Give the credit where the
credit is due. Congratulations to the Boston Red Sox, their players,
management, Theo Epstein, all the players, and to all of the
real Boston Red Sox fans. And I'm not talking about those fans who
only show up during the playoffs. I'm not talking about the fans who
show up when things are good. I mean those fans who don't miss a
regular season game and haven't for five years. I mean the 50 year
woman who has been a fan since 1960. I mean the 80 year old who can
still tell you that Ted Williams is the best player he's ever
seen. Those are the people that I feel really happy for. And those
are the people I congratulate! Guys like
Ben
Jacobs! The people who frequent the
Sons of
Sam Horn message board! (And yes, people like Peter
Gammons too!)
But even I, a guy who makes no
bones about the Sox being my least favorite team in baseball (yes, I
probably like the Red Sox less than the White Sox!), have to admit
that the best team in baseball this year won the World Series. They
won it! They went out and swept a very strong St. Louis Cardinals
game.
How did they make things look
so easy against the Cardinals? Sure, everyone talks about their
offense, and rightfully so. It was a solid lineup one through nine
with some quality depth. They had arguably the best leadoff hitter
in baseball. The middle of their lineup is strong. And there is no
easy out in the lineup. Guys take a lot of pitches and make the
pitcher work hard to get them out. The offense is awesome!
Some will say that the offense
is what overcame their eight errors in the first two games. I will
agree that their offense out slugged the four errors they committed
in Game 1. But after that, it was their pitching that won the World
Series for them. In Game 2, Curt Schilling (who should not
have been pitching) gave the team six four-hit innings and allowed
just one unearned run. In Game 3, Pedro Martinez went seven
three-hit shutout innings. In Game 4, Derek Lowe continued
his impressive postseason with seven three-hit, no-run innings. Yes,
you can win games with a strong offense, but you win playoff games
and more importantly series with strong pitching.
I told a few people in the
last few days that the Cardinals had four very good starting
pitchers in Matt Morris, Jeff Suppan, Woody
Williams and Jason Marquis. But they are not 'aces.' They
are probably all #3 and #4 types of pitchers. I also believe that
Danny Haren showed that he will be a key pitcher for the
Cardinals in 2005. Those kinds of pitchers will get hit by a lineup
the caliber of the Red Sox. I would still contend that the Cardinals
lineup is every bit as good as the Red Sox. The difference, however,
was that they had to hit against two ace-like pitchers (Schilling
and Martinez) and a former ace who pitched like one in the playoffs
(Lowe).
The Cardinals do deserve a lot
of credit for their incredible season. Sure, Scott Rolen was
0-15 in the World Series. Yes, Jim Edmonds was almost as bad!
But both had MVP-caliber seasons that should not be overlooked
because of a small-sample four game series against these pitchers.
Albert Pujols is their best player and he proved it again. I
was immensely impressed by his play at 1B. The addition of Larry
Walker added another level to the incredible Cardinals lineup!
But then the likes of Tony Womack, Reggie Sanders, Mike
Matheny, Yadier Molina, John Mabry, and more all
contributed mightily to the team that led the Major Leagues with 105
regular season wins. So, don't forget just how good this team was.
But now it's all about the Red
Sox. I am very happy for David Ortiz. He got the World Series
going in the right direction for the Sox when he hit a 3-run homer
in the first inning of Game 1. He continued to hit well.
Johnny Damon is awesome
and what a great year he had. His game-starting home run again set
the stage for the Red Sox in Game 4.
Manny Ramirez, my least
favorite star in baseball... OK, I don't want to write about him
either. But I do have a lot of respect for what this man can do with
a baseball bat. He has such a sweet right handed swing. He doesn't
have an upper-cut, just a technically perfect swing. And he hits for
average, and he hits for power. Yes, he is aloof and seemingly
doesn't know the magnitude of anything that is going on except in
his own little world, but maybe that's a good thing. Maybe he
doesn't realize how big the World Series is, and maybe that's why he
always looks so calm at the plate. (unless a pitcher throws one
within about 4 feet of his head) I have had a couple of people tell
me that I am too hard on his defense... I can't back down from that
now. As a few more people asked me, "Why do they use Gabe Kapler
as a defensive replacement for Trot Nixon? Why don't they
replace Manny Ramirez instead?" I can't answer that. But I do
have to give Manny his due. He hit over .400 in the World Series and
was named the series MVP. He is one heck of a great hitter!
How about Jason Varitek?
Good hitter. Great defensive catcher!
How about Orlando Cabrera?
As I've said, maybe he's not Nomar Garciaparra, but maybe for
the Red Sox, that's a good thing. Cabrera solidified the most
important defensive position in the infield. He also hit a little
bit.
How about Bill Mueller?
After winning the batting title last year, Mueller came down to
earth. And sure, he had the three errors in Game 2, but he came back
with some great plays in Game 3 and Game 4.
How about Mark Bellhorn?
Yeah, he strikes out a lot, but does that really seem to matter to
anyone any more? He is decent on defense. And, look at Game 4. Three
walks. He gets on base, and that is very important to a team,
specifically the Red Sox.
How about Trot Nixon?
He was hurt much of the season with a bad back, but he came back and
contributed mightily in the playoffs. And, in Game 4, Nixon had
three big doubles.
And how about those right-side
defensive replacements? (Gabe Kapler in RF, Doug
Mientkiewicz at 1B and Pokey Reese at 2B) Those guys are
almost as important as a closer. When those guys come in, the
defense becomes strong and can help protect a lead.
And speaking of closers... how
good was Keith Foulke again in this series. Fastball.
Changeup. Both great pitches. He was able to pitch in three games in
this series and close the door! The Red Sox whole bullpen pitched
great after Game 1. Alan Embree, Mike Timlin,
and Bronson Arroyo. And don't forget how important Arroyo was
to the Red Sox success during the regular season!! He went into the
playoffs as the team's number three starter. He struggled and Derek
Lowe started pitching like he can.
Theo Epstein deserves a lot of
credit (along with Bill James and his other advisors). It was
gutsy to move a player with as much talent as Nomar Garciaparra.
But because of that move, the team got Orlando Cabrera,
Doug Mientkiewicz and Dave Roberts. Epstein brought in
Curt Schilling. He took a shot with Mark Bellhorn and
Pokey Reese. And, if we're being honest, a lot of the success
this year was brought in by Epstein a year ago and he kept the right
players this year. Guys like Bill Mueller, Kevin Millar
and David Ortiz were signed and retained. Epstein
deserves a lot of credit and it will be very interesting to see what
he does this offseason as so many of this team's players will
shortly become free agents.
Terry Francona, like
every manager on good teams with caring fans, faced a lot of
criticism and second guessing throughout the year and even more
throughout the playoffs. His job is probably fairly easy. I mean,
you and I could figure out how to put that lineup together. But he
kept this team together well. He used his role players perfectly.
Managers take too much heat for some of their decisions (ask Ron
Gardenhire or Grady Little), but when a team has this
many players (and this many players with such huge egos!), a manager
deserves a lot of credit.
Is it just me, or is this Red
Sox team very similar to those Yankees championship teams in the
late '90s? Each team had its fair share of stars in the lineup and
on the mound. Both teams had a dominant closer. But each team has
those guys that fit a team concept and are thrilled to be fulfilling
their role. They may not be All-Stars, but they give everything to
team. Guys like Bill Mueller, Kevin Millar and Trot
Nixon compare favorably to the likes of Scott Brosius,
Paul O'Neill and Tino Martinez.
Oh, there is one positive to
come out of this result in the World Series. Maybe we will finally
stop hearing so much about the stupid 'Curse of the Bambino.' I
never bought or believed in it anyway, but I know a lot of people
truly did. However, now that the Red Sox have won the World Series
for the first time since 1918, talk of the Curse should be gone! For
good! Forever! And for that, I will be happy!
So yeah, I hate the Red Sox! I
certainly wanted the Cardinals to win the World Series. But, if
nothing else, it does make me look smart. Take a look back at
my preseason World Series prediction
from Opening Day! I got the winner right, and I was one game from
getting their opponent right too.
10.) World Series? Boston
Red Sox over the Houston Astros
One final thought... I just
don't understand fans taking it to the streets when their city's
team wins a championship. I don't get it! Yes, they're happy that
their team one. And, in this case, their team won for the first time
in 86 years. But what right does that give them to do illegal
things? Why does that make arson and looting suddenly OK? I
understand being happy, but why do alleged "fans" feel the need to
do stupid things because of this?
First, the fans had absolutely
nothing to do with the win! Sure, they were sitting at a bar
watching the game and cheering. But they did nothing to help the
team win. So why do they feel that they can make idiots out of
themselves? Why can they start burning cars and making a mess of
their city. Alcohol? Certainly it plays its role. But I know not
everyone out there is drunk, and yet they feel somehow entitled to
do these illegal acts.
Anyway, enough of that!
Congratulations to the Boston Red Sox. To David Ortiz. Even
David McCarty. And yes, even to Doug Mientkiewicz.
Any thoughts on the Red Sox
World Series championship, your thoughts on the players, the team,
the organization or anything, please
e-mail me.
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And that is it for today!
Pretty short and to the point. Have
yourself a great day! If you have any questions, comments or ideas
for future topics, please
e-mail me.
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