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October 16, 2007
Journal photo by Bob Breidenbach
NO DICE: The folks who thought the Red Sox were foolish for investing $100-plus million in Daisuke Matsuzaka (above) are no doubt in fine fettle this morning, 12 hours after Dice-K once again failed to get out of the fifth inning in a playoff start and helped put the Sox in a 2-games-to-1 hole in the ALCS. Joe McDonald reports Matsuzaka didn't talk to the press, and seemed emotionally and physically drained in the clubhouse after the game, though his manager and catcher said he actually threw the ball well. "Well'' is a relative term -- his pitch count was at 101 when he was lifted after 4 2/3 innings -- but what's also true is that he wasn't the only problem last night. As Sean McAdam notes, the team's offense, so impressive through the first four games of the postseason, fell back into its midseason doldrums last night, and that could be a far bigger problem going forward in the series. Among the biggest concerns: Dustin Pedroia, whom McDonald says plans to go ''back to the drawing board'' after opening the postseason with only 4 hits in 25 at-bats.
CALL OF THE DAY: The Sox have made the decision not to bring Josh Beckett back tonight on short rest -- with the added benefit of having him available on full rest, if necessary, for Game Seven -- and McAdam tells why. The reasoning is sound, though there's a strain of thought that says you put aside reason at this time of year. Instead it will be Tim Wakefield, who says he's healthy and ready to go (though what else would you expect him to say?). With him will be his personal catcher, Doug Mirabelli, who'll also be making his 2007 postseason debut. If you're wary over what to expect from Wakefield, you're not alone; Terry Francona's not sure, either.
HERE AND THERE: The Sox weren't thrilled with the work of home-plate umpire Brian Gorman last night . . . David Ortiz is none the worse for wear after being hit by a Manny Ramirez grounder while running the bases . . . Some postgame reaction . . . The Sox are mystified by Javier Lopez' struggles against left-handers . . . The Sporting News thinks Joe Borowski is a better closer than Jonathan Papelbon, which casts aspersions on all the awards they gave out (including those to Pedroia and Ortiz) . . . The Indians are happy to be home . . . Wakefield's not the only guy with a personal catcher. His opponent tonight, Paul Byrd, has one, too, and it's a familiar name . . . Playoffs or no, the Red Sox are still making player moves. It's all very familiar to McAdam . . . Cleveland has a big flag to wave . . . Al Roker didn't exact dazzle 'em with the ceremonial first pitch.
If it all seems like a lot of stories from one news outlet -- this one -- it is. (Not to mention other elements that stayed on the blog, such as postgame notes and interview transcripts from Terry Francona, Eric Wedge, Jake Westbrook and Kenny Lofton.) What's more, all this material was online, first on this very Sox Blog and then on regular story files, by 12:30 a.m. today; the postings started at around 4 in the afternoon and never stopped. It's the new news cycle, providing information as it happens and as it becomes avaiable, and it's here. Stop by early, stop by late, stop by often; we'll have it all, and as soon as it happens.
AH, MEMORIES: The heroics last night of Kenny Lofton, one of the heroes of the great 1990s Indians teams, had the Cleveland Plain-Dealer's Bill Livingston ruminating on Cleveland's stirring triumph over the Brooklyn Robins in 1920.
CHEAP DATE: The Akron Beacon-Journal reports that scalpers aren't really getting a lot of money for playoff tickets in Cleveland.
FOX FANS: Like most of us, this uncredited author in the Akron Beacon-Journal prefers the Fox telecast to TBS, though he (or she) feels that way because of perceivced Yankee bias on TBS' part.
ONE OF THE SEVEN SIGNS: Indians fan Joe Posnanski says he was certain Cleveland would lose Game Two Saturday night -- until he saw Eric Gagne warming up. Lots of people had that same feeling, Joe.
HAIL TO THE CHIEFS: The Colorado Rockies won the National League pennant by completing a sweep of the Diamondbacks (Denver Post), completing an amazing run of 21 victories in 22 games that carried them to a tie for the N.L. wild card, a victory over the Padres in the play-in game, a sweep of the Phillies in the NLDS and now a sweep of Arizona in the NLCS. Now the question: How will they handle the momentum-deflating eight days off they'll have until the start of the World Series a week from tomorrow? Remember how the Tigers -- red hot through the ALDS and ALCS -- flattened out after waiting a week to start the World Series last year.
NOT YET: The Newark Star-Ledger reports Don Mattingly has told the Yankees he's not ready to manage. The fact that the Yanks still haven't made a call -- or even a decision -- on Joe Torre indicates that George Steinbrenner is no longer in firm control of the ship, according to the New York Post's Joel Sherman.
WE'LL SEE: Jorge Posada has no idea if he'll return to the Yankees (New York Post).
QUICKLY: Luis Gonzalez has some harsh words for the Dodgers on his way out the door (Riverside Press-Enterprise) . . . Dusty Baker is the new manager in Cincinnati (Cincinnati Post). The New York Sun's Steven Goldman says if Baker can get another job, Joe Torre shouldn't even be on the hot seat . . . Bill Stoneman is expected to step down as Angels' GM. (Los Angeles Times)
OLD FRIENDS: Joel Piniero signed a two-year contract with the Cardinals (St. Louis Post-Dispatch).
-- ART MARTONE
Posted by Art Martone 
at 10:42 AM | Permalink
