Surging Sox shuffle off to Boston
ANAHEIM, Calif. – Red Sox players call them "happy flights," a term that really needs no explanation. All too often in baseball, you play a game, you board a plane. The only question is whether it ends up being a satisfying travel day.
So here we are now, two games into the American League Division Series, and we must once again ask the question the Red Sox almost routinely inspire at this time of year: exactly where are they taking us now? The Sox won pivotal Game 2 of their American League Division Series over the Los Angeles Angels by a 7-5 score last night, a victory culminating in a tie-breaking, two-run home run by the resurrected J.D. Drew in the top of the ninth inning. By the time Drew's homer landed beyond the right center field wall, despite enough adversity to shake the earth, the Red Sox were one win away their fourth trip to the American League Championship Series in the last six years.
No matter how much you shuffle the deck with this team, the Sox keep coming up aces.
"I'm excited for Sunday," said third baseman Mike Lowell, who sat out this game with the expectation that he will return to the field tomorrow. "We have a great opportunity to clinch the series [at home]."
Lowell paused.
"It shows you how smart we are for starting Josh [Beckett] in Game 3," he mused.
Time to give Red Sox players some credit, folks. Amid all the love that is heaped upon Red Sox officials and administrators at this time of year, the players frequently get overlooked for making everyone else look good. Everyone from Drew to Jonathan Papelbon gets individual credit for fulfilling his role after another critical victory, but rarely do we stop to marvel at the collective focus and selflessness demonstrated by all Sox players in the months A.D. (After Dreadlocks.)
For Exhibit A, look no further than Kevin Youkilis, who this season has batted everywhere in the Boston lineup from first to seventh. Two nights after making what might have been a game-saving play at first base in the eighth inning of Game 1, Youkilis moved across the diamond last night and made a pair of stellar plays at third base in the ninth inning of Game 2. Mark Kotsay was at first base and Alex Cora was at shortstop, and we had to stop for a moment to see if Troy Brown was at second base.
"He's made that transition pretty easy going back and forth, and I don't think it's as easy as he makes it look," said Lowell. "And I think it's a big asset for us."
But really, why stop there? Kotsay was a Gold Glove-caliber outfielder at one point in his career, but he was instructed to bring his first baseman's mitt when he came to the Sox in August. He had not played there since 2006. Drew, Kotsay and Jacoby Ellsbury each can play all three outfield positions if necessary, and during the sometimes tumultuous summer months, Ellsbury actually did. Hideki Okajima warmed up in the seventh inning of Game 1 on Tuesday; he entered last night in the sixth. For the first time this season, Papelbon entered a game with nobody out in the eighth inning; he went six up, six down, and extended to 17 2/3 innings his postseason career without being charged with a run.
Oh, and did we mention the fact that Beckett's injury forced Jon Lester from Game 2 to Game 1, a change he embraced with the heretofore marquee performance of these entire American League playoffs?
Let's be honest. Players frequently say they will do anything to help a team win a game, but they don't always live up to their word. All too frequently, their egos get in the way. Offices all over America are littered with people with more selfish interests than the Red Sox, but we never hear about those because such wants are an expected part of everyday life.
Yet, when professional athletes display the same innately human flaws, we somehow see them as something different than a survival reflex.
Now along come these Red Sox, who have won nine straight postseason games and 13 of their last 16. When the Sox entered these playoffs, Lowell had a bad hip (still does), Drew had a sore back (still does) and Beckett had a strained right oblique. The Red Sox began defense of their title as a wild card rather than a division winner, offering further proof that very few of the details matter when you have a team that is both secure and single-minded.
"Collectively, as a group, I think we understand the situation very well -- better than every team I've ever been on," said Lowell. "I think there's a group hunger to [win] it again."
Of course, the Red Sox are still a long way from their ultimate destination today, but that is not the point. Prior to last night's game, Sox manager Terry Francona was asked about his run of success as a skipper, his place among the most respected managers in the game. Francona balked. His players subsequently went out and continued to play good baseball despite being shuttled around the diamond, which is a testament to them as much as it is anyone else.
"There's no way you win anything without good players," Francona said.
Even in baseball, you don't win without team players, either.
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Good column, Mazz. That's what sticks with me today: the straightforward, all ball, one-pointed professional intensity of this Sox club. It's a bunch of images from both games, but the one that sticks for me right now as somehow emblematic is the image of Youk in that 8th inning Wednesday night, splayed out on his belly in the grass behind first base a half second after Hunter's bloop single had defeated his best effort and landed just beyond his outstretched glove--jumping up and hurling himself 180 degrees to make a strong throw all the way across the diamond to take out Guererro ten feet from third. And Mikey Lowell, so hobbled at the hip he could barely run at all, shoving his legs forward with what looked like sheer professional will , to tag that runner on the helmetcomplete the play.
Great article. Loved the Troy Brown reference.
None of you guys has mentioned the key managerial move in last night's game. If Francona had not sat down Lowell and moved Youk over to third:
1) That ninth-inning bunt? Base hit, and maybe a reinjured Lowell.
2) The subsequent pop-out, caught by Youk in the camera box? Sorry, but no way Lowell gets that one, either - assuming of course he's still in the game.
Change just those two plays, and maybe the whole game tips in the other direction - an inspired, gritty Angels win.
And then there was the substitution of Lowrie with Cora. That worked out well, no?
Yet, no props from the writers for Francona.
Nice article. This is a really great team with a lot of good guys. No matter what ends up happening with the postseason this year you know they won't be bounced out for lack of effort. Such a good team to root for!
GO SOX!!!!
Terrific column! The Sox are an amazing group of selfless people with a common goal. Youkilis epitmomizes the Red Sox' personality and 'team first' behavior. Jason Bay is an ideal fit for the Sox, and he's been a clutch power hitter.
I predicted before the start of the Playoffs that the Phillies and Red Sox will meet in the World Series, and I'm even more confident about it now.
The Red Sox are thrilling us once again...A Dynasty has been built.
I'd just like to add that I have nothing further to add...
I am one of those people that doesn't like to say, "You're 100 % right!", or "I completely agree with you.", or the most nausiating of all, "Ditto.". But there is nothing else to say except to credit you with a perfectly articulated piece about these Red Sox. It's great to have you around here, Tony Massarotti. With so much to read about the Red Sox, you have made your pieces a priority, even among some of the other greats. You belong there along with Bob Ryan and Shaughnessy, and I can ignore the typical pandering *%#@-stirrers.
Great article Mazz.
Hey Tony, Your article today "Surging Sox shuffle off to Boston" is spot on. To many times we hear how this one or that one player is doing things as if they are the only ones on the field. Our teams of success here and now in Boston are made up of "TEAM" Players. I strongly believe that this is the real key to success, and you have captured it perfectly. Keep up the good work; I for one enjoy your insight greatly.
Fine credit to a marvelous team of players who seem to love the game and recognize the responsibility of each one to contribute how ever they can. Mabe also mention how Jason Bay fit in as a major factor with great modesty, and how he was accepted by the other players from the first. My favorite Red Sox team.
Also, remember how Terry Francona is not only an excellent manager, but a man who knows how to foster respect for and among his players.
It's a bit of a surprise to see the Sox dominate in Anaheim after being kicked around in the regular season but maybe the Angels were putting too much pressure on themselves. They've been swinging too much (Kendrick, Anderson) and looking for non-existent extra bases (Vladi) and if that's what won them 100 games then maybe they just got lucky (a run diff of +68 which translates to only 88 expected wins.) No doubt the Sox have been the calmer team, but as Bob Ryan reminded us the other day, they're playing with house money...
I know it's not over yet but Maz didn't you pick the Angels to beat the Sox? No offense but I think weather men are right more than you guys are.
Kudos to Mazz for a quality piece. Clearly this team is a quality team as a result of having a large number of selfless, multi-functional players. I would have to say this is the deepest Sox team that I have seen in my 37 years of following them.
Nice writing Mazz - you captured the spirit. Watching this team, you can feel their will to win, it is like they are picking up where they left off last year. This is something special. What a team... they keep me up at night!
I really enjoyed the article, and I will mimic that it was spot on. I truly believe that although the Angels are a very good team, their record was mainly that good looking because of the weakness of their division. If they played in the East, they may not even be in the playoffs as they would probably would have only won 85 games or so.
Just my thoughts.
"...to see if Troy Brown was at second base"
LOL; that got me.
Well written, Tony. You summed this team up brilliantly.
This is certainly an inspirational band of dirt ballers, an unselfish group
of lads to make any Royal Rooter proud.
I was there both nights and watched The Rally Monkey run from the
shadow of Tessie’s TEAM.
Thank you for a outstanding column. Keep up the great work.
'Nuf Ced
I really liked your column Tony. Which surprises me, given that I didn't think I would ever appreciate anything you wrote again after the "Yahoos in jerseys" nonsense back in the spring.
Perhaps the switch to the Globe has given you a better attitude? If so, I applaud you for the ability to change.
First of all, Mazz, kudos for your earlier column on K-Rod. Your insight proved positively prescient on Friday night -- or was it Saturday morning? And this piece was spot on. I miss Manny's bat but not his attitude. Jason Bay and his low-key attitude are a breath of fresh air, and Youk's grit and selflessness (not to mention talent) have become this team's symbol, executing critical plays on both games. Great to have you writing for boston.com, Mazz.
Excellent article and excellent comments. There is much credit to be passed around in respect of the present team, including the players and the manager. But the individual yet to be mentioned who, in my opinion, deserves the most credit, the person responsible for hiring Tito, for drafting and developing the young talent, and for deciding which players to retain, which to trade, and which to let go in free agency, is Theo. He clearly has a vision of the archetype Red Sox player -- professional, dedicated, tough, gritty, humble, and prepared to put team goals ahead of personal goals, and has put together a team to confrom to this image.
Hey Maz,
It's nice to hear people say good things about your piece.
Think maybe it wasn't so bad to switch rags?
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
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