Hit and Run with Dan Roche

Play-offs Are Looming

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:52:29 GMT

The Magic number for the Red Sox to make the postseason for the 5th time in the last six seasons is dwindling. It may very well happen this weekend in Toronto.

Congratulations. So, now what?

How do you feel about this year's edition of your Boston Red Sox?

Boston went 8-10 against Tampa Bay this season. 1-8 vs the LA Angels, and 4-3 vs the Chicao White Sox. The Sox were also 4-3 against the Minnesota Twins, just in case Ron Gardenhire's crew catches the White Sox.

On paper(Theo Epstein's least favorite term), the Red Sox would like to play the White Sox. However, that appears to be a lonsghot. If Boston can rally and win the AL East, they would most likely play the White Sox. However, if they win the WIld Card, it would be on to LA.

The Sox swept the Angels last year thanks to brilliant performances from Josh Beckett and Curt Schilling. Can Boston beat the Angels this year? Sure, why not. I think a rotation of Beckett, Lester, and Matsuzaka matches up well with any combination of John Lackey, Ervin Santana, Jon Garland, Joe Saunders, and Jered Weaver.

The one big difference this season, in my mind, concerning the Angels is the addition of Mark Teixeira. Put him with Vladdy and Torii Hunter and this offense is much tougher to face.

As for Tampa, well, you don't have to worry about the Rays until you get by either the Angels or the White Sox.

Meanwhile, relax and take a deep breath. Get some sleep. Just sit back and watch Theo Epstein, Terry Francona, and John Farrell rest and re-shape the roster so that all the big guns are ready to come out firing in a couple of weeks.

And, congratulations on yet another fun baseball season in New England.

Sox Fans Beware

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 12:30:03 GMT

Beware of your team being in first place.

Oh sure, it's a great day for Red Sox fans. Following Boston's impressive 13-5 win Monday night in the opener of a big three-game series over the Rays in Tampa, your Boston Red Sox are back in first place(tie) for the first time since the All-Star break.

Good news, but.........

Don't get too excited just yet.

Why, you ask?

Well, there is two weeks left in the regular season and Boston's magic number to make the post-season is down to six. And with that said, I'm here to prepare you for the stretch run.

Take a deep breath. Don't get angry....but...1st place is not the most important thing on your manager's mind these days. Oh yes, he would love to see his team capture the AL East, home-field advantage throughout the play-offs and all that comes with it. However, he also has seen first-hand what "rest" means at this time of the year.

We saw last season when he rested Hideki Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon in the final month. He also had to "find out" what he had(or didn't have) in this case in Eric Gagne. Gagne struggled and Francona knew he was not to be trusted in post-season play.

Francona did the same in 2004. In 2005, he didn't have that luxury as the Sox had to fight to the very end to just get in to the pllay-offs.

And in 2005, his team was spent going into their series with the Chicago White Sox. It was so bad...that Matt Clement had to start the opener. And, the Sox were swept away by the White Sox.

So, you may see Terry Francona rest some of his regulars in the next 10 days or so. Jonathan Papelbon may get a week off to get him ready for the grind of the play-offs. Some starters may get "skipped" for a turn or two...or they may only go 5-6 innings.

You may say.."well, we have to have home field if we are going to win". Not true. The Sox can win the Wild Card and still win a championship. They've proven that. And, they've proven that rest is the right recipe.

So, just try to stay patient as you watch the last two weeks unfold.

Just a warning.......

Frustration, Frustration, Frustration...

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:32:41 GMT

You could look at just about everyone in a Red Sox uniform Sunday and find some form of frustration. It was simply that kind of night.

Tim Wakefield, once again, pitched brilliantly for 6-and-1/3rd innings and in the end had nothing to show for it. Javy Lopez led the bullpen woes by promptly coughing up Wake's lead.

Jonathan Papelbon watched in dismay as he 1) didn't get a called 3rd strike he thought he had(but HP ump Laz Diaz felt differently) and 2) watched as a ground ball squirted through the middle of the infield to bring in the game-winning run.

How about Alex Cora, who was trying to do the "right baseball thing" by knocking down Brett Gardner's game-winning single and had it just go off his glove. Ditto for Dustin Pedroia, who also couldn't get to the ball.

How frustrating was it to watch Manny Ramirez watch three straight pitches sail by him as he pinch-hit with two out and a runner on third in the 9th? Manny, who's really struggling at the plate, has done that kind of thing before as he gets a read on a pitcher, but never in that type of situation.

How frustrating was it to watch Julie Lugo, Coco Crisp, and Jason Varitek this series? The trio was a combined 6-for-36 in the 4 games and a mere 1-for-15 in the two losses. And, it seemed like they were all up in crucial situations time and time again.

And it had to be frustrating for Terry Francona to watch as pinch-hitters and bullpen guys failed once again.

All you can say is thank goodness for Jon Lester, who should be heading to the All-Star game next week in New York.

And finally, after going just 3-7 on their 10-game road trip and falling behind Tampa by 5 games(7 in the loss column) in the AL East....at least the Sox come home to friend Fenway.

And Boston welcomes the Minnesota Twins, who are only 16-2 in their last 18 games.

Let's hope it's not three more frustrating games for the hometown team.