2004 World Series

[Krug]

Man Sox are really giving away the game with their errors...

 

[Crothian]

So much for the World series being famous for the low scoring games.....

 

[Lord Foul]

Ugly or not, a win is a win and I'll take it!!
Go Sox!

 

[Old Fezziwig]

Thank God they squeaked that one out. As for the errors -- yes, they hurt, but IMO what killed the Sox was Tim Wakefield's four walks in the top of the fourth. That opened the gate for the Cards; the rest was gravy. Hopefully they got it out of their systems and can resume playing clean, tight ball like they had been through August, September, and the first two rounds of the playoffs.

Nick

 

[Maerdwyn]

Any day we win with Wakefield starting has to be considered a huge success. I love Wakefield. But you (and he) just never know what you're going to get with him. I don't begrudge him the walks, because it just as easily could have been four home runs. Frankly, all I let myself hope for from one of his starts is a close game or a lead of any size when he leaves the game. I was more worried about this game than I am for Game 4 with Lowe pitching in St. Louis with Ortiz and Bellhorn making up half the infield.

Go Sox!

(Manny, hoo boy....)

 

[Krug]

Yeah, I'm rooting for the Sox. Wakefield was extremely shaky.

Well Game 2 tomorrow. Hoping for another good one!

 

[Old Fezziwig]

Yeah, but Bellhorn's at least passable (a damn sight better than Todd Walker was around the bag) and Ortiz isn't too much worse than Millar, which isn't necessarily saying much. That said, having Millar on the bench as a PH could work out really well in St. Louis, particularly if they bring in a lefty to face Ortiz late in the game -- it gives them a decent bat to hit for Papi and upgrades the defense slightly, if, for some reason, you don't want to put Mientkiewicz in yet.

You're right about the home runs/walks thing with Wakefield, but I wasn't really worried about that with the wind blowing in from center at 20 MPH tonight. It's a bad wind for a knuckleballer, apparently, but better in at 20 than out at 20.

Nick

 

[Guilt Puppy]

You know, for all the talk about the Sox "giving the game away" and "squeaking by," at no point did the Cards have a lead. The only time the game was tied at the end of an inning (which is to say, tied after both teams had played equal outs) was the end of the sixth. Which is to say, that was the only time (aside from the start of the game) that the Red Sox didn't have the advantage -- if not a dominating performance, definitely a successful one.

Both teams made had their share of defensive misfortune, whether or not it could be scored an error. It was a windy night, a cold night, and if all of the slipping and sliding was any indication, it was a damp night as well. Both teams were playing with the fatigue of a hard-won seven-game LCS (the Cards had a slightly less deplenishing series, but then the Sox had an extra day of rest). With all that in mind, it makes perfect sense that the defense (in terms of pitching as well as fielding) should have had plenty of holes on both teams. Neither team really "screwed up," and neither team outperformed the circumstances. The game came down to hitting, and the Red Sox were able to dig out more big hits than the Cardinals were.

Really, I don't look at this game as anything but a good sign for the Sox. The miracle-play of the ALCS wasn't on the field tonight (okay, maybe in the batter's box), and they were still able to get this win.

Just three more to go.

 

[Crothian]

Three more and maybe my branding will be over....

Of course it will only take 4 more since they'll blow it somehow.

 

[Krug]

You're right, but keeping it so close was making me think that they were going to really blow it.

Still it's just one game. I'm an A's fan but I'm rooting for the Sox, just to get rid of that stupid curse.