...this is one game the Red Sox should have WON! You could argue that the second game was one they should have lost, with the controversial call on the 3-2 pitch to Nick Green and tonight's loss was the baseball gods' way of evening the score. You can also argue that Tek was the MVP of the game...for the Angels! Really, Captain, two nights in a ROW? To be fair, Wagner also made a critical mistake by walking the leadoff batter in the ninth. With Scioscia's crowd and their dedication to small ball, a walk might as well be a double. Predictably, a bunt put the runner in scoring position and tonight's Sox Killer Du Jour was Howie Kendrick (the honors went to Erick Aybar last night), who blooped a single over Pedey's outstretched glove and the pinch runner scored. In the bottom of the ninth, Francona pinch-hit for Drew not with the disciplined, .300+ hitter Youk, but the free-swinging Baldelli and the result was a game-ending pop-up.
Now for Beckett's outing. It was a quality start by all standards, going 8 innings and surrendering 3 runs, but there were a couple of things about his outing that worried me a little. One was the long ball he gave up to, who else, Howie Kendrick, he of the single-digit dinger tally for the season. It was a solo shot and the only home run he allowed, but given what we've seen with him in recent weeks, it raised a red flag. The outing had a kind of uneven feel to it, with innings of dominance being offset by episodes of shakiness, Kendrick's long ball included. It would be an A outing for a mid-to-end of rotation starter, but for the ace, it's a B. Coupled with the fact that he wants Tek catching his starts, this makes me wonder if Lester might be a better #1 starter should they make the playoffs.
If I were managing this team, I would ask Beckett to give VMart another shot. Since Dice-K is just making his way back to the rotation, it would be unfair to ask him to switch catchers, and Tek, with his declining skills in all but the preparation part of the game, should only catch one of the four starters. Maybe two for the remainder of the regular season, but if they hold onto the Wild Card, you have to put your best team on the field as much as possible. The best team has VMart catching, Youk at first and Lowell at third.
It's time for the Sox to hit the road and not let teams like the O's and the Royals play spoiler like they've been doing to other contenders. The Yankee series will be another tough one and it doesn't look like the pitching lines up favorably for the Red Sox; Beckett, Buchholz and Lester all pitch in the Royals series after Wake pitches the opener if he's able. Dice-K is scheduled to open the series, which shouldn't be too bad if he pitches like he did on Tuesday. However, game 2 would most likely be Byrd, since Wake is not likely to be pitching every five days for the rest of the season. Byrd against the Yanks lineup frightens me. Beckett pitches the finale. I sure wish Lester was in the mix for this series, but no such luck. Three righties with that lefty-heavy lineup and the short porch in right field has the potential to be a real romp for the Pinstripe Posse. Thank goodness Toronto and Cleveland await them when they come back home!
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
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