I Still Don't Believe What I Saw 20 Hours Ago

Unlike Matt, I am a Simmons guy. Though more out of envy than anything else. Talk about timing. Here's a link to today's column.

And again, here's a link to the Union Leader's new Boston sports correpsondent, Brian MacPherson, who summarized the postgame comments with this post: Asked and answered: Holy @#&%#@#! edition.

I couldn't agree more.

Unreal. They were dead. And perhaps seeing them do this before made resignation to the inevitable loss easier last night. "They can't do it every year," I said. I wasn't alone.

Only the most naive fans (about which there were at least 25,000-plus in Fenway. A bunch had made like Dodgers fans and left after Papelbon gave up the two runs in the seventh.) still believed.

When Papi homered, hope sprang eternal, but you thought, "those two runs really hurt."
Then Drew homered. And Crisp came through with the game-tying RBI (we'll overlook that he ran into an out on the play. It was nice to see some aggressiveness for a change from the Sox. That and he had the best A-B by a Sox player this postseason, fouling off everything until he got something to hit.)

A former co-worker said when the Sox forced Game 7 against the Yankees in 2004, "If they blow this, I've got a real problem with God." That was what I thought of when Masterson came in for the ninth. God bless his Yul Brenner noggin, this kid may be the MVP of this series for the Sox. He has been so solid, and he got the job done again, granted with a bit of seatbelt-fastening.

And Drew again in the ninth. I'm calling a moratorium on Drew bashing. He can GIDP all he wants the rest of the season, however long it lasts.

Can they win two in the Trop? It's a tall order, considering the house of horrors it was this year. But I'll take my chances with even a wounded Beckett and Lester. That's all they've needed before.

And if it does end this weekend, at least they gave us one hell of a Fenway finale this season.

-JDE2

The Aftermath

I'm not much of a Bill Simmons guy but his oeuvre today on ESPN.com is a must read.

As for me, I sat in front of the TV with a computer on the blink, unable to blog or do anything else to take my mind off the train wreck happening in front of me.

Then Pedroia singled home the first run and Papi came to the plate. I texted my esteemed colleagues these words: "Watch the Sox go and score 6."

Call me bitter at Manny Delcarmen for turning into Manny Delcarmen at a most inopportune spot. And call me mad at Papelbon for allowing the two guys Delcarmen walked to score by throwing B.J. Upton A BELT-HIGH FREAKING FASTBALL OUT OVER THE PLATE ON 3-2 WITH FIRST BASE OPEN!!!!! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, HOW DUMB CAN YOU BE????!!!!!!! HASN'T UPTON RECORDED AN AGGREGATE 16 LIGHT YEARS WITH HIS BLASTS IN THIS SERIES???!!!!!

So I felt very little joy or emotion as the Sox clawed back. Papi homered. 7-4. "How do you figure these guys?" I thought. Just when you think you're out, they pull you back in. Drew homered. 7-6. Kotsay hits a ball to left-center that Upton doesn't catch. Hell freezes over. Pigs fly. Women mistake me for Brad Pitt. Crazy game. Coco fouls off everything in sight and singles Kotsay home. 7-7.

Can you believe this?

By now I was in emotional limbo. I've seen enough of these games to know the Sox would win. The team that rallies back ALWAYS wins games like that. But I was still too hacked off at the Red Sox for 24 innings of comatose Fenway baseball to warm up to them. Forget cuddling at this point. I needed the big, sloppy, open-mouthed kiss of a finish.

Then Drew doubled home Youk for the game winner and I must have woken the neighbors with my screaming. And, mind you, we have one-acre lots here in Twinsville. My neighbors are a good sand wedge away. Maybe even a 52-degree gap wedge. Hell, some days the way I hit it it's a strong 3-iron. I threw the throw pillow I'd been clutching (that's why they're called throw pillows, right?) and screamed I DON'T BELIEVE THEY DID THAT!! My wife ran downstairs, not knowing if they'd won, they'd lost, or I'd suffered a traumatic brain injury. I think two out of those three apply.

Can someone explain to me, at half past midnight, how one is supposed to sleep after that?

-- MJM

P.S. Wearers of Dodger Blue, I introduce you to the real Manuel Aristides Ramirez. Have fun, gang. Wouldn't want to be in your shoes: http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-manny17-2008oct17,0,7358236.story

Never Mind, Take 2

In the words of the late, great Jack Buck, "I DON'T BELIEVE . . . WHAT I JUST SAW!" Wow.

And I've never been happier about being wrong before in my life.

--JDE2

Never mind

5-0, Rays, in the third. I stand corrected. I am saying it's over.

-JDE2

'Over'? Did You Say, 'Over'?

There are remarkable similarities to last year's ALCS. A gut-wrenching extra-inning loss in Game 2. Blowouts in Games 3 and 4. (Game 4 started by Wakefield, no less). Hmmm. . . .

So I'm calling it: A Kotsay grand slam turns this around.

And I'm going to have to beat Matt to deleting this if it does end tonight.

-JDE2

RE: Sinking Ship Edition

mmmmm . . . . gyroballs. Now I need to go to a sub shop.*

(*Note to potential advertisers: Throw free stuff our way! We're not proud! We'll use your name in this fine experiment here!)

-JDE2

Irish Twins: The Sinking Ship Edition

Proposition:

Which doubled-over-and-gasping-for-air enterprise has a greater chance of pulling a rabbit out of a hat (or someplace else -- hey! Watch it...) and rolling to victory?

1. The 2008 Boston Red Sox

2. McCain/Palin 2008

Thoughts? Anyone? Anyone? Anyone?

I'm thinking gyroballs tonight. Lots and lots of gyroballs.

-- MJM

Sox in 2008: Function Done?

First of all, this may still be heresy, but here's one guy's take on (gulp) sitting Big Papi tonight against the Rays. And yes, that is the paper I work for.

And allow me to introduce myself. I have been a Red Sox fan all my life. And I've enjoyed this run of success. And if the juggernaut that is the Tampa Bay lineup continues to rake tonight, I keep telling myself it won't be the worst thing.

But still. . . . THIS'LL BE IT FOR A WHILE! THE PATS ARE GOING NOWHERE! THE 2009 BASEBALL SEASON WILL BE UNDER WAY WHEN THE CELTS AND BRUINS ARE IN THE PLAYOFFS!

Last year, you knew that Schilling and Beckett were capable of shutting down the Indians. This year, Schilling's only public appearances are at McCain rallies. And Beckett really looks hurt. And Lester wasn't exactly the dominant pitcher he was down the stretch in Game 3.

But . . . they've done it before. You never know.

And to those who think Dice-K is, well, a dicey proposition in a deciding game, remember: It was on his shoulders in Game 7 against the Tribe last year. And we all know how that turned out.

-JDE2

A good start

Just to show you where I'm coming from in this blog, here's a thought that occured to me while watching the British Open:

Chris Evert has been married to men from three different continents. Not just contries. Continents.

And off we go!

-JDE2