Maybe the Yankees should have started Wilson Betimit, Miguel Cairo, Jose Molina, and Bronson Sardinha in game four. They probably would have been better options then Rodriguez, Jeter, Melky Cabrera (.188, .563 OPS), etc.

You never know when one of them might have a great game over the other losers I mentioned.

Of course stats are important, and yes they help a manager make an educated guess. But that's all it is, a guess. But you're preaching stats as if they alone already won it for Boston. If Beantown wins, feel free to gloat, as of now its 0-0.

No.. I didn't say Boston already won. I have a feeling they will win.. they <i>SHOULD</i> win. The stats show they should. What's the difference in me putting how I feel about a series and Pan posting 900 size font letters about how he feels about the indians? I'm a Bo'Sox fan.. and I'm proud of that. I think they will win. If they lose then they lose and the Indians deserve credit. If they win.. then I will gloat. Maybe I'll even post it in big red letters just in case someone missed it :rolleyes:


That being said, I think it's safe to say that the Rockies have Webb's number. The man just couldn't get ahead in the count. Tonight's matchup between Jimenez and Davis should be an interesting one to say the least.

Hey man, use whatever size font you like, as long as it is in fun and not hurting anyone, who cares? Be pretty boring (to me at least) if all we did was throw stats and argue about who is the better player. (Course, it's always nice and never an excuse needed to say... FUCK THE YANKEES).

Gloat away if you're Bosox win man, that's part of sports. And if I don't see it in big red letters... then I may miss it...:thumbsup:

Now, to get serious. The one thing that keeps playing in my head and giving me nasty thoughts of the game.... I see both teams just smashing it tonight, neither starter lasting 3 innings and whom ever wins tonight winning the series. If this were to happen I see both pens being used extensively, and the winner tonight pretty much winning the series.... this game will be close but the score will be more like 10-8 than the 3-2 they are calling for.

I Know it just will not happen and that tonight will be a great pitcher's duel.

I dunno, I've been wondering if both pitchers can match their previous start. It will be alot more difficult for Beckett to match his performance than Sabathia to match his previous start. Given the fact that Boston is only 2 for 7 in their last ALCS Game 1's, and no pitcher with the most wins has ever won a Game 1 in the ALCS, history is definately on the side of Cleveland..well until you throw the Colavito curse into the picture ;)

I see Manny doing some damage, and with Kielty having a decent percentage against Sabathia, that only helps Ortiz and Manny. The key for Boston is if Pedroia and Crisp and Varitek can do anything. Pedroia being the main key.

I think it's going to be a good series all the way around. My only worry is Matsusaka.. and of course Wakefield, but Wake has generally thrown well against Cleveland.

I think Cleveland's key to winning is basically staying out of the pen. They will need Byrd to pitch another game of his life and Carmona needs to show up. Now Carmona is awesome, but can he pitch in Fenway. (I have nfi as I haven't looked at stats or anything when it comes to that) Also, Sizemore is going to have to do some base stealing in order to keep the pitchers honest. I'm also very interested to see how Trot does against his former team..should be interesting.

Good luck fellas, game time in 30 min!

This is going to be fucking great! Wooo!

Sports rock.

Poor, poor Pan. Getting suckered in, once again, and here we are 8-1 in the bottom of the 5th.

CC's kung fu is weak!

They do but last night was strange. Only one of the hits was a solid hit. Bloopers and rollers that stayed fair. Whatever though, the fact that they only scored one run made the pitching performance irrelevant.

A bad showing by my fellow AZ fans, throwing shit on the field but that was a bullshit call if I've ever seen one. If I may, I'll plagarize something a friend of mine wrote somewhere else:

I agree. It may have been a correct call according to the rules but it's crap because it is a rule that is almost never enforced. It wasn't as if Upton was out of the basepaths either. He was in contact with the bag the whole time.

A similar situation would be a random enforcement of the rule that states a batter must attempt to get out of the way from the ball before it hits him. Say it was a tie game in the bottom of the 9th. Bases loaded 0-2 count. Batter is HBP but didn't try to move out of the way. Ump calls it a ball instead of awarding first base and ultimately deciding the game. By the book it is the right call but the rule is never enforced. Therefore it is bullshit.

MLB has a few issues like this they need to address ASAP. Another similar rule is the 'phantom double play tag'. I can't remember who AZ was playing but one of our hitters hit into what looked like a 4-6-3. There was one out at the time. The ump said that our opponent didn't tag 2nd, therefore the runner on second was safe. Correct call but bullshit.

Well, he said he didn't attack them and couldn't get control of his game. I know CC is damned good and learns from his mistakes but he is still CC and lets his emotions play a part of his game.

John Farrell leaving Cleveland as director of player development, knows all the players and their weaknesses. He knows (most of baseball knows) you hit CC early he loses control fast and goes downhill in a hurry. Farrell also, knows most of the players as he watched them develop so he knows all their weaknesses better than any non Indian in baseball. But, he also knows they learn fast.

Anyone thinking the Indians were going to take 2 in Boston was smoking something. IF (and that is a HUGE IF) the Tribe can take game 2, I'm very comfortable with the rest of the series. If Boston takes the 2-0 advantage into Cleveland, I don't think the Tribe can recover, maybe for 1 game so it won't be a sweep.... but I doubt that even.

Game 2 has the utmost importance, the Tribe wins it.... I see them taking at least 2 of 3 in Cle., going into Fenway 3-2 and taking the series.

Either way, I am extremely proud of this team and unlike the Tigers or the Chisox I see them hanging in and being a playoff team for the next few years.

CC may have to go though. They need a more stable pitcher. I'd love to see a CC for Webb, Oswalt or possibly a Harang trade. I think any of those 3 would sign long term for less than CC and in the long term fare better.

If it goes to Game 5 and CC pitches another clunker.... Maybe I'm a pessimist but I don't see him ever recovering to be the #1 man in Cle again. His confidence will be shot and I fear he'd be a pariah in Cle. Especially, if Fausto, Byrd and Westbrook win out their games or 2 of them win and at least get it to a 2-2 deadlock.

I've seen too many "great" young pitchers get to the playoffs and get rocked and come out never the same. I fear CC will be one.

I hope I am wrong and it is just the CLE sports fan mentality of "the worst will happen"....... we shall see.

BTW Beckett pitched a Hell of a game from what little I saw at work. He earned my respect tonight.

I quote this part because I remember a similar incident in my youth.

I was a HUGE Pete Rose fan (even dropped the REDS for the Phils for a period of time).... anyway, it was an all star game or a post season... Thinking all star..... and Rose is up to bat, inside pitch and he leans into it so he gets hit on the thigh and gets on first base. As soon as it hits him the camera zoomed in and you see him smiling from the time he flips his bat away to the time he gets on base. Cheap? yes.... but when you are in pro sports you should be willing to do anything that helps your team win... and he did just that. I'm pretty sure that HBP was a deciding factor in the game, just can't remember how.... maybe bases were loaded or the next hitter drove him in.... maybe someone here remembers that game better than I do.

First of all, there is no way AZ would trade Webb. Second of all, Webb is by far the superior pitcher. If you adjust for league and park, Webb has the 8th best ERA (actually the stat is ERA+) of all time (although he hasn't had to go through declining years yet). Sabathia shows up a 184th. Webb is every bit as good as Santana, he just has the misfortune of playing for a NL West Team that isn't LA or SF, in other words nobody has ever given a shit about the DBacks and until he won his CYA nobody had even heard of him. Webb is absolutely worth $20M/yr.

Oswalt is just barely behind Webb. However the Astros signed him through 2011 with an option for 2012. It may bite them in the ass though because he's kinda damaged goods.

Harang gets attention because he's the best pitcher for a shitty Reds club. On a true contender he's a #2 starter. The Indians are much better off with CC.

I mostly agree. Rose gets the base because that's how its done. However, the correct call is the call it a ball and continue the at bat. Don't you think the crowd would go apeshit?

I wouldn't say Webb is far superior to Sabathia. I'd say given the fact that Sabathia has played on some truly bad defensive teams and the fact that he's an AL pitcher, it is a fair comparison. In all honesty, I'm not sure Webb could compete full time in the AL. There is a different style of pitching in the leagues. Both could still flourish in a league change or both could fail miserably. I think CC would be every bit as good as Webb if he were a strictly NL pitcher.

As for Webb being as good as Santana, I don't see it. I love Webb can't stand Santana because I think he's over rated pitching in Minnesota , a pitcher's park.... but he is as far as strikeout power pitchers go, the best today.

Oswalt if he can get some meat on his bones and not be such an injury risk, could be the best NL pitcher in this generation, IMHO. But again, there's a difference between styles in the leagues and his style I'm not sure would fit in the AL.

Harang has a great arm, out of the 3 mentioned he would be my most likely to succeed in the AL. He doesn't get great run support or defense behind him and feels he has to win it. That causes him to make mistakes. You put him on a strong AL team, I think he is as good as anyone (short of a healthy, happy Santana, who's just a freak but is owned by the Tribe).




Yes, it's cheap (but look at the player)... And yes, had it been played by the rules and just called a ball the crowd probably would have gone apeshit.

I think the issue is that MLB leaves a lot of judgment calls up to the umps. Which in turn keeps a human element in the game. However, in this day and age of ratings, selling merchandise, cheating, officials gambling, etc etc... it is easy for those judgment "gimmes" such as the example above to be easily turned into a "by the rules" so that it takes away the normal breaks and can destroy momentum.

I was always taught in baseball to slide into second doing your best to break up a double play. You didn't want to hurt the guy but you wanted to take that precious split second away. I was also taught to prepare for it and to release asap. Now, if you solely move into the guy just to break it up then it is interference but it's a judgment call. And again, follow the ump, if he normally never calls it but all of a sudden does, you have to ask why. If he always calls it, then it should be no surprise when he does. Look for the consistency of an umps calls.

Hell, I've seen players from the pros to little league run in the line of the throw so that the fielder had to move around or hit the runner. According to the rules as I always knew them, that is legal, because the basepaths belong to the runners. However, I have seen interference called because the runner impeded the throw.

I like the fact the umps have the luxury of judgment calls, keeps the human factor in the game. But if I'm MLB, I'm watching and making sure the umps call on a consistent basis the same calls.

The one thing that pisses me off and makes me wonder about an umps bias is the strike zone more than anything. I have seen games where umps change strike zones. That is the fastest way to control the outcome of a game. If you let one team have the corners but don't let the other..... you can effectively make sure the team that doesn't have the corners has to work that much harder to win... and the team that gets the corners you give a huge amount of momentum to. Or change the strike zone midway through the game for one team, you can take away that momentum fast.

IE Give team A starter the corners and not team B, team A's pitcher is going to nibble the corners all day... team B's pitcher will have to work harder all day, tiring faster and pretty much hanging pitches over the plate.

Now you let team A's starter have the corners for the first 3 innings and he's pitching great but team B is the one you want to win.... inning 4 you change the zone take away the corners and all of a sudden team A's pitcher who was pitching well and hitting the corners is walking people, losing control, and tiring real fast trying to "refind" the strike zone. Team B meanwhile tees off gets the momentum as team A loses it and the game goes to team B.

Not that any of that would ever, ever happen.

It's tied heading into CLE.

BTW.... who said he saw the Tribe bullpen doing extremely well and the Bosox's falling apart?

Both have fallen apart though, this maybe a very close series and far more exciting than the WS this year.

No matter what happens, I am highly impressed with the Indians.

I'm sure it's been said before, but starting the games so late is really hurting the East Coast viewers. Even on a Saturday, who is going to stay up to watch an 11 inning game that didn't even start until 8:30? I'm glad the Tribe won and all, but I would have been happier if I had any chance to watch it.

I agree that the games should start earlier on Saturdays at least. But during the week, us on the west coast are usually not home from work even when the games start at 8:30 Eastern. We are usually home by the 3rd or 4th inning, so it's not that bad. The way the game times are setup during the week is the best compromise, and, again, weekend games should probably start around 7:30 eastern and it would be no problem.

The Rockies pitching has shocked me. I'm no baseball expert, but it seems like you can mask mediocre hitting (which the Rockies don't have) with hot streaks and "small ball". However, you can't really disguise average pitching, especially down the stretch during playoff games and games with playoff implications.

The Sox-Indians series has been enjoyable to watch. Despite the Indians showing composure during tough situations during the Yankees series, I felt that the game was over after Ramirez and Lowell went back to back in game 2. Not having a personal interest in either team, it is refreshing to watch two top teams play quality baseball. Unfortunately, quality baseball includes quality at bats, resulting in some long games.

It's only shocking people because nobody watches NL West Games. The pitching in the whole division was awesome this year. Every team had a pitching staff that was well above league average.

Completely unrelated:

Dusty Baker got the manager's job for the Reds. Why? Who the hell knows. Maybe the Reds' front office got tired of Adam Dunn clogging all the bases with his walks.

Those poor Reds pitchers. How long till Dusty ruins Harang's arm?

I'm surprised at Westbrook, he was really solid tonight. Also, it's always nice when a senior citizen can be a hero. Go Kenny!

I expected a solid 5 innings out of Jake, but wow! 6+ innings was beyond what I could have asked for, bravo!

What a exciting game, and nice change from a 5.5 hour game... those were getting old.

Listening to WTAM on the way home, I couldn't help but think the god damned sports talk host and call-in fans were jinxing us.

They talked about the win (GREAT UNEXPECTED PITCHING from Jake at the Jake)..... but the conversations would go to who was hated more Manny or Jimmy and all I kept thinking was shut the fuck up with that bullshit... Manny hears it, he'll truly start teeing off on us. (BTW I agree with the host, Manny is Manny and he left because his agent sucked every penny he could out as seen by his documentary. His agent Jeff Moorad worked for Jeff Moorad's best interests not Manny's..... Jimmy worked hard to show he was a Clevelander and he stabbed us in the back "I am not leaving Cleveland, they will have to tear the jersey off my back..... oh ummmm Philly offered an extra guaranteed year for my bad back and more money.... Fuck you Cleveland.")

In the long run though had we signed either we wouldn't be where we are now.

Also in the shut the fuck up category..... Fox8 news people were saying how soon do we get Major League umps, these umps can't call balls and strikes (I agree, but they have been the same for both sides equally.... that can change), ummmm don't ya think the umps watch TV and may have heard that, so they will be extremely conservative with us tomorrow and for the rest of the series by making sure every pitch and play that is close goes in Boston's favor?

Wow we have some idiotic news people here. They talk about how the national bias is but come on talking like that isn't going to exactly help us.

Overall...... great series and much more interesting than that AZ-Colo. series.... unless your a Rox fan.

As for the Rox pitching being all that, somewhat laughable...... I find any staff with Jorge Julio, Josh Fogg, Elmer Dessens, Jeremy Affeldt and Matt Herges a prime candidate to be swept by the AL team they play.

However, The Rox and the Tribe BOTH built teams the right way, from good drafts, some major key trades, no overpaid under performing superstar.... so I think that will make the best series scenario, especially if you love pitcher's duels and true managing.... IF it's the Rox and the Sox... Boston tees off and it's over in 4. (I say begrudgingly as I hate the Sox as much if not more than the Yankees... after all the Sox were the team that played the game with Moorad.)

I thought the same thing when I heard Dusty Baker's name. I truly was hoping the rumors were true, Jocketty as GM/President/CEO whatever and Larussa coming in to manage.

Cincy hasn't had a great manager or even a decent one since Pinella. They have had talent between then and now but very poor managing and ownership. I hoped when Bob Castellini bought it, he'd work hard to improve things, since Lindner didn't really care he had just bought the team from Marge to keep it in Cincy.

But I can see, things aren't going to change. Poor decisions, followed by no spending and just letting the team continue it's slide.

Pete Mackanin had done a great job after taking over for that total loser Jerry Narron. I think Pete deserved at least a chance to see what he could do in a full season. After all the Reds ONLY above .500 run for at least 1/2 a season (in what 5 years) was under his reign as manager. You look at what Narron had their record at and compare with what Mackanin did and wonder if maybe just maybe had he had the whole season, the Reds may have made a true run.

Aw well..... there is always the Tribe.:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

What? JD Drew? Matsuzaka? Boston bought their team, it's mostly free agents. Cleveland built their squad.

I'm thinking the Rockies look too strong! I'm just glad the Spankee's are gone.
DJTestudo, here's to hoping Angelos kicks the bucket soon! Wouldn't it be great to see Cal buy the team?

Last nights game is the one I figured the Sox would lose. Matsusaka has definately not been a great return of investment. Westbrook pitched the game of his life, although I do have to fault the Sox hitters for being so impatient and not laying off the sinker. They have been patient all year and then last night they try to go all aggressive.

The Sox bats are quiet but I have a feeling they'll get going again tonight. Wakefield will hopefully have a good outing and then of course it's back to Beckett.. and I'll go ahead and count that as a win :D

So far the Indians have impressed me with not fading out and staying tough, but I still see my Sox taking the series.

Think you misread I said the ROX not the Sox. The Rockies built from within, as did the D'Backs (mostly, they did try to get Big Unit for a last hurrah).

I think it says something about baseball's pay structure being outrageous and full of shit when 3 of the last 4 teams built from within and the highest team salary of those 3 was sported by the Indians at 61 mill. The Indians play knowing no one player can win or lose the game for them. They play as a team, no one is more "important" than another and they don't have the big salary egos. They don't have a Manny demanding trades and making news by "Manny being Manny". They don't have A-Rod and Jeter causing division in the clubhouse, or an owner that goes out and breaks the bank for a guy who needed to seriously stay retired. They don't have a aging hurt team that has no heart like the Angels with Colon, Guerrero, Anderson... a one year wonder like Matthews Jr. etc. Look at the Mets, Pedro (did he even throw a pitch this season?), Beltran and Delgado neither hits like they used to and neither works hard enough or plays well enough to deserve their paychecks.

The list and teams go on. Meanwhile, again 3 teams built themselves right. Had some losing seasons, took some hits but 2 of the 3 are going to be playoff staples for a long time.... the Rox... I still think they are playing above their level. Regardless of what people may say, their pitching isn't that strong.

AW well, I'll enjoy the Tribe's run wherever it may lead, meanwhile, I'll think about all the teams with all the overpaid "superstars" that are sitting home and I'll wonder how many of those collecting the big checks even care that they aren't playing in October.

My bad.

The Rox's pitching isn't that bad. If you are looking at Julio, Dessens, and Fogg you are looking at the wrong ones. Fogg is the 4th pitcher on the team. Francis is a quality pitcher, Jimenez is a flamethrower, and Morales has great stuff.

Obviously, they are playing over their heads. They haven't lost in a month. No team's true talent level is that high. I want them to get owned in the World Series. The whole series was bullshit. The Rockies seemed to get the craziest breaks. Lucky bloop hits, perfect defensive positioning. Our team OPS was 50 points higher than theirs yet we lost all four games. We hit balls hard most of the time and they were always right there.

Cal's never going to buy the team. He might go in as a part owner with some other local billionaire and actually run the team, but he doesn't have that kind of money.

It would be nice to get new ownership though, even if I wouldn't wish death on someone just for being the owner of a baseball team (and, of course, I'm not exactly on the Peter-Angelos-Is-The-Anti-Christ-If-The-Anti-Christ-Was-The-Marquis-De-Sade bandwagon, either...)

I feel confident the Indians can win this series.

Never know you might get Chuck Dolan since he couldn't buy the BloSux.

BTW

CLEVELAND ROCKS CLEVELAND ROCKS CLEVELAND ROCKS CLEVELAND ROCKS
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...Field_2003.jpg

NOT IN OUR HOUSE

Cleveland has been playing well that's for sure. I'll admit it. They've outplayed the Sox so completely I'm almost disgusted.

However, momentum is about to change tonight as Beckett takes the mound and we'll head back to Fenway. If this series gets to game 7, it's Boston going to the series.

And that is the spirit you need to be a fan of baseball.

While, I feel you are completely wrong. :thumbsup:

The rain has been mild to zilch today too in the area, so game on!

The Joe Torre era has come to an end in the Bronx. ESPN is reporting that Torre turned down a one year offer for $5 million with incentives that could've topped out at $8 million. A search for a new skipper is underway with either bench coach Don Mattingly or broadcaster Joe Giradi expected to be named as Torre's replacement. Torre was in the final season of a 3-year, $19.2 million contract.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3069115

good! Now I'm confident the skanks will suck for years to come.

C'mon Girardi! Baltimore needs all the help to contend we can get!

Seriously, he's going to end up not talking to the media by May, have Hughes, Wang, and Chamberlain visiting Dr. James Andrews by July, and kill Hal or Hank or Harry or Hoss or some other "H" Steinbrenner by October.

It's going to be the train wreck of train wrecks!

I have never been a Beckett fan, but he earned his money this series and I am truly impressed with his style. Great job, kid.

As for CC, if I were Shapiro, I'd make a take it or leave it offer and see what happens. CC doesn't take it, trade him. He's a free agent after next season, while he is strong this series has pretty much proven to me that he will never be a #1 and will never be a clutch pitcher. (I am sure that is not a popular opinion in Cleveland. I just hope if we do keep him, he didn't blow his arm out or have some psyche issues now. I've seen too many great arms blowout after choking in the playoffs and World Series.

This game shows that Wedge can trust his guys too long. CC should have been pulled at the end of 5. He shouldn't have gone into the 6th and NEVER should have touched a ball in the 7th.

So we go to Game 6, it is still Cleveland's to lose. Nothing has been easy for them this season, why should this series be any different. I still say whichever team gets out of this the winner, I see them sweeping Colorado. On the other hand, the team could be too beaten by the end.

No matter what this has been the most exciting series this postseason.

Beckett.. .. goddamn. You just can't say enough about the kid. It's almost like watching history in the making every time he pitches in the postseason.

Sure, it's still Cleveland's series to lose, but lose they shall. *IF* Schill has a decent game and last night was any indicator of the bats coming back alive for Boston. I'd agree that whoever comes out of the AL should destroy the Rox, but then, the Rox shouldn't have even made the playoffs so who knows what will happen.

Beckett for Cy Young. No doubt in my mind.

You might be just the slightest bit biased. :thumbsup:

Or I might just not be turning a blind eye to the fucking pathetic pitching of C.C. and Carmona in the ALCS.

Game 7 here we come.

What 23 runs in 16 innings from our top 2 starting pitchers? PATHETIC.

Travis Hafner having a .130 batting average and striking out some 11-12 times? PATHETIC

To go 7 games with the above says something about our team. The way we played tonight though, we played like we didn't deserve to be there. The last time I felt that way was in '99 when the Sox crushed us badly.

We need to show something tomorrow. If they don't win, fine but at least play like you want to.

Hopefully, this team gets their shit together and pulls a win out their ass. Westbrook needs to show us he can be the anchor.

Then we go into the WS and we move the rotation around slightly.

The fact that this went 7 does say something about your team. It says that the Red Sox looked like shit in games 2, 3, and 4. Now we're looking like the team we are.

When I saw how the Sox came out tonight, I knew we would win. They looked like they wanted it and had something to prove. They looked good, while the Tribe looked like a minor league club. I mean..holy fucking shit.. you hit a guy in the head with the ball when he's in a pickle?? WTF?? I laughed for 10 minutes.

This has been a great series that's for sure. Of course I'm worried about Matsusaka pitching tomorrow night, but we have Lester and probably Beckett that can come out of the bullpen. If it's tight and you see the big Texan with Beckett on his jersey stand up in the pen.. Indians might as well go ahead and pack their shit. They can't touch him.

Speaking of bullpens, it seems to me like Wedge was a little silly in his use of the pen tonight. I think it may just come back to haunt him.

Again, this has been the best series out of the entire postseason.. and whoever comes out on top should win the WS... unless they beat up their pens too badly.

Is that like when Ortiz got hit by the grounder during baserunning and was out? Or when Youk bobbled an easy pop foul? Both teams have had their moments of inadequacy this series, but it has been a great series, and we'll see what happens tonight.

baserunners get hit with groundballs all the time. We'll see what happens tonight yes.. and I have a feeling it will be the Sox celebrating on the field :D

Game 7 is getting crazy. 1 run lead, dropped pop up by Lugo..


hold on tight boys.. this is going to be fun no matter what happens.

Personally, I'd rather see a Clevand vs. Colorado WS but it doesn't look like that's gonna' happen right now.

We are Red Sox Nation. NO lead is safe when you play us.

You gave it a good go Cleveland. You earned respect in my eyes. But now it's time for you to go home and see your kids and start paying the greens fees.

Sorry it had to happen to you again. Beckett was the difference. If CC and Fausto had dominated in half the games they pitched, I'd be the one depressed, right now. Here's hoping the Indians don't squander the new depth they've created and stay around for a few years. I'm tired of solely focusing on the Yankees every year.

One last large RED lettered post:

CONGRATS TO THE BOSOX, TRULY THE BEST TEAM IN THE A.L. MADE IT TO THE WORLD SERIES THIS YEAR!!!!!!!!!

I thought we got lucky winning the 3 in a row, but I also wanted to believe. I am proud the Tribe made it this far. We did get to see our weaknesses and what holes we need to fill this offseason. Who knows, we may meet up for a rematch next year.

Beckett handled the pressure extremely well, as did Wakefield (he, above anyone should be considered by the Bosox as their true lifesaver this series).

Sad Panda.

Sad panda indeed....

BUT

What a great series!!!!!

Holy shit I couldnt have asked for better. Grats to the BoSox, you earned it.

Now its time to truely test the #1 underdog vs BoSox.

Cleveland almost did it, can Colorado?

Great series. Glad the Sox finally got it done. I knew if they got it home they had a good chance, and in game sevens all bets are off. Sabathia and carmona really crapped the bed under pressure, which I didn't expect. I hope the rest until Wednesday does the guys well, especially Ortiz, who isn't really looking like himself. It was good to see JD 4-6-3 Drew do something positive, but Lugo is still looking sad at the plate. Dice K finally stepped up in a big game and pitched some quality innings and Oki and Papelbon did what they've done all year. I say Tavarez instead of Gagne on the WS roster. For the record, I am so glad Cleveland and their freakin baby wipe waving fans did not make it to the world series, man was that crap annoying. Keep printing World Series t-shirts, guys, I'm sure you'll make it some year! (had to gloat after all the crap that was talked about the blosux etc. here).

I agree with most of this. I'm on the fence about Tavarez. He always scares me when he pitches. Nobody hates Gange more than I do, but to his credit he did look good in game 6. Maybe that's what he needed to turn the corner. I'm a little disappointed in the lack of work Lester has received. Maybe he'll get the chance to do something in the WS. As far as Lugo goes, he's just one of those players that has to be in there. His defense is too good to put on the bench.

How about Ellsbury? Man that kid is going to be something. As good as Coco patrols the outfield, I think Ellsbury does just as good a job and obviously has a better bat. Not to take away from Coco's phenominal catch to end the series, but I think it's a no brainer who should be starting in center.

This series still came down to pitching. The Indians starters just can't handle Fenway. Carmona has something like what? A 14.5 era and 11 walks per 9 innings at Fenway? That's all mental there. Eric Wedge needs to look at how he rotates his bullpen a little better and also, why wouldn't he have Trot Nixon in the game? Trot is a .330 hitter at Fenway in the postseason and he puts in some rookie batting .120 or something who is 2 for 15. Not a good move IMO. Not that I'm complaining. ANNNNND.. wtf is up with the 3rd base coach holding Loftin at 3rd? Thanks for sealing the deal with that call. ;)

The WS will be an interesting one. I think the layoff has probably hurt the Rox a bit, but I'm not forgetting the wins they had against the Sox in June either; one of them being against Beckett. But then.. this is the postseason.. it's Becktober.

Gloat all you want man. I would be. I did. It was all done for fun man. Trash talk is a part of sports, even Yahoo Fantasy Leagues allow smack talk.

It's sad that we blew a 3-1 lead in the ALCS but, who expected us to be there? Who expected us to take it to 7?

I still think except for Game 6, it was the best post season series in a very long time and in the end that's all that matters.

There were actually quite a few "experts" who picked Cleveland to win it all at the beginning of the year.

this was posted on oct. 3.

man... i wish had put some money on that.

i believe that nationwide, you might be in the minority there.

during the whole post season, i saw boston hats everywhere. no less than 3 each day. i saw exactly one indians hat. (i live in texas...maybe we just have an inordinant number of misplaced new englanders..... but ummm, i don't think that's the case.)

i hope the rox can make a series out of it.
game 7s are the best.

Nice job to the Sox. They just destroyed the Indians in the last three games.

Question to the Sox fans on here: there is a lot of controversy in Baltimore over Kevin Millar's appearance at game six and game seven, throwing out the first pitching and hanging out in the dugout in the latter. I'm curious to know if anyone found it uncomfortable that he was there even though he is under contract with the Orioles, a division rival.

It didn't really bother me that he was there. I actually laughed because other than 2004 he was pretty sucky when he was with Boston. I think people forget that players are people and fans of the game too. Sure he might play for another team in the same division but it's not like they were playing Baltimore or that Baltimore was even a serious threat in the division. Millar has friends that still play for Boston so really who gives a fuck that he was there?

Now, if it had been Trot Nixon or someone like that on a team they were actually playing.. that would be a bit different.

I really wanted Colorado to have to play the Indians. Mainly cause I know they could beat them.


I'm a little worried about Colorado vs Boston. The main good thing I can think of is game 3 and 4 in Colorado. If we can beat 'em in Boston there is no way that can beat us at home. All in all... I'm so fuckin' excited for this.

I would think it would be the opposite. As batter friendly as Coors Field is.. Boston should have a field day there, especially since they are hitting over .300 as a team right now ;)

On the sports talk radio it got a fair amount of "I have never even heard of such a thing" response, but there was not a great deal of animosity. I have to admit, when I saw it, I thought "that's odd." It's weird, if for no other reason than it is completely living in the past. I guess the Boston management contacted the Balt. GM or whatever, but it's not a big deal.

.300 as a team... But not against our bullpen.

It's funny. Whenever Millar comes back to Boston for a series, the Boston media always pays a lot of attention to him. He's constantly being interviewed by the papers and sports radio. Perhaps it's the way the media portrays him, but it always seems like he wishes he could still be with the Red Sox. Since he's only a mediocre player, I think the Red Sox fans tend to embrace him, rather than think of him a rival or threat. I equate him as being a Red Sox "mascot".

So, I didn't feel uncomfortable about it at all, and I'm sure most fans felt the same way. I think it was more about Millar being able to come back and celebrate the glory days for one night than about anything else.

Now if it was Johnny Damon..........:grumpy:

This is going to be very ugly for Colorado.

I guess we don't have to hit .300 against your bullpen since they just walk everybody.. :lol:

Yikes... I'm getting flashbacks of the Broncos in the Super Bowls in the late '80s right now.

That kind of looked like the first half of the Patriots Miami game. Momentum is only as good as your next day's starting pitcher though. If Schilling comes out and lays an egg, all bets are off. Colorado's got some hitters, but their pitchers have been going against National League lineups for those 21 or 22. It would have looked the same if it were the Indians or Yankees last night and not the Sox. Sometimes when the worst happens as it did for CO last night it can actually loosen you up, as in well got that out of the way, don't have to fear it any more.

I'm not too worried about Schill tonight. I think he'll come out and give at leave 5 good innings. That doesn't mean he won't give up a few runs, but I think with the Sox's offense firing on all cylinders right now, he can afford to give up a few and still come out with a win.

The key is going to be the 3 games in Colorado. Who do you take out? Youk or Ortiz?? They are both hitting the ball well right now. I guess you start Ortiz then go to Youk later in the game if you are winning.. this is why I'm not a manager.

Man...that's a tricky one. You can take Youkilis out, but he's been great at the plate too.

My thought was to replace Drew with Youkilis. Youk has been known to play some outfield in the past. The question is: do you weaken your defense to gain that offense back? The right side of the field would be Ortiz, Pedroia, and Youkilis. I think it's worth taking the risk.

I'd agree with Joe here, typically as an outfielder you know your position is known to be used for platooning.

And the way CoCo has played all year, I'd use him as the man out. Put Ortiz on First, Youk in Right, and move Drew over to Center.

You'd want your more experienced outfielder in Center than you would in Right.

Colorado has a pretty expansive yard, so I'm not so sure I'd want Youk in the outfield. That.. and I'd much rather keep Ellsbury in the lineup somehow. Add that to the fact that CoCo isn't 100% since his amazing catch in the triangle and it's really a wash. It may be a moot point considering the condition of Ortiz's knee. If he can manage to play in the field, Youk will most likely sit out at least for most of the game. If the Sox continue to score the runs then it won't matter to have Ortiz in there.

Whoohoo!!!!!!! A free taco!!!!!

jesus.. 10 runners stranded so far..

c'mon bullpen.. you can keep a 1 run lead.

A free taco, a good pitching performance by Schill.. lights out by Oki and the best closer just ending it nasty style...That kid for the Rox looked great until he walked his first batter.. I think he'll be a good solid pitcher for years to come.

2 wins headed to beer town.. Rox will get one out there.. but it's not looking good for the Rox. I think without getting the split in Fenway, they would be shooting themselves in the foot. Foot is looking like a flesh would at the moment.

2 more wins till I get to see the trophy runnin the streets of Boston!!

I totally agree. This talk of putting Ortiz at first, Youkilis in right and Drew in Center is the most ridiculous thing I've read here. Ortiz is a DH with bad knees, Youkilis has played a total of 18 games in left in 2006, Drew is NOT a CF, and Manny already sucks in left. You would be killing your entire OF defense and 1B defense for an extra bat on what is already an offensive powerhouse. It's like giving Bill Gates an extra billion dollars.

But making his eyesight so poor that he couldn't tell one dollar bills from hundreds.

There is a good chance that francona will sit Ortiz, Lowell and Youk for one game each, as he did during interleague play. Youk will not go to right, where he has never played, Lowell will not play short, there will be no big changes, fortunately, Lowell, Youk and Papi are all hitting very well, so you aren't losing much with one over the other, Lowell may play all 3 just for defense, and Papi may sit one and be replaced in late innings in the others.

I don't think we'll see Lowell sit at all. He's just been too good with RISP and his defense is superb. Francona is looking back at 2004 when Ortiz stepped up to the challenge at first and did a decent job. Now since his knee is bothering him, I look for Youk to come in once a decent lead (if any) is established. Give Boston a 3 run lead and Ortiz will sit. If he does sit an entire game look for it to be in game 4. Or.. maybe Francona should keep Youk in there while Matsusaka pitches..might be more conducive to his style of pitching. Does it really matter now? With Youk hitting almost as good as Ortiz right now I really don't think it's even an important issue anymore.

Last night's game was great. The pitcher for Colorado had some great stuff and Schilling was phenomenal. The man just gets it done! How about Okajima.. goddamn.. I know John Henry is laughing his ass off at his 2.2 million investment doing as well as he is. What a steal.

Drew is finally starting to hit also.. with all these factors, I'm starting to think this will be done in 5. I picked 6 to begin with, but now I just don't know.

I hope you guys sweep those assholes. Colorado is back to what they were: an average team that had an amazing hot streak.

While I hope this to happen too, I think Colorado will take at least 1 at home.


They are batting like crap right now.. they can't win it on defense.. so unless they start actually hitting the ball we will sweep them. I almost wish we would have faced Arizona instead..

It's all starting to crumble for them now...

Unless another 7th inning occurs.. the throat has officially been stepped on.

Look on the bright side. Now America gets 3 free tacos!:hyper:

There's no way back for the Rockies now imo.

The Redsox needed to win 1 out of games 3 & 4 and they done.

As for the decision to play Big Papi in the field - he might not be mobile but from what I have seen he is solid enough. And as well as the tactical side, he is the team's talisman. You want your big personality players out there in the biggest games sometimes

And that's that.

Really? For what?

*Didn't watch the WS*

In the spirit of Pan..


WORLD SERIES CHAMPS BABY!!!!


Be prepared for a long run.. this team is built to win and will be there again next year.

Rockies gave it a good fight, but they just weren't supposed to be there. It's good for baseball though and for Denver. Even if the Rox won tonight it would have been over tomorrow night when Beckett was scheduled to pitch.

This series showed me some great home grown talent that the Rockies have that I wasn't really exposed to during the season.. so that was a treat.

But this year.. it's BOSTON RED SOX!!!! 2 Championships in 3 years. Yankees who?

I guess I'm thrilled the Rockies made it as far as they did, but on the other hand getting swept sucks. It would have been nice to win at least 1 game. Oh well still a good year.

Umm...that would be two in FOUR years...;)

hahaha yeah my bad.. I'm just so pinged right now.. guess I was wishful thinking...

still.. SKANKEES WHO??

:D

Curse of the Moose, bay-bee :D

(Oh, and f*** the Red Sox) ;)

I feel bad....the World Series is over, I didn't watch a game, and I don't really care :(....is this unAmerican?

-Will

I think that the fact the Indians took it to 7 AND their 2 aces had a combined ERA of like 23...... says something about the Indians.

The Indians deserve many props and congrats.

That said. The best team in baseball truly did win the WS this year... that is fact and it is also not a given.

Sports Headlines asking "Are the Red Sox the new evil empire?" in 3....2....

I enjoyed the game on Saturday night when they were up 4 in the 8th and bunting/stealing to manufacture more runs. I know, you play to win, right?

The only thing that really irks me about the Red Sox winning is the fact that Eric Gagne is somehow, inexplicably, eligible for a ring.

When they say "all 25 of us contributed" I think they mean the 24 on the WS roster, minus Gagne, and including Wakefield.

Red Sox are the new Yankees!

Good job Red Sox, I hope this shuts up Stankee fans for a while, I have one question for those Yankee fans,

Got rings? Lately?

Taco Bell had a promotion that for every stolen base during the World Series, they would give out a free taco on the 30th from 2-5 pm. There was one SB in game 2 and two more in game 3.

yeah well i'm not a baseball fan... but somehow....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...q/bosoxbri.jpg

Mr. Monopoly? I thought his name was Pennybags or something.

"Rich Uncle Pennybags was rechristened Mr. Monopoly (a nickname he was already known by in popular culture) in a Hasbro marketing effort in 1999."

If people calling a character Mr. Monopoly doesn't show how bankrupt we are in the imagination department, I don't know what does.

More names of PED users are released:

Jose Guillen, Matt Williams, and Ismael Valdez

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3096834

Can we please get off our high horse about Bonds and admit that it was widespread?

Sure it's more widespread than Bonds.. but people like to hate Bonds. Someone has to be the scapegoat right??


In other news, it looks like Schilling will be in a Red Sox uni next year after all..

I'm not quite sure how I feel about that. He did what he was supposed to do...but.. really how much does the man have left??

I think Curt has another year left in the tank. He did have a 122 ERA+ last season. His K/9 took a big shit but I think he can still hang. Although it is true that power pitchers don't age as well, Curt is a different type of power pitcher because he has that control.

Curt's new contract has $2M tied to a weight clause. I wonder if that will stand up to the commisioner's or player's association.

Finally, in a HUGE move, the GM's voted to introduce instant replay in boundary calls.