lafko06's Blog

Yeah OK it was a good season for the PATS with all the injuries to key players. They were still in the game against the Colts and deserved to win the game until the stupid penalty taken by Thomas thus killing the drive.

The Pittsburgh and Miami loses at home had no excuse except for the better team won on those Sundays. The Dolphins game was the most frustrating game of the year. Having the wildcat run sucessfully time after time was so non Patriot like a against the Dolphins. The Pittsburgh game just showed what kind of team the Pats were at that point of the season simply not good enough to beat a superior team. The turnovers made me almost as sick as the turnover barrage against the Bronco's in the playoffs.

2 embarrassing loses at home against conference and divisional foes. Add in to that the second game of the first west coast trip against the Chargers and another conference loss.

When you have to rely on another team to get you in the playoffs it's usually not a favorable outcome. This year proved no different and hopefully the offseason will bring a shutdown cornerback, a  hard hitting safety and a stud middle linebacker.

It's hard but I have to say that we've probably seen the last of Bruschi and Harrison. It's unfortunate to have to end a career on a stretcher after giving their hearts and sould to this football team like they did.

What a valiant effort from the Celtics last night. You know your the best when you are forced to be 3500 miles from home on Christmas just to make a league and Television happy. This team is full of committed players and Loving family Men and it must have been tough on everyone of them. To have it come down to a couple of missed possessions with 2 1/2 minutes left in the 4th quarter  was a tough way to lose. I see them running off another long winning streak and having this lose come up big in preparing them for the bigger part of the season once the playoffs hit.

 The Lakers aren't as good as the Celts and last nights game proved it.

The Yankees are just trying to insure that they do everything possible to make sure the opening of the new stadium has a World Series trophy in it at the end of the season. The Sox have a very talented team and now have all the pressure of losing to Tampa taken off them. Every major columnist and TV expert will be writing and talking Yankees and the Sox can just go about building a strong young team that will compete for the next 5 plus years.The Yankees won 89 games last year and what is 123 million going to buy them? 10 more wins?

It all comes down to pitching. We've all heard that good pitching beats good hitting and the Sox have a solid rotation, the best closer in the game and very effective middle relievers.

If the Yankees don't win it all in the first year of the new stadium after the off season spending spree then it will just add to the major flops they've accumilated over the last 5 years starting with the biggest choke in sports history.

I'd love to see that happen.

This story is great if you're still bitter over the game winning catch. Plaxico is facing a tough road ahead of him. Illegal possession and concealing a weapon carry's mandatory 3 1 /2 year sentence in NY. Did he not learn a thing from Vick about doing stupid things when you have the rest of you're life as close to set in stone as it could be?

It will be a perfect scenario: Vick gets let out of prison and Burress goes in. Maybe they could high 5 at the gate. Plaxico could pick up where Vick let off on the protection money paid to the thugs in prison to keep them safe. I'm sure there is a plan in place for Vicks security so sending Plaxico to the same Big House would make the most sense.

If Plaxico left the BLING at home when he went out he probably wouldn't need the concealed illegal weapon for protection.

 Can you say Sebastian Telfair? 

Good Luck Plaxico the Thug I hope you get what's coming to you.

Way to go Tampa Bay Rays.

You are a team that plays the game the way it should be played. You were very consistent all year and have a great manager to lead the young players and gel with the veterans. I am very dissapointed my team didn't win but can't begrudge a team like the Rays winning because there's not a egotistical prima-donna player on the team. You truly play as 1 and thats a very difficult thing to do in todays game.

Keep the bats alive, play solid defense and get good starting pitching.

Enjoy the ride as it can all end so suddenly.

BEAT THE PHILLIES!!!!!!!!

The Rays had their shot at the Pennant and Maddon shuffled his staff. He out managed  himself by thinking Kazmir could win at Fenway and then have Shields rested for the World Series. There is only one problem to his thinking.......he had to beat the World Champs and it's now a winner take all game. His bullpen is in bad shape with Howell and Balfour not producing for the second straight game. The two studs from the pen threw a lot of pitches in game 6 and may not be at even 75% if called on in game 7. The Rays defense is shaky and everyone wearing the Rays uniform seems to be feeling the enormity of the situation.

Francona and the Sox are in better shape. He has a better rested pen to go too if needed and the Rays can't touch his closer. Paplebon is dominating the Rays hitters and his confidence is bubbling over. Game 7 is going to be a 6 inning game for the Sox. get out and score early and score again. Have Lester shut down the tentative Rays bats and take the lead into the 7th. Lester can hopefully get into the 7th and then the combination of Okie, Masterson and Paplebon are waiting in the wings. Delcarmen has some filthy stuff but is still too erratic. Lopez is a situational lefty so it's basically him against Pena if he pitches.

The Sox have the winning pitcher from last years World Series clinching game tonight and the Rays have a human spit bomb who apparently has some nervous tendencies. Garza is in the biggest game of his life at home in front of a raucous crowd. If he struggles early and the Trop goes silent he'll have plenty to deal with. The Sox batters are very patient and work counts so if Garza isn't pinpoint with his control his pitch count will build forcing Maddon to tap his already tired pen. The one pitcher who hasn't thrown much in the series is Pryce a young fireball who was in AA ball up until September. Will Maddon have the gumption to call on the young kid?

Prediction: Red Sox:12   Tampa Bay Rays: 4

Game 6 had a great outcome and could have been a lot more lopsided. Bases loaded no runs Kotsay fly to center. This was a huge part of the game and the big hit wasn't delivered. The Sox went on to strand another 4 runners at 2nd and 3rd throughout the game so the 2 run victory could have easily been a 6-8 run victory. The Rays are feeling the pressure after blowing game 5. the Sox are having the time of their lives after winning games 5 and 6. Oh by the way Tampa.....here comes Lester again.

The Sox offense will come out and put up at least 3 runs Sunday night. Ortiz will actually lay a bunt down the third base line and then Youk', Drew and Bay will all hit singles getting a early lead and getting Garza's pitch count up early. Lester will be able to pitch early with a lead instead of pitching from behind and the Rays bats will get very impatient. The pressure is getting and gotten to them.

Francona is in his element now. He's got his players back and their playing with a confidence that only he can instill in them. He has a certain flair about his style of managing and whenever he is caught on camera by the dugout view he has a smile and is always talking the game with his coaches. He will keep this veteran team on a even keel and they will go about their business and win game 7.

The Rays on the other hand are reeling and have very little time to digest the last 2 loses. Thats the difference in a young inexperienced team and a veteran team like the Sox.

What a great win in Game 6.

"When it comes down to it, they have more pressure than we do. They're the defending champions. We're a Team that finished in last place last year."

That's a quote from the Rays starting pitcher for Game 6 James Shields. For some one with no pressure he sure is talking about "Pressure".  In my view he is feeling the pressure of the game 5 meltdown and has some things to deal with.

How did he feel about being pushed back to Game 6?

Can he handle the home fans and the Sox offense?

If he struggles early will he be throwing fat strikes to try to get outs that the Sox can take advantage of?

This could be his "Lester" moment. A good pitcher who has a few mistakes that get taken out of the yard.

Can he live up to the "Big Game" label?

I think he'll be a little tight early and struggle. He would have been the Game 1 pitcher of the World Series if they held on to Game 5. With  7 outs left his mindset had to be favoring that and then he was crushed and now has to try to win it at home. The Sox went to Yankee stadium and handled the Yankee's in 2004 so the Trop won't scare them at all.

By the way what got him the title "Big Game"? According to his quote they are a last place team so how many Big Games could they have?

"When it comes down to it, they have more pressure than we do. They're the defending champions. We're a Team that finished in last place last year."

That's a quote from the Rays starting pitcher for Game 6 James Shields. For some one with no pressure he sure is talking about "Pressure".  In my view he is feeling the pressure of the game 5 meltdown and has some things to deal with.

How did he feel about being pushed back to Game 6?

Can he handle the home fans and the Sox offense?

If he struggles early will he be throwing fat strikes to try to get outs that the Sox can take advantage of?

This could be his "Lester" moment. A good pitcher who has a few mistakes that get taken out of the yard.

Can he live up to the "Big Game" label?

I think he'll be a little tight early and struggle. He would have been the Game 1 pitcher of the World Series if they held on to Game 5. With  7 outs left his mindset had to be favoring that and then he was crushed and now has to try to win it at home. The Sox went to Yankee stadium and handled the Yankee's in 2004 so the Trop won't scare them at all.

By the way what got him the title "Big Game"? According to his quote they are a last place team so how many Big Games could they have?

The Rays got out early in the Fenway games and the Sox now have the opportunity to repay the favor. In Game 2 the Sox did just what they had to do and scored in the first inning only to have the rays get to Beckett. The Sox having first bats can play a huge part of the final 2 games. If the nerves are jumping and Shields stomach is rolling Saturday night the Sox could get out to a big lead.

Games 3-5 we're easy to play for the Rays. They were in a place where no one ever thought they could be and were very successful. Now the tables have turned after the collapse of Thursday night. The pressure has shifted squarely on their shoulders and the Sox have nothing to lose. The Sox  were buried and the champagne was being chilled but something happened......The Sox woke up. Now the Rays have the mighty awake Boston Red Sox coming to their park and with the aged veterans of past World Series teams they know how to handle the pressure. Paplebon and Papi. Youk' and Pedroia. Drew and Bay. This is a very dangerous team that has been given a second chance and we all know what's happened in the past.....

The events of innings 7 through 9 Thursday night were like a pressure relief for the Sox. Kotsay is a big part of the immediate success and if he gets on a hot streak and the Sox have production form the bottom of the lineup it would be huge. I still would go with Crisp at leadoff and look for Ellsbury to provide a spark on the basepaths late in the game. Ortiz and Bay hit very well in the Trop and Pedroia hits anywhere. The Sox have hit close to 15 Hr's in their last 3 games there and this offense could outscore the Rays by 15 runs in games 6 and 7. This offense is ready to explode.

Lets all say a Red Sox prayer and hope for the best Saturday Night.

I know I'll be watching.

There's a slow roller down first.......and it gets through Buckner.

A moment in Red Sox history that will sting forever. What was the reason this happened? Mcnamara wanted to reward Buckner and have him on the field for the final out in the World Series. His loyalty to a player put a player at less than 100% in a key situation and it cost him. Down the stretch in September he was putting in Stapleton for late inning defense but for some reason in the biggest game of the year he went with Buckner and the rest is history.

Flash forward to last night:

Beckett is clearly struggled and picking up where he left off against the Angels. He was serving up high plumb fastball that were being launched into the cheap seats. His team battles back with 3 Hr's in the 5th inning to get the lead and what does Francona do? Sends out the struggling pitcher for the 6th. That was just the start of the mis-management move. Once he walked Upton the fastest of all the Rays Francona leaves him in again. Once Beckett put the tying run on he should have ben lifted. I'm watching the game and am beside myself as to why Francona is leaving him in. He was obviously not even close to 100% and the Rays confidence was oozing. Francona's loyalty to his once ace pitcher cost him the game.

Francona snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

When your club battles back in the dramatic way the Sox did with the 3 HR's they clearly had the momentum back. The Sox needed to go out and hold the RAYS scoreless and Francona blew it. If Beckett ws telling him one thing and feeling another then he should be ashamed. I'll give Francona the benifit of the doubt with leaving him in but I wish he would have used the pen.

It's now a best of 5 with 3 games at Fenway. The Rays speed will play a huge factor in these games as their runners will be able to go 1st to third on singles allowing them to score on a single to left. A runner on second at Fenway doesn't score on left field singles due to the shallow play of the left fielder. Lester has to yet again pitch his team to a big win and if he doesn't the Sox are in trouble with the old work mule going in game 4. Wakefield in game 4 scares me and that game could be a real burden to the Sox bullpen if he struggles.

Francona please put you're loyalties aside.

Please sacrifice runners when you have first and second with no outs.

Please flip flop Ellsbury and Crisp, the top of the lineup needs a shakeup.

Ellsbury needs a day off and I think Crisp is ready to get on a roll. He is seeing the ball well and putting good swings on something that Ellsbury isn't. Having Ellsbury's speed on the bench will be a big weapon.

The Sox have just enough talent to win this thing but they have to be perfect. Francona has the biggest challenge of his Managerial career ahead of him.

Tonight is the biggest game of the Rays season and guess what is going to happen?

The Florida Gators play a 8:00pm game against LSU at the swamp. This will cut into the Rays home fans and allow more Red Sox fans to filter in. There were many games this season when it was Fenway park South as Sox fans outweighed Rays fans and this could very well be the case tonight. Gators football is a bigger draw than Rays baseball and the true following of fans will be out tonight.

5 Starts in September: Record 2-2

Innings    ERA     ER     HR     BB    K's     HITS

   26           5.19      15      9         15     26        23

Verse Red Sox 2008 4 STARTS: Record 0-2

Innings    ERA     ER     HR      BB   K's     HITS

   18           9.00      18      6          14    14        24

The Red Sox have to wait him out and have him throw strikes. If he struggles early he may give up the big inning as he'll have to throw fat strikes for the Sox bats to feast on. He's basically a 5 inning pitcher so the Rays bullpen could be called on early. He'll have the most pressure on him he's ever had in his young career and is in a must win game. Judging his 5 starts in pressure packed September games he had some problems so his confidence may be shaken. The September 15th game was his worst as the Sox rocked him for 9 runs and 6 HR in 3 innings pitched. He has a young offense that struggled in game 1 and has to face a tried andbattle tested Beckett with a powerful fastball and nasty curve.

If the Sox get a couple in the 1st it could be a long night for the Rays and the cowbell ringing fans.

Then great pitching shuts down a weak offense.

This was the case at the Trop last night. Dice-K was on his game and the Rays didn't know what he would throw. Eckersely said it best on the postgame show and he loved it. Ioved seeing that full smile and laugh while talking about the dominate Dice-K and the off kilter Rays hitters. The Sox have just enough big bats in their lineup to get you 2-4 runs a game and if Francona plays some small ball and sacrifices when they have 1st and 2nd with no outs they could put up another 1 or 2 runs. If the Sox get 4-6 runs I don't see a way they lose.

Beckett pitches tonight and we all hope to see the dominate October pitcher the Sox signed for $10 million a year. Lester throws game 3 and he is only the best pitcher left throwing in the playoffs. Wakefield can dominate a desperate young Rays team in game 4 if the Sox can go up 3-0 in games. I see the Sox bats coming alive tonight against Kasmir. His last start against the Sox wasn't productive at the Trop as he lasted less than 3 innings and gave up about 6 runs.

Cool thing: Look at the next three pitchers:

Beckett = Becket a small community in the Berkshires.

Lester = Leicester a Central Massachusetts Town.

Wakefield = Wakefield Nuf' said.

Add to that:

The Sox have a Lowell on the shelf. A Francona's Notch running the team.  A Crisp fall air to play in.  A 3rd baseman with so many big hits the opposing teams say You Kill Us. A left fielder that is the nickname for our Bay State. A backup 1st baseman that has the same name as the character in the Mudville 9 which was written in Holliston Mass: Shawn Casey at the bat. A long reliever with the same name as a certain Celtic that brought Promenence back to the Celtics in the 80's.

It's kismit with all the similarities this team has to Masschusetts and New England. Not to mention the ghost of Ted Williams and the hitters hall of fame in the left field corner at the Trop.

I sat at the edge of my recliner for the whole game and would appreciate a blow out tonight. I playing a tough and demanding Cyprian Keys golf course Sunday and would like some extra rest and sleep.

A Sox blowout would do that for all of Red Sox nation.

So Dodger faithful how 'd you like the Non-Hustle by Manny on the double? It's classic Manny putting himself above the team. If he had hustled down the line and ran until the ball hit the wall he could have been on third instead of second. He is a microcosim of what is wrong with paying a player the huge money he gets and that player does whatever he wants because of it.

I had Manny on my team before the trade and now that I'm on the other end watching this clown I can't believe what I'm watching. I watched it all the time: Manny posing, not hustling and laughing about it when he gets on base. Good luck giving this guy 17 million a year for 5 years, you may get two good years and then all ths B-S that goes along with Manny.