Wow. Just, wow. I can’t remember ever feeling that confident during a playoff game. It’s not exactly the MFY lineup, but Josh Beckett looked like Nolan Ryan pitching to a little league team. He gave up one infield single, one seeing-eye single and two legit base hits. The more amazing thing was that by the time each Angel stepped into the batters box he blinked and the count was 0-2. I hope this is par for the course for Beckett, seeing as his last playoff start (game 6, 2003 WS) and this one were both complete game shutouts.

Since it the playoffs that also mean that it’s time for Big Papi to do his thing (2-run blast in the 3rd), and Youks also looked pretty damn good staking the Sox out to a 1-0 lead in the first with a HR in the monster. I would have liked the Sox offense to do a little more (4 LOB and 3! GIDP), but I guess they wanted to save it for a pitcher who will actually need their help.

Who else is already sick of “Frank TV”? I hope that show chokes like the MFY in the 04 ALCS.

I’m also going to try and start a new feature here for the playoffs (if you say post regularly, haha, you’re a freakin’ riot): the playoff beard. Oh yes, that’s right, as long as the Sox keep winning, I’ll keep avoiding shaving. I hope to have the nastiest half-beard possible in a couple of weeks. Apparently superstition is the only way I can get Kim to agree to let me grow a beard. So without further ado, here is playoff beard 2007 day one: