Breaking -- Lineup Announced for Game 6

Per the smokin' Amalie Benjamin of NESN and Extra Bases, here is the Red Sox starting lineup for Game 6 tonight in Tampa Bay:

1. Coco Crisp, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
5. J.D. Drew, RF
6. Jason Bay, LF
7. Mark Kotsay, 1B
8. Jed Lowrie, SS
9. Jason Varitek, C

SP -- Josh Beckett

My personal prediction for tonight's game? Boston comes out on top, 8-4, to force a Game 7. Beckett goes 5.2 innings, giving up three runs. Let's hope I'm right.

-- Dan Zappulla, VendorBall Columnist.

Súper Papi, and J.D. Drew, the Kid Wonder

By Kyle Baxter and Dan Zappulla

It never felt like it would be a win. Walking to the ballpark, in the balmy, perfect weather of October 16, 2008, it just felt like a loss. Years of Red Sox fandom had clued me into the feeling of a loss, and this day had that feeling. When Daisuke gave up another home run to B.J. Upton, it certainly never felt like a win. When Papelbon allowed those two inherited runners to score, it absolutely did not feel like a win. But I stayed at the game, waiting for the inevitable loss. Why? Because I wanted some thanks at the end. Baseball, like no other sport, takes its fans on a journey. A 6-7 month, grueling, difficult and often fruitless journey. Players leave town without thanks to the millions of fans who purchased his jersey and cheered him on for years. And yet, we root, we pay, and all we want is some thanks, and I was staying to get my piece.

Waiting for the thanks I was due for such a season something happened. The Red Sox fans lost hope. It was in 5th inning, the fans went quiet and resigned themselves to a long winter of trade talks, free agent signings, and filling the void with our other sports. Some fans left, others sulked, most drank their sorrows away in expensive Bud Lights. But a magical thing was happening: our despair made Papi strong.

Looking back on it, we should have seen that it was a good match-up. Balfour, the hard throwing right-hander who only throws fastballs, against our superhero slugger who needed to break out of a slump. But at the time, we were down and sure of defeat. And then Súper Papi, feeding on our rich and plentiful desperation, launched a ball deep into the Boston night, and hope was rekindled. Three runs, two innings -- not only doable, but been done before.

The Tampa bullpen, which had been so strong all series, now looked weak, vulnerable, and the Sox monster was ready to strike at the injured bullpen beast. Being there, it was obvious the Sox were going to win that game. The fans, who had nothing to cheer about all game, let out a polite applause for Pedroia's RBI single and erupted on Papi's bomb, and would never sit again. When Wheeler walked Bay on 4 pitches, the fans smelled blood. When Drew launched a homerun to pull it within one, the stands exploded, and from that point on, the fans would not let Tampa Bay come out victorious. We've come on a journey too long to let it end like that, and it wasn't going to end like that on our watch.

It never felt like a win, not until Papi let our despair turn him into the superhero yet again. Papi does not do clutch, Papi changes entire series. That home run could prove to be the series changing event. But wow, up until that moment it never felt like a win.

And now the Red Sox faithful turn longingly to Josh Beckett. The one time fire-baller has seen his fastball dip down to the low 90's during this playoff run. Two weeks ago, if you were to tell me that we had Beckett going in a must-win game, I'd laugh and call Vegas to bet my life savings on the Sox. Now, we're all a little nervous. Personally, I will be looking at the radar gun for the speed of his first few fastballs, and their location. If he's down in the low 90's and not locating, I'll be running for the Xanax... if he's doing either or, I feel OK... if he's doing both, then I start thinking about whether I can get a last minute bet in Sin City.

Personally, I think Beckett lives for these moments and will be back on form - then again, I thought that last time he went out, too. But I cannot think too much about tomorrow, today. I am tired and am thankful I get today off of sports to recuperate. So rest up Red Sox Nation we have a big day Saturday and the big question remains, can the Red Sox pull off 2 wins in a row? Mr. Garnett, what do you think?



This morning on WEEI, Curt Schilling called the game "three hours of crap and about sixty minutes of 'holy crap.'" Curt would know a thing or two about magical ALCS performances. Everyone remembers the "bloody sock" game back in the 2004 Championship Series. One year before that -- before Schilling joined the Boston club -- an inauspicious home run turned into a karmatic coincidence with last night's ending. Aaron Boone's home run to win the American League Pennant for the Yankees in 2003 happened on October 17 at 12:16 in the morning. JD Drew's game-winning single last night took place on October 17, 2008 at 12:16 in the morning. Five years -- to the minute -- after Boone's famed round-tripper. Call it coincidence, call it karma, call it nothing at all. But that improbable alignment, combined with a burning CITGO sign in Kenmore Square, has led me to believe that this team might just pull off some October magic once again.

Yes, it's a stretch to think that Josh Beckett will snap back to himself in Game 6. It's a stretch to think Jon Lester is a lock to throw a gem in Game 7. But it was also insane to think they could come back from three-games-to-none in 2004, three-games-to-one in 2007, and down seven runs in the seventh inning last night. This is what the Red Sox do. They make impossible dreams, possible.

Final Score: Boston 8, Tampa Bay 7.
Win: Justin Masterson (1-0)
Loss: J.P. Howell (0-1)
Player of the Game: J.D. Drew (BOS). Two clutch hits, including the walk-off game-winner.


Additional Note from Kyle: Out of the three players Dan mentioned who know how to come back from down in a series (Beckett, Papelbon, Papi) the two that played came up huge (Papi, Pappy). I'm not saying Dan predicted it, but if Beckett comes up huge on Saturday then there might be something to this "Dan can see the future" thing... that or he needs to show me where he parks his DeLorean.

Extra Additional Note from Dan: Just parked the DeLorean out front, came back with startling revelation. Everyone in 1955 was on fire -- I never knew that!

CLUTCH.

The VendorBall staff is at a loss for words.

Update later today when we've composed our thoughts.

The Sox live to play another day.

Phillies Oust Dodgers to Take NLCS Title

Behind yet another strong performance by ace Cole Hamels, the Philadelphia Phillies beat the LA Dodgers 4-1 in LA to secure a place in the World Series finals. The story of the game was Hamel's dominance of the Dodger hitters, save Manny Ramirez. Ramirez took Hamels deep in the 6th inning, but that proved to be the Dodgers only run of the night. On the other side Chad Billingsley got himself shelled yet again, giving up 3 runs in 2.2 innings while walking 4 and surrendering 4 hits, including a leadoff homerun to Jimmy Rollins.

Perhaps the story of the day from the Dodger side was Rafael Furcal. Furcal, who made 4 errors all year at shortstop managed to make 3 in this game alone, which accounted for the two insurance runs the Phils scored in the 5th. The Dodgers were just outclassed in this series, and in this game.

In what I think is an odd move, Charlie Manuel went to his setup man, Ryan Madson, and his closer, Brad Lidge, to close out game 5, while up by 4. These two guys had already combined for 7.1 innings in the NLCS. In addition, 7 more innings in the NLDS against the Brewers. Personally, I think in this instance you let your pitchers rest if you can and give the ball to some of the other guys and get them in the games. Then again, they have a full week off to recover so why not?

The series was never close, and Dan and myself sure did not give Philly enough credit. They did look like a tough team, but mostly because they could hit the ball and they had a solid bullpen. What we saw in this series is that their hitting, as good as it is, is not the key to their success. Chase Utley and Pat Burrell each had a decent series, but overall their key was timley hitting and solid pitching.

The Phillies starting pitching was mediocre, but their relief pitching was sparkling. In a grand total of 20 innings, the bullpen let up a grand total of 2 (count 'em) TWO runs. So even when starting pitchers Joe Blanton and Brett Myers faltered, the bullpen was able to pick him up and help the Phils pick up the W. Also, when Cole Hamels is in the game, you want your bullpen to be able to slam the door on the leads he brings, which is exactly what they did in Hamel's two starts.

The shining spot on the side of LA was Manny Ramirez who continued his torrid hitting of NL pitching. In 22 plate appearances Manny managed 7 walks (8th all time for an LCS), 8 hits, 2 doubles, 2 homeruns, 7 RBIs (28% of the team's total for the series) which gives him a .533 batting average, .682 On Base Percentage (5th all time for an LCS), and a 1.067 Slugging Percentage (11th all time for an LCS) and a whopping 1.759 OPS(7th all-time for an LCS, 3rd for players with 20+ PAs). This performance was one of the greats in NLCS history, however was squandered due to the Dodgers inability to pitch well or get people on base in front of Manny.

So the Phillies move onto the World Series, and will be glued to their TVs as Boston tries to pull of miracle 3-1 comback #3 against the Rays, and try not to have the same collapse as Colorado a year ago.

Win: Cole Hamels (2-0, 1.93)
Loss: Chad Billingsley (0-2, 18.00)
Player of the Game: Cole Hamels
Series MVP (decided by the VendorBall Staff): Cole Hamels. Manny Ramirez had one of the great performances ever in LCS history, and was easily the best player on the field, as well as the emotional leader of the Dodger club. But despite his dominance at the dish, his team did not move on and Cole Hamel's team did.
Series MVP (as decided by the league): Cole Hamels

What's on Tap?
If you don't know, then your ass better CALLLL SOMEBODYYYYYY!!!!

Sox Keep the Faith.

We've been here before. Down 3-1 in the ALCS with seemingly no hope. But like last year and four years ago, we have the right tools lined up. Matsuzaka, Beckett, Lester. I wouldn't want any other three men on the mound to accomplish a three-game winning streak.

Big Papi remembers how to do it.

So does Beckett.

So does Papelbon.


Let's get it done one more time.


-- Dan Zappulla, VendorBall Columnist.

ALCS Game 4 - The Sox Can't Wake Up.

And the Rays might keep them unconscious.

There's no sense in recapping this game, since it was a virtual replay of Game 3. The final last night was a 13-4 Tampa Bay triumph, and the Red Sox find themselves in familiar territory, down 3 games to 1 in the American League Championship Series.

Boston was down 3-0 in the 2004 series, and 3-1 in last year's contest. Both times, they came back to win. This year, I'm not so sure. The 2004 and 2007 clubs had heart, grit and determination, something the 2008 squad seems to be lacking. They look slow, lazy and unwilling to change their approach to the game. The Rays, on the other hand, look invincible.

I'd be more inclined to write analysis on the game and series, but it comes down to one thing, and one thing only: Daisuke Matsuzaka's pitching performance in Game 5. If he can lead the Red Sox to a win -- a convincing win -- they have a shot to pull off their LCS magic. If not, Game 1 of the 2008 World Series will commence one week from today at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.


On Tap for Tonight:
NLCS, Game 5 - Philadelphia Phillies at Los Angeles Dodgers
PHI Leads Series 3-1
Cole Hamels (PHI) will oppose Chad Billingsley (LAD).

Ken Rosenthal Seems to Think the Sox Are Racist.

After reading Ken Rosenthal's piece on the Sox, (http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8670984/Will-non-white-free-agents-shun-the-Sox??CMP=OTC-K9B140813162&ATT=49) I have some reactions.

First of all, I am not racist. When you come from a place as diverse as I did, you just grow up not caring about race. I could cite specifics but everyone's got a black friend, a Latino friend and so on, and I think that's boring to read about. Second, I am familiar with the Red Sox past as a racist organization. This is the point Rosenthal was trying to bring up, but in the process made the Sox current organization sound racist, and this is what I'm speaking to. Third, I am going to try to be democratic and obvious about this issue, but at the same time I'm going off the cuff, so bear with me if I start rambling a bit.

First, a challenge: Give me your best all African-American Team. Now your best Latino Team. Finally, your best Asian Team. You can even have DH in this one, if you want. Try to go off the top of your head, too. (My answers at the bottom of this column). How hard was it to fill your list? The fact of the matter is there aren't a huge number of African Americans playing in the MLB. There are a lot of Hispanics. Hell there are a lot of Hispanics who look black. But the game is still primarily white and Hispanic. And that's OK. Hell no one complains about the lack of whites in the NBA. That's because black people (for lack of better words) OWN OUR SHIT in that game, and everyone would rather see a good game than forced diversity.

But let's put anecdotal evidence aside. Check out the following: http://inquirer.philly.com/pdfs/2007/MLB_by_race.pdf . Let's assume the racial breakdown is similar to the 2006 numbers (which seems a fair first degree approximation) and see how the Sox stack up. There are 25 men on the active roster, and following are the members on the Sox broken down by race (or who are injured and would be otherwise on the active roster).

Hispanic: Lugo, Ortiz, Lowell (yes he is), Cora, Colon, Delcarmen, Lopez.
7/25 = 28%
League Average = 29.4%

African: Coco Crisp.
1/25 = 4%
League Average = 8.4%

Other: Jacoby Ellsbury (Navajo), Daisuke Matsuzaka (Japan), Hideki Okajima (Japan)
3/25 = 12%
League Average = 2.7%

White: remaining
13/25 = 56%
League Average = 59.5%

Guess what - our white percentage is right on line with league average. Oh, and so is our Latino number! In fact, to make this even we should trade two of our "other" players for one white guy and one black guy to aid our diversity. REALLY!? REALLY!? That seems a preposterous course of action.

I am not sure how someone looks at the Sox and sees a lack of diversity. Is it because Javier Lopez, Manny Delcarmen, Mike Lowell, and Jacoby Ellsbury all look white? Does the color of our skin really matter when it comes to our racial background? Is it because Coco Crisp is a fairer shade black than, say, Mike Cameron? I want some answers from Mr. Rosenthal here.

The sad thing is that I usually like Ken Rosenthal. I generally think he's a good sports writer who often has good information and insight, especially when it comes near trade times (the winter meetings and the trading deadline). So what happened here? In a time in this country when we need sports, he wants to sully the experience. The only times in this country when we truly need sports is when we are not doing well. When we have a war, economic crisis, and bad news on every channel, we need sports for entertainment and distraction. So thanks Ken.

The fact of the matter is the Sox front office runs its ship based solely on value. Not on race, shit not even on talent. On VALUE. This ownership wants to win championships and that's that. The piece Ken Rosenthal wrote was a disgusting shot at the Red Sox and their fans. Furthermore, it has become obvious that my 20-30 minutes of research done to write this article that at most a few hundred people will read dwarfs all the research done by Ken Rosenthal on his nationally published column. That'll be Fox News, lowering our expectations yet again.

Written By Vendorball Columnist, Kyle Baxter


For your records, this is what I came up with for teams and benches. This took me 20 minutes to think of (and I only researched the black catchers and some of the Asian infielders).

African-American
3B Chone Figgins
SS Jimmy Rollins
1B Derrek Lee
DH Ryan Howard
RF Jermaine Dye
CF Matt Kemp
RF Ken Griffey Jr.
2B Brandon Phillips
C Charles Johnson (I challenge you to find another catcher)

SP CC Sabathia

IF Prince Fielder
OF Curtis Granderson
OF Mike Cameron
OF Gary Sheffield


Asian
2B Akinori Iwamura
RF Kosuke Fukudome
CF Ichiro Suzuki
LF Hideki Matsui
C Kurt Suzuki
1B Travis Ishikawa
SS Chin-Lung Hu
3B ???????????
C Kenji Johjima

SP Daisuke Matsuzaka


Latino
2B Placido Polonco
SS Hanley Ramirez
1B Albert Pujols
DH David Ortiz
LF Manny Ramirez
3B Miguel Cabrera
RF Vladimir Guerrero
C Geovani Soto
LF Alfonso Soriano

SP Johan Santana

IF Jose Reyes
C Dioner Navarro
OF Magglio Ordonez
OF Carlos Beltran
IF Aramis Ramirez

Sox Lineup for Game 4 Announced

...And there's a certain center fielder missing from it.

Red Sox
1. J.D. Drew, RF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
5. Jason Bay, LF
6. Mark Kotsay, 1B
7. Coco Crisp, CF
8. Kevin Cash, C
9. Jed Lowrie, SS

With Jacoby Ellsbury struggling, the lineup takes on a new look. I applaud Francona for making the move.

Posted by Dan Zappulla, Vendorball Columnist.

From the High of Live Blog, to the Low of Tuesday Morning

ALCS Game 2 - Tampa Bay 9, Boston 8 (F/11).
By Kyle Baxter

One of the worst things about three day weekends, is that hyper Monday that happens on Tuesday. You see, it's like Monday, except 30x worse because you've had an extra day to just sit around and watch sports (or go to a Renaissance Faire and watch sports). So with that, feeling already firmly planted in my bowels (which are better now, thanks for asking), I get to help recap games 2 and 3. I'd say "woohoo" but I think you'd know I was lying.

If you don't know what happened - Terry Francona stuck with a struggling Beckett who surrendered 8 earned runs in 4.1 innings, but the Sox came back to tie the game at 8 only to have Mike Timlin lose it in the 11th. If you want to know more than that then go read redsox.com or ESPN or something, if I recap it again I might vomit. So a lot to be said for this game, and let's start with the man at the front of the rotation.

Josh Beckett has been a playoff beast his whole career. So what happened here? Well, unfortunately a 96-98 MPH fastball is quite different from one at 92-93. His curve was also down from 77-78 to 74-75. These dips in velocity resulted in Beckett going from "dominant" to "hittable". The guy just did not have it on Saturday, and it was painfully obvious. In fact, I was pleading to Terry Francona (err... well my TV) to take out Beckett in the THIRD! Look, I know what Beckett has done in the playoffs, but something is amiss, he's getting shelled, get him out of there. This is the playoffs, not time for delicate egos or going on hope that someone can pull it together. At that point, you bring in Paul Byrd and hope for better.

I'd love to say the offense came along nicely that game, but of the 12 hits, all were gotten by Bay, Pedroia, Crisp, and Youkilis. So 4 guys hit well, 5 guys (Ellsbury, Ortiz, Varitek, Lowrie, and Kotsay) did not manage a hit (though did get 7 walks). The offense knocked out Kazmir early (4.1 innings) and even got runs off of a usually steady bullpen - one each off of Howell, Balfour and Bradford. However it wasn't enough.

Alaskan Governor David Brescia noted "who didnt think it was over when they put Timlin in. sigh." Indeed, Mr. Governor, indeed. It sucks that it's come so far for Timlin, but at 42, despite having the velocity to pitch he no longer seems to have the control. He issued three walks and a sac fly to BlowJ Upton to end the game. Meanwhile, Dan Wheeler threw 3.1 scoreless innings before being removed for rookie David Price who got the final two outs of the 11th.

I this game was a punch in the gut. For some reason I kept a calm demeanor, believing that the Sox were going to pull this one out. That pulling the game tied would catapult them into going home up 2-0 in the series. But it was not to be, as the Rays pulled off another one run victory. Once the game reached extra innings, I did not feel good about this game - in the one run phenomenon this column noted almost a month ago, it seemed a foregone conclusion that if the game reached extra innings that the Rays would pull it out. And pull out they did.

Win: David Price (1-0, 0.00)
Loss: Mike Timlin (0-1, 13.50)
Player of the Game: Dan Wheeler - 3.1 innings of relief out of your closer is unheard of these days, and holding the Sox scoreless despite facing 12 batters is truly a feat. Sad we can't give this one to Dustin Pedroia who hit two homeruns.


ALCS Game 3 - Tampa Bay 9, Boston 1.
By Dan Zappulla

As I made my weekly migration from Providence to Boston yesterday morning, I was in high hopes. WEEI was blasting on my car radio, John Dennis and Gerry Callahan were up to their usual right-wing antics, and the hometown boys had their ace on the hill later in the afternoon. As Callahan noted, "Lester's on the mound, the Sox are gonna be up 2-1, and we'll go from there." Not so fast, Gerry.

The afternoon contest started exactly how most baseball enthusiasts pictured it: Lester tossed four pitches -- FOUR -- and buzzed through the first three hitters in the Rays' lineup. Everything went downhill from there. Lester couldn't spot pitches, had no life on his fastball, and seemingly forgot how to throw a cutter. Tampa Bay hopped all over him. A third inning home run by B.J. Upton sealed the deal. The Rays had a five-run lead, and never looked back. Lester ended up going into the sixth, giving up five runs on eight hits. Not ace-like numbers.

Matt Garza, on the other hand, kept the Boston lineup in check. He was magnificent through six strong innings, and seemed more like Jon Lester than Jon Lester did. He had minute precision on all of his pitches, throwing with Brady-like accuracy. (I love cross-sport analogies, don't you?) He surrendered six scattered hits, and shut down the 3-4-5 spots in the Red Sox order, keeping them to only one total base.

The Red Sox now face a familiar, yet worrisome, situation. They trailed the ALCS in both 2004 and 2007, 3-0 and 2-1, respectively. In both of those seasons, they had offenses firing on all cylinders. They had at least once pitching ace that they could turn to when trouble arised. This year's initial ace, Josh Beckett, has been nothing but dismal this postseason. The same can be said, after last night, about Jon Lester. And so, Red Sox Nation turns its eyes to their new stopper: Daisuke Matsuzaka. After tossing a gem in Game 1 on Friday night, he might be Boston's only hope at pushing this thing to six or seven games.

Have I mentioned that the offense has been stagnant at best? Jacoby Ellsbury, David Ortiz and Jason Varitek are currently hitless in the series. That should tell you all you need to know.

Immense pressure now rests on the shoulders of veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, who takes the ball in tonight's Game 4. If Boston wins, we have a series again. If Tampa pulls it out, the Red Sox might need to channel the magic of postseasons past.

Win: Matt Garza (1-0)
Loss: Jon Lester (0-1)
Player of the Game: Matt Garza, Tampa Bay. Kept the Sox lineup at bay (no pun intended) in a critical game for the Rays. An outstanding performance that he may have to duplicate in a possible Game 7.


On Tap for Tonight:

ALCS Game 4 (8:07 PM ET, TBS) -- TB Leads Series, 2-1.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox
Andy Sonnanstine (TBR) opposes Tim Wakefield (BOS).

ALCS Game 1 Live Blog (Better Late Than Never.)

To make things easier to read, Dan's comments will be featured in blue, and Kyle's comments will be featured in red. Let's get it started.

8:19 - Do they always do the pregame roster introduction in the LCS, or is this just a Tampa Bay "not-sure-if-we'll-ever-get-another-opportunity-to-do-this" thing?

8:23 – Just finished listening to the lineups and I’m glad to hear that Tampa has some fans there. But if noise makers aren’t the most annoying things allowed in baseball parks (next to cell phones) then I don’t know what is. If your fans cannot be loud, they should not be allowed a handicap. All I can think of is: I got a fever and there’s only one cure -- MORE COWBELL! 14 minutes until the game starts – and I’m pretty amped up. I’m full of Pepto Bismol and I have beer in the fridge I probably won’t get to because of the diarrhea I got from Thai food earlier today. But I’ll try to keep this out of the game log.

8:28 – But if I go for some time without a post, you’ll know why. Oh and player of the game, probably the pitcher of the winning team. That’s me, Kyle Baxter, going with the odds.

8:28 - I wonder how many John Sununu commercials we'll see tonight...

8:29 - One. I'll keep a tally.

8:32 – “Well they (the Red Sox) may be infallible but they have a pretty good guy going tonight in Daisuke Matsuzaka.” I don’t know who this announcer is, but someone needs to get him a dictionary.

8:38 - Player of the Game prediction? Jacoby Ellsbury.

8:40 - Ellsbury strikes out.

8:44 - Shields is throwing an awful lot of off-speed stuff early.

8:50 – JD Drew strikes out on a change-up. I feel like I see him strike out because he’s ahead of a pitch more than I see him do anything else (especially smile). I’m coming to the conclusion that he’s a good fastball hitter but assumes everything thrown at him is a fastball, and so doesn’t look that good in these situations. But I don’t know, I haven’t done the leg work. We now wait for Dice-K to get on the mound. Excuse me, I need to go get some Xanax.

8:55 – Dice-K walks the first hitter he faces. *Pops one Xanax*

9:00 – Dice-K walks Carlos Pena. *Pops another Xanax* 9 Balls and 5 Strikes through 14 pitches.

9:07 – Dice-K walks Carl Crawford *Pops a Xanax*

9:08 - Gets out of the inning unharmed...just like always. He's gotta teach me how to do that.

9:15 - Quick 1-2-3 second inning for Shields. He's in a rhythm now. Not a good sign.

9:19 - Dice-K strikes out Dioner Navarro on three pitches. Maybe he's settled in too?

9:24 - The announcers say that “the best trade the Rays have done was the trade for Scott Kazmir.” For those who don’t know, the trade was with the Mets, the Rays sent Victor Zambrano over to get Kazmir. This trade being the best for the Rays is a preposterous statement, as it was the best trade made perhaps in the decade. In the meantime, Dice-K goes 1-2-3 striking out the first two. He’s still throwing a lot of pitches, but I think I’m ok with it. In other news I’m feeling warm and fuzzy either from the pepto or all the Xanax.

9:25 - Very nice 1-2-3 inning for Matsuzaka. Just what he needed.

9:28 - Already seen three commercials for Barack Obama. Maybe he bought more advertising time than Sununu?

9:28 – Wondering what the most annoying commercial of the game will be.

Early candidates:
* What’s my schedule, texting everyone ever all day?
* Recycling energy (car commercial)
* Poltergeist (Direct TV) [with all due respect to Coach]
* Derek with the Mustang and Mustache (T-Mobile)
* Some Frank Caliendo commercial (FrankTV)
* Ashton Kutcher has a camera (Nikon)
* VIVAAAA VIAGRA (Viagra)
* There’s Only One October (MLB)

9:29 – Dan Zappulla: OH GOD LOOK AT THE SPARKLY MOHAWK.

9:29 - DOES THAT KID HAVE A SPARKLY MOHAWK? That's it. I hate baseball outside of Boston. It's too weird. They have sparkles and roofs and fireworks and catwalks...it isn't right, damn it.

9:31 - Another 1-2-3 inning for Shields. He's now retired seven in a row, and the Red Sox seem to be swinging at quite a few first-pitches. Shields is poised to throw for awhile tonight.

9:41 – TBS ANNOUNCERS MAKE KYLE ANGRY! I mean Dice-K tipping his cap to an umpire is such a good move, especially for a guy who doesn’t speak English well and these announcers laugh. Also, Dice-K just walked Carlos Pena again. *Xanax*

9:42 - BIG three-pitch strikeout of Longoria. Got him on a patented Varitekian high fastball. Scoreless through three. Could Dice-K actually have enough in him to go beyond five innings tonight?

9:46 - Does anyone else think Joe Maddon sounds like Randy Newman?

9:48 – JD Drew grounds into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning. Somehow, this feels familiar. Also, I have something I’ve noticed about Youkilis* at this point in the game, but given the current situation, I think it prudent to keep my mouth shut. But I need to say something eventually.

9:56 – Also best commercials of the night nominees:
* Swagger from Old Spice
* Miller High Life
* Some Frank TV Ad (yes they’re in both best and worst).

9:57 - Does Shields' night remind you of John Lackey in Game 1 of the ALDS? I feel like the Red Sox might squeeze out a run or two in the fifth or sixth.

9:59 - J-Bay works a lead-off walk on five pitches. Good start. Kotsay needs to keep it rolling.

10:00 - Kotsay with a check-swing double down the left-field line! Second and third, nobody out. Take 'em how you can get 'em!

10:02 – Sac Fly! Sox 1 – Rays 0. I’m not saying I predicted it, but I was thinking it before it happened.

10:04 – Tek hits one on the screws right at Iwamura with the infield in. Rough luck Tek.

10:06 - Shields somehow slithers out of that one. Varitek hit a line-drive shot to second, followed by an impossible over-the-shoulder catch by Jason Bartlett to rob Ellsbury of a hit. Middle fifth, 1-0 Boston.

10:07 - FrankTV should really be FrankRadio. Caliendo's voices are spot-on, but my god, he doesn't look like a single guy he impersonates. Half of his costumes look like they were stolen from his high school drama club.

10:14 – The announcers state That-Which-Must-Not-Be-Stated-While-Its-Happeneing as Dice-K goes 1-2-3 once again in the bottom in the 5th

10:16 - Vince Vaughn seems to be in another film which will, no doubt, feature a completely different plot than the last romantic comedy he headlined.

10:17 - NBA on TNT promo that featured the phrase, "World Champion Boston Celtics." I love this city.

10:23 – Fisted is the weirdest word ever for something happening in a baseball game. That said, Youkilis is fisted and Shields goes 1-2-3 himself. This has been one of the slowest low scoring pitching duels in recent memory. We’re nearly 2 hours in and not even through the 6th yet.

10:30 – Evan Longoria swings on a 3-0 count and flies out to right to end the inning. Dice-K gets them in order again. If I didn’t like pitching duels, this game would be boring. Thankfully I love this game.

10:42 - David Archuleta is singing "God Bless America." Forty miles away, I can hear my girlfriend screaming.

10:47 - And there's the first hit surrendered by Matsuzaka. Carl Crawford lined a fastball through the right side. I bet it was that "God Bless America" crap that threw Dice-K off.

10:59 – Pop Out, Strike out, Ground out. Actually, I expected that completely. Dice-K, atta boy. Now please don’t bring in Masterson. Short leashes, short leashes. Everyone on a short leash.

*Also, that Youkilis thing I noticed was that he was the only player up until that point to get a hit. But that is not something you speak of while it's going on.

10:59 - I just screamed and started applauding. Bartlett grounds a weak dribbler to short, inning over. Matsuzaka shows gigantic balls. And as Kyle just IM'ed to me, "that was totally expected."

11:04 – Shields is taken out when Pedroia hits a one out single up the middle. Excellent game for him, but is currently on the hook. Line: 7.1 IP, 6 H, 2R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K and responsible for Pedroia who’s now on second now that Howell walked Papi.

11:15 - THANK YOU, CARL CRAWFORD. Diving and missing balls will earn you points in my book, baby! Youk with a double to left on a hanging breaking ball, Pedroia scores, Papi to third. 2-0 Sox! Howell's night is done, Drew comes to the plate, Grant Balfour in to face him. HUGE.

11:19 – Balfour drills JD Drew in the shoulder, and Pedroia looks like he could bite off the head of a baby seal. Drew seems ok but if he doesn't play tomorrow I won't flinch (he's a girly-man). Bases loaded. But.... Balfour gets out of the inning and the Sox go into the eighth 2-0.

11:27 - Hey! Our second John Sununu commercial! See, I told you we'd come across a few.

11:28 – They send out Dice-K again. WHAT!? 109 pitches and there he goes again.

11:29 - Leadoff base hit for Iwamura. Hopefully that's the night for Dice. Let's not turn this into another Pedro-in-2003 situation, Tito. (Dice stays in the game to face Upton.)

11:30 - Wild pitch. Iwamura to second. Catchable ball ... that might actually go as a passed ball on Varitek. ... Upton smashes a ball down to Youk at third, who knocks it down, but doesn't have a play. Go-ahead run comes to the plate in the form of Carlos Pena. Pretty much the last guy you want up there right now. Can't help but think a healthy Mike Lowell would've made that play. That's the night for Dice-K, as Tito makes the trip to the mound. Can't help but think it's two batters too late. Okajima will come in to face Pena.

11:37 – Okie gives up a dou… oh Drew catches it. Atta boy! Well then, umm YEAH OKIE!!!

11:40 – MASTERSON!? Oh man, come on… Delcarmen, man. Delcarmen. OK OK, now's not the time for second guessing, let’s go kid.

11:42 – DOUBLE PLAY! Atta boy, kid!!! Dan admitted to me that he was eerily calm for that batter, I wasn’t sure. But things seem to have fallen into place and now, I am sure this is ending in a win. On that I spend a lot of time questioning Tito, despite the fact that he's lead this team to two championships plus lead them to the playoffs every year except in 2006. He's got a great record, he handles pitching staffs great, and he gets his guys to play hard for him (Manny excluded). And despite all his success I cannot help but question his decision making. Perhaps it's one of those side-effects of being a baseball fan, you have to question your teams manager over and over and over and over. But in the end, Tito wins.

11:42 - This game is becoming eerily calm for me. Like it's an inevitability that the Red Sox will win. This is the natural order of things, so to speak.

11:53 - 1-2-3 ninth inning tossed by Grant Balfour and David Price. We head to the bottom half, Sox still up 2-0. The medley of "Wild Thing" and "I'm Shippin Up to Boston" is ringing through the heads of Red Sox Nation.

11:58 - Papelbon blows Crawford away in four pitches. He swung through three fastballs. One down.

12:01 - Chip Caray: "The clock strikes midnight on the Cinderella Rays." Floyd pops out to Youkilis in foul territory. Two out.

12:04 – PAPSMEARED! Sox win game 1!!! Yes, that was a 91 MPH splitter. MA-LICOUS!

And that’s why they’re the champs. Winning a close game like that reminds us that a championship attitude and experience help a lot during the playoffs.

Win: Daisuke Matsuzaka (1-0, 0.00)
Loss: James Shields (0-1, 2.45)
Save: Jonathan Papelbon (1)
Player of the Game: Daisuke Matsuzaka 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 9 K - THAT'S a winning stat line. Innings 2-7 (inclusive): 2 H, 1 BB.

Catching up with the NLCS

Where We Last Left Off

When we last left you, the Philadelphia Phillies won Game 1 behind a strong showing by Cole Hamels. Since then, three games have been played, and due to the Vendorball Staff's desire to actually watch some sports, we have been a bit behind writing about them. So we are supercharging ourselves for the next few days starting with the NLCS Games 2, 3, and 4 (here). The Pats game (below). And ALL of the ALCS coverage we've missed by spending our nights watching sports. We're giving, here, and we're giving hard even if we have to give all night long.

NLCS Game 2: When Slapping 5 Runs in 5 Innings Isn't Enough
Phillies 8 - Dodgers 5

Well, when your own starting pitcher gives up 8 runs in 2.1 innings, then scoring 5 runs in 5 innings might not cut it. Chad Billingsley, who pitched masterfully in his NLDS game got shellacked by the Phillies starting 9. Yes, I mean 9. As woefully as Brett Myers' line might have been, he did contribute big time with his bat, going 3-for-3 with 2 runs and 3 RBI. I'll leave you a second to read that over again.
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Done? Yeah I know it took me a few minutes, too. But for some reason Chad Billingsley had no answer for Brett Myers in the batters box. In fact, Brett Myers is 4-5 with a walk, 3 RBI and 3 Runs so far in the playoffs. Perhaps pitching was not quite the right calling for him.

Notably, in this game, Brett Myers decided to throw behind Manny during his first at-bat. Manny responded in his third at bat, taking an inside fastball off the fists but over the fence. Yes, he is that good and that strong. The homerun was hit in the top of the 4th and was the 5th straight half inning where at least one run was scored. Fans buckled up for a bumpy ride, but then the bullpens buckled down and not another run was scored the rest of the game. Weird how that works, but the bullpens of both ballclubs lived up to their billing. Unfortunately the starting pitching did not.

Lidge, who pitched the 9th for the save, made it interesting by walking two guys, but wiggled his way out of it again (as he's done all year) and managed to strike out Kemp and Garciaparra on 8 straight sliders. Watching Nomar strike out really brought me back. His lack of plate discipline still amazes me. In fact, how do you NOT know the 8th slider is coming when I'm pretty sure that's the only pitch he threw during the inning!? Well, that screwed my "Dodgers in 5" pick. Thanks guys, really.

Win: Brett Myers (1-0, 9.00)
Loss: Chad Billingsly(0-1, 27.00)
Save: Brad Lidge (2)
Player of the Game: Brett Myers - 1 Win plus the nice hitting stats. Amazing.

Game 3: 45 - is that your age or your NLCS ERA, Jamie Moyer?
Dodgers 7 - Phillies 2

Ok, that's Jamie Moyer's age. But his NLCS ERA this year is 40.50, and when your ERA is nearing your age (I don't care how old you are) that's not good. In fact, Moyer's ERA is larger than the age of every other player on the Phillies' playoff roster (Matt Stairs does not celebrate his half-birthday until November). That is not the way you want to go about winning ballgames. And when Blake DeWitt hit a bases clearing triple in the first inning, it was about time for a curtain call for "The Ageless" Jamie Moyer.

The Dodgers looked down and out coming here, being completely outclassed by the Phillies. And really, with a win here you could have put the proverbial nail in the coffin that would have been Dodgers' fans' dreams. But instead, the Dodgers showed some spunk and fought back, and hard. I'm skimming over the third inning scuffle in favor of the baseball part of the game, which, after the first two innings was damn quiet. Again the pitching of these two teams, especially the bullpens, live up to their billing.

One scary thing for Dodger fans, is that Ryan Howard went 2-4 with a double. The Phillies have been able to get through two wins without a lot of contribution from Howard in the middle of that lineup, but if he gets himself going it will mean problems for the Dodgers pitching, and whatever poor hurler will have to face him in the World Series.

Win: Hiroki Kuroda (1-0, 3.00)
Loss: Jamie Moyer (0-1, 40.50)
Player of the Game: Great Question. Let's go with the Dodger fans here. I did this with the Brewers last time and again, I think the fans would not allow the Dodgers to lose this game, and playing at home is why the Dodgers came out on fire.


Game 4: Bullpen Collapse.
Phillies 7 - Dodgers 5

And it finally happened. The Dodgers' bullpen, which had been great all playoffs finally collapsed. And in the meantime, Shayne Victorino has catapulted himself into playoff stud-dom with a game tying two run homerun in the 8th off of the usually steady Cory Wade. Three batters later, Matt Stairs (two mentions in one column - UNBELIEVABLE!) hits a two run shut off of Dodger closer Jonathan Broxton to give the Phillies a 7-5 lead.

The Dodger bullpen went 11.1 innings without letting up a run in the first three games - and something had to give. Lidge got a 4 out save - Wade and Broxton let up three runs combined. Interestingly, both Wade and Broxton pitched in Game 3, despite having a cozy 5 run lead. Interesting choice by Torre, which did not pay dividends today.

I believe that there is some advantage to seeing the same closers over and over again during a 7 game series. Relief pitchers need to pitch like starters, holding back their pitches and not pitching nearly the same way appearance to appearance. It's a different beast, the playoffs. A different beast.

In fact, Torre said before the game that he wanted to stop the Phil's "big inning." Nice job, Torre. He blows out bullpens like it's nobody's business. That's why Rivera was vulnerable in the playoffs. Why the Sox were able to crawl back from 3-0 to win. As good a manager as Torre can be, he does not manage his bullpen well, and never has. And here we are again, three innings in Game 3 from guys he needed in Game 4, where they failed.

So the Phillies take a 3-1 lead into Game 5. Worst case scenario, they have two chances at home to win this series. Now here's the question: does Manny's experience here help his young team? Or does Philly ride this wave and keep on winning? I think I'm coming around to Philly.

Win: Ryan Madson (1-0, 0.00)
Loss: Cory Wade (0-1, 6.00)
Save: Brad Lidge (3)
Player of the Game: Matt Stairs and Shayne Victorino for two CLUTCH homeruns.

Written by Mouse Clicker, Kyle Baxter

New England 10 - A Whale's Vagina 30

Is this what we are to expect from the Patriots and Matt Cassel? One week, a serviceable quarterback, and the next he's not? Although I admit it's something new to walk into a game and not know what you're going to be getting from your starting QB, but man is it ever stressful. Detroit fans, I don't know how you've done it for so many years. I mean have you had a consistent quarterback since Bobby Lane? (Oh that's not fair, I had to look that up).

But that's besides the point, the Patriots got absolutely annihilated on Sunday night. One of those "wow, what the hell is going on here" games. Belichick was his usual unpredictable self, and started the game in a 4-3 defensive scheme (4 down linemen and three linebackers) instead of the 3-4 (vice-versa). How did the A Whale's Vagina Chargers respond? A 48 yard pass from Rivers to Vincent "Released Me In Your Fantasy League, Eh?" Jackson (and yes, I did) on the first play of the game. Was Bill Belichick out-coached by Norv Turner? Well hold your horses there.

I had a feeling watching this game, that Bill Belichick is not worried about making the playoffs. I think there is something going on there where he knows that this team is making the playoffs, and he's using this time to test some things out. Today, it was the 4-3 defense. Of course, this did not work, but you still need to see it work out in a game. Do you think Belichick has his eye on winning every game, or on winning 9-10 games? And folks, 9 games might be enough to make the playoffs this year. The Bills are surprising everyone at 4-1, leading the East, but do you realize that the Pats at 3-2, are tied with the Colts for the Wild Card. I know it's early to talk about that, but the AFC is underperforming this year. I still think we see the Pats with 9-10+ wins and in the playoffs. Then we see how things happen.

But optimistic asides... well, aside... the Pats did look a little lost without a solid running game. Kevin Faulk was able to rip off a few nice runs, but they only ran 20 running plays compared to 44 passing plays. Granted they played the whole game while behind, but that is not the recipe for success. The return of Laurence Maroney will be a great boost to this team.

But I think the most frustrating thing to watch this game was to see Cassel tuck the ball and try to run. He did this at least 6 times, not counting the 3-4 times he was going to run but threw a lame duck up at the last minute. Where Brady would stick it out and deliver a nicely thrown football, Cassel is getting happy feet and deciding to run. Some say this is good and he's not throwing picks. I say he's not throwing the ball period, and that's what he's supposed to be doing. Although, I can hardly blame him for running after the beating he's been taking due to his propensity to hold on to the ball for too long. I don't know how a quarterback works on his internal clock, but he's got to work on his.

So now we've seen two good performances from Cassel, one crappy one, and this one which was just sub-par. Overall he did only throw one pick (although who was he throwing that one to!?) and did have 203 yard passing, but that is just not good enough.

On the other side of the ball, the Patriots looked really really really really really really REALLY REALLY weak against the long ball. Vincent Jackson had catches of 48 and 59 yards, Malcom Floyd had a 49 yard touchdown catch, and even LDTomlinson had a 28 yard catch and run. The long plays killed the Pats - that bend-don't-break style was absolutely shattered. That was concerning as the Patriots D has not looking much like the defense we've become used to seeing. This game, the telling stat was: 0 Sacks, 0 INTs, 0 Forced Fumbles. The 4-3 experiment was bad, but hopefully it was just keeping the linebackers fresh and the opposition on their toes.


Or perhaps I'm just hoping?


Post Written By Recovering Brady-addict, Kyle "I MISS THOMASSSS" Brady... er Baxter

ALCS Games 1 & 2 Forthcoming.

We will be posting a live blog from Game 1 of the ALCS, and also a recap of Game 2. We're just a little bit tired following last night's five-and-a-half-hour marathon.

Updates soon.