Red Sox at Rays, ALCS Game 7
RAYS WIN (11:42, END 9, 3-1 RAYS)
The Tampa Bay Rays are 2008 American League Champions. With a historic start by Matt Garza, some creative bullpen maneuvering by manager Joe Maddon, a lights-out performance by David Price, and a few clutch hits, the Rays toppled Jon Lester and the Boston Red Sox, 3-1, to win Game 7.
Lowrie grounded sharply to Iwamura, who stepped on second and ignited a raucous celebration. Jason Bay slowly walked off, the only Red Sox player on the field.
PRICE K's VARITEK, GETS LOWRIE IN A PINCH (11:39, TOP 9, 3-1 RAYS)
Afte Price pumped Varitek with fastballs, he struck him out with a 2-2, 87-m.p.h. slider.
Jed Lowrie will pinch hit for Cora, representing the tying run and the season's final out.
ONE DOWN, VARITEK HITTING (11:37, TOP 9, 3-1 RAYS)
Kotsay struck out looking at a 95-m.p.h. fastball on the outside half. He barked at the home plate ump. Varitek is up with one out, one on.
BAY WALKS (11:34, TOP 9, 3-1 RAYS)
Great at-bat for Bay. He took a 95-m.p.h. fastball for strike one, then took a ball. After Price fired a 93-m.p.h. at Bay's feet that knocked him down, Bay fouled back a 95-m.p.h. fastball down the pipe. Bay fouled away an 87-m.p.h. slider on the outer half. Bay checked his swing at a 96-m.p.h. fastball just outside. He roped a 96-m.p.h. foul to left. He took a pair of balls to get a walk, bringing Kotsay up as the tying run.
PRICE IN THE NINTH (11:29, END 8, 3-1 RAYS)
Iwamura grounded to Pedroia, Crisp made a sliding catch on a pop by Upton, and Pena struck out looking at an 88-m.p.h. fastball. Great job by Okajima, continuing an awesome postseason for him.
Now we're going to the ninth, potentially the final half-inning of the Red Sox season. David Price, who fanned Drew with the bases loaded to end the eighth, will face Bay, Kotsay, and Varitek, barring any pinch hitters.
DREW LEAVES THEM LOADED (11:22, MID 8, 3-1 RAYS)
Price started Drew with an 87-m.p.h. slider on the outside half, which Drew took for a strike. He fired an identical pitch, which Drew swung through. After a 96-m.p.h. fastball outside for a ball Price threw a 97-m.p.h. fastball, which Drew checked his swing on, but was called out. That was bad for the Sox, but seriously electric stuff from Price, who pumped his fist and howled as he came off.
Before the at-bat, veteran first baseman/team leader Pena said something to Price. The Sox have three outs to continue their 2008 season. That was a fascinating inning.
Okajima is in for Lester.
BASES LOADED, PRICE IN (11:17, TOP 8, 3-1 RAYS)
Bradford threw three straight balls to Youkilis to go 3-0. He got over a 77-m.p.h. sinker, then another that Youkilis fouled away for strike two. On the 3-2 pitch, Bradford threw another sinker inside, and Youkilis checked his swing for ball four.
With Drew coming up, Maddon called on his FIFTH pitcher of the inning, lefthanded phenom David Price. Big spot for a kid who was drafted first overall last year. The Red Sox have won six playoff games this year; Drew had ninth-inning game-winners in two of them.
ANOTHER OUT, A NEW PITCHER (11:11, TOP 8, 3-1 RAYS)
Ortiz took strike one, then fouled off strike two down the first-base line. Ortiz evened the count by looking at two balls. He fouled off an 82-m.p.h. slider. Navarro came out for a brief chat. Ortiz fouled back another slider, this one 81. Ortiz bounced to Iwamura, who threw to second and barely got Crisp, who sped into the base and broke up a possible double play.
Youkilis will now face Chad Bradford, the fourth pitcher of the inning, with Cora on third and Ortiz on first. Is Ortiz fast enough to score on a double, running with two outs?
ONE OUT, HOWELL IN (11:02, TOP 8, 3-1 RAYS)
Pedroia flied high to left field, bringing Ortiz to the plate and Maddon to the mound. He brought in Howell to face Ortiz.
GO-AHEAD RUN AT PLATE (11:00, TOP 8, 3-1 RAYS)
Crisp, after a bunt attempt, rolled a 2-2 pitch through the right side. First and second, no outs, Pedroia up.
LUCK FOR THE SOX, WHEELER ENTERS (10:55, TOP 8, 3-1 RAYS)
Garza faced one batter in the eighth, and induced a routine grounder to Bartlett, a surehanded shortstop. The ball took a normal hop, but Bartlett allowed it to handcuff him, and the ball deflected into center field.
With the tying run on and the top of the Sox lineup coming up, Maddon went with Wheeler, his closer, to face Crisp.
Garza tipped his cap on the way to the dugout. What a performance. Seven-plus, two hits.
GARZA MANS UP (10:50, END 7, 3-1 RAYS)
Well, I should not have assumed Garza was leaving, because he's still in the game. With an extra run to work with, Maddon can gamble and stay away from his shellshocked bullpen. Garza has thrown 116 pitches.
Wheeler and Howell still warming.
BULLPEN ACTION (10:47, BOT 7, 3-1 RAYS)
J.P. Howell and Dan Wheeler are throwing for the Rays, while Hideki Okajima has joined Masterson. Lester retired the next two batters after Aybar's home run.
Now here's a stronger argument for hitting for Varitek: Jacoby Ellsbury was sitting on the bench, and despite his 0 for 20 slump, he's 6 for 13 lifetime against Garza.
INSURANCE FOR THE RAYS (10:43 BOT 7, 3-1 RAYS)
Raise your hand if you thought Willy Aybar would be the offensive hero of Game 7. As it stands now, he is. He just launched a monster home run to left off Lester, a bomb that he admired as it nearly scraped the catwalks. Aybar also started the go-ahead rally with a leadoff double.
A note about Francona staying with Varitek for everyone who wanted Sean Casey: Casey, who has hit only once this postseason and struck out, is 1 for 10 lifetime against Garza. That, seemingly, would have been the worst option possible.
VARITEK STRIKES OUT, STRANDS TYING RUN (10:39, MID 7, 2-1 RAYS)
The decision of Francona to not pinch hit for Varitek will likely be questioned, and his critics received some ammunition when Varitek, the hero of Game 6, struck out on four pitches.
Whatever you thought of the decision, that was one intense at-bat. Garza had thrown 112 pitches when it began. Varitek launched the first pitch foul. He checked his swing at a curve in the dirt for ball one. He fouled a 94-m.p.h. fastball back. And then he flailed at an 85-m.p.h. slider in the dirt, which Navarro smothered and threw to first for the putout.
The Red Sox have six outs to score a run. Garza has thrown 116 pitches, so he's got to be done. Lester still out there, Justin Masterson warming.
KOTSAY FLIES OUT, VARITEK HITS (10:33, TOP 7, 2-1 RAYS)
Kotsay pushed Drew to third, then Francona stuck with Varitek to hit with two outs. See what happens.
SOX RALLYING (10:30, TOP 7, 2-1 RAYS)
Youkilis popped up to Bartlett right behind second base. Drew walked on four pitches, but Joe Maddon stuck with Garza, 106 pitches deep, to face Bay. Garza started him with an 84-m.p.h. slider, which Bay watched for strike one. He tried a fastball, which buzzed in 93 m.p.h., a bit slower than his best, and Bay belted it to left, putting men on first and second with one out.
Maddon came out and conferenced with the whole infield, then surprisingly headed back to the dugout. Garza is now facing Kotsay.
QUICK ONE FOR LESTER (10:25, BOT 6, 2-1 RAYS)
Lester mowed down the Rays with just five pitches in the sixth -- a pop to the infield by Pena, a fly to left by Longoria, and a drive to deep center by Crawford. Lester has thrown 88 pitches total, so a fast inning is quite a boon.
Garza, with 100 pitches under his belt, is out for the seventh. Two relievers, one righthanded (Grant Balfour), one lefty (Trever Miller), are warming in the Rays' bullpen.
A note on Pedroia's caught stealing: Pedroia stole 20 bases this season, and was caught only once, the best rate in the league. So it's rare to see him get nabbed.
GARZA DOMINATING; IS HE TIRING, TOO? (10:19, TOP 6, 2-1 RAYS)
Garza got out of the sixth inning despite a walk to Pedroia thanks to a strike-him-out, throw-him-out double play. Ortiz whiffed on 3-2, and Navarro gunned down Pedroia to make Tropicana Field erupt.
Pedroia has reached base three times; only Ortiz, with a walk in the first, has joined him all game. Pedroia offered a tremendous at-bat with one out. He worked a 2-2 count, then fouled off four straight pitches before watching ball three. He fouled one more off, and then on the 11th pitch of the at-bat, Pedroia watched a 78-m.p.h. curveball in the dirt for a well-earned walk.
The Red Sox are still unable to string anything together, but they are making Garza work -- he ended the inning with his 100th pitch. No action in the Rays bullpen, or the Red Sox as Lester comes out for the sixth.
For the first out, Garza, on a 3-2 count, got Crisp to bounce a weak chopper down the first base line; Garza scampered over and calmly made the play.
LESTER MINIMIZES DAMAGE (10:01, END 5, 2-1 RAYS)
The Rays could have broken open the game, but Lester delivered key pitches when he needed to. Lester struck out Bartlett, then induced a tapper from Iwamura that Lester fielded and could only throw to first, which pushed Baldelli to second and Navarro to third. Up came Upton, perhaps the scariest hitter on Earth at this moment. Lester, sticking to pitching him only inside, jammed him and forced a soft liner that Cora squeezed easily.
The Red Sox, with potentially only 12 outs remaining in their season, need to solve Garza or risk staying home for the World Series.
BULLPEN ACTION (9:56, BOT 5, 2-1 RAYS)
Manny Delcarmen is throwing. Lester has about 80 pitches with no outs in the fifth.
RAYS LEAD (9:54, BOT 5, 2-1 RAYS)
Lester seemed uncharacteristically rattled after the double, throwing three straight balls to Navarro. But he bore down and made the count full before inducing a soft grounder by Navarro. Problem was, it was placed too far in the short-third hole for Cora, who made a backhanded stop, to make an attempt on Navarro at first.
With Navarro aboard with his infield single, Lester started Baldelli with two strikes, and then Baldelli grounded the 0-2 pitch through the left side, scoring Navarro without much resistance from Bay's throw in from left.
The Sox are conferencing at the mound around Lester and pitching coach John Farrell.
LEADOFF DOUBLE FOR AYBAR (9:48, BOT 5, 1-1)
Willy Aybar may have started a go-ahead rally, poking a low pitch into the left field corner for a double. With no outs, he's on second base with Navarro at the plate.
GARZA DEALING (9:44, MID 5, 1-1)
Garza right now looks even more sharp, more dominant, than Lester did earlier. Kotsay popped up to second, Varitek grounded the first pitch he saw to first, and then Garza abused Cora, who looked at a 75-mph curve and an 86-mph slider to strike out on three pitches.
Garza has thrown a fair amount of pitches -- 75 through five -- but this is developing into a pretty classic pitching duel. Not bad for Game 7.
LONGORIA STRANDED (9:37, END 4, 1-1)
Lester struck out Crawford with another blazing, high fastball. The question now: Can Garza continue to keep the Sox locked down? Since the first inning ended, he's been filthy. Will pitching with a tie game change his approach? The bottom of the order is up, so the Rays could grab some substantial momentum.
RAYS TIE IT UP (9:34, BOT 4, 1-1)
Longoria tied the game by slapping a double down the right field line, into the corner, a great piece of hitting with two strikes on a pretty good pitch, low-and-away, by Lester. Drew dug it out and fired to Pedroia, who made a strong relay home. But the ball sailed a bit up the line, allowing Pena to slide in before Varitek's diving attempt at a tag.
Lester had struck out Upton on a 90-mph cutter down and in, the perfect pitch to not allow Upton to extend his arms, the way Upton has been mashing all his home runs this postseason. Pena grounded softly to second for a fielder's choice, Pedroia throwing to Youkilis because of the shift. One batter later, Pena would race around to score.
FIRST HIT FOR RAYS (9:24, TOP 4, 1-0 SOX)
Iwamura broke up Lester's burgeoning no-hit bid, slapping the first pitch of the first inning over Alex Cora's head and into left, an opposite-field single.
BATS SILENT (9:22, MID 4, 1-0 SOX)
Aside from the home run Pedroia hit, Garza is matching Lester pitch for pitch. The Red Sox went down without a hit for the third straight inning. Youkilis chopped to third and Longoria made a running throw, a play eerily similar to the one that started the Game 5 ninth-inning rally. Drew popped to first, and Bay took an awkard swing at a low-and-outside fastball.
We've got one hit so far, and two dominating 24-year-old pitchers.
LESTER KEEPS ROLLING (9:13, END 3, 1-0 SOX)
Once through the order, the Rays still have not had a base runner. This 1-2-3 inning including two strikeouts while Lester routinely reached 95 on the stadium radar.
Lester thought he had Dioner Navarro struck out, holding his follow through and grimmacing at home plate when Navarro looked at a 2-2 curve on the edge of the outside corner. Lester ensured it wouldn't matter when he zipped a 94-mph outside fastball by Navarro with his next pitch. Lester struck out Baldelli on three pitches, the final one a low, 95-mph fastball. Bartlett popped the first pitch he saw to Pedroia at second.
Lester, after needing 20 pitches to get through the first, has thrown just 43 pitches through three.
PEDROIA PLUNKED, STRANDED (9:05, MID 3, 1-0 SOX)
The inning began quietly, Cora flaring to left and Crisp striking out swinging. Garza jumped ahead of Pedroia, 1-2, and then Garza drilled Pedroia directly in his left elbow with a 96-mph fastball. Pedroia howled in pain before he walked to first.
Garza threw a 1-2 slider in the dirt to Ortiz, and Pedroia had picked the perfect pitch to steal on; he made second without a throw. It didn't matter,though, because Garza blazed a high heater past Ortiz for strike three on the next pitch.
LESTER DOMINANT (8:51, END 2, 1-0 SOX)
The second was much faster -- and offered the Rays much less hope -- than the first. Alex Cora retired Evan Longoria after making a slick, backhanded play deep in the shortstop hole. Crawford flailed at a 95-mph fastball outside and above the letters. Aybar weakly grounded to third.
GARZA CALMS (8:44, MID 2, 1-0 SOX)
Against the lower portion of the Sox lineup, Garza looked much better, and perhaps his settled. Either way, he retired the Sox 1-2-3. Bay stuck out looking. Kotsay bounced a ball back through the middle, and Jason Bartlett made a nice play behind second base. Varitek submitted a tough at-bat, fouling off a pair of pitches on 3-2, before looking at a curve for strike three.
LESTER PLOWS THROUGH FIRST (8:33, END 1, 1-0 SOX)
Jon Lester bounced back strong from every subpar start he made this season, and he's off to a fast beginning. Iwamura gounded to Pedroia for the first out. Upton smoked the seventh pitch he saw, a 3-2 fastball, to the warning track in right. Drew backpedalded and the catch, but Upton just destroyed the ball. Lester struck out Pena on a 2-2, 78-mph curveball.
Though Lester retired the side in order, it wasn't exactly an easy inning. He threw 20 pitches total, at least six to each batter.
GARZA SHAKY EARLY (8:21, MID 1, 1-0 SOX)
Garza held the Sox to only Pedroai's solo homer, but he appeared hittable and a bit awed by the moment, except when he ended the inning by striking out J.D. Drew on a curve in the dirt. Ortiz walked following Pedroia's home run, and Youkilis clobbered one the other way, into the right field corner, where Rocco Baldelli made a tough running catch.
PEDROIA GOES DEEP (8:13, TOP 1, 1-0 SOX)
Dustin Pedroia, the potential American League MVP, gave the Red Sox the first run of the night, blasting a 1-1 pitch from Matt Garza over the left field fence, close to the foul pole. The crowd is silent and seemingly devastated.
Coco Crisp had led off with a bunt, which Garza fielded cleanly.
I could "almost" understand wearing ear plugs in an away game, but in a home game! Anyone ever hear of a pitcher, or for that matter any other pro athletes wearing a big glob of wax to block out the crowd before?
Garbage Garza
BP time
lets go sox
Are there more Red Sox fans tonight? And, do they seem to be in "better" seats than prior games this series at the trop?
The at-bat cameras seem to be showing more Red Sox attire than last night.
Also, it sure sounded like a louder Red Sox Nation on Dustin's home run.
Great to see the TBS crew is holding steady to their pro-Rays, anti-Sox stance.
So much for that glob of wax in Garza's ears, he has already taken it out. Still can't fathom how he was able to pitch with it? Then again, we did hit him better in inning 1 with the wax than inning 2 without it. hmm,
What is the gray t-shirt all the Red Sox are wearing under their jerseys? On Ortiz, you could see the word "extra" at the top...
Can someone please tell me what the graphic tbs is putting on the field when a runner is at first means? Its a '9' with a red arrow and a green arrow.. guesses have been 9' from first base?
The talking heads certainly don't believe in sports superstitions do they. I really don't need to here 6 up 6 down, 7 up 7 down... and now 9 up 9 down. If their viewers don't know how well Lester is pitching, that is their problem. But for this superstitious fan, I would prefer that keep their big fat mouths shut.
Buck Martinez is such a wanker. I want to slap him.. You can almost hear the sorrow in the TBS announcers voices as Lester rolls. Ron and Chip are close in line behind Buck to slap. But seriously. They're talking about 'tying run at the plate' - they're just busting to see the Rays break out with a big hit. I can't stand them! They're such utter bastards. But honestly, someone tell me how to get the RKO feed on MLB or somewhere else - is there anywhere it's streaming for free?
Lester Dealing
Good point with Sox fans in better seats, looks like rays fans saw writing on the wall on sold on stub hub
The Trop seems like it's a really noisy stadium. Sometimes I can't even hear the announcers over the din (granted on my tinny little computer speakers). I can imagine a pitcher wanting to be able to hear himself think, especially if he has to play there all year.
I am sooooo SICK of the PUNK Garza throwing inside and his 10x/sec spitting into the camera!!!
Garza is nasty tonight. If we don't start hitting him, the best we can hope for is pitch count . At 66 though 4, maybe we can wait him out the next 2 innings and get him to 100. Although, he has been frugal the last 2.
@Lowellfan,
They are showing potential "Stealers" and their lead. The 9 foot mark seems to be a standard. If you look at the home plate side of that graphic, you will notice a small red arrow, showing the 9' spot. So, Red is a small lead, Green is a large lead, and 9' seems to be magical,.
On that play with Pena and the fielder's choice. Did ANYONE cover third base? YOUk was at second, Lester was headed towards ffirst. Don't know if Tex went to third or even if Bay came in. The talking heads don't understand the game enough to point this out to us and we can only see what the "producer " shows us.
my goodness, Caray could hardly contain his jubilation on Longoria's run scoring double.
The 3rd replay shows the Rays fan catching that ball OVER the railing and onto the field. I know Youk was late getting there thanks to the 3rd base umpire and a nice pick0n-roll, but Youk did get there. Why no interfrence call, Youk may have made the play. (I'm a dreamer).
Longoria is such a good hitter. He and Upton are just ridiculous. Good to see Lester sharp.
Thanks David M.. figured it was something like that, but had never seen it before watching tbs...
Wow Cora... don't try too hard...
Why the heck did Cora not swing at any of those pitches? The Rays are swinging at EVERYTHING... and getting hits!
Cora looked like he was running in quicksand on that play.
Again Cora! WTF!
Little trouble here. Need to get runs going anyway, Lester cant be expected to give up 1 run. If he keeps it close we are due for big inning.
Is Dice K available for an inning or two? Why isnt warming up? I would like to see him before Delcarmen or other firestarters in inning 6 or 7.
The producers won't show us the camera angle on the Cora no-throw that we need to see. Was there a chance to get the slowwwww Navarro at first base or not.
I think Navarro hit it too deep in the hole and too slow for Cora to get him out at first, but we couldn't see any replays to allow us to know and this network is full of glitz and no substance. They don't know baseball.
I think too much is being made of announcers. Most overrated part of sports television, baseball or football.
Usually home baseball calls are more interesting, especially with 160+ games and an average of 3+ hours a game. NESN is the best letting the guys go, no question.
Would like to see wider shots and different angle replays though.
David M, that seemed to be the consensus from WEEI: the hit was too soft and Cora corralled it such that he had no play at first.
So far the Only Player on the Sox that has scored has been Pedroa THE REST STINK. THEY HAD A LEAD and BLEW IT They must not want this game bad enough Other wise THEY WOULD LOKK LIKE WORLD CHAMPS They are or use to be. WAKE UP IDIOTS this is your only chance You don't get another chance THIS IS IT BOSTON SO WAKE UP IDIOTS
Man. Peedey is tough. Come on, Papi!!
WTF Ortiz
can you at least make contact
why has he aged 20 years in one series
That's the second strikeout for Papi on a fastball high and out of the zone. That's not good.
Why would anyone send pedroia with a strikeout pitcher on the mound and ortiz hitting? That's the ballgame folks. I am going to bed.
I always find it interesting when a pitcher misses by a mile (the ortiz strikeout) and gets away with a mistake and the extra out on Pedroia. Navarro was low and inside, yet the pitch is high down the middle.
To be lucky is better than being good. Or so I've heard.
Come On Sox !
Papi looks old and desparate - he used to take ball four and now he swings (or check swings) at balls out of the zone.
Great job by Lester in the sixth.
Papi strikes out on ball four, Pedroia out stealing.....ugly. Garza is not this good,
I wish they all had the stones of Pedroia. He takes a personal challenge especially after being hit by garza. NO Way he was losing that battle with him. CROSS THIS LINE YOU DO NOT. BUCK UP SOX LETS GO.
Remember the last time Bay had struck out twice against a pitcher and then faced him a third time against the Angels?
Stay out of the DP Kotsay... this is our chance... only 8 outs left... this would be a real sad way to go down...
rickb101: it was a full count! But any Sox fan who would dare think of going to bed early, must not be playing with a full deck...
Now he's "Big Game" Garza? Put it to rest Chip....
I just do not understand francona. He should have hit for jason with casey. That was a NO BRAINER. I know I should have gone to bed.
NO KEY HITS...especially by Tek. SOOOO FRUSTRATING!!!!
Oh no!
I sense a wee bit of excitement from the ole broadcast team on impartial TBS...
that was absurd not to PH for tek. isn't that the point we carried 3 catchers?
Kotsay has now left 19 men on base! Nineteen!!! Arrrrggggghhhh......
What about Ellsbury as a pinch-hitting option? His numbers are good against Garza.
2 runs vs. 6 outs. With only two hits, we really don't deserve to continue our season. But we're not out yet. Should Ells start off the 8th?
..on the bright side. there are 8 more batters before tek is due up again.
..on the bright side. there are 8 more batters before tek is due up again.
We can't see it, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Jacoby hit for Cora in the top of 8th.
As for insurance run, a 2 run lead isn't normally safe with the Sox, let's hope it isn't safe tonight either.
6 more outs, The heart of the order coming up.
Hey: check the times on those Ellsbury comments. Mine's in at 10:46 and Adam's at 10:47. : )
FROM ADAM: Great minds think alike, ndsmith. Honest to God, I posted before I saw your comment. Brilliant thinking by you.
Score that E-6 .
You got that right about the TBS announcers. It's been very noticeable all series that they are in love with the devil rays. They are not as bad as the espn dudes though, kruk, young and ravitch. I can't listen to them for too long.
@ndsmith
Yup you got it.
Wheeler has been hitable with the exception of game 2, so "Let's Go Red Sox, Let's Go Red Sox".
I'm glad to see others think the TBS announcers are biased. It's been making me CRAZY.
Don't know about you, but I like seeing Wheeeler in early. It smells of desperation and I think the Sox have his number.
Red Sox Globus
from the year of dream realization to today the nation has moved away
but never strayed from the comeback path wouldn't be as great if it weren't such a trial they deliver when it counts nevamind the hiccups
they're getting to 'em
and are bound to keep it rolling
putting up some crooked numbers
Shouting out around berlin
Red Sox Globus
Where's Jacoby right now?!? He'd be on 3rd...
Who cares if the announcers are biased?
Bitte, Pete in Berlin. Schön, sehr schön!
wheeler is a new englander - maybe he'll serve up a juicy one for his old country folk. and make us all proud of him
So who closes now? Chad Bradford??
@jon
I don't think anyone would have gotten to third on that one. The ball was hit right at Cora and he had to step backwards before going forwards, it wasn't pretty, but he couldn't have gone to third. At least not as a good play. Only a lucky play.
That said, I'm looking for Jacoby at some point and soon.
Its just annoying and it makes it sound like we are the bad guys by beating the Rays
I do. Thats why I brought it up.
Type your comment here...
Re the announcers:
Chip Caray is the 3rd generation of horrible homer announcers. Martinez managed the Blue Jays. Darling was on the Mets in 1986. That decked is stacked.
Great play by Coco. Or was it. Replay shows he was safe going straight in. Now, does Jacoby come in to pinch run & steal 2nd so YOuk can drive in 2.
That is the script I am writing, now can the actors do their part?
Great play by Coco. Or was it. Replay shows he was safe going straight in. Now, does Jacoby come in to pinch run & steal 2nd so YOuk can drive in 2.
That is the script I am writing, now can the actors do their part?
That was a poor slide from Coco.....sigh.....this is nerve wracking....
why arent we pinch running here? i dont get this at all. are we not allowed to use our bench because are payroll is too big or something?
David M, I tend to agree. But it's only the eighth.
You gotta hand it to Joe Maddon: he's going to give this thing to the rookie phenom David Price!! Amazing!
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!
I'm about to make some noise................
BS strike 3 call on drew
@JD DREW
Liar...
Was that a called strike or swinging strike on JD? Either way, that sucks.
What an opportunity wasted in the 8th. The Sox win when they make good on those. That youngster (was he called Price?) had some stuff!
UMMM- they planning to take another look at that last "strike" to Drew???
Wow....
we can't leave the bases loaded like that. We've left so many man on base this series. watch the ratings for the world series drop without the red sox. because i'm not watching baseball after tonight
we can't leave the bases loaded like that. We've left so many man on base this series. watch the ratings for the world series drop without the red sox. because i'm not watching baseball after tonight
How did that third strike call look to you guys? mlb.com had it well outside.
Never saw so many $#%@^ "check swings! Sort of like driving halfway through an intersection and stopping ...Howzabout a **real** swing there JD!!
What noise would that be?
Ironic that with all the hyperventilating about our starting pitching in this series, it's our utterly useless bats tonight that are killing us. Weak.
Price is the real thing. The Rays are going to lead the AL in ERA for 2009.
@ndsmith.
While I was (and still am) upset at HP Umpire for making that call as most hand it off to the base umpires, it appears to have been a good call.
To answer your question, I believe it was a swinging strike as the pitch was low and away (I think).
it was a check swing...another **** CHECK SWING!
This is it! Let's finish this with a Win!
In NO WAY am I giving up, not until the last pitch. In the event that this is it, I want to thank ADAM and all of you for making this blog a fun way to watch the game. It is as if, I have been watching with a lot of "friends" at the same time.
Thanks --.. Now, Let's Go Sox !
David M, the guys on WEEI were confused, but it seems like it was a nasty pitch that maybe Drew offered at.
We're killing them on baserunners and hits, but we're still losing the game!
hey sox fans three more outs and your sox can take those flee collors they wear around their necks
I dont care how good a hitter Pedrioa is, he should have bunted and moved the runners up in the eighth It would have made it 2nd and 3rd - one out - with Ortiz coming up. If they walked him and loaded the bases for Youk, so what?
Thats probably the thing that bugs me the most about the Red Sox. Every now and then - you gotta bunt - especially in a pitching duel where runs are scarce.
I know you're not supposed to argue balls and strikes, but that was not a strike against Kotsay.
Kotsay barked for good reason according to the computer. That pitch was WAY outside.
that was a blown call by Big Blue, some umpires have to know the situation they are in. not to say Drew would've hit or done anything spectacular but you have to give him the chance
That last pitch to Kotsay of off the plate. The umps and the announcers are blind!
@Dustin: the Sabermetricians have a strong argument against sacrificing to move runners over. Especially in the post season where outs are at a premium.
@ Ron...
Flea collars? Nimrod...
Missed opportunities
sox should have scored more.
Good season, not bad for champs last year. We will be back.
The time that money could buy a world series just ended. Go Rays!
The magic ended with Drew's inability to swing the darn bat ALL THE WAY in the 8th. They just ran out of gas and used up all their heart in the last game. Thanks for the run boys. Look forward to the changes in the off season. Oh well, guess it's football season...come on Steelers!
what the hell was Francona thinking. How do you put ANY hitter hitting .056 a the plate with 2 outs to go in the SEASON....
this loss is a coaching loss... plain and simple.
Terry Francona should be fired first thing in the morning! That's all I am going to say!
Why did Tito have BOTH Kotsay AND Tek hitting in the 9th? Talk about 2 automatic outs...I don't care that Ellsbury is 0-20, I'd rather have him up there and Lowrie as well...
Good series and the Sox fought but why does Francona carry 3 catchers if he's going to leave Varitek in there to strike out twice in the late innings?
for scooby....the devil rays are another colorado rockies of last year without the regular season stats to back them up...they will embarrass the AL in the Series if they make it....GO SOX!
HAAHAHAHHAHAHAHA
GO YANKEES!!!!!!!!!!!
What's francona's fasination with kotsay and tek? c'mon man, grow some olives and pinch hit for some of these guys once in awhile! enough with this loyalty stuff. too late now.
It was a nice run, but now the season is over. The Red Sox are still the team of the decade--no matter who wins the WS this year, Boston will remain the only team that has won it twice since 2000. Let's get 'em in 2009.
And let's go Phillies! The City of Brotherly Love has waited too long.
anybody notice that Kotsay left about 20 runners on base in the series?
give the rays credit they beat your best pitcher, first back to back loss for him this year. Glad the rays won, they showed guts and sick of the sox saying this team sucked
Tampa Wins!!!! Bye Boston!
I defend Francona all the time, but the way he handled Kotsay and Varitek tonight was inexcusable. They should have been pinch hit for long before the ninth, but if not, then why not in the ninth?!? How can you not pinch hit anyone until the last batter? Ridiculous.
2008 Red Sox...biggest choke of all time.
bases loaded...and Varitek was an All-Star??
Francona is the new Grady for not pinch hitting him
Well, they played a good game. The Rays are strong, they were better tonight. It's been a good season and the Sox got further than we had any right to hope. And I'm glad it's a sport where a team like the Rays with a lot of heart and top skills can do so well...
Still, I wish they'd got it done in the 8th. We might celebrating now.
This blog's been fun, especially for someone living abroad without any other fans around.
Just wait til next year!
And why in the world, if you are going to leave Kotsay in, is he bunting with one on, nobody out, with a two-run deficit? If he doesn't think he can get a hit, then he shouldn't be in there.
hey Captain,
your ship is sailing from black falcon terminal. better get on board!
FINALLY !!!!!!! We shut you people the @!#& up! Now go to bed!
GO RAYS!
Ugh, hope the Phillies kick the crap out of the Rays. The Sox looked like the struggling team they've been for the better part of the year. Seven ALCS games to show it. It's true... the magic ran out. Now what?
My God-- bad enough Tito started Varitek, then didn't pitch hit for him earlier....John Henry should hop over the railing and fire Tito right now in the middle of on-field presentations for Tito letting Automatic-Out Varitek hit AGAIN....automatic out, how many men did he strand all told? Five tonight and twenty something during this series? He SUCKS, and after the game last night he had the audacity to say he's hit the ball hard during this series....
Well... I'm certain many will question why Francona did not hit for Tek... but we left an awful lot of baserunners on base the entire series.
If our big pitchers had been more lights out we would have been closer, but the fact is that we just got beat by a better team.
2008 has been a valiant effort, but I'm afraid the Rays were just better than us this year.
The Sox have had a hard good run. We need to fall back and regroup. Next year should be awesome!
I really enjoyed this season. They should have been out of it at the break but played hard and came oh so close.
So... do we bid adieu to Tek? Is Papi ever gonna get his good bat speed back? Is Lowell going to help next year after this injury? Who will we go after for next year?
And BTW... people can just stop talking about how "bad" Okajima was this year. Look it up. He was fine.
Congrats, albeit it bittersweet, to the team for a good save of 2008!
The thing that will stand out the most about this loss is the inability to get the big hit when needed.The 8th is a perfect example, bases loaded but come up empty.
How many RISP were stranded throughout the series? Far far too many.
And Tek, as much as he is heart and soul, his time is over.
Next year, a with a healthy Beckett things will be different.