This Is Why We Watch
Who says April baseball doesn't matter? Who says the games are meangingless? This past weekend I watched some of the best baseball I have ever seen, with three exciting games resulting in three wins for the Sox. Breaking out the brooms to sweep the Yanks at Fenway is such a great feeling. There really is nothing better in this world than beating the Yankees. Well, ok, one or two things. Yeah. Maybe a few things, but not that many.
Last night's Sunday Night Baseball matchup did not disappoint, as the Sox and Yanks battled it out in royal fashion as they do so well. Things weren't looking too hot by the 3rd inning, as the Yanks were up 3-0. Manny got a rally started off right with a solo shot over the Monster. Improbably, the next three batters - Drew, Lowell, and Varitek - knocked taters out as well, putting up runs one after another. This has only happened five times in MLB history: last year J.D. Drew was a member of the four Dodgers who did it; the last time it happened in the American League was back in '63, when Tito Francona (Terry's pop) was one of the four. So all sorts of connections and history abound. On a side note, this is one of the things I love about baseball: there is always a weird situation that comes up for the first time, or that hasn't happened in 30 years or so.
Matsuzaka was less than stellar, giving up enough hits and runs to surrender the lead over the next few innings. His stuff looked amazing at times, but that's a tough lineup for any pitcher. By the seventh it was 5-4 Yanks, but the Sox' getting a couple men on base set up Lowell to crank a 3-run shot just over the lip of the Monster and put the Sox up 7-5. The Yankees were able to grab one back, but the Papelbot came in with ice in his veins, a cold, smoldering fire in his eyes, and a fireball clutched in his hand. He made Jeter look like a rookie up there, whiffing at the gas he blew by him. Unbelievable. The kid is absolute nails.
Matsuzaka did K A-Rod twice, which is fun.
The Yanks' starting pitching will be a problem for them in the short term. Their offense will pummel the chaff pitchers in the AL, but if they keep going to their bullpen early in the game, some of those opposing bats are going to do some damage.
As it stands, a fantastic weekend, baseball-wise. On Friday the hometown boys roll into the Bronx, and Papi will singlehandedly tear down Steinbrenner's house. With a little help from Lugo & co.
But first, there's some baseball to be played. Every evening - no off days this week, boys. As I type this, Wake is in the middle of handing out knuckleball sammiches to the Toronto Blue Jays. We're down 4-2, but for some reason I feel like we're winning this game.
Mirabelli knocks one out tonight. You heard it here first. And then he's taking home every single one of the Rogers Center beer girls.
3 comments:
When I heard about this on the Today show, I knew this would be coming up on not one, not two, not three, not four, but five blogs I read regularly.
Perhaps your Sox just need some more sun.
am i the only one who thought it was great that dice k pegged not only a-rod but also jeter..definitely worth the bases..sure he doesn't know how to pitch inside..thats it..an accident ..so sorry......OH and how great were the "bonzai brothers" sitting behind home plate looking like kamikaze pilots..i am pretty sure they were going to commit hairi-kairi if dice k didn't get the win..
MR: That sounds vaguely like a complain. Don't worry - when it gets sunny out then Manny will come out in full force.
Anon: Naw, it was awesome. His hitting A-Rod got in his head for the rest of his ABs. I love how Morgan, an ex-professional baseball player and professional baseball analyst, thought that Matsuzaka "didn't know how to pitch inside." Ludicrous. Jeter hangs over the plate like nobody else.
Yeah those two were amusing.
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