Do the Red Sox have a fifth gear for the playoffs? They’ll need it to compete with the aura of the Yankees in the Teix-Era. For Boston, much of the 2009 season seemed to be a front-office juggling act of older players w/ declining skills & prolonged slumps; traded for players, injured players, and the whims of good pitching & good hitting. Perhaps it will all amount to the best players being on the field when it counts, but-wince-there seems to be a (Teix) era of inevitability regarding the baseball playoffs and the return to dominance of the pinstripes. “Start spreadin’ the news…”
Memo to Bill Belichick & Patriot Place: RUN THE BALL. The Patriots lost to the Jets because the offense passes too frequently, and too predictably. Tom Brady & Co. spent the game back on their heels-yet again-taking punishment, instead of driving forward with the run, and dishing it out. With five good backs and a stout offensive line, the passing game-especially without Welker-would work better as a compliment to a more ball control oriented attack. Why do they subject their most important player, and biggest star, to potentially career ending hits play after play after predictable play? He’s going to end up on crutches as a greeter for Patriot Place Mall. “Hey guys, say hello to Giselle, and have yourself a Godiva chocolate”.
The Red Sox season feels like a military march. It should be over, already. The never-ending drama; the too many big games, the big moments within the games, the extremely important big pitches and at-bats within each inning, and don’t forget to watch the re-broadcast during the day! How many pieces of gum can one manager unwrap!? The Sox are a soap opera, wrapped inside a 24-7 news cycle stuffed inside a cultural religion. Thank god football is here to at least take some of the pressure off. Not unlike a real battle or war; relief, and not celebration, will be the final note this season regardless of the outcome.
If Baseball is 90% pitching, surely the catcher represents 40% of that equation; therefore the catcher is likely the single most important position on the team. As part of the pitching battery, the catcher has to work with all twelve different pitchers on a club. The catcher has to know all of the varied capabilities of each hurler, factor in the opposing teams batter tendencies, set a precise if subtle target, all in the heat of battle. In the playoffs, given the choice of playing Ortiz versus Varitek (with Victor Martinez as DH), this blog says Varitek should play and Ortiz sit. They both have roughly the same batting average, and Ortiz has hit eight more home runs on the season, but Big Papi plays no defense, and as they say, defense-and more particularly pitching, and most specifically catching- wins championships!
Super Bowl Preview In 2007, after an 18-0 season, the Patriots deserved to win the Super Bowl against the Giants, but didn’t. In 2012, they are lucky to be in the Super Bowl, after an almost undeserving win against the Ravens. This time it’s the Giants who look to be the deserving team, after beating the Packers and 49′ers at home. Yet the Patriots are favored by three. Maybe the oddsmakers feel Tom Brady got his bad game out of the way, and the artificial turf and domed stadium will be perfect for what the Pats do best, stretch the field and pass, pass, pass. Indy is the scene of Belichick’s most criticised call, fourth and four, but also the site of a great goal line defensive stand & subsequent sprint by Willie McGinest. Perhaps the best thing going for the Pats is the two-week Super Bowl break that could disrupt the rhythm of Eli Manning. But if Eli continues his excellent play, NY will prevail 30-24. (0)
Listen to the Ghost of Johnny Most discuss the Celt's 2008 Season
