October 11, 2008
10/11: It's Beckett Time
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Boston Red Sox (3-1) @ Tampa Bay Rays (2-2)
Josh Beckett (0-0, 7.20) @ James Shields (1-0, 3.38) 8:07 PM EDT | Tropicana Field (St. Petersburg, FL) TV: TBS RADIO: WRKO 680, ESPN |
GAME NOTES: Is it going to be the October Josh Beckett or will he still struggle with his oblique? Kazmir, a Sox-killer, hasn't had much success against them this year. Will he turn it around? Game Two.
Discussion
80 Comments on "10/11: It's Beckett Time"
#1
Posted by Daniel Rathman, October 11, 2008 7:00 PM
Lineups...
Boston Red Sox
1. Jacoby Ellsbury, RF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
5. Jason Bay, LF
6. Jed Lowrie, SS
7. Jason Varitek, C
8. Mark Kotsay, 1B
9. Coco Crisp, CF
SP - Josh Beckett
Tampa Bay Rays
1. Akinori Iwamura, 2B
2. B.J. Upton, CF
3. Carlos Pena, 1B
4. Evan Longoria, 3B
5. Carl Crawford, LF
6. Cliff Floyd, DH
7. Dioner Navarro, C
8. Gabe Gross, RF
9. Jason Bartlett, SS
SP - Scott Kazmir
#2
Posted by Sean O, October 11, 2008 8:40 PM
god I hate josh beckett. As a player, as a human, in every conceivable capacity.
#3
Posted by Mostly Running., October 11, 2008 8:44 PM
I actually immediately went to the comments to see if Sean O was around. A figured there was apoplexy to be had. Don't worry, it'll be okay.
#4
Posted by Sean O, October 11, 2008 8:46 PM
I know flags fly forever and all that crap, but it is simply insufferable watching him pitch. I see no reason why Hanley wouldn't have taken us to the promised land last year, and now we're saddled with meathead.
#5
Posted by SamR, October 11, 2008 8:50 PM
This game is almost a must have for the Rays at home ... and its a big opportunity for us to take comman ... you don't win in October by missing opportunities ... Let's hope Beckett can get it together here
#9
Posted by Sean O, October 11, 2008 9:24 PM
I hate Josh Beckett. Wakefield is sitting on the bench right now, while Beckett does his best Wasdin impression.
#10
Posted by Tim Daloisio, October 11, 2008 9:25 PM
Not the good Beckett tonight. He's off his velocity 6 MPH consistently
#11
Posted by Tessie's Dad, October 11, 2008 9:26 PM
I would say Suckett's doing a Wakefield impression: no matter how many runs we score, he giives them right back.
#13
Posted by Sean O, October 11, 2008 9:35 PM
wtg coco, that's what a hitting CF looks like (hint hint).
#14
Posted by Sean O, October 11, 2008 9:38 PM
So, Coco starts the rest of the series in center, right? Because Jacoby sucks at baseball?
#15
Posted by Tessie's Dad, October 11, 2008 9:42 PM
Maybe we should see if Jacoby can pitch any better than Suckett...
#16
Posted by Sean O, October 11, 2008 9:42 PM
please, someone line a ball off beckett's face, so he doesn't cost us the rest of the season. also, so I never have to see him in a sox uniform again.
I'm turning this shit off.
#17
Posted by Colin, October 11, 2008 9:44 PM
Turns out it's not Beckett Time. Let's just leave the success to Lester and Dice-K now.
Damn oblique. He was much better before this shit. Then again I felt like the Rays would possibly take 1 of 2 at the Trop. Ironic how it might be with Beckett on the mound instead of Dice-K.
Please bats...save the day. You're doing ok now but we need a little more.
#18
Posted by Colin, October 11, 2008 9:45 PM
Sean O/Tessie's, relax guys. It's not like we'll be 0-3 or 1-3 if we lose this game.
This is just going to be an offensive game. Both pitchers are mediocre and that's that.
#19
Posted by Tessie's Dad, October 11, 2008 9:49 PM
I am relaxed. Really. I expected Beckett to suck, and, well, I'm not disappointed. He's overrated, especially in his own mind.
Oh - hey - a ground ball out. That's new.
#20
Posted by Colin, October 11, 2008 9:51 PM
Well Beckett was lights out in 2007. I did not expect an exact repeat performance.
Remember guys, we still have Bay, the bats, and Lester.
#22
Posted by Tessie's Dad, October 11, 2008 9:54 PM
Pedroia, on the other hand, needs to be cloned.
#23
Posted by Colin, October 11, 2008 9:55 PM
See? I knew someone would do his best to vouch for Beckett and bail him out.
#24
Posted by Colin, October 11, 2008 9:58 PM
Thank you Boston offense. Carry us through as you like to do... :D
#26
Posted by Daniel Rathman, October 11, 2008 10:06 PM
I believe that's 7 homeruns in this game. That ties an MLB playoff record. And it's the 5th inning...
#28
Posted by Sean O, October 11, 2008 10:36 PM
someone please, please, please, please drill a ball off beckett's face. it's all I ask. we're going to lose the game, just incapacitate beckett. No red sox player, including Carl Everett or Wil Cordero has made me not want to watch baseball like this asshole.
#29
Posted by Sam K, October 11, 2008 10:47 PM
OK, now, in the regular season, Tito would never never never ever leave a pitcher on the mound to surrender 8 runs in less than 100 pitches and 5 innings of work. Never ever. Especially a pitcher who has recently been injured. If this had been the the regular season, Beckett would have been yanked in the 3rd and Tito would have justified that decision by telling the media that something was clearly not right with Beckett and he needed to come out of the game to prevent any further damage from being done.
With that clearly established, WHY ON EARTH would you leave said pitcher to die on the mound IN A PLAYOFF GAME? In the regular season, you protect the pitcher by taking him out. In the playoffs, where each game is precious, you protect the entire team by taking him out.
This is just another Grady Little moment. And it just goes to show: players win games in October, but managers lose them.
#30
Posted by radiohix, October 11, 2008 10:51 PM
I can't hate Beckett, I just can't: I will be forever grateful to his magic October last year!
but staying awake till 4 50 AM to loose like that sucks!
#31
Posted by Mostly Running., October 11, 2008 11:30 PM
Tito knows more about the bullpen then any of us do. If he's leaving Beckett in to take some lumps, something else is going on. I have full faith that the game plan didn't put this as a must win game, and with the way the offense is going, use the arm to kill some innings, use the bats to win the game. Everyone is fresher for game three.
#32
Posted by Sean O, October 11, 2008 11:36 PM
We have a day off tomorrow, so he'd be an idiot if he's "saving the bullpen." I'd trust Timlin over meathead now. I'd certainly trust Byrd, who has thrown 0.0 innings in the postseason, than Beckett.
Byrd doesn't give up 8 tonight.
#33
Posted by Bob, October 11, 2008 11:59 PM
anything but a double play by Youk and we would have scored at least another run that inning.
#34
Posted by Tessie's Dad, October 11, 2008 11:59 PM
What's whackier, this game or the stock market?
#35
Posted by Bob, October 12, 2008 12:11 AM
don't mention the stock market, it just reminds that I have no money left
#37
Posted by Tessie's Dad, October 12, 2008 12:23 AM
Ellsbury, our leadoff hitter, has made the third out in four innings tonight. That is pathetic and unacceptable. That said, he is really fast on the way back to the dugout.
#38
Posted by Sean O, October 12, 2008 12:25 AM
The game depends on Masterson. If that doesn't make you suicidal, you haven't been paying attention.
#39
Posted by Tessie's Dad, October 12, 2008 12:29 AM
Suicidal is a bit much. I'll go with pessimistic.
#40
Posted by Sean O, October 12, 2008 12:32 AM
we're in agreement that Jacoby should be benched... right?
#41
Posted by Tessie's Dad, October 12, 2008 12:33 AM
As I wrote before, maybe Ellsbury should get Beckett's spot in the rotation.
But definitey take his bats away.
#42
Posted by Bob, October 12, 2008 12:43 AM
I'm fine with benching Ellsbury as long as Vartiek goes with him. Score now please, I do not want to see a Mike Timlin appearance.
#43
Posted by Tessie's Dad, October 12, 2008 12:45 AM
Seriously, I'd be willing to give JE another chance because of his defense. But he's not a leadoff guy.
#45
Posted by Tessie's Dad, October 12, 2008 12:50 AM
Whenever I see Youkilis wiggling around in the batter's box, I imagine a hula hoop around his waist...
#47
Posted by Bob, October 12, 2008 12:52 AM
I will be shocked if we win this game... especially now that Paps probably won't close it out. I think that Youk GIDP will be one of the overlooked moments that made the game, anything but that and this one is already over.
#48
Posted by Tessie's Dad, October 12, 2008 12:56 AM
Anybody other than Beckett starts, and we win.
#50
Posted by Bob, October 12, 2008 1:03 AM
more proof that Papelbon is actually a robot sent from the future to humiliate opposing hitters?
#52
Posted by Bob, October 12, 2008 1:11 AM
do we have any right-handed hitters on the bench? looks like Cash is going to have to hit for himself.
#53
Posted by Tessie's Dad, October 12, 2008 1:13 AM
Papelbon has only thrown 18 pitches. He should be good to go in the 11th, right?
#55
Posted by Tessie's Dad, October 12, 2008 1:19 AM
Nice. Which plate did that go over? It was nowhere near where Kotsay was standing.
#57
Posted by Bob, October 12, 2008 1:22 AM
I'm still mad about the Kotsay pitch, if he was a righty that would have hit him on the shin
#59
Posted by Bob, October 12, 2008 1:23 AM
guess we're conceding this one, welcome to batting practice Tampa, you'll enjoy it
#60
Posted by Steven Roth, October 12, 2008 1:23 AM
i can't believe i stayed up to watch Timlin?? He better not fk up!
#66
Posted by Tessie's Dad, October 12, 2008 1:32 AM
Have the umps gotten anything right yet this inning?
#68
Posted by Tessie's Dad, October 12, 2008 1:36 AM
Anybody else still watching this craptastrophe?
#69
Posted by Sam K, October 12, 2008 1:37 AM
Again, with Timlin on, one out, and the bases loaded in extra innings, I put the blame for the imminent loss squarely on the manager, who kept telling himself that Beckett is his "playoff ace" and left him out there long enough for the Rays to pile up 8 runs.
And as I type this, we lose. Way to go, Tito.
#70
Posted by Tessie's Dad, October 12, 2008 1:37 AM
Timlin sucks. He got no help at all from the umps, but wow, does he suck.
#71
Posted by Tessie's Dad, October 12, 2008 1:38 AM
Yeah - too bad Pedroia scored on that WP to prolong the game, or the 'L' would be on Beckett's shoulders, where it belongs.
#72
Posted by Tessie's Dad, October 12, 2008 1:39 AM
Timlin needs a one-way ticket to the glue factory. He's just done.
#73
Posted by Tessie's Dad, October 12, 2008 1:41 AM
Six games, only two losses this post season. Who started those two games? Hmmm. Who could it be?
Lester goes Monday. It'll be o.k.
#74
Posted by Tom A, October 12, 2008 2:04 AM
I don't blame Timlin...he should have had two Ks to start the inning (plus Price got the cheap K the inning before). I blame this solely on the home plate umpire who's strike zone changed drastically over the course of a half inning.
#75
Posted by Tom A, October 12, 2008 2:26 AM
Oh and Beckett, who'd if he'd even been a former shadow of himself would have won an 8-4 game
#76
Posted by Bob, October 12, 2008 2:49 AM
I don't blame this one on Tito at all. Everyone needs to back off on him
#77
Posted by Sam K, October 12, 2008 6:54 AM
Back off him? The most important decision he makes, once the game begins, is to pull his starting pitcher when necessary or prudent, and he blew the big one yesterday. Beckett was clearly toast. Like I said, Tito would have lifted Beckett ASAP if this had been a regular-season game, primarily for health reasons. The guy has been hurt recently and you can tell that he's not right every time the radar gun registers, so why wait to pull him? Because it's a playoff game? All the more reason to get him off the mound!
And for what it's worth, at this point, Timlin should be the last man out of the pen in any meaningful circumstance. I'll go so far as to say that I'd have put Wakes out there for an inning before pitching Timlin. Based on Timlin's pitching this year, we all knew what to expect when he toed the rubber last night, and Timlin delivered exactly what we feared. Amazing oscillating strike zone or not, Timlin shouldn't have been pitching at that point in the game, and Tito is the man who gave him the ball.
Sorry, Bob. Two bonehead pitching moves in an extra-innings October loss, this one lands on Francoma's head, no ifs, ands, or buts.
#78
Posted by Tom A, October 12, 2008 10:16 AM
The real problem with Timlin wasn't Timlin, but the umpire though. If Mike had gotten the same calls that Price got the inning before he'd have struck out the first two batters and then you would have had the ground ball and/or pop fly. Basically he gave up two chintzy walks.
Props to Maddon for the double steal, but he was working with a great hand thanks to the home plate umpire.
#79
Posted by Gerry, October 12, 2008 1:13 PM
The returning 2007 WS champs are largely not here:
Papi, J.D., Beckett are playing hurt. Mike Lowell, Julio Lugo and Curt Schilling are on the bench. Manny is gone. Those 5 position players and 2 pitchers represent about $80M, well over half our payroll, and a huge percentage of Red Sox production.
The wonder is that we are in the ALCS, having just split at the Trop, and heading to Fenway for 3 games. Few predicted we would win this in 4.
#80
Posted by Sam K, October 12, 2008 8:07 PM
And the key is that we've managed a split at the Trop and are now headed home to Fenway, and we've got our best starting pitcher going in Game 3, whereas the Rays have already used their 2 best starters.
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