The Tampa Bay Devil*Rays knocked off their second straight playoff opponent named for hosiery with a 3-1 home victory over the Red Sox, advancing to the 2008 Major League World Series in the process. And clear a space for an American League pennant.
I predicted that the Rays would win the series if they played to their potential in the final two games. I don't think the Rays played quite to their potential in either game six or game seven. The Red Sox earned the win in game six without much help from the Rays other than over-aggressiveness at the plate. The Rays held on to win game seven despite another error from regular season MVP Jason Bartlett, thanks in great part to another sensational pitching performance by Matt Garza.
The Rays also got some benefit from the home plate umpire in the last two innings, which I have little doubt will lead to bitter complaints by Red Sox fan.
Though I did not watch the entire game because of a scheduling conflict, I saw Carlos Pena once again get called out on high strikes over the belt. Belt-high pitches against David Ortiz were called balls, from what I saw.
Just as during the regular season, the Rays demonstrated they were the better team in spite of the commission of some errors characteristic of a young team. Talent and effort have made up the difference.
B .J. Upton gets my series MVP award from great hitting and fielding. Matt Garza rates honorable mention for two scintillating ALCS starts, as does Evan Longoria for showing Alex Rodriguez a thing or two about how to hit the long ball as a third baseman in the playoffs.
Rookie left handed pitcher David Price also rates special mention for tacking down the game seven win. The Rays bullpen struggled with the tough Red Sox lineup ever since "Sweet Caroline" was sung at Fenway during game five. Price stepped in and offered Red Sox hitters an unfamiliar look at excellent stuff--and he was close enough to the plate to make a believer out of the umpire. And regardless of any help from the umpire, I didn't see the bottom of the Sox batting order coming through against Price on Sunday night.
Sweetest of all, of course, are the bragging rights Rays fans get over the uber-irritating Red Sox fan. That is golden.
Showing posts with label ALCS 2008. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ALCS 2008. Show all posts
Monday, October 20, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Rays and Sox down to game seven
Contrary to my prediction, the Rays failed to win game six.
Odd game, game six. The original home plate umpire squeezed Rays pitcher James Shields on the left side of the plate against batters on both sides of the plate. Sox batters were patient at the plate and Shields was forced to throw more over the plate with predictable results. The umpire treated Sox righty Josh Beckett about the same (there was a pitch or two where Beckett seemed to get the benefit of the doubt--no biggie there), but Rays hitters weren't so patient. They put the ball in play, and other than a homer by Upton they didn't do so hot.
But that umpire got nicked on the clavicle by a pitch that deflected off a bat and then Dioner Navarro's glove before bouncing off the ump's mask to plunk his right clavicle. Ouch! The guy kept calling the game (perhaps in a bad mood by then) for the next half inning (IIRC) then took himself out of the ballgame. The ump who replaced him called a more normal strike zone, with one exception. Late in the game he called Carlos Pena out on a pitch about three baseballs over the belt. Egad, give me a break. The Rays also gave up another unearned run when Jason Bartlett let fly a stinker of a throw to first base, allowing the a runner to reach who later scored.
Bottom line, credit to Boston. They played the better game overall, and like game five up at Fenway there were signs of the Rays playing like a team with limited playoff experience. The poise just wasn't there.
One note about the defensive troubles. The problem isn't new. The Rays, while playing mostly solid defense for the duration of the year, have had spots where they looked horrible in the field.
Here's to the team playing to its potential as it tries to win its way to the World Series tomorrow night. I was really hoping to avoid this ... the baseball game conflicts with Buccaneer football on television. Heartache.
Odd game, game six. The original home plate umpire squeezed Rays pitcher James Shields on the left side of the plate against batters on both sides of the plate. Sox batters were patient at the plate and Shields was forced to throw more over the plate with predictable results. The umpire treated Sox righty Josh Beckett about the same (there was a pitch or two where Beckett seemed to get the benefit of the doubt--no biggie there), but Rays hitters weren't so patient. They put the ball in play, and other than a homer by Upton they didn't do so hot.
But that umpire got nicked on the clavicle by a pitch that deflected off a bat and then Dioner Navarro's glove before bouncing off the ump's mask to plunk his right clavicle. Ouch! The guy kept calling the game (perhaps in a bad mood by then) for the next half inning (IIRC) then took himself out of the ballgame. The ump who replaced him called a more normal strike zone, with one exception. Late in the game he called Carlos Pena out on a pitch about three baseballs over the belt. Egad, give me a break. The Rays also gave up another unearned run when Jason Bartlett let fly a stinker of a throw to first base, allowing the a runner to reach who later scored.
Bottom line, credit to Boston. They played the better game overall, and like game five up at Fenway there were signs of the Rays playing like a team with limited playoff experience. The poise just wasn't there.
One note about the defensive troubles. The problem isn't new. The Rays, while playing mostly solid defense for the duration of the year, have had spots where they looked horrible in the field.
Here's to the team playing to its potential as it tries to win its way to the World Series tomorrow night. I was really hoping to avoid this ... the baseball game conflicts with Buccaneer football on television. Heartache.
Friday, October 17, 2008
ALCS returns to the Trop
The Boston Red Sox staged an amazing late rally to beat the Tampa Bay Devil*Rays 8-7 and continue the best of seven American League Championship series. Tampa Bay leads the series 3-2 as the series returns to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.
Three defensive failures by the Rays helped Boston get back into the game from a 7-0 deficit as Evan Longoria, B. J. Upton and Gabe Gross each failed to deliver in key situations late in the game.
Starting pitcher Scott Kazmir delivered however, extinguishing criticisms that giving him the start in Fenway Park provided the Red Sox an opportunity to win the series.
I place little credence in the notion that this loss somehow puts Boston in the driver's seat. That said, this next stage in the series provides the Rays another opportunity to play like veterans. Instead of repeating the breakdowns from this game, the team needs to learn from the mistakes and avoid them in key situations. The Rays are in the driver's seat. This team loses the ALCS only if it fails to play near its potential.
Three defensive failures by the Rays helped Boston get back into the game from a 7-0 deficit as Evan Longoria, B. J. Upton and Gabe Gross each failed to deliver in key situations late in the game.
Starting pitcher Scott Kazmir delivered however, extinguishing criticisms that giving him the start in Fenway Park provided the Red Sox an opportunity to win the series.
I place little credence in the notion that this loss somehow puts Boston in the driver's seat. That said, this next stage in the series provides the Rays another opportunity to play like veterans. Instead of repeating the breakdowns from this game, the team needs to learn from the mistakes and avoid them in key situations. The Rays are in the driver's seat. This team loses the ALCS only if it fails to play near its potential.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
2008 ALCS: Rays and Sox head to Boston tied 1-1
With an extra-innings walk off victory over the Red Sox at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, the Tampa Bay Devil*Rays will travel to Boston for the next three games of the American League Championship Series.
Boston won the first game 2-0 based on strong pitching from Daisuke Matusaka. Matsusaka outdueled right hander James Shields of the Rays. Boston scored on a sacrifice fly early and added an insurance run late on a sinking liner from Kevin Youklis that glanced off of Carl Crawford's glove in left field.
In the second game both clubs came out hitting and sent starters Josh Beckett and Scott Kazmir to early showers. At the end of nine innings the score was tied at 8 after a number of lead changes culminating in a tying run by Boston in the top of the ninth on a wild pitch by Dan Wheeler. Both teams depleted their bullpens and rookie David Price ended up with the win after B. J. Upton managed to plate the speedy Fernando Perez from third on a shallow fly ball to right. J. D. Drew's throw was up the line. Quite an exciting baseball game, though it was over five hours long.
Early this season I expressed concern about the Rays' ability to win on the road against New York and Boston. The Rays took a three game series from the Red Sox late in the season. Hopefully the Rays can build on that during this road trip.
Boston won the first game 2-0 based on strong pitching from Daisuke Matusaka. Matsusaka outdueled right hander James Shields of the Rays. Boston scored on a sacrifice fly early and added an insurance run late on a sinking liner from Kevin Youklis that glanced off of Carl Crawford's glove in left field.
In the second game both clubs came out hitting and sent starters Josh Beckett and Scott Kazmir to early showers. At the end of nine innings the score was tied at 8 after a number of lead changes culminating in a tying run by Boston in the top of the ninth on a wild pitch by Dan Wheeler. Both teams depleted their bullpens and rookie David Price ended up with the win after B. J. Upton managed to plate the speedy Fernando Perez from third on a shallow fly ball to right. J. D. Drew's throw was up the line. Quite an exciting baseball game, though it was over five hours long.
Early this season I expressed concern about the Rays' ability to win on the road against New York and Boston. The Rays took a three game series from the Red Sox late in the season. Hopefully the Rays can build on that during this road trip.
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