely deserves it. This kid comes out of the minors with a lot of people talking about his walk to hit ratio and what does he do? Everything else. He didn’t have any errors in the regular season and can blame the only one he had in the post season on bad dirt. Nice, nice job man.

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.

NO runs, four hits, NO extra bases, NO walks, eight strikeouts.

As every media member in the world following this post season has said: Now THAT is a staff ace.

The Sox started off with a bang yesterday, as Kevin Youkilis’ first-ever post season hit ends up being a no-doubt home run. Nice work. Then, of course, Papi feels that he has to do one better (good for the fans) and gets us the insurance runs we never needed to clinch the first of the necessary three wins. Papi now ties Varitek for the team lead in post season home runs (9) and leads the club all-time in post season RBIs (30).

Last night, Josh Beckett threw his third post season shutout. THIRD. Thank you to Tom Verducci for pointing out that he’s only one behind all-time leader Christy Mathewson. Who knows if he’ll pass it this year, but I wouldn’t put it past him.

Game 2: Friday. I’ll be back tomorrow with the Game 2 thoughts.

Series: Red Sox 1, Angles 0

It never ceases to entertain, does it? This ridiculous and emotional roller coaster we call Red Sox vs. Yankees. After last night’s bases-loaded,Rivera-busting-Ortiz moves with Kung-Fu grip and the energetic (and frustrating) Jeter primal scream and wind-up fist pump action, the Sox boarded a plane to head to Toronto.

I think the Nation has some questions going into the final two weeks of the season, but at least they didn’t get swept.

Here are my notes of frustration:

• I’d much rather see Millar come to town and be a total suck-up than watch the ball-stealing, annoying as hell Manneshievitzis (I know how to spell his name, by the way).
• I don’t like A-Rod because of the years he spent “acting” and being forcefully politically correct, NOT because of his skills. He’s an amazingly gifted ballplayer who also happens to be a complete jackass.
• I don’t think the pitch to Jeter was a mistake. It was inside, but it wasn’t fast enough. Otherwise, Schilling did a great job and I think he out-pitched Roger.
• How much is Youk hurting right now?
• Wake left before the team. Mirabelli wants to catch tonight. Not sure what will happen, but I’m guessing it’ll be another long game.
• Manny isn’t playing until today or tomorrow. If he plays tonight, the Nation will complain that he should have been able to play against the Yankees. If he’s still hurting, then he probably shouldn’t play tonight or tomorrow for that matter. I’d sit him until Wednesday.
• Correction: I’d sit Manny until Wednesday UNLESS Ellsbury is really hurting with the ball off the knee. (Incidentally, the conspiracy theorist inside of every one of my friends last night was that they did it to slow him down.)
• Gagne did a nice job last night. He even gunned one in there at 95.
• The magic number is hovering around 9 (It may be 8, not sure). If the Yankees continue to play like they have, this thing will come down to the series against the Twins.

Salvage that series and they’re on their way to the weekend with the Bronx Bombers (and, to be honest, they’re lately bombing the competition). As fans, we’re certainly not afraid of NY. They can’t capture the division this weekend, even if they were to sweep it.

Sounding off:

• Watching Papi hit a game-winning home run became quite a norm last year and we were completely taking it for granted. His production in the clutch this year hasn’t been anywhere near his capabilities due to shoulder and knee problems. I think we all recognize that if he makes it to the off-season, he’ll go through the scope and heal just fine for Spring Training.
• Manny will be back this weekend for the series against the Yankees. It’ll mean a lot, since his bat has sorely been missed. This, by the way, is not because of his production (down this year), but because of what his presence means to the opposing pitching staff.
• Francona should get an extension. Now. Not when the season is over. How can the Front Office let this guy get to the post season without a new deal? That’s ridiculous. (Of course, if he pulls a Grady Little during the ALDS or ALCS or WS, The Nation would want his head in a basket.)
• J.D. Drew remains an enigma, but how about Varitek? He has left just as many people on base this year as Drew. Aside from his spectacular and well-deserved status of Captain, ‘Tek needs to get his head around the pitches he’s seeing (or not seeing at the moment).
• Youk is in a horrible slide as well. His production has dropped in the last three weeks to the point where his BA is below .290. Not good, no matter how many times he looks like someone hit his dog when he’s called out on strikes.
• Wake is hurt more so than he cares to let on.
• Tavarez did an outstanding job of coming in to the game in long relief.
• Lowell deserves to finish his career with the Sox. He’s been durable, dependable and has quiet leadership in the clubhouse. His articulate responses to questions surrounding anything from his teammates dogging it to the manager’s future have been incredible, if not unheard of in the Hub. Add to the fact that he’s multi-lingual and has had a resurgence in his offense and you not only have someone playing for his contract, but someone who would be appreciative once a deal is done and continue to perform next year.

Finally, a note of appreciation to my former father-in-law, who passed away over the weekend. Your family will miss you, but we will celebrate your memory with kind and warm thoughts based on your generosity and commitment to family.