Hey folks, today I'll be bringing you a running commentary of my thoughts and reactions to game three of the American League Division Series between the Red Sox and the Angels. I've never done this kind of thing before, so forgive me if I show some growing pains during this whole process. At this point we're still about twenty minutes away from the first pitch of the game, but I'm already stationed in the best seat in the house, my gigantic, comfy ugly-as-sin yellow chair and ottoman in front of the television.
The White Sox are trying to hold off the Rays and extend their series by another game at least, and they're currently leading 5-3 in the top of the eighth inning. Even though the White Sox are out in front right now, there is no sense of comfort in their dugout. There is just no quit in the Rays, period. It's their most dangerous quality.
Well Beckett's first pitch was inauspicious. Chone Figgins just ripped a ground rule double down the right field line and is in scoring position with nobody out. Hopeflly this won't be foreshadowing of things to come.
After giving up the hit to Figgins, Beckett just froze Garrett Anderson with a nasty curveball for a strikeout. Teixeira is up now and has seen three straight breaking balls thus far (2-1 count). There seems to be a conscious effort on the part of Varitek to mix things up and to keep the Angels hitters from just sitting on the fastball. It's working thus far, as Beckett just dropped another curve in there to even the count. After a near miss on an inside two seam fastball, Beckett blew Teixeira away with an inside fastball for another strikeout.
With first base open, Beckett wisely pitched around Vlad Guerrero and sent him down to first on five pitches. Now Beckett has to face Torii Hunter, who has been absolutely scalding hot this series with runners on base. I can't help but feel bad for HUnter, whose effort has been admirable thus far. Despite that, I'm rooting for an out here.
Torii ended up hitting a dribbling infield single to the right side. A great play by Dustin Pedroia (he's scrappy!) saved a run for sure. Juan Rivera is now at the plate and has taken two very close pitches for balls. Beckett just missed again and ran the count to 3-0 with nowhere to put Rivera. Beckett just threw a high fastball and Rivera fouled it off, which drew a pretty perplexed look from Mike Scoscia.
Beckett just walked Rivera with the bases loaded, 1-0 Anaheim. Beckett's pitch count is already approaching 30 with no let up to come. Napoli grounds out to end the threat, and beckett has a few words for home plate umpire Kerwin Danley about his view of the strike zone. Red Sox are up after yet another cycle of the same freaking adds and Frank TV promos (shoot me now, or at least bring back the TiVo!).
Mark Teixeira just flashed the leather, robbing Jacoby Ellsbury of a double. Not only is this guy carrying the Angels on offense (along with Torii Hunter), but he's making plays in the field as well. If the Angels don't spend the dollars and invest in Teixeira for the long term, then they are foolish. He's young, he can hit for power from both sides of the plate, and he wins gold gloves at first base, 'nuff said. After a hit batter (Pedroia took one on the leg, ouch!), Joe Saunders retired Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis to end the inning.
Beckett seems to be laboring a bit so far. He's struggling to locate his fastball, which is really driving up his pitch count and limiting the effectiveness of his other pitches. The Angels haven't really punished him yet, but at this point I get the feeling that it's a matter of time. (Beckett just walked Garrett Anderson with two outs and now has to face Mark Teixeira with runners on base. Not good)
Beckett retired Teixeira to end the threat, but the Red Sox haven't been able to get much of anything off of Joe Saunders. Jed Lowrie worked a nice walk with two outs, and Jason Varitek is grinding out an at bat against the Angels' lefty. He's fouled off several good pitches, and finally drove a good offering into left field for a single. Saunders is struggling with his command a little bit too, which is a good sign for the Red Sox hitters. They need to keep grinding out at-bats, eventually they'll punish Anaheim for making mistakes (as I type this, Saunders walked Coco Crisp to load the bases).
Wow, the Angels just blew it. Hardcore. After working Jacoby Ellsbury to a full count, Joe Saunders induced Ellsbury to pop the ball up high into shallow center field. The room here in Portland let out a groan, thinking that the Red Sox were about to waste another golden opportunity to score some runs. And then the Angels fielders let the ball drop right in between three of them in shallow center field for a "hit." Because there were two outs, the Red Sox baserunners were off and running hard on contact, which meant that three runs crossed the plate on the play. Saunders looked incredulous, and the Red Sox now lead 3-1. I should clarify that while Ellsbury's pop up was in the always frustrating no man's land in shallow center field, it wasn't the typical flare that always gives fielders problems. This ball was definitely catchable, and an out should have been recorded on the play. The Angels just committed a cardinal sin: they let Josh Beckett and the Red Sox back into the game, and gave away all of the momentum they had going for them. Championship level teams just don't make those kind of plays, end of story.
It's only the third inning, but Jason Varitek and Josh Beckett must have already set the record for most mound conferences between pitcher and catcher in a single game. It's a telling sign that things are not going well for Beckett tonight, he is clearly not in top form. As I'm typing this, the Angels just got back into the game on a Mike Napoli two run homer off of a Josh Beckett curveball. If the constant mound visits and poor command weren't indicators of Beckett's struggles, that huge blast represents the writing on the wall.
I'm not sure how much longer Terry Francona can stick with Beckett. The game is still tied at this point, but the Sox are struggling against Saunders and their runs came from Anaheim's incompitence rather than Boston's own offensive prowess. Saunders is laboring a bit on the mound, but he's still pitching effectively. Francona may have to turn to Wakefield or Paul Byrd to try and eat some innings without giving up the game*.
*That last sentence should be an indicator of how iffy the normally stellar Beckett has been thus far, I'm advocating yanking him for Paul FREAKING Byrd, yikes.
Erik "0 for the series" Aybar just tried to bunt for a base hit, despite the fact that Mike Lowell was playing 20 feet in front of the bag. It was a foul, and he popped out on the next pitch, but the bunt attempt always makes my head hurt. It's just not an effective strategy for getting guys on base, and it's indicative of the Angels' offensive philosophy and why they've struggled so mightily to score runs in this series. Instead of working counts, grinding and trying to wear down pitchers, the Angels seem to always cling to this low percentage play that doesn't eat up pitches, doesn't generate any opportunity for extra bases or a home run, and most importantly, it sacrifices outs. Just hit the ball, eh?
As bad as Beckett has looked, he's still managed to get out from behind the eight ball without getting burned too badly. After giving up more hits, walking more batters and pitching himself into a jam in the fourth, Beckett just got Torii HUnter to ground out to end the inning. We're still tied, but time is runnign short for Beckett and the Red Sox in this game. The Sox have the bottom of the order coming up in the bottom half of the frame for Boston.
Bugs Bunny Jed Lowrie just ripped a single through the infield into left for a leadoff hit, his second time on base tonight. Last time he came around to score, so hopefully Varitek, Crisp or the Angels defense will drive in a run for Boston. Not to be, Varitek grounds into a double play and Coco Crisp grounds out to third, inning over.
We're still deadlocked at three runs apiece, and it looks as though Terry Francona is going to stick with Beckett for another inning. Let's hope that Tito's unwavering confidence in his players pays off just one more time. Apparently not, because Mike Napoli just went yard AGAIN off of Josh Beckett, giving the Angels the lead, 4-3. Beckett is very hittable at this point, and the longer he stays in, the more confident the Angels get. BUt Beckett bears down, with the help of some nice defense, and shuts the door by striking out Chone Figgins on a good fastball. Top of the Red Sox order coming up in the home half of the fifth.
YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! With two outs and Jacoby Ellsbury on second after a leadoff double, Kevin Youkilis crushed a Joe Saunders offering and drove into deep center for an RBI double. Saunders then walks Jason Bay and is done for the evening with Mike Lowell coming to the plate. Arredondo comes in in relief and after a long at-bat, he strikes out Lowell on a borderline outside fastball, killing the Boston rally. Still, the game is now tied at 4.
Manny Delcarmen is in for Josh Beckett, and he sets the Angels down in order, mowing through the heart of the Angels order 1, 2, 3.
Arredondo responds by setting the Red Sox down in the bottom half of the inning, now it seems to be shaping up to be a contest between bullpens. I'm not sure who's favored here, while the Angels have Scot Shields (who's already pitched in both of the first two games of this series) and a few other quality arms in the pen, the Red Sox have the ultimate wild card, Tim Wakefield waiting out in right field in case this game runs long. It's a toss up in my opinion.
Delcarmen and Okajima get through a mini jam in the 7th unscathed, and in the back of my mind it only seems like a matter of time before the Red Sox break through and score a run. This just shows the change in mentality that I've gone through in the last four years. Back in the late unpleasantness, I owuld have been sulking in my chair, waiting for the inevitable collapse in this game and the next three. What an unhealthy way to live. Call me soft if you will, but it just feels better to believe in the inevitability of success.
At this point, the Angels have scored four runs on ten hits, while the Red Sox have scored four runs on only five hits. At first glance, it may seem as though the Red Sox are being more efficient at the plate. To a degree they are, however they've stranded their fair share on the bases and three of the Red Sox' runs came on that one boneheaded mistake by the Angels' felders.
Arrrrgh! Jacoby Ellsbury just got tagged out after sliding too far on a steal attempt with David Ortiz at the plate. He's just too fast, I guess, and it showed a great heads up play by "0 for the series Aybar" to stay with Ellsbury and punish his mistake. Ortiz walks, Youkilis strikes out, and the inning is over. Craps.
While we're still tied, I'd like to mention now that Craig Sager's outfit is as toned down as it's ever been. His tie is totally still killing it, but the rest of the outfit is non-clashing and verging on well coordinated. Perhaps his fashion taste is progressing, or maybe Ted Turner finally realized that his shtick is corny and boring and told him to knock it off.
Back to baseball, as Okajima is working the 8th inning to the top of the Angels order and Kevin Youkilis just made a great play to get Garrett Anderson on a close play at first. Youk showed great range and really soft hands, going to the foul line to get a hard hit grounder that took a tough bounce, then feeding Okajima with a perfect flip at first base. Rarely do you ever get to see good defense at first base, but tonight I've seen stellar defense at first base from both Teixeira and Youkilis. These two guys must be the best in the game.
Sorry, had to go change my address online so I can receive my mail in ballot. That's right, in Oregon I don't even have to leave my home to vote, what more could you ask for? (how about a gold plated Rolls Royce and for an embarrassing sex scandal to surface about Sarah Palin that shocks the conservative base into horror that when juxtaposed against her espoused beliefs is pants wettingly ironic and hilarious?). Anyways, Justin Masterson reaches way back to strike out Vlad Guerrero after Okajima can't retire Teixeira (he was getting squeezed for sure). This kid has great stuff, but the Red Sox can't do anything in the bottom half of the inning.
In the top of the ninth, Torii Hunter rips Masterson's second pitch of the inning down the line, but following the Angels' doomed offensive philosophy tries to force the issue and extend his hit into a double. Long story short, Jason Bay cuts the ball off (methinks it would have found its way to the wall with Manny in left field) and fires a strike to Dustin Pedroia at second base, where Hunter is tagged out with plenty of time to spare. Bay seems to be continuing his "Manny Who?" campaign for the Red Sox by consistently making great plays (2 home runs so far, for instance)both at the plate and in the field. If only he could smash a game winner tonight, I'd forget Manny Ramirez faster than I forgot the NFL this year. Masterson ends the inning, bottom of the ninth coming up.
This game continues to be a rollercoaster ride of emotions, as Jacoby Ellsbury smoked a Shields offering deep to right field that looked as though it might have been a walk-off home run. But the ball seemed to die in the cold night air and was caught by Gary Matthews Jr. Rats.
Papelbon is dominant in the 10th, punctuating another intense performance with a called third strike on Chone Figgins. Fenway goes wild. Pedroia, Ortiz and Youkilis are due up, and if anybody gets on, Jason Bay will be the hitter, and my preminition will come true.
K-Rod in to pitch. Pedroia goes down swinging, predictable no? Ortiz is up next... This should be a great battle.
Ortiz has evened the count at 2-2. I get the feeling that he can smell blood.
Full count now, the crowd is calling for blood as Ortiz fouls off pitches and waits to unleash a monstrous swing on the ball.
Ball four. Predictable, no?
Youk is up next, as Ortiz showed, patience will be key. Youkilis, in his classic idiom, fouls off pitch after pitch. He's down 0-2, but this is where he operates best.
Youkilis stays with a breaking ball and rips it into center field for a base hit. Runners on first and second now with one out and Jason Bay at the plate. Not to put pressure on him, but a game winner right here would cement him into the heart of this city for years to come. He's down 1-2 on three straight breaking pitches, no confidence in the fastball K-Rod?
Strike three swinging on a vicious breaking ball. Two outs and an injured Mike Lowell up now.
2-0, but that last fastball was awfully close. Danley's zone has been extra tight all night long.
Another long at-bat. Lowell has grinded it out to a full count and draws the walk on another extremely close fastball. Bases loaded, bottom of the 10th, two outs, need I say more?
Jed Lowrie takes the first breaking ball. 1-0.
2-0.
2-1, not a swing yet.
Solid contact, but Lowrie lines out to right field. Moving on to the 11th.
Papelbon is out for a second tour of duty. The crowd is in hibernation as Papelbon works a full count to Garrett Anderson. Strike three swinging stokes the crowd to a low roar. He deliberately works to Teixeira (I haven't misspelled his name once yet, somebody owes me a beer!), and the count is 3-2. Followed by a walk on a low splitter (Tek would have called the heat!). Worse things have happened, but Guerrero taps a single up the middle that gets runners onto first and second.
Torii Hunter swings wildly at the first pitch, a fastball. Buck Martinez calls it, and I am inclined to agree, that Papelbon just has to throw the fastball. It's his best pitch, and they can't hit it (the TV clocks him at 97 on his last pitch). nothing but fastballs to Torii Hunter, who flies out to shallow right field. The runners are frozen where they are, two outs now.
Gary Matthews Jr. is quickly down 0-2 on two blistering fastballs from Papelbon. The crowd comes to life as best they can, and Papelbon sinks Matthews with the high cheese. Inning over, Red Sox coming up.
Scoscia has gone to Jared Weaver and terry Francona has gone to Mark Kotsay for a pinch hit, but he strikes out on an outside fastball that he couldn't lay off. The Sox should end it here, lest they be forced to turn the keys over to Paul Byrd. Coco Crisp answers my prayers with a solid single to center field.
2 outs, Pedroia in to face Weaver with Coco Crisp on first. Weaver is conscious of Crisp at first, holding the ball on the mound and repeatedly moving towards first base. Scoscia pitches out for ball one, to no avail.
Next pitch: Crisp steals second with ease because of a great jump. Pedroia hits a laser with two strikes on him that goes right to Figgins at third, inning is over by a step at first base. The 12th inning is upon us and it seems as though we could be in for a long, long haul. Henry, Werner and Lucchino should spring for hot cocoa for all to reenergize the loyal troops who remain at Fenway Park.
Javier Lopez is in to pitch, and David Ross is in to catch. All I can think is that perhaps the cold weather has shrunken the strike zone somewhat. Napoli hits a single through the left side of the infield. Kendrick sacrifices, Napoli to second and the Angels have one out. Aybar to the plate with a runner in scoring position. Mike Scoscia is contemplating how to possibly bunt in the runner from second base...
Aybar singles and it seems that small ball has struck a solid blow to the Red Sox. All is not lost, however, because the Red Sox will have the heart of the order up in the bottom half of the inning. Lopez rebounds by striking out Chone Figgins. David Ross starts to run off the field towards the dugout. There are only two outs. Anderson hits a single that just barely sneaks through the infield, Aybar goes to third. Teixeira is up, a lump grows in the pit of my stomach that is not fully relieved after a first pitch strike (insert burrito joke here). But Teixeira grounds out to shortstop, inning over with the Red Sox down by one.
Can the Red Sox hitters overcome the cold night and end this series here and now?
Bottom of the 12th inning and David Ortiz (he kills Weaver) steps in. Naturally, the Angels are cautious with Ortiz, and he walks. Youkilis is up, Bay will follow him and I sense that my original premenition may have a second life in the 11th hour of game three.
As usual, Youkilis grinds to a full count. Youkilis makes solid contact, but in the cold air and the mist this ball dies a quick death. Driving the ball has become nearly impossible, something that doesn't favor the Red Sox. Perhaps the elements are why small ball has the edge thus far over the slugging Sox. Jason Bay strikes out looking, and the Red Sox are down to their final out.
Alex Cora is up now and his first pitch is hit hard down the third base line. Figgins stabs it and makes a terrific play to end the game. Tonight's loss is disappointing to be sure, however the Red Sox can rebound tomorrow and still close Anaheim out at home. The battery on my computer is nearly dead, so I think that after all of this I'll call it quits for now. This was an interesting experiment to be sure, I'm not sure if it will make the final cut of my first book, but I'll let time sort that out for me.
