With only one run and eight hits in Games 1 and 2, the Red Sox have never -- in 151 post-season games dating back to the 1903 World Series -- been limited to just one run or as few as eight combined hits over two consecutive games.
The Red Sox are hitting .131 (8-for-61) in this LDS and are in danger of setting a new record for the lowest batting average by an LDS team (.141, 1998 Rangers vs Yankees).
In Boston's last three playoff games (including 2008 ALCS 7), the Red Sox have scored two runs on 11 hits in 27 innings.
Mike Lowell:
I don't know about surprising [being down 0-2]. I don't think we've played well enough to win either game. ... We definitely dug a pretty good hole for ourselves. We're not eliminated until they win the third game.Kevin Youkilis:
There really is no big picture for us right now. We just have to go out and win a ballgame or we're going home.Terry Francona is leaning towards using Jon Lester on three days rest in Game 4. Josh Beckett would pitch Game 5 on normal rest. ... Jacoby Ellsbury's fourth inning triple broke an 0-for-24 post-season drought.
The Red Sox got on a plane ASAP last night, but the Angels will workout at their park today before heading east. Mike Scioscia: "We're going to work out here before our flight and then we'll get into Boston and get a good night's sleep and get ready to play."
P.S.: According to SoSHer Eric Van, home plate umpire CB Bucknor "made two calls in this game that were even more damaging than the two calls the previous night ... and they helped the Sox. ... You have to wonder whether he was consciously or unconsciously trying to avoid the appearance of bias." See here.
I'm going to try to avoid baseball stuff today (that often doesn't work), though I'll probably watch Pedro tonight. Link to anything you wanna share.
ReplyDeleteGo Pedro!
ReplyDeleteJeff Passan, Yahoo:
ReplyDeleteThe human element. That’s the best argument purists muster against widespread instant replay in Major League Baseball. Let’s see how that works: Umpires make mistakes because they’re human, and ... that makes it OK! ...
On Friday night, a bad call might have cost the Minnesota Twins a chance to beat the New York Yankees on the road in their American League Division Series. In the 11th inning of Game 2, Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer sliced a ball down the left-field line that not only glanced off Melky Cabrera’s glove in fair territory but also bounced at least 6 inches inside the line and then into the stands for what should’ve been a ground-rule double. Umpire Phil Cuzzi, standing 10 feet away, called it foul. ...
The Twins were here, of course, because of an umpiring error earlier in the week. ...
[T]hat’s what baseball has come to: supporting egregious flubs to protect their own. It’s the epitome of an old-boys’ network, and it’s insulting to the game. ...
Bucknor, by the way, blew three calls at first base in Game 1 of the Red Sox-Angels series. Bungling one call is bad. Mangling two is unconscionable. Blowing three in a single game is fireable.
***
Buster Olney, ESPN:
And there is no doubt now, after more than a year of excellent results with instant-replay use on home runs, that it should be used for a wide array of calls, at least in the one-game playoffs and in the postseason. Commissioner Bud Selig reiterated this week that he is open to making changes, and here is one change he should implement as soon as possible.If it's possible to do it for the World Series, they should start making preparations today. If it's possible for the League Championship Series, they should do that. If they can do it in time for the start of the Colorado-Philadelphia game today, well, get it done.
***
I once firmly believed in the "human element" argument, but I discarded it several years ago. The technology exists to make sure every pitch and every call at every base correct. Use it. And have the players -- and only the players -- determine who wins the game.
Happ starting, not Pedro.
ReplyDeleteBoo.
Boo! Why?
ReplyDeletePedro is not pitching tonight, Happ is.
ReplyDelete"shit happ's in"
:>/
Dodgers up 5-0, two innings away from clinching.
ReplyDeleteSmoltz pitched the 6th and 7th: 2-4-1-0-5, 49
ReplyDeleteLAD sweeps the Cardinals.
ReplyDeletePhils/Rox ppd because of snow.