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RED SOX 10, INDIANS 3: Opening arguments? None »
October 12, 2007
By JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer
BOSTON -- By this point of the postseason, everyone knows the impact Josh Beckett, David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez have had for the Boston Red Sox.
The threesome has been absolutely outstanding in ways most won’t realize until maybe years down the road. Beckett’s pitching, combined with the offensive talents of Ortiz and Ramirez, is poison for opponents, especially in October.
But what about the other guys?
The rest of the Red Sox lineup is just as important as the ace of the staff and the 1-2 punch from the third and fourth spot in the order.
If the leadoff hitter Dustin Pedroia and No. 2 hitter Kevin Youkilis don’t reach base, then Ortiz and Ramirez are obsolete.
If No. 5 hitter Mike Lowell doesn’t produce the way he has all season, followed by Bobby Kielty/J.D. Drew, Jason Varitek, Coco Crisp and Julio Lugo, then Ortiz and Ramirez are obsolete.
“For them to get on base like they did today is a little bit ridiculous,” said Lowell, following Friday’s 10-3 victory over the Cleveland Indians in Game One of the ALCS.
What Lowell was referring to was the pair of hammers reaching base all 10 times. What might get lost in the mix, however, is the fact Ortiz and Ramirez combined to score four runs. That means the guys around them are doing their jobs just as well, too.
“I think it’s really important,” said Lowell. “One through nine is important. We don’t want the guys hitting behind or in front of that David-Manny combination not being able to do their job . . . If they’re on base, there’s nowhere to put those guys, so they’ve got to pitch to them. That’s to our advantage.
“Then if they come through, it’s the responsibility of the guys that follow to keep it going, so they don’t get a free pass. I think we did a good job of that tonight. We put together professional at-bats and were able to work the count. We put ourselves in a good position.”
Lowell contributed three RBI, while Kielty and Varitek added two each.
As much as the big things count at this time of the season, the proverbial little things -- like dropping down a sacrifice bunt or moving a runner over -- are just as important as a bases-loaded walk or a home run.
The Red Sox are in the midst of doing it all.
With that said, the club will make it hard for any team to beat them at this point.
"That's the one thing that is very important," said Ortiz. "Because when you're only focused on two players, when you have nine players plus, and you don't get production from the rest of the players, if I'm managing the team I wouldn't give nothing to hit to those two guys.
"Those guys are doing a great job," added Ortiz. "They're getting it done and producing at the right time. That makes a difference, too."
Posted by Joe McDonald 
at 11:57 PM | Permalink
