Do you think this series might have gone differently if Manny had been in the line-up? As I recall, he was hitting pretty well just before his oblique injury. Of course he was also hitting into a lot of double plays...
Double plays happen when you get men on base. That’s a function of trying to pull putside pitches and topping the ball.
Ellsbury has been great replacement and the offense has not suffered. Francona needs to have a standing rule that if this kid is on base he steals. Tito simply doesn’t use the speed his team has. He instead does hit and runs with Mike Lowell of all people.
Manny would have made no difference in game 1 and game 2 was a beat down. Ellsbury scored a run tonight so he was effective. Schilling’s lack of command of his breaking pitch was the difference tonight really.
Good tight games though. We really needed to win tonight and couldn’t come through.