The young and the listless
The Red Sox have found confidence that they can still win the American League Championship Series, which they trail, three games to one, in the notion that they have done it before. History is a good and natural thing to cling to at a moment like this. Problem is, that history might not be applicable.
Players wearing Red Sox uniforms came back from the same deficit last season against the Cleveland Indians. The Red Sox team that will take the field tonight behind Daisuke Matsuzaka in Game 5 is different and diminished from that group. Last year’s team used inordinate pitching force and sheer talent to overwhelm the Indians; this year’s team must rely on guts and hope its opponent, the Tampa Bay Rays, scuffles.
That team’s future Hall of Fame left fielder is in Los Angeles. Its third baseman will have hip surgery Monday. Its gunslinging ace received a cortisone shot not long ago. Its experienced second ace has not thrown a pitch this season and is probably blogging somewhere. Its catcher can no longer hit at a respectable major league level. Its historically clutch designated hitter has a bum wrist. Its phenom centerfielder is 0 for 20.
The Rays, while blasting balls on to or over Landsdowne Street at a staggering rate, have made the Red Sox look old. Mike Lowell (34), David Ortiz (33), and Jason Varitek (36) are either not playing or not contributing. The average of the Red Sox’ starting lineup in Game 4 was 29.2 years; for the Rays, it was 26.1. If you include pitchers – 42-year-old Tim Wakefield and 25-year-old Andy Sonnanstine – the gap increased to 31.1 and 26.
The Red Sox have a strong, young core of players, but they also have players who started looking old fast in this postseason. If the series ends tonight, the lasting image – aside from balls flying over the Monster and Rays trotting around the bases – may be that play from the third inning Tuesday night: Wakefield, 42, lying on his chest, face in the grass, a step to slow, desperately flipping to first base while Carl Crawford, 27, blazed past first base.
All of the above makes it seem improbable that the Red Sox will send the series back to Tampa Bay with a victory tonight, let alone storm back and win the whole thing. This year seems different than last year, that’s for sure. Still – and it’s a big still – these are the Red Sox, the proud, defending champions, and history tells us we can never count them out.
How much good history does, we’ll start to find out tonight.
Doesn't matter even a little what the Sox did against the Yankees or Indians. Those teams had serious problems that were revealed in playoff competition. (Look at what both teams have done since then - 'nuff said.)
The Rays aren't a decaying, overhyped team playing over their heads, as those two examples were. They're real, and on the rise.
Time to look at addressing the Sox' own glaring problems, which THIS series has, likewise, revealed. And take consolation that things COULD be worse. Would you rather take on the problems of the Yankees or Mets? What would you do to make the Dodgers truly competitive, and not a one-hit wonder?
And then there's the Cubs, aka: What the Sox used to be.
It's tough to come this close to the World Series and fall short, but this club has a lot going for it. Things could be worse.
Mike Lowell (34), David Ortiz (33), and Jason Varitek (36) are either not playing or not contributing because of injury.
Are you saying Varitek is hurt? That's news to me. I thought he just couldn't hit anymore.
FROM ADAM: Thanks for pointing this out; I did a really poor job wording that. It's since been changed. Varitek is not injured.
Why is everyone so negative!! They have had a fabulous season. They are one of four teams out of the entire major league to make it to the Championship Series. They must have done something right to make it to his point!! Let's have some faith and be true fans and not doom and gloom. You cheer them on until the very end and then keep cheering for the effort and enjoyment they have given you all season long. Some players are hurting and some are just plain tired - do you think this is the only team that has had this problem in post season?! Give them credit for playing thru their aches and pains and for all the unity they bring to Red Sox Nation. The fans should be proud of what our Boys of Summer have done this year and every year. That is what being a fan is all about. Yeah, you get upset when they make bad plays, but you are there no matter what to cheer them on the next game. This is what they need tonight - they need THE FENWAY FAITHFUL to cheer them on to a win tonight!! GO RED SOX!! (the fat lady has not sung her final note)
Wow, way to motivate the fans. Why should we even bother watching if they have virtually no chance?
Pitching being the controller of games, the only confidence source that makes sense is Matsuzaka removing the multiple walks from his bag of tricks, Beckett suddenly recovering from the injury Tito's been hiding, and Lester returning to his normal dominance. Oh, I almost forgot, we'll need more than two or three people in the lineup that can get on base. Hoping for luck to guide us on to victory is illogical. Luck might win you a game here or there, but not a World Series victory.
"Lansdowne" has one D.
I hope the Sox win and you get your sorry carcass fired.
I'm glad someone has finally said it. The Sox do look old. And the young players are going to be fine someday, but right now they are inconsistent. Tek has such a wealth of knowledge that one wishes he could mentor a young catcher for a couple of years. I love the Sox but at this moment in time...
Can SOMEONE please lay off the Manny's-missing whining for a moment... Manny went 8 for 15 with 7 RBI in the 5 NLCS games.
Bay is 6 for 15 with 4 RBI so far in 4 games. Has Manny's extra 2 hits and 3 RBI made the difference? NO. Bay might match that tonight, who knows. Then maybe those stupid 'if only' comments will dry up...
Sox pitching getting pounded early has been the story, and outside of Pedroia-Youk-Bay, there has been virtually no production from the offense. In fact, other than these 3...the rest of the team COMBINED has 3 RBI.
The Sox need to score early and often; Dice put up a quality start - then let's see what happens in Tampa this weekend.
Forget about the players showing up to play tonight (which they will), how about the fans showing up to cheer as well. I was at game 4 and it was hands down the worst crowd intensity wise I have ever seen (playoff wise) right from the start. I have seen regular season crowds more into it than ours was Tuesday. The bottom line is our players play better in an intense atmosphere, so please kick it up a notch tonight and we will win a few more. I promise you that.......
I am going to the game tonight. Win or Lose I will have fun at the game and seeing the team play. It has been a great season and pre '04 we all would be estatic for the team's success. Let's not become like Yankees fans and get disappointed because they may or may not win it all AGAIN.
GO RAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Manny is gone by his own choice and last night was probably his last game as a Dodger so all the f##king Dodger yahoos with the Manny dreadlock wigs can see how much he gives a s##t about L.A. ,big phony when the benches emptied in L.A trying be the tough guy , but would not get off his ass when the benches cleared against Tampa.He helped win two World Series here but what he did at the end was a disgrace .A Hall of Fame player for sure ,but zero integrity for the game.
KEEP YOUR HEADS HIGH! We go out, we play our hearts out and WE are GOING to watch our Red Sox play tonight hoping for nothing short of their best! Leave despair out in the cold get your rally caps ready. One game at a time - let's win this thing TONIGHT!
I agree with the person who wrote paragraph 3! We are Sox fans! That means something. When 04' happened did we give up...HELL NO! We beat the Yankees in their house to get to the big dance. Last year, down 3-1nobody quit and we brought it home again. Are we 100%? Obviously thats not the case, but we are still the Boston Red Sox and I for one will NEVER say die! If its not our year to repeat, so be it. However, I will watch every pitch with the belief that we are gonna win this thing!
P.S. To all of you fair weather Tampa fans who all of the sudden talk all that smack in the bars...I have a few questions.
1. Where were you last year when your team was the cosmic joke of baseball?
2. If all of you are so loyal to your team all of the sudden...how come you cant sell out your own stadium in the A.L.C.S.?
3.What is with the cowbells? Your mascot is an underwater creature, you're not the Tampa Bulls for crying out loud. Also, your not even in Tampa-its in St.Pete.
I HATE BAND WAGON BASEBALL FANS!!! GO SOX LIVE OR DIE
As an outsider living in Boston, I completely agree with this article. The young pieces for this team are there (lester, beckett, papelbon, youk, and pedroia) but the aging players are showing. The team does not need to be rebuilt but tinkered with and how can anyone be upset with two world series wins and an ALCS appearance in four years??
I do believe losing Manny hurt this team even though Bay is producing, he is not MANNY.
Hey Boston - we own you..!!!
Manny WHO??? Oh! That's right ! The circus clown who decided half way through the season that he wasn't going to play any more, unless his agent, Bor-ASS, got cut in on a NEW deal. Well, REAL MEN honor their word and their contractual obligations and don't run out on their comrads. Count your blessings, Manny, you were never in the military. We would've fragged your ass before you got the chance.
Sox will be fine. Win or lose, it's been a great season. Real fans don't get chronic ankle sprains from jumping on and off the bandwagon everytime another team pays better. GO SOX!!!
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