A Tale of Two Pitchers

...both of them named Josh Beckett.

In 2007, the Red Sox won the World Series in large part because of him; if they repeat in 2008, it will be in large part in spite of him. Yes, I know he has a strained oblique, but let's just also remember that last night wasn't all that different from some of his most heinous performances of this past year-face it, he was flat-out mediocre most of the season, and, now, in the post-season, he's flat-out horrible. Give it up for the '07 Josh, but as far as the '08 Josh goes, you may as well give up. I don't want to see him on the mound again this post season (at least, this ALCS) unless I can be convinced that Paul Byrd can't hold an opponent to less than eight runs in half a game.

And I don't usually find fault with Tito, but why leave Josh in there to face Evan Longoria after the guy already had a homer run and a double off Beckett? Why start Mark Kotsay over Sean Casey? There were so many bad decisions from the sidelines tonight, I felt like I was watching Belichick in the '08 Super Bowl or Scioscia in the '07 ALDS. Who has stolen Terry Francona and replaced him with a stiff...and right now, I feel about Mike Timlin not unlike the way I feel about John McCain: thank you for your service to the nation, you've been a brave soldier, but your time has passed and I really don't ever want to see you in an official capacity again.

Oh, and except for Pedroia, Youkilis, Bay, and Coco the rest of the lineup went 0-22. Ellsbury went 0-for-6 with two strikeouts, and in fact has been 0-for-15 in the last three games...and oh, yeah, the Sox left thirteen men on base.

Grrrr. Lots of blame to go around. If it weren't for Dice-K, the Sox would be staring at a 0-2 hole right now, considering they couldn't muster more than two runs in game one. Standing O for the Dice Man, who, while he makes you want to take a chain saw to your head while watching him, is the reason the Sox are in this series.

Finally, thank you, Dan Shaughnessy, for putting the Sox in the WS after one game. Instant karma's gonna get you...

Oh, well. Wash the blood off and head back to Fenway for game three. Jon Lester, a Nation turns it's lonely eyes to you. Time to be an ace.

Comments

[k-Sea]

Last nights game certainly wasn't Tito's finest. Blind loyalty is his biggest fault. The good news is he USUALLY pulls the right strings..I have faith in him going forward.

[Lisa K.]

I do, too. But sometimes, he drives me crazy!!! Don't think for one minute if Mike Lowell hadn't taken himself out, he'd still be playing too, even on one leg!