Once again, I am late this morning with the update, but what a game. Even Buck and McCarver couldn't ruin my enjoyment (although they still caused me to talk to myself a lot more than I normally would).
Like Jere, I thought the Royce Clayton/Coco conversation was the humor highlight of the game, at least until McCarver told me that "usually the bigger you are, the longer your stroke". I think he meant it in terms of Matt Holliday's impressive short swing, but I could be wrong.
Three Things I Noticed: (1) Ed Montague was decent behind the plate, but actually had a rather small strike zone, except in the first when Beckett was pitching, and then toward the end of the game when he started calling the belly-button strike. He was giving Francis a few calls he wasn't giving Beckett which just shows you how great Beckett was last night. (2) I know from statistical data that Troy Tulowitzki is an excellent defensive shortstop, but did you see the highlight reel that Fox ran? You could not have come up with a mor anodyne set of clips if you tried. Basically they were "run to the left, plant feet, fire to first". None of the leaping grabs that he's actually made in the NLCS. Anyway, it immediately reminded me of Letterman's "Close Plays of the Month" when Marv Albert would come on and narrate a ridiculolusly average play as though it was something special. Unintentional comedy - thy name is Fox baseball coverage. (3) I was openly rooting for Tito to pull Beckett in the 6th. I mean, 13-1? I guess he's already made up his mind that Lester will be the game 4 starter, but that was a little curious. Allowed me to set up the TaxWife for a good joke, however. I told her that they should bring in Gagne in the 6th. She said no matter the score she doesn't want Gagne coming in in the 6th of any game. So she went to bed before the 9th inning and when she woke up asked me what the final score was. I told her, "you wouldn't believe it, they brought in Gagne and he gave up 6 runs. Paps had to close". She immediately yelled "I told you, I knew it, that guy sucks... etc". (she didn't actually say "etc"). I said, actually it was 13-1. 1-2-3 inning. Good times.
Some Good Blogs
The aforementioned post from Red Sox Fan from Pinstripe Territory.
Keep Your Sox On is rocking Freddy Mercury this morning.
02145 says to keep a little perspective, Red Sox Nation (I agree, this is how we started the ALCS, remember?)
Joy of Sox has the front pages.
Soxaholix. No words necessary.
Pinto says it came down to throwing strikes. See above on the ump. Tight zone last night.
That's it. Busy day. Huge Tax Update should be due, but not sure if I'll get to it.
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2 comments:
I disagree with you on taking Beckett out after the 6th. He only had like 80 pitches in the 7th inning. Why blow the bullpen in game 1 when we KNOW Tito is not putting in beckett in game 4. Why not rest the bullpen, especially when we don't have off-days between games 4 and 5 like the ALCS??
I guess it's a chicken or egg thing - once he left him out there for 7, it became apparent that he will not use Beckett in Game 4. Therefore, the decision was correct.
In the 6th, though, I didn't know that was the plan.
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