The World Serious

[Frayed Knot]

Boston leaves Wakefield off the roster on account of lingering shoulder issues -- so there goes Mirabelli's playing time.
Or at least that's the stated reason. Wakefield was left off the first round but was then added for the 2nd but pitched poorly.

It's also possible that because the rest of the staff is healthy and pitching reasonably well they just figured they don't really need him. If Wakefield did pitch it would certainly be one of the middle games in the thin air of Colorado, a locale not considered good for breaking balls and in games where they'd already be short a bat as it is having to sit either Papi or Youkilis because of no DH. Starting Wakefield there would have meant Varitek's bat out of the lineup too.

[metirish]

That's tough on Wakefield but he's not been pitching much lately, also Ellsbury will start for the Sox, no surprise there I guess.

[Guest sharpie]

So is Jon Lester the Game 4 starter or Clay Buchholz?

[metirish]

Wouldn't Beckett start that game?

[Guest Edgy DC]

Wakefield pitching the last three innings of Game Five against the Yankees in 2004, as Jason Varitek chased three passed balls to the backstop, was about as good as non-Mets baseball gets.

Terry Francona had Mirabelli on the bench, but left 'Tek out there with the go-ahead run on third, his balls removed from his pants and placed on the top steps, and Sox Nation ready to stomp all over them if one more pitch got away.

[Frayed Knot]

Wakefield's ability to pitch whenever neccesary while the Sox starters were faltering went a long way towards saving their bacon back in the '04 ALCS.
Even in the games they didn't win he saved the rest of the staff for games 4-7.

[metirish]

Just saw a TV Ad for DISH HD and I swear they ripped AC/DC's "Whole Lotta Rosie" but it's not Angus and the boys version but some updated thing, horrible, watch for the Ad during the game.

[Valadius]

Tim McCarver is an idiot.

"When the runner gets to third base, the next stop is home."

DUH!

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Sleeveless uni tops are retarded on a night like this and don't leave the real estate for World Serious patches. No wonder the Rocks are getting smoked.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

I swear, some of these Rockies' names look like random letters pulled from a Scrabble bag -- before you try to make a word out of them. Yorvit?

[Guest vtmet]

metsguyinmichigan wrote: I swear, some of these Rockies' names look like random letters pulled from a Scrabble bag -- before you try to make a word out of them. Yorvit?

I wouldn't be too surprised to see Yorvit as the Mets catcher next season...

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I underestimated the Red Sox. I really thought they were dead meat after Game 4 of the ALCS -- Not so, Boston

[metirish]

Seems like the bases have been loaded all night, they could really blow the game open here, oh wait they already have, thanks Joe.

[metirish]

I wonder what things happened all over the world in the time it took for the Rockies to get the Sox out jsut now, 34 minutes.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I'm concerned that the Rockies may not sweep all the way home.

[Fman99]

Valadius wrote: Tim McCarver is an idiot. "When the runner gets to third base, the next stop is home." DUH!

I would personally love to see each team's regular season broadcasters get to do that team's postseason home games. They know the players and coaches and have perspective. Instead of the national network coverage's "appeal to the casual fan" philosophy that is so insulting to me.

[nymr83]

how would you like to be Ryan Speier? he came in last night with the bases loaded, walked in 3 runs, and left the game.

[metirish]

Fman99 wrote: ="Valadius"]Tim McCarver is an idiot. "When the runner gets to third base, the next stop is home." DUH! I would personally love to see each team's regular season broadcasters get to do that team's postseason home games. They know the players and coaches and have perspective. Instead of the national network coverage's "appeal to the casual fan" philosophy that is so insulting to me.

What is so insulting about McCarver?, Buck often sounds like he'd rather be doing a football game but McCarver has passion for the game, yeah he says some odd things but who doesn't?

[Guest Edgy DC]

McCarver readily acknowledges that he takes it back a few notches for the post-season, to explain nuances of the game to the casual fan that the rabid fan needs not. He says the network prefers he approach the broadcasts that way and I don't really care.

I agree that a home team's announcers would be more interesting. I doubt I'm about to see it happen.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I've watched enough games on Extra Innings to know that some home team announcers are abysmal.

If the Padres had made the playoffs, and their local announcers were on the national telecasts, you'd certainly be tempted to watch with the sound muted.

[Guest Edgy DC]

D-Backs also. It's like happy hour in the booth.

[Valadius]

McCarver is like the John Madden of baseball broadcasting though when it comes to the things he says. I think even the most casual fan knows that home plate is the next stop after third base.

[metirish]

I didn't hear that comment Val but did McCarver say it because he felt some fans didn't know it or was it said as a casual remark as part of something else?


I don't think McCarver would treat his audience like morons that didn't know home plate comes after third base.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Of course they know that. I think the point was to philosophically underscore the value of that.

Out of context, all of our statements would sound inane inane inane.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Announcer, schmannouncer. Baseball is baseball.

[Centerfield]

After Chip Caray, I promised not to trash Buck/McCarver.

[metirish]

Defense Rocks.


http://www.slate.com/id/2176565

[bmfc1]

http://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?showforum=98

I was surprised to find a Mets sub-forum within the famous Red Sox board, Sons of Sam Horn.

[metirish]

From the Onion.

] ctober 25, 2007 Terry Francona Announces Josh Beckett Will Start Games 1, 4, 7, 2, 6, 3, 5 BOSTON�Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona announced Tuesday that the Colorado Rockies would receive a healthy dose of pitcher Josh Becket during the 2007 World Series, saying that the ALCS MVP would start games one, four, seven, two, six, three, and five, in that order. "I don't think this should come as a real shock to anyone," Francona told reporters, adding that with this schedule, Beckett should get "more than enough rest" between games one and four, which would allow him to be at maximum strength for games seven, two, and, if necessary, six, three, and the crucial fifth game. "Looking at the pitchers I have at my disposal, this gives us the best chance to win." According to Francona, Beckett should also be ready to pitch in late-inning relief of himself in games four and six, close games seven and three, and pitch on three hours rest if needed. More News Briefs

[Centerfield]

Orel Hershiser already did that.