MLB 2008

[zen archer]

Well , right now Garza looks pretty impressive and Cora should not be in the game .

They made him work in the 6th ,BUT ya gotta question a hit and run play to run you out of the inning.

That was ball 4 on Ortiz.

Edited October 20, 2008 by zen archer

[tkeith]

No THAT (strike 'em out/throw 'em out DP) was a stupid fahkin' play! What the hell were they thinking?! Good news is that's likely the game for Garza. Even if he starts the 7th, he likely won't finish it. Provided Lester and the pen can keep things intact, this game is still very much wide open.

This is what a Game 7 should be!

[zen archer]

I know he won the game last night but come on swinging at ball 2 in the dirt.

How much you wanna bet Francona lets Cora lead off to start the 8th ?

[Brad]

It ain't lookin' good, 3-1

[Dan Gould]

This is why I will forever be fucking programmed to expect failure. And to lose this way, to a nothing pitcher who spent three innings throwing balls in the dirt and around people's heads, is fucking infuriating.

And as an aside, does that asshole Garza have a fucking salivary gland disorder? His compulsive spitting is disgusting and happens about every three seconds.

[zen archer]

OL Cora gets a break ..BUT ..he has to put Ellsbury in as the runner

[zen archer]

That was NOT strike 3 ....That was not a STRIKE ......

[Dan Gould]

That was NOT strike 3 ....That was not a STRIKE ......

What the fuck are you talking about?????

HIS FUCKING BAT HEAD WENT A FOOT BEYOND THE PLATE!

Once again, nauseating, pathetic failure. Two on and nobody out, the asshole Garza out of the game, the fucking pathetic bullpen BEGGING to be given the chance to blow up, and they still fail.

[zen archer]

That was NOT strike 3 ....That was not a STRIKE ......

What the fuck are you talking about?????

HIS FUCKING BAT HEAD WENT A FOOT BEYOND THE PLATE!

Once again, nauseating, pathetic failure. Two on and nobody out, the asshole Garza out of the game, the fucking pathetic bullpen BEGGING to be given the chance to blow up, and they still fail.

I did not see it , i must of missed the replay ....he really went around ?

[Dan Gould]

without any doubt at all.

[Dan Gould]

I WILL DANCE IN THE FUCKING STREET IF THAT WAS THE LAST TIME I WATCH VARITEK FLAIL.

[Brad]

Bummer. Except for three incredible innings in game 5, this was an otherwise forgettable series, which is pretty much what you can say for the whole postseason. Hasn't been exciting baseball.

[Soulstation1]

Dan

will you give the rays some credit?

[Big Al]

I WILL DANCE IN THE FUCKING STREET IF THAT WAS THE LAST TIME I WATCH VARITEK FLAIL.

You're kidding, right? A 3-1 game, tight all the way to the end; can't you acknowledge that maybe the Rays played a helluva game and did what they had to do to win, and just tip your cap to them? Yes, I know if you're a Sox fan this is heartbreaking, but damn man, it's not like this was a blowout, or a come-from-behind bullpen meltdown, or anything else even remotely embarrassing. IMHO, this was a game that was fought to the bitter end, and the only reason it ends is because eventually one team wins and one team loses.

And give me a break about being programmed for failure. Your team has won how many World Series in the last ten years? More than BOTH of my teams (Rangers & Cubs) COMBINED!!!

The Red Sox a pathetic failure my fat ass. Give it a rest already.

[Big Al]

Bummer. Except for three incredible innings in game 5, this was an otherwise forgettable series, which is pretty much what you can say for the whole postseason. Hasn't been exciting baseball.

Gotta disagree there. That Red Sox comeback in game five (which apprently was watched by everyone EXCEPT Red Sox fans) was unbelievable, game six was even more exciting, and this was one could've gone either way. All it could've taken was one swing of the bat. Series like this, IMHO, are what make baseball so wonderful.

[BERIGAN]

The Rays played their hearts out, and won. The Sox did not quit, they just lost. Someone has to. You do swing at pitches that are not strike at times,(Sox less than most teams) you have to, or you sit there with your bat on your shoulders like Kotsay and Drew at least tried to do. I fully expected another last minute win from the Red Sox. It's nice to see some fresh blood in the playoffs. Baseball needs it. The fans need it.

Price pitched very well, thank God they didn't take him out like Buck Martinez was talking about....Boulfour(sp) couldn't pitch a strike to save his life last time out....

Paps, Congrats, enjoy!!!!

[BERIGAN]

Bummer. Except for three incredible innings in game 5, this was an otherwise forgettable series, which is pretty much what you can say for the whole postseason. Hasn't been exciting baseball.

Gotta disagree there. That Red Sox comeback in game five (which apprently was watched by everyone EXCEPT Red Sox fans) was unbelievable, game six was even more exciting, and this was one could've gone either way. All it could've taken was one swing of the bat. Series like this, IMHO, are what make baseball so wonderful.

I agree Al. I had to keep flipping away during the last 3 games, I felt so stressed! This team reminds me so much of the Braves of course, in 1991. I wouldn't have been a bit surprised to see Drew hit another late inning homer, for for even Lowrie to hit a 3 run homer or tie the game up.

Edited October 20, 2008 by BERIGAN

[zen archer]

As a Lifetime Red Sox fan i CONGRATULATE the RAYS . GREAT WIN they deserve to represent the

American League in the World Series !!!!

[zen archer]

I WILL DANCE IN THE FUCKING STREET IF THAT WAS THE LAST TIME I WATCH VARITEK FLAIL.

You're kidding, right? A 3-1 game, tight all the way to the end; can't you acknowledge that maybe the Rays played a helluva game and did what they had to do to win, and just tip your cap to them? Yes, I know if you're a Sox fan this is heartbreaking, but damn man, it's not like this was a blowout, or a come-from-behind bullpen meltdown, or anything else even remotely embarrassing. IMHO, this was a game that was fought to the bitter end, and the only reason it ends is because eventually one team wins and one team loses.

And give me a break about being programmed for failure. Your team has won how many World Series in the last ten years? More than BOTH of my teams (Rangers & Cubs) COMBINED!!!

The Red Sox a pathetic failure my fat ass. Give it a rest already.

Al you are so right , Dan we played our hearts out, we won the WS last year and with all these injuries to still

make it to the 7th game of the ALCS .......WOW !

[Brad]

I agree that part of game 5 was exciting (hey, the game will go down in history) but for the most part the rest of the series was ok.

But I do agree that after winning two titles in three years, it's not the end of the world and as Al noted they took them to the 7th game so they went down fighting and let's face it Garza was awesome tonight. Lester was good but Garza was just a little bit better. I'm sure these two teams will give us great baseball for many years to come.

[Quincy]

The Rays played their hearts out, and won. The Sox did not quit, they just lost. Someone has to. You do swing at pitches that are not strike at times,(Sox less than most teams) you have to, or you sit there with your bat on your shoulders like Kotsay and Drew at least tried to do. I fully expected another last minute win from the Red Sox. It's nice to see some fresh blood in the playoffs. Baseball needs it. The fans need it.

It's been a fresh blood kind of postseason for this decade. White Sox, Astros, Rockies, Angels, Giants, Diamond Backs and yes, the Red Sox were once fresh too. (But like fish & family...) It had been awhile for the Tigers & Cardinals too. Now the Marlins on the other hand, c'mon, 2 titles for those newbies. Argh.

I happy with the matchup as both Phillies & Rays are playing good ball. The only way I wanted to see the Sox was if the Dodgers got in, just to watch all of that neurotic ugliness.

Price pitched very well, thank God they didn't take him out like Buck Martinez was talking about...

That reminded of the Super Bowl where John Madden saying the Pats should take a knee with that kid Brady and try to win it overtime. I think Madden stopped by the time the Pats had crossed midfield. No more situational relief for Price - let 'em close! Then see ya in the rotation next year.

Paps, Congrats, enjoy!!!!

Yes indeed! What a story. And darn it, add the Rays to Marlins & Diamond Backs of teams younger than the Mariners to make it to the World Series.

[papsrus]

Paps, Congrats, enjoy!!!!

As a Lifetime Red Sox fan i CONGRATULATE the RAYS . GREAT WIN they deserve to represent the

American League in the World Series !!!!

Yes indeed! What a story.

It is kind of ... unbelievable. :eye:

All props to the Red Sox. It was a battle. Hopefully, the first of many classic battles these two teams will have come fall.

Couple of observations on the ALCS, best I could tell:

* A young Rays staff, untested in the post-season, out-pitched a really good Red Sox starting rotation, no doubt a superior rotation when fully healthy. Beating Lester twice? No way that figures to happen.

* The long ball -- Rays bats caught lightning in a bottle just long enough to blow up a couple of games and carry them to a 3-1 series lead. The way the Sox battled back was unreal. That Game 5 will go down as a classic lesson on why you never leave the ballpark early in the playoffs. Or any time, for that matter!

* The Boston bats -- Ortiz hitting something like .150 for the ALCS killed the Sox. It's a different series if he's hitting anything like he's capable. Youkilis and Pedroia were mostly solid, downright scary at times. But after that it tailed off pretty quickly.

I'm sure Dan and others can break it all down better than I can, but overall the whole series (the whole season, really) just had the feel of right time, right place, and the Rays grasping the idea of "playing in the moment," as Maddon likes to say. One pitch at a time. That's baseball!! And in this one, every pitch cranked the tension up another notch. Ain't nothing like playoff baseball (I'm finding out).

Phillies should be solidly favored. I'm just hoping for a good series where both teams play the way they're capable. Another Game 7 would be a real treat!

Again, all props to the BoSox. They're still the beasts of the East and sure aren't going away anytime soon. Same time next year, if we're lucky.

Edited October 20, 2008 by papsrus

[tkeith]

First and foremost, congrats to the Rays; I can say now that I believe the better team won. If Lowell & Ortiz are healthy and Youk is playing first, I might feel otherwise. But this M*A*S*H unit acquitted themselves well and have nothing to be ashamed of. Lester threw a helluva game, AS DID GARZA. I was thrilled to get him out of the game, but there's no scapegoat here -- that was great baseball. Coco came the closest to a mistake when he was caught up in the mindset of breaking up the DP, but that's very forgivable. Jimmy Young was on NECN this morning and said he expects the Sox will give the Captain a 2-year offer, which I think is the right deal if you make it clear that he's coming back to help the transition to a new direction. JV may have other ideas, though. After the game he was very emotional when asked if this was his last game as a member of the team. He's had a bitch of a year, on and off the field, and may just be ready.

Tampa is an exciting, deep team (I mean Hinske is not even on the ROSTER! - a mistake if they don't change that for next series). Garza stepped up big time last night, and my hat is off to him -- he really pitched a helluva game. I was not in love with the home plate ump (wish McLelland had stayed behind for this one, too), but I don't think he can be blamed for the game's results, either. He made gaffs that hurt both teams, but nothing of game-changing proportions. I'm still not convinced Drew swung at the ball, but Bay definitely did, and frankly, I'm not sure Drew was going to catch up to that nasty shit Price was throwing.

I'll be rooting for Tampa Bay in the series (a big change because, Sox notwithstanding, I route NL), but I think Philly is going to roast them. Either way, it's going to be an exciting matchup (and I'll probably miss half of it because I won't have the guilt of going to bed on the home team!).

[tkeith]

Gotta disagree there. That Red Sox comeback in game five (which apprently was watched by everyone EXCEPT Red Sox fans) was unbelievable, game six was even more exciting, and this was one could've gone either way. All it could've taken was one swing of the bat. Series like this, IMHO, are what make baseball so wonderful.

I've agreed with 95% of what you've said post game 7, Al, but I have to cry foul here. The reason at least half of RSN missed the ending of game 5 is the asinine TV schedule. Just to be fair, Sox fans typically stay to the end of every game and don't miss a pitch (live). But when your game starts an hour later than usual, particularly during the school year, that really screws east coast fans, and frankly, I'm a little sick of it.

[BERIGAN]

I'm shocked to hear all the Philly being the favorite team talk here! All the folks on the post game panel seemed to be for the Rays. I think their biggest problem will be thinking they have already won the WS....Phillies may win it if the Rays are too agressive against Hamels and Moyer. If they pretend they are still playing the Red Sox, they will likely win it. I just hope whatever happens, it's not over in 4 or 5 games...