An Offensive Low
It’s a sad, sad state of affairs at Fenway when a Dustin Pedroia single with one out and nobody on is reason for ecstatic celebration. Really, breaking up a no-hitter in the ninth is a mixed state of emotions. On the one hand, you’re happy and relieved that you’re team isn’t going to get no-hit (sorry Kansas City), but on the other, you have to wonder “how did it take my team 25 outs to get to this point?” But I’d bet that if you had a camera on a bar crowd for Dustin’s hit in the 9th and compared the video to that of the same bar for a Big Papi walk-off you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.
To be fair, John Lackey pitched a hell of a game, especially considering that he probably wakes up in cold sweats after seeing Red Sox jerseys in his nightmares. Coming into today, the guy had a 5.53 ERA against the Sox not including his loss in game one of last season’s ALDS. But in some ways that makes his complete game win even worse (note how I didn’t say shutout…thanks Youks!).
At least the Sox may have some momentum to carry into tomorrow. The MFY, well, they scored 3 runs in the ninth and had the tying run on 2nd with one out but couldn’t get him home. I bet they really wish they had a 1-out single in the ninth!
The pitchers have Thurs off and they need to spend the whole freaking day in the bullpen. 50 srtrikes – right down the middle. THEN move it around = 20 pitches inside low, inside high, outside low and outside high. I’m sure they are gonna do it – Farrell has to be beside himself . .. .
Comment by Joe F. — July 30, 2008 @ 8:27 am
Well, I think 130 pitch bullpen session for a reliever may be a bit tough, but you’re on the right track. The person I most worry about is Oki. He was dominant last year because he could throw everything for strikes. This season it seems like he’s always pitching from behind (1-0, 2-0, 3-1 counts). Suddenly batters can just sit on his 87 mph fastball and crush it instead of having to worry about his splitter and his Oki-dokie changeup.
Comment by Matt — July 30, 2008 @ 10:45 am
the problem with oki is that he doesnt mix it up enough he doesnt change eye levels enough and doesnt go in and outhe just tries to exploit one week spot in the hitters zone you cant do that these are professionals its just like the yankees itching big papi inside 4 out of five pitches you give it to him to much hes just gonna jack it
i believe the rotation will be fine dice K has been solid all year…i know he blew up in the sixth the other day but he cant be perfect…colon was doing surprisingly well until he went on the dl once he gets back we will be good…i hate to say it but one of the biggest problems is wake hes been horrible and im starting to think its time for the knuckler to hang it up…the starting 5 should b dice k, lester, beckett, masterson, and then colon when he gets back
and the offense will come around teams go into slumps but the great ones come out of it and the red sox are a good team once jacobys wrist gets better he will start hitting and he always steals bases like mad manny had his bipolar moment of the season pedroia has been mvp caliber and big popi is back u know hes going to be solid…and for those worried about teks offensive production he calls a better game then any other catcher there is and he is always cluth during the post season and end of the season runs
moral of the story is everything will be good in bean town!
Comment by phil from pittsburgh — July 30, 2008 @ 11:28 am
The whole darn team is behind in the count. The hitters get 0-2 really fast [START swinging at the first pitch!] I cannot tell you how many times I see a sweet pitch come down the pipe on the first pitch, 0-1. Then the NEXT pitch is some offspeed or outside POC that gets swung at and now, all of sudden, its 0-2. I like Ellsbury alot, he has lots of skills, but LAST September he was an aggressive hitter, now he’s getting behind and swinging at the pitchers pitch, not at his. When he was first swinging at early pitches the pitchers needed to pitch around him, which meant he was getting 2-0 and 3-1 counts. Now, its the other way around.
Then the pitchers are doing it the other way – getting WAAAAAY behind hitters, leading to 2-0 and 3-1 counts. Guys getting walked in. The beat goes on.
Comment by Joe F. — July 30, 2008 @ 11:34 am