10-6-08 D&H Talk Red Sox-Angels ALDS

At the risk of working a commercial plug right in the top. I wonder -- our good friends at Dunkin' Donuts have any sort of numbers that they can run the show that. On a day like today they're selling more coffee than they would on a normal Monday morning Chris coach of feel like you need like -- double. Big gulp Dunkin' Donuts and.

I think their I think they're two categories. -- two categories. I would like to give Dunkin' Donuts even more props they continue to -- lightning round but it. But you know. I've moved on. Two categories of people those who were feeling right now and then there are people who around 115 to move like -- what.

I'll break it up again you know deductible. -- have. I don't have I I'm feeling good right now about you fine at the moment you know physically. I said John Jerry few minutes ago I love what I do -- and the honest to god. They they watched games you know I'd be I'd be doing any. But -- this weekend went from Friday night. You know L prior on Saturday night that you know all the football games on Sunday and then Sunday night baseball and everything else. -- tonight with -- ball no no you don't not just that and.

Since that time this is this the perfect time. Of year for sports and a special lights it's unbelievable especially if they're actually good teams in your town which we have. So I'll take it because. We'll have many. Movie movie moments in March. Now those times were going to be begging going to be an Austin. That spot and might not think about because then that's because the Celtics are going to remember. When you had the Celtics and Bruins struggling yeah so there was really nothing on on you looking forward to spring training game. What effect -- not going to be like that.

Technically this is -- Patriots month. Not only technically in reality it's Patriots Monday and we will talk with the Patriots Monday guys they had a nice win yesterday. In San Francisco at candlestick against the 49ers but I have a feeling for most of the sports fans in the back page of The Herald today wasn't the Patriots. Page one of the globe. With Dan Shaughnessy column I couldn't quite figure out because it was basically games story. I hit the baseball was sort of a top of everybody's radar. For -- yesterday and and Friday night as well. In in in some ways it it never fails in this town. If you win Jiri genius if you lose your adult. And I'm listening to the second guessing of Terry Francona early this morning. Callers -- other people second guessing this -- that second -- why do you have Javier Lopez in there. Out out at second -- part of baseball. I didn't hear that much this morning were people on -- I'll say you know you get the normal he cost us the game types. A I don't know about that I was trying to that over into this discussion in the office earlier today. Think of of the moves that -- made last night then and I how many moves a manager has a lot in the course of the game but it lots. And honest to god the only one I could come up with that I sort of wonder about Casey was pinch hitting kotsay. For cash instead of KC for cash and you're going to -- left Adam handed batter up in that situation anyway. And even now when I mean it's not like I felt you know all I thought how does not -- KC it's like. It's the one thing I thought of -- kotsay struggling. At the plate a lot and you know KC I think got a better chance of put a battle ball -- into and something with a one out the park where ever. Well.

I'd say in monuments and Dunkin' Donuts in the top if you think Terry Francona costs in the game last night I would suggest getting a -- Dunkin' Donuts coffee. Figure out thinking about it a little bit and then looking at the game again because. If you take away that three run single there. It.

Every run that I'd ever happened and every other game there's a reason playoff.

It doesn't happen in the playoffs usually. You have your best baseball players -- your best teams and and their executing at a very high level. You won't see very often three guys converge on a ball and you see that ball dropped. Between them. And three runs scored.

Well personally have to have a guy as fast -- Coco Crisp at first. And a guy as fast as Coco Crisp. Run in his legs off which doesn't normally happen on a play like that to begin with you can see why it's never.

Related to watch all night offensively. I mean the numbers. After you Kalus is double. Are pretty paltry. All right. Balls in the line with with what Joe Saunders done against them in his entire career and at Fenway Park but even even when they went up three to one. On that fluke play. Have a great feeling about last night I was never comfortable you look at it from the perspective of the Red Sox fan. There was never that moment where you said okay they've got this because Josh Beckett wasn't himself he never looked comfortable. He wasn't -- anybody -- that intimidating in the of the Angels. He would have a feel for his pitches he was very fortunate to get through five and because of the Angels have been on their game last night and they try to accommodate the -- up a pretty good about it because they played great there. If they had been on their game and take advantage of all of those opportunities Josh Beckett went about -- there in the third report that.

I'm sure it's happened and I just don't remember. By honestly don't remember seeing back at that out of sorts batter early on. You know -- starts out the game of the first pitch fastball ground rule double. And then it just seemed like it was just an an endless series of trips to the mound. And Barrett tech and Beckett couldn't get on the same page when Barrett tech wanted Beckett didn't want and vice versa nickel back and forth and you know talked about slowing things to a crawl it looked like Daisuke in the fifth inning Friday night in Anaheim -- and it's just like is get the ball rolled.

And those guys were really they had some. At times had some very good at bats against -- it could've been a lot worse that's out awhile want to give Beckett credit for grinding. His way through five innings they needed more than five obviously the playoff game. From a guy like Josh Beckett but the fact that he didn't have anything in -- committee enough. In the gives you five innings with nothing.

On a hundred no question -- autograph irons at pitches that he have nothing because of the thirteen days off. Did he have nothing just because their times when you got enough or did he have nothing because he's not quite where he'd like to be this.

I would just say two weeks. I think two weeks off and he's probably more hurt and then he'll let on and that the Red Sox without anybody makes -- the push him back in game three for a reason he pitches in game three. For the first time in two weeks and he struggles of the -- you can connect the dots there's not a coincidence. Another thing. That is a coincidence and it will end tonight this is not one of these fearless predictions. I believe in probability. I believe in my job that you believe every drop of rain that -- of flower grows out now we're not going to go there OK -- right now.

This will end tonight this old for thirteen streak. For Dustin Pedroia it's over it's over tonight after they want. How many times do you think. Research myself here without a towel how many times you make. Dustin Pedroia -- for thirteen streak during the regular season. I would guess maybe nine. To -- that -- twice. I'm actually surprised even at one not really twice in a record thirteen at bats that really that much three yanks. Number three games in a row or well -- why can't remember the first time it happen. April 20 ninth thirtieth and may first. Against Toronto. In the -- and the last time. September no. August though July Neil Jordan back no actually do lack. June 4 fifth sixth and -- So twice. This year Dustin Pedroia has had. 813. At bat drought. It won't happen. Is that it well it it won't happen again. He is having good at bats the ball is not. It's just not following that will not continue tonight.

I hope you're right. This annoyed and and you and I have confidence in him too. He does look a little bit like April of his rookie year at the moment and and I don't expect it to continue leader. But let's give our our body Michael Berger some credit for doing little research a result yes he did that and you know contagious you go to out behind the last switches. Our producers blog -- W yeah and a common -- put together some numbers about Pedroia. In the AL DS has only played and one and three games at this point one full one in this one but last year. He was two for thirteen in the three games at 154. This year as we -- know -- over thirteen so in two hailed the -- He is two for 26. Hitting almost 77. With four strikeouts three walks one total run batted him. Whatever the reason is maybe it is just total coincidence but he's now had back to back -- the -- where it that he just wasn't there. So I'm we view his track record of this entire season indicates. That you know he's going to come out of it like now like this -- next at bat. But for some reason the AL BS just doesn't seem to agree with.

I don't take -- I'm going to give you -- answer this is why. He has struggled in the hailed the at the last two years. Because the cliche is getting into his brain his his is is its muscle memory. For Dustin Pedroia popped it deep like in that -- okay.

It. -- I have. A rash. You know in the last one now that's lasted -- minutes so. I don't know.

The cliche has gotten into -- They all say everybody in baseball. It's a new season with the post season the year records don't matter. And so Dustin Pedroia at every level. Of his career. Single a double a triple a Major League Baseball at the Red Sox. Playoff season last year playoff season this year at the start of every season he gets off to a slow start. He has gone back. To the beginning act of the season he's gone back the beginning of the season and is going to take him awhile to get warmed up he's into orbit and I.

Being good night to an art but I'm happy because that guy in front of him is up is a blades. I mean just do something. With what she got going on a Friday right now has gotten Scottish government.

Gotta -- government today because a single from Dustin Pedroia last night. In his final at bat single but one again. He hits a single -- games -- And Dustin Pedroia. And we know he maybe 5657. He's got power he's he's. He's knocked in a ton of doubles he's hit atomic doubles this year. But a single of course Dustin Pedroia can hit a single when the game on the line but he didn't last night. He -- tonight.

Big night for it was a little frustrating in the late innings when the Red Sox had a couple opportunities to send everybody home happy the bases loaded situation in our race up and when it left his bat I thought all that's going to catch the gap on course that in. You know if there are times. When as as they in the old cliche is the other teams getting paid -- I thought Javier Lopez greet pitched I've bar. I mean low and away. Just catches their little strike zone box that that there so addicted to yeah he just catches the edge of the apply. It's not like -- a lot. You know it just catches the edge of it and and I bar to his credit you know just sort of gets the bat on the ball and plants and and -- center field. I didn't have a problem with Javier Lopez pitching when he did because the alternative was murder Wakefield. And and I just I I don't see where that was a better alternative. While especially Wakefield at that point is cast was already out of the game right -- so really the only alternative -- war bird. And and I thought there was they had a shot in the dugout. And Tina was talking to John Farrell was like the tenth or eleventh inning and you could read his lips he said we better get birdie -- I don't think. Sixty -- that and then a few minutes later they -- thrown in the bullpen. And I'm thinking well that's exactly what he said but how what I feel about that that. Eleventh twelfth inning and I tell you when I -- it Jered Weaver out there I said of course it is all over Red Sox are going to. Tag this guy well that's --

That's why the missed opportunities hurt so much. In these games I don't even know why. Oh we we get this position. When when the Red Sox lose an extra inning game and it's. Especially with that if it's eleven or beyond. You really care. Of success over pitching match -- If this -- after the eleventh inning. Now you're just now if you're you're just trying to survive you're just trying to shoot -- take advantage of the mistake yeah you're trying to get a break. Because if the guys are handed pitching in the twelfth or thirteenth then. Harvey Haddix ain't walkin' through that door that's okay. If that's the twelfth and thirteenth inning you've got a relief pitcher. Not entirely comfortable -- that your your your starters are long gone. -- closers are caught your top relievers are long hot relievers are that they were gone and in. That the first nine innings there -- ago. So now. You're you're going deep into the -- and -- hoping. That somebody can. String together. Two or three good --

You got one emergency guy left on the bench which was Sean Casey. You gotta keep one emergency guy and the bench in case somebody gets hurt I mean you can't pinch hit KC for Cora. In the bottom of the twelfth inning can't you gotta have a guy laughed and what do Casey does delivered here and what Pete does tie the game. While somebody's cup play short like Gloria I don't you gotta think we always gotta go to that next step you gotta have a guy yet it. You know -- test told he'd jams it make -- a great catch it starts limping around you gotta have somebody. To stick somewhere you've got to have a guy left Casey was the guy. Now as I said the only thing I came up with was Casey hitting instead of kotsay for cash. We saw last night why they kept the three catchers they pinch hit for -- attacked the captain of this team they pinch hit for him -- and they pinch hit for cash when his turn came up. Yeah that's why they did what they did so you saw exactly why Terry wanted to do it last night. There times when the other team's going to win as frustrating as it is and it's not Terry Francona -- fault. Is I didn't Josh Beckett fault but he it was tied late you had chances to win might not Alex chorus faltered Dustin Pedroia --

Fraternities last night in his is going to be interesting. Read rematch of game four of game one excuse me game fourth and I rematch of game one. And both guys. Half -- in this case that you have to pitch like -- like in game one. It necessarily. Need Jon Leicester to go seven right it's great that he did but it's not like you said. If Jon Lester doesn't go seven tonight of this is really bad for the Red Sox were John Lackey doesn't go seven for the Angels is really bad for them. Well in this case. Both of those guys they have to do. He cannot have a five inning start from either starter tonight because the bullpen can't handle.

And I'll be curious if this game is tight late -- catcher either closers available tonight. I know it's the playoffs and I know you do things you don't normally do all last. Hatchery they're closers available I mean K rod threw 3132. Pitches. In in his inning of work he's been a one inning guy all season long he has worked double innings on multiple innings at all and that's a lot of pitches for him. I'm much much a Papelbon would be available I mean is that something and if if Manny Delcarmen closing out. A potential you know series clinching game four yet now. Because that may be what -- what you look -- or you look at that Justin Masterson Paul Byrd. Yeah well I don't think he'd be closings at two under him you'll know really I know I mean I don't know how this -- is going to play out.