Beckett!

Just when they needed it, the Sox got a dominating (DOMINATING!) performance from Josh Beckett tonight in Game 5 vs. Cleveland. Beckett was absolutely masterful, and didn't allow the Indians even a whiff of a chance of success. He even got in Kenny Lofton's face when Lofton thought a strike was a ball and dropped his bat. Beckett wouldn't have any of it, and yelled something at Lofton after he popped up. Lofton then had a few words back to Beckett (I don't think they were trading recipes) as he headed for the dugout. Pretty soon the umpire was out, both benches emptied, and the bullpens came charging in from right field. But it was a typical baseball fight -- lots of testosterone, no punches thrown, and cooler heads prevail in the end.

The Fox broadcasters were livid with Manny Ramirez for not legging out what *he thought* was a home run - on a play where Papi scored all the way from first base, Manny ended up standing on first and calling for time out. They make a good point, but they also fail to realize that every citizen of Red Sox Nation will take this behavior from Manny. What we casually chalk up as "Manny Being Manny" is actually some pretty flaky and sometimes poor behavior that, by anyone else, would probably get you disciplined or fined by your coach. But with Manny, people just shake their heads and say, "That's Manny." Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the guy can hit the cover off the ball, consistently, and hardly ever comes up small when his team needs him. Just maybe.

No time to panic

OK, so the boys are down 3-1 in the ALCS. I think they have proven, in their recent history, that just because the other team wins 3 games in a series doesn't mean anything is settled, by any means. Now I'll be the first to admit that this is note 2004, and this is not the group of "idiots." (For one thing, this team has a much more "professional" feel to it, and baseball seems like more of a job, and less of the fun that the '04 team had). But the manager is the same, and the core of the team is basically the same. They can do it. Keep the faith.

Gag Me!

Let me be very clear about this -- ERIC GAGNE IS DONE for the ALCS. There's a bigger chance of seeing me take the mound for the Sox than seeing this guy again. Can we be grown-ups here? Not only did he almost single-handedly let the Yankees back in the division race with a few poorly-timed mound implosions down the stretch, but his 1/3 inning of (ahem) relieve in Game 2 of the ALCS let the Indians tie the series at 1-1 heading to Cleveland. Nothing to panic about yet, with Dice-K going on Monday, but I sure could have used a 2-0 lead leaving Fenway.

Meanwhile, in the National League, it's looking like a Rockies sweep. They just took a 1-0 lead in Game 3 in Denver, and the Diamondbacks are starting to look like a speedbump on the Rockies' race to the World Series. Oh well.

And they're off vs. Tribe

A few thoughts from tonight's great start in Game 1 of the ALCS against Cleveland, as the Sox take a 1-0 series lead.

• The announcers just said a stat that is simply amazing. In 36 plate appearances so far this postseason, Manny and Papi have reached base 29 times. That is nothing short of amazing, and that's an .806 on-base percentage for those of you scoring at home (or those of you alone). Good gravy!
• Were my eyes deceiving me, or is Asdrubal Cabrera of the Indians wearing a pearl necklace with his uniform. Tell me that guy doesn't take a whole load of cr*p in the locker room for that!
• Another great statistic. Manny walked twice tonight with the bases loaded to force in two runs, becoming just the second player in MLB postseason history to do so. The other? Jim Palmer (a pitcher, no less) in the 1971 World Series. Tim McCarver correctly pointed out that that will make a great trivia question in 5 years.
• Schilling against Fausto Carmona Saturday night in Game 2. I'm not sure what to think of Carmona. I kept thinking this season that he would wake up one day and realize that he's actually Fausto Carmona and not Cy Young, but he hasn't. In fact, the 9 innings he pitched vs. the Yankees (you remember them, don't you? they used to play baseball this season) in Game 2 of the ALDS -- the Bug Game -- was downright scary. Hopefull the Sox can do to Fausto what they did to Sabathia in Game 1.
• Can we call a halt to the term "filthy" when describing a pitcher with good stuff. The term is fine, and most likely accurate, but enough already! Any pitcher who has a ball break more than 3 inches has his stuff called filthy. I guess that's in vogue now, like "nasty" was in the early 90s -- when the Reds had the Nasty Boys -- but enough is enough.

Joe Torre

Far be it from me to defend a Yankee, but I think it is ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS for the Yankees to be talking about firing Joe Torre. As distasteful as it was for George Steinbrenner to issue a statement over the weekend (with his team down 2-0 in the series to Cleveland) that if the Yankees didn't win this series, Torre was gone. That was bad. Following through on the threat would be worse.

What exactly has Torre done wrong? The players love him. I defy you to point to one move he's made that is wrong (a rarity, trust me), and he seems like a classy guy. Now consider all that, and consider that it's coming from someone who HATES THE YANKEES with every fiber of my being. Hate the team -- respect the manager.

So actually, now that I think about it, I hope King George does let Torre go. I hope he hires a string of unsuccessful managers and reverts to the days of a revolving door at the helm of the Yankees. This 12 years of stability and success was getting old anyway.

Sweep in Anaheim

Wow!

Just a great series against Anaheim, which the Sox wrapped up today with a 9-1 victory in Anaheim. I have to be honest and say that I thought this series would be tougher than it was, but the Sox pitching was just too strong, and it seems like Anaheim could never get its offense in gear.

A little confession -- I couldn't watch today's game because my daughter had an out-of-town soccer game. We were driving home and listening on the radio, and Manny and Papi had gone deep for a 2-0 lead. I lost the signal as Papi had a single, and couldn't get the game on any other station. About 20 minutes later I tried again and got ESPN radio, only to find out the Sox had a 9-0 lead! Well that about wraps that game up! Very nice.

On to the ALCS.

Manny! Manny! Manny!

Great win tonight vs. the Angels in Game 2. It was close the whole way, but Manny Ramirez ended things in the 9th inning with a walk-off 3-run homer on a ball that is still going (I think) over the Monstah Seats and into the Boston night. Sox win, 6-3, and head to Anaheim (excuse me, Los Angeles at Aneheim) with a 2-0 series lead. Life is good.

The night was made even sweeter by the Yankees' extra-innings loss to Cleveland. And those bugs!?? What was that about? I can't wait for the Yankee fans to complain about those bugs, as if the Cleveland players didn't have to play under the same conditions. And poor Joba Chamberlain giving up the tying run. Maybe he'll start getting some media attention now, because I really feel bad for the poor guy and his "under the radar" baseball career thus far.