Starting pitching? Yeah, we got that. Two complete-game Ws in three days:
Wells on Sunday and
Wakefield last night.
Wake's impressive line: 9 IP 8 H 2 R 2 ER 3 BB 7 K I HR
Bullpen? Who needs a bullpen with starts like these? (Keep it up.
Keith Foulke might not always be that good, and Mike Timlin is a
strong guy, but he's
not superhuman.)
Defense? Never mind the three errors in Sunday's game. Last night was rock-solid. A diving catch by Bill Mueller. A slapstick-like rundown. A poetic throw-out at second. A beautiful double play. Another outfield assist from Manny. Ho hum.
Hitting? Who needs a lineup when you've got
David Ortiz?
Two days after Labor Day,
autumn is already here.
It only seems like the guy does this every night. Sox Blog was surprised to learn that last night's authoritative game-winning blast was
"only" the sixth walk-off of Big Papi's career -- including the one in Game 3 of the 2004 ALDS against these very Angels, and the historic homer that kept us alive in Game 4 of the ALCS.
Simply put:
He knows how to hit a baseball. Anywhere. And far.
He's been here less than three seasons, and they've already got a
plaque done up for him:
DAVID ORTIZ # 34: THE GREATEST CLUTCH HITTER IN THE HISTORY OF THE BOSTON RED SOX.
I defy
anyone to contend otherwise. (
Sabermetricians, I'm looking at you.)
Not to be ignored, the amazingly regenerative
Johnny Damon was back, and he proceeded immediately to go 3 for 5 on his return.
A great win,
about as good as they come these days.
Thank you, sir, may I have another?
Well timed, too, considering that the Yankees were
simultaneously losing one that's about as bad as they come. Blowing a three run lead. The winning run scoring in the ninth.
On an error. With Mariano Rivera on the mound. To the Devil Rays.
Again. For the 10th time in 14 games. Schadenfreude is so unseemly. But with MFY fans already scheming about their
postseason rotation, one has to indulge a little.
Tonight, it's a
rematch of our
August 20th loss in Los Angeles, Anaheim. Let's have Bronson pitch as well as he did then, but howsabout we hit this time?