Posted on 10/13/2003 4:37:01 PM PDT by mikemc282002
Ok, rain's gone away and it's a beautiful fall evening here in Boston. I've never post anything on FR, so I apoligize in advance if I'm doing it wrong. I don't know anything about pinging or anything like that. Hope the usual suspects find this.
I hope we can move the discussion back to baseball. I'm so tired of Pedro, Manny, Zim, Garcia and the bullpen guy. I think the players have at least temporarily put all incidents aside and will return to playing the game without the extra theatrics.
With that in mind, let me say this: the idea that all Sox fans are English soccer hooligans is as false as saying all conversatives are racists. Most Red Sox fans are extremely passionate about baseball and most of us have Yankee fans as friends, neighbors, co-workers, and even spouses. The media potrayals I've seen in some cases have grossly exaggerated the truth about Boston fans. Yes, we want to win - just ONE DAMN TIME before we all die. Yes, there are a few jerks who get out of hand. But that can be found at Yankee stadium, Wrigley Field, or just about any professional sports event (except Expos games, let's face it no one is even there to fight). At the end of the day, whether the Sox are in the playoffs or 25 games out, it's all about cracking a beer, having a hotdog and enjoying life.
Play ball!
The Red Sox need the early lead more than the Yankees. Mariano since the beginning of September, has been death to batters.
If Sori could learn to read pitches like Barry Bonds, he could BE the next Barry Bonds. He's only the third player in history to have consecutive 35-35 seasons. I think Barry and Willie Mays are the others. But he can't be called a clutch player in late innings because he can be counted on to wail away at just about anything when he tries to tie or end the game with a home run.
Sox won in spite of Nomar who is having one of the worst slumps I've ever seen a player of his caliber have. He's got to bounce out of it because the Red Sox probably cannot win this series otherwise.
It was good to see things relatively calm this game. No bench-clearing brawls or arrests in the bullpen and that's always a good thing.
Tomorrow's game is crucial. If the Yanks win, the Sox will have to take two in Yankee stadium, which probably isn't going to happen. So I think I am safe in saying that tomorrow's game is a must win for the Sox.
Hopefully Derek Lowe brings his best game with him.
From a fan standpoint, knuckleballers are the most terrifying pitchers to have on your team - true cardiac inducers. If you've got a knuckleballer in the groove, he's virtually unhittable. If he's off, it's more like watching golf than baseball - the hitters will just tee right off. Either he's going to throw something pretty close to a shutout, or he'll get shelled for 17 runs in the first inning - there's not much middle ground there ;)
You have SMS on your cellphone? I'll e-mail scores to you. You'll be the hit of the meeting (or the goat, if the Yanks do better scoring)
But Mariano never comes in unless the game is at least tied. Tonight is a case in point. The Yankees have too many easy outs in their lineup for late-inning situations. Giambi, Boone, and Soriano have rarely had late-inning RBIs this year. Boone has been bad overall, but Giambi and Soriano overswing even more than usual late in the game. They should watch Pudge Rodriguez. I can't imagine a more textbook example of going with a pitch to the opposite field. He's done it at least three times for RBIs in these playoffs.
Jason Giambi had a 1 for 40 streak late in the season. In Oakland he hit for a pretty high average. I think that short right field in Yankee Stadium tempts him too much.
After tonight, I give them a 60% chance to go the the WS.
Yeah, like anything useful ever gets done at those things.
Aren't you getting a little sore throat? You know, cough, cough.
I hope you are feeling better, and I'll see you here tomorrow afternoon.
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