Oct
01
ALDS Game 1: Who do you want to win?
ByMe? I really don’t care, but it would be nice to see the Sawx lose in heartbreaking fashion. Beggars can’t be choosers, I’m rooting for a good baseball game more than anything. John Lackey (12-5, 3.75) takes on Jon Lester (16-6, 3.21), first pitch scheduled for 10pm EDT.
223 Comments»
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i live with way too many red sox fans to not root against them. im sick and tired of hearing them gloat about their recent string of success. a first round sweep would be perfect
Ah, Chip “The Yankees led the world (emphasis, his) in Home Runs” Caray. I wonder if Mr. Caray has figured out the Yankees had the fifth most Home Runs in MLB last season.
I guess he forgot that this isn’t 2004…
C’mon Angels…humiliate the Sox this round and then get blown out in the pennant.
The Angels totally owe the Yankees at least this much.
Dustin Pedroia will hit a grand slam when he comes to plate this inning. That’s how he rolls.
Or an extremely gritty gutsy one-pitch groundout.
Did Caray just say Ellsbury’s ball was playable for Matthews? Oy.
That ball is playable for Matthews … and it’s off the top of the wall for a leadoff double.
M.V.P. type failure.
Not enough gritt to get that ball by Lackey.
Angels baby ! they gotta win this shit
I was listening on the fan like yesterday, and one of the callers said he would trade Reyes of Dustin Pedroia cuz Reyes had “no heart” and wasn’t clutch. I guess he’s right. Grit always wins.
Yes! Wasted the lead off double!
Clutch dive by Pedroia there. Intangibles.
See what Tex does for teams !!!!!! Go get em Cash !!
17 GIDP for Tex this year? He’ll fit right in!
God Tex is good
Even Ellsbury defense is overrated.
It’s not Jon Lester’s fault, he had cancer.
For the love of Mo Vlad. That was ball 1.
Nice Job Guerrero
I can’t believe Buck Martinez is giving credit to Jon Lester in how he is sucking. That’s just hilarious.
Take the next two Torii.
Dammit, nevermind.
What are the chances that Lester flames out next year? He’s already thrown 60 innings more this year than his previous career high, plus whatever he’ll throw in the playoffs.
He had cancer. Innings increases don’t apply to him.
You’re my boy Howie Kendrick. Do ya thing.
He did. That was the problem.
And I guess his thing doesn’t involving making Lester show he can throw a strike after throwing 7 straight out of the zone.
Lester walks a guy with a OBP less than .330 for his career.
Jesus, that was Ball Two.
To be honest, Im not that surprise why Guerrero struggles in the playoffs.
why is this ?
He’s a free swinger and has always had bad plate disipline, and in the playoffs against good pitching, they are gonna exploit that quite often.
Hey Mike, even you said it, the Angels downfall was the lack of plate disipline. Your gonna see some questionable a-bats by the Angels in the postseason.
What’s with all the GritBeards?
“He had cancer. Innings increases don’t apply to him.”
Mike, you made my milk come out my nose and all over my keyboard.
I try.
Jason Bay: Really not Xavier Nady
once again the sox outdid us… we sign randy they get beckett.. hughes pitches great las year and clay comes out and throws a no hitter…this offseason we are gonna sign CC and they will probly go out and steal a young durable SP for nothing and cheap money… man fuck those guys
Clay Buchholz has pitched like shit in the big leagues. Take away that no-no, and he’s got a 5.72 ERA & 1.73 WHIP.
More like we got Pavano, they got Beckett.
Maybe instead of comparing Hughes to Buchholz, you compare Joba….
Why have a defeatist attitude that they’re going to outsign us in the pitching market in value? It’s baseless.
I don’t think Lackey can spot his fastball any better than that.
That was 10 straight out of the zone from Lester.
Tex’s hit was off the plate
Vlad popped up on the first pitch that was up and out of the zone
Hunter walked at 5 pitches, swinging through what would have been ball 4
Kendrick took a first pitch ball, then grounded out on a ball out of the zone
The first two to Napoli were out of the zone
ZOMG my eyes!!!! Arrrrgh, Craig Sager, why do you do this to us?!
Mike, where’s that would-be GM list you guys promised a few days back?
Everytime I see Gary Mathews Jr, I say to myself, what a watse of money.
THT made an interesting point in their preview of this series.
Even with Teixeira and Napoli showing patience and power, the Angels as a team rely on putting the ball in play. They’re near the bottom of the league in walks and strikeouts and have fewer “defense independent” plays (walks, strikeouts, homers, hit batters) than all but four teams. So the defense is frequently a factor when the Angels are at bat.
So one could come to a conclusion that when the Angels play against a team with a below average defense, like our beloved Yankees, they would have a distinct advantage, no? Could this be the main reason why the Angels have owned us recently? It makes a lot of sense, more than the popular “They are in the Yankees’ head; they have the Yankees’ number.”
Think about it, a team that puts the ball in play a lot going against a team who who’s defensive efficiency rating ranks 25th (Yankees) of thirty Major League teams. That is not a favorable match-up for our Yankees.
A very good point indeed.
THT are yankee fans?
Why would you think that? I know there are a bunch of guys that contribute to the site, so I would assume there would have to be some Yankee fans there.
Oh, I see where you got mixed up. The italicized portion is a segment of THT’s preview of the Red Sox-Angels series. Everything else are my original thoughts.
If they sign Tex they can probably try to deal Kendry Morales for some outfield help or something like that right ? Morales is suppose to be pretty good
He’s another Juan Miranda, except he switch hits. Yawn.
OOO i thought he was suppose to be really good
The Cal league can make solid prospects into top prospects.
The Angels: The Anti Sabermetrics Team.
Didn’t they outperform their Pythag by something like 12 games? Too lazy to look it up.
They were one of the luckier teams in the AL or baseball. Joe Sheenan had a interesting article on why K-Rod had so many SV’s and opportunities. Cuz for the fact that offense was down, and the angels hardley blow out their opponents, so yea they were playing over their heads.
That and cuz they hardly walk and have little power and make alot outs on the basepaths.
Nice job by TBS pointing out Varitek’s career low batting avg.
Varitek in rare All-Star form.
o yea he’s ready.
Gritty slide there by Lowrie.
That stupid graphic by TBS that measures the runner’s lead from first base: dumb or dumbest thing ever?
Nice job, Rapuano. Fuck-head.
Ortiz is teh clutch.
Get off your knees ump; you’re blowing the game!!!
Where was that from?
An Angel taking pitches, Im stun.
Shut The Fuck Up about Varitek behind the god damn plate. Geez.
Seriously.
Jason Varitek. Mind like a computer.
Dang, beat me to it
Good grief, enough with the Varitek verbal fellatio!!!! Yarrrgh.
Gritty Error.
Jed Lowrie is teh clutch.
Gritty boot Lowrie
What a play by Lowrie. And they question this guy sticking at SS, how dare they.
What was that Bay.
Bay looking Abreu-esque in the field.
Angels: 1
Cancer Patient: 0
Hahaha
I’d say it’s more like Jed Lowrie 1, Cancer Patient 0.
I’m actually a big Jon Lester fan, so I hope he pitches well and loses the game 1-0.
Nah
Angels: 1
Varitek Behind the Plate: 0
You know, it would be great if Hunter gets a ring. And I am also rooting for Griffey to get a ring.
Howie Kendrick, rally killer extraordinaire.
3 pitches, 2 outs, 5 LOB. This kid would look good in pinstripes, he’s got the basics down.
And Kendrick swings at a pitch that would of hit him. UGH.
Ugly Bitch.
Jon Lester survives Cancer,
Pitches 63 innings en route to a WS ring, and a win in the clincher.
Spits in the face of baseball men & gods to throw 210 innings a year later & shatter the 30 inning increase
Starts game 1 of the ALDS, gives up a run, and comes back to get the inning ending out with two pitches
Brave Man? or The Bravest Man Ever?
Buck Martinez: “Jason Bay fits the Sox bill, A proffesional baseball player”
Ostrich?!? That’s not a burger, that’s a bird.
Heh, awesome.
Mike,
With Suttle’s injury does he still start out at Tampa or does he rehab through the system?
Injury?
Apparently he tore his labrum and is done for quite a bit.
When’d this happen??
A couple of days ago.
Huh, I hadn’t heard that. It’s not as bad because he’s a hitter, but if the tear is bad enough, no way he’ll be ready in April.
I wonder if this means he slides over to first base?
Well, he was just rated the best defensive infielder in the Sally League. Let him show he can’t make the throw anymore before moving him. We don’t even know if the injury is to his throwing shoulder.
Really? The best defensive infielder? Not that I have an opinion either way cause I’ve never seen him play. But I didn’t realize his defense was that highly regarded. I thought he was mostly bat skills. I was baseing it on the assumption that since he is blocked at third, and first base is pretty empty in the system that they would move him sooner.
Neither did I. Must have been a down year in the league.
Jason Varitek, please.
Hey, did Moose give a timetable on his decision to retire or not?
Clutch.
The Little Pony; is that really Pedroia nickname/
The Little engine that couldn’t Pedroia.
What’s the ceiling, floor and probability of reaching said ceiling for Anibal Sanchez?
Guerrero swinging at ball 1.
Plate discipline for the loss.
Rather, patience for the loss.
Eff you, Torii.
is it me or are these announcers on every red sox players dicks
Bah.
Awwwwwww fuck.
fuck u jason bay
Fuck you Bay. FUCK YOU.
Home Run number twenty-seven given up by John Lackey.
Heh, check out Scott Boras kicking it behind the plate.
His son ever going to sniff a Major League roster? Is he still in school?
He’s in school, USC I think.
Hmmm, Boras’ precious snowflake wants to go pro?
What would I give to be a fly on the wall during THOSE contract negotiations…
Giambi-esque play
Buck Martinez: “Mark Kotsay has been a good role player for the Red Sox.”
Mark Kotsay has a .226/.286/.345 vital line since joining the Red Sox.
Well, perhaps that’s his role, no?
They let Lester off the hook in the hook in the first. Had a chance to make a statement there.
Kinda sounds like another team we all know, doesn’t it?
Yeah no kidding, why not start Juan Rivera in RF against the lefty? His OPS against LHP is nearly 60 points higher than GMJ’s.
And where the hell was that pitch? Wow.
You watch this game and you just KNOW that if Yankees were playing instead of Boston, Angels would be winning in a blowout. Bleh.
Nah, with Mike Mussina’s command, the Angels would be treating the batter’s box like a revolving door.
Eh, I don’t know. In theory that should be the case, but some shit always seems to go down when we play LAA. They’re like Yanks’ kryptonite.
Lester is on now.
Vlad could have done that.
Gary Matthews Jr. just became the most worthless player in Major League Baseball. Melky Cabrera would have had that.
*Bobby Abreu* would’ve had that.
And you know what, ya right.
OMG, Gary Mathews Jr. is useless son of a bitch.
Oh. My. God.
$55 million failed.
Who are we all kidding — the Sox are going to be in the Series AGAIN, and probably win it all against the Dodgers.
Hey, I predicted this days ago.
This is our curse as Yankees fans since 2004, to watch these morons keep winning it all every…
single.
year.
Oh stop it. It’s Game frickin’ 1 of the ALDS. they haven’t exactly been playing like their hair’s on fire either.
Do they need to? 2 runs may be all they need tonight.
Every single year? Really?
The ’05 White Sox and the ’06 Cardinals might like a few words with you.
Come on Oliver.
David Ortiz is so clutch. That pitch was in the other batter’s box.
David Ortiz: 2002-2007
More like 03-05.
No, I meant he was born in 2002, and died in 2007.
Where’s Charles Barkley to get on Craig Sager on his horrible suits.
Angels offense sucking right now.
A one-seamer? Seriously?
Lester is dealing right now.
A one-seam fastball? What can’t Jon Lester do.
Man, they really let him off the hook in the first.
Lester throwing gas.
Damn, even Gameday had Lester clocked at 97-MPH.
He’s been dealing since the iff start.
OK, I’ve got half of my wish – Lester has pitched a gem.
Now, it’s time for the bullpen to blow it in spectacular fashion.
Ha, quote of the day from LoHud.
Boy do the Red Sox regret trading Lester when he struggled his 1st two years in the league, then had all the health issues…
oh wait…they didn’t…they were patient with a 22-year old kid while he learned how to become a major league pitcher.
But-but-but! We want to win NOW, not two years from now!!! Patience is unacceptable!
Fuck the future.
I don’t know how to react. I’m almost inclined to disagree because of the source.
Wow he lets oliver face youkilis.
Love Youk’s playoff beard. Oh, wait…
Jackass.
3-4-5 coming up. Can’t they at least get a run here.
Scott Shields is the guy I compare Melancon to.
All those years of work finally took a toll on Shields. That 98mph heat is long gone.
I thought he use to top out at 96.
According to FanGraphs, his Fastball velocity has ranged from 92.0-92.7 over the last four seasons.
*Hey, aren’t you supposed to get ejected if you throw your helmet?
I have a good feeling the Halos will pull this out.
You gotta hit Masterson a little no?
Masterson, stupid fake Jamaican.
Word.
Man, those walks are HIIIIIIGH…
Fuck You Ellsbury.
Damn, that’s a fantastic catch by Ellsbury.
Watch Torii GIDP
I officially hate Vladimir Guerrero.
Good Lord…what a STUPID idea.
That’s Angel’s baseball for ya.
OMG, Guerrero can’t run.
Angels play good fundamental baseball. Uh-huh.
Jesus Christ.
Guerrero, use your brain cells.
Heh, what mediot was it that said Justin Masterson threw in the mid-90′s?
All ya can do is laugh cuz it was so bad.
Oh, now you want to take pitches? Fucking aye.
The one time Kendrick is taking pitches, he’s taking pitches down the fucking middle.
Thanx Vlad for fucking it up.
This game blows. I hate baseball.
It must take some real restraint not to curse out a player after a horrendous base-running play.
As a First Base or Third Base coach.
Man…that looked even more spectacularly bad from the blimp.
I got more aggravated watching that than I did at any point watching the Yanks this year. Just a stupid, stupid play by Vlad.
Word.
Aw fucking please, stop giving Varitek more credit than he deserve.
And it’s a fucking bunt, shut the fuck up.
I don’t know which dropped faster: the WPA for the Angels after Vlad’s idiotic play on the bases; or the WaMu stock.
Zing!
Awright, some tragically topical humor! AY-oh!
These announcers nauseate me. I never thought I’d long for the dulcet stylings of Michael Kay, Miller&Morgan, or even Buck&McCarver.
“Marvelous” season for Ellsbury? OK, whatever.
Coco Crisp’s .826-Zone Rating in Center Field ranked as the worst in the American League this season. Surprising?
A totally useless stat. If you watch him play on a routine basis you can see that Coco reads plays well, gets a good jump and covers a great deal of ground. His weak throwing arm is all that keeps him from being an elite defensive centerfielder. That range factor stat is just silly.
No Buck Martinez, the guy Ellsbury had a 89 OPS.
And he’s not that good at CF. fucking overrated.
Good, so the Sox get an insurance run, and Shields is likely unavailable tomorrow.
They play Friday.
My level of discomfort and agitation has just taken an unhealthy rise.
Yeah, this game did wonders for my blood pressure. Glad I stayed up.
How do the Yankees always lose to these clowns? How?!
great, now I gotta hear sox fans saying that Ellsbury is better than A-Jax.
He is, why would you say he isn’t?
A-Rod did that.
Fuck this, see you dudes later today.
Scott Kazmir FTW.
Just fuckin great, Ortiz with a RBI see-Eye single.
Angels will bring the tying run at the plate.
HEY!!! That’s my thing.
I know, Im just checking if it could work.
One more baserunner…..
I think it would be more satisfying to see Boston get beaten by the Rays.
Nice Aybar, swing at three pitches when ya down 3 fuckin runs.
Fuck the Angels, and Fuck the Sox too.
What a really great game. Jon Lester is rounding out to be an elite starter. The Sox did a good job of getting baserunners on all night and eventually scored four runs. A gem by Lester, the bridge from Masterson to the hammer in Paps. Just the way you right it up.
Game two is critical for the Angels, they certainlt don’t want to go up against Beckett in Boston facing elimination. Suddenly they are under a lot of pressure.
Lets Go Sox!!!
I was dissapointed that they didn’t get to Lackey earlier though. I really think this team’s pitching will have to carry them if they’re to go far as very few guys are clicking at the plate right now.
I did get quite a kick out of the comments during the game, I remember being that mad and bitter for years so I could certainly sympathize. I don’t, but I could
They are just frustrated fans that really care about their team. I like to check in to get away from the Red Sox rah rah stuff and get a different perspective. You just have to weave you way through a bit of Internet “testosterone”. I still have a vivid recollection of walking around in circles unable to sleep after the 1986 loss to the Mets. Red Sox fans can certainly relate to the pains of baseball disappointment.
It will be interesting to watch the future with Cashman staying. I have my doubts about Cashman, but I hope that I’m wrong. Yankee fans support their team like crazy and deserve a good team and the back and forth with the Red Sox is at its best when both teams are good.
If the Red Sox are able to get past the Angels and go deep into the playoffs then it will be high time to give “Tito” some real recognition. He has really held these Red Sox teams together.
Yeah, I come here for pretty much the same reason. That and there are a lot of knowledgable fans and commenters here. If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a hundred times, Red Sox and Yankees fans are the same creatures, we’re just wearing different logos.
Well put, we are the same in our passion for our teams and love of baseball.