Picture Required...
Posted on 09/30/2005 7:32:46 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
Compared to last October, this weekend's scenario probably doesn't seem all that bad to the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox.
Down one game with three to play, the Red Sox will try to stage another dramatic comeback against the archrival New York Yankees when the teams open their big series at Fenway Park.
``It's going to be three Super Bowl games,'' Boston's Kevin Millar said. ``Whoever set the schedule this year is a genius.''
Last season, Boston became the first team in major league history to overcome an 0-3 deficit in the playoffs, rallying to take four straight from New York in the ALCS to capture the pennant.
The Red Sox would go on to win their first World Series title since 1918 by sweeping St. Louis, putting the Yankees in the unfamiliar position of waiting until the next year for revenge.
The Red Sox held the Yankees off for most of this summer, hoping to win their first AL East title since 1995. However, Boston, which has finished second to New York in each of the previous seven years, squandered its advantage, and enters the weekend one game out.
Things could have been considerably worse.
The Red Sox trailed Toronto 4-1 in the sixth inning Thursday night while the Yankees were cruising to an 8-4 victory in Baltimore.
However, Manny Ramirez belted a two-run homer before David Ortiz fortified his MVP candidacy by belting the tying homer in the eighth and driving home the winning run with a single in the ninth, giving Boston a 5-4 win and plenty of momentum heading into the weekend.
``The best thing that ever happened to this team was winning this game tonight,'' Ortiz said. ``Everybody was on their toes.''
While the Red Sox split four games with the Blue Jays, the Yankees took three of four from the Orioles, giving themselves a small cushion heading into this do-or-die series.
``It'll be unbelievable. It's always a playoff atmosphere when you play the Red Sox,'' said Yankees slugger Jason Giambi, who belted a first-inning, three-run homer Thursday.
``It will be a lot of fun.''
A less consequential race will also be taking place during the series as Ortiz and Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez will go head-to-head for the MVP award. Both players boast eye-popping numbers, but the winner may ultimately be decided by who takes the division this weekend.
``That's how you win an MVP -- getting into the playoffs and winning the World Series,'' Ortiz said this week. ``All I want to do is get into the playoffs one way or another.''
Rodriguez agreed.
``I think the focus is on the team. I think a nice side note behind that is, obviously, the MVP race,'' he said. ``No question, front and center right now is the Yankees vs. Boston.''
If the teams finish in a dead heat after Sunday, a one-game playoff to determine the division champion will be played at Yankee Stadium on Monday.
Both teams are also still very much alive for the wild card. The Yankees also lead Cleveland by one game. The Indians will conclude the regular season with three against the AL Central champion Chicago White Sox.
If the Red Sox, Yankees and Indians finish tied, New York will play Boston on Monday, with the loser heading to Cleveland for a one-game playoff to determine the wild card.
After Yankees rookie Chien-Ming Wang squares off against veteran left-hander David Wells in the series opener, Randy Johnson and Tim Wakefield will meet Saturday followed by Mike Mussina and Curt Schilling in Sunday's regular season finale.
This is the first time the Red Sox and Yankees have battled for the division down to the wire since 1978, when light-hitting shortstop Bucky Dent homered to win a one-game playoff and send New York to the postseason.
The pennant came down to the final two games of the season in 1949, when Boston brought a one-game lead into Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won both to reach the playoffs and begin a dynasty that claimed 14 AL pennants and eight World Series titles in 16 years.
Before that, you have to go back to the 1904 season, when Boston met the New York Highlanders in a doubleheader on the final day of the season. Boston won the opener to take the pennant.
``You sit there and you say at the start of the season that the best team wins after 162 games. And now you're down to the final three,'' Yankees manager Joe Torre said. ``We all know what the situation is. ... To think that it's come down to a handful of games to decide what 157 couldn't decide, that's great for baseball -- but not too good for my stomach.''
Updated on Friday
Well... My girlfriend had plans for me tonight but... Somehow, I have to figure out a way to explain to her why these games are going to have a little bit higher priority than she does. We live in the UK and she is Swiss so it's going to be difficult to get that across. If she can sit there and watch it with me and not make too much noise or ask too many questions we might be able to make it...
Picture Required...
You can get these games in the UK?
Just shorthand, skippy.
Easier than typing "Red Sox."
He said his elbow still bothers him. He'd be shut down if the Yanks were out of the playoffs.
Yep, actually it's Rojah who sucks in the clutch-- Game 6 of the 1986 WS, Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, Game 7 of the 2004 NLCS, etc.
Except that Tito just learned this month that Manny Delcarmen, Lenny DiNardo, and Jon Papelbon are good pitchers and he'll use them now. Don't sell our BP short, just because many of our apparently good arms have been riding the pine. They'll be ready to shine in this pressure cooker weekend.
As another lifelong Cleveland sports fan, I understand and share somewhat your cynicism. Good to see the Tribe bounce back last night against the D-rays. They looked worn out in the first two games against Tampa Bay. With the ChiSox having wrapped up the division, the Indians should be in a good position from a mental standpoint to sweep, or at least take 2 out of 3. I'm sure you're right about who the networks want in the playoffs, and it ain't Cleveland.
(example: Cleveland $41 mil. payroll, 26th in the league has the 4 best record overall thru Thurs. games)
BIGGEST BANG FOR THE BUCK
Cleveland Indians $ 41,502,500 26 4 -22
Milwaukee Brewers $ 39,934,833 27 11 -16
Oakland Athletics $ 55,425,762 22 8 -14
Washington Nationals $ 48,581,500 23 10 -13
Toronto Blue Jays $ 45,719,500 25 13 -12
Chicago White Sox $ 75,178,000 13 2 -11
LEAST BANG FOR THE BUCK
Seattle Mariners $ 87,754,334 8 19 +11
San Francisco Giants $ 90,199,500 7 15 +8
New York Mets $ 101,305,821 3 10 +7
Los Angeles Dodgers $ 83,039,000 11 18 +7
If I'm a Red Sox fan I sure wouldn't relish the thought of Manny Delcarmen, Lenny DiNardo, or Jon Papelbon coming into the game in the seventh inning to face Alex Rodriguez or Gary Sheffield with a couple of men on base.
Aye. If you go to MLB.com they have a Major League Baseball TV thingy you can sign up for. It cost me $25. But you get the whole season- every game by every team.I can flip between games every night. Watch the Braves (my team), see how Glavine is getting on up in NY. Watch Matsui's at bats for the Yanks. Watch the Rocket down in Houston. Even watch 'em later or just the highlights. It's a pretty good substitute if you can't be in the US. The quality isn't the same yet as regular telly but after you get into the game, you don't notice.
If you need somebody to help you move Saturday, give me a call...
Thanks!
I remember saying to wife number 1 many moons ago:
'I don't care what time we were supposed to be there. Nolan Ryan is taking a No-Hitter into the 8th inning and your parents are just gonna have to wait!'
A man's gotta have his priorities...
I remember sitting in Choir Practice listening to David Cone's Perfect Game on bud earphones. My Choirmaster could not understand why I couldn't keep on key and why I kept jumping up and down...
LOL! I can see that now! 'Hallelujah!'
May they wear each other out with 3 extra-inning games and a Monday extra-inning playoff, while Cleveland claims the wildcard.
Which means Freepers not in NY or NE should be rooting for the Tribe. >:)
-Eric
It's all relative. Here are our top arms (non-starters) this weekend:
Lenny DiNardo
Mike Timlin
Jonathan Papelbon
Manny Delcarmen
Mike Myers
Chad Bradford
And the Yanks' arms:
Mariano Rivera
Tom Gordon
Tanyon Sturtze
Félix Rodríguez
Wayne Franklin
Al Leiter
That's not any big mismatch. It's top-heavy at closer. And that's it. Papelbon vs. Gordon? I'll take Pap. DiNardo or Delcarmen vs. Sturtze? I'll take DiNardo or Delcarmen. Those last three Yankee names are total garbage.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.