October 5th vs. Anaheim: ALDS Game 2

[Taliesin]

If only we had Matt Kemp

[MANNYHOF24]

This could really set Manny off for the rest of the postseason.

[a700hitter]

KRod has to get ahead with the curve. His fastball doesn't have enough movement

[MANNYHOF24]

The Red Sox bullpen was phenomenal tonight. To go what 5 2/3 without giving up a hit, is unbelievable. I love October baseball.

[MANNYHOF24]

"The game certainly isn't over till that last out is made"-- Jonathan Papelbon

[BrentD22]

I'm really happy and excited about that BOMB, but I'm also pissed OFF...

 

I went to place a bet for $10 that Manny would hit the HR. It was a +1123 which would have won me $112 or so. I only had 9 dollars in my bodog account, the problem is that I won my last bet which should have gotten me $8 into my account, giving me enough for the bet. The only problem was that BODOG took too long to get the money available for me. So nothing... At least I won the $240 on the game.

 

OK RANT OVER

[kyahbean]

Holy hell! What an awesome game. Only one more to league champ series!!!!

 

:papelbon:

[riverside sluggers]

Haha nice, Manny doing his press conference in a ritzy looking suit

[a700hitter]

Haha nice' date=' Manny doing his press conference in a ritzy looking suit[/quote']He's got some style with his threads. I like his line about being a "Bad Man." It's catchy. We'll use "Manny being Manny" for his fielding and baserunning, but when it comes to his hitting, he's right. He's a Bad Man.

[MANNYHOF24]

I never thought I would ever feel the exciment I felt during the 04 postseason run, but I have to say this was as excited as I have been in a long long time for a Red Sox game. Papelbon's K of Figgens and Manny's mamoth blast were got me wrapped up in this thing again.

[See Red]

Any update on whether or not that ball has landed yet?

[TedWilliams101]

Last sighting was somewhere in northern Maine. The ball was soaring into Canada.

[riverside sluggers]

God I am Loving This!

 

http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/1b/fullj.getty-77090594jr029_alds_los_ange.jpg

 

http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/f7/fullj.getty-77090594eg039_alds_los_ange.jpg

 

http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/7e/fullj.getty-77090594eg032_alds_los_ange.jpg

 

http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/4e/fullj.getty-77090594jr031_alds_los_ange.jpg

 

http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/51/fullj.getty-77090594jr033_alds_los_ange.jpg

 

http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/02/fullj.getty-77090594jr025_alds_los_ange.jpg

[a700hitter]

Great pics! Papelbon always looks scary crazy.

[TedWilliams101]

Awesome pics. What a great series so far. Beckett shutout game 1, Manny walkoff HR game . AND the Skankies are down 0-2.

[BoSox21]

wow, I f***ing love how animated Papelbon is

[YAZMAN]

Wow, Manny absolutely ripped the tits off that ball last night.

 

I'm sending KRod a condolence card and care package:

 

http://www.nomeq.co.uk/images/physiotherapy/hot_and_cold/vulkan_instant_ice_pack.jpghttp://www.wisementrading.com/firstaid/ambu_perfit_ace_collar.jpeg

[.406]

Thank You Manny!

[a700hitter]

Wow, Manny absolutely ripped the tits off that ball last night.

 

I'm sending KRod a condolence card and care package:

 

http://www.nomeq.co.uk/images/physiotherapy/hot_and_cold/vulkan_instant_ice_pack.jpghttp://www.wisementrading.com/firstaid/ambu_perfit_ace_collar.jpeg

KRod did risk whiplash the way he jerked around to see that ball leave the city limits.

[Thumper]

I think the ball is still going.

[TheKilo]

Maybe I missed something' date=' but why not pinch hit Drew with Ellsbury?[/quote']

 

Maybe because he has sported an OPS over 1.000 the last month, and got a two run single earlier in the game.

 

I happen to like that Francona doesn't think Ellsbury's a lock for 3000 hits...

[TheKilo]

Couple quick thoughts about last night's game/gamethread:

 

Those people who are writing off DiceK are going to be sorely disappointed next year. When he gets an offseason of conditioning under his belt, he's going to be crazy good next year. Keep in mind, the season in Japan are shorter, he gets more rest in between starts over there, and he's using a different ball. Also keep in mind that Japan's like the size of California, so traveling fatigue is much less.

 

Second, Francona managed the ballgame perfectly last night. I have my criticisms of Tito but he did a hell of a job. Lopez got the job done. Delcarmen gave them 4 outs, and when he allowed a baserunner Tito went right for his horses. With two out and nobody on in the 8th, he goes to his closer. It worked out beautifully. When he brought Papelbon for four outs you knew he had the confidence his team was going to score in the 8th or 9th to end it. Just a perfectly managed game all around.

 

Oh, and Manny's ball was relatively well struck.

[ORS]

I agree with you to a degree, Kilo. He will improve as he gets accustomed to all the changes. That said, the biggest improvement will come if he's able to master the strikezone, something he lacked early, middle, and late in the season, so I'm hesitiant to attribute that to fatigue only. If what we've seen thus far is typical of his command, he'll continue to make his own mess and get burned by it. Consider me very cautiously optimistic.

[TheKilo]

I agree with you to a degree' date=' Kilo. He will improve as he gets accustomed to all the changes. That said, the biggest improvement will come if he's able to master the strikezone, something he lacked early, middle, and late in the season, so I'm hesitiant to attribute that to fatigue only. If what we've seen thus far is typical of his command, he'll continue to make his own mess and get burned by it. Consider me very cautiously optimistic.[/quote']

 

Maybe, but if he's this bad and sported an ERA half a run below Beckett last year...?

[riverside sluggers]

The guy did step up in his last season start, night they clinched the division, and has shown flashes of brilliance in his first season. What has been hurting him is just one inning where he just loses control and pitches not being called his way. He is still just 26 years old and Im in fuill belief that the best is yet to come. Cant sell short on him whos locked up for 6 more years and is still adjusting to lief in a new country

[ORS]

Maybe' date=' but if he's this bad and sported an ERA half a run below Beckett last year...?[/quote']

His problems aren't the same as Beckett's, though. Beckett was too predictable which lead to an insane HR rate, accounting for the high ERA. Dice doesn't seem to have a problem mixing it up. He did have a problem throwing strikes. We'll see how he looks next year.

[TheKilo]

His problems aren't the same as Beckett's' date=' though. Beckett was too predictable which lead to an insane HR rate, accounting for the high ERA. Dice doesn't seem to have a problem mixing it up. He did have a problem throwing strikes. We'll see how he looks next year.[/quote']

 

Could that not be due to the surface of the ball?

 

DiceK gave up 25 dingers, Beckett 36. I'd be interested to see how much those 11 runs accounted for the difference in ERA.

[TedWilliams101]

I wonder why Don Orsillo is commentating the Rockies series and not the Sox. It seems pretty obvious to have the Red Sox commentator commentate for the Sox if he is going to commentate in the playoffs... Who cares about bias, he at least knows what he is doing and knows the Red Sox.

[Cocos Disciples]

I think it probably is about the bias actually. They want him neutral. (Totally guessing of course)

[schillingouttheks]

I wonder why Don Orsillo is commentating the Rockies series and not the Sox. It seems pretty obvious to have the Red Sox commentator commentate for the Sox if he is going to commentate in the playoffs... Who cares about bias' date=' he at least knows what he is doing and knows the Red Sox.[/quote']

 

You really think fans of other teams wanna hear Don Orsillo commentating the Red Sox and getting overly excited when they do something good?