Sox vs. Angels, ALDS Game 4
WALK-OFF FOR LOWRIE (11:31, END 9, 3-2 SOX)
Jed Lowrie rolled the first pitch he saw through the right side for a game-winning single, bringing the Red Sox out of the dugout and the series to a close. Lowrie, who strugglied mightily down the stretch in the regular season, is the hero. He thrust his fist over his head as he rounded first and kept jogging into shallow right field, where the Red Sox are mobbing him. Flashbulbs are going off like crazy. What a game. Masterson is off the hook.
See you in Tampa.
SQUEEZED (11:23, MID 9, 2-2)
Well, the Angels tried the squeeze, and it backfired. Aybar (sorry for originally typing Figgins; he was on-deck) missed the bunt with Willits halfway to home. Jason Varitek chased him down and tagged him on the rear end. Aybar then bounced to first. What a blown opportunity for the Angels.
Willits is in right. Shields is still in. Drew, Bay, and Kotsay will try to end it now.
LEAD-OFF DOUBLE, TYING RUN ON THIRD (11:17, TOP 9, 2-2)
Pinch-hitter Kendry Morales drilled a double of the Monster. Reggie Willits came in to pinch-run. Masterson remained in to pitch to Kendrick, who sacrifice bunted him to third. Francona opted for Delcarmen to pitch to Aybar, and he's warming up on the mound now. Could the Angels try a suicide squeeze for the lead? Fast runner, excellent bunter.
SHIELDS IMPRESSES (11:12, END 8, 2-2)
Shields is proving why he's known as one of the best relievers -- and, really, pitchers -- in the league. The Red Sox went down 1-2-3, not one of their three best hitters so much as sniffing a hit. Pedroia hit a soft liner to Kendrick at second. Ortiz fell behind 0-2, worked back to 2-2, fouled a couple pitches, then struck out awkwardly half-swinging over a curveball in the dirt. Youkilis flailed at a nasty, 2-2, 80-mph curve.
Francona is sticking with Masterson with Kendrick, Aybar, and Figgins due up. Delcarmen is throwing in the 'pen.
MASTERSON OUT OF IT, SHIELDS COMES ON (11:05, MID 8, 2-2)
Masterson got Napoli to fly to right, but the damage had been done. It will be interesting to hear Francona talk about his decision to take out Lester. Will you second-guess Francona for making the move to his bullpen?
Scot Shields, who might have been the player of Game 3, is on to pitch to Pedroia, Ortiz, and Youkilis. No more Lackey. Jose Arredondo and Darren Oliver are warming in the LA 'pen.
ANGELS TIE IT UP (11:01, TOP 8, 2-2)
A strange play and heroics by Hunter leave the Red Sox staring, perhaps, at extra innings or a trip back to Californina.
Masterson started Hunter with a pair of strikes, then came back with a ball. On Masterson's next pitch, Varitek moved his glove right as if expected a slider. The ball buzzed at 97 mph over his mitt and nearly killed Rapuano. But it missed him and went all the way to the backstop, putting Guerrero on second, the tying run in scoring position, and Texeira on third.
Hunter, on a 2-2 pitch, flared a low pitch to right field, a great piece of two-strike hitting. Drew came up throwing, but his one-hop throw to Varitek missed the sliding Guerrero by several steps. Hunter remains on first with one out.
WALK FOR GUERRERO (10:56, TOP 8, 2-0 SOX)
Guerrero walked on a full count, bringing up Hunter with the go-ahead run. Manny Delcarmen is up in the bullpen.
MASTERSON FOR OKAJIMA (10:52, TOP 8, 2-0)
Okajima rolled through the first two batters he faced, getting both Figgins and Anderson to roll to Pedroia. He walked Teixeira on four pitches, bringing the tying run to the plate in the frightening form of Guerrero.
Francona summoned Masterson for one of the game's biggest at-bats. Earlier in the series, Masterson faced Guerrero in a simliarly clutch situation and blew a nasty, 96-mph fastball by him for a strikeout.
LESTER OUT (10:44, END 7, 2-0 SOX)
Jon Lester threw 109 pitches through seven innings, and Francona decided that's enough. Hideki Okajima is in the game to face Figgins, Anderson, and Teixeira. Justin Masterson is warming up.
No matter what happens now, what a tremendous night for Lester. Seven innings, no runs, four hits, two walks, four strike outs. He again was an ace when the Sox needed it.
The Red Sox ended their half of the seventh when Ellsbury grounded up the middle with Lowrie on first. Aybar stepped on second and fired to first for a double play.
LESTER THROUGH SEVEN (10:38, MID 7, 2-0)
Lester, though only 24, is on his way to further cementing his place in Red Sox history. Like Game 1, he is only getting stronger. Lester got pop-ups from Rivera and Kendrick and got a lazy fly to right from Aybar. Eight outs away from the ALCS.
LACKEY SHARP AGAIN (10:29, END 6, 2-0 SOX)
Lackey really got outs that inning, even though Bay's roller under Aybar's glove was ruled a single. He's thrown only 89 pitches and has had a great outing -- one that's being overshadowed by Lester. If he can go eight, that would be huge. Jonathan Papelbon will not pitch two innings tonight, because he's thrown four in three days.
SOX' D CRANKS UP (10:24, MID 6, 2-0 SOX)
Three up for the Angels, three solid plays by the Sox. Guerrero cued a pop off the end of his bat in between the dirt on-deck circle and the dirt first base coach's box. Kotsay scampered over, slid, and made a teriffic backhanded catch. Hunter nubbed a slow-roller to third, and Youkilis charged and made a strong running throw to nail him. Napoli flied deep to left, and Bay calmly ran back, put his hand on the Monster, and caught the ball right up against the Wall.
Lester, having thrown 97 pitches, is nine outs away from sending the Sox to the ALCS. What a performance -- he has not allowed an earned run in his last 18 2/3 playoff innings. Lester is 16-1 this season when given a 2-0 lead, a stat just shown by TBS.
RED SOX STRIKE, PEDROIA BREAKS THROUGH (10:14, END 5, 2-0 SOX)
Kotsay led off the fifth with a sharp, line drive single to center. After Lowrie flied to center, Varitek had a tremendous at-bat. He fell behind 0-2, worked his way back to 3-2, then ripped a 78-mph curve to right field, putting men on first and second with one out for Ellsbury.
It was a particularly tough spot for Lackey, because Ellsbury's speed makes him so hard to double up. Lackey got his groundball, but we'll never know if Ellsbury would have been doubled up -- Kendrick booted the ball and had only one play, Ellbsury at first. Kotsay scampered home.
Up came Pedroia, 0 for 15 in this series. The crowd still gave him "M-V-P" chants, and Pedroia gave them a double off the Green Monster. Varitek scored, and the Red Sox lead, 2-0, after Ortiz bounced back to Lackey.
The Sox, with Lester going strong, are 12 outs away from the ALCS.
LESTER STRANDS TWO MORE (10:02, MID 5, 0-0)
For the third time in four innings, Lester plowed through a jam and left two men on base. This was arguably the toughest test and most impressive result -- with men on first on third, Teixeira came up. Lester started him 0-2, then tried to get him to chase a high fastball. On 1-2, Lester fired an outside, 96-mph fastball and started walking off the mound, only for Ed Rapuano to call ball two. He came back with a similar pitch, a 91-mph cutter in nearly the same spot. Teixeira looked again, and Rapuano rang him up.
Aybar got the rally started with a one-out single to right. Figgins, who the Red Sox have no answer for right now, followed by slapping another hit, through the right side. Aybar moved to third on Anderson's fielder's choice.
LACKEY KEEPS ROLLING (9:49, END 4, 0-0)
He needed to overcome some sloppy defense, but Lackey kept Boston off the board again. Ortiz lined a single to center field with out. Figgins stabbed Youkilis's sharp grounder to third, then rushed a throw to second trying to start a double play. It sailed wide to the right, and Kendrick couldn't corrall it. Ortiz was safe at second, creating the potential for a big inning -- two on, one out, Drew coming to bat.
Drew worked the count full, the spoiled a curveball. Drew blasted the next pitch to right center, but it hung up long enough for Hunter to track it down. Ortiz rumbled to third. The onus was on Jason Bay. He lofted a 1-2 curve to left, high and easy for Anderson to squeeze. Still zeros, and Lackey has thrown just 57 pitches. The Red Sox have only two hits.
EASY ONE FOR LESTER (9:36, MID 4, 0-0)
Lester needed an inning to settle himself down and get control of his pitch count, and he got it. He struck out Torii Hunter swinging, then got weak grounders from Game 3 hero Napoli and Rivera. Napoli's bat splintered, and the barrel nearly struck Lester in the head. Lester threw 13 pitches in the inning.
ON VELAZQUEZ (9:33, TOP 4, 0-0)
We haven't had a chance to talk to Terry Francona yet, so I can only guess at the Red Sox' rationale for activating Gil Velazquez. Here goes: Francona feels comfortable with Kotsay and Casey at first, and he wanted another pinch-running option. Velazquez isn't exactly a track star, but he provides a better choice than either Chris Carter or Jeff Baily, who are with the team and more accomplished hitters. Francona is saying he feels good about Alex Cora, Sean Casey, and Coco Crisp as pinch-hitting options.
LACKEY SAILS (9:30, END 3, 0-0)
After Lester labored in the top of the inning, Lackey sailed through the bottom half. He looks even stronger than he did game one, mixing up his pitches better. He needed only nine pitches to retire Lowrie (fly to center), Varitek (grounder to second), and Ellsbury (another bouncer back to Lackey). Lackey has thrown only 39 pitches.
LESTER WORKS FOR IT (9:26, MID 3, 0-0)
The Angels remain scoreless, but not without testing Lester again. With one out, Figgins slapped a single to left, through the shortstop-third hole. He moved to second when Anderson grounded to Kotsay at first. Teixeira came up, facing the opportunity the Angels signed him to suceed in: two outs, man on second, run needed. Teixeira worked a 2-2 count and took a high, outside 96-mph fastball that missed by inches. On the 3-2 pitch, Lester threw a curve in the dirt, and Teixeira laid off, bringing up Vladimir Guerrero, who decided he wasn't going to look at any pitches. He hacked at the first five pitches Guerrero threw, fouling off four. He looked at a high fastball, then a low curve. 2-2. Lester threw a curveball, and Guerrero squibbed it past the mound toward second base. Pedroia screamed in, diving and flipping to Kotsay in one, smooth motion to retire the slow-footed Guerrero.
The base runners the Angels are putting on are at least making Lester work. He's thrown roughly 55 pitches through three.
LACKEY GETS TWO (9:10, END 2, 0-0)
The Red Sox got two baserunners on against Lackey with one out, J.D. Drew singling to left and Jason Bay drawing a walk. Mark Kotsay came up with the game's first scoring opportunity. He grounded to second. Kendrick made an errant throw to Aybar, on the wrong side of second, and Aybar made a stellar turn at second, stepping gracefully around Bay, hopping, and firing a one-hopper to Teixeira.
LESTER STILL STRONG (8:59, MID 2, 0-0)
The Angels provided the night's first resistance to either pitcher, but Lester proved more than up to the challenge. With two outs, Napoli saw nine pitches -- the amount Lester used in the entire first inning -- and walked on a curve down and in. He moved to second when Juan Rivera shot a single throuhg the left side, just out of Jed Lowrie's diving reach. Howie Kendrick followed. Lester struck him out on three pitches, concluding with a devious back-to-back of a 95-mph inside fastball and a 78-mph curve in the dirt.
LACKEY RESPONDS (8:49, END 1, 0-0)
It's early still, but this has the feel, look, and pace of a clasic playoff pitcher's duel. John Lackey used only 10 pitches to reitre the Sox in order.
Jacoby Ellsbury, who ripped a double off Lackey to lead off Game 1, bounced back to Lackey. Dustin Pedroia has submitted some decent at-bats in his postseason slump, but not in the first -- he popped to second, making him a stunning 0 for 14 this series. David Ortiz grounded sharply up the middle, but shortstop Erick Aybar, shifted over to the second base-side of second, had him played perfectly.
LESTER BRINGS IT (8:42, MID 1, 0-0)
The Red Sox need another stellar performance from Jon Lester, and he started out in exactly the form you would hope for. Chone Figgins grounded to second, Garrett Anderson checked his swing on a thrid strike, and Mark Teixeira chopped to second weakly. Lester shut down the Angels in only nine pitches and three minutes.
Troy O'Leary threw out the first pitch. No offense intended to O'Leary, but has there ever been a more drastic change in first-pitch tossers than Jim Rice to Troy O'Leary?
I'm sorry, but who do I have to kill to get TBS to shut up Buck Martinez and the other bozo announcers calling this game????
Is there anyone else I can listen to on this game. The TBS commentators are in the bag for the Angels. I've just listened to an hour's worth on conversation about the Angels. We know the Angels well. They're very good. But where did TBS find these guys.
There's always XMRadio, as long as you don't mind a 7 second delay between what you see and what you hear.
Trust me, I tried it during game 1 and it didn't work for me.
I would MUCH rather have O'Brien and Castliago than the TBS bozos. Sheesh! I'd rather have Thiesman, Deirdorf, & Kornheiser than Martinez!!!!!
You guys just don't see the importance of feeding the middle of the order. Come to think of it, I could use some pretzels.
Thanks for doing this! I'm stuck in the playoffs without cable. Any chance of more of a play-by-play?
Lackey's the best infielder on the Angels.
This is ALDS Game 4, not Game 3. I know last night's game was cruel, but we can't just ignore that it happened.
Yeah Adam, what BlackX said, us Sox fans really do appreciate the online play-by-play when we can't get the game on TV. ESPN gamecast doesn't quite cut it, neither does having to listen to road games on the XM.
Thanks to you an Amalie. Great job.
Way better than having to listen to Buck Martinez.
At least they brought in Darling tonight - he's decent. Martinez and Caray are brutal.
Another great outing by Lester.
I disagree, Buck's not that bad and his insight is pretty interesting. but then again, I'm anticipating the horrors of Tim McCarver later in the playoffs.......
I remember listening to these guys last year, and they are horrible. If TBS is going to televise Major League baseball, why don't they try hiring some major league announcers. If I had XM Radio, I'd turn the sound down and listen to their feed.
Hate Okajima. Hate him. I really, really hate him.
Come on Masterson!
why the hell did franky give lester the hook!
Why in the name of all the baseball gods would you take out the most dominant pitcher in the 2008 playoffs? Smells like the reverse of 2003. If they lose this series it falls on Franconas head. Stupidist move since Grady and Pedro.
Can someone PLEASE explain why Lester was taken out? He was still dominating. Horrible decision by tito.
Lester should have stayed in-- retired last EIGHT batters he faced and was still humming in the high 90's--- Sox mid-relief is SUSPECT AT BEST. What was Francoma thinking? And what's with Varitek and the passed ball? He's supposed to be so good with the pitchers, which is why we suffer his abysmal hitting. Get him out of there. Lester gets no decision now and the game is on the line. LOUSY MOVE, should have left Lester in then Papelbon.
Why do they have so much faith in Masterson? Why?
If we lose this game, the responsibility is the manager's. He had no business removing lester.
Masterson stinks Why is he pitching in the post season again?
After last nights hate fest, it's good to see the Adam love-fest back. Question for Francona: why pull Lester after he retires eight straight? Okie did well, but then disaster for Masterson.... This is more than a hypothetical because I feel like it goes to the deep preference they have for following pitch counts.
God that was painful. Why did Masterson get so fine on his 2-strike counts? Two more scoring opportunities for the Sox. Hope they can pull it off.
You know Castigliano calling the games in the other division was very good, even-handed, exciting. Pity these TBS can't take a page from his book.
Will someone please tell me why Francona pulls Lester out when he's dominating the Angels, only to leave the game in the hands of Justin Masterson? That move was totally unnecessary and now may cost the Sox the game, even the series. How moronic it is to manage a game based on pitch counts.
"Will you second-guess Francona for making the move to his bullpen?"
Some of us second-guessed it when it happened, and didn't need to see the disaster that followed first.
No sure what what the hell Francona is thinking. He should have left Lester in there for 8th to see what he could do. If he gets in trouble then you take him out. Francona is a damn moron and I think could blow this series for them now. The SOX are not very good in these close 1 run games. The Angels relief is better than the SOX and it now it favors them. DUMB FRIGGIN MOVE!!!!!
Win or lose Francoma is a MORON!!!
Maybe they'll probably win despite this idiot! What the heck is Lester out of the game? His velocity is great, he's in the heads of the Angels, and he's out! Alright, a walk, another walk, hey there's a hit. TIED F@#$%^& GAME!
all this idiot did is give the Angels life! Never mind the no bunting when he should, the stealing when he can I'm gonna throw up.....
Lets keep the Little League players out !! We could have had this game won had it not been for the Tee Ball pitcher !! What was Francona thinking
Lets keep the Little League players out !! We could have had this game won had it not been for the Tee Ball pitcher !! What was Francona thinking
what a grady little move there...too much...what a brain fart!
Pulling Lester will go down as Tito's Grady Little moment. Boneheaded move.
Is tito a closet disneyland fan?? This is a joke. Pulling lester? Leaving disasterson in??
How much of a difference is 1.1 innings vs. 1 inning... Papelbon should have been in there to face Guerrero.
And now runner on 3rd, 1 out and still no Papelbon?!?! Is Francona playing for game 5?
Then bring in Manny "score 'em" Delcarmen with a man on third!?!?!? God help us.
Masterson - 2 walks + game tying hit; next inning a lead off double. Bad move to keep him in --- can't understand why he was even in this game!
Masterson - 2 walks + game tying hit; next inning a lead off double. Bad move to keep him in --- can't understand why he was even in this game!
Did either Tito or V-Tek even THINK of trying to pick off Guerrero - he was about 1/2 way to 3rd base when Hunter was batting. Unbelievable.
And Masterson, God bless him, has not been effective since August. Lester definitely should have been left in for the 8th.
Tito's been off since the Rays series in September. Bad decisions with bad turnouts.
Hopefully they pull this out, but with who the Sox have coming up, it looks like it better go extras for them.
Francona upset the baseball gods there. You don't pull a pitcher who's cruising to leave the game to our shaky eighth inning relief. You give the angels life and it's just unnecessary. We can still pull this out tho.
Yes Tek!
With that suicide squeeze, I think Scoscia doesn't want to go back to LA!
Ok Boys lets GO !!!!!
That squeeze failed, but it's the kind of play that makes Sciosca such a better manager than everyone else in baseball. Aybar failed to execute, but the call is ballsy.
Can managers manage anymore? They all have this set up where no matter how well a pitcher is doing, they go to their bullpen at a certain time. Lester was throwing a great game. Is there anything wrong with letting him go the whole way if he can? And then he makes matters worse by putting Masterson in a pressure situation again! What a joke! Francona just cost his team this series, and nobody can convince me otherwise. I'm sure Francona will have a great explanation, but he can't fool me. He blew it, and he knows he blew it!
Wow --- Masterson off the hoof\k...sort of. Blew the game with walks and Tito mistakenly brought him in for the 9th and he gave up a double. RS just got lucky...and need to capitalize and end this game
Francona is an idiot for making this move. Looks like we lose this in Anahiem! Dumb Ass
I have never, ever, EVER questioned Tito Francona and his managing style. Even during the first year of his tenure, I kept quiet as I/we adjusted to his management style.
But tonight, I have to gripe. Why the h**k did Masterson stay in as long as he did? Why did he come in during a key point of the game? Where is Paps?
Everyone is entitled to one mistake. But over the past 3-4 weeks, I have been left scratching my head as the leadership of the Sox have been responsible for several mistakes, dating back to the TB series.
After all the positive vibes Francona have brought to New England, it would be sad if little Tito is remembered as the manager who lost games for the hometown team.
It is so easy to point out the negative attributes of any person, but a special person to bring out the positives. I don't feel so special tonight.
Tom from Hooksett, NH
Francona is an idiot for making this move. Looks like we lose this in Anahiem! Dumb Ass
HOOOOOLYYY COW!!! Gotta love it!!!!
Terry don't you DARE put that DISASTERSON in again !!!!
God damn, another 4-7 games of looking at that jackasses stank ass toupe?
Shit. That'd been the only reason I'd be happy to have lost. =)
Woohoooo! Oh my, I totally agree about the TBS commentators, they are so pro-Angels, it's not funny. The post-game guys are great (Ripken, Eckersley, etc) but the in-game commentators are so ridiculously biased. They could hardly contain their excitement when they said 'and there is no more chanting now...Fenway is silenced!) when the Angels tied it up. Then they themselves were silent when Lowrie and J-Bay combined for the win. Well, suck it, Buck, Ron, and Craig. You guys are so unprofessional. You deserved to have your team lose....TBS will say 'oh well we just want to see more baseball'. Crap.
Lester is done at 109 pitches (think long term, folks), so Okie starts a clean inning. Period.
Papelbon told Terry he couldn't go tonight. Period.
Any other questions from the armchair/keyboard managers?
I don't understand why Lester came out, but with the division in the bag, I'll be brave and stand up for Francona.
He's the guy who be remembered for winning the world series in 2004. That's going to be the first line in every biography. Everything else is in the second paragraph.
Plus, he manages baseball that's fun to watch, keeps the tone light, and respects his players, the press, and the fans. Terry (or Tito?) is pure gold with me.
No need to bust on Masterson. The kid has been doing ok and has done what as been asked of him and he's gotten some big outs. Not his fault.
Francona pulled a Grady for sure. Stupid move. Lester WAS CRUISING! Francona is more of a zoo keeper than a good manager. Richard Head move.
No need to bust on Masterson. The kid has been doing ok and has done what as been asked of him and he's gotten some big outs. Not his fault.
Francona pulled a Grady for sure. Stupid move. Lester WAS CRUISING! Francona is more of a zoo keeper than a good manager. Richard Head move.
Hard to complain with results, boys. All you Tito haters -- who would you rather see manage this team? Lester's at 106 pitches on a cold night; history tells you that you bring Oki in clean, not with men on. What do you do if Lester gets into trouble?
Paps is not available -- talk about gas can meets fire if he starts hanging a spilt finger or can't get the heat on his fastball. You need to find a new way to bring this home. Masterson only comes in 'cause Oki's in trouble. What, you want to bring MDC in in this situation? Who, then? Byrd? Wake? Who's left?
Scioscia's decision on the squeeze was as poorly thought up as it was executed. When you play for one run, sometimes you don't get even that. Serve's em right for playing NL ball in an AL park. Spare me the paens to how great a manager he is, esp. compared to Tito. Scoreboard, fellas.... I gotta give the benefit of the doubt to the manager who's brought home 2 titles and has not advanced to his third ALCS. (Oh, and who says Tek ain't got game anymore?)
Go Sox. Bring on the Rays.
Hey Kilgore! Did you forget who scored the winning run and hit a double for Lowrie to knock him in?
Give me a break!
hmm, ok what is Tito's email address or phone number ? I need to ask him to give the next winning Lotto numbers, apparently he *KNOWS* something we all don't know. LOL
Tampa here we come!
All Tito does is win. Two World Series rings and he gets blasted? I think he deserves better than that.
Oh, well. We now have four days to pack up all the vitriol and get ready for the Rays.
Any Globe writer other than Amalie Benjamin gonna be wise enough to pick the Sox? How about the national "experts"?
October isn't April or September. There's just something about the Sox in October - they remind me of the 80's Celtics. The other team may have better players, but this team keeps scrapping and fighting.
Is there another team in the playoffs that could lose its starting 3d baseman and still have stellar D at first AND third?
I hope Beckett is healthy for the ALCS. Looks like Dice-K and Lester in Games 1-2, then what? Beckett-Byrd-DiceK-Lester-Beckett?
Sox in 6.
The squeeze call does not make Scoisca a better manager than anyone. While aybar should have gotten it down, the squeeze is not an easy play esp. in that situation. He needs to put his mark on the win which he why he called that play, aybar was up in the count, all he need to do was slap the ball, hit a fly ball, or bloop, just live he did last night. There is such a thing as over managing, i think Scoisca was guilty of it tonight.
In his postgame interview, Terry explained why he pulled Lester. Sounds legit.
And jeez you guys, keep the faith!
Oh, well. We now have four days to pack up all the vitriol and get ready for the Rays.
Any Globe writer other than Amalie Benjamin gonna be wise enough to pick the Sox? How about the national "experts"?
October isn't April or September. There's just something about the Sox in October - they remind me of the 80's Celtics. The other team may have better players, but this team keeps scrapping and fighting.
Is there another team in the playoffs that could lose its starting 3d baseman and still have stellar D at first AND third?
I hope Beckett is healthy for the ALCS. Looks like Dice-K and Lester in Games 1-2, then what? Beckett-Byrd-DiceK-Lester-Beckett?
Sox in 6.
I know the ALCS is on TBS, but are we stuck with Stockton or Caray? I don't like either one of them, but the less exposure to Tim McCarver the better. He is truly awful corny and canned.
Who cares anyhow. Turn down the volume.
And I did not say that squeeze play makes him a better manager - I said it's the kind of ballsy, creative play that makes him a better manager. In the TB series, Tito would pinch run for V-Tek and Lowell and then not bunt the guy over or have him steal. Other than Ellsbury, he's still a station-to-station manager.
Again, so what.
GO SOX!
Francona does not always act with respect to the "best" for the immediate game but rather his decision reflect concern for the long term "best" for the particular player's career and thus ultimately for the team and season as a whole - we may witness the wisdom and good fruit of Francona's decision by witnessing a well rested and sound arm of Lester wiping out the Rays batters etc. Stop second guessing a manager that has shown the capacity to demonstrate a care for his players which ultimately has transcended a superficial and destructive infatuation with the pressure of the moment and thereby has realized the satisfaction of the success of the season and the careers of his players as a whole, even though sacrificing temporary success in particular games.
Who said Red Sox fans were smart? They're chanting "hunter" like the Sox were ahead by 8 runs. But all the Angels needed for motivation was Shaunessey's column after game 2. I'm sure they had it posted on the lockerroom door.
Anyone else wonder if Manny would still be rounding third while Bay was making his sensational slide into home?
Notice Bay double and great run was left out by Kilgore. Getting to wonder about this....get impression he is still on Manny-Wagon. Bay deserves better and good reporting should tell about the run.
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